With Full Gear looming ever closer, AEW 11/5/25 was a pre-Blood and Guts episode which seems to accomplish both goals of hyping up two mega-events. It appeared to be questionable to book a Blood and Guts match to take place just a week before a major PPV.
The show opens with Tony Schiavone about to announce the reveal of the AEW National Championship, but is interrupted instantly by Samoa Joe, Will Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata. Joe questions Schiavone’s involvement in last week’s stunt with “Hangman” Adam Page. However, Hangman, Hook, and Eddie Kingston make the save. Incensed, Hook wants Joe to put up the trios championships on the line in the main event. Joe snaps, and agrees to it.
Interesting to see Hook be put in a more prominent position. I would have liked to see Eddie cut a promo on Joe, but perhaps another time.
I get the vibe Eddie is taking a very gradual and methodical approach to his return. I have confidence he will eventually climb back up into a prominent role. That being said, he’s gone on record saying he doesn’t look for spotlights or to be the main attraction. He just wants to feel happy with his job, no matter what position he is put in. Gotta give a lot of respect to this man. He’s going to be a great mentor to whomever is taken under his wing.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Orange Cassidy
Series of three to determine who has the early advantage in the B&G match. Their match on Dynamite might be their best yet. OC and Claudio work extremely well together, taking the usual approach of Claudio overpowering OC early and often, but with Freshly Squeezed irritating the Swiss Superman by refusing to stay down. Ultimately, an insane uppercut ended the match. This was so good, it was impossible to predict a winner.
Backstage, two segments with Don Callis. First, he approaches the Young Bucks to join his faction. The Jacksons are reluctant, until Okada shows up to encourage a decision to be made soon.
The second included TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher, where Mark Briscoe wants one more shot at the championship at Full Gear. However, if he fails to win the title, then Mark must leave the Conglomeration and join The Family.
Maybe the Bucks join the Conglomeration. Making this stable equivalent to Chaos in NJPW which had a bazillion members. Alternatively, Briscoe joining the Callis Family would turn it into a comedy show, which I’m not sure is the best course of action, unless it somehow contributes to Takeshita’s inevitable face turn.
The Babes of Wrath defeated Mercedes Mone and Athena
What a fun match. Both teams appeared to be highly aligned together. Willow and Harley came out in matching gear again. Both teams used a number of smooth double-team moves. While initially each felt like a random pairing, both appeared to act like long-time partners. Willow and Harley put away the championship duo with a pinfall victory. Definitely an upset, definitely a great decision, and absolutely making this tournament very unpredictable. It wouldn’t be so bad to see Mone and Athena stay together, they worked remarkably well. However, Mone and Athena will likely go after each other since their egos will blame the other for the loss.
Tony Schiavone finally gets to elaborate on the creation of the National Championship. A Casino Gauntlet Battle Royale will determine the first champion, crowned at Full Gear. The Hurt Syndicate are the first announced participants, with MVP immediately addressing the “what if” Shelton and Lashley are in the ring together. They are interrupted by The Demand who announce their entry into the match as well. Seems their feud is far from over.
I’ll admit I’m not really clear on the purpose of the National Championship, unless this is to have another title to be defended regularly, since the Continental/International/Unified championship seems to be dormant while with Okada.
Darby Allin defeated Daniel Garcia
Round two of the B&G advantage series
Even against a physically comparable wrestler in Garcia, the man with a death wish, Darby Allin will still put all of his body and soul on the line. Dude is nuts. Garcia has become a better character since joining the Death Riders, and it shows here with constant offensive strikes and wearing down Allin. However, Garcia’s overconfidence got the better of him, Darby counters into the Scorpion Death Lock, forcing Garcia to tap out.
FTR tries to embarrass Bandido’s family, but then a brawl broke out with Gravity. Brodido rushed the ring to fight off the challengers for the titles at Full Gear.
Funny spot with Brody King punching through a door to get at Stokely.
Megan Bayne defeated Mina Shirakawa
B&G Advantage Match
More great women’s matches. It is really upsetting that Queen Aminata is not cleared to wrestle at Blood and Guts. I feel like she was going to be the breakout wrestler. Maybe she can still get involved somehow. “Timeless” Toni Storm doing commentary at ringside was hysterical. She went right after Excalibur. Bayne managed to overpower Mina for the win. Post-match brawl, with everyone charging the ring.
Blood and Guts is going to be good. I hope it does not detract from Full Gear though.
The Opps defeated “Hangman” Adam Page, Samoa Joe, and Hook
Great main event. Eddie stands out for his toughness and is simply able to gain the crowd in an instant. He gets crowd sympathy when he’s down and charges the fans when he’s throwing chops or suplexes. Page and Joe had a few teases with minimal contact. Ultimately, it seemed to come down to Hook. He appeared to take an injury after suplexing Hobbs, and was out of the ring for most of the match. He returned later in an attempt to take down Joe, but he ultimately got caught and was forced to tap out, a rarity from the son of Taz.
Joe continues to gloat and seems to get under Page’s skin, in retaliation from last week’s deception. The game of psychological warfare continues as Full Gear approaches.
