Casino Gauntlet match to crown the first AEW National Champion took place at the AEW Full Gear.
The match starts off with both men going at it and not letting up too much with an exchange of holds as we already get a countdown for our next participant and it is Ricochet. Ricochet then has a microphone, saying we don’t want to see wrestling crap as GOA blindside the two men in the ring.
Ricochet then goes after MVP with the microphone, asking A.J. if he’s watching as he lets out a few “BOOM” remarks with each mic shot on the head of MVP. GOA then continue to lay waste to the Hurt Syndicate, with Lashley getting his head slammed against the ring steps by Liona as Ricochet mocks him from inside the ring.
Officials then rush down to get GOA out of here, also accompanying MVP to the back as Ricochet celebrates with some dance moves while the countdown reveals our next participant and it is Claudio Castagnoli. Ricochet then stops in his tracks as Castagnoli makes his entrance through the crowd.
Ricochet then tries to get the drop on Castagnoli, but takes an uppercut instead before Castagnoli brings him back into the ring for a giant swing. Castagnoli then goes for a cover, but Ricochet manages to kick out at two. The crowd then starts chanting “we bald people” at the two men as they go back at it, with Castagnoli sent out of the ring as the countdown reveals the next participant and it is Daniel Garcia.
Garcia then makes his way through the crowd, laying into Ricochet as the crowd points out that he is not bald. This then leads to the Death Riders going to work on Ricochet in the corner until the countdown reveals our next participant and it is Orange Cassidy.
Garcia still has the waist lock on Ricochet on the turnbuckle as Cassidy heads over and he licks his hand to hit Ricochet on the head. Garcia then takes Ricochet down to the mat. Cassidy then tries to take advantage for a cover, but Castagnoli pulls him up by the jeans before slamming him to the mat.
Cassidy then tries to fight back for a sunset flip, but it is denied and Cassidy hits a Stundog Millionaire on Ricochet. He then goes for the cover and the countdown reveals our next participant is Wheeler Yuta.
Castagnoli then kicks out as Cassidy turns his attention to Yuta. This then leads to a 3-on-1 beatdown by the Death Riders until the countdown brings out Kevin Knight as he is the next participant.
He then runs down the ramp to take out Garcia and Yuta, but gets caught coming into the ring by Castagnoli. Castagnoli then goes for a powerbomb, but gets sent over the top rope by Knight. Ricochet then sees an opening and rolls Knight up for a near fall. Knight then follows suit looking for a pin of his own to no avail as the countdown reveals our next participant and it is Roderick Strong.
Strong then goes after Garcia and Yuta on his way to the ring, fending off Castagnoli before turning his attention to Ricochet with a pair of backbreakers. He then hits a sick kick on Ricochet and Strong makes the cover as the countdown brings out Mark Davis as he is the next participant.
The ring is then cleared out, allowing Davis to go after Strong until Garcia and Yuta come in. He then fends them off before hitting some hard shots on Strong and Knight. Ricochet then tries to take him off his game, but takes a driver by Davis, who dodges a PK by Cassidy to him with a driver as well. Davis then goes for a cover, but Yuta breaks the pin as the countdown gives us “Speedball” Mike Bailey as he is the next participant.
Bailey then makes his way down and he goes after Davis and he and Knight take him down before attempting a double cover. This then leads to an awkward stare-down between JetSpeed, allowing Davis to intervene before he is sent out of the ring.
JetSpeed then collide as they trade offense and near falls. Knight then manages to dodge a superkick and the pause allows Garcia to send Knight out before dropping Bailey for a Dragon slayer as the countdown reveals our next participant and it is “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard.
Garcia then looks like he has seen a ghost, breaking the hold to deal with Menard who sends Garcia out of the ring. Garcia then escapes through the crowd as Menard chases him down. The ring is then left with Mark Davis and Claudio Castagnoli and Castagnoli is left alone as we see Lashley and Benjamin finally making their return to the match.
The crowd then chants “we hurt people” as the Syndicate obliges, putting the hurt on Davis and Strong. Yuta then comes in and takes a spear as well and Lashley even catches Cassidy in mid-air for a powerslam. Bailey then tries to get in, but gets sent to the outside as Ricochet goes into the ring only to realize he’s made a huge mistake. Lashley and Benjamin then toss him around with ease, laying into Ricochet until Davis and Castagnoli finally put a stop to it.
Cassidy then comes in now, hitting an Orange Punch before the ring gets cleared out. Lashley then gets sent into the barricade as Yuta steals the thunder of Cassidy, trying to get a pin before Knight breaks it up. He then hits a UFO Splash on Cassidy, but gets pushed away for a Spirit Gun by Ricochet for the win.
The winner of the Casino Gauntlet Match and first-ever AEW National Champion, The Demand’s Ricochet!
