Forget Black Friday doorbusters—this weekend, AEW Full Gear’s Zero Hour brings us QT Marshall vs. “Big Boom” AJ, the Costco Guy. It’s a showdown that started as a quirky social media beef but has blossomed into one of the most talked-about matches of the weekend. Let’s unpack this bulk-sized bout, shall we?
Originally, this feud wasn’t even supposed to touch AEW programming. According to Fightful Select, AEW planned for the storyline to stay off TV, relying on AJ’s knack for viral content and media appearances to drive interest. The goal? Keep the spotlight on full-time AEW talent. But AJ’s buzz-building skills turned out to be too good. With his TikToks, indie cameos, and even a Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon segment, the Costco Guy made this match feel bigger than a 128-ounce jar of pickles. AEW couldn’t resist giving the feud some screen time, so AJ is now set for a Dynamite appearance this week.
Insiders say AEW is thrilled with AJ’s professionalism and creativity in promoting the match. One talent even remarked, “He’s still got it,” despite AJ hanging up his boots nearly 20 years ago under his original wrestling name, Eric Justice. It turns out, the seeds for this match were planted by none other than QT Marshall and AEW producer Sonjay Dutt, who reached out to AJ personally. And judging by AJ’s social media, he’s been more than ready to embrace this unexpected encore to his wrestling career.
Whether this clash lives up to its bizarre hype remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain: the Costco Guy knows how to sell—not just bulk items, but a match that no one saw coming.