Ladies and gentlemen, buckle up—because it’s about to get wilder than a wrestling fan trying to explain kayfabe to their confused family members at Thanksgiving dinner. AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita is gearing up to defend his title at this weekend’s Full Gear 2024 event, and his opponent? None other than Ricochet, the human highlight reel himself.
AEW’s Grand High Poobah (and part-time Twitter hype man) Tony Khan took to X—because apparently, it’s still a thing—to break the news. In a post dripping with exclamation points, Khan announced:
“Saturday 11/23 Newark, NJ #AEWFullGear ppv AEW International Title Match @Takesoup vs @KingRicochet. With the rivalry running red hot for weeks on @AEWonTV, the International Title will be at stake in the fight that the AEW fans want to see: Takeshita vs Ricochet THIS SATURDAY!”
Not only is this Ricochet’s third shot at the gold, but it’s also a battle so intense, you might want to wear protective goggles just to watch.
From Grudges to Glory
The animosity between Takeshita and Ricochet has been brewing since last month. Takeshita kicked things off with a classic wrestling move: the ol’ “attack everyone and make it personal” bit. He ambushed Ricochet and former champ Will Ospreay during AEW Dynamite’s fifth-anniversary show, just to ensure nobody forgot his name. Then, like a true overachiever, he pinned Ospreay at AEW WrestleDream to snag the International Championship.
Since then, Takeshita’s reign of chaos has extended across promotions. He recently made a pit stop at MLPW Forged in Excellence, where he and The Don Callis Family decided to rough up Josh Alexander—because why limit your drama to one company? Ricochet, never one to let a grudge simmer, swooped in to save Alexander, setting the stage for yet another chapter in their feud.
Full Gear: Titlepalooza
This match is just one piece of the championship buffet at Full Gear. Other confirmed showdowns include:
- Mercedes Moné defending her AEW TBS Championship against Kris Statlander.
- Jon Moxley and Orange Cassidy throwing down for the AEW World Championship.
- Jack Perry putting his AEW TNT Championship on the line against Daniel Garcia.
- A fatal four-way for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, featuring Private Party and enough tag teams to fill a small battle royale.
What to Expect
Takeshita and Ricochet are both known for their jaw-dropping athleticism and an apparent lack of concern for gravity or the laws of physics. Expect flips, kicks, and moves so outrageous you’ll question if they’re still tethered to reality.
Who will walk out of Newark as the AEW International Champion? Will Ricochet finally grab the gold, or will Takeshita prove once again that he’s the king of chaos? One thing’s for sure: this match has “show-stealer” written all over it.