5 AEW stars who could return at Full Gear 2024

In just about a week, AEW will present the 2024 iteration of its annual event, Full Gear. Tony Khan and Co. have set up quite an exciting card for the upcoming pay-per-view, featuring top stars including Jon Moxley, Orange Cassidy, Swerve Strickland, Bobby Lashley, Mercedes Mone, and more.

A consistent feature of All Elite Wrestling PPVs that the promotion has maintained as of late is presenting surprise returns - consider MJF's comeback at Double or Nothing this year, Daniel Garcia returning to take revenge on Friedman at All In, or even Sting's appearance at the same event to save Darby Allin.

With quite a number of stars on the AEW roster either currently on the shelf or off TV, the company could book a few of them to return at Full Gear. Let us consider five of these names.

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#1: Julia Hart returns to confront the AEW TBS Champion

Julia Hart has been missing in action since losing her TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale at AEW Dynasty in April. The 23-year-old star had sustained a shoulder injury which put her out of commission, although it seems like she is gearing up to return to action. Cryptic vignettes were aired last week on Collision and this week on Dynamite teasing Hart's comeback.

The TBS Title will be on the line at Full Gear 2024, as champion Mercedes Mone will defend the belt against Kris Statlander. Regardless of who wins the bout, the victor could be confronted post-match by a returning Julia Hart, at the same pay-per-view where she won the title last year. The Princess of The Black Throne could either resume her rivalry with Born Again Kristen or launch a proper feud with The CEO.

#2: Ricky Starks answers an open challenge from Adam Cole

Adam Cole was told by MJF that if he or Roderick Strong managed to score three straight singles wins, he would then wrestle either one of the two men at Full Gear 2024. While Strong succeeded at the task, The Panama City Playboy was robbed of his third victory after Konosuke Takeshita cheated to beat him this week on Dynamite.

With his expected spot in the pay-per-view now out of reach, Cole could resort to issuing an open challenge at the event so he at least gets to compete in the PPV. He could even regain his momentum if his challenge is answered by another returning star, Ricky Starks. The Absolute has been open about being ready to wrestle, and his long hiatus in AEW could conclude this Saturday as he comes back to take on the former ROH World Champion in a shocking and never-before-seen encounter.

#3: Wardlow intervenes in Roderick Strong's match against MJF

As alluded to above, Roderick Strong registered back-to-back wins against Shane Taylor, The Beast Mortos, and Lance Archer to earn a shot at MJF at Full Gear 2024. While The Wolf of Wrestling will not enjoy any numbers advantage against the Undisputed Kingdom member, whose stable-mates are likely to back him up against Friedman's devious tactics, the former AEW American Champion could turn the tables by reforming his alliance with Wardlow.

Mr. Mayhem has reportedly been dealing with a knee injury and has been absent from television for months now. In storyline, MJF could reach out to the former TNT Champion and turn him against his faction-mates for neglecting and disregarding him. This could lead to Wardlow returning at Full Gear to intervene on Friedman's behalf against Strong, costing The Messiah of The Backbreaker a win against the former AEW World Champion.

#4: Adam Copeland returns to confront the TNT Champion

Adam Copeland found himself on the injury list after sustaining a fractured tibia during his TNT Title defense against Malakai Black at Double or Nothing 2024. The belt sits currently on the shoulders of Jack Perry, who is set to defend it against Daniel Garcia at Full Gear. Regardless of whether The Scapegoat retains, or The Red Death is crowned the new face of TNT, the winner could be confronted at the pay-per-view by The Rated-R Superstar.

In an interview from September, Copeland refused to speculate on a comeback timeframe, although he did state that he was able to "get in the ring, and move around a little bit." With more time having passed since then, the prospect of The Ultimate Opportunist making a surprise comeback at Full Gear to announce his pursuit of the championship he never lost, is not beyond the realm of possibility.

Adam Copeland and Daniel Garcia were involved in the TNT Title picture earlier this year [Image Credits: AEW's YouTube channel]

#5: Kenny Omega returns to confront The Death Riders

Kenny Omega has been out of action since December 2023, after developing a life-threatening case of diverticulitis. The Best Bout Machine announced at NJPW Power Struggle earlier this month that he would return to in-ring action at Wrestle Dream 2025. Since then, he has also clarified that he opted not to make his comeback in AEW as he did not want to take the spotlight away from the stars who are currently being featured in the promotion.

That said, All Elite Wrestling programming could use Omega to appear as a top babyface to oppose current AEW World Champion Jon Moxley and the ongoing carnage of The Death Riders. The Cleaner could thus shock fans in the Prudential Center by returning at Full Gear to stand up to The One True King and his army. This would also plant the seeds for Omega to reunite with The Young Bucks to take on The Death Riders, given recent speculations suggesting that The Jackson Brothers could come back as babyfaces to oppose the former BCC once again.