AEW’s Double or Nothing was a masterpiece

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For weeks, I was torn on whether or not I should buy All Elite Wrestling’s first ever PPV, Double or Nothing.  After all, what was the probability it would live up to the hype it has created?  In today’s professional wrestling, very rarely does a card-outside of NXT or New Japan- ever live up to it’s hype?  And yes, there’s usually one or two matches on any given card that saves a show.  But for the most part, wrestling could never be as good as the Attitude Era I enjoyed watching as a child- or could it?

With a card that included some of the world’s top wrestlers, like Kenny Omega, Pentagon Jr, Chris Jericho, Cody, and many others, it had the potential to be good.  But could AEW become Elite? 

Here is my quick and gritty recap of AEW’s Double or Nothing PPV and it DOES CONTAIN SPOILERS! Enjoy and long live Kayfabe!

The Buy In-Pre-Show

21-Man Battle Royal – (Winner gets a AEW Title Shot)

For those that are not absolute die-hard wrestling fans, this battle royal may have left you wondering who a lot of these wrestlers were.  And even though some would steal your heart like Luchasaurus did mine.   There were several big names in this match that could be potential megastars in AEW.  There were also wrestling legends like Tommy Dreamer and Glacier involved in the match.  The final four would come down to Hangman, Luchasaurus, Jimmy Havoc, and MJF.  In the end, Page wins by throwing MJF over the top rope.  And now he will get a title shot vs the winner of Jericho vs Omega at Fight for the Fallen.

Winner- Hangman Page

There was a very strange promo here by two wrestlers in AEW that both consider themselves to be, THE… librarian?  So basically the two wrestlers-Peter Avalon and Leva Bates- shushed one another for a good 45 seconds.

Kip Sabian vs Sammy Guevara

This match looked like two kids in the cafeteria arguing over a box of Dunkaroos.  During the match, Guevara landed a shooting star press to Sabian, who was draped over the barricade at ringside.  He then followed it up with a 620 splash but came crashing down on Sabian’s knees. Lastly, Sabian hit Guevara with his finisher “Deathly Hallows” to solidify the victory.

Winner – Kip Sabian

Double or Nothing – Main Card

SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Scorpio Sky, and Kazarian) vs #StrongHearts ( CIMA, T-Hawk, and El Lindaman)

Another group of superstars that fans may know from other outlets.  This match included Christopher Daniels, Scorpio Sky, CIMA among others.  The match would inevitably end with a moonsault-tombstone piledriver that is known throughout the industry as a variation of the ‘Meltzer Bomb’. 1,2,3. Match.

Winner – SoCal Uncensored

Britt Baker vs Kylie Rae vs Nyla Rose vs Awesome Kong

For some reason, Brandi Rhodes continued to tease as though she was going to be in the match.  Instead, she announced Awesome Kong as the fourth competitor in this bout.  Much like we’ve become accustomed to nowadays in wrestling, these girls can hold their own. Britt Baker ultimately wins the match and becomes the face of AEW’s Women’s division.

Winner – Britt Baker

Best Friends (Trent and Chuckie T)  vs Jack Evans vs Angelica

This was again a beautiful representation of tag-team matches.

Winner – Best Friends

And then they were attacked by these guys. Who we are all praying to the wrestling gods, somehow leads into CM Punk.

Then they formed a human throne for the big guy to sit on.  it was strange, very strange-but in a good way.

Hikaru Shida,  Riho Abe, Ryo Mizunami vs Aja Kong,  Yuka Sakazaki, and Emi Sakura

This match showcased all the ladies talents. However, Shid, Yuka, and Riho proved they were superstars.  But on this day, Shida, Abe, and Mizunami got the last laugh.

Winner – Shida, Abe, Mizunami

Cody vs Dustin Rhodes

This match started with what was essentially Triple H’s thrown waiting at the entrance ramp.  And then Brandi pulled out a sledgehammer from under the ring and everything started to make sense.  Cody said he wanted to “put to rest the Attitude Era” and essentially, he is.  But this style of wrestling felt a lot more like the Attitude Era.  Which is exactly what Cody has now recreated.  After destroying the thrown with corny fireworks, it was time for his old brother Dustin Rhodes to make his way to the ring.  We should have known something was up with the red and black face paint.  Late in the match, after Cody sent Dustin face first into an exposed turnbuckle-blood flowed.  And it flowed.  And it poured out of the 50-year old future Hall of Famer.

He bled all over Cody, all over the ring, and all over everyone in the front row.

Brandi would hit Dustin with a spear that would force Earl Hebner to send her back to the dressing room.  Of course, she was escorted out by none other than DDP.  Truth be told, this may have been the best match of the night.  Dustin looked impressive and altered his move-set to adapt to his younger brother.  (His sunset flip power bomb was a thing of beauty)  In the end, Cody finished his brother off with a “CrossRhodes”.  After the match, Cody said that he agreed to fight the Young Bucks at Fight for Fallen.  But he needed a partner…

Cody gave a speech that could put him in the running for a day-time soap opera.  Dustin Rhodes was crying in the ring, with 95% of his blood stained on the mat.  Cody asked Dustin to join him in the fight, and the two will face the Young Bucks at #F4TF.   It was a perfect finish to a match that shocked everyone.

Winner – Cody Rhodes

Brett Hart showed up to showoff the AEW Championship

The AEW Championship belt is beautiful.

The Young Bucks vs Pentagon Jr. and Rey Fenix

For as great of a match as the previous one was, the Young Bucks and Pentagon/Fenix stole the show.  And if you consider yourself a fan of professional wrestling, there’s a very good chance you watched some of these wrestlers work before.  Regardless, this was the match of the night and shows you just how beautiful tag-team wrestling can be.  If you like wrestling at all, find a way to see this match.  Because honestly, words can’t describe it.  I promise, it won’t disappoint.

Winner – Young Bucks

Kenny Omega vs Chris Jericho

Anyone that has ever watched wrestling knows who Chris Jericho is. But not everyone may be as familiar with Kenny Omega. Omega, is believed to be one of the best wrestlers in the world. Furthermore, he is one of the masterminds behind AEW. This match wasn’t a masterpiece like the two previous. But it showcased a story between the two wrestlers that we rarely see in WWE today.  Omega shows off  why he is often considered the best in the world (sorry, Shane McMahon and Okada).

Somehow, someway, the new MMA superstar Jericho lands a brutal spinning elbow to Omega.  Jericho gets the victory and a shot at the AEW title vs Hangman Page.


Winner – Chris Jericho

But wait! BAHHH Gawd Almighty! It can’t be!!!! Bah Gawd, it’s John Moxley (Dean Ambrose) and he looks mad.

Moxley gives his trademarked double arm DDT to Jericho and the referee.  He then tries to put the finisher on Omega and the two superstars fall outside the ring as carnage ensues.

The ending to All Elite Wrestling was beautiful. And it leaves fans on the edge of their seats, anxiously waiting for their next PPV Fight for the Fallen.

Goodnight

It’s your turn, Vince McMahon.

 

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