All Elite Wrestling
Double or Nothing 2024
Could 26, 2024
MGM Grand Backyard Area
Las Vegas, Nevada
Watch: PPV / TrillerTV
AEW is celebrating their fifth anniversary this weekend in Las Vegas (my new hometown, holla) and whereas there’s no nearer to a positive wager than an AEW pay-per-view, will the sixth Double or Nothing present hold that development going?
Aspect be aware: It’s been refreshing within the build-up to the present this weekend that everybody has talked about this being the fifth anniversary of AEW as we strategy Double or Nothing 6. This can be a firm that understands the passage of time!
This present actually is pivotal to the way forward for the corporate. Curiosity and vitality across the product feels low. On display screen, the life isn’t there prefer it was. The sensation thought restored threatens to ebb as soon as extra. A lot has been completed in 5 years, however what is going to 12 months six carry?
The construct to this present has been, nicely, a bit spotty. Some matches have been constructed nicely, some haven’t, will any of it matter? I assume the simplest strategy to break it down is to do it match by match.
Purchase-In
Thunder Rosa vs Deonna Purrazzo
On Rampage, Deonna lower the very best promo she’s achieved in AEW to set this match up after Rosa informed her to call a time and place for them to settle their beef. It’s a pity the promo didn’t air on Dynamite, truthfully, so extra individuals may have seen it.
Deonna Purrazzo names the time and place for her confrontation in opposition to “La Mera Mera” Thunder Rosa on the #AEWDoN Purchase In!
Watch #AEWRampage on TNT!@DeonnaPurrazzo | @ThunderRosa22 pic.twitter.com/qB1DJvmMDq
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) Could 24, 2024
These two have the aptitude to go on the market and placed on a great match. Hopefully Vegas exhibits up on time and on fireplace and we may very nicely find yourself kickstarting this night with a bang.
Or it may simply completely exist and none of us will ever give it some thought once more. Might be worse! Extra of this please. I’ve completely no learn on the winner right here in any way, although. I assume I’ll go along with Rosa, since she’s been fairly nicely protected. Prediction: Thunder Rosa
AEW World Trios Title Match
(sigh…) Bang Bang Gang (c) vs Loss of life Triangle
I’ve all the time had a tender spot for the Gunns. Their matches normally weren’t nice and Colton’s mic work was stilted, however they have been nice at being The Gunns. Of their time with Jay White, it looks as if it actually has raised their stage. Their matches are higher (I’m scripting this earlier than Collision, don’t make me appear like a idiot boys), they really feel like a serious league tag workforce, and even Colton’s promos have improved just a little. What the pairing with Jay White has achieved for them has been large.
What’s unusual about this match is that it feels just like the Gunns and the Lucha Brothers are solely on the periphery of it. It seems like we’re in a scenario the place each of those groups may stand to be plucked out of the trios division and inserted elsewhere. The tag division for the Gunns, and hey, possibly singles division for the opposite 4. (Gimme that Penta/Swerve title match, I wants it!)
Somebody has to win, although, and I really feel like it’s going to be the BBG and the feud will proceed past this one match. We’ll be seeing extra of those two groups once more. Prediction: Bang Bang Gang
FTW Championship
Chris Jericho (c) vs Hook vs Katsuyori Shibata
“I’m the Studying Tree!”
I crack up each time. Chris Jericho’s massive goofy grin worms its means into my mind and forces me to imitate it. How did I doubt him once more? What number of instances will he show me mistaken?
Is that this a secure place to confess I didn’t actually thoughts the end of the three means on Dynamite? I particularly take situation with the declare that it makes Bryan Keith appear like a geek for getting submitted by two individuals on the similar time. Would he appear like a geek for submitting to Shibata? No. So why does he appear like a geek for getting jumped by two dudes and put in two lethal holds? If something, that’s an excuse! They have been in cahoots!
This match most likely has essentially the most variance of something on the present. There’s a world during which that is completely horrible, there’s a world during which it guidelines. Sadly, for this wacky, lawless three strategy to attain really epic ranges, it will possible must step on the toes of the Anarchy within the Area. I anticipate, for that cause, they’re going to take it just a little simple.
If I look into my crystal ball, I see Huge Invoice getting concerned early and sometimes. For that cause, I additionally see Jericho leaving as champion. Prediction: Chris Jericho
Orange Cassidy vs Trent Beretta
A plain ol’-fashioned wrestling match, huh?
I’m not shopping for it.
This take could be much more fascinating in the event that they didn’t have Excalibur breaking out the ACME™ Subtlety Hammer about it. In one other period of AEW, I’d suppose this was them signaling that they are going to have a standard match. However this isn’t that period.
A DQ is in play for this match.
Welcome in AEW in 2024. Prediction: Trent Beretta
IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Eliminator Match
Jon Moxley (c) vs Konosuke Takeshita
I agree with Joe’s take from this week’s Flagship that that is an eliminator as a result of New Japan doesn’t need to give a DDT man a title shot. This renders the result sure and thus dramatically limits my pleasure for this one. I want we weren’t all watching spoiled.
There was no means round it. Mox isn’t shedding a singles match till he loses that belt. We’ve got, nevertheless, seen Mox wrestle Takeshita earlier than when the result was by no means doubtful and in that occasion, they went out and had an incredible match. Did anybody suppose Konosuke was beating Will at Revolution? I do know I actually didn’t and I couldn’t consider what I used to be seeing. This ought to be simply high-quality. Spoiler: Jon Moxley
AEW TNT Title Match
Barbed Wire Metal Cage Match
Adam Copeland (c) vs Malakai Black
That is one other excessive ceiling, low ground match. Cope vs Buddy? Snoozer. Cope vs Brody? Banger. Cope vs Malakai? Someplace within the center?
What’s a barbed wire metal cage, precisely? Is it going to be barbed wire laced within the fencing? Simply across the high of the cage? I’m not likely positive, nobody has elaborated.
Between the ropes, I’ve actually not had a single situation with Black’s AEW run thus far and Copeland has greater than confirmed himself. I’m calling myself cautiously optimistic on this one. I wager it’s memorable. Prediction: Adam Copeland
AEW Worldwide Title Match
Roderick Robust (c) vs Will Ospreay
Circle this one in your packages, kiddos. Be sure to’re in your seat, as these two are going to attempt to (and really nicely could) steal the entire present. Will Ospreay is the very best wrestler alive and Roderick Robust is slept on, however may be on any given evening among the finest in the entire enterprise.
Why is Will Ospreay going to win the Worldwide Title? I’m unsure. I’d think about Tony has a cause for this and someplace he’s going, however I discover it curious personally.
What I actually hope doesn’t occur right here is Don Callis or the Undisputed Kingdom costing Will this match. It’s on the desk, sadly. I simply don’t absolutely belief them lately.
Hopefully that won’t occur and the proper factor will occur right here and Will will win. The place do they go from there? Time will inform, I suppose. Prediction: Will Ospreay
AEW Ladies’s World Title Match
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs Serena Deeb
Daring prediction time: That is going to be the very best ladies’s match on the present.
I’ve been extra annoyed with the “Timeless” Toni stuff than most likely anybody, because the squandering of her expertise was infuriating at a time when the division desperately wanted her to have the sorts of matches she will be able to. Not too long ago although, whereas the gimmick hasn’t modified a lot out of the ring, contained in the ropes she has grow to be rather more critical once more.
I’ll take it!
Deeb is a gentle hand, Toni may need just a little chip on her shoulder for being down card from the TBS Title, this has some issues working in its favor. Better of all, these two can simply exit and wrestle, one thing Willow and Mercedes could not have the ability to do as nicely. Prediction: Toni Storm
Anarchy within the Area
The Elite (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson, Jack Perry, & Kazuchika Okada) vs FTR, Bryan Danielson, & Darby Allin
Who would’ve thought that 4 years in the past, born out of a pandemic and the flexibility to do a match in a soccer stadium fully unoccupied, a practice could be born of a large donnybrook on the high of the Double or Nothing card? This would be the third Anarchy within the Area, however keep in mind it’s the evolution of Stadium Stampede again earlier than that was a half-baked Fortnite-like. The earlier matches have all been eventful.
The unique was noteworthy only for the unbridled madness and silliness of all of it. The second Stadium Stampede had City Meyer (keep in mind that Jags season?) make a cameo and noticed a babyface Interior Circle vanquish the dastardly Pinnacle. Anarchy within the Area 1 gave us that shot of Eddie Kingston with a fuel can. Anarchy within the Area 2 could be the start of an alliance that also goes sturdy at present between Don Callis and Konosuke Takeshita with the latter interfering on the finish on behalf of the Blackpool Fight Membership.
There’s additionally a Stadium Stampede match from All In final 12 months, however I’m gonna be sincere, I don’t keep in mind a single factor about it. Keen to wager you don’t both.
With all of the historical past and the stress on this to carry out, I’m positive they’ve some massive issues deliberate. Will they be massive bumps? With Darby there, nearly actually now. Will there be some twists/turns? Does Kenny present up early? Does Hangman cease by the ring on his strategy to choose up his paycheck and hit the highway? What’s up with Claudio?
(Okay, possibly anticipating that final one to repay is wishful considering in 2024’s AEW.)
Talking of custom, the rivals on this have beforehand gone on to compete in Blood and Guts and I wouldn’t anticipate this to essentially be any totally different. It was Takeshita’s interference in Anarchy within the Area that result in his inclusion in Blood and Guts, forcing The Elite to usher in Ibushi. Do they try this very same factor once more this 12 months?
I’d say it’s too lazy, however have a look at how we received to Will and Roddy. Prediction: The Elite, the the Elite
AEW TBS Title Match
Willow Nightingale (c) vs Mercedes Moné
Within the “Triple Important Occasion”, I’ve seen this listed at second from the highest, however I’m anticipating it third, as I feel Anarchy within the Area will as soon as once more shut the present, one thing it has achieved all however as soon as at Double or Nothing.
Up till this level, Mercedes has not felt like part of this firm. She’s felt fully different. It’s like when your favourite NBA workforce makes an enormous commerce and also you’ve received this nice participant, however the scuttlebutt across the league is already on the market that he’s not going to resign and so, sure, they’re on the roster, nevertheless it doesn’t actually really feel like they belong. These are the vibes I get from Mercedes.
I hope they’re momentary. At her greatest, Mercedes Moné is the very best feminine wrestler North America has ever produced. She embodies a recklessness and actuality, typically touchdown within the “good sloppy” zone for me. I’m already racing on the prospects of her and Mariah Could or Jamie Hayter. It will actually be unlucky if Mercedes by no means gels, by no means suits, and leaves like Punk earlier than so many what ifs are realized.
The lean right into a heel character was the proper transfer. The powerbomb via the desk broke the seal on somebody actually hurting her and made it really feel like she wasn’t on this separate airplane from Willow and everybody else. And what a line from Willow with the, “Final time we wrestled, I walked out a champion and also you didn’t stroll out in any respect.” That’s great things proper there.
Willow has been the brand new Bailey for a while now and so it’s nearly apropos that Mercedes begin off her run together with her. Let’s see what evolves from this one. Prediction: Willow Nightingale
AEW World Title Match
Swerve Strickland (c) vs Christian Cage
Whose home? I assume that’s actually the query on the high of the AEW card proper now. There have been moments in AEW the place Swerve Strickland felt like the good dude on the planet. Sadly, these moments have been months in the past. Now? It seems like we’re taking part in catch up.
They’ve added a brand new factor to his presentation the place he simply hangs out random locations backstage. I’m of two minds about it. On one hand, it… kinda works, consider it or not. He did appear extra fascinating on Wednesday. However, it’s such a bizarre affectation! Oh, that Swerve, all the time sittin’ on random bins.
Your entire presentation for Swerve since his title win has been weird to me. He has settled right into a plucky underdog type of function which isn’t what I would like from him and I don’t suppose it’s what’s proper for the second. AEW simply added Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, now could be the time to present your champ a rocket so he has a prayer of maintaining. Let him go on the market and squash some identify guys.
Christian is a challenger that, whereas actually proficient and has produced high quality time and time once more for AEW, simply doesn’t get my blood pumping. I’m assured, nevertheless, that these two are going to go on the market and provides all the things to placed on a present. So whereas I’m not fairly The Rock over right here slapping my goosebumps in anticipation, I anticipate this to be superb.
The result is for certain, nevertheless, as there isn’t a world during which Swerve ought to be shedding this match to Christian. Prediction: Swerve Strickland
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