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There's a lot of words going to get thrown around describing Double or Nothing and AEW. Maybe the most underrated word among them will be 'Speechless'.
In its first official PPV as a company, All Elite Wrestling has shown the world that the art of pro wrestling cannot just be confined to one company, one dynasty, and one formula.
Things have truly changed from here on out for the pro-wrestling business. While all of these marketable terms and buzzwords may get mistaken as nothing but hyperbole, the event speaks for itself.
From a myriad of surprises to the unbelievable variety of wrestling on the show. From the wrestlers going all in with each aspect of their game to the elite doubling down on their motto to change the world.
You can bet they just changed the world, everything about their efforts this night not only screams classic pro-wrestling but also brings a twisted wind of change.
They may not need to become competition for WWE but they surely are proven as an alternative that could skyrocket to the moon.
How do we know this? Well as seen from the individual moments to matches in this review, it's clear AEW is truly All Elite Wrestling. Don't believe us? Then let's find out!
#1 The Presentation of it All
For a first time event from the newly christened company, it's important to asses what AEW and Tony Khan brought to the table on PPV.
One of the many complaints about wrestling today, in general, is how homogenized everything looks. This is especially true of stages and setups by WWE. A clear indication of the era Cody and team first came from and grew into is there in its iconic setup stage.
The whole arena especially the center stage at the entrance had a very casino feel with two round dugouts in the shapes of poker chips for the entrance, and a set of giant poker chips on stage to add to the Vegas atmosphere.
Besides this AEW kept a very cinematic and soft overhead light to their focus on the ring. It aided in giving the MGM Grand an apt atmosphere as the roster wrestled a variety of storytelling epics.
Alongside that is the genius camerawork including the crane shots perfectly swooping in and out during climactic sequences.
Finally, the commentary on the table was on point with JR despite a few mistakes pulling of his iconic self to match Excalibur and a smartly timed Alex Marvez.
All in all, AEW really hit the home run and hard sell on their stylistic nuances and uniqueness in comparison to other products around the world. A huge thumbs up!
#2 The Buy-In: The Stallion Draws A Joker
For a shot at the AEW World Championship, 21 Man Casino Battle Royale
Much like their first event outside the AEW umbrella, the Elite presented a showcase of two pre-show matches for the incoming crowd and YouTube fans before the main show. This time around, we saw an intriguing version of the classic battle royale themed appropriately around the system of Poker.
The match started with five wrestlers part of one card suite, in this case Clubs, with other suites released in intervals adding to a total of twenty superstars in the ring.
Finally, a last draw for the joker card would bring wrestler number 21 to join this epic battle royale termed as the Casino Battle Royale with the winner getting a shot at the AEW World Championship.
Already adding those high stakes made it clear that many wrestlers probably not winning this golden opportunity.
While the unique format held true superbly, the match had no real thread of continuity to it besides a superlative heel performance from MJF.
The rising star has been a big part of the recent Being the Elite episodes, so it isn't hard to see him go far.
Barring a few hilarious moments with Orange Cassidy as number 20 or the 'Perfect 10' Shawn Spears, and other shenanigans. The obvious winner was the man who drew the joker card; Adam Page. One of the key members of the Elite and the roster, with his match against PAC canned due to "creative differences", this is where he got redemption.
Result: Adam Page throws out MJF last with a hellacious clothesline, to win the match and a future shot for the AEW World Championship!
Rating:
#3 The Buy-In: Young Bucks of A Different Kind
Kip Sabian vs. Sammy Guevara
A mid-level belter to add to the heat of Double or Nothing before the main card, this one features two young hot prospects that AEW will look to develop for the future.
Interestingly Guevara has gotten a bit of footage thanks to his smarmy, cocky antics and he brought this character work to the contest.
Meanwhile playing the babyface, the bland but serious Kip Sabian matched the thrilling Guevara move for move in a short burst of a contest. Though with nothing really at stake, this seemed like the perfect showcase for if ever AEW decides to build a mid-card or light heavyweight championship.
Particularly the latter would look good on Guevara, though his mouth got aptly shut on this night by the genius ring acumen of Sabian. Lifting up his knees in time to stop a 630 from Sammy, Sabian rolled it into the Deathly Hallows for a spiffy one-two-three. Though not as coherent and connected as a match of this style, these two left a decent impression to open the real show.
Result: Kip Sabian rolls Sammy Guevara into a swift pin to win the match!
Rating:
#4 Hot Opener in the Best Worst Town for SCU
Six Man Tag Match: SCU (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky) vs. Strong Hearts (CIMA, Lindaman and T-Hawk)
Well aware they need to get off to a hot start and sell their wares right, AEW management brings in SCU for the opener. The California-based team of wrestling veterans are fan favorites, despite their thrilling heel styled schtick.
Up against them, the SCU is given none other than the imported contingent from China-based promotion OWE.
It's a genius way to get Double or Nothing rocking, especially early on as leaders CIMA and Daniels prove to know each other a bit too well.
The contest thrives on all kinds of chaos, with the Strong Hearts promoted not just as an athletic trio, but distinctively styled wrestlers. In particular, form though is Scorpio Sky, making smart saves and taking quick dives to even the playing field.
Amidst all this, already the words of EVP's Young Bucks ring true; AEW is all in on a tag team revolution.
CIMA threads this sprint together, with his experience carrying forward the idea that he will help OWE get the main event stateside sooner or later in AEW.
Kazarian's hard blows, Lindaman's strength and T Hawk's finesse around this match out. At this point, the fallen angel Christopher Daniel's needs no praise.
Result: With smart team blocking, SCU takes the pin with a Best Meltzer to win the opening contest.
Rating:
#5 An Awesome Match?
Fatal Four Way: Britt Baker vs. Nyla Rose vs. Kylie Ray vs. Awesome Kong/w Brandi Rhodes
The moment Brandi showed viewers her cards on the 'Road to DoN' YouTube show, it was obvious she had something devilish planned for the AEW Women's showcase match. Instead of inserting herself into the competition though, Brandi demanded this match turn out awesome and for that, you need Awesome Kong.
Unfortunately, some of the bookings seem to work counter-intuitive to this process as Kong spent a fair amount of time on the outside as did the beastly Nyla Rose. It thus became a well-paced, but sometimes unhinged showcase, between Britt Baker and Kylie Ray. Intriguingly Kylie showed facets of her happy-go-lucky personality, proving how well the Bayley caricature can work with nuanced storytelling.
Britt equally showed some grit in both mocking Kylie but also acting as the top face of the division. Britt managed to keep Kong away long enough for her to take Kylie down and win the match, makes the use of both female monsters in the contest work better than it really should.
These four women thus giving a disjointed but ultimately workable match, that means AEW's Women's division has nothing but to go up from here.
Result: Britt Baker knocks Kylie Rae out with a smooth Ushigoroshi for the win!
Rating:
#6 Tag Team Wrestling is Alive Part I
Best Friends (Chuckie T and Trent) vs. Jack Evans and Angelico
It's interesting to note as they make their entrances, each team in this match has a natural smarmy sort of heel (Chuckie and Evans) as well as a cool likable babyface (Trent and Angelico) to counter the other.
Obviously, the reunited Evans and Angelico played heels in a contest that started as a standard tag team match.
For a while, there is a heated build to the breakdown of Trent, as he is so formidable at playing the babyface in peril.
It reverts back to the motto of the Bucks that tag team wrestling is a primary focus for the AEW.
This shows as the match hits an unbelievable chaotic trigger, with Evans playing to his harsh strengths and roping Angelico in. This gives Trent babyface momentum but also allows Chuckie to run wild.
The fractured dynamic from their recent NJPW run doesn't stand here, even though Chuckie goes a bit ruthless towards the end.
Of course, as the primary heels, Evans and Angelico break up the Best Friends signature hug before they eventually land it in for the third act of the match.
Trent remains resilient in an onslaught long enough for Chuckie to make the final save before a strong zero brings to close this sleekly structured classic yet twisted tag team bout.
Though the team of Angelico and Evans go on to tease hugging the Best Friends after a face-off, it's all for naught as the Super Smash Brothers attack to fill the ranks of this stellar division.
Result: With a strong zero, Trent finishes it off to win the match for the Best Friends
Rating:
#7 Joshi Women Steal the Show!
6 Woman tag match: Aja Kong, Yuka Sakazaki and Emi Sakura vs. Hikaru Shida, Riho Abe and Ryo Mizunami
On entrances alone, the six Joshi wrestlers steal the show particularly Sakura, paying tribute to Queen frontman Freddy Mercury in epic style. Without much of a story, the six women among them the legendary Aja Kong play to their strengths in a fast-paced, hard-hitting match with contrasting character work.
The sprightly Abe tackles the mischevious Genie like Sakazaki, Kong butts heads and more with the younger less stronger but faster Mizunami.
Meanwhile, the match unfolds, teasing an eventual confrontation between mentor Emi Sakura and protegé Hikaru Shida. Shida is the lynchpin of the Joshi contingent brought into AEW, and she delivers once receiving the hot tag.
A few last-minute shenanigans see Kong pulling off a dirty trick, smashing a can on Shida's knee. With subtle selling, as the chaos around comes to rest and her team plays defensive, Shida tackles Sakura to a draw until she ekes out with the victory.
Result: Shida hits a knee strike to give her team the win!
Rating:
#8 Brothers in Arms
Cody/w Brandi Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes
For all the hold to hold excellence of wrestling, what really makes a match immortal is its storytelling and there's none better than the classical brother versus brother.
From the onset with his throne breaking statement to WWE, Cody and Brandi arrive with heel smarm but there's something more.
From the red-tinged face paint of his burdened old man schtick it seems Dustin is in over his head, yet still more remains in him.
Pure and perfect storytelling this one as Cody once more channels his sneaky heel self to put his brother out the pasture, yet there is more.
By virtue of showcasing a certain emotive restraint and by the never say die attitude of a Dustin seeking a form of salvation, the two craft a biblical masterpiece.
Bleeding buckets Dusty fight back, but Cody is just as relentless in vanquishing his brother and by proxy his demons of a past era that haunts his generation of wrestlers.
It's the perfect story for a second generation son to stick his hat on, one Dustin has failed to elevate from as well. It also gives the narrative impetus for the match to become more than cocky young prodigal son versus underdog elder one. Cody elevates his classic game while Dustin winds back the clock in unbelievable fashion.
The complexities of the characters merge into a Shakespearean like melodrama and tragedy, ending on an unbelievable hopeful note as our two characters (not heroes or villains) hug it out as brothers.
Result: Cody hits a final Cross Rhodes to win and cement his legacy
Rating:
#9 Tag Team Wrestling is Alive Part II
For the AAA World Tag Team Championships: The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (c) vs. The Lucha Bros. (Pentagon Jr. and Fenix)
If the Young Bucks promised it, then they deliver it too. With ring rust dodging the brothers, the main story coming in is that Bucks have had only two matches in this past year. Meanwhile, despite being singles competitors, this year has seen the Lucha Bros truly flourish as a unit. It's that contrast that builds the thin but perfect layer of a story in this fast-paced contest.
It begins with some trash talk that eventually escalates to animosity, surprisingly the fans keep siding with the Lucha duo, putting the Bucks off their game.
The meat of the match sees Bucks stitching together a great sequence of moves before losing the edge, with ill-timed miscommunication. It allows Pentagon and Fenix to take control, but only for a while as the naturally gifted Bucks rally again.
In contrast to the zippy opener and the classic tag match from earlier, this one mixes all the wrestler's styles to create a fascinating chess match resulting in a stalemate each time. The crowd isn't let loose until the near end. A masterful sequence of superkicks followed by some harsh shots and power moves on the floor and ring edge. A flurry of signature shots including an arm breaker on Matt follows through into a stunning Meltzer driver for the Bucks to sneak away with a win.
Result: Young Bucks get the final shot on Fenix to win and retain the AAA World Tag Team Championships!
Rating:
#10 Elite is Jericho
For a shot at the AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho
Shout out to Jericho parodying his former versions on his way to a menacing entrance, a reminder that Jericho is the GOAT and master of wrestling reinvention.
Taking a page out of the Okada-Omega playbook, this normal singles match plays with the story of Omega being unable to hit the one winged angel on Jericho. Eventually, he just doesn't get it, allowing the iconic Canadian to walk away with a surprising clean win.
Playing against expectations, Jericho and Omega form an intriguing story that helps elevate a match that isn't as great as their hardcore classing at the Tokyo Dome last year.
Though they sneak in some nasty shots, including a bleeding Kenny Omega, this one remains a bit staid and works against Jericho somewhat. Still that Y2J manages to keep up is a sight to behold and that he and Omega do so while constructing a smart story is brilliant.
The idea put forth is simple, while Jericho can stand the test of time; inaction has led Kenny to some poor conditioning that puts him on the back foot. It's an interesting subversion to not only their last match, but the aforementioned Omega-Okada classic.
Here Omega can't hit the big finisher because he just can't and it eventually does him in, as the ruthless Jericho gains vindication.
Result: Chris Jericho debuts his Judas Effect elbow with ruthless efficiency to put down Omega and win their sequel match!
Rating:
#11 Final Thoughts
As its first PPV with the AEW tag, Double or Nothing really had to hit the mark and it did for the most part. Some stellar surprises combined with great matches and finally the world championship reveal, gives AEW a reason to believe it can change the world as the ELITE claim.
There are few kinks and things that the team will have to figure out for their next outing, in particular, the hopes that the card isn't disrupted by outside creative issues or for that matter a parody of the edgy alternative it peddles.
Luckily the variety on display by the company gives a clear sign, that they are ready to march ahead.
The final image of Double or Nothing will remain a microcosm of what AEW offers, the best of the best in their best element. It is after all the fans and the wrestlers who make the product what it truly is and if they're not on a level worth being on, then what's the point.
Thankfully from a brother versus brother contest to Jon Moxley's reinvention, AEW proves that it is for the Elite, by the Elite, always the Elite!
Final Rating:
