The John Report: AEW Double or Nothing 2023 Review

It’s AEW Double or Nothing with MJF defending the AEW World Title against Jack Perry, Sammy Guevara & Darby Allin while The Elite battles the Blackpool Combat Club and more.

This is the fifth edition of Double or Nothing. The first Double or Nothing was AEW’s first pay-per-view event and it took place in May 2019. Double or Nothing has become a tradition on US Memorial Day long weekend. This year’s show had slower ticket sales in Las Vegas, but it should still be a strong show with a hot crowd. I’m watching the pay-per-view on Fite TV here in Canada.

The Hardys (Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy) & Hook (with Isiah Kassidy) defeated Ethan Page and The Gunns (Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn) on the pre-show match. The win means that Matt Hardy now owns Ethan Page’s contract. I didn’t see it, nor do I plan to review it. The main show is enough. Let’s roll.

AEW Double or Nothing
Sunday, May 28, 2023
From the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

It’s Sunday and you know what that means. The commentary team was Excalibur, Taz and Jim Ross to start.

21-Man Blackjack Battle Royale for International Championship

Orange Cassidy was defending the International Championship against 20 opponents. Everybody started on the floor, some of them went into the ring and others were staying on the floor. Komander did his rope walking spot leading to a dive onto Big Bill and Lee Moriarty on the floor. The Lucha Bros and other luchadores in the match worked together leading to Bandido giving Nese a delayed vertical suplex. Nese was eliminated after that. Fenix eliminated Ari Daivari with a kick while Ari was setting up Penta for a spot on the apron. Brian Cage finally slid into the ring with a shoulder tackle on Komander and clothesline on Penta. Cage hit a double German Suplex on both Lucha Bros. Cage slammed Bandido and Komander at the same time. Penta and Fenix did some tag team moves on Cage including a double team splash. Penta, Fenix and Bandido took turns doing strikes on Juice Robinson, but Jay White shoved Komander to eliminate him. Ricky Starks avoided an elimination and got back in the ring. Best Friends did a triple Powerbomb on Kip Sabian and Chuck Taylor clotheslined Sabian out. Big Bill tossed Taylor out. Keith Lee easily tossed The Blade out. Swerve Strickland was watching from the ramp even though he’s in the match. Lee nailed Cage with a forearm, so that led to Swerve finally going in to go after Lee by jumping on his back. Lee splashed Cage in the corner, Swerve kicked Lee in the head and Lee hit a powerslam on Swerve. Cage superkicked Lee to knock him down. Lucha Bros eliminated The Butcher with a double superkick. Bill sent Bandido to the apron and Lee Moriarty kicked Bandido out. Trent Beretta and Moriarty battled on the apron with Trent hitting a suplex on the apron, so Moriarty was eliminated. Bill wanted to boot Orange, but Trent shoved Orange out of the way and Bill kicked Trent, so Orange was safe. Brian Cage eliminated Keith Lee while Keith was engaged with Swerve. Dustin hit Cross Rhodes on Cage, but Swerve saved Cage from elimination.

White and Juice avoided an elimination, then they put Fenix to the apron and Fenix was eliminated by Penta hitting him by accident. Juice was eliminated also. White hit a suplex on Starks. White hit the neckbreaker on Penta, then Starks hit a Spear on White and Starks eliminated White. Starks was pulled out of the ring (not eliminated) and White whipped Starks into the barricade. Starks battled Big Bill, who managed to kick Starks over the top to the floor. Dustin Rhodes eliminated Cage with a Canadian Destroyer on the apron and Swerve kicked Dustin off the apron to the floor.

The final four were Orange Cassidy, Swerve Strickland, Big Bill & Penta. Penta was on fire including a backstabber on Orange. Bill with a boot to Penta’s face and a clothesline over the top to the floor. Bill hit a Bossman Slam on Orange. Bill told Swerve he wanted to eliminate Orange, so Bill picked Orange up and Swerve shoved Bill over the to top to the floor. Orange avoided elimination when Swerve tried to toss him out. They each went for moves, Orange hit a Stundog Millionaire and Swerve bounced off the ropes with a jumping kick to the head. After they were both down selling for about 30 seconds, they were back up and Swerve got some offense going leading to a Swerve Stomp off the top. Orange came back with a DDT followed by a second tornado DDT. Orange hit the Orange Punch to knock Swerve over the top to the apron. Swerve caught Orange, brought him over the top and they battled on the apron with Prince Nana grabbing Orange’s foot. Swerve with a knee to Orange on the apron. Swerve jumped off the top, Orange with a boot to the head and Orange kicked Swerve’s hand so Swerve fell. Orange won the match to keep his title. It went 22:23.

Winner: Orange Cassidy

Analysis: ***1/4 It was an entertaining battle royal and a way to get a lot of people on the show. I thought the first half of the match was mostly boring, but it got better as it went on. Orange was impressive as usual while Big Bill had his moments and so did Swerve. This match was full of people who should be in featured matches on the show, but instead, they are stuck in a battle royal. Guys like Jay White, Keith Lee, Ricky Starks and Swerve Strickland to name a few should be used a lot better than they are. I picked Orange to keep his title, so it’s not a major surprise that he won because Tony Khan has said he is his favorite wrestler (or one of his favorites) and Tony books Orange to be like a superman with how long he has held this title while beating everybody in his path.

The commentary team was ringside to call the action instead of by the entrance area as usual.

There was a commercial about AEW’s partnership with Draftkings, who has a pool for the show where you can predict things. It’s not really sports betting, but it’s something close to that.

A video aired recapping the Chris Jericho-Adam Cole story ahead of their match.

Chris Jericho made his entrance with the Jericho Appreciation Society’s Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager, Angelo Parker & Matt Menard joining Jericho. The crowd was singing the “Judas” song as usual. Jericho’s wife, son and two daughters were ringside as well. Sabu was the special enforcer for the match. Adam Cole (bay bay) made his entrance with Roderick Strong and Sabu. They all had steel chairs with them.

Unsanctioned Match: Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole

Sabu was the special enforcer for the match. Anything goes in a match like this.

There was a fight outside the ring before the match began. Garcia joined Jericho in the ring attacking Cole. JR screamed “stupid” at somebody around him that apparently did something stupid. Sabu threw a chair at Jericho. Sabu went up top and put Menard & Parker through a table on the floor. Garcia and Strong were beating up Strong and Sabu. Sabu fought with Garcia to the back while Hager fought with Strong to the back. It was time for the guys in the actual match to have a match.

Jericho and Cole exchanged punches with Cole sending Jericho out of the ring. Cole rammed Jericho’s right and left knees into the ring post. Jericho was on the apron, there was a table on the floor and Jericho blocked the move leading to Jericho suplexing Cole off the apron to the floor. Jericho teased a Powerbomb onto the table, Cole fought out of it and Jericho sent Cole into the apron. Jericho sent Cole knee-first into the steel steps. JR said that Jericho has never been better in his career, which is a ridiculous statement since Jericho is 52, but it’s AEW. Anyway, Jericho clotheslined Cole followed by some choking with a chair. Cole sent a charging Jericho into a steel chair that was wedged against the turnbuckle. Jericho did a double forearm shot to Cole’s chest. Jericho tried a Lionsault, but Cole superkicked him and that looked awkward. Jericho blocked a Panama Sunrise attempt leading to Jericho applying a Liontamer submission. Jericho: “Ask him!” Cole to the ropes, but there was no rope break, so Cole crawled to a fire extinguisher. Cole used the fire extinguisher spray into Jericho’s face. Cole hit Jericho with a gentle extinguisher attack for a two count. Very weak shot there. Cole ran the ropes and Jericho hit a Codebreaker for two. Jericho sprayed some fire extinguisher spray on Cole and dropped the extinguisher on Cole’s stomach.

Jericho grabbed a kendo stick from ringside and went back into the ring with Britt Baker running out with a kendo stick. Baker hit Jericho with multiple kendo stick shots to the body. Saraya went out to the ring, so Baker hit her with the kendo stick several times. Saraya ran away with Britt chasing after her. Cole hit a backstabber with a kendo stick for a two count. Cole took a long time going up top, so Jericho threw a chair at Cole’s head and Cole collapsed off the turnbuckle and onto a table by the ring apron. Jericho sent Cole’s head into the ring apron, which was really Cole slapping the apron with his hand. Jericho grabbed a steel chain from under the ring. Cole managed to get a DDT onto the chain. Cole’s right hand was handcuffed, so Cole handcuffed Jericho’s right hand too. Cole with a superkick and Cole went to the apron leading to the Panama Sunrise for two. Jericho came back using the chain as a weapon as he hit Cole in the back with the chain a few times. Jericho tried to choke Cole with the chain, Cole got out of it and hit two superkick. Cole hit the Boom running knee to the back of the head with no cover. Cole punched Jericho in the head repeatedly with left-handed hammer fists. The referee Aubrey Edwards called for the bell so it ended due to referee stoppage at 17:01. The crowd didn’t react to the finish much.

Winner by referee stoppage: Adam Cole

Analysis: *** It wasn’t a great match or some epic showdown like the announcers tried to build it up going into it. They did well together, but I don’t think it was very dramatic or that interesting towards the finish. The ending fell flat too. Maybe Jericho thought if he didn’t get pinned it would mean more for Cole, but I think how they ended with hammer fists was weak. It’s a bit of a surprise that they didn’t bleed in the match too, but I think it’s because there will be so much blood later in the show.

A video aired about FTR vs. Jarrett-Lethal for the Tag Team Titles.

AEW Tag Team Championships: Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal (w/Karen Jarrett, Satnam Singh & Sonjay Dutt)

Mark Briscoe is the special referee for this match, so he was in a striped search. I missed the first seven minutes of the match due to a laptop issue, which led to a bathroom break. It was a technical glitch and needed to restart my laptop too. The challengers were working over Wheeler with a chinlock while JR was yelling at Dutt by calling him a “little jerk.” Wheeler hit a belly to back suplex on Wheeler. Wheeler got a rollup on Lethal, but Harwood was knocked off the apron to prevent a tag. Jericho kicked Wheeler’s leg leading to Jarrett applying a Figure Four Leglock submission. Harwood pulled Lethal off the apron and Harwood hit a diving headbutt off the top on Jarrett to break the submission. Harwood finally got the hot tag against Lethal with punches/clotheslines, then a clothesline and a short arm lariat. Harwood hit three German Suplexes and a brainbuster for two. Lethal hit the backbreaker/flatliner combo. Harwood and Lethal battled on the turnbuckle with an exchange of chops. Lethal knocked Harwood down, Lethal went up top and took way too long, so Harwood knocked him down. Harwood hit a superplex off the top, then a lift and FTR hit a Doomsday Powerbomb on Lethal. Wheeler hit a dive on the floor. Dutt pulled Harwood off the pin attempt. Briscoe eliminated Dutt from ringside. Briscoe ejected Singh too. Jarrett used a guitar on Briscoe because Harwood moved out of the way. Harwood punched Jarett out of the ring. Harwood caught Lethal doing his finish off the ropes, which led to Wheeler hitting the Big Rig on Lethal. Harwood covered Lethal, Aubrey Edwards ran out to try to count the pin, then she shoved down Dutt and Karen Jarrett hit Aubrey with a guitar on the head. Karen fell over in her heels after she did that. Lethal hit the Lethal Injection on Harwood & Wheeler at the same time. Fans chanted “f**k you Karen” so she gave them a middle finger salute. Lethal tried a belt shot attack, Harwood fought out of it and hit a piledriver. Jarrett hit Harwood with the title and hit The Stroke leading to Mark doing a slow count one…two…and no because Harwood got his arm up. Jarrett was shoving Mark in the face along with a punch, so Mark slapped Jarrett back and FTR hit the Big Rig/Shatter Machine for the pinfall win at 20:01.

Winners by pinfall: Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler

Analysis: **3/4 It was okay for the most part, but also an overbooked mess toward the last few minutes. It felt like a typical Jeff Jarrett TNA main event level match with the referee bumps, guitar smashing and nearfalls toward the finish. FTR usually has better matches than that, but it was so overbooked that it was tough for them to overcome that. I think storyline-wise it told the right story with Mark not wanting to help Jarrett/Lethal and ultimately did the babyface thing as FTR got the win.

After the match, FTR hugged their good friend Mark Briscoe and the fans cheered that. FTR held up the titles with Mark.

Ricky Starks was interviewed by Alex Marvez backstage. Jay White and Juice Robinson attacked him, so FTR was there and chased White & Robinson off.

Analysis: That could mean they go with FTR against White/Robinson as a feud next, but maybe it was just a case of FTR watching their buddy Starks.

There was a video about Wardlow defending the TNT Title against Christian Cage, who lost his last match at Revolution two months ago and still gets a title match for some reason.

Chris Jericho was screaming backstage about what happened while Saraya was complaining about Britt Baker as well. Jericho demanded that Tony Khan gives them a tag team match on Dynamite: Saraya & Jericho vs. Adam Cole & Britt Baker. Jericho was smashing things, some random guy in a shirt told him to calm down and Jericho threw fire in the guy’s face. Jericho: “Don’t tell me to calm down. I’m a wizard, bitch.”

Analysis: Alrighty then. Some bad acting there by the guy selling the fireball attack, but that’s pro wrestling.

TNT Championship Ladder Match: Wardlow (w/Arn Anderson) vs. Wardlow vs. Christian Cage

Wardlow grabbed the first ladder of the match, but Christian dropkicked the ladder into him. Christian tried a leaping attack only for Wardlow to hit Christian with the ladder. Wardlow set up two tables on the floor. Wardlow slammed Christian’s head against the steel steps. Wardlow put Christian on the table, there were some punches and then Wardlow went up top, so Christian bailed from the table to avoid that. Christian sent Wardlow into the barricade followed by Christian hitting Wardlow with a ladder jab to the ribs. Wardlow put Christian on a ladder that was set up as a bridge from the apron/ barricade. Christian avoided a move and tripped Wardlow, so Wardlow was crotched on the ladder. Taz got to say his favorite word “yambag” for that low blow. Back in the ring, Wardlow sent Christian into a ladder that was in the ring. Christian came back by sending a charging Wardlow into the ladder against the turnbuckle. Christian used a ladder for an attack. Christian tried a climb, Wardlow pulled him down and hit a clothesline. Wardlow tried for a Powerbomb, Christian got out of that and Wardlow hit a powerslam. Wardlow pressed Christian above his head, spun him around and press slammed Christian on to a ladder that was on the mat in the ring. Luchasaurus showed up at ringside to send Christian back into the ring, so Christian did a reverse DDT off the ladder onto the mat. Wardlow came back with a spinebuster onto a ladder. Wardlow went up top and jumped off with a Senton Bomb, but Christian moved and Wardlow hit the ladder. Arn Anderson went to ringside, he told Wardlow something and while Christian was doing a slow climb, Wardlow tried jumping onto the ladder. Wardlow’s weight hitting the ladder knocked both guys down and hurt the ladder. Wardlow looked like he was moving around okay. Wardlow got another ladder, Luchasaurus went into the ring and Chokeslammed Wardlow two times in a row. Arn Anderson went into the ring, Luchasaurus went into the ring, Arn bit the thumb and Luchasaurus thumb was bleeding. Luchasaurus grabbed Arn, but Wardlow hit him with a chair to the back. Wardlow put Luchasaurus on the two tables, Arn held the ladder, Wardlow climbed up top, two referees also held the ladder and Wardlow jumped with a Swanton Bomb driving Luchasaurus and himself through the table. I don’t know where Christian was, but Wardlow was down selling that 15-foot drop. Christian was back up, he did the world’s slowest ladder climb, got his right hand on the ladder and Arn shoved the ladder, so Wardlow caught Christian and hit a Powerbomb. Wardlow climbed the ladder and retrieved the title to win the match. It went 17:10.

Winner: Wardlow

Analysis: **1/2 It was okay for a ladder match, but I don’t know why AEW is insisting on every match having heavy interference on this show. It’s hard to care about these matches that much when they feel like they have to involve the guys that aren’t in the match. Arn biting the fake thumb of Luchasaurus was so weird. I thought Christian should have had more moments in the match where it looked like he might win because it was so obvious Wardlow would win. There have certainly been many ladder matches that were better than this. It wasn’t memorable at all while Wardlow winning was the obvious result.

Wardlow celebrated with the title while Arn had blood on his mouth from biting the gimmicked finger of Luchasaurus. Arn raised Wardlow’s hand with the announcers put over Arn’s effort.

A video aired about the Jamie Hayter-Toni Storm AEW Women’s Title match.

Tony Schiavone replaced Jim Ross for the rest of the show. Poor JR.

Toni Storm entered first. Jamie Hayter, the AEW Women’s Champion, did not enter right away. Hayter was stumbling out of the entrance area with The Outcasts Saraya & Ruby Soho were there attacking Hayter. Hayter had her right shoulder taped up as Storm sent Hayter into the barricade, then Storm sent Hayter into the steel steps and Storm dropkicked Hayter on the right arm. The referee Paul Turner checked on Hayter to start the match.

AEW Women’s Championship: Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm (w/Saraya & Ruby Soho)

Saraya took a turnbuckle pad off to expose the steel. Britt Baker ran out there to beat up Saraya a bit. Way to show up five minutes late. Hayter sent Storm into the referee Turner and the hit the turnbuckle that was exposed. Hayter covered Storm for two. Ruby sprayed green spraypaint in Hayter’s eyes. Storm hit a running hip attack on Hayter for a two count. Hikaru Shida attacked Ruby and they went fighting to the back. Hayter sent Storm into the exposed turnbuckle. Hayter hit the Hayterade clothesline and Hayter was selling the arm leading to a slow cover, so Storm kicked out at two. Hayter took the tape off, then did a flex and Storm sent Hayter into the turnbuckle again. Storm hit the Storm Zero piledriver for the pinfall win at 3:05.

Winner by pinfall and NEW AEW Women’s Champion: Toni Storm

Analysis: ** It was more about the story with Hayter selling the arm injury and Storm taking advantage of the injury. I predicted a title change because Hayter is legitimately dealing with a right arm injury and she might need time off, so Storm winning was the right call. It was yet another match on this show with some outside involvement from people on the floor. Congrats to Storm on her second title win.

Toni Storm is now a two-time AEW Women’s Champion. Hayter beat Storm last November at Full Gear and now Storm gets the title back. Storm celebrated with Soho & Saraya while Hayter was getting looked at by the ringside doctor. Storm celebrated with her buddies in The Outcasts.

Renee Paquette & RJ City were shown talking about the AEW/Draftkings pool.

The Trios Tag Team Title match was next with House of Black entering as the champions in this open challenge.

The Acclaimed with Uncle “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn were the opponents. Max Caster made a reference to Buddy Matthews’ girlfriend being Rhea Ripley by mentioning Dominik by name. Caster asked how they can be House of Black with no black guys in it too. Anyway, this title match that was teased during the week.

AEW Trios Tag Team Championships: House of Black – Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews (w/Julia Hart) vs. The Acclaimed – Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Billy Gunn

There was a spotlight on the ring for this match and the fans were darkened. Bowens started with Black. When Buddy tagged in, some fans were chanting “Dominik” at him. Bowens hit a leg drop to the back of the head on Buddy. Caster tagged in, Bowens with a dropkick and Caster slammed Buddy onto the apron. King tagged in, Black was still allowed in the ring with a kick and King hit a clothesline. Caster dropkicked King out of the ring. Black was legal as Bowens got the tag and Bowens hit a running punch. Bowens hit his leg drop off the turnbuckle, but Black caught the leg into a submission. King beat up Gunn on the floor while Buddy dove onto Caster. King hit a cross body block on Gunn against the barricade. Bowens got out of the hold Black had him in and Bowens hit a neckbreaker onto the knee. Nobody on Bowens’ team was on the apron, so Black trapped Bowens in a kneebar again. Buddy tagged in with a Meteora double knee attack on Bowens. Black was back in with a knee submission on the left knee, Bowens to the ropes and there was no rope break, so Bowens threw elbows to get out of it. Bowens hit a superkick to stun Black. When Bowens nearly tagged out, Black stomped on the left knee and kept him in the ring. House of Black kept making quick tags as they worked over Bowens. King tagged in with hard chops on Bowens. Bowens hit a jawbreaker, then a forearm to the jaw and King drove Bowens into the barricade. King knocked Gunn & Caster off the apron. King hit a cannonball on Bowens for two because Caster made the save. Black sent Caster into the steel steps. Buddy tagged in, Bowens shoved King into Buddy and Bowens sent King to the floor. Bowens kicked Buddy out of the ring. Bowens kicked Black out of the ring too. Bowens tried a tag to Gunn, but King pulled Gunn off the apron. Buddy kicked Bowens, but Bowens hit a superkick. Gunn tagged in with punches, corner splashes and powerslam. Gunn hit a Full Nelson Slam on Black. King chopped Gunn, no sell by Billy and a Fameasser by Gunn on King. Buddy kicked Gunn, but Gunn hit Buddy with a Fameasser too. Black hit a spin kick to the head of Gunn and covered (I guess Black was legal) for the pinfall win at 15:27.

Winners by pinfall: House of Black – Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews

Analysis: ***1/4 A good match with no story, but it was just a way to give House of Black a win as the champions. I liked how they did an old school style tag team match with Bowens as the face in peril for much of it and building to the hot tag moment. Gunn was effective when he finally got in there, but then he got knocked out by that kick by Black. It would be nice if they could give House of Black a storyline. We still don’t really know if they are faces or heels most times I see them.

There was a plug for the AEW Fight Forever game that’s available on June 29th.

Taya Valkyrie entered for the TBS Title match. There were some dancers on stage joining Taya for her entrance. Jade Cargill made her entrance as the undefeated TBS Champion, who is 59-0. Jade did a dance routine along with some dancers from a sorority that Jade is part of.

TBS Championship: Jade Cargill (w/Leila Grey & Smart Mark Sterling) vs. Taya Valkyrie

Both women tried for their finishers early in the match. Taya hit a shoulder tackle and sent Jade out of the ring. Taya jumped off the top with a cross body block on Sterling on the floor. Jade hit a pump kick to knock Taya down on the floor. Back in the ring, Taya set up Jade against the ropes, Taya with a kick to the back and a German Suplex while Jade was on the ropes. That’s a Shinsuke Nakamura spot that Taya did well. Grey grabbed Taya’s boot, the referee had to like he couldn’t see it and Jade kicked Taya off the apron to knock her down. Jade suplexed Taya on the floor. Jade hit a spinebuster for two. Jade sent Taya throat first into the top of the barricade. Back in the ring, Jade pulled back on the arms in a submission. Taya broke free leading to a lariat for two. Jade with a forearm long with three short clotheslines although they didn’t look that great. Taya with forearms, then she went off the ropes, Jade caught Taya with a sleeper and Taya hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for two. Jade tried a springboard attack, but Taya got the knees up for a double knee attack like a Codebreaker counter. Taya tripped up Jade, tied up the legs and pulled back on the chin. Taya let go and stomped on Jade’s back for a two count. Grey was on the apron, so Taya kicked her down. Jade got a rollup for two. Taya hit a Spear on a running Jade. Taya hit the Road to Valhalla slam for one…two…and no because Jade got her left shoulder up. Jade could have done a better job of kicking out of that. Jade with a kick to the jaw and Jade hit Jaded for the pinfall win at 8:51.

Winner by pinfall: Jade Cargill

Analysis: **3/4 That was one of Jade’s better matches because she is improving and because Taya is better than most of the women in AEW. They had a physical match with that good nearfall after Taya hit her finish. I think sometimes Jade’s selling looks awkward and she could sell more consistently, but I think Jade looks very believable when she’s on offense.

Jade Cargill is now 60-0 as the graphic was shown on the screens. Smart Mark Sterling did a promo saying 60-0 undefeated. Sterling said that Jade will wrestle for that championship any time and any place, but the problem is there is nobody left.

Kris Statlander made her return with a new look and she made her way down to the ring. The referee rang the bell, so the match is on now.

TBS Championship: Jade Cargill vs. Kris Statlander

Statlander with a kick, an elbow and a running kick. Statlander with a lift, Jade with a knee strike and a pump kick. Jade went for Jaded, Statlander got out of that and hit a jumping Tombstone for the pinfall win at 0:49. New champion!

Winner by pinfall AND NEW TBS Champion: Kris Statlander

Analysis: * It was cool as a surprise moment. Good for Statlander, who has come a long way from being an alien character and she’s such a talented wrestler. I’m happy for Kris because she overcame injuries in her career, so now she finally has some gold.

Kris Statlander celebrated the win with the TBS Title while confetti filled the ringside area. The fans popped for it while the announcers were so excited about the title change.

A video aired about the AEW World Title match with MJF defending against Sammy Guevara, Jack Perry & Darby Allin in a four-way match. I think a lot of people thought this would main event, but it’s on now.

It was “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry up first to a good pop with Excalibur saying it was the first match of the double main event. Sammy Guevara had the cue cards with him joined by his wife Tay Melo. Sammy had a sign saying “we are having a baby” so congrats to Sammy and Tay on the baby news. That was cool. Darby Allin was next for his entrance. There was some vignette with an Elvis impersonator, but I wasn’t really paying attention. MJF was sitting on a throne with the devil mask and the AEW World Title around his waist. Tony Schiavone: “Oh my God.” There were some women on the ramp on their knees as Max walked by them.

AEW World Championship: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) vs. Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry

The first fall wins. No countouts or disqualifications in a match like this.

MJF bailed to the floor, then back into the ring and the three guys attacked Max at the same. Jack chopped MJF, then Sammy did a chop and Allin stomped on MJF. Allin, Jack and Sammy did a gymnastics routine to show it was all even between them. Jack with a double armdrag sending Sammy and Allin out of the ring. MJF back in the ring with a clothesline on Jack. MJF ran the ropes followed by a strut and hip shake. Allin hit a dropkick on Max followed by a suicide dive on the floor. Jack with two suicide dives and then a somersault dive over the top onto MJF & Allin. Sammy hit a Shooting Star Press off the top onto the three guys on the floor. Back in the ring, they did a Tower of Doom spot with Jack doing a German Suplex to take out Sammy and Allin while MJF got hit by the attack too. Jack got a Poison Rana on Sammy for a two count. Allin got a nearfall on MJF that I missed. Sammy sent Allin into the turnbuckle. Sammy hit a superkick on Jack on the floor. Allin tried a dive, but Sammy caught him with a Cutter. Sammy hit a Spanish Fly on MJF and a dive on Jack on the floor. Back in the ring, Sammy hit a Frog Splash off the top for two. Sammy was on fire there. MJF bit Sammy, knee strike to Jack and a kick on Jack. MJF gave Sammy an arm drag into Jack. MJF picked up Allin and slammed him with a sitout slam for a two count. Sammy tried a superkick, MJF caught the foot, called Sammy a “f**king idiot” and all four guys each hit strikes ending with Allin hitting a dropkick on Jack. All four guys were down while the fans chanted “AEW” for them.

Allin hit a reverse DDT (Scorpion Death Drop) on MJF, Sammy with a Codebreaker on Allin, Killswitch by Jack on Sammy and MJF hit Cross Rhodes on Jack for a two count. They all hit moves from their mentors. MJF did a promo saying he saw Sammy’s cue card, he needs the money and he should lay down. Max told him to think about the baby. Sammy said he’ll lay down and take the money. Sammy laid down, Max tried a cover and Sammy got a cradle for two. Sammy tried GTH, MJF blocked it and tried a submission, btu Sammy applied the Liontamer that was more of a Boston Crab. MJF grabbed the ropes, no rope break and Allin applied a Scorpion Deathlock on Jack. MJF nearly tapped, Jack caught it and the submissions were let go. Allin with a Figure Four Leglock on Sammy, Jack with an armbar, Sammy with a weak Ankle Lock on MJF and MJF did a chinlock on Jack, so they were all submission moves at the same time. Allin countered a MJF move with a Canadian Destroyer, then Sammy with a Canadian Destroyer on Allin and Jack hit a Canadian Destroyer on Sammy too. Three straight Destroyer moves. Jack hit another Canadian Destroyer on MJF for a two count. Jack hit a Tiger Driver on Sammy for a two count. Allin got a hold of Jack on the floor, he pushed Jack into the barricade and Jack hit a double clothesline on Jack/MJF to knock all three of them to the floor. Allin went up top, Sammy hit a running knee and Sammy joined Allin up top. Sammy gave Allin a Spanish Fly off the top onto MJF/Jack on the floor. That was an incredible move. Wow. All four guys crawled back in the ring to show that it was an even matchup after 20 minutes of action.

The four guys stood in the ring as they exchanged strikes, except for MJF, who did eye pokes to the three guys. The three guys hit a triple superplex on MJF. Sammy hit a Cutter off the top to MJF, Allin with Code Red on MJF, and Jack hit a forearm on MJF. Allin, Sammy and Jack all got nearfalls with some incredible pin attempts. Sammy lifted up Jack with an Implant DDT. Allin hit Code Red on Sammy. Allin went up top, but MJF grabbed the ropes to crotch Allin up there. MJF gave Allin a Powerbomb off the top rope. MJF was selling a left arm/wrist injury. MJF got a two count when Sammy broke up the pin and Jack broke up a pin attempt. Jack got three straight nearfalls on the three opponents. Sammy hit Jack with a Cutter off the ropes. MJF was holding his forearm as Sammy picked him up and MJF hit an uppercut punch. Allin hit MJF in the back of the head with a skateboard. Allin with Coffin Drop on MJF and a headlock takeover for two because Jack made the save. MJF brought the AEW World Title in the ring, Allin blocked a title shot attempt and Sammy clotheslined MJF over the top. Jack had the AEW World Title in his hands so he threw the title down instead of hitting Allin. Allin hit a Last Supper pin on Jack for two. Sammy with running knee strikes on Allin and Jack along with Sammy hitting the GTH on Jack. Allin jumped off the top with a Coffin Drop on Jack, but MJF put the AEW World Title on Jack, so Allin hit the Coffin Drop onto the title. MJF hit the side headlock takeover on Allin for the one…two…and three! A brilliant finish at 27:50.

Winner by pinfall: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF)

Analysis: ****1/2 That was easily the best match on the show up to this point. These guys did a great job in this title match with so many big news, nearfalls by everybody and the timing was right for a lot of it. I thought MJF winning was the obvious result, so no surprise to see him keep the title. The finish was very creative with Allin doing the Coffin Drop, which was a big move on Jack, but also because MJF had the title there, so Allin hit his back and MJF covered for the win. It was a crafty finish. I liked that a lot.

Post match, MJF celebrated with the AEW World Title saying he was still the best pro wrestler in the world. As he left, MJF wondered when he’s getting some competition and said he was bored.

The video package aired for Anarchy in the Arena in the main event.

The Elite foursome entered to the “Wayward Son” song as usual for them. The Blackpool Combat Club made their entrance with a band called Violent Idols singing “Wild Thing” from the stage. The BCC guys walked from the stairs and tried to walk down to the ring, but The Elite met them in the aisles. The bell rang even though they weren’t in the ring because it’s Anarchy in the Arena.

Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson & “Hangman” Adam Page) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)

There was fighting all over the building with some guys on the stairs and others near the ring. Nick threw a trash can on Bryan while he was going down a railing. Nick hit a somersault flip onto somebody in the crowd. Don Callis joined commentary as Moxley sent Omega into the table at ringside. Claudio hit Omega with a chair to the back. Moxley applied the Figure Four Leg Lock on Omega. The referee Rick Knox was bleeding from the forehead, so he was the first one to bleed. Bryan kicked Page, but Page came back with a clothesline. The band was still singing. Page took the eye patch off and tossed it to Bryan. Yuta with a chop block to Page’s leg. All eight guys were brawling in the ring as referee Paul Turner took over as the referee of the match. All four of The Elite guys were punching the PCC guys. The Elite hit four superkicks knocking their opponents out of the ring. The Elite guys all hit suicide dives on their opponents. The Young Bucks were at the top of the ramp, so they hit a double superkick on the Violent Idols. Moxley was bleeding profusely from the forehead, so that took about six minutes for him. Moxley and Omega did a double clothesline in the ring. Matt hit Northern Lights Suplexes on Yuta bringing him all the way down to the ring. Nick hit a running somersault onto Claudio on the apron. Page gave Yuta a Powerbomb onto the apron. Page and Omega took turns working over Moxley with strikes. Moxley moved and Page kicked Omega to knock him down. Moxley knocked down Page and Moxley left the ringside area with Omega.

Bryan worked over Page with punches in the ring. Bryan did some choking with wrist tape. Moxley whipped Omega into a DON poker chip. Moxley revealed the poker chip had barbed wire on the back of it. Matt jumped onto Claudio by the concession area. Moxley suplexed Omega onto the barbed wire board. Bryan and Yuta used their leather belts to whip Page, who was bleeding. Moxley used a fork on Omega’s head. Claudio did the Swing on Matt on the concourse area. Omega managed to slam Moxley back first onto the barbed wire board. Nick Jackson was bleeding around the ringside area. The BCC guys were in control with punches, chops and kicks. There was some action in the parking lot with Claudio doing a piledriver on Matt in the back of the pickup truck. Back in the ring, the BCC was in control again, Omega fought back and Nick cleaned house. Nick hit a double clothesline on Moxley and Yuta. Moxley hit a piledriver on Nick for two. Claudio sent Omega out of the ring while Omega and Yuta applied submission moves on Nick Jackson. Matt limped out to ringside grabbing his neck and Matt hit a superkick on Moxley with an explosion from a firework from the shoe. Matt with three superkicks on Yuta. Hangman hit the Buckshot Lariat on Yuta for two because I think Claudio made the save. Claudio and Bryan took Matt’s shoe off and stomped on Matt’s barefoot. Claudio hit a move on Omega on the floor, but the director missed it. Moxley with thumbtacks in the ring. Moxley slammed Matt so that his left foot hit the pile of thumbtacks and Moxley covered Matt for just two. Bryan with a heel hook on Matt, Nick broke that up with a senton bomb and Moxley hit Nick with a move onto the tacks. Omega with a V-Trigger on Claudio, Bryan with a Busaiko knee on Omega and Bryan did it to Page as well. Three of the BCC guys were doing elbow smashes on three opponents. Yuta with a low blow on Matt. BCC put thumbtacks in Matt’s mouth and Claudio hit an uppercut on Matt. Yuta hit a German Suplex on Matt, but Hangman made the save.

Omega and Page were fired up as they fought against the BBC guys. Page suplexed Claudio and Bryan hit a Spear. Page with Deadeye slam on Bryan and Omega hit the One Winged Angel on Bryan for two because Yuta made the save. Yuta was all alone for his team as Omega and Page beat him up with Omega hitting a rolling senton, Page with an SSP, Omega with a moonsault and Page hit a moonsault onto Claudio on the floor. Yuta avoided a Buckshot Lariat because Yuta hit Page with a screwdriver. Omega with a knee on Yuta. Callis went into the ring and a masked man went into the ring and hit a jumping knee on Omega. It was Takeshita revealing himself as the masked man. Yuta hit Omega with a screwdriver and covered Omega for the pinfall win at 27:03.

Winner by pinfall: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta)

Analysis: ****1/2 That was wild as expected. I don’t think many people expected Yuta to pin Omega to win that match, so good job surprising us with that kind of finish. I think it took a while to get going, but the second half of the match was excellent. It was a bloodbath, it had so many big spots, there was a heel turn at the end because Takeshita was a face in AEW and now he’s a heel that’s aligned with Callis and perhaps the BCC as well. If you’re into technical wrestling or an AEW spotfest kind of match then this wasn’t it. However, they did a nice job of putting this over as a bloody fight and I was very entertained by it.

After the match, Callis strangled Omega with a belt around the throat. Claudio put Yuta on his shoulders and the BCC celebrated the win. The announcers wondered if Takeshita & Callis were in the BCC, but they weren’t sure about it. The BCC celebrated the win with Takeshita and Callis also celebrated. The BCC guys celebrated some more, Omega was shown down in the ring and the show signed off there.

Analysis: I think the logical step next is for Kota Ibushi to join The Elite guys in this battle. They can probably do a Blood & Guts match out of this since that’s 5 on 5 usually, so that’s where it could be headed. I think The Elite will win when they do that match.

AEW Double or Nothing had a runtime of 3:48:48 on pay-per-view.

===

Five Stars of the Show

1. Blackpool Combat Club
2. MJF
3. The Elite
4. Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara & Jack Perry
5. Orange Cassidy, Kris Statlander

Final Thoughts

It gets a 7.5 out of 10 from me.

I think the last two matches really ended the show on a high note so kudos to the guys in the Fatal 4-Way match and the Anarchy in the Arena match. They were outstanding matches. We all knew MJF would retain and he did, but he had an incredible performance with Darby, Sammy & Jack. Anarchy in the Arena was a chaotic brawl with the eight guys and then Konosuke Takeshita turning heel to help the BCC beat The Elite. Good booking for that finish. Anyway, I really enjoyed those two matches.

Everything that happened before the last two matches was a mixed bag. I think some of the matches were underwhelming, especially Cole/Jericho and Wardlow/Christian. There were too many gimmicky finishes. They have so many people outside the ring and feel the need to involve them in finishes. I don’t get it. They usually don’t overbook finishes this much.

The Las Vegas wasn’t as lively as the best AEW crowds. I know attendance was weaker than past years too, so maybe AEW needs to go somewhere else for Double or Nothing next year. Just saying.

My AEW PPV reviews for 2023:

Revolution (March 5) – 8.25

Double or Nothing (May 29) – 7.5

===

Thanks for reading this review. My contact info is below.

Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com

Twitter: @johnreport