The John Report: AEW Double Or Nothing 2025 Review
It’s AEW Double or Nothing featuring “Hangman” Adam Page against Will Ospreay, Anarchy in the Arena, and more.
AEW Double or Nothing is the third AEW PPV of the year and this is the seventh Double or Nothing in company history.
I am watching this on Monday and Tuesday because I did the WWE NXT Battleground review live on Sunday night. I did it that way because AEW PPVs are very long and I wanted to go to sleep early. I know this is a 4.5 hour show, so I’m going to do a summary style review for every match except Mone-Hayter, Anarchy in the Arena and Page-Ospreay, which will get full play-by-play reviews.
As a reminder, I have reviewed every AEW PPV in company history. Let’s get to it.
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AEW Double Or Nothing
Sunday, May 25, 2025
From the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale (Phoenix), Arizona
The commentary team was Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Taz. There was no intro video or anything like that. Excalibur mentioned it was AEW’s sixth anniversary and as I mentioned earlier, it’s the seventh Double or Nothing event.
Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals: Mercedes Mone vs. Jamie Hayter
The winner will challenge for the AEW Women’s World Title at AEW All In Texas on July 12th. Mone is 21-0 in singles matches in AEW and has been TBS Champion for over one year.
Hayter got a takedown by using her power. Mone managed to go after Hayter against the turnbuckle and Mone punched her a few times. Hayter came back with repeated short clotheslines and a big boot. Mone hit a running forearm and then Mone used her legs to roll up Hayter for two. Hayter wrenched on Money’s leg and Hayter stomped on Mone a few times. Hayter applied a single leg crab submission. Mone flipped Hayter backward into the ropes. Mone hit the Meteora on Hayter against the ropes. Mone hit a Meteora double knee attack to send Hayter from the apron to the floor. Ouch. Mone sent Hayter into the barricade at ringside. Mone was in control of Hayter with a submission move working on the lower back. Mone hit a sidewalk slam on Hayter for a two count. Mone had Hayter trapped in a straightjacket while sitting on the back, but Hayter got back up to get out of it. Mone jumped off the turnbuckle with another Meteora. Hayter tried to fight back, but Mone tripped her up by the turnbuckle. Mone hit a double knee Meteora attack to Hayter’s back. Hayter hit a belly-to-back suplex after avoiding a Mone move. Hayter hit a missile dropkick and a running dropkick. Hayter hit her own Meteora attack against the turnbuckle. Mone hit the Three Amigos vertical suplexes. Mone went up top, Hayter stopped that with punches and Hayter hit a superplex from the middle turnbuckle. Mone hit a Backstabber double knee attack. Hayter hit a superkick. Mone came back with a knee, but Hayter was back into it with a lariat. They left the ring where Hayter hit a clothesline on the floor.
Hayter was in control with a running kick for a two count. Mone hit a Backstabber three times in a row. Mone applied the crossface, but it didn’t trap Hayter’s arm and Hayter fought out of it with headbutts. Hayter got a backslide pin attempt and a rollup for two. Hayter backed Mone into the turnbuckle. Mone used her legs to send Hayter into the turnbuckle. Mercedes jumped off the middle turnbuckle with a seated senton for a two count. Excalibur screamed about it as if I was a close nearfall, but I don’t think anybody thought Mone would win there. Hayter trapped Mone in a sleeper with a body scissors, but Mone revered it into a pin attempt for two. Mone applied the Statement Maker crossface, but Mone doesn’t trap the arm when she does it. Hayter picked up Mone, who tried for a pin and then Hayter hit a slam onto the knee. Hayter hit a running lariat for two. Mone blocked multiple lariat attempts, but Hayter used her power and hit a Tombstone for a two count. That was close. Mone avoided a Hayterade move and Mone pulled Hayter down with an inside cradle for the pinfall win at 21:15. The replay showed it was almost like a DDT into a pin.
Winner by pinfall: Mercedes Mone
Analysis: ***3/4 It was a very good match that was a bit slow early on, but then it picked up in the final minutes. Hayter came close to winning a few times and then Mone found a way to win with that move that wasn’t a finisher, but it was done to show how close of a match it was. Find somebody you love as much as Mercedes Mone loves doing that Meteora double knee move and the Backstabber. She did them so many times. Anyway, I enjoyed the match.
Mercedes Mone celebrated with the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Title and the trophy that was by the entrance.
Analysis: This was the most obvious tournament in AEW history in terms of picking a winner. They were clearly going with a Mone win to set up the match with Toni Storm. I have no problem with it because Mone is great and it’s a fresh match. I’m just saying the results were obvious.
The commentary team sent best wishes to their friends Jim Ross, who is set to undergo surgery for cancer treatments. Best wishes to the great JR. We love you Jim and in my opinion he’s the best pro wrestling announcer ever.
A video package aired about the FTR match against Daniel Garcia and Nigel McGuinness. It featured FTR turning heel and aligning with Stokely as their manager.
FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely) vs. Daniel Garcia & Nigel McGuinness (w/Matt Menard)
The fans loved seeing Nigel in the match. Nigel is in great shape for somebody who only wrestles a few times per year. Nigel got some offense going, but then FTR did some smooth heel moves and took over the match for several minutes. FTR sent Nigel hard into the commentary table. After more than five minutes, Garicia got the tag and cleared house. Nigel and Garcia hit a double team Tower of London neckbreaker. Garcia and Nigel each applied submission moves at the same time. Menard kept Stokely from interfering. Nigel made Cash say sorry to Tony at ringside. Cash said his fingers were crossed and called Tony a piece of shit. That was funny. FTR hit their double team suplex and splash combo for a two count because Nigel made the save. FTR gave Nigel a Shatter Machine on the floor. Dax hit Garcia with a piledriver for two. FTR hit a Spike Piledriver on Garcia for two. Dax put Garcia in a Sharpshooter. Cash knocked Menard off the apron and hit a suicide dive on him. Cash stomped on Nigel to prevent a save. Garcia passed out in the Sharpshooter, so the referee called for the bell. It went 22:30.
Winners by submission: FTR – Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
Analysis: ***1/4 A good tag team match as usual when FTR is involved while Garcia is very capable and Nigel is a talented veteran. It made sense for FTR to win since they are the regular tag team while Nigel and Garcia were only teaming for this show. I don’t think the match needed to be over 20 minutes. It’s an example of AEW overdoing it with match lengths. I enjoy FTR as heel jerks. It’s better than when they were babyfaces.
A video package aired for the Mark Briscoe-Ricochet Stretcher Match.
Stretcher Match: Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe
It’s the first Stretcher Match in AEW history. To win the match, a wrestler has to put their opponent onto a stretcher and put them into an ambulance. It should be called an Ambulance Match instead of a Stretcher Match, but AEW calls it a Stretcher Match.
They used the stretcher as a weapon on early on with Mark ramming it into Ricochet. Tony Schiavone wasn’t on commentary for this match because he was with his buddy Nigel McGuinness after the previous match. That’s okay. I don’t miss Tony’s, “Everything on this show is the greatest thing ever” commentary style. Ricochet went for a SSP off the apron onto Mark, but Mark moved and Ricochet hit the stretcher. Mark hit an elbow off the apron while paying tribute to Cactus Jack, so that was cool. Mark brought some cleaning products into the ring and shined up Ricochet’s bald head. The fans loved that. Mark tried jumping off a chair like Sabu, but Ricochet threw a chair at Mark’s head to stop that. Ricochet also sprayed the dreaded cleaning product into Mark’s eyes. Mark was busted open and Ricochet tried putting him into the ambulance, but Mark fought back and sprayed the fire extinguisher spray into Ricochet’s eyes. Mark hit his late brother’s Jay Driller move in the ring. Mark put Ricochet on the table on the floor, Mark went up top and Mark hit a Froggy Bow through the table. Ricochet hit a back body drop on the ramp. Ricochet used the dreaded scissors, which he holds in his fist like a punch, but we are supposed to think it’s hurts somebody. Ricochet grabbed a screwdriver or maybe another set of scissors to hit Mark in the head. Ricochet did a low blow kick and the Spirit Gun lariat. Ricochet put Mark in the ambulance and there was a stretcher in there. Ricochet shut the doors for the win. It went 16:20.
Winner: Ricochet
Analysis: ***3/4 That was a very entertaining match that felt different than everything else due to the blood that Briscoe had in the match and weapons being used. No surprise that it was very entertaining when Mark Briscoe is involved and Ricochet is terrific in his heel role. Ricochet lost his last few PPV matches, so it was time for him to get a win and since Mark isn’t pushed that much, it makes sense for Ricochet to beat him. I don’t think it was a great finish, but the right guy got the win.
There was a video package to set up The Hurt Syndicate against the Sons of Texas.
AEW Tag Team Championships: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP and MJF) vs. Sons of Texas – Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
MVP joined commentary. Tony Schiavone was back on commentary. The Sons of Texas team are the ROH Tag Team Champions, but those titles are not on the line.
The Hurt Syndicate guys dominated most of the match with Lashley hitting a huge spinebuster on Sammy. Benjamin beat up Sammy on the floor. MJF did some cheap shots during the match. The fans barely reacted when Dustin got the hot tag. Dustin hit a Code Red on Benjamin for two. Dustin hit is Unnatural Kick (Shattered Dreams) that the referee didn’t see. Sammy hit an SSP off the top onto Lashley on the floor, and Dustin hit Cross Rhodes on Benjamin for two. Lashley yelled at MJF for wanting Shelton to use the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Lashley hit a Spear on Sammy. MVP distracted the referee, Lashley stopped MJF from punching Dustin with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and then Lashley gave Dustin a Spear through the barricade. Lashley hugged MJF after that. Shelton hit Sammy with a knee and superkick for the win. It went 12:35.
Winners by pinfall: The Hurt Syndicate – Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin
Analysis: **1/2 The most predictable match on the show and it was just an average match. It was slow paced most of the way with THS working over Sammy as the face in peril and the challengers came close a few times, but we knew they had no chance. Lashley and Benjamin are fun to watch as a team. I don’t see them losing any time soon, but if they do lose, then I want FTR as the next champions.
The video package aired for Kazuchika Okada facing Mike Bailey. There wasn’t much of a story here. Just a match.
AEW Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Okada has been Continental Champion for 431 days. Tony said no male champion in AEW has held a title longer.
It was Okada in control early on with a dragon screw leg whip and a flatliner. Bailey got some offense going, but when he went for a top rope move, Ohtani got the knees up to block. Bailey managed to trip up Ohtani on the apron and Baily hit a flipping knee drop. Bailey hit a jumping kick. Okada avoided a move and hit a dropkick. Bailey hit another flipping knee drop, this time in the ring. There was a spot where Bailey hit a spinning kick to the head. The referee hit the mat here times, but Okada’s hand was on the bottom rope before three. Bailey went for his Ultima Weapon flipping attack off the top, but Okada hit a dropkick to counter. Okada hit the Rainmaker lariat for the pinfall win at 16:05.
Winner by pinfall: Kazuchika Okada
Analysis: ***1/2 A typical Okada match where he had a lot of counters and that final counter with the dropkick on a leaping Bailey was so impressive. That really was perfectly timed and it looked brutal. I like that they went to the finish right after it because if they didn’t do that then it would be less impactful. Bailey is a talented guy. He also had no shot in this match. We know the plan is Omega against Okada at All In Texas, so it’s just a matter of getting there.
The video package aired between Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa. Mina beat Storm in a non-title match, so now they have a title match.
AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Mina Shirakawa
There were some cool moves by Mina early on with a with a DDT off the ropes and a running lariat. Mina did multiple dragon screw leg whips on the legs of Storm. Luther the useless got in Mina’s way, so Mina knocked him down and Mina splashed Storm on the floor. Mina jumped off the top onto Luther on the floor. Storm capitalized with a DDT on the floor. They did a double strike spot to knock both women down. Storm connected with multiple German Suplexes, but Strom was too hurt to run due to Mina working on the right knee a lot. Mina applied a kneebar submission on Storm’s right leg, but Storm got to the ropes to break it. Storm kicked Mina into the turnbuckle and was able to do the hip attack this time. Mina applied the Figure Four Leglock on Storm, but Storm was able to get out of it. Storm and Mina each did the Big Package (cradle pin attempts), Storm hit a headbutt and Storm hit a Storm Zero for the pinfall win at 15:49.
Winner by pinfall: Toni Storm
Analysis: ***1/4 It was a solid match to give Storm a win. This is the time in the show where I felt very tired of watching and writing about a ridiculous amount of wrestling in the last few days. It was hard to get into the match because it was obvious that Storm was going to win, so Mina’s offense didn’t really register with me. I liked the psychology of Mina working over Storm’s right leg throughout the match and Storm was able to overcome it to get the win.
After the match, Toni kissed Mina on the lips to show that they care for eachother. That’s a video/GIF that many fans will love.
A graphic was shown on the screen confirming that at All In Texas on July 12th, Toni Storm will defend the AEW Women’s World Title against Mercedes Mone, who is the TBS Champion.
The Anarchy in the Arena match was next, so there was a video package to set that up.
Anarchy In The Arena Match: Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, Katsuyori Shibata & Willow Nightingale vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir
It took a while to do all of the entrances. The Young Bucks had a heelish “Founding Fathers” introduction. Tony called it a “bullshit intro,” which was funny. The story early on is that the babyfaces didn’t know where Samoa Joe was.
Omega and Swerve fought with The Young Bucks in the aisle. Samoa Joe emerged in the top of the arena where he fought with Claudio into the backstage area. Shafir suplexed Willow on the top of the barricade. The screen was split up into four quadrants. Omega called for the music to change and they played “I’m So Excited” instead of the colonial music that the Bucks played to start the match. There was a shot of Joe beating up Claudio by the merch stand. Omega did a promo and suggested some alternative rock music, and it led to the “Let the Bodies Hit The Floor” song playing. That was a good call. There was a lot of random fighting all around the arena. Moxley was fighting Hobbs and Moxley used a fork to gouge Hobbs’ head. The camera cut away when Moxley was attacking Hobbs with the fork. Omega climbed up to an area in the crowd where fans were seated and a bunch of wrestlers and security guys were on the ground. Yuta fought with Omega. Hobbs threw Yuta off a guard rail onto a bunch of security guys. Omega jumped off a guard rail with a moonsault onto a bunch of people. That was an impressive leap. Joe hit Claudio with the trash can in the head. Moxley and Hobbs were back in the ring where Moxley jabbed a fork into Hobbs’ head, so Hobbs was bleeding. Swerve gave Nick a backbreaker onto a steel chair on the floor. Moxley set up a table against the turnbuckle, so Hobbs tackled Moxley through the table in the ring. Omega hit a rolling senton on Matt and a moonsault off the turnbuckle for a two count. Swerve hit a jumping elbow to Nick’s back. The “Bodies” song kept on playing repeatedly. Willow and Shafir were fighting in the parking lot. Willow hit Shafir with a bottle and gave Shafir a body slam on a table that didn’t break. Shibata fought with Yuta backstage and we got the four quadrants of action again. Shibata ran Yuta in a garbage can crashing into a garage door. Shibata put barbed wire on his leg and kicked Yuta with it. The Bucks hit a double DDT on Swerve on the stage. Omega hit both Bucks with trash cans. Omega hit a V-Trigger knee on Nick, but Matt threw a trash can at Omega. Swerve hit a jumping flatliner on Matt. Nick hit a Destroyer on Swerve on the stage, Swerve didn’t sell it and Swerve hit a House Call kick to knock Nick down. Claudio nailed Swerve with an uppercut. Claudio gave Swerve the Swing and then he threw Swerve into a speaker. Hobbs hit a Pounce on Claudio into some road cases to knock them down. The camera cut away to miss Matt jumping onto Hobbs, so they showed a replay.
Omega was fighting with Matt in the ring and Omega hit a hurricanrana. Shafir had a chain that she used to keep Willow grounded by the steel steps. Omega was kicked by Nick. The Bucks set up Nick on the ropes. The Bucks hit a splash and Powerbomb combo that put Omega through a table. Shafir chained Willow to the ring post by her ear. That’s unique. The Bucks gave a spike piledriver to Shibata on the floor. Shafir was bleeding heavily from the forehead because of getting hit by a bottle. Shibata worked over Moxley with forearms, but Shafir grabbed Shibata and Moxley hit knee strikes to knock Shibata down. Matt used a flag to choke Joe out. The Bucks set up Hobbs on a table by the entrance area. Matt held onto Hobs as Nick climbed up to the top of a 10 foot high screen and Nick hit a Swanton Bomb to put Hobbs through a table. Hobbs tried to fight back against Moxley and the Bucks. Nick threw a chair at Hobbs’ head. I’m not sure what other people were doing because they showed these guys for a few minutes. Nick threw a chair at Hobbs’ head. Nana drove Swerve on a forklift, so Swerve jumped off the forklift and hit a double foot stomp on the Bucks. That was a creative spot. Nana had the key to free Willow from the chain. Hobbs hit three spinebusters in a row. Shafir hit Hobbs with a chair, Hobbs didn’t react to it and Hobbs didn’t react to Claudio’s chair shot. Hobbs hit a spinebuster on Claudio and Willow hit a spinebuster on Shafir. Joe was back into it with a Coquina Clutch submission. There were four rear chokes/sleepers on at the same time in the ring. Nick and Swerve each hit 450 Splashes to break up sleeper holds in the ring. Nick used a staple gun to Hobbs’ back, Hobbs laughed it off and Hobbs laughed off a staple to the head. Swerve hit a backbreaker on Nick and a staple to the chest. Swerve hit a staple to Moxley’s chest. Swerve used staple gun to Matt’s groin and Matt sold it. Shafir hit a low blow uppercut on Swerve. Shafir used the staple gun on Swerve’s tong. Willow hit a Spear on Shafir, a Spear on Yuta and a Spear on both Bucks. Moxley hit a Cutter on Willow. Omega hit Snapdragon Suplexes on multiple opponents. Shafir spit in Omega’s face and told him to do it, so Omega hit a Snapdragon Suplex on Shafir. The fans loved it. The Bucks hit double superkicks on Omega and a double superkick on Hobbs. The Bucks hit a double superkick on Shibata and Joe too. The Bucks also hit a double superkick on Prince Nana. They even hit a double superkick on referee Rick Knox. The Bucks hit a double superkick on Willow too. Swerve shoved Nick off the top and through a table on the floor. Willow held Matt while Swerve hit a Spike Piledriver and Willow covered Matt for two because Yuta and Claudio broke it up. Yuta jumped off the top with a clothesline with Swerve.
Joe was back into it with kicks for multiple opponents. Joe hit a uranage slam on Moxley. Hook showed up with a golf club that he used to safely hit Claudio. Hook looked at Joe and then Hook walked away frustrated. Joe gave Moxley a Muscle Buster and the Coquina Clutch submission. The Bucks tried to save Moxley, so then Gable Kidd showed up with the dreaded briefcase (that has the AEW World Title in it) to hit Joe. Kidd hit multiple babyfaces with the briefcase. Kidd hit a piledriver on Omega. Yuta put thumbtacks in Omega’s mouth and the Bucks hit the EVP Trigger on Omega. Claudio did the Swing on Omega and Yuta dropkicked Omega. Moxley applied the Bulldog Choke on Omega, but Joe made the save by attacking Moxley. The heels took Joe out of the ring went up to an ambulance, but Mark Briscoe showed up to dive on some of the heels. Mark fought with Kidd and they exchanged punches. Joe threw Kid into the ambulance door. Joe fought with Claudio in the ambulance. There were a bunch of wrestlers fighting in the ambulance and the faces managed to lock four Death Riders in the ambulance.
The Young Bucks were left alone in the ring against Omega and Swerve, so Omega and Swerve knocked them down. Omega hit a V-Trigger while Swerve hit a House Call. Nana gave Swerve his new shoes that had thumbtacks in the bottom of the shoe. Swerve put his new shoes on that had the thumbtacks on the bottom. Omega gave Matthew a One Winged Angel off the stage and through table. There was even an explosion after it. Swerve jumped off the top with a Swerve Stomp with the thumbtack shoes and Swerve covered Nick for the pinfall win. It went 35:10.
Winners by pinfall: Swerve Strickland, Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, Katsuyori Shibata & Willow Nightingale
Analysis: ****1/4 It was a chaotic brawl all over the building with a lot of blood and big spots throughout the match. I’ll give them credit for being creative for a lot of the things they did. I don’t see it being at a five star level of a match, but it’s still a great match that I think was a lot of fun to watch. The fans in the arena loved it and I think most hardcore AEW fans will like it. I thought guys like Omega, Swerve and others had creative spots throughout the match. Lots of them did. There is so much going on with 12 people that you don’t see a lot of what’s going on. I think 3 on 3 might be better than this because there’s so many people and you don’t see some of them for minutes at a time. Anyway, the babyfaces winning the match makes sense in a match like this because it’s a feel good kind of match and you want to have the good guys win in the end. I don’t think the heels are going to be hurt from losing. It’s a hard match to watch and review, but did I enjoy it? Yep, I sure did. I’ll give them a lot of credit for being creative and putting on a show that the fans enjoyed.
The babyface team celebrated the win. There was a lot of stuff for the ringside crew to clean up after that match.
A commercial aired for AEW All In Texas on July 12th.
The Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Josh Alexander (w/Don Callis and Lance Archer) vs. Paragon – Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong
Cole is the TNT Champion. Callis joined commentary for this match.
These guys are in a tough spot following a chaotic match that just took place. Strong hit a nice knee drop into Josh’s back, but then Josh powered Strong into the heel corner. The Paragon boys made quick tags to work over Fletcher with kicks. Strong tried to fight against the heels, but Josh hit him with an elbow smash. Josh hit a cross body block to send Strong from the apron to the floor. The heels dominated for a few minutes with Callis even getting in a cheap shot kick. Strong hit an Angle Slam on Takeshita to try to break free, but Josh was back in to prevent a tag. There wasn’t much of a reaction when Cole got the hot tag as Cole hit some strikes and a pump kick on Josh. Cole hit a Backstabber on Josh for two. Archer joined commentary since Callis was standing up. Fletcher and Josh did a double clothesline spot. Callis was hitting the mat to try to get the fans into it, but the fans weren’t reacting much. The three heels took turns splashing Cole and Takeshita hit a Powerbomb on Cole off the middle turnbuckle for two. Kyle O hit an impressive dropkick on Takeshita on the floor and Strong hit a backbreaker on Josh on the barricade. Fletcher hit a running kick on Cole. Fletcher and O’Reilly exchanged moves in a battle of the Kyle guys. Takeshita crushed O’Reilly with an elbow and Fletcher gave O’Reilly a brainbuster for the pinfall win at 12:50.
Winners by pinfall: The Don Callis Family – Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Josh Alexander
Analysis: ***1/4 A good match technically, but it was hard for them to get the crowd into it due to how crazy the match before it was. I get why this was on the show because having the Callis Family get the win sets up Fletcher to go after Adam Cole’s TNT Title because Fletcher got the win for his team. I think Fletcher will win that title from Cole, perhaps at All In Texas or a later show.
After the match, the Don Callis Family guys beat up Paragon. Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero from the Don Callis Family showed up to join the attack. Archer hit a double Chokeslam.
Brody King and Tomohiro Ishii made the save. The NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi also showed up to join the fight. The trio of King, Ishii and Tanahashi went into the ring and cleared the ring of the heels. Tanahashi hit a Slingblade on Fletcher and Cole followed up with a Boom knee.
Analysis: It was way to end things on a happy note by having Tanahashi, King and Ishii make the save. The Forbidden Door PPV is coming in two months so we’ll likely see Tanahashi and more NJPW guys again soon.
A video package aired to set up the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament finals.
It was main event time. “Hangman” Adam Page was up first and he was cheered by the fans as usual. Will Ospreay got a big ovation as well. Justin Roberts did the introductions for the main event.
Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finals: “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay
The winner of this match will challenge the AEW World Champion at AEW All In Texas on July 12th.
Will and Page were exchanging basic holds in the first minute, battling over arm drags and things like that. Page drove Will into the turnbuckle, which led to a staredown. Page and Will each got one counts. Page hit a back body drop and went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Will avoided it, Will tried for Hidden Blade and Page avoided it. Will jumped over Page leading to a hurricanrana, Will hit a body slam and a standing Sky Twister Press for just a one count. Page nailed Will with a forearm smash to knock Will down. Will got a boot up followed by a springboard forearm that some people say was phenomenal. Page rolled out of the ring, so Will did a slingshot dive over the top. Page gave Will a fallaway slam into the barricade. Back in the ring, Will gave Page a fallaway slam into the turnbuckle. Page worked over Will with chops and punches. Page sent Will into the turnbuckle and hit a clothesline. Page hit two belly-to-back suplexes in a row. Page knocked down Will with a shoulder tackle. They exchanged strikes, so Page knocked Will down with an elbow smash. Will hit a Stundog Millionaire and a corkscrew kick after bouncing off the ropes. Will hit an amazing Sasuke Special that is a cartwheel and a backflip over the top rope onto Page on the floor.
They went back into the ring where Will hit a boot to the head. Will applied a Torture Rack and then a spinning Rack Bomb for a two count. Will sent a charging Page over the top to the floor. Will went up top, Page shoved him down and Page hit a springboard clothesline. Page hit his moonsault off the top onto Will on the floor. Page always does that move so well. Back in the ring, Page hit a Powerbomb for two. Page applied a Sharpshooter submission, Will pushed up and Will managed to get to the ropes to break the hold. The fans were chanting “Let’s Go Ospreay/Cowboy S**t” throughout the match and they were doing it again. Page hit a belly-to-back suplex. Will came back with a dropkick and an enziguri kick. Will landed on his feet to avoid a suplex. Page clotheslined Will in the back. Will hit a hook kick and Page hit another clothesline. Page ran the ropes, Will caught him and Will hit a Spanish Fly slam. Both guys were down selling, so the fans applauded the effort.
They battled by the turnbuckle where Will hit a superkick against Page’s head that was by the turnbuckle. Page headbutted Will down and Page hit a Buckshot Lariat off the turnbuckle. Will stopped another Buckshot by hitting a superkick. Page held onto the top rope so that Will could jump off the top and hit a Shooting Star Press to the back for two. Will went for the Oscutter, Page blocked it, Page kicked Will and Page hit a Tombstone Piledriver for two. Will tried for a Styles Clash, Page got out of it and Page hit the Angel’s Wings for two. That’s a Christopher Daniels move. Page went for a moonsault off the top, Will avoided it and Will hit a Hidden Blade elbow. Page looked like he was going for the BME that Daniels did, couldn’t do it and then tried a moonsault, which almost cost Page the match. Will and Page exchanged strikes while on the apron. Will gave Page a Powerbomb on the apron. Will teased a Styles Clash and Will did a Styles Clash onto the floor. It didn’t look as impressive as when it’s done in the mat, but it still looked rough. I don’t think that’s a good move to do because you can’t protect Hangman in a spot like that. I think Hangman broke his fall with his hands, but it still looks brutal. Page got back in the ring right before the referee’s extremely slow ten count. Will jumped off the ropes and hit an Oscutter for two. Will hit the Hidden Blade for one…two…no. I thought that was it. Will worked over Page with palm strikes and kicks while Page was in the ropes, so referee Bryce Remsburg pulled Will back because Page was in the ropes. Page got back up on the apron, so Will hit a big boot to knock Page into the commentary table at ringside. Will set up Page on the Spanish commentary table while the referee Remsburg was telling will to get back into the ring. Will was going for a move, Page tried a back body drop or something like the Deadeye and the table broke beneath them. That table breaking was not supposed to happen, but it looked like both guys were okay. You could be picky and say they should be counted out for being out of the ring for over one minute, but there was no count. Page hit a Deadeye slam on the broken table, which was probably the spot they wanted to do on the table.
Page was on the apron teasing a Buckshot Lariat, but Will stumbled backwards into the ropes to avoid it. Will took off his elbow pad to tease the Hidden Blade. Tony is giddy: “Oh, these two men. These two men!” Page jumped over the top and hit a Buckshot Lariat on a running Will, who did a flip bump. Page covered for just a two count. That was close. Will punched Page a few times, Page knocked Will back and Page jumped forward, right into a Hidden Blade by Ospreay! Will hit a Stormbreaker for just a two count. Another close nearfall. Will went for Hidden Blade, but Page avoided it by collapsing to the mat. The fans were chanting “This is awesome” and that’s correct. Will did a gun taunt point at Page and Will hit a V-Trigger knee like Kenny Omega. Page avoided a One Winged Angel move and Page hit the Big Pressure move that Swerve does for a two count. That was a sequence where they went for moves by their main rivals. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat again, but Will blocked it. Will went for a move, Page got out of it, Page kicked the arm and hit a clothesline. Page hit the Buckshot Lariat, Will did a flip bump again and Page covered for the one…two…and three! What a damn match! It went 36:56.
Winner by pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page
Analysis: ***** That was an outstanding match. Another five star match performance from Will Ospreay and I think I’ve gone that high for some Hangman Page matches too. They got a lot of time, had so many nearfalls and the final ten minutes were especially impressive. There were so many counter moves throughout the match and so many times where it looked like it might end, but it just kept going. Some people might criticize the broken table spot where it accidentally broke, but I don’t see that as a big deal. There’s nothing the guys did wrong there. It was so cool to see them trying other moves that they don’t normally do, yet they wanted to try something to try to win the match, so it made sense that they would attempt. Those Buckshot Lariats by Page looked awesome, especially because Will can do those incredible flip bumps to sell them. I look forward to a rematch between these guys down the road. They are special athletes and match up together so well.
After the match, Hangman Page was presented with the Owen Hart Foundation title belt that he wore around his waist. There was pyro going off on the stage as Page’s music played.
The graphic was shown for AEW All In Texas on July 12th: Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against “Hangman” Adam Page. Hangman walked toward the back, but then he went back toward the ring.
Page went into the ring while Ospreay was seated in the ring looking sad about the loss. Page extended his hand and Ospreay shook his hand. Page left while Ospreay was frustrated in the ring. Hangman Page celebrated by the trophy. That was the end of the show.
Analysis: The result surprised me because I thought this was going to be an Ospreay win, but instead, it’s Hangman going for a second AEW World Title reign. I think Ospreay winning his first AEW World Title at All In would be a better story, but I don’t mind Page by any means. Since Hanger is AEW since day one, you can say he’s the heart and soul of AEW against a guy like Moxley, who doesn’t like displaying the AEW World Title. I think Page should absolutely beat Moxley at All In Texans if he doesn’t, I would be very surprised.
AEW Double or Nothing had a runtime of 4:29:46 on pay-per-view. Long show!
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Five Stars of the Show
- “Hangman” Adam Page
- Will Ospreay
- The twelve wrestlers in the Anarchy in the Arena Match
- Mercedes Mone
- Kazuchika Okada and Ricochet
That’s a lot more than five people!
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Final Thoughts
It gets an 8.5 out of 10 from me.
I thought it was an excellent show similar to Revolution in March. The match quality was strong from top to bottom and the main event between Page/Ospreay is one of the best matches of the year in any promotion. The women’s match with Mone/Hayter was very good too. There were several other very good matches too, although I thought there were a lot of predictable matches. With that said, I thought Ospreay beating Page was very likely and it didn’t happen that way, so good job putting Page over in a big way.
The Anarchy in the Arena match is a lot of fun to watch. It’s hard to analyze and criticize because there’s so much going on. Some people in the match might only be shown for five minutes in a 35 minute match because there’s so much action going on. However, I think it would be fun to watch with a bunch of friends and family as a reminder of how pro wrestling can be this really cool thing.
My main complaint is that I think the show is too long and you could tell the crowd was tired for some of it. They were a very good crowd most of the night, but they were dead for Paragon against the Don Callis Family following Anarchy in the Arena. Does the show need to be 4.5 hours on the main show and 6 hours counting the pre-show? I don’t think so. AEW has this mentality of doing more and getting more people on the show, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing. To me, a 3.5-hour show with 7 or 8 matches should be it. That goes for WWE too. I think their shows having only 5 matches under three hours are too few.
There were a lot of piledrivers on this show. They were in nearly every match. I know wrestlers only do them because they know how to do it safely, but I really hope nobody gets hurt taking a piledriver. Just saying.
Here are my AEW PPV reviews of 2025 so far:
Revolution – March 9 (8.75 out of 10)
Double Or Nothing – May 25 (8.5)
Dynasty – April 6 (7.5)
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