Tag: Aew Double Or Nothing 2024

We’re Live, Pal: AEW Double or Nothing aftermath, WBD & AEW negotiations

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Photo via JJ Williams

It’s another episode of We’re Live, Pal which is also available for free on YouTube below.

Andrew Zarian and I opened up the show talking about all that was going on in Las Vegas last weekend.

We also discussed:

  • Adam Copeland’s leg injury
  • How to top Anarchy in the Arena next year
  • A Mercedes vs. Willow rewatch
  • WWE King & Queen of the Ring thoughts
  • Becky Lynch’s contract being up
  • Matt Belloni’s story on AEW TV negotiations

You can follow us on Twitter.

For website subscribers, you can click here to listen (sub needed).

Daily Update: WWE Raw, Giulia, AEW Double or Nothing fallout

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today:

  • A feature on the first five years of AEW and its future.  
  • A look at both the successes and as well as things not as successful
  • A look at the past, present and future
  • Why this year will be the telling point for the success of the company or not
  • What was guaranteed when AEW started
  • AEW’s business and the perceptions
  • Looking at the value of the promotion
  • History of wrestling wars and how they went down
  • How AEW can take financial advantage of WWE’s move to Netflix
  • The decline of the 18-34 male audience
  • A look in depth at the last several weeks of AEW, NBA, NHL and cable in general
  • WWE expands SummerSlam to two dates
  • El Hijo del Santo talks retirement plans
  • Looking at King & Queen of the Ring and Double or Nothing and challenges for both companies coming off the previous big shows
  • A look at the debut of Marigold, already the No. 2 women’s promotion in the world, what hit and what didn’t hit
  • The life and times of John “Bad Bones” Klinger, a European independent star who passed away this past week
  • The most detailed look at the weekly television ratings, comparisons with other shows, age breakdowns, weekly placings and more
  • Fantastica Mania in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • NOAH has the match of the week
  • Why New Japan changed the Dominion main event
  • All Together Now coverage
  • Best of the Super Juniors coverage’
  • Rematch of a match last year that got worldwide mainstream publicity
  • Updated WWE, AEW, TNA  and boxing PPV notes including how many wrestling fans buy boxing PPVs
  • A look at what going live vs. tape means as far as wrestling ratings
  • One of the NFL’s all-time greats who was nearly became a German heel wrestler
  • Funeral of Tony Jones
  • Lots of notes on the final nail in the coffin of WCW and the questions still not fully answered
  • Lots of injury updates
  • WBD business and AEW negotiations
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Lots more on payouts for UFC fighters after lawsuit settlement
  • PFL fires one of its best-known fighters for speaking out
  • Mark Shapiro talks the future of WWE & UFC business
  • Injury rates in WWE and AEW
  • SummerSlam and All In advances
  • Notes on NXT Battleground
  • Top WWE star sues famous boxing star

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Monday Update

  • Bryan and I will be back tonight talking about Raw and the latest wrestling news.  We may have time for questions on tonight’s show as well to  [email protected]
  • Raw tonight is from Savannah, GA.  A Liv Morgan vs. Becky Lynch cage match headlines the show that has also announced Braun Strowman vs. JD McDonagh.  There were 6,300 tickets out as of this morning which in the building they are running would be just shy of a real sellout.  So it should end up sold out.    We’re looking for reports from the live show with Main Event bouts as well as anything else not airing on television to [email protected]
  • There is tough competition as Boston vs. Indiana game four is tonight at 8 p.m. on ESPN.  Boston has a 3-0 lead in the series, so this can clinch it, so it will do a big number.  Dallas vs. Edmonton (game three series tied 1-1) is on TNT & Tru TV tonight at 8:30 p.m. as well.  Raw is coming off a PPV show so that should help.  But the last PPV didn’t help and there wasn’t a lot of controversy relating to Raw coming off Saturday’s show.  Memorial Day often means a late audience meaning a bigger second hour than first but not as much of a third hour tune-out, but every year is different.
  • We’re looking for your thoughts on both King & Queen of the Ring as well as Double or Nothing.  You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match to [email protected]
  • Tokyo Sports is reporting that Giulia will be undergoing surgery on her right wrist tomorrow.  We’ll have an update later in the week regarding whether she can make it back for her 7/13 match with Sareee at Sumo Hall for Marigold’s first major show.
  • There is no update on Adam Copeland from last night’s show.  Darby Allin was hurting when the show was over.
  • Double or Nothing was No. 11 in the most searched topics yesterday on Google.  That only meant 20,000 searches which is not a big number.  However, WWE King & Queen of the Ring as noted yesterday was the first WWE PPV show in history not  to crack the top 20 on its day, meaning less than 20,000 searches.  WWE shows previously rarely did under 200,000 and Backlash was considered low at 100,000.  
  • Floyd Mayweather at Double or Nothing was set up by Swerve Strickland getting him to the show.
  • Hope you all had a nice Memorial Day weekend.  It was a rare quiet weekend and we didn’t even get  many recommendations for non-WWE & AEW matches to watch past the Mao vs. Daisuke Sasaki King of DDT final match from yesterday.
  • Want to make mention of the death of Bill Walton, who lost his battle with cancer today at the age of 71.  Walton was one of the greatest college basketball players of all-time at UCLA, and followed by being a Hall of Fame star, leading the Portland Trail Blazers to the 1978 championship as well as being a key player on the Boston Celtics 1986 championship team .   He later became an announcer, where he was heavily lauded.  Unfortunately his NBA career was marred by constant foot injuries but was still considered an all-time great, and on both the league’s 50th and 75th anniversary all-time teams.
  • Mike Tyson needed medical attention while boarding a flight in Miami on Sunday.   Tyson’s reps said he became nauseous and dizzy due to an ulcer flare-up 30 minutes before landing.   There were reports this caused a two hour flight delay.  His people said it had nothing to do with the delay and that the delay was due to an air conditioning issue on the flight.    
  • The first two seasons of “Heels” will debut on Netflix on 7/29.  If viewership is strong,  Netflix could decide to do a third season.
  • The Best of the Super Juniors tournament continues tomorrow at 5:30 a.m. from Numazu with B Block bouts.  The bouts are Dragon Dia vs. Ninja Mack, Kushida vs. Douki, Francesco Akira vs. Robbie Eagles,  Taiji Ishimori vs. Sho and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Drilla Moloney.
  • TNA is shutting down its $4.99 per month Ultimate Insides YouTube plan.  They are encouraging all subscribers to move to the TNA+ service.
  • We were just sent in this YouTube link for an interview that Wilma Beyer, the wife of Dick “Destroyer” Beyer did:
  • Greg Lambert has a new book called “One Fall to a Finish:  Inside the British Wrestling Boom  Years and Beyond.  The book covers the period from when ITV attempted to start a wrestling promotion, that failed, which led to WWE retaliating and forming the NXT U.K. brand.  It looks at the World of Sport vs. WWE battle in 2018, the collapse of 5 Star Wrestling and a look at companies like Progress, RevPro, ICW WAW, What Culture and Defiant Pro Wrestling.
  • Marigold announced Wrestle Universe shows on 6/1 from Osaka, 6/2 from Hamamatsu and 76/11 at Korakuen Hall.  Korakuen Hall has Sareee vs. Victoria Yuzuki and Utami Hayashishita vs. Nanae Takahashi.
  • Sukeban runs its third show on Thursday night in Los Angeles at The Trinity in Downtown Los Angeles with Commander Nakayama defending her Sukeban title against Crush Yuu, Rina Yamashita vs. Lady Antoinette vs. Atomic Banshee, Saki Birni & Babyface vs. Konami & Queen of Hearts and Sareee Bomb (Sareee) vs. Maya Mamushi.
  • XICW from Saturday night in Clinton Township, MI:  El Noctambulo & Gran Trueno b Rod Lee & Alex Lynch, Bolo b Dean Hendrix, Great Tiger & Soultaker b Marcus Porter & Thomas Bailey, Heather Blue b Stella Buho andMax egn, Dre Jacobs b Rhino, Tommy Vendetta b Crazy King, Royce Carney II & Caden Monroe & Grim Reality b Schwartzy & LeDon Saners & TJU Meyer & Trevor Straud, Maxximillain b Kyler Coleman to win the lightweight title Aaron Orion & Jack Price b N8 Mattson & Orlando Christopher, Homicide b DBA, Malcom Monroe III b Lince Dorado and Adam Wick to keep the Midwest title (thanks to Leonard Brand)

Swerve Strickland explains Floyd Mayweather AEW Double or Nothing appearance

Posted on by Joseph Currier

After retaining the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing, Swerve Strickland celebrated with a special guest.

Strickland defeated Christian Cage in the semi-main event of Sunday’s pay-per-view in Las Vegas. When the match ended, Strickland brought his title belt over to the crowd and shared a moment with boxing legend Floyd Mayweather. Brian “Q” Quinn from the show “Impractical Jokers” was also sitting in the front row.

At the post-show media scrum, Strickland explained that, for the past couple of years, he’s been trying to get Mayweather to come when AEW is in Las Vegas. Mayweather finally agreed to attend this time.

“Floyd has been a friend of ours. My man [rapper] Flash Garments over here, he gets a free pass every time he comes to All Elite Wrestling. Because, once again, we’re here to grow this company. We’re here to bring something to All Elite Wrestling, not just take. We want to give — like, if we got opportunities, if we have connections, we’re going to bring them here every single time. And we want to blow this place up and we want to be the catalyst of it,” Strickland said.

“So that’s how Floyd came through. We’ve actually been talking to Floyd for like two years now. His whole family, trying to have him come through every time we’re in Vegas. Finally, he was like, ‘All right, this is the day. We’re pulling up.’ So he pulled up, made it to the match. We pulled out a banger in front of him. He’s like, ‘I’m in, I’m in.’ We might have Money Team invested in this whole thing.”

Strickland said that, as World Champion, he’s focused both on his personal growth and growing AEW as a promotion. He wants to be an inspiration to everyone watching.

Mayweather has competed in pro wrestling once before, defeating Big Show in a no holds barred match at WWE WrestleMania 24 in 2008.

Wrestling Observer Radio: AEW Double Or Nothing recap

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio to recap AEW Double or Nothing.

We began the show talking about the F4W Convention and how much fun I had hanging out with all of the subscribers.

We then talked about our thoughts on the overall big picture in the aftermath of the PPV, including thoughts on Tony Khan’s latest statements about their upcoming TV right’s deal.

We talked about MJF’s return, the news that the winners of the Owen Cup will also receive a championship match at AEW All Out, and some information coming out of the post-show press conference.

Then we went through the entire show.

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed).

AEW Double or Nothing media scrum notes: Tony Khan on Forbidden Door, mixed tag titles

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Tony Khan, Mercedes Mone, Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi among other took questions from the media following Double or Nothing.

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson started the press conference and took questions only from Renee Paquette and their agent, Barry Bloom. They gave away championship belt accessories for shoes to the media. They plugged their new Reebok shoes, which go on sale Monday.

After The Young Bucks left, Tony Khan joined the conference with NJPW president Hiroshi Tanahshi. Khan said Tanahashi had his back in case something went wrong. Tanahashi praised the young wrestlers in AEW, and together with the young wrestlers in NJPW they will make wrestling stronger.

Mercedes Mone

  • She said that wrestling and AEW has saved her life and praised Willow Nightingale, saying she was one of the best she’s ever been in the ring with. Tonight they showed where the best wrestle.
  • One person asked why she waited until May to wrestle when she had been cleared since December. She said she had been talking to Tony Khan for a long time, and he was the one that was brought up the idea to debut at Boston in March then make her in-ring debut at Double or Nothing on the five-year anniversary of AEW.
  • When asked about wrestling anyone in Japan, she asked Tanahashi to collaborate with Khan to find an opponent for her. 

Will Ospreay

  • When asked about defending the International title overseas, Ospreay said that they have relationships with the likes of CMLL, RevPro, and NJPW and he’s ready to put those working relationships to the test.
  • Regarding the Owen Hart Cup tournament, where the winners will challenge for the World title at All In, he said he would put his name in the race for anything regarding the World Heavyweight title.

Toni Storm read a passage from her new book before leaving in a huff after the first question was asked. 

Swerve Strickland 

  • Said he was here not to take, but to give to AEW. Tonight showed why he is the best.
  • Regarding Floyd Mayweather in the crowd, he said they had been talking for a while now and said he was “in” after tonight. He mentioned that Mayweather’s bodyguards didn’t know about him being champion, and they were inspired by what he was doing. He said that he hasn’t been to his new house because he’s building this house.
  • Swerve was asked about MJF. He said MJF would have to finish his business with Adam Cole and would need to earn a title shot if he wants one.
  • When asked about his new shoe line, he said that he was still working on a release date as well as trademarks.

Tony Khan

  • Khan noted that whoever was IWGP World Champion following Dominion next month would be in “a great position” for Forbidden Door.
  • When asked if MJF had signed a new long-term deal, Khan said that MJF was in “for the long haul.”
  • When someone asked about potential trios and tag team titles for the women’s division, he said he has talked about additional titles and brought up successful champions such as Athena. He said that Athena was “banged up” but would be back soon.
  • Khan also brought up the idea of a mixed tag team title, saying it would be something different that other major promotions haven’t done.
  • The promotion may do a tie-in soon with House of the Dragon.
  • Khan was asked about talking to other networks beyond WBD when that exclusivity window ends. He said that WBD has been great and David Zazlav has been great for AEW.
  • Regarding the status of Adam Copeland, he said Copeland was being “checked out” and hoped that he was okay. He wished he was here talking following his match, but it was a hard-hitting steel cage match.
  • The last question was about taking Forbidden Door to Japan. Tanahashi didn’t understand the question but Khan said that he was interested in doing a show like that, but it wouldn’t be Forbidden Door as they’ve built that name in North America. Doing a show in Japan would be “the next step.”

Mercedes Mone wins TBS title at Double or Nothing in AEW debut match

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Mercedes Mone is the new TBS Champion.

Mone defeated Willow Nightingale at Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view in Las Vegas in her in-ring debut for the promotion, winning the TBS Championship.

In her first match in over a year, Mone pinned Nightingale after hitting her Mone Maker finisher to capture the TBS title in her first AEW contest.

Earlier in the bout, Nightingale had Mone pinned after a doctor bomb, but Nightingale’s seconds Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway distracted the referee, buying Mone extra seconds to kick out.

The distraction from Statlander and Hathaway played into the post-match, as Hathaway berated Nightingale for losing the bout. Statlander shoved Hathaway down, then teased leaving with Nightingale. As Nightingale and Statlander made their way to the ramp, Statlander completed her turn on Nightingale by laying out the former TBS Champion with a discus lariat, then posing with Hathaway.

For Mone, the match marks her return to the ring after suffering a career-threatening ankle injury in an NJPW bout against Nightingale on May 21, 2023.

Mone made her first AEW appearance at Dynamite: Big Business in March, with the company announcing her signing and unveiling the free agent in her hometown of Boston.

Juice Robinson returns from injury at AEW Double or Nothing

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Juice Robinson has returned to All Elite Wrestling.

Robinson made his return during Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view in Las Vegas, aiding his Bang Bang Gang teammates in defeating Death Triangle in a match for the Unified World Trios Championships.

As Death Triangle’s PAC prepared to hit a Black Arrow to Jay White, Robinson returned to crotch PAC on the top rope, allowing White to hit a Blade Runner on PAC as The Bang Bang Gang retained their titles Sunday.

Robinson has been out of action since last November with what was reported at the time as a back injury that may require surgery. He was written out of storylines with an angle on the November 17, 2023 Rampage, with his last match taking place on November 1, 2023.

The Bang Bang Gang’s run as Unified Trios Champions continues after they joined the ROH Six-Man Tag Team and AEW Trios titles at last month’s Dynasty pay-per-view Zero Hour.

Our ongoing live coverage of Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view from Las Vegas, Nevada is here.

Daily Update: Tony Khan, AEW Double or Nothing, MJF

Posted on by Dave Meltzer

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

The new issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter is up on the site today:

  • A feature on the first five years of AEW and its future.  
  • A look at both the successes and as well as things not as successful
  • A look at the past, present and future
  • Why this year will be the telling point for the success of the company or not
  • What was guaranteed when AEW started
  • AEW’s business and the perceptions
  • Looking at the value of the promotion
  • History of wrestling wars and how they went down
  • How AEW can take financial advantage of WWE’s move to Netflix
  • The decline of the 18-34 male audience
  • A look in depth at the last several weeks of AEW, NBA, NHL and cable in general
  • WWE expands SummerSlam to two dates
  • El Hijo del Santo talks retirement plans
  • Looking at King & Queen of the Ring and Double or Nothing and challenges for both companies coming off the previous big shows
  • A look at the debut of Marigold, already the No. 2 women’s promotion in the world, what hit and what didn’t hit
  • The life and times of John “Bad Bones” Klinger, a European independent star who passed away this past week
  • The most detailed look at the weekly television ratings, comparisons with other shows, age breakdowns, weekly placings and more
  • Fantastica Mania in the U.S., U.K. and Mexico notes
  • Stardom PPV coverage
  • NOAH has the match of the week
  • Why New Japan changed the Dominion main event
  • All Together Now coverage
  • Best of the Super Juniors coverage’
  • Rematch of a match last year that got worldwide mainstream publicity
  • Updated WWE, AEW, TNA  and boxing PPV notes including how many wrestling fans buy boxing PPVs
  • A look at what going live vs. tape means as far as wrestling ratings
  • One of the NFL’s all-time greats who was nearly became a German heel wrestler
  • Funeral of Tony Jones
  • Lots of notes on the final nail in the coffin of WCW and the questions still not fully answered
  • Lots of injury updates
  • WBD business and AEW negotiations
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming AEW & WWE shows
  • International TV ratings and streaming numbers
  • Lots more on payouts for UFC fighters after lawsuit settlement
  • PFL fires one of its best-known fighters for speaking out
  • Mark Shapiro talks the future of WWE & UFC business
  • Injury rates in WWE and AEW
  • SummerSlam and All In advances
  • Notes on NXT Battleground
  • Top WWE star sues famous boxing star

This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue

Sunday Update

  • Jim Valley and I did a show last night talking about King & Queen of the Ring, as well as sportswashing in Saudi Arabia and the new normal, AEW rating, previewed tonight’s show and some history. Garrett and I will be doing our weekly show tonight covering Las Vegas, Double or Nothing and the latest business moves. Bryan and I will be back tomorrow night covering the weekend and Raw.
  • Tony Khan talked to Sports illustrated this past week. Justin Barrasso wrote that there are strong indications that they will sign a new deal with WBD before the window of exclusive negotiations ends (which is not long from now). Khan was quoted as saying:
  • It’s a really exciting time for AEW,” said Khan. “We’re in active negotiations for the AEW media rights. Warner Bros. Discovery continues to be the best possible partner, and they’ve helped us grow this brand. It’s going to be a very exciting remainder to this year, and we’ll find out where AEW is going to live. For everyone who cares about AEW all over the world, we’re in a great position. This is going to work out really well for AEW. We’re having great talks, and people should feel very confident about what that means for the wrestlers, the staff, and the fans. As a result of everyone’s hard work and endless support from the fans, there will be a tremendous deal for AEW. The outlook for the company is so bright moving forward.”
  • Double or Nothing starts at 7 pm.. Eastern from Las Vegas with 12 announced matches and a planned nearly five hour show.  It’s very different from the WWE presentation of six matches in three hours:
  • Pre show:
  • Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thunder Rosa
  • Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed vs. Brian Cage & Toa Leona & Bishop Kuan
  • Main show at 8 p.m.
  • Trent Baretta vs. Orange Cassidy
  • Jay White & Gunn Brothers vs. Penta & Fenix & Pac for the AEW & ROH trios titles
  • Chris Jericho vs. Hook vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the FTW title
  • Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita non-title
  • Adam Copeland vs. Malakai Black in a barbed wire match, there were hints that if Black wins that Copeland joins the group
  • Roderick Strong vs. Will Osperay for the International title
  • Toni Storm vs. Serena Deeb for the AEW women’s title
  • Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone for the TBS title
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage for the AEW title
  • Anarchy in the Arena:  FTR & Bryan  Danielson & Darby Allin vs. Young Bucks & Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry
  • We talked a lot about the show on last night’s Wrestling Observer Radio. To me the most important match is Nightingale vs. Mone, because ultimately a lot of perceptions about where Mone is and her value will be made after this match. Almost every AEW PPV show is filled with great matches and on paper this should be no different. There were just under 9,000 tickets out as of this morning.  
  • PWInsider reported MJF was on a flight from New York to Phoenix (not Las Vegas) with a tease he might be at the show tonight.
  • Paul Levesque did say after the show that he watched Randy Orton vs. Gunther and Orton’s shoulder was up when the ref counted him  down. WWE is doing more ref incompetence spots in storylines and for booking crutches. He said that as soon as Orton is healthy that they would do a rematch.
  • We’re looking for your thoughts on yesterday’s King & Queen of the Ring PPV and tonight’s Double or Nothing.  You can leave a thumbs up, thumbs down or thumbs in the middle along with a best and worst match from both shows to [email protected]
  • David “Silento” Rodriguez, who wrestled from 1951 to 1977, passed away on 4/7. We just received that news today from historian Al Getz who said Kriss Knight of wrestlingdata.com was the first to find it.  Rodriguez was 90.  Rodriguez was best known in the territorial days for being a deaf mute. If you can’t really talk and can’t hear at all, you can imagine the issues there are in being a pro wrestler.  
  • David was on the smaller side and in most territories didn’t get much of a push, but man could that guy work. But he couldn’t promo. He had a good physique as well, just came across like a real athlete, but  his role was to put over heels and the heels would sell a ton of  him out of respect and also because he was all about having entertaining athletic matches.
  • Regarding interest level, this was the first time in history a  WWE PPV show did not crack the top 20 in Google trends, and No. 20 yesterday was only 20,000 searches. Usually they do 200,000 and a big show more than that. The Lyon, France show did 100,000 and that was unusually low. AEW’s recent shows haven’t cracked the top 20 either other than the Sting show.  With no UFC nor a big boxing match this weekend, nothing all week from any of those things cracked the top 20.
  • No Uncle Howdy debut at King & Queen of the Ring but the current plan, previously rumored, is largely confirmed to be a group with Taylor Rotunda/Bo Dallas as Uncle Howdy, Joe Gacy , Erick Rowan, Dexter Lumis and Nikki Cross. There were teases of a debut yesterday but by the time of the show the belief was that it would be in the near future.
  • Paige VanZant went to a split decision draw with adult entertainer Elle Brooke in the  main event of last night’s Misfits Boxing show. VanZant, who is not a boxer, was heavily favored still because Brooke had never had a serious fight. After a five round draw, both were talking about a rematch. VanZant talked about it possibly being in Dubai. Brooke dropped VanZant in the first round but VanZant got stronger as the fight went on.
  • Mao beat Daisuke Sasaki to win the King of DDT tournament today at Korakuen Hall. We heard this was a very strong match.  They announced Konosuke Takeshita vs. Masato Tanaka for the 7/21 DDT show at Sumo Hall in Tokyo.
  • A&E will be doing a two-hour biography of Eddie Guerrero starting at 8pm tonight.
  • After winning the Memphis tag team titles, Buff Bagwell & Big John Dalton were stripped due to a foot injury.  Dalton will have a mystery partner to go for the titles which is rumored to be Scotty Riggs (thanks to Brian Tramel)
  • Gabe Sapolsky is doing a seminar with that promotion on 6/1 at 11am at their WrestleCenter.  
  • Kid Kash and Tommy Dreamer will be at the 6/2 Memphis Wrestling tapings. Enzo Amore and AJ Francis will be at the 6/25 tapings. Sandman will be at the 8/25 tapings plus Dreamer works their 8/10 show in Pontotoc MS.
  • Best of the Super Juniors continues with a B block show on Tuesday in Numazu with Dragon Dia vs. Ninja Mack, Kushida vs. Douki, Sho vs. Taiji Ishimori and Hiromu Takahashi vs. Drilla Moloney.
  • House of Glory Wrestling from Friday night in Queens, NY: Gringo Loco b KC Navarro to win the HOG cruiserweight title, AJ Francis & Ken Broadway & J Bouji b Encore Moore & Jay Silver & Big Game Leroy, Jodi Aur b Michael Fain, Sexy Star & Reina Dorada b Violette & Diamond, La Sombra (obviously not the famous one since the famous one is Andrade) b Nolo Kiano to keep the Crown  Jewel title, Amazing Red & Midas Black & Jay Lyon b Charles Mason & Jay Armani & Raheem Royal, Mike Santana b Matt Riddle to keep the HOG title. (thanks to Samuel Rosenthal)
  • Mark Coleman and UFC fighter Don’Tale Mayes will be appearing at The Capsule, a sneaker, sweetwear, vintage and record shop in Louisville on 6/7. WWE & UFC have the Yum Center booked for Smackdown on Friday and a UFC Fight Night on Saturday that weekend and expect WWE stars at the UFC show and UFC stars (including Valentina Shevechenko) at the WWE show. (thanks to Phil Montague)
  • There are no plans for a Bob Bruggers funeral in South Florida yet but his family from Minnesota is planning to come to the area at some point for a Memorial service, perhaps in late July.  Bruggers was a member of three sports Halls of Fame in Minnesota, the high school sports and the high school basketball Halls of Fame and the University of Minnesota M Club.  He played several years of pro football including being Wahoo McDaniel’s roommate on the first three seasons of the Miami Dolphins franchise. After his football career ended, McDaniel put him in touch with Verne Gagne and he was part of the most successful training class in history, with Ric Flair, Ken Patera, Iron Sheik, Greg Gagne & Jim Brunzell in 1972. His career ended three years later in the same airplane crash that ended the career of Johnny Valentine and in which Flair suffered a broken back. The 5/20 Observer issue has one of our best stories this year on the training camp, the plane crash and all the what ifs (thanks to Alex Marvez)

First match announced for AEW Double or Nothing Buy-In

Posted on by Ethan Renner

AEW has announced the first match for Sunday’s Double or Nothing Buy-In pre-show.

As revealed during Friday’s Rampage, Deonna Purrazzo will face Thunder Rosa on Sunday at the Double or Nothing Buy-In. Purrazzo challenged Rosa to the bout in a backstage promo on the show, and the match was made official later in Friday’s program.

The Buy-In bout is a rematch from the April 27 Rampage where Rosa scored a victory over Purrazzo. The two have continued to feud on television in recent weeks with a series of angles, and defeating a common opponent in Robyn Renegade.

10 matches are set for Sunday’s main card, with more Buy-In matches expected to be announced between now and show time.

The Buy-In begins at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, May 26 on AEW’s YouTube and social media channels, while the main card begins at 8 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view.

The announced AEW Double or Nothing lineup so far:

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Christian Cage
  • TBS Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Mone
  • Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry & The Young Bucks) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin & FTR)
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb
  • FTW Champion Chris Jericho defends against Katsuyori Shibata & Hook in a triple threat
  • TNT Champion Adam Copeland defends against Malakai Black in a barbed wire steel cage
  • AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Will Ospreay
  • The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White & The Gunns) vs. Death Triangle (PAC & The Lucha Bros)
  • IWGP World title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta
  • Buy-In pre-show: Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo

Jim Ross to miss AEW Double or Nothing following hospitalization

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Though he’s hoping for a quick recovery from his health issues, Jim Ross won’t be in Las Vegas for AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view this weekend.

Ross announced on Thursday morning that he needed to make an unexpected trip to the emergency room due to shortness of breath. Later in the day, Ross shared a photo of his two daughters visiting him in the hospital.

Dave Meltzer reports that Ross is dealing with the flu, raised heart enzymes, and breathing issues. Ross isn’t able to be in Las Vegas for Double or Nothing, but he expects to be fine within a few days:

Jim Ross, 72, was hospitalized on 5/23 at his other home in Norman, OK, due to shortness of breath. He said that he won’t be able to go to Las Vegas this weekend for Double or Nothing, which was his next announcing gig as right now he’s only doing PPV shows. He said that he has a Class A flu and raised heart enzymes to go along with breathing issues but was getting excellent care and expects to be fine in a few days.

Ross revealed this March that he had signed a new one-year contract with AEW. His role is to provide commentary at AEW PPV events.

Double or Nothing is taking place from the MGM Grand Garden Arena this Sunday (May 26).

Earlier this month, Ross said he was feeling good and his health was better than it’s been in a while:

My health is better than it’s been in over a year, I’m happy to say. My right hip, that’s healing and getting better. My radiation wound from skin cancer–and I’m cancer-free–is still healing. Vaping has helped. It’s allowed me to stop taking pain medication and get me through the night. I’m feeling good. And I’m still doing what I love.

“Business is About to Pick Up,” a new book by Ross on his 50 years in pro wrestling, was released on May 7.

The Latest: Triple H makes WWE King & Queen of the Ring announcement, AEW DON media call

Posted on by Denise Salcedo

Welcome to another episode of The Latest with Denise Salcedo breaking down the biggest wrestling news headlines of the week so far.

  • Triple H extends ‘open invitation’ to Patrick Mahomes for WWE return
  • WWE King & Queen of the Ring winners to earn SummerSlam title shots
  • Two-night WWE SummerSlam announced for Minneapolis in 2026
  • Tony Khan AEW media call notes: Darby Allin, being an on-screen character, Mark Henry contract
  • Eddie Kingston expected to be out until May 2025
  • Sonya Deville returns to WWE on Raw

Tag match with Double or Nothing implications set for AEW Collision

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Lucha Bros will face The Gunns on Saturday’s AEW Collision with a title match at Double or Nothing hanging in the balance.

Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn of The Bang Bang Gang issued a challenge for Saturday to Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix of The Lucha Bros on Wednesday’s Dynamite during a backstage promo.

Should The Lucha Bros win, Death Triangle (Penta, Fenix, & PAC) will get a shot at The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White, Austin Gunn, & Colten Gunn)’s Unified Trios Championship at Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

PAC was the target of The Bang Bang Gang on last Saturday’s Collision episode, which included an angle where Jay White and The Gunns dragged a lifeless PAC to the stage after beating him up off-screen backstage.

Saturday’s Collision airs live at 8 p.m. Eastern time on TNT from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the site of Sunday’s Double or Nothing event.

No additional matches or segment for Collision have been announced to this point.

Three-way match for FTW Championship added to AEW Double or Nothing

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Two new matches are official for Sunday’s Double or Nothing.

The FTW Championship will be on the line, as champion Chris Jericho defends against Hook and Katsuyori Shibata in a three-way match. A trios match has also been announced, with Unified Trios Champions the Bang Bang Gang (Jay White & The Gunns) square off against Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Rey Fenix).

On Dynamite, Shibata and Hook won a three-way match involving Bryan Keith to determine the number one contender for Jericho’s championship. Shibata and Hook both had Keith in submission holds, and confusion emerged after the bell rang. However, the ring announcer said both had won, and Tony Schiavone later confirmed the three-way match for Las Vegas.

After being ambushed by The Bang Bang Gang, PAC appeared in a video on Wednesday and said a 3-on-1 fight wasn’t exactly fair, so he’ll introduce his amigos. Death Triangle then came out and the six ended up brawling.

Later, the Bang Bang Gang said they’d face Death Triangle at Double or Nothing, but will only put the titles on the line if the Lucha Bros. could defeat The Gunns on Saturday’s Collision.

Here is the updated lineup for Double or Nothing:

AEW Double or Nothing, Sunday, May 26, 7 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Christian Cage
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb
  • TBS Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Mone
  • TNT Champion Adam Copeland defends against Malakai Black in a barbed wire steel cage
  • AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Will Ospreay
  • Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson & Darby Allin)
  • IWGP World title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Three-way match for FTW Championship: Chris Jericho defends against Hook and Katsuyori Shibata
  • The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White & The Gunns) vs. Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, and Rey Fenix)
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta

Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta added to AEW Double or Nothing

Posted on by Bryan Rose

The former Best Friends will face off next week in Las Vegas.

During Collision, Orange was wrestling Isiah Kassidy when Beretta appeared in the crowd. After Orange won, Beretta cut a promo where he called Orange a sociopath and challenged him to “a straight up wrestling match” for Double or Nothing. Orange then attacked Beretta but he was eventually held back by security. Tony Khan later made the match official for next weekend.

Don Callis was seen during the match, watching the action backstage. After Orange picked up the win, he smirked. In recent weeks, he has been attempting to get involved with Orange and Beretta’s feud, with Callis at one point walking away with Orange after the two had a confrontation.

AEW Double or Nothing, Sunday, May 26, 7 p.m. Eastern time on pay-per-view —

  • AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland defends against Christian Cage
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm defends against Serena Deeb
  • TBS Champion Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Mone
  • TNT Champion Adam Copeland defends against Malakai Black in a barbed wire steel cage
  • AEW International Champion Roderick Strong defends against Will Ospreay
  • Anarchy in the Arena: The Elite (Young Bucks, Kazuchika Okada & Jack Perry) vs. Team AEW (FTR, Bryan Danielson & Darby Allin)
  • IWGP World title eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Orange Cassidy vs. Trent Beretta

Wrestling Observer Radio: Wrestling media thoughts, Bob Bruggers biography

Posted on by Garrett Gonzales

Dave Meltzer and I are back with Wrestling Observer Radio going over the big stories in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

Freelance sports reporter Lucas Charpiot joined the show to talk about his experience as a member of the media at WWE Backlash.

Then, Dave and I talked about the current news, including:

  • AEW’s residency for Collision
  • A new match for Double or Nothing
  • AEW Dynamite ratings and an explanation on the rankings
  • How AEW could change up their television
  • Dave’s story on the passing of Bob Bruggers

Click here to listen (sub needed) or watch on YouTube (video sub needed).