Brian Cage has arrived in AEW and is in line for a future shot at the promotion’s World Championship.
Cage was accompanied by Taz and made his AEW debut as the ninth entrant in tonight’s Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing. The finish of the match was Cage retrieving the poker chip that was hanging above the ring after a spot where he picked up a ladder with Darby Allin laying across it and threw it out of the ring.
As the winner of the Casino Ladder match, Cage will get a future shot at the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley is defending the title against Brodie Lee at Double or Nothing later tonight.
A storyline leading into Double or Nothing was that Taz had been offering to help Allin, but Allin didn’t want his advice. Taz cut a brief promo after Cage’s win and said Cage will continue dropping bodies.
Scorpio Sky, Frankie Kazarian, Kip Sabian, Allin, Orange Cassidy, Colt Cabana, Joey Janela, Luchasaurus, and Cage were the entrants in the Casino Ladder Match. It started with two wrestlers in the ring, then a new participant was added every two minutes until all nine were in.
Fenix was originally set for the Casino Ladder Match but was replaced by Janela due to injury.
It was reported by SoCalUncensored.com in January that Cage had agreed to a multi-year deal with AEW. But Cage posted an update on his injury and contract status later that month. Cage confirmed that he was no longer under contract with Impact Wrestling but said he would need to undergo surgery to repair a torn right biceps. Cage said that he wasn’t technically with any promotion then.
AEW returns to pay-per-view tonight with Double or Nothing 2020, the second annual edition of what was the promotion’s inaugural event.
The PPV will include The Elite (Matt Hardy, Hangman Page, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) facing The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match inside TIAA Bank Field.
Three title matches are also set for tonight. AEW World Champion Jon Moxley will defend his title against Mr. Brodie Lee, The Exalted One of The Dark Order. Cody and Lance Archer will face off in the finals of the TNT Championship tournament. And AEW Women’s World Champion Nyla Rose is set to defend her title against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match.
Cody will have Arn Anderson and Brandi Rhodes in his corner, while Jake “The Snake” Roberts will corner Archer. Mike Tyson will be on hand to present the TNT Championship to the winner.
A Casino Ladder Match will also be held. A poker chip will be suspended above the ring. The first participant to retrieve the chip will earn a future AEW World Championship match. The announced participants for the match are Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Colt Cabana, Kip Sabian, Scorpio Sky, Frankie Kazarian, Luchasaurus and Joey Janela. Janela replaces the injured Rey Fenix. An unannounced ninth participant will be added to the match.
Penelope Ford, replacing the injured Britt Baker, will face Kris Statlander on the show. MJF is also scheduled to take on Jungle Boy. Dustin Rhodes vs. Shawn Spears was a late add to the card, announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The pre-show will feature a number one contender’s match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship, featuring Best Friends taking on Private Party.
Our live coverage begins with the Buy-In pre-show at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time.
**********
Number one contender match for the AEW Tag Team titles: Best Friends defeated Private Party
A fun opener. This was primarily a spot fest. Trent sold his ribs throughout the match but this was otherwise a series of moves loosely strung together.
Taylor and Kassidy began. Kassidy repeatedly kipped up out of a trip takedown by Taylor. They slapped hands in respect and tagged out.
Quen hit a standing moonsault on Trent for a near fall. Trent took over on Quen with a spear. All four guys jumped in. Kassidy and Taylor hit dueling standing sliced breads.
Kassidy and Trent ended up as the legal men. Kassidy connected with Silly String on Trent but came up selling his lower back and did not attempt a cover.
Quen tagged in and put Trent’s headband on. Kassidy whipped Trent into te barricade on the floor. Trent came back with a spear to Kassidy. Quen hit a tope con giro to Trent.
Trent and Taylor teamed up for a doomsday device superplex on Quen for a near fall. Taylor continued working over Quen in the Best Friends corner. Trent tried a swing DDT but Quen blocked and hit a dropkick.
Kassidy got a hot tag. He landed a moonsault off the post to Taylor on the floor then hit Trent with a flatliner for a two count.
Quen used a pop-up double stomp on Trent for a two count. Trent used a pair of back suplexes on both members of Private Party before tagging out.
Best Friends hit their half-and-half suplex/sole food combo on Kassidy and did their hug spot. Quen used Trent as a launch pad for a standing shooting star press. Quen and Kassidy hit a clunky G9 on Taylor in tribute to Shad Gaspard.
Quen hit a shooting star off the top on Trent for a two count. Taylor was late on the save but the ref held up the count. Private Party tried Gin and Juice but Taylor pulled Kassidy out of the way. Trent used a sunset flip for a near fall on Quen.
The finish saw Taylor pull Kassidy to the floor. Trent set up Strong Zero. Taylor hit the foot stomp off the top and Trent pinned Quen.
**********
Tony Schiavone interviewed Arn Anderson.
Anderson listed a series of things that could happen tonight. He said he may DDT Jake Roberts. He said Jake may DDT him. He said Mike Tyson might knock both of them out since he has free reign.
Anderson said that Archer may be the favorite tonight if you’re just looking at ability, but that doesn’t take things like grit and heart into consideration.
**********
After a Moxley/Brodie Lee hype video, Excalibur introduced Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross as his broadcast partners for the PPV.
**********
Casino Ladder Match: Brian Cage won a future AEW World title shot
This was crazy. A very good match with some scary bumps. There were some botches and sloppiness but overall very good.
Two men started off. A new competitor was introduced every two minutes. The match could be won at any time.
Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian were the first two competitors. They had a hot opening exchange.
Sabian was out next. As he and Ford posed on the stage, Jimmy Havoc climbed out of the crowd and introduced ladders to the match. Havoc and Sabian hit a tandem Michinoku driver/dropkick.
Kazarian suplexed Havoc into a ladder. Sabian teased a dive off a huge ladder on the floor but didn’t deliver at this point.
Darby Allin was out next. He immediately hit a tope to Sky, Sabian and Havoc. Allin set up a ladder bridge from the apron to the barricade. Allin threw a skateboard at Kazarian.
Allin went for a skateboard jump off the ladder to Kazarian on the floor. Kazarian moved and Allin smashed through the ladder bridge.
Orange Cassidy was out next. He asked the commentators the rules of the match. Cassidy did some comedy spots in trying to figure out how to set up a ladder and trying to reach the poker chip without the ladder.
Colt Cabana was the next entrant. Cabana climbed a ladder and touched the chip but took a nasty flat back bump while still holding onto the ladder. Cassidy hit his trademark kicks and a tope to Sky and Kazarian.
Joey Janela was the next participant. He hit a dive off the stage and a step up leg lariat off a chair over the barricade. Kazarian climbed a ladder and Sky nailed him with a chair. Sabian hit Kazarian with a DDT off a ladder.
Luchasaurus was the next man in. He powerbombed Sabian over the top rope and a bunch of guys caught him on the floor. Luchasaurus slammed Kazarian on a ladder. Allin hit a code red off the second rope on Luchasaurus.
Brian Cage was the mystery participant. Taz entered with Cage. Cage hit a series of trademark spots, laying out everyone but Cassidy.
Cage climbed the ladder. Cassidy jumped on Cage’s back. Everyone teamed up to pull Cage off the ladder and threw him outside. Everyone piled ladders, a piece of the barricade, a chair and a poker chip from the set on top of Cage.
Sabian hit a coast-to-coast into a ladder on Cabana. Sabian climbed but Kazarian dropped him with a ladder shot. Sabian and Cassidy climbed the ladder. Sabian took a bump off the ladder into another ladder.
Ford climbed the ladder but Cassidy sent her off the ladder on to Sabian. Jimmy Havoc interfered. Best Friends ran in to help out Cassidy and neutralize Havoc.
Marko Stunt ran in and set up a tiny ladder. He hit an assisted chokeslam to Cassidy off the ladder and a tope.
Luchasaurus and Kazarian tried a spot that didn’t work. It looked like Luchasaurus botched it.
Janela hit a running death valley driver off the apron on Cassidy, landing on top of the pile of plunder on Cage.
Sky and Kazarian climbed the ladder but Luchasaurus and Cage took them out. Luchasaurus and Cage traded strikes. Cage powerbombed Luchasaurus on a ladder.
Cage began to climb. Allin jumped in and Cage stopped climbing. Cage hit his finisher on Allin.
Cage set up a ladder on across the top rope. Allin laid across the ladder, then fell off. The camera cut away and they tried again. Cage pressed the ladder and Allin over his head and threw Allin out of the ring into a ladder on the floor.
Cage climbed the ladder and retrieved the chip.
Taz said that Cage will continue dropping bodies.
**********
MJF defeated Jungle Boy
This was another very good match. They started slow and built to an excellent crescendo.
They began with some old school chain wrestling. They executed some nice bridges.
MJF feigned a knee injury and the ringside doctor jumped in to check on him. MJF popped up and went after Jungle Boy with hard strikes.
MJF hit a backbreaker. Jungle Boy came back with hard chops and three consecutive dives. MJF cut him off with a springboard double stomp to the left arm.
They traded chops and palm strikes. Jungle Boy hit a destroyer. MJF no-sold it and popped up into a thrust kick.
Jungle Boy grabbed a crossface but gave up the hold when his left arm gave out. MJF hit a package driver for a near fall.
Jungle Boy hit a poison rana on the apron. They executed it safely but man, there’s no margin for error on a move like that.
Jungle Boy hit a sit-out powerbomb off the middle rope for a near fall.
MJF went for a shoulder breaker but his back gave out. They traded cradles for a pair of quick near falls. MJF fought to get the Salt of the Earth applied. Jungle Boy used a schoolboy for a two count.
The finish saw another exchange of quick cradles. MJF used a Euro clutch and got the pin.
Mike Tyson entered with the unfinished TNT Championship. The belt had silver plates on a red strap. Apparently gold plating will be added to the silver at a later date.
Lance Archer entered and hit a chokeslam on Lee Johnson. Tyson acted appalled by this behavior.
Ref Bryce Remsburg offered the competitors an opportunity to shake hands before the opening bell. Nope.
TNT Championship match: Cody (w/Arn Anderson) defeated Lance Archer (w/Jake Roberts) to win the title
This would have worked in front of a crowd. Cody matches really need crowd participation.
Archer hit Blackout right away. He went for a cover but Cody rolled outside. Archer went for an EBD Claw but Cody grabbed an armbar. Archer broke the hold.
Cody went for a cutter but Archer hit him with a pounce. They brawled outside where Cody took a biel on the floor.
The pace slowed as they made their way back inside. Archer walked the top rope into a moonsault. Cody hit a delayed vertical suplex. Archer answered with a vertical suplex.
Archer exposed a buckle. Cody sent Archer into the exposed buckle. Archer press slammed Cody over the top rope to the floor. Archer choked Cody with the bottom rope.
Archer hit a ripchord uranage for a near fall. Archer hit a splash. They brawled outside and traded punches on the floor.
Cody used a crossface, then hit a DDT to Archer in front of Roberts. Cody hit a springboard second rope cutter but Archer kicked out at one. Cody hit flip, flop and fly and a final reckoning. Cody hit Cross Rhodes but Archer kicked out at two.
Cody hit a Stinger splash. Ha. Archer no-sold it and hit a chokeslam for a two count. Archer used the EBD Claw but Cody kicked out.
Roberts took the referee while Archer walked the top rope. Anderson crotched Archer on the top rope. Cody hit a superplex.
A second referee ran to the ring and alerted the referee to Anderson’s actions. Anderson was ejected. Roberts was ejected too, I think.
Roberts came back out with his snake. Tyson jumped on the stage to cut him off. Tyson took his shirt off and postured up. Jake sold like he was scared of Tyson.
Archer went for Blackout again. Cody blocked and hit Cross Rhodes for the pin.
**********
Alex Marvez interviewed Dr. Samson.
Samson said Britt Baker has a fracture in her leg, a ligament tear and a tendon tear, but the injuries were not as bad as the “pretty high maintenance” patient.
Samson said Baker will be back on Dynamite on Wednesday to announce when she will be able to return.
**********
Kris Statlander defeated Penelope Ford (w/Kip Sabian)
They worked hard but this was sloppy and they were put in an impossible situation. Their match had no story and followed a long attempt at an epic.
Sabian entered on crutches and with bandages on both legs.
Statlander used a side headlock takeover. Ford grabbed Statlander’s hair. Sabian distracted Statlander and Ford hit a draping DDT.
Ford used a chinlock. Statlander came back with a suicide dive to both Ford and Sabian. Statlander hit a high kick and a running knee.
Statlander hit a falcon arrow for a near fall. Ford blocked a Big Bang Theory and answered with an inverted DDT.
Ford did a matrix back bend and tried a stunner. Statlander blocked. Ford hit a top rope rana.
The finish saw Statlander block a back handspring, hit a blue thunder bomb, then hit Big Bang Theory for the pin.
**********
Shawn Spears entered in a suit. He said Dustin Rhodes isn’t there, he’s home washing his tights. I popped for the 1989 Batman reference.
Spears played Dustin’s music, then said we were stupid for falling for that. Spear demanded that the referee ring the bell and count out Rhodes.
A total comedy match. Fine for what it was, but no idea why this was on pay-per-view.
The ref rang the bell and started counting. Brandi appeared on the stage. Dustin appeared in the ring behind Spears and ran wild on him with strikes. Dustin tore Spears’s clothes off and beat him around ringside.
Concerned that his ass wasn’t hanging out enough, Spears pulled his underwear down some more. Tully Blanchard’s face was on the crotch of the underpants.
Dustin hit Final Reckoning and pinned Spears.
**********
All Out was announced for September 5. No venue was announced.
**********
A Hana Kimura graphic was displayed. Excalibur gave a sincere speech about the tragedy of her death at 22 years old and asked everyone to be nicer to each other on social media.
**********
Hikaru Shida defeated Nyla Rose in a no countout, no DQ match to win the AEW Women’s World Championship
This was a good match. Rose is good when she’s in there with the right opponent and Shida was the right opponent tonight. Not the match of the night, but a good effort.
Rose entered with Shida’s trademark kendo stick. They brawled over the stick. Rose blocked a kendo stick shot and used the stick. Shida answered with a running knee lift.
They brawled outside. Rose put Shida through a poker table and hit her with a chair. Back inside, Shida blocked a Beast Bomb and came back with a series of knee strikes.
They brawled back to the floor and around the arena. Shida used some of the poker chips from the set to deliver knee strikes.
Rose hit her top rope draping knee strike for a near fall. Rose set up a table in the corner and teased a DVD but Shida blocked. Rose instead hit a powerbomb through the table for a two count.
Rose hit a DVD and used the kendo stick to deliver more punishment. Rose went up top but Shida cut her off and hit a falcon arrow off the top for a near fall.
Shida hit a shining wizard but Rose kicked out at two.
Shida dropped Rose with a kendo stick shot, then hit another shining wizard for the pin.
**********
AEW World Championship Match: Jon Moxley defeated Mr. Brodie Lee to retain the title
This was a good back and forth brawl.
Lee missed a high kick in the corner and fell to the floor. Moxley hit a tope suicida and Lee wiped out through a piece of the barricade.
Lee came back with a suplex on the floor, then hit a series of front chancery suplexes in the ring. Lee then hit his own tope suicida. Lee suplexed Moxley on a piece of the barricade.
The fight returned to the ring where they traded strikes. Moxley hit a lariat and a Gotch-style piledriver for a near fall. They went back outside where Moxley set up the ring steps. Moxley tried a Regal knee but Lee blocked with a one-legged dropkick.
Moxley hit a backdrop on Lee off the steps through the time keeper’s table. They went back inside for a Lee superplex to Moxley. They went back to the floor where Lee whipped Moxley through some of the playing card set pieces.
Back inside, Lee teased a powerbomb. Moxley blocked. Lee hit his trademark big boot and then hit a sit-out powerbomb for a two count.
They brawled to the stage. Moxley used a poker chip as a weapon. They brawled on the ramp. Moxley hit a double-arm DDT through the ramp. That was a spectacular spot. Moxley protected Lee’s head but had to hit the gimmicked portion of the stage with enough force to break it.
Referees and road agents came to the stage. Moxley crawled out of the hole in the stage first. Lee then climbed out after blading his forehead.
Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift but Lee kicked out at one. Moxley hit a second Paradigm Shift and Lee kicked out at two.
The finish saw Moxley use a bulldog choke, then transitioned to a rear naked choke. Lee passed out in the hold and the referee called for the stoppage finish.
**********
A commercial for the upcoming AEW action figure line aired.
A video package aired with highlights from the earlier matches.
**********
Time for the main event. This is going to be one of those polarizing things. I enjoyed it but I can also understand if this wasn’t your cup of tea. It was goofy and wacky and not for everybody.
The Jaguars cheerleaders and marching band were there.
The Inner Circle wore football uniforms and were announced with their uniform numbers.
The Elite were introduced but entered wearing wrestling gear. Hangman Page was announced last but did not enter with his team.
Stadium Stampede match: The Elite defeated The Inner Circle
Ref Aubrey Edwards blew a whistle and the match began. They brawled all over the football field. Matt Hardy used a trashcan.
Hangman Page then entered on a horse and the did a callback to the golf cart spot and Page chased Guevara off the field and back up the tunnel on the horse.
Santana and Ortiz and the Bucks did some spots in the ring. Omega hit a snap dragon suplex on Santana. Hager hit a throw on Omega. Hardy hit a side effect on Hager.
Guevara ran back on the field. He climbed to the top rope but missed a shooting star press attempt on Hardy. Hardy hit another side effect on Guevara. Omega went for a v-trigger but Jericho pulled him out of the ring.
Santana hit an asai moonsault on a crowd of guys. Guevara hit a shooting star off the post onto the group. Matt Jackson hit a moonsault off the goal post, taking out Jericho and Hager.
Omega and Hardy brawled in the stands with Santana and Ortiz. They used a traffic cone as a weapon.
Page was shown riding his horse through the stadium tunnels looking for Guevara. He gave up, then went off to find the stadium bar.
Santana and Ortiz used mad ball loaded socks on Hardy. Omega then used the mad balls on Santana and Ortiz. Ortiz threw salt in Omega’s eyes. Santana and Ortiz hit a gutbuster on Omega on a barricade.
Santana and Ortiz hit a tandem powerbomb on Omega through a piece of barricade as they balanced on table tops. That was impressive.
Santana and Ortiz threw Hardy in one of the stadium swimming pools. They dunked Hardy and he emerged from the water in his classic Matt Hardy gear. They dunked him again and he emerged as Matt Hardy V1, complete with a Matt Fact. They dunked him again and he came out as Broken Matt.
Hardy hit Ortiz with the stadium bell, then duct taped him to a chair of wheels. Hardy stuffed Santana in a freezer and barred the freezer doors with a broom.
Hager encountered Page’s horse in the tunnels. Page was sitting at the stadium bar. Hager joined him. Page asked if he came to fight or drink. They each had a drink and then began to fight. Page broke a pool cue over Hager. Hager no-sold it. Hager hit a chokeslam on Page on top of a pool table.
Hager dragged Page across the top of the bar. Hager hit a gutwrench powerbomb through a table for a near fall. Omega appeared and broke a bottle over Hager’s head. Hager no-sold it. Page and Omega broke a series of bottles over Hager’s head.
Omega hit Hager with a v-trigger. Page hit a Buckshot Lariat and Hager flew over the bar. Omega and Page toasted with milk and whiskey, respectively.
Matt Jackson hit Guevara with a series of northern lights suplexes on the field. Jericho hit Nick with a first down chain. Matt continued hitting suplexes on Guevara down the length of the field. Nick threw footballs at Jericho. Jericho sent Nick into the mouth of a Jaguar. Jericho hit the Jaguars mascot with a Judas Effect and did his witch spot with a traffic cone.
Jericho hit Nick with Floyd the bat for a two count. Jericho said he was challenging the play. Aubrey went into the replay tent. Jericho followed her in, still arguing. Aubrey said the call stands.
Matt finished his suplex series in the endzone. He did a touchdown dance but was penalized by Rick Knox for excessive celebration. Matt hit Knox with a superkick.
Jericho went for a bat shot on Nick but Matt saved. Nick hit a splash out of the stands on Jericho through a table. Page brought out the field chalk and lined Jericho with it.
Guevara was awakened from his suplex slumber by the stadium sprinklers. He woke up thinking he had won the match. Omega and Hardy appeared with the golf cart and chased Guevara into the stands with it.
This set up the finish.
Guevara hit Omega and Hardy with boots to the face. The NEO 1 drone appeared to distract Guevara.
Omega then hit a One-Winged Angel out of the stands through a gimmicked platform on the field and pinned Guevara.
**********
Matt Jackson gave Omega a Gatorade bath after the win. The Elite posed on the field with fireworks going off to close the show.
Due to injury, Fenix is out of the Casino Ladder Match at Saturday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
AEW announced tonight that Joey Janela is replacing Fenix in the match. They noted that Fenix is not expected to miss significant time: “@ReyFenixMx is out of the #CasinoLadderMatch due to injury. Fenix isn’t expected to miss significant time. @JANELABABY is now entered in the Casino Ladder Match. 1 mystery wrestler is still TBA. DOUBLE or NOTHING is available on all major providers @brlive @FiteTV tomorrow 8/7c”
Fenix was injured on this week’s Dynamite after a match with Orange Cassidy. Fenix, Cassidy, and other participants in the ladder match were brawling outside the ring. Fenix attempted a springboard dive and landed on his back on the floor.
Janela, Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Cassidy, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Frankie Kazarian, and Luchasaurus are the confirmed participants for the Casino Ladder Match. An additional mystery participant will be revealed on the Double or Nothing PPV.
The Casino Ladder Match will start with two wrestlers in the ring, then a new participant will be added every 90 seconds until all nine wrestlers have entered. The stipulation is that the chip hanging above the ring can be grabbed at any time, so the match could end before everyone has entered. The winner will get a future shot at the AEW World Championship.
Fenix is the second performer to be pulled from Double or Nothing due to an injury suffered on this week’s Dynamite. Britt Baker was removed from her scheduled match against Kris Statlander at the PPV and replaced by Penelope Ford.
The final participant for AEW’s Casino Ladder Match won’t be revealed before Double or Nothing.
AEW announced today that the final participant for the Casino Ladder Match is a mystery and they’ll be revealed at Double or Nothing. Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Fenix, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Frankie Kazarian, and Luchasaurus are the other wrestlers who will be in the match at the pay-per-view.
The ladder match will start with two wrestlers in the ring, then one more participant will be added every 90 seconds until all nine wrestlers have entered. The stipulation is that the chip hanging above the ring can be grabbed at any time, including before all of the participants have entered.
The winner of the Casino Ladder Match will receive a future shot at the AEW World Championship.
Double or Nothing is taking place this Saturday (May 23). Here’s what’s been announced for the PPV:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer (Mike Tyson will present the TNT Championship to the winner of the match)
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose defending against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page & The Young Bucks) & Matt Hardy vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match
Casino Ladder Match (Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Fenix, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Frankie Kazarian, Luchasaurus, and a mystery participant)
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Tag team number one contender’s match: Private Party vs. Best Friends (pre-show)
The lineup for AEW’s Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing is almost fully set.
AEW announced today that Luchasaurus will be taking part in the Casino Ladder Match. He’s the eighth participant confirmed for it, joining Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Fenix, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, and Frankie Kazarian.
There’s only one more participant left to be announced for the Casino Ladder Match. It will start with two wrestlers in the ring, then a new participant will be added every 90 seconds until all nine wrestlers have entered. The chip that’s hanging above the ring can be grabbed at any time, so the stipulation is that the match could end before all of the wrestlers have entered.
The winner of the Casino Ladder Match will receive a future shot at the AEW World Championship. Jon Moxley is the current champion and will defend his title against Brodie Lee at Double or Nothing.
Luchasaurus is part of Jurassic Express with Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt. Jungle Boy is facing MJF at Double or Nothing.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday (May 23). Here’s the updated lineup for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer (Mike Tyson will present the TNT Championship to the winner of the match)
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose defending against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page & The Young Bucks) & Matt Hardy vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match
Casino Ladder Match (Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Fenix, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Frankie Kazarian, Luchasaurus, and one more participant)
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Tag team number one contender’s match: Private Party vs. Best Friends (pre-show)
Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Fenix, Kazarian’s SCU stablemate Scorpio Sky, and Kip Sabian have also been announced for the ladder match. The winner will get a future shot at the AEW World Championship.
The Casino Ladder Match will feature a maximum of nine participants in total. It will begin with two wrestlers in the ring, then another wrestler will be added every 90 seconds until all nine have entered. There will be a chip hanging above the ring that can be grabbed at any time, so the stipulation is that the match could potentially end before everyone has entered.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Here’s what’s been announced for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer (Mike Tyson will present the TNT Championship to the winner of the match)
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose defending against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page & The Young Bucks) & Matt Hardy vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match
Casino Ladder Match
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Tag team number one contender’s match: Private Party vs. Best Friends (pre-show)
Two wrestlers will start the Casino Ladder Match. A new participant will then enter every 90 seconds until everyone has entered. The chip that’s hanging above the ring can be grabbed at any time, meaning it’s an advantage to enter the match early. The winner will get a future shot at the AEW World Championship.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Here’s what’s been announced for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer (Mike Tyson will present the TNT Championship to the winner of the match)
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose defending against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page & The Young Bucks) & Matt Hardy vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match
Casino Ladder Match
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Tag team number one contender’s match: Private Party vs. Best Friends (pre-show)
Scorpio Sky is the fifth confirmed entrant for the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing.
Sky was announced for the ladder match today, joining Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, and Fenix as the wrestlers who have been confirmed for it thus far. The winner will receive a future shot at the AEW World Championship.
AEW revealed the rules for the Casino Ladder Match on last night’s episode of Dynamite. Two wrestlers will begin the match, then a new entrant will enter every 90 seconds until all nine possible participants have entered. A chip will be hanging above the ring and can be grabbed at any time, so it’s an advantage to enter the match early.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer (Mike Tyson will present the TNT Championship to the winner of the match)
AEW Women’s Champion Nyla Rose defending against Hikaru Shida in a no DQ, no countout match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Hangman Page & The Young Bucks) & Matt Hardy vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz) in a Stadium Stampede match
Casino Ladder Match
Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Tag team number one contender’s match: Private Party vs. Best Friends (pre-show)
AEW has revealed the fourth participant for their Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing.
It was announced today that Rey Fenix will be taking part in the Casino Ladder Match. Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, and Orange Cassidy are the other wrestlers who have been confirmed for the match so far.
The winner of the Casino Ladder Match will receive an upcoming shot at the AEW World Championship.
For the first time since the March 18 episode of Dynamite, Fenix was back in action on the AEW Dark episode that premiered last night. He defeated Alan Angels.
Fenix and Pentagon Jr. are part of a stable with PAC called Death Triangle.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Three other matches have been announced for the pay-per-view thus far. Jon Moxley will defend his AEW World Championship against Brodie Lee, Cody and Lance Archer will face off in the finals of the TNT Championship tournament, and MJF will take on Jungle Boy.
The Casino Ladder Match at AEW Double or Nothing has its third entrant.
AEW revealed this morning that Orange Cassidy will be one of the participants in the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing. Darby Allin and Colt Cabana are the other wrestlers who have been confirmed for the match thus far.
AEW hasn’t revealed how many wrestlers will be in the Casino Ladder Match. The winner will receive an upcoming shot at the AEW World Championship.
This will be the second straight AEW pay-per-view that Cassidy has been in action on. At Revolution in February, he lost to PAC.
Cassidy defeated Jimmy Havoc on the April 22 episode of Dynamite.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. The Casino Ladder Match is one of four matches that have already been announced for the PPV. Jon Moxley will defend his AEW World Championship against Brodie Lee, Cody and Lance Archer will face off in the finals of AEW’s TNT Championship tournament, and Jungle Boy will take on MJF.
Two participants have now been confirmed for the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing.
AEW announced today that Colt Cabana will be taking part in the Casino Ladder Match. Darby Allin is the other participant who has been confirmed for it.
The winner of the Casino Ladder Match will receive an upcoming shot at the AEW World Championship. AEW hasn’t revealed how many wrestlers will be in the ladder match.
Cabana and Allin were both entrants in AEW’s TNT Championship tournament. Cabana lost to Lance Archer in the first round, while Allin lost to Cody in the semifinals. Cody will face Archer in the tournament finals at Double or Nothing to determine the inaugural TNT Champion.
Cabana signing with AEW was officially announced after his appearance at February’s Revolution pay-per-view. He made his AEW in-ring debut on the March 4 episode of Dynamite.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Here’s the current lineup for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer
AEW has revealed the first participant for the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing.
It was announced today that Darby Allin will be taking part in the ladder match. The winner of the match will receive an upcoming shot at the AEW World Championship.
Allin was one of the entrants in AEW’s TNT Championship tournament. He defeated Sammy Guevara in the first round but lost to Cody in the semifinals. Allin hit a Coffin Drop at the end of that semifinal match, but Cody rolled into a backslide and pinned Allin to advance to the finals. Cody and Lance Archer will face off at Double or Nothing to determine the first TNT Champion.
On Dynamite this week, Taz tried to interview Allin about his loss in the TNT Championship tournament. After saying Allin pinned himself and made several mistakes, Taz offered to help Allin. Allin didn’t answer him and walked off instead.
Double or Nothing is taking place on Saturday, May 23. Here’s the updated card for the pay-per-view:
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending against Brodie Lee
TNT Championship tournament finals: Cody vs. Lance Archer
Two new matches have been announced for Double or Nothing later this month.
It was announced that MJF will face Jungle Boy in a singles match. The announcement came when Tony Schiavone interviewed MJF and Shawn Spears at ringside. After MJF mentioned that he would be in action next week on Dynamite, Schiavone made the match announcement. MJF was less than happy to hear the news.
MJF had not been on television for most of April. When he returned, he said he was recovering from a hangnail injury. The following week, he wore a neck brace, saying that he had cut himself while shaving. Jungle Boy hasn’t wrestled for AEW since March 18, when he and Luchasarus defeated The Butcher and The Blade on Dynamite.
Also announced for Double or Nothing is a casino ladder match, where the winner will get a future AEW World championship match. The announcers said that more information regarding this match would be announced next week.
Double or Nothing is scheduled to take place on May 23, though it is currently unknown where the show will be held.
A look at how the major companies are looking at either running or not running is the lead story in this week’s issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. We also have a major feature on the characters from ABC’s 20/20, from David Schultz, John Stossell, Jim Wilson and Eddy Mansfield, as well as a feature on Gerald Brisco and how Vince McMahon got control of the TBS time slot for one year.
The issue also covers:
The schedule for UFC, WWE and AEW.
The time frame Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida talked about for live events, the hypocrisy sanctioning these events, why UFC isn’t running Las Vegas, ESPN’s change of policy, another state open to bring in wrestling, boxing and MMA, UFC’s first show back, update on Fight Island, Bellator plans and Scott Coker talks his ideas.
Another feature on WWE financials with Vince McMahon’s quotes on all facets of business going forward and what is and isn’t honest about them. We also look at why you can’t compare live attendance, what category does look good and what doesn’t, empty arena shows, costs of taping now and why Vince says the WWE Network should grow.
The firings of Cain Velasquez and Curtis Axel and the departure, at least for now, of Gerald Brisco.
How close Brisco and Vince McMahon have been, the 1984 purchase of GCW by McMahon and how it went down, how McMahon lost the time slot after one year, the WWE signing and usage of Velasquez, and what major WWE decision-maker thought Axel would be one of the company’s signature stars.
The latest episode of Dark Side of the Ring on David Schultz. We look at the start of Schultz’s career, his feud with Hulk Hogan, slapping John Stossel, Eddy Mansfield, Jim Wilson, Jim Barnett, how Schultz got fired by WWE, Jim Cornette on the show, the Lou Thesz-Eddy Mansfield confrontation, the deregulation of wrestling, and how the story on Jimmy Snuka and the 20/20 story on wrestling intertwine.
New Monday night competition to Raw, 2K plans or 2020, How WWE stars get paid, wrestler who pulled out of tapings this past week, U.K. and Canada TV ratings, Taynara Conti and Mike Bennett talk being released, Jerry Lawler talks his remark bout Tozawa, Heath Slater talks his departure, David Starr talks current conditions and the most-watched bouts for the past week on WWE Network.
A harrowing story on Ilima lei-Macfarlane and her childhood going to the famed Punahou Schoolin Hawaii and the dirty secret the school covered up for decades that has just come to light.
Full coverage of the Impact Rebellion show with so many champions not there, as well as match-by-match coverage.
Full coverage of all the WWE and AEW television shows from the past week.
In-depth looks at the ratings of all the major shows, the key demos and quarters for AEW and WWE, what happened head-to-head and what can be learned from them.
Results of all the major pro wrestling events around the world over the past week.
ORDERING INFO: Order the print Wrestling Observer right now and get it delivered via mail, by sending your name, address, Visa or Master Card number and an expiration date to [email protected] or by going to www.paypal.com directing funds to [email protected].
Rates in the United States are $14.50 for 4 issues, $35.50 for 12, $70 for 24, $116 for 40 and $149.50 for 52.
In Canada and Mexico, the rates are $16 for 4, $27 for 8, $38.50 for 12, $76 for 24, $126 for 40 and $162.50 for 52.
For the rest of the world, rates are $18 for 4, $48.50 for 12, $93 for 24, $155 for 40 and $201.50 for 52.
If you order by mail with a check, cash or money order to P.O. Box 1228, Campbell, CA 95009-1228, you can get $1 off in every price range.
MONDAY NEWS UPDATE
Bryan and I will be back tonight talking Raw and the latest news. You can also send your questions for the show into [email protected].
Raw tonight has Drew McIntyre vs. Murphy, The Street Profits vs. Viking Raiders, Ricochet & Cedric Alexander vs. Brendan Vink & Shane Thorne plus a Gauntlet match for the final men’s spot in Money in the Bank. Post Wrestling reported the return of A.J. Styles as well for tonight.
Dwayne Johnson listed a number of stars who will be on the new season of Titan Games, which will air on NBC against Raw starting on 5/25. Among the names are former UFC champion Tyron Woodley, former NFL Pro Bowler Joe Thomas, former NFL player Victor Cruz and boxing gold medalist Claressa Shields. AEW announced that announcer Dasha Gonzalez (formerly Dasha Fuentes in WWE) would also be appearing on the show.
WWE
WWE Chronicle: Shayna Baszler debuts on the WWE Network on Saturday night, building up her being in the Money in the Bank ladder match the next night.
Jerry Lawler noted that King Jerry Lawler’s Hall of Fame Bar & Grille will open up tonight with social distancing measures in place. All tables will be six feet apart and they will operate at 50 percent capacity. Employees will all wear masks and gloves.
There were a couple of articles in Australia regarding the appearance of Daniel Vidot, a former Rugby League star, on Smackdown against Sheamus on 4/24. The stories can be found here and here. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
Also the latesttwo episodes of Brendan Vink’s web series SMUG featuring Indi Hartwell and Rhea Ripley. (thanks to Kevin Chiat)
UFC
Matt Brown returns to face Miguel Baeza in a welterweight fight on the 5/16 UFC show in Jacksonville.
AEW
The movie “Cagefighter: World’s Collide,” an MMA movie where Jon Moxley plays a pro wrestling superstar turned MMA fighter, will be airing on FITE for its premiere on 5/16. Chuck Liddell, Luke Rockhold and Christian are in the movie. There will also be a live roundtable after airing.
AEW Dynamite on ITV 4 will be airing at 12:15 a.m. late Friday night, the latest the show has aired and it’s the only two-hour broadcast of the show on television in the U.K. The show has usually started between 10:20 p.m. and 11 p.m.. They are airing the movie “8 Mile” at 10 p.m., a movie the station has aired many times. (thanks to Stephen Lyon)
The Wrestling Estate has conducted a roundtable with five independent wrestling promoters in the U.S. to discuss how their business has been affected by coronavirus, what they’ve been doing to stay relevant and any changes they’re thinking of making when live events can return.
The U.K. hip hop duo The Rabble featured their second single, “The Raven,” born out of a lifelong passion for 90s and 00s pro wrestling.
AEW’s Double or Nothing event in May as scheduled, but won’t take place at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The company announced on social media this afternoon that the show will be held on May 23 on pay-per-view, but not in Vegas. That decision also applies to the subsequent Dynamite that was to take place on Wednesday, May 27. The statement said that additional details regarding this year’s Double or Nothing event will be “revealed in the weeks ahead.”
There is speculation that AEW could run the event in Florida now that the governor has cleared the way for pro sports and wrestling to hold shows as they are seen as “essential businesses.”
The MGM Grand Arena event has been rescheduled for May 29, 2021. Those who have already purchased tickets for this year’s event can either get a refund from their point of purchase or have their original ticket validated for next year’s event. For the television event, people who have purchased tickets will be issued a full refund within 30 days.
The only match announced for Double or Nothing are the finals of the tournament to crown the first AEW TNT champion.
