On this week’s edition of Being the Elite, Colt Cabana is in charge as The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and Brandon Cutler all had the week off after Blood & Guts.
Colt Cabana is in charge —
Cutler told Cabana that he’s in charge of shooting the episode this week. Cabana then spent some time psyching himself up in front of a mirror before starting.
Several people backstage at AEW were upset that Cutler wasn’t there again this week.
Cabana asked the camera crew for help but found their technical explanations too boring so he left.
Nobody was too impressed with Colt’s filming but he didn’t have his thumb in front of the lens this week, at least.
Cabana asked Christopher Daniels to do some of his old bits but he wasn’t interested.
Nyla Rose, Anna Jay, Matt Hardy, and others also did not want to do a bit with Cabana.
Rose turned him down more than once.
Negative One slapped the camera out of his hands.
Ryan Nemeth promoting Hunkamania —
Nemeth is gearing up for his comedy show with his brother in Detroit this week. He showed off some of the promotional material for the event and clips from previous shows.
Colt Cabana and The Dark Order —
Cabana wandered into The Dark Order’s locker. They struggled to remember who he was.
Once they found out Cabana was filming the show for The Young Bucks, Dark Order told Cabana to get out of their room.
This week’s episode featured backstage footage of The Elite in Boston for Blood & Guts from TD Garden.
Backstage at Blood & Guts —
Brandon Cutler spoke with the ring crew about the double cage for Blood & Guts.
They revealed the cage weighs over 13,000 lbs and takes ten hours to set up.
Ryan Nemeth is back at the SAG-AFTRA strike —
Nemeth spoke with many people striking in Hollywood. He spoke with a horror writer who said multiple people on strike have to work multiple jobs and they are just asking for a small percentage of profits.
Nemeth also encouraged many of the striking workers to name him as their favorite wrestler. He encouraged people to purchase his merchandise at ShopAEW.com to help at least one person impacted by the ongoing strike.
Blood & Guts —
Brandon and Colt Cabana spoke with Charlie “the prop master” backstage about the bed of nails that would be used later that night in Blood & Guts. He wanted to show off that it was a real bed of nails.
The bed of nails consisted of over 1000 nails and over 200 screws. It weighed over a 100 pounds.
Footage of last week’s Blood & Guts match is shown.
Backstage footage of The Elite picking thumbnails out of their skin was shown.
This week on BTE, The Young Bucks have travel problems in western Canada. Also, Matt Jackson came up with the perfect jingle for The Hung Bucks… sort of.
Travel problems —
Christopher Daniels is shown in the back complaining that the airline lost his luggage. Matt Jackson then said he had a shirt CD could wear. Daniels was later shown wearing the Hung Bucks shirt that debuted in last week’s episode.
Nick Jackson was stuck in Vancouver after one of his flights got canceled.
Will Washington was backstage with them later and reminded Matt that he used to be a barista after Matt complained his Diet Coke didn’t have enough caffeine in it.
Ryan Nemeth is at the Writer’s Guild Strike —
Nemeth was once again at the Writer’s strike this week. Most of the people he talked with indicated that he was their favorite wrestler.
How come it took so long for The Elite to rescue Kenny Omega on Dynamite? —
Before he came out on Dyanmite last week, Omega told The Young Bucks not to rescue him until he introduces the video announcing Kota Ibushi as their teammate.
Footage of the closing segment from Dynamite was then shown.
The Bucks and Page are then shown in the back as Omega is getting beaten up saying that they can’t rescue him just yet.
Matt Jackson brainstorms jingles for The Hung Bucks —
Matt decided that they need a great jingle to market The Hung Bucks. Unfortunately, most of the jingles he came up with were similar to ones that already existed. Even the Chia Pet jingle got thrown in there at one point.
Later, Matt tells Omega he has an idea on how to make The Hung Bucks successful and leaves the locker room. I guess we’ll have to wait until next week to find out what his great idea is.
The Young Bucks are shown relaxing in massage chairs at an airport while they talk about having to miss July 4 so they could travel to Dynamite.
Then their flight got canceled so they ended up flying out the next day. Only three seats were available on the flight so Brandon Cutler didn’t make the trip this week.
Brandon was later shown dabbing in front of a Fourth of July fireworks display.
The Young Bucks arrive in Edmonton —
They arrived in Edmonton just hours before the show started.
Nick Jackson was behind the camera in Edmonton since Brandon didn’t make the trip.
Colt Cabana was shown backstage. He asked The Elite if they had seen The Dark Order. They told Cabana The Dark Order suck now.
Cabana took over the directing role but seemed to have trouble not covering the lens with his hand.
Peter Avalon on #MemoryMonday —
Avalon said he was celebrating the fourth anniversary of his first AEW match at Fight for the Fallen 2019.
Avalon went around putting The Young Bucks children’s book in those little free libraries people put on their lawns.
Somehow this led to Avalon poll dancing for a brief moment. He also showed off his library-themed socks.
The Hung Bucks backstage —
The Bucks and Hangman Page were backstage, once again complaining about how Matt fumbled the sponsorship deal.
Page said the IRS has been investigating him and he also complained about The Dark Order turning on him.
Highlights of The Dark Order vs. The Young Bucks from Rampage was shown, including when Uno gave Page a low blow.
Matt broke out new “Hung Bucks” shirts that he said would be the hottest thing since Bullet Club. The shirt featured genitals. The rest of The Elite was not impressed.
The Elite spoke about the money they spent while they thought Matt had a sponsorship deal locked down. Matt really let them down. Everyone gave him the middle finger.
Christopher Daniels’ eye has healed.
Matt didn’t go home between the Toronto and Hamilton shows and spoke about how he feels he lives in Canada now.
Ryan Nemeth and Grimace shakes —
The guy who walks kind of funny was back again this week.
He did what I believe was a parody of The Blair Witch Project but somehow related to the new McDonald’s berry-flavored milkshakes.
Clips from AEW Dynamite —
Clips from AEW Dynamite are shown, specifically when The Dark Order answered their open challenge.
The Dark Order was shown before their match saying they won’t be disrespected.
Highlights from The Elite vs Dark Order from Dynamite were shown.
Hangman Page was shown bloody and beaten up in the back after.
Page and Nick Jackson then complained to Matt that they will never financially recover from his blunder with the sponsorship deal.
Matt suggested that they use The Hung Bucks name again and give the middle finger to the network which won’t let them use it. Nick and Hangman were not on-board with this. They seem to have lost confidence in Matt’s decision making ability.
Do the Young Bucks have a shot in getting inducted into the Wrestling Observer Hall of Fame?
Dave Meltzer, John Pollock of Post Wrestling, Paul Fontaine, and Garrett Gonzales discussed The Young Bucks candidacy on Wrestling Observer Radio Friday afternoon. Meltzer indicated the panel discussion came about by a discussion in Las Vegas where Fontaine thought they had a really strong case, whereas Meltzer thought they wouldn’t get in when their name comes up on the ballot later this year.
Meltzer pointed out they were a focal point in the foundation of AEW, a company that completely changed the wrestling business.
“There would be no AEW. AEW changed the entire business completely. Everyone’s making more money because of AEW, there’s way more wrestling on television, there’s way more jobs, and they were a key to that,” Meltzer said.
“All the Elite, including Cody [Rhodes] and Tony Khan, to me are like no-brainers,” Fontaine said.
Meltzer thought that it may be too early to determine Hall of Fame success based on AEW’s success at four years, and that at the ten year mark, we’d have a better assessment.
John Pollock said that the Bucks’ road to the Hall of Fame began in 2014 when they joined New Japan, citing NJPW’s success in the US once they joined the Bullet Club which led to the formation of independent wrestling merchandise stores such as Pro Wrestling Tees.
“They popularized that service for a lot of people, and that’s before getting into AEW,” he said.
The Bucks & Page were part of a 10-man tag team match at Forbidden Door, teaming with Eddie Kingston & Tomohiro Ishii to defeat Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Konosuke Takeshita & Shota Umino. The finish of the match was Ishii pinning Yuta after a brainbuster.
A singles match with Ishii facing Moxley has also been announced for tonight.
The Bucks & Page were in trios action on Dynamite two weeks ago, defeating Moxley, Castagnoli & Yuta.
Tonight’s Dynamite is taking place in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. The updated card for the episode is listed below:
Jon Moxley vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Tornado tag team match: Sting & Darby Allin vs. “The Painmaker” Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara
Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament first-round match: Britt Baker vs. Ruby Soho
Matt Jackson is shown speaking to someone on the phone and telling them “The money isn’t coming.” It was likely a reference to the failed sponsorship deal he was brokering. Matt closed the segment by saying he’ll never financially recover from this.
The Elite, Eddie Kingston, and Kazuchika Okada backstage —
Okada decided to dress up in The Young Bucks’ wrestling gear before his big match.
The Elite were later shown complaining to Eddie Kingston about all the things he’s done to them in the past and now they have to be teammates.
Matt wanted them to look like a team so he had Kingston shave lines in their eyebrows just like him.
Later, The Elite were shown having some Diet Cokes and celebrating their win. Nick said he was going to purchase a home in Toronto.
Matt then told Page and Nick that the sponsorship money isn’t coming in. He said that for them to recover from this, they’ll be wrestling for the rest of their lives.
The Best Friends briefly turn heel –
Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta were upset that they lost recently and decided they would turn heel. So Chuck put sunglasses on and they acted mean to Ryan Nemeth.
They felt bad about this shortly after, however, so Chuck went to apologize, solidifying them as babyfaces once again.
Highlights from Forbidden Door are shown
Kenny Omega backstage —
The video ended with Omega looking beat up backstage after his match with Will Ospreay.
“Matt gets cowboy hats for the trios match. The Elite reveal they aren’t hung.”
Has Matt Jackson ruined a potential sponsorship deal? —
This week’s episode opened with Matt Jackson, who was once very confident he would land the Elite a lucrative sponsorship deal, very nervous that he has chased off both Wendy’s and Chili’s.
Last week, he was telling the whole group to spend as much money as they can because the sponsorship deal was in the bag.
Matt was overheard telling Wendy’s he will take less money than what they originally offered.
The rest of The Elite have already been spending their sponsorship money —
Nick Jackson, believing that he will be receiving a large amount of sponsorship money shortly, purchased a treadmill for his hotel room.
Christopher Daniels and Kenny Omega have the same Spider-Man shirt —
No further description of this segment is required.
Ryan Nemeth and Dutch talk about how Ryan walks —
Dutch and Nemeth sat down to reminisce about their FCW days. However, Dutch just wanted to talk about how weirdly Nemeth walks.
Nemeth seemed upset with how the conversation went.
An anatomically misleading name —
Hangman Page revealed that the network wouldn’t let them use the name “Hung Bucks.”
He then mentioned that the name is also anatomically misleading.
The Dark Order is still upset about Hangman Page —
Evil Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds are shown watched highlights of Page and The Bucks from last week.
Silver told Uno to bury his anger deep down and then take it out on an innocent stranger.
On this week’s episode, it’s possible that Matt Jackson and the rest of The Elite are a little overconfident with how much money they could receive in a sponsorship deal soon.
Matt Jackson claimed he’s received big-money offers from Wendy’s and Chili’s on last week’s episode. On today’s episode, he encouraged his brother and Hangman Page to spend as much money as they can. Hopefully, there will be no negative repercussions to come out of this.
Also from this week’s episode:
Hollywood Hunk Secrets —
Ryan Nemeth was back with another segment this week where he unveiled numerous secrets about himself.
He admitted that he was not really happy to be back in Cincinnati when he said he was at a comedy show recently. He also doesn’t like kids.
Nick Jackson plays AEW: Fight Forever —
Another segment featured Nick playing the upcoming AEW: Fight Forever game.
Maki Itoh is back with The Dark Order —
The Dark Order were involved in a segment this week. They were shown in the back feeling a little down considering both Hangman Page and Stu Grayson have left them recently.
Silver then said he’s got something that is going to make them all feel better. Then Maki Itoh came into the scene and everyone celebrated.
Then Itoh announced she was leaving and they were sad again.
The camera panned out to reveal The Best Friends were watching this whole scene play out.
The Elite are going to be rich —
On last week’s episode, Matt Jackson told the rest of The Elite that he is negotiating a sponsorship deal for them with Chili’s or Wendy’s. This week, Matt showed up in a fancy suit and appears very confident they are all going to be super rich soon.
Nick Jackson then purchased an $11.5 million home on his phone. Hangman then revealed he also has plans to spend all the money they are set to receive.
Matt told them all that he was on his way to finalize the deal and they should all spend as much money as they can. Hopefully, this all turns out well for them.
Matt Jackson says doctors advised him to undergo surgery to repair the torn biceps he suffered in March.
Had Jackson gone through with the surgery, he would have been out of action for six to seven months. This likely would have disrupted The Elite’s program with The Blackpool Combat Club and reunion with Hangman Page.
He detailed his decision to avoid surgery in a social media post on Tuesday.
Matt Jackson wrote:
I got hurt about 10 weeks ago, literally on day one of the beginning of a very important story that we started. I was told there was a good chance I wouldn’t be cleared to perform again for 6-7 months after surgery. Surgeons insisted I get the muscle repaired immediately. I opted not to do surgery, but rather try other therapeutic options that’d get me back quicker. I had faith that through proper rehabilitation, supplementation & prayer, I’d be back wrestling with a target goal of Double or Nothing.
There was clearly a lot of doubt, but I wasn’t going to miss it no matter what. In fact, I wasn’t going to miss any of the events leading to it either. During the process, I lived in fear that I was making a huge mistake. That my arm would never be the same again, or that I’d lose a bunch of strength. I had anxiety and many sleepless nights, that I’d let everyone including myself down.
Thankfully my wife Dana, my family, close friends, & various medical staff members supported & showed their love these past couple of months. And, I hit my target. Wrestling with my ELITE family by my side in Las Vegas meant so much to me because the journey there was pretty rough.
Thank you to everyone who’s put up with me, my endless chatter about my rehab, and asking you to watch me flex so you can tell me how great I look.
A few days removed from my first match back, my arm is great. My strength is completely back & I couldn’t be happier. Everything else on my body, including my foot? Not so much.
Jackson suffered the injury on the March 15 episode of Dynamite during the three-way Trios title match featuring The Elite, Jericho Appreciation Society, and House of Black. He was cleared to return on May 12 and wrestled his first match back at Double or Nothing.
Following interference from Don Callis and Konsuke Takeshita, The BCC defeated The Elite in the Anarchy in the Arena match on Sunday’s pay-per-view.
The Young Bucks spend a long time under the ring —
The video begins this week with Matt & Nick Jackson getting ready to hide under the ring for their interference during the ROH tag title match on Dynamite last week.
They had thought The Lucha Bros vs. BCC match was on first but it was actually on last. They didn’t realize they would have to spend the entire show under the ring. They were not happy about this.
Ryan Nemeth cashes in on walking weirdly —
Ryan Nemeth was shown wearing a t-shirt that points out he walks in a weird fashion. He then tried to cover it up and said he wore the shirt by accident.
Nemeth would eventually admit that he’s trying to cash in and wants people to buy the shirt.
The Young Buck stand-ins fill in for the Young Bucks —
The Young Buck stand-ins tried to replace the Young Bucks at a Q&A session in Las Vegas. Willie Mack was the only one in attendance and he was not impressed.
The Dark Order failed to recruit The Best Friends —
Alex Reynolds told the rest of the Dark Order it’s time for them to move on from Hangman Page and just focus on the three of them.
Evil Uno keeps calling someone who isn’t answering.
The group decided they had to get back to recruiting. The camera panned out to reveal The Best Friends were in the room as well. The Dark Order tried to recruit them but they mentioned they are in a group with Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, Bandido, Kris Statlander, and NJPW’s entire CHAOS faction.
John Silver said he wanted all of them to join and then tried to hug Chuck Taylor.
The Best Friends did not agree to be part of The Dark Order. Taylor expressed this by kicking all three in the groin.
Highlights from Anarchy in the Arena —
Highlights from the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing are shown.
Clips of The Elite looking dejected in the locker room aired after and closed this week’s episode.
The most important stretch in AEW’s history kicks off this Sunday.
The next few months will see the debut of the new Collision show, the imminent return of CM Punk, Forbidden Door II, and the biggest show they’ve ever run with All In at Wembley Stadium. The little promotion that could is suddenly the massive promotion that did.
This is a company with a tremendous reach and a big financial commitment from its television partners. Come June, there will be at least seven hours of AEW programming every week. That doesn’t even count Ring of Honor, AEW All Access, or anything else that makes its way to television. Now that they’re enormous — something a company that could wind up nearly filling Wembley Stadium certainly is — the expectations increase exponentially. It’s up to them to build on this momentum and use the extra resources to take the company to the next level. The roster is ready. There’s enough talent to make all of this work and do something historic. The future of AEW has never been brighter.
The future is limitless, but this card is just…fine? It’s probably the most skippable AEW show in recent memory. It’s a card designed to bridge the gap until the next big thing — the debut of Collision — before AEW fully opens up the engines leading into a summer full of tentpole events. I doubt this will reach the heights of some previous shows (though AEW has shocked me before), but I don’t think anyone is going to be asking for their money back either.
Let’s preview Sunday’s Double or Nothing (7:30 PM Eastern pre-show/8 PM Eastern main card on PPV) and see what shakes out.
Pre-show: The Firm (Ethan Page & The Gunns) vs. Hook & The Hardys for the rights to Page’s contract
There are two wolves in every man. The one that knows a nine-match PPV on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend is a bad idea, and the one that books this card anyway. Wasn’t there just a cinematic match with all these people? Don’t those usually mean the end of feuds? I am confused and I am tired.
I do love some of the individual pieces here. Austin & Colten Gunn had the hardest entrance ever in AEW when they came out to 50 Cent’s “Many Men” Page has been entertaining and under-appreciated for almost as long as I’ve watched wrestling. And now Hook has been sent to replace the injured Isiah Kassidy/Brother Zay. He is very entertaining and is a future star, but Hook is Hook and the people sure do love El Diablo Guapo.
Let’s keep this one short: Hook comes out, gets his stuff in, the Hardys fire up the nostalgia machine, and the crowd gets sent home happy.
Prediction: Hook & the Hardys
Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho in an unsanctioned match
This is a great way for Cole to make his return to pay-per-view, and the usual criticism of Jericho inserting himself to steal someone’s shine is misguided here. The number one bay bay is coming back from a frighteningly serious series of concussions, and someone like Jericho who doesn’t wrestle the standard AEW super indie style is as safe and stable as an opponent gets.
An unsanctioned match might seem scary for someone coming off of brain injury, but these types of matches are typically so well choreographed and planned that there should be significantly less risk.
Babyface Adam Cole sure is something. The crowd has always loved him, and now they get to show him just how deep that love is. If he’s next up for MJF, count me as excited. Two of the best talkers in the company getting a chance to build a program should be something else. MJF really needs someone who can hang with him on the mic after his Herculean efforts carrying the wet paper bag that is the four pillars feud by his lonesome. Can’t wait.
Prediction: Adam Cole
The Elite (The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega & Hangman Page) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Wheeler Yuta, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson) in an Anarchy in the Arena match
“Higher levels, bigger devils.”
Yet another all-time line from the god Jon Moxley and an appropriately biblical one for what promises to be a divine affair. The first Anarchy in the Arena bout was one of the best matches in AEW history as the visuals and moments will be used in video packages long after the current generation of AEW has hung up their boots. This, along with Blood and Guts, are their signature matches — their versions of Hell In A Cell and TLC.
These are matches that get busted out for the big stars with the big stakes, and come with appropriately massive expectations. If there was ever a group that can live up to those expectations, it’s these eight cats.
Your mileage may vary on the winding, exhausting tale of The Elite and their will they/won’t they friendship (relationship? lovership?). And I get it. It’s a lot! It’s overwrought and hackneyed at times, but man does the live crowd want it. They just eat it up. The building came apart when Page’s music hit a couple of weeks ago. The reunion of four of the people responsible for the existence of the company is objectively a big deal, regardless of whether or not it’s a bit tiresome.
At times, and perhaps too often, The Elite are meta caricatures of wrestling. The Blackpool Combat Club is the other side of that. Gritty, real-ass wrestlers. No wink-wink behind the curtain stuff. Just four dudes that are going to wallop you, stretch you, and make you regret stepping in the ring with them. All of them have their roles and play them perfectly, none more so than Danielson who remains a flawless pro wrestler. This is him at his best. He’s a blessing every second he’s on-screen, a beacon that lights the edges of the world.
Prediction: Blackpool Combat Club
Orange Cassidy defends the AEW International title in a 21-man Blackjack battle royal
Cassidy’s run with the International Championship is the best title reign in AEW history. Week after week, he’s had good to great matches with every type of wrestler you can imagine. Play the underdog against Big Bill? Done. Match Bandido move for move and spot for spot? No problem. Cassidy is so far beyond the “just a gimmick” moniker that he never deserved. He made this title matter and made it the workhorse title that it desperately needed to be.
Having mid-card titles like this are so important. They, obviously, add needed stakes to both one-off matches and feuds, but also serve to elevate the World title. The big prize should not be defended on TV regularly and should be saved for moments that truly deserve the highest stakes. When it is defended, it should feel like the proper spectacle it is.
As good as Cassidy has been, this feels like a safe way to take the title off him. Since winning the title in early October, Cassidy has wrestled in over 40 matches with most of them incredibly physical. It’s easy to think that his gimmick means he’s taking it easy, but he absolutely is not. Even standard AEW matches are taxing and grueling. Doing that weekly for seven months takes a huge toll. It’s time for a much-deserved break for the hardest-working man in AEW.
Prediction: Not Orange Cassidy
AEW Women’s Champion Jamie Hayter defends against Toni Storm
Since January, Hayter has wrestled in three singles matches which seems low for the top woman in the company. Sure, there were some visa issues that complicated things, but only three matches for a woman this good and that the crowd can’t get enough of is far, far too few.
Too often, she’s been getting second or even third billing as the champion. Too often, she’s standing beside Britt Baker during promos without saying much. Too often, the story of The Outcasts doing nothing of substance gets more TV time than the woman who should be the face of the division. And that’s just it: Jamie Hayter has never been presented as the true face of the division. She’s an afterthought in everyone else’s stories and doesn’t have her own. A star this bright should never be dimmed this much.
Hayter’s injury makes this whole situation murkier. If she’s going to miss time, it makes all the sense in the world to put the title on Storm. It gives The Outcasts something to do outside of just spray painting everyone and loving green. It would give time for Hayter rest up for a huge return at All In later this summer.
Prediction: Toni Storm wins the title
TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Christian Cage in a ladder match
What a difference a year makes. Coming out of last year’s Double or Nothing, Wardlow was it, baby. No one was hotter than the War Daddy. Now? He’s a dryer on the fluff setting. Lukewarm would be giving him too much credit. As is often the case, it’s through no fault of his own. The inconsistent booking and constant devaluing of the TNT title have created this perfect cocktail of mediocrity and mild reactions.
Cage is probably the best pure, old-school heel in AEW. (Yes, this includes MJF because people want to like him.) No one wants to like Cage and no one even wants to tolerate him. He knows exactly how to get the reactions he wants. Like an expert harpist, he plucks the right strings at the exact right times. He knows which notes will resonate the most, and plays them at just the right tempo. From his words to his expertly curated selection of turtlenecks and jackets, he’s exactly the right person to start helping Wardlow get his momentum back and become someone who matters in AEW.
Prediction: Wardlow retains
TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Taya Valkyrie
A question that’s been rolling around in my ever-smoothing brain: is Cargill’s undefeated streak losing its luster? She still feels unstoppable, but it’s starting to feel routine. Never in my life could I imagine a world where a spectacle like Cargill feels like a regular wrestler. She hasn’t done anything meaningful since her program with Red Velvet in January. Prior to that, there was a bit of something with Willow Nightingale and Athena, but that was a year ago.
Two meaningful programs in a calendar year aren’t enough. A winning streak alone isn’t enough to be compelling, especially if the audience doesn’t believe she can actually lose. The presentation is still top shelf, but everything else is not. Sooner or later, there needs to be something for the audience to invest in or else it’s just empty calories.
There is no reason for squash matches this far into an undefeated streak. If this holding pattern is a result of waiting for Kris Stalander to come back healthy, that is just as inexcusable. AEW has never struck me as a place allergic to creative risks, so why not take the chance to make someone in one night? Whoever breaks Jade’s streak is made. Are there really no other in-house options to do just that?
If you squint, you can convince yourself there’s a story here, but certainly not enough to warrant the end of a winning streak. Their first match was nothing special, or even good, but it at least planted the seeds for an actual program with backstory. No shade meant to Valkyrie but her being the one to end the winning streak would be a fantastic disappointment.
Prediction: Jade Cargill retains
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR defend against Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal with Mark Briscoe as guest referee
Once again, and as always, god bless Jeff Jarrett. This 55-year-old carnie still has the best facials in all of wrestling. Whenever he hits a big move or gets away with something, he looks like a four-year-old that found a really cool bug at the park that they can’t wait to show you. And, of course, he found a way to work his wife (Karen Jarrett) into this angle. He’s been playing the same hits for years, and they still sound as good as ever. He’s so close to assembling the Jeff Jarrett set of infinity rings. Never change, Jeff. Never grow old.
This match probably won’t be a classic like we’ve come to expect from big FTR matches, but it should be a beautiful, overwrought mess. Ref bumps, interference galore, maybe a missed three count or two, you name it. But there will not be a title change. At least not as part of a program that is best suited for the 9:00 hour of Dynamite, not a pay-per-view.
Prediction: FTR retains
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Sammy Guevara, “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry and Darby Allin in a four-way
By orders of magnitude, this is the weakest main event in AEW PPV history. MJF has done everything he could to create something compelling here, but ultimately the other three “pillars” just aren’t up to the task. The more we put the pillars under a microscope, the more they wilt. The only one that has truly flourished and become exactly what he claims to be is MJF. The generational talent label has never been more apt or more deserved. He’s the only true top of the card talent. The rest are just lost in his gravity — completely overshadowed and outclassed by someone who is superior in every way.
The worst thing for Sammy, Darby, and Jungle Jack was the pillars moniker. It came out of nowhere and was immediately met with mockery. These guys are the future foundation of the company? These are the guys being spoken of in the same breath as the four pillars of Heaven? It was a bold statement that did nothing for any of them, much like this feud hasn’t. It’s only served as a reminder of what they aren’t.
They have been running the same promos for a month now. I need this, I love this, I gave up everything for this, etc. If that’s all there is to say, there really isn’t anything to say. Rinse and repeat babyface promos aren’t enough. Generic ‘this is all I’ve dreamed about’ promos aren’t enough. This has been so flat that I can’t help but wonder if there’s a post-match angle planned, maybe something big to close the show and propel AEW full speed ahead towards Collision.
After giving an autograph seeker their “house show signatures” at an airport, the Bucks went shopping to open up this week’s show.
Ryan Nemeth attends Writer’s Guild strike —
The Hollywood Hunk spoke to several writers out on the picket line this week. He asked them why they are striking and also who their favorite pro-wrestler is.
Most writers said they wanted “fair wages,” “protection from AI” and also that Nemeth is their favorite wrestler.
Nemeth also asked several dogs at the protest who their favorite wrestler is. One dog answered MJF.
The Dark Order and Kenny Omega —
The Dark Order and Kenny Omega are shown watching videos in the back. Alex Reynolds attempted to show Omega what happened at Full Gear 2021.
Matt Jackson ran in quickly, however, and destroyed the phone so Kenny wouldn’t see. Matt then showed Omega inappropriate pictures of his wife in order to further distract him.
Highlights from Kenny Omega vs. Jon Moxley —
Clips from the main event of Dynamite last week were shown near the end of the episode.
Omega was seen trying to eat cheesecake in the back despite his physical and emotional injuries. He ended up stabbing the cake with his fork out of frustration to end the show.
Matt Jackson has been medically cleared to return following a partially torn biceps.
Jackson suffered the injury early into the three-way Trios championship match on the March 15 episode of AEW Dynamite. He then worked hurt throughout the remainder of the 21-minute match.
Jackson would later reveal that he opted against having surgery to repair the injury and was hopeful to return in time for Double or Nothing on May 28. Surgery would have put him on the shelf for approximately seven months.
Our own Dave Meltzer noted in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Jackson was cleared ahead of the May 10 edition of AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, weeks ahead of schedule.
Meltzer wrote:
Matt Jackson’s recovery from a partially torn biceps has obviously gone quicker than expected with all the stuff he’s done on television. He was actually cleared this week, a few weeks ahead of schedule and was bumping and running the ropes in the ring before the 5/10 show and has done resistance training for a few weeks
The Young Bucks currently do not have a match scheduled for Double or Nothing. However, The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club rivalry has been a focal point of AEW programming as of late and could potentially be building to a match on the pay-per-view.
