AEW Double or Nothing: Results, Grades, and Analysis
The Casino Battle Royale – The Winner Gets an AEW World Title shot
Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa, MJF, Dustin Thomas, and Sunny Daze started the match
MJF immediately attacked Dustin Thomas, a legless wrestler. Brandon Cutler made the save, but MJF moved on to get the heat on Cutler. Nakazawa covered himself with baby oil to avoid being suplexed, and was able to slip out of several moves. Sunny Daze took him out and almost eliminated Nakazawa. MJF kept going after Cutler. MJF is a heat magnet. Cutler was getting quite a few chants from the crowd, but MJF kept the heat up.
The next group of five, the Diamond group, made their way to the ring. Brian Pillman Jr and Isiah Kassidy got into a brawl at ringside, and Jimmy Havoc and Joey Janela came out and suplexed Pillman on the entrance ramp. Sean Spears made his entrance as the last member of the group, to a huge pop and 10 chants. MJF did a Greco Roman eye poke, but Spears returned the favour and hit a ushigoroshi.
Billy Gunn, Glacier, Jungle Boy, Marq Quen, and Ace Romero made their entrance next. Jungle Boy went right after Janel, and Private Party are waiting on the outside. Glacier and MJF faced off in the centre of the ring, and Glacier took him out with a bunch of kicks. Jimmy Havoc put a lit cigarette to Joey Janella’s forehead. Nakazawa was eliminated by Sunny Daze, Glacier was eliminated by MJF after Glacier eliminated Daze. The next group entered and it was the Luchasaurus, Marko Stunt, Sonny Kiss, Tommy Dreamer, and Orange Cassidy.
Tommy Dream came in and took everyone out with some garbage can shots. The Joker card was drawn by Hangman Adam Page! Page ran wild in the ring, taking everyone out. Page was limping due to the damage caused by Pac in the UK. Page and Janella faced off in the middle of the ring and started brawling, picking up where they left off at All In. Marco Stunt and Jungle Boy tried to take out Romero, but Romero was too big for them.
Ace Romero pounced Marko Stunt over the top rope and eliminated him, but Jungle Boy managed to throw Romero over the top rope. Dustin Thomas hit a 619 on Joey Janela. MJF, of course, went right back to him, getting heat. Dustin Thomas eliminated Shawn Spears! Cutler eliminated Billy Gunn, and MJF eliminated Thomas and Cutler. The Luchasaurus chokeslamed Joey Janella over the top rope through a table. Janella landed on his head.
Sonny Kiss was eliminated by Tommy Dreamer, and Dreamer soon thereafter eliminated Orange Cassidy, who seemed to not care. Jimmy Havoc staple gunned Tommy Dreamer to the head and then to the crotch before throwing Dreamer over the top rope. Jungle Boy was tossed out, and we’re down to the last for. Jimmy Havoc, Luchasaurus, and Hangman Page, and MJF.
Page sent Havoc to the apron and Luchasaurus kicked him off to eliminate him. Page managed to eliminate Luchasarus, and MJF tried to throw him out, sneaking back in. Hangman skinned the cat and then hit the Buckshot Lariat, killing MJF. Page threw MJF over the top rope to a massive pop. Hangman Page will face the winner of Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship!
Result: Hangman Adam Page
Rating: ***1/2 (3.5 stars out of 5)
This was an excellent way to open the show, with a fun battle royale. Hangman Page has been firmly established as a main event star with the win and has a built in rivalry with Joey Janella and MJF. Some future matches could be setup here too.
A promo aired with Alica Atout interviewing Kylie Rae, but the Librarian Peter Avalon cut her off and shushed her. Leva Bates, the Librarian cut off Avalon. The proceeded to shush each other for the next 30 seconds, with Kylie Ray trying to join in, but they just cut her off. Poor Kylie looked confused at the other two. This was great.