AEW Double or Nothing: Results, Grades, and Analysis
Cody arrived with Pharaoh (his dog) and Brandi. Kenny Omega was seen giving a thumbs up at a laptop and walking off. Nick Jackson superkicked a production guy. The Elite then came out, as the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Brandi Rhodes greeted the live audience. It looks like it’s go time!
The show opened with Cody saying welcome, but Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, and Kenny Omega kept trying to cut each other off. Omega did the official welcome, and the crowd chanted AEW. Matt Jackson and Cody poked fun at WWE making up attendance numbers as a wild Vinny V from the Wrestling Observer was in the crowd (I admit, I popped).
The show opened with the singing of the United States national anthem, and pyro. This was quite nice.
Jim Ross opened the show with Alex Marvez and Excalibur, running down the card.
SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, & Scorpio Sky) vs. Strong Hearts (CIMA, T-Hawk, El Lindaman)
SCU cut a promo about how Las Vegas was the worst town they have ever been to. Chris Daniels somehow became a singer, and he sung that Vegas was going to have a great time. Kazarian got the crowd to chant SCU.
The group from OWE made their entrance to a nice ovation, as the announcers explained that the rules of tag matches in AEW are a little different, as the 5 count during double teams can be a little restrictive. It is, instead, up to referee discretion on how to handle those things, but a 10 count would be employed.
Daniels and CIMA opened the show, which is a dream match in any place. After a quick exchange, T-Hawk and Kazarian made their way in. Kazarian and T-Hawk exchanged a series of moves, but Kazarian showed greater power. However, T-Hawk hit a killer chop that may have taken years of Kazarian’s life. Scorpio Sky made a blind tag and hit a big dropkick on T-Hawk.
Sky went for a hurricanrana, but T-Hawk hit a powerbomb. CIMA ran in and knocked Daniels and Kaz off the apron. Lindaman came in and while he is tiny, he is powerful. However, Daniels and Kazarian were able to use some great teamwork to ground him. Kazarian hit a shotgun dropkick to Lindaman, but Lindaman kicked out.
SCU attempted to isolate Lindaman, but he managed to tag out to CIMA, who hit a killer knee on Sky. CIMA then hit a ridiculous amount of knees on everyone, and suddenly Strong Hearts were back in control. T-Hawk tagged in CIMA, and T-Hawk and CIMA double teamed Daniels. Strong Hearts isolated Daniels for the next few minutes, and worked him over with some wonderful triple team offence. Daniels managed to hit a STO on T-Hawk and made the hot tag to Scorpio Sky.
Sky ran wild, taking everyone out, including a flying stomp across the back of CIMA. T-Hawk hit a popup knee, and CIMA followed with a enziguri, while Lindaman hit a German suplex! Sky kicked out. My goodness. Lindaman went for a sunset flip, but Sky rolled through and hit a dropkick. Kazarian came in and took everyone out and hit a combo pinfall and northern lights suplex on T-Hawk and CIMA. CIMA kicked out. Daniels hit a tope suicida on Lindaman, but CIMA hit a driver on Daniels. Sky hit a cutter, but Lindaman took him out with a cutter.
Kazarian took out Lindaman with a slingshot DDT, and T-Hawk took out Daniels and Kaz with lariats. Lindaman blind tagged in after Daniels hit Angel’s Wings on T-Hawk, and deadlifted Daniels with a German Suplex. CIMA hit a Meteora, but Kaz made the save. The action spilled outside and Sky hit a tope con hilo on CIMA and T-Hawk! Christopher Daniels and Kaz then hit the Best Meltzer Ever on Lindaman and got the pinfall!
Result: SCU
Rating ***3/4 (3.75 stars out of 5)
Wow, this match was a lot of fun. All six men did everything they could to entertain, and the OWE crew definitely got over with the audience with all their skill. If this is a sign of the things to come, we’re going to be in for a great show.