AEW Double or Nothing was one of the best wrestling PPVs in history. From top to bottom, the matches delivered and the fans went home estatic for the product and the future of AEW. That future includes its next big PPV of All In, set for Saturday, July 12. The May 28 episode of AEW Dynamite did an excellent job setting the stage for the two big matches on the card, and putting the perfect definition on "double main event."
Mercedes Mone versus Toni Storm and "Hangman" Adam Page versus Jon Moxley are nearly perfect professional wrestling matches. These are four performers who stand at the pinnacle of being the best in the business. Not only are they competing for championships, but their character arcs involve stories that make it imperative for them to win this match. The titles are on the line, but there is more to it than those belts. The angles have substance. Substance that has been developed with months and years worth of substaintial storytelling.
Fans do not need to debate about which match will main event. This is the perfect time for Tony Khan to roll out the "double main event" marketing speech. Both of these matches are main event quality. This isn't a situation in which Mariah May and Toni Storm were clearly the shining factor heading into AEW Revolution, while Jon Moxley's title reign floundered against two 50+ year old men. All four of these competitors deserve having the light shine upon them and shine they will.
Mercedes Mone versus Toni Storm is about two women betting on themselves
Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm were in two similar positions. While the wrestling world recognized their talents and contributions to the industry, WWE was never going to place them in a slot worthy of their accolades and abilities. Even though they went about it different ways, they both took the chance of betting on themselves and set a path outside of WWE that led to this massive match at All in.
Does Storm become the first woman to pin Mone? Will Mone be the first woman to hold all the available gold for the AEW women's division? Either way fate swings, the winner will undoubtably have a solid claim to being the top women's wrestler in the world today. It would be hard to argue the point. These women are competing not only for their legacy, but for the impact this match and moment will have on the business of women's wrestling. That's a huge story to tell along the way and after.
"Hangman" Adam Page versus Jon Moxley: The battle for the future of AEW
Again, "Hangman" Adam Page has one of the best stories being told in professional wrestling. His character arc since AEW's inception has been second-to-none. From chosen one, to failure, to hero, to misguided protector, back to being the chosen one. Whether planned or not, its a story that fans have been invested in from the very start.
Now, Page stands across from a man who could be considered the most important performer in AEW history. Jon Moxley is the guy Tony Khan counts on when someone else gets hurt. He's the guy counted on to fill in the gap when others can't or won't show up. He's the guy who has the career experience that makes him a belivable threat to anyone standing across from him. He knows what it is like to be disrespected and for him to not want to see AEW disrespected is a real storyline. But the way he's been going about it is the problem, and that's usually the case with villians who are wrong, but have a point.
With the momentum of perception that AEW is riding, this story makes sense. Page is looking to take the company into its "new era" while Moxley looks to punish all those he thinks has wronged the promotion. There's a lot to tell there for both men and everyone around them, including the Death Riders, Will Ospreay, and Swerve Strickland.
AEW All In is going to be a phenomenal card. Counterprogramming be damned, AEW is consistently putting on the type of shows that fans want to see. While there's a lot of time between now and July, and a lot of card to fill out, the main event picture is solid with two huge matches to lead the way.