5 Matches We’re Excited For at AEW Double or Nothing 2023
AEW Double or Nothing returns to PPV on May 28. Here are the top five matches we're most excited to watch.
From the debut of Jon Moxley to Stadium Stampedes, AEW’s annual Double or Nothing PPV has certainly lived up to its name. Broadcasting from T-Mobile Arena in fabulous Las Vegas, this year’s event will surely continue the show’s reputation for going all-in and pushing the limit. Adding to the intrigue of this year’s show is the impending debut of AEW Collision (June 17 at 8pm ET on TNT from Chicago, the home of a certain AEW Star…), With that in mind, old rivalries will boil to a head while new battlelines will surely be drawn with this stacked card:
- Anarchy in the Arena Match: Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Elite (Hangman Adam Page, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks)
- Pillars Four-way match for the AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Darby Allin vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry vs. Sammy Guevara
- AEW World Tag Team Championship match: FTR (c) vs. Jay Lethal and Jeff Jarrett with special guest referee Mark Briscoe
- Ladder match for the AEW TNT Championship: Wardlow (c) vs. Christian Cage
- 21-man Blackjack Battle Royale for the AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. 20 competitors
- AEW Women’s World Championship match: Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Toni Storm
- AEW TBS Championship match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Taya Valkyrie
- Unsanctioned match: Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole
- Trios Match: Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy, & Hook vs. Ethan Page & the Gunns
With so many matches to choose from, we will be glued to our seats when the bell rings at 8pm ET on Saturday, May 28. While any of these matches could seize match of the night honors, here are five we are willing to go to the mat for. To order AEW Double or Nothing for $49.99 on PPV with Sling TV, click the "On Demand" tab from the homepage, then "Rentals" and click the tile to order.
Anarchy in the Arena Match: Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Elite (Hangman Adam Page, Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks)
The story - After multiple championship feuds and memorable moments over the years, it finally happened: the Elite are officially back together as of the May 17 episode of AEW Dynamite. It is a good thing too, as the Blackpool Combat Club have been running roughshod over members of the Elite and AEW for months. With a penchant for violence and championship pedigree, this super stable will be out for blood at Double or Nothing. Will the newly reunited Elite be up to the task? And what role will the devious Don Callis (arguably one of the best villains in wrestling today, especially judging by his crowd reaction) play in the action? One thing is for sure: there will be blood.
Why we’re excited - The saga of the Elite – from their gradual fallout to Kenny and Hangman’s tag team reign and eventual world title feud – has bred some of AEW’s best long term story-telling. The reaction from the crowd was insane when Hangman came out to join the Elite against the BCC. On the other side, the Blackpool Combat Club have settled in as the premiere villainous faction within AEW. Moxley is enough of a threat on his own, but when you throw in the master technician Bryan Danielson, the physical marvel Claudio Castagnoli, and the grit of Wheeler Yuta, you get an embarrassment of riches. Couple that with the fact that they’ve been straight up bullying the AEW roster (especially the Elite) for months, and there are sure to be some receipts in this fight. This match could honestly go either way, and we have a feeling that things won’t be over between these two super groups by the end, but we still won’t be able to look away. If the previous arena matches are any indication, the sheer scale of this contest could make it the show-stealer.
Chris Jericho vs. Adam Cole
The story - Adam Cole returned from a long (and by some accounts, career threatening) hiatus and quickly locked horns with Chris Jericho. This rivalry reached its emotional fever pitch, with Chris aiding the Outcasts in a vicious assault on Cole’s real-life girlfriend, Dr. Britt Baker DMD. By chaining Cole to the ring and forcing him to watch helplessly as the Outcasts attacked Baker, Jericho hit a new depth of villainy. Cole got a measure of revenge on the May 17 episode of Dynamite; after Jericho’s match with Cole’s longtime buddy Roderick Strong spilled out into the parking lot, Cole (who was technically banned from INSIDE the building) lay in wait. This marked a rare time that Le Champion had been outsmarted, adding even more fuel to this potent rivalry. Adding one final component was the appearance of hardcore ECW legend Sabu to help even the odds in Adam Cole’s favor. Enlisting Sabu ensures the Jericho Appreciation Society’s numbers don’t stack the deck against the good guys, and in an unsanctioned match, adding someone with a resume of violence as long as Sabu’s to your side is just good business.
Why we’re excited - We’d have been content if that had just been a match between a legend and one of wrestling’s best kept “secrets” over the last couple of years. AEW has really over-delivered, instead giving us a reason to emotionally invest in this storyline. The image of Cole looking distraught during the attack on Baker (and the dastardly villain Chris Jericho aiding in the assault) kicked the backstory of this one into overdrive. We are betting that more than a couple people in the arena will want to see Cole kick Jericho’s butt. Also, we’d be remiss if we didn’t call out how incredible it is to see what Jericho is doing at his age. He has taken a lot of bumps over the years, but you wouldn’t know; we can only hope we look that good at 52. One thing is for sure: we are too squeamish to entertain the idea of participating in an unsanctioned match at any age.
AEW Women’s World Championship match: Jamie Hayter (c) vs. Toni Storm
The story - Jamie Hayter’s storybook rise to the top (powered by tremendous crowd support) was punctuated with her taking the Women’s World title off Toni Storm. Since then, the two have been trading glancing blows as part of the Outcasts war on the home-grown AEW talent. Thus, it only makes sense that Hayter, one of the ultimate home-grown success stories in AEW, would clash with a member of the Outcasts to defend her title. Toni Storm being able to avenge her title loss only makes this sweeter. We doubt this will be a pure one-on-one contest though. Whether it’s Britt Baker aiding Jamie, or Saraya/Ruby Soho running interference for Toni, this match will be feature labyrinth of twists and turns. This may be the grandest chapter in the Outcasts vs. Homegrown fight, but regardless of the outcome, we doubt this war will be over. When the dust settles on Las Vegas, what new twists in this story will have transpired?
Why we’re excited - We love seeing the rise of an organic star. Jamie Hayter built a modest introduction into a genuine connection with the AEW audience. She is the embodiment of how to build a star in the women’s division. That makes her clash with Toni Storm – who was brought in as the high fan-fare free agent – almost poetic. Add in the symmetry of Toni losing the championship to Jamie, and we are already sold. What we will really be watching for are the twists. It is a safe bet that Saraya will be involved in a clash at All-In, and we think this match will contribute greatly to the setup of that eventual match. With the past tension between Britt and Jamie, this storyline could erupt in a number of ways, and we are here for it!
21-man Blackjack Battle Royale for the AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. 20 competitors
The story - Orange Cassidy has been a real fighting champion since he earned the former AEW All Atlantic Championship (since rebranded as the AEW International Championship). However, with regular appearances on Dynamite, the injuries and fatigue are starting to add up (taking several piledrivers on this week’s Dynamite from Kyle Fletcher - another name to watch - is certainly not our definition of self-care). No rest for the weary though, as his next challenge is quite daunting: surviving against 20 other men to retain his title. How will the master of sloth style get out of this one?
Why we’re excited - We admit it: we are a sucker for battle royales. In fact, we may or may not be watching a past Royal Rumble while writing this article. Another thing we enjoy: Orange Cassidy. He has really showcased his wrestling prowess throughout the history of Dynamite, giving us entertaining match after entertaining match with just the right mix of ridiculousness. He can do more athletic things with his hands in his pockets than we were able to do in our physical primes (sigh). That being said, with the beating he has been taking lately, we aren’t sure how he will fare against this gauntlet. We’ve learned not to count him out though, so we are excited to see how this one unfolds. Battle Royales (or is it Battles Royale?) are always good for sowing the seeds of future feuds, so we will be keeping an eye on all the interactions within the squared circle.
Ladder match for the AEW TNT Championship: Wardlow (c) vs. Christian Cage
The story - Wardlow seems to have weathered the storm of Powerhouse Hobbs to emerge with the TNT title firmly in his grasp (having a hall of fame coach like Arn Anderson helps). Enter a new challenger: the returning Christian Cage. Cage isn’t alone though, as the monstrous Luchasaurus will watch his back. Throw a ladder match into the fray (a neat call-back Christian’s tag team awesomeness with Edge), and chaos is sure to ensue. Christian certainly presents a more cerebral test than some of Wardlow’s previous challengers, but with Luchasaurus lurking, there is plenty of brawn to go around. Will Wardlow be up to their (inevitably) combined onslaught?
Why we’re excited - We just want to say: we are so excited that Christian was able to return to the ring. Had he ended his career after Randy Orton’s vicious attack in WWE, he would still have a heck of a run, spanning from the Attitude Era to Impact and back again. His mic work alone makes him an incredible villain who you just want to see get his butt kicked, living up to his moniker of Captain Charisma. If it were just mano y mano, our money would squarely be on Wardlow (the guy lives up to his nickname as the war dog). But by bringing an ally such as Luchasaurus to the fight, Cage is clearly matching power for power. Add the ladder element, and we will be on the edge of our seats to see what twists and turns unfold in this battle. Another element to watch: what role will Arn Anderson play in this? He certainly was known for some villainous tendencies as a member of the Four Horsemen back in the day. Perhaps he encourages Wardlow to tap into the dark side of the ring. Will his presence ultimately end up being a boost or a distraction for Wardlow? We wouldn’t put anything by Cage either.
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