AEW Double or Nothing PPV Poster (AEW)
Originally published on May 27, 2024.
The following content reflects my personal opinion and should be interpreted as such. Any views expressed here are solely mine and do not represent any official stance. This opinion piece is intended for entertainment and discussion purposes only, and should not be construed as factual information or professional advice. Reader discretion is advised.
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This AEW pay-per-view was probably one of the most chaotically entertaining events I’ve watched in a long time. I already had high expectations because the go-home shows — Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision — were good but lacked excitement. I knew AEW was going to hit Las Vegas with a bang, and a bang it was!
The only disappointment I had with the program, outside of the “Learning Tree” segment with Chris Jericho, HOOK, Katsuyori Shibata, and Bryan Keith, was that Deonna Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa weren’t on the main card. The storyline building between Purrazzo and Thunder Rosa is too good not to warrant its own separate article. These two women have a chemistry that AEW desperately needs in their women storylines.
Deonna and Rosa are real tough competitors, both meticulous and technical wrestlers who seem to have the ability to one-up each other. I hope they continue to build on their feud because it has the potential to be a generational rivalry to remember.
Other matches that I thought were perfectly played were the final curtain call on the feud between FORMER best friends Trent Beretta and Orange Cassidy. I really enjoy the plot of Beretta feeling (possibly) threaten by the successful of Orange, with his two title reigns and the popularity from the fans of AEW and Beretta feeling slighted by it all. As we can see there is a slight change in character development for both wrestlers and the possibility of Orange going heel, dealing with the likes of Don Callis and potentially joining the Don Callis Family. I think all changes should make sense and I feel that with his feud with Beretta might have turned something on (or off depending on how you see it) within Orange Cassidy to make him reassess his feelings towards having best friends. So I am interested to see where things go next for both Orange and Trent.
The two women matches on the main card for the TBS Championship with Willow and Mercedes and the AEW Women’s World Championship between “Timeless” Toni Storm and Serena Deeb did it purpose. They were both entertaining, exciting, and just showcased women’s wrestling in the highest form. Seeing Mercedes back in the ring after spending a year recovering from an injury she sustained during her match with Willow for the IWGP Women’s Champion was a bittersweet moment for me. When Mercedes and Trinity Fatu left WWE in 2022, I knew I would see them two together in the same ring and under the same promotion. However, seeing both women venture off on their own separate journeys and seeing the smile on both of their faces being in spaces that they feel safe in overshadows my personal preference. I can see Mercedes is happy and I also could see that she is welcomed where she is—Willow and herself works very well together and I would love to see both of them compete against each other again in the future.
As always, Toni Storm is a star. She’s a well-rounded athlete, and her “Timeless” character showcases both her humorous side and her wrestling ability. I thought her match with Serena Deeb was good, although I would have preferred a more cohesive storyline between the two. Overall, it was a solid match.
Kris Statlander’s attack on Willow after her match with Mercedes was expected. Kris has been playing the background “friend” role for Willow during her push for some time, and it’s clear that Kris is going to want her title back. I hope the CEO of AEW is ready for that, because Kris is no joke.
The three biggest returns last night with former AEW World Champion MJF, Bang Bang Gang’s own Juice Robinson and the legendary Gangrel were some of the highlights of the night. I have to admit that I missed seeing Maxwell Jacob Friedman on my TV screen. He is everyone’s favorite asshole and honestly, we needed him back. So welcome back, MJF. Also, the storyline between himself and Adam Cole (BAY, BAY) should be continued. Seeing Juice Robinson come back was one of my favorite moments, although I missed the actually moment (due to bad service) it just warmed my heart. Gangrel coming back to help Adam Copeland against the House of Black was just masterful. Honestly, I am tired of the “Brood/Cult Leader” Adam Copeland that we have seen numerous, numerous times before, but this time it made sense and it was good TV.
Swerve Strictland and Christian’s match was superb as I would have expected it to be. I knew there would be some type of funny business with Christian and his honorary son Nick Wayne and Killswitch, but that makes for good tv, right? Worked for the Bloodline in almost every title defense that Roman Reigns had. So it was a really, really good match. However, after watching the “Anarchy in the Arena” with the Team Elite vs. Team AEW, I understood why they were the main event for the night. I have to say that when Justin Roberts announced the match as a “shit show” I had no idea how good a “shit show” could be. The fighting in the audience, Dax tossing back beer, Bryan Danielson’s “The Final Countdown” playing, Darby and Real Glass trying to kill each other backstage, it was all so much chaos and it was honestly the best fun I had in a while when it comes down to watch an AEW program. I think they did an absolute great job going beyond the limits and pushing boundaries when it comes down to professional wrestling and it left you wondering if they were going to die or not in the ring—it was good. Very, very good. I might not be a fanatic of the Young Bucks yet but they definitely made me laugh a lot in the recent weeks and that is one way to make me love you.
To wrap this up, I just want to touch on Mercedes winning the title. I know she deserves this and I can’t wait to see what they have in store for our new TBS Champion. And I don’t want anyone to misconstrue this message. I thought Willow was a great champion, she fits the bill of what I believe a women’s champion should be and I can’t wait to see what is next for her, which looks like her and Kris going at it.
Great job, Tony Khan!
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