By Dan, Wrestling Spot Editor.
After a marathon packed pay-per view with countless developments, a World Title change and several new arrivals turning up, we review AEW Double or Nothing 2022!
A note on the grading system-
A* - To be awarded in rare instances, only for the most spectacular matches.
The rest of the matches are graded from A-E with the option for additional +/- to be awarded. For example
B - Means the match was just within the B band.
B A comfortable B.
B+ At the very top of the B band, not far from the band above.
Buy-In- Hookhausen (Hook & Danhausen) vs. Tony Nese and ‘Smart’ Mark Sterling
The keenly anticipated debut of Hookhausen opened up the show Tony Nese and Mark Sterling taking on fan-favourites Hook and Danhausen. This match scores favourably as it did everything it could have been expected to set-out to do. Hook once again looked incredible with the match only serving to elevate the exciting young star. Danhausen too had some impressive moments, with good storytelling of the improvements made from his debut after working with Hook. Tony Nese and ‘smart’ Mark Sterling both played their parts in a match that was fun, got two favourites even more over and put the crowd in good spirits for the night ahead. A heart-warming moment ended the match in which Hook tagged in Danhausen to score the pin and win the match.
Grade: B-
MJF vs. Wardlow
After much speculation, MJF took on Wardlow to open up the main show. This was simply put a star making match. While MJF had a couple of moments on, when Bryce Remsburg confiscated his diamond dynamite ring it became clear it wasn’t going to be his night. A powerbomb symphony followed much to the delight of the crowd with Wardlow finally getting his hands on MJF and dropping him over a dozen times before finally scoring the pins. This got so over with the crowd and afterword’s MJF was put in a neck brace and stretchered out for effect, while Wardlow was finally free to become All Elite, to the delight of the crowd who chanted you deserve it.
Grade: A-
Young Bucks vs. The Hardys
It did feel like it took a bit of time for respective sides to find their groove in Elite vs. Delete. After some comic mocking of their opposition from the Bucks, it felt like Jeff got things going with a whisper in the wind move. From this point onwards the pace ramped up with all the signature moves or near misses of them attempted from side-effect, twist a fate and swanton bomb to BTE trigger and superkick party. The finish was set-up with Jeff Hardy performing a swanton bomb onto the steel steps before Matt Hardy got a near fall with a twist of fate on Nick Jackson. This was soon followed by the decisive side effect and twist of fate from Matt Hardy on Matt Jackson in-the-ring, paving the way for a final swanton bomb from Jeff to win the match. While this perhaps was not on the same level of the Young Bucks very best recent encounters in pay-per-views, it still became a enjoyable match that cannot be said to have disappointed overall.
Grade- B+
TBS Championship- Jade Cargill vs. Anna Jay
The first of the night’s championship match, the story leading into this was Anna Jay trying to show how far she had come from her first title attempt against Jade with the Dark Order star determined to dent Jade’s unbeaten record. In truth it was much closer than last time and was an improvement on the TBS Championship pay per-view match at Revolution where it felt like Tay Conti did not get the chance to showcase herself. Anna in contrast had her moments, including a believable and well-executed queen-slayer. In the end Jade won as predicted, it would have been nice for this to go on longer as I felt this had the potential to be a very good title match-up. That said, the constraints of such a big card should be taken into account. This encounter was also used to introduce Stokeley Hathaway (Malcom Bivens) and Athena (Ember Moon) to AEW.
Grade- C+
The House of Black vs Death Triangle
With some of the bigger matches on the card, it would have been easy for this one to have got slightly lost in the pack, even though it was one of the longer-developed storylines. In the end, it was one of the serious contenders for match of the nights. This was a fast paced, highly energetic and action-packed trios tag team match in which all six men showcased how talented they were and all had their individual high spots. The two teams do have undeniable chemistry together and this was a brilliant match from start to finish. Pac particularly impressed, though stated the other five were fantastic to. In a well-thought out ending, the lights went off and when they came on Julia Hart (a previous victim of the Houses Black Mist) appeared and fired out the mist herself to help House of Black win, completing her heel turn.
Grade: A+
Owen Hart Tournament (Male Final)- Adam Cole v Samoa Joe
This turned out to be a very enjoyable match as well. It was probably the best I have seen Samoa Joe wrestle in a AEW ring and it was a very strong showing from Cole as well. They really did bring out the best in each other and it would be great to see them work together again in the future. In the end, it was Cole who the inaugural tournament.
Grade: A
Owen Hart Tournament (Female Final)- Dr Britt Baker D.M.D vs. Ruby Soho
Both wrestlers had musical accompaniments to the ring- Fozzy’s guitarist for D.M.D and Rancid for Ruby Soho. Baker and Soho both put in characteristically strong performances and there was a good intensity to the match as it went on. There were a couple of twists- lockjaw for example was not enough to put Baker away and in the end it was the Good Doctor who won with a reverse pin. One does wonder when Ruby Soho will finally get her big moment- though this may be were patience is needed if there is a plan for the high-profile defeats to date to fit into a wider eventual narrative.
Grade: B-
Mixed Tag Team Match- Sammy Guevara, Tay Conti & Frankie Kazarian vs. Scoripo Sky, Paige Van Zant and Ethan Page.
This match was comedic at its core. Sammy and Tay continue to embrace any negative reaction towards them and a clear tension was played on between the ‘in love’ couple and Kazarian, their partner for this match, who became exasperated increasingly with their antics and at one point left them to it. There were plenty of funny moments- Tay landing on Sammy’s unmentionables and Sammy kicking Tay inadvertently in the face. In the end it was Scorpio who pinned Frankie to win the match. As per stipulation, Frankie and Sammy cannot now challenge him for the TNT belt.
Grade: B-
Kyle O’Reilly vs. Darby Allin
This was a surprise result in some senses but both men were impressive in this outing. Darby’s performance was excellent at this time and would have merited the win had this been the way the chips had fell- with the last supper cradle pin and coffin drop particular high points for him. O’Reilly is now building up a good body of singles work in AEW with his guillotine choke and decisive knee blow to win the highlights of his performance. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes next, it feels there is scope to develop this more.
Grade: B
Women’s World Championship Fight- Serena Deeb vs. Thunder Rosa
This was a splendid women’s World Championship fight which can only be seen to further validate Rosa’s reign as AEW Women’s World Champion. Her status as a worthy champion has surely been strengthened by the fact she was able to overcome Deeb’s figure-four leglock, Serenity Lock and powerbomb, all of which few other competitors have been able to survive. For her own part, Rosa was also strong with a early Death Valley Driver before finally performing a supplex from the top rope and fire thunder driver to win.
Grade: A-
Anarchy in the Arena- Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Blackpool Combat Club, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz.
This may only be described as carnage, carnage on a scale rarely seen even in AEW, who have the ability to deliver a range of hardcore match types. The first ever anarchy in the arena saw Moxley’s ‘wild thing’ play on loop until Jericho finally smashed the soundboard. There was just brawls literally all over the arena with various match ups between the ten men. The two stars who really stood out for me were Daniel Garcia and Bryan Danielson. Garcia performed a piledriver through steel steps and later tied his belt round the neck of Kingston and dragged him across the floor, he looked domineering, strong and able to mix it with the rest of the ensamble for this match who were much more experienced. It is the first time Danielson has done anything like this in AEW and he was relentless and strong throughout the match, managing to get in the LeBell lock on one stage to Jericho. Elsewhere, Jericho set off a fire extinguisher while Kingston come to the ring with a gasoline can targeting Jericho. Danielson broke this up leading to conflict to develop between him, Moxley and Kingston. In the end, Jericho was able to lock in the Walls of Jericho while Hager choked Danielson with a cable. They won via submission. This though was epic, there seemed to be no knowing how it would end.
Grade - A+
World Tag Team Championship- Jungle Boy & Luchasarus vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks & Keith Lee.
This for me was the match of the night. The crowd could have been forgiven for lagging after such a long night but this really kept the energy coming. The greatest compliment I can give it was that it was like a 5* Young Bucks match- just without the Young Bucks. All six men were superb and had their individual spots. Everyone enjoyed the battle of brute strength between Luchasaurus, Lee and Hobbs with Luchasaurus grabbing the other two for a double chokeslam at one point, only for them to team up in a rare act of unity to slam him. There were so many nearly falls and ‘new tag team champions’ rung in my head so many times in this match as believable 2.9999 counts were broken up with a split mini-second before this eventuality occurred. This possibility seemed most real when Swerve and Keith Lee performed the Swerve Stomp on Jungle Boy. In the end, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus performed the Thoracic thurrasic express on Swerve to retain, which given how the match turned out almost seemed like a fantastic surprise upset. The Jurrassic Express momentum rolls on and this has to be their most memorable title defence of them all.
Grade- A*
AEW World Championship- Adam Page v CM Punk
This match was intense from the beginning. Page’s early buckshot lariat attempt was countered by Punk who locked in a sharpshooter. Page managed to touch the ropes and then got a nearfall late with Punk’s own signature Go to Sleep Move. After the referee was incapacitated, Page was left conflicted in the ring as to whether strike Punk with the championship belt or to try and work clean. In an act of AEW’s consistent, poetic storytelling with his character- it was this internal conflict, this indecisiveness and self-questioning, the same self-doubt which made it take so long for him to become World Champion, which would cost Page dear here. Punk was able to perform the Go to Sleep not long after and win the title. A historic and poignant moment on which to end the show. While it’ll be interesting to see where things go next and there are so many dream matches and angles they can develop with Punk as champion, equally it does feel that Page’s time as World Champion ended prematurely.
Grade: B +
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