AEW Double or Nothing Review (5/26/2019).

It was time for a revolution in pro wrestling, as 2019 began. WWE had been the be all and end all of the US wrestling scene since the fall of WCW and ECW in 2001, and things had finally reached a breaking point with wrestling fans everywhere. Sure, other companies had come up to offer an alternative to WWE, such as TNA and Ring of Honor, but no one had the financial capability that WWE had, or anything comparable to it.

A single tweet in 2017 from everyone’s favorite wrestling analyst Dave Meltzer would change everything forever. A fan asked him if he thought Ring of Honor could sell out a 10,000 seat arena anytime soon. He said no, which prompted a response from Cody Rhodes, who made a bet with Dave that it could happen. A year later, in September of 2018, Rhodes and the Young Bucks hosted “All In,” a supercard of independent and international wrestling stars coming together to prove that WWE wasn’t the only horse in the race.

11,268 people showed up to Chicago to witness an historic wrestling event unlike any other, and they showed that there was a place in pro wrestling for companies not under the McMahon banner. It was an incredible night of action, featuring Rhodes, the Bucks, Kenny Omega, Kazuchika Okada, Stephen Amell, Chelsea Green, and even Rey Mysterio, just months before his return to WWE, among others. All In was a major success on its own, but it naturally brought up another discussion. Sure, this worked in a bubble, but what if something like this existed on a weekly basis?

As 2018 came to a close, rumblings of a new wrestling promotion founded by Rhodes and the Bucks began to circulate on the internet. Was it possible? Could another promotion start up and run as a legitimate alternative to WWE? On New Year’s Day in 2019, the announcement took place on an episode of “Being the Elite.” All Elite Wrestling was formally announced, and an event was announced for May 26^th, entitled “Double or Nothing.” A fitting name for a major gamble.

From there, speculation began like wildfire. It was obvious that Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks would head this new company. Soon after, it was announced that Chris Jericho, one of the most legendary figures in the sport, and a free agent at the time, would be putting pen to paper to sign with AEW as well. Hangman Page, PAC, Britt Baker, and the Lucha Brothers would soon follow as new signings of this new promotion.

Another big signing would be Kenny Omega, one of the most acclaimed wrestlers in the world at the time who had just finished up a run in New Japan that many consider one of the best of the modern era. Things were off to a fantastic start for the company, as they were signing some really talented performers to join them on this voyage. Their inaugural event, Double or Nothing, sold out the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas in just four minutes.

To add to it, Justin Roberts, former WWE announcer, was signed as their ring announcer. They brought in Jim Ross to do commentary, and even more shocking, they later brought Tony Schiavone out of exile to join the commentary team as well. Schiavone had famously distanced himself from the wrestling scene since the demise of WCW, and had only made one appearance in the sport, during a really bad segment in TNA with Vince Russo in 2003.

AEW was putting all their chips on the table to really make a statement, and fans knew they were in for something special. It also helps that wrestling fans in the United States were starving for something new. WWE had dominated the wrestling scene for nearly two decades, and were in the midst of their worst creative slump since the mid 1990s. Impact Wrestling was going strong, but wasn’t nearly what it used to be. And Ring of Honor was starting to show cracks in their shield (see my G1 Supercard review for their disastrous contribution to that show).

Where did I stand in all of this? I’ll be the first to admit that I didn’t follow all of this Elite hoopla as closely as everyone else. I knew who they were, and what they were accomplishing, but I was still a WWE diehard that refused to watch anything else. I did want to check out All In, but I didn’t have access to PPV – and would soon learn after about Fite.TV, and that was my introduction to streaming live events.

That all said, 2019 was the first time my WWE fandom started to lessen. The main roster was becoming incredibly boring and repetitive, and I was tired of half ass booking and a reliance on people who aren’t fully committed to the company. If not for Bray Wyatt’s reintroduction as The Fiend, I would’ve checked out on the company entirely that year. It had its positives, don’t get me wrong, but there were too many negatives outweighing it, and I just didn’t have the energy to keep up past WrestleMania 35.

I wanted something new, and fresh, and AEW was about to be just that for me. Like TNA had done for me in 2005, it was an introduction into a new kind of pro wrestling. I recognized many of the people on the card, and many of them I would be seeing wrestle for the first time. It was the shot in the arm that my wrestling fandom needed, and it arguably reinvigorated me as a wrestling fan going forward. Hell, it was partially this show that helped convince me to give New Japan a shot. But, more on that at the end.

The show would be headlined by the highly anticipated rematch between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho, a match that happened at Wrestle Kingdom 12, and one that convinced an in-attendance Tony Khan at a new wrestling promotion was possible, and thus led him to meeting with Cody and the Bucks to form AEW. Speaking of the Bucks, they’d be defending the AAA World Tag Team Titles against the Lucha Brothers in the semi main event. And also, Cody Rhodes would be facing off against another new AEW signing in Dustin Rhodes, his brother, in a match that both men had been hoping for for years.

With all of that backstory complete, let’s hope into the first AEW event ever!

(Pre-Show) Casino Battle Royale.

This match is to determine the first spot in the All Out main event to determine the inaugural AEW World Champion.

Every three minutes, a new group of wrestlers will join the match, determined by which suit of card they drew. Once all suits have entered the ring, whomever drew the Joker card will enter as the final participant.

Starting out in the ring are the Clubs: Dustin Thomas, MJF, Sunny Daze, Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa. The bell rings, and MJF immediately goes after Thomas, a wrestler with no legs. What a fucking dick. He calls him Lt. Dan, Forrest Gump style. Cutler cuts him off, and attacks him in the corner. MJF takes advantage, and calls Cutler a favor for the Young Bucks. Daze goes for a suplex on Nakazawa, who counters by pouring baby oil all over himself.

Daze tries for a German Suplex, and Nakazawa easily slips out. He goes to toss Cutler out, but Cutler just barely holds on. MJF is yelling at people at ringside. Cutler comes off the ropes with a flying elbow to the jaw. MJF goes back to Thomas, driving his boot into his face. The Diamonds make their way to the ring, as we get Brian Pillman, Jr., Isiah Kassidy, Jimmy Havoc, Joey Janela, and Shawn Spears, who recently left WWE.

Janela and Havoc give Pillman a suplex on the ramp on the way down. Spears and MJF give each other a thumb to the eye, and then Spears gives MJF a neckbreaker across his knee. He gets a huge reaction from the crowd. He chops MJF in the corner, as the Hearts make their way to the ring. It’s Billy Gunn, Glacier (wtf), Jungle Boy, Marq Quin, and Ace Romero. Nice head scissors takeover by Jungle Boy, and he’s immediately knocked down by MJF.

MJF and Glacier have a staredown. Nice sweep of the leg by Glacier, and a cross chop. Daze knocks Glacier to the floor, but he didn’t go over the top rope. Daze sends Nakazawa to the apron, and punches him to the floor. Glacier spits frozen mist at Daze, and sends him to the floor. MJF quickly eliminates Glacier, and then meets the ire of Billy Gunn behind him. Havoc puts a lit cigarette on Janela. Pillman with a springboard clothesline to Janela.

The Spades are here, and now we get Luchasaurus, Marko Stunt, Sonny Kiss and Tommy Dreamer. MJF knocks Stunt down, and elbows Dreamer. He avoids an attack from Romero, who turns it into a Tope onto the Spades. Luchasaurus and Romero square off, the two big boys! Dreamer returns to the ring with a trash can full of weapons, which lands right on Luchasaurus’s head. Dreamer unloads with shots to the head of everybody in the ring. Ace Crusher to Havoc by Dreamer.

Spears tries to eliminate Gunn. Luchasaurus hits a double chokeslam to Private Party. Here’s the Joker – Hangman Page! He’s a house of fire on everyone in the ring! Big lariat to MJF, and a big boot to Spears. Fall away slam to Jungle Boy. He and Janela have a staredown. Lots of history between these two from All In. They unload with punches on each other. Nice Discus Elbow to Janela, and the Dead Eye follows.

Now we get a staredown between Hangman and Luchasaurus, but here’s Romero to cut them off. Hangman goes to lift him up, but Romero is just too big. Jungle Boy and Marko go at Romero, who pancakes JB. Stunt goes to run the ropes, but Romero pounces him so hard, he flies over the top rope and is eliminated. JB dropkicks Romero, and eliminates him! Big moment for Luke Perry’s son. DDT to Janela by Spears, and he goes into the middle rope.

Thomas hits a 619 to Janela, and then hits a senton from the apron! MJF immediately kicks him in the head. He places him on the top rope, and Thomas then eliminates Spears! He goes to springboard again, but MJF pushes him to the floor. Famouser by Gunn to Cutler, and Cutler rebounds by eliminating. MJF then quickly eliminates Cutler. Luchasaurus kicks Janela in the head, and then chokeslams to the outside, through a table!

Kiss shakes her ass to Dreamer, but he grabs her, and sends her to the outside. Here’s Orange Cassidy, the 22^nd man in the 21 man battle royal. He lands some disgusting kicks to Dreamer. Dreamer punches him down, and Cassidy kicks his way back up. Dreamer quickly grabs him, and tosses him to the outside. Fun fact: It was that sequence that made me a fan of Orange Cassidy. Havoc with a staple gun to Dreamer, and he’s eliminated.

Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy double team Havoc. MJF tosses JB over the top rope, but he holds onto the ropes. Havoc bites his fingers, and he’s gone. Final four are Havoc, Hangman, MJF and Luchasaurus. They all gang up on MJF, surprisingly. He rolls to the floor, but not over the top rope. Rainmaker by Havoc to Luchasaurus, and a boot to the face by Hangman. DVD by Havoc to Hangman, and a PK. Havoc gets sent to the apron, and Luchasaurus boots him off the apron.

Hangman and Luchasaurus square off now, with Luchasaurus flapjacking Hangman. He rushes him, and Hangman sends him to the floor. MJF tries to sneak in to eliminate Hangman, who holds onto the ropes. Buckshot Lariat by Hangman, and then he eliminates MJF! Hangman is the first man advancing to challenge for the AEW World Title. Fun start to the event, with a lot of familiar faces of the early days of AEW, and men who would become mainstays for years to come. It was a big win for Hangman, as his arc of being the main character of AEW began here. MJF looked really good in this match, Orange Cassidy won my heart over here, and seeing Dustin Thomas wrestle this match with no legs is just inspiring stuff.

Kylie Rae is about to be interviewed about her match later, but Peter Avalon and Leva Bates have a shush off instead.

We get a nice video package hyping up the Cody/Dustin match later in the evening.

(Pre-Show): Sammy Guevara vs. Kip Sabian.

The bell sounds, and AEW’s first ever singles match is under way. They lock up, and lobby for control. Sammy takes the side headlock, and Sabian slips free to head scissor Sammy to the mat. Sammy with a leg scissors now, and Sabian also escapes. Nice springboard hurricanrana by Sabian, and a dropkick. Sammy backflips over Sabian, and lands a beautiful dropkick. He charges at Sabian in the corner, and Sabian boots him off the apron to the floor.

Sabian runs the ropes, and goes to dive on Sammy, who moves out of the way. Sabian instead springboards off the middle rope onto Sammy. He rolls Sammy into the ring, and Sammy immediately runs the ropes and lands a dive onto Sabian. Back in the ring, Sammy drives his shoulder into Sabian’s ribs, and lands a double stomp to the back. Sabian catches a kick, and lands a Dragon Screw Legwhip, Tanahashi style!

Sabian with a leg submission now, and Sammy gets to the ropes to break it up. Sabian charges at Sammy, who catches him with a scoop slam. He tries for two back flips, and Sabian avoids them both. Standing Shooting Star Press connects, and Sabian is able to get his shoulder up. Sammy places Sabian on the apron, but Sabian kicks him in the face. Springboard shotgun dropkick, Toyota style, connects flush.

Nice PK by Sabian, and Sammy kicks out. Sammy with a Superman Forearm to Sabian, and a suplex attempt sees both men go to the floor, with Sammy still landing the suplex regardless. Sammy places Sabian across the barricade, and then comes off the apron with a Shooting Star Press to the back! In the ring, Sammy goes for the 630, but Sabian gets the knees up to block it! Sabian hits the Deathly Hallows, and that’s enough for the win. Sabian wins AEW’s first singles match.

Not a bad little showcase for two relatively unknown wrestlers at this time. It was an exciting match for the fans, and they were really into the action throughout. Sammy was the MVP here with his offense, but Sabian also looked good, too. My girlfriend really liked that his finish was named after a Harry Potter book, and she would ask me for years where “Harry Potter” boy was.

We get a video package for Sadie Gibbs next, followed by the entrance of Jim Ross to the commentary booth. A limo pulls up in the parking lot, and it’s Pharaoh the dog, Brandi Rhodes, and Cody Rhodes. Kenny Omega, backstage, does the kid at the computer meme. Matt Jackson runs into Michael Nakazawa, and doesn’t seem too impressed. He runs into his brother Nick, and they superkick QT Marshall.

The Elite come to the stage to a thunderous ovation. They fight over who is going to do the introduction, and Omega eventually does the honors. They joke about the attendance being 20,000, a poke at WWE. Brandi talks about how this is the first sensory inclusive event in wrestling history, which is really fucking cool. Cody talks about making history, and that this is a revolution.

We now go into the main show, where Hamilton star Chris Jackson and his family sing the national anthem. Now we get the opening video package, which is just highlights of the first couple pressers for the promotion, which helped build towards many of the matches on this show.

1. Six Man Tag Team Match: SCU (Christopher Daniels, Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) vs. Strong Hearts (CIMA, El Lindaman & T-Hawk).

Scorpio Sky grabs the mic, and says Vegas is the worst town he’s ever been to. Daniels says Vegas is a bad town, but tonight, they’re gonna have themselves a real good time, Queen style.

I didn’t recognize Lindaman at first, because he wasn’t as tan as a leather couch.

The bell sounds, and we are under way! We begin with Daniels and CIMA. Daniels takes the side headlock, and CIMA quickly slips free to take one of his own. They exchange arm drags, and we have a stalemate. Kazarian and T-Hawk tag in, and they lobby for control. Good combination of strikes from Kazarian, and Hawk fires back with a huge chop to the chest. He follows up with a big shoulder tackle that sends Kazarian flying.

Scorpio makes the blind tag, and hits a huge dropkick to Hawk out of nowhere. Scorpio goes for a head scissors, and Hawk turns it into a powerbomb for a 2 count. Lindaman makes the tag in, and Strong Hearts connect with a double back elbow to the head. Lindaman lands a splash for a 2 count. Big powerslam by Scorpio, and Daniels makes the tag in now. SCU triple team Lindaman, ending with Kazarian landing a dropkick for a 2 count. Daniels is back in, as Kazarian lands a neckbreaker. Daniels gets 2 off of it.

CIMA with a double knee drop across Daniels’ back. Hawk chops Kazarian off the top ropes, while CIMA connects with a running double knee to Daniels in the corner. CIMA lands a senton from the apron to Daniels in the ring, followed by a double back elbow with Hawk, and then a double dropkick. Lindaman tags in, and boots Daniels in the midsection. He connects with a jawbreaker, and then attacks Kazarian and Scorpio on the apron.

More triple team offense by Strong Hearts, as Hawk has Daniels in a submission, but here’s SCU to break up the hold. Daniels hits an STO out of nowhere, and here’s Scorpio with the tag. Diving uppercut to Hawk, and a double stomp to the back of CIMA. More triple offense from Strong Hearts ends with a German Suplex by Lindaman, which only gets a 2 count. Lindaman lands a powerslam, and goes to the top rope. He hits a diving sunset flip, and Scorpio rolls through with a dropkick. Kazarian tags in, and takes everyone out with dropkicks. He goes for a roll up on Hawk, and hits a Northern Lights on CIMA at the same time. It only gets a 2 count. Daniels tags in, and lands a stomp on Hawk, before going right into a Tope to Lindaman on the floor. Nice Cutter from the apron by Scorpio, and he gets dropkicked by Lindaman.

DDT from the apron by Kazarian to Lindaman, and he gets sent to the floor by Hawk. Double lariat by Daniels and Hawk, as everyone is down and out. Angel’s Wings to Hawk by Daniels, but Lindaman made a blind tag, and he hits a dead lift German Suplex to Daniels, followed by the Meteora by CIMA! Kazarian breaks up the count, and lands a leg drop to CIMA across the ropes. He follows with a hurricanrana to the outside on Hawk, and here’s Scorpio with a senton to the outside.

Daniels and Kazarian catch Lindaman in the Best Meltzer Ever, and that’s enough for the 3. SCU take the victory. Good match to kick things off. It was full of action and spots, and it had the crowd on their feet throughout. It was a nice choice to have an exciting match like this kick off the show, as this is what the inaugural AEW event needs to get things started.

Allie is here to join commentary for the next match.

2. Fatal 4 Way Match: Kylie Rae vs. Nyla Rose vs. Britt Baker vs. Awesome Kong.

The first women’s match in AEW history was originally scheduled to be a Triple Threat Match between Rae, Rose and Baker, but Brandi Rhodes came out and announced a fourth participant: the legendary Awesome Kong.

Nyla Rose is making history here, as the first transgender wrestler to compete in a major North American wrestling company. You wouldn’t know it, though, as AEW doesn’t make a big deal out of her being transgender. She’s just a wrestler, and she’s completely normal.

The bell sounds, and Kong goes face to face with Nyla right away. Baker and Kylie join in on attacking Kong, and she quickly shrugs them off. Nice spinning back fist, Aja style, sends Nyla to the outside, and then Kong tosses Kylie to the mat. She grabs Baker and lands a powerslam to her onto Kylie. She tries for a big splash, and misses. Baker lowers the top rope, and sends Kong to the floor. Kylie tries for a quick roll up on Baker, who kicks out.

Big shoulder tackle by Kylie, and Baker knocks Nyla off the apron. Baker with a suplex to Kylie, and then they exchange forearms. Kylie irish whips Baker to the corner, and misses a shot in the turnbuckle. Baker dives onto Kong, and she’s caught. Kylie runs the ropes, and lands on both Baker and Kong, taking them out. Back in the ring, Nyla gets a nearfall off of Kylie. Big powerslam connects, followed by a leg drop for 2.

Nyla goes for a chokeslam, and Kylie slips out. She lands some hammer blows to the spine, and then walks into a spinebuster by Nyla. Baker returns to the ring, and lands a Sling Blade, Tanahashi style, for a 2 count. She superkicks Kong, and eats a forearm from Nyla. Big Samoan Drop by Nyla, even though I don’t think she’s Samoan. Kylie reverses a powerbomb into a sunset flip pin, but here’s Baker to break it up.

Nyla goes after Kylie now, landing a big powerslam. She goes to the top rope, and Baker cuts her off. Kylie joins Baker on the top rope, as they look for a double suplex. Kong returns to the ring, and we have a Tower of Doom spot, and the crowd loves that. Kong goes to the floor with Baker, and she looks for a powerbomb. Baker tries to fight it off, and instead, she gets a spinning back fist for her troubles. They go to the apron, and Kong looks for the Awesome Bomb, but Baker is able to escape. Thrust kick connects, and Kylie lands a superkick to knock her off. Nyla is here, and spears Kong into the steel steps.

In the ring, Kylie gets a roll up off on Baker for 2. Superkick connects to Baker’s skull. She tries for a German Suplex, and Baker escapes. She connects with a big forearm, followed by the swinging neckbreaker for a 2 count. Kylie blocks the O’Connor roll, into a gut wrench German Suplex for a 2 count. Baker hits the Ushigoroshi out of nowhere, and that’s enough for the win.

Good showcase for all four women. Kong did good as the surprise entrant, Nyla looked like a beast, Kylie had good fire throughout, and Baker wrestled a smart match picking her spots. The crowd was really into it, too, which helped it a lot. Not a bad start for the women’s division.

We go to a backstage moment from earlier, where Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho are preparing for their main event show down tonight.

3. Best Friends (Trent? and Chuck Taylor) vs. The Hybrid 2 (Angelico & Jack Evans).

At the time, I was super hyped to see Angelico in AEW, as I was a major fan of his in Lucha Underground.

The bell sounds, and we’re under way! Trent and Evans start off, and Evans takes the side headlock. Evans tries to shoulder tackle Trent a few times, and fails gracefully. Trent takes him down with one single shoulder tackle, and then makes the tag to Sexy Chuckie T. The Best Friends double team Angelico and Evans, and as they go to hug it out, they get taken out by dueling dropkicks. Nice back handspring elbow by Evans to Trent in the corner, and a dropkick to Taylor off the apron.

We get some nice kicking offense by the Hybrid 2, followed by a tandem 450 splash by Evans for a 2 count. Angelico lifts Trent up in the air for a ripcord, and he goes into the Tequila Sunrise submission. Taylor comes in and breaks up the hold, and gets clocked for it by Angelico. He rushes at Trent in the corner, who gets both feet up to block the attack. He reached out for the tag, but Evans comes in and attacks both Best Friends. What a heel.

Evans makes the tag in, and The Hybrid 2 irish whip Trent into the turnbuckle, flipping him inside out. Trent fires back with a thunderous clothesline to Evans! Taylor makes the tag in, and takes Evans out with a dropkick. Angelico comes in with more double team offense, and Taylor is able to avoid it. He tosses Evans into Angelico in the corner, and then hits the Falcon Arrow on Evans. Despite no one kicking out of the Falcon Arrow, Evans kicks out of the Falcon Arrow, and Taylor can’t believe it.

Taylor guillotines Evans, and then hits the Standing Sliced Bread to Angelico on the floor. Big kick to Evans, followed by a double stomp to Angelico on the floor. Trent hits a spiked DDT to Evans, and here’s Taylor with a double stomp to him for a nearfall. Trent makes the tag in, and Evans quickly takes him out with a Pele, AJ Styles style! Running knee by Trent turns Evans inside out. Angelico is in the ring, and he walks into Soul Food by the Best Friends, who give the people what they want with a hug! Wide shot pops off!

Taylor crucifixes Evans into a Cutter by Trent, but it only gets a 2 count. Trent looks for the Bastard Driver on Evans, but Angelico helps to reverse it into a Code Red. Axe kick by Angelico, and a launching corkscrew knee to Trent. Angelico suplexes Evans into Trent, who kicks out. Angelico has Trent up in the Death Valley Driver, and Evans jumps off Trent into a moonsault to Taylor on the outside.

Big left knee by Angelico, and now he hits a Crucifix Bomb into the turnbuckle. Evans tags in, and lands the 630 splash to Trent. He covers, and Taylor makes it in just in time to break up the pin. Angelico tosses Taylor to the outside, as Evans grabs Trent. Front chancery is blocked into an inside cradle by Trent for 2. Big right hand by Angelico, and he sends Trent into the middle turnbuckle. Taylor avoids a crossbody on the outside by Angelico.

Taylor and Trent land a Doomsday Sexy Chuckie Knee to Evans, and Taylor follows up with a Tope to Angelico. Double stomp Bastard Driver by the Best Friends get them the win. That was a strong effort from everyone all around. Evans was a total spot monkey. Great team work by all four men, and nonstop action to really sell the importance of tag team wrestling in AEW. The crowd got more into it by the end, and that helped. Great action. Fun fact: It’s a goddamn travesty that Trent and Chuck never got an AEW Tag Title run before their break up.

Post match, both teams hug it out, and then the lights go out. When they return on, they are joined by Stu Grayson and Evil Uno! The lights go out again, and when they return, the ring is surrounded by men in masks! All of these men go on the attack against Best Friends and the Hybrid 2. The masked men are called Maniacs, and Grayson and Uno are known as the Super Smash Bros, but this would be the first introduction to AEW of what would be known as Dark Order.

Big “Who are you?” chant breaks out. Honestly, same, at least at the time.

We cut to a video package, advertising the upcoming All Out event in August, from the same venue where All In was held in 2018.

4. Six Woman Tag Team Match: Ryo Mizunami, Riho & Hikaru Shida vs. Aja Kong, Emi Sakura & Yuka Sakazaki.

I remember it being really cool at the time that AEW showcased some of the best Joshi in the world for this event. Of course, the big selling point for this is Aja Kong, one of the most legendary figures, male or female, in all of pro wrestling.

The bell sounds, and here we go! Yuka and Shida start things out, and Yuka stomps on her foot. Hard throw by Shida, and Yuka quickly backs away. Ryo and Kong tag in, and the heaters go at it! They lock up, and neither woman has the advantage. They lock up again, and Ryo nearly forces Kong to the ropes. Kong then over powers her into the opposite side. Ryo tries for a shoulder tackle, and Kong isn’t phased.

Kong is eventually taken down by Ryo, but Kong is right back up with rapid fire strikes, and a clothesline. Sakura makes the tag, and so does Riho. They lock hands, and we have a Greco Roman knuckle lock spot. Sakura tries to put all her weight on Riho, who bridges out and holds Sakura up! Nice crucifix into a pin for 2. Sakura fires back with a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Yuka tags in, and she comes off the top rope with a Thesz press.

Yuka kicks her out of the corner, and lands a dropkick. She gets a nearfall off of that. Yuka with a powerslam to Riho, and she tags in Sakura again. Nice Mongolian chops, Tenzan style, and then she tosses he across the ring. She traps Riho’s legs, and applies the surfboard lock. Kong makes the tag back in, and she watches Riho crawl to her corner. “Women’s wrestling” chant breaks out, as Kong kicks Riho right on the spine.

Riho looks to fight back with forearms to the chest, and Kong isn’t putting up with it. She lands a single arm powerslam, and an elbow drop for 2. Sakura and Yuka hold Shida and Ryo back, as Kong spikes Riho with a piledriver. It only gets a nearfall. Yuka tags in, and gets a 2 count off of Riho. Big double stomp by Riho to Yuka, and she tags in Ryo. Shoulder tackle to Yuka and one to Sakura. She tries it on Kong, who doesn’t budge.

Ryo spears Kong out of the ring, delivers some Machine Gun chops, Kobashi style, to Yuka in the corner. She follows up with a clothesline in the corner. She flips Yuka around for a slam, and a lariat. Riho tags in, and so does Kong. Riho with a head scissors takeover to Kong, followed by the 619, Mysterio style! She dives off the top rope, and Kong catches her with a kick to the ribs. Huge Backdrop Driver to Riho, who somehow kicks out.

Kong goes to the middle rope, and misses a diving back elbow. Shida tags in, and tries for a brainbuster to Kong. She can’t execute it, but she can kick Kong in the face. Kong has her trademark trash can, and Shida has the Kendo Stick. They duel, until Kong drills her in the head with the can. Sakura tags in, and leads the Vegas crowd in a “We Will Rock You” chant. Nice running squash in the corner, followed by a backbreaker.

They exchange forearms, and then Shida lands a huge knee to the face. Riho comes in to attack the other team. Shida grabs Sakura from the apron and lands a suplex. Ryo comes off the top rope with a leg drop, and Yuka lands a leg drop to break up the pin. Ryo and Riho try to suplex Kong, but she ends up suplexing them both at the same time! Yuka springboards off the top rope, onto Ryo and Riho on the floor!

Kong lands the brainbuster to Shida, and Sakura hits a top rope moonsault for a razor close 2 count. The bell was rang by mistake, but Aubrey Edwards confirms it was a 2 count. Huge “You Fucked Up” chant from the fans. Shida blocks the Butterfly Suplex, and Kong accidentally hits the spinning back fist to Sakura! Running knee strike to Sakura by Shida, as Riho knocks Kong to the outside! Shida makes the cover, and that’s enough for the win!

The bell ring botch aside, that was a fantastic display of Joshi wrestling. It’s what you would expect from a Joshi tag – nonstop action, great sequences, better counters, and plenty of high flying action. For an American crowd, that kind of stuff is always going to take your breath away, and that’s what they did here. A great intro for many of these ladies, and it’s always great to see Aja Kong in a wrestling ring.

We see a video package for the Cody/Dustin match. It’s the long anticipated match between the Rhodes brothers, the way they always wanted to do it. Many see this as “Nightmare vs. Natural,” but Cody sees it as a way to put an era out to pasture, and pull the trigger. Dustin, meanwhile, wants to have one last ride, and go out on his own terms, in beating his younger brother.

5. Cody Rhodes vs. Dustin Rhodes.

Cody gets a special entrance, weird Opera singing and all, which he’d use every single time he’d come to the ring for the remainder of his AEW run, killing the effect here. Still cool, though. Part of the stage raises, and there sits a throne. A throne, mind you, that looks almost….almost like one that Triple H would sit on once upon a time. Cody makes his way out to the stage, and before he enters the ring, Brandi Rhodes hands him a sledgehammer.

Cody eyes it, and then returns to the stage. He swings the hammer down on the throne, destroying it. No subtle motives there, as you can see. That was a statement, pure and simple.

Dustin enters to a great reception from the crowd, and he looks very appreciative of it.

The bell sounds, and we’re under way. Big “This is awesome” chant already, which changes to a “Dusty” chant. They lock up, and Cody shoves Dustin away quickly. They lock up again, and Cody trips Dustin, and then does the Stardust taunt, which gets a huge pop. They lock up again, and Cody takes the side headlock. Nice thrust strike to the face, and then Cody sends Dustin to the floor. Big Tope by the American Nightmare.

Cody motions for the fans to move, but instead throws Dustin in the ring. Dustin swings around, and hits a flipping Senton off the apron! Back in the ring, Dustin lands a running bulldog, and ten punches in the corner. Dustin looks for more strikes, and Cody rolls to the floor. He takes a walk through the crowd for a breather. Cody returns to the ring, and he distracts the ref. Brandi tosses a water bottle at Dustin’s head, and Cody takes advantage with a gutbuster for a 2 count.

Cody connects with a Dragon Screw Legwhip, Tanahashi style. Dustin tries to fight back with some punches from the mat, but Cody won’t go down. Nice scoop slam by Cody for a nearfall. Cody stomps on the wrist, and Dustin fires back with a clothesline. Thrust punch, and a kick to the ear from Dustin. More strikes in the corner, and now he sets Cody up for Shattered Dreams. Cody removes the middle turnbuckle pad, and then hits a drop toe hold to Dustin into the steel.

Cody drives his boot into the back of Dustin’s head. Cody distracts referee Earl Hebner, and Brandi hits a spear on Dustin. Earl knows what bullshit smells like, so he ejects Brandi from ringside. Brandi argues with him, and here’s Diamond Dallas Page to carry Brandi away! I totally forgot he was even here. Dustin is busted open from the turnbuckle spot, and yes, it didn’t happen right away. Wrestling! Cody gauges at the wound, and then wipes the blood on his chest.

In the ring, Cody kicks Dustin and gets a nearfall off of it. Cody digs his knuckle into Dustin’s open wound, and avoids a crazy clothesline. Cody with a dropkick gets a 2 count. Cody with another shot to the head, and Dustin is an absolute bloody mess. Cody drives his boot into Dustin’s chest repeatedly, and it looks like he’s fighting with his remorse and his cheeky attitude. Cody gives Dustin a hard irish whip into the turnbuckle.

Dustin whips Cody into the corner, and he goes for a scoop slam, but Cody is easily able to avoid it. He lands the Curb Stomp, and Dustin kicks out. Dustin’s head is dripping like a faucet. Double axe handle from the middle rope by Cody, and now he goes to the top rope. He misses his attack, and Dustin catches him with a beautiful scoop slam for a nearfall. Dustin grabs Cody, who immediately reverses into the Figure Four Leglock submission.

Dustin fights for his life, and reverses the pressure! The bloody crimson mask of Dustin gets a big pop from the crowd. Cody is able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Cody removes his weight belt, and Hebner quickly takes it from him. Dustin with an Atomic Drop, and he places Cody on the top rope. Dustin uses the belt to whip Cody’s bare ass, and then he hits the Code Red! What a move! Dustin only gets a 2 count. Dustin places Cody on the top rope, as the crowd erupts into a big “AEW” chant. Big suplex to the mat by Dustin! Corkscrew suplex follows, and Cody is somehow able to kick out. He goes for Cross Rhodes, and Cody sneaks in a low blow.

Disaster Kick connects flush by Cody, followed by the Cross Rhodes. Cody covers, but Dustin is able to kick out! Cody sits in the middle of the ring, while Dustin is on his knees. They slowly return to their feet, and Dustin looks for Cross Rhodes, and he hits it! He covers, but Cody is able to get his shoulder up! They return to their feet again, and continue their slow strike exchange. They both hit drop down uppercuts. Dustin hits a messy but admirable standing Spanish Fly! It only gets a 2 count.

Big slap by Dustin, and Cody lifts him up for the Gringo Killer, Homicide style! Cody lifts Dustin up, and hits the Cross Rhodes again. He covers, and that’s enough for the 3 and the win. Post match, Cody leaves the ring, and he doesn’t look too thrilled with his actions. He wanted to end an era, and he wanted to end his brother, and now that he’s done it, and now he’s covered in Dustin’s brother, he questions whether it was all worth it.

He grabs a mic, and says that Dustin doesn’t get to retire here. He talks about how he will need a tag team partner for his upcoming match at Fight for the Fallen against the Young Bucks, but he doesn’t just need a partner – he needs his brother! Cody and Dustin embrace, and the crowd explodes. This is a great match, though it is not a match without its flaws. For starters, Brandi’s interference here was completely unnecessary. I feel like the blood spot was done awkwardly. Dustin began bleeding a good minute after hitting his head off the exposed turnbuckle.

Some spots in the end were a bit repetitive, including the spamming of Cross Rhodes, and I do think the ending felt very anticlimatic. That said, what they did get right here, they did so in spades. This was a match built on big emotion, and the emotion was brought tenfold. Both men had great facial selling throughout this, and the importance of this family battle really came through. Dustin shocked a lot of people, myself included, with his offense. Who had Dustin Rhodes pulling off a Code Red?

It’s a flawed, but fantastic match, pulled off very well by two great professionals.

Commentary, holding back tears, recap the Casino Battle Royal, where Hangman Page earned a shot to fight for the inaugural AEW World Championship, and now we get the reveal of the title itself.

AEW World Championship Presentation.

UK Comedian Jack Whitehall is in the ring, and he introduces the man who will present the AEW World Title – Hall of Famer Bret Hart! This appearance was a genuine surprise, and came just over a month after Bret’s WWE Hall of Fame appearance where he was attacked on stage by a dumbass fan.

He gets a huge pop upon entering the ring, which is obviously well deserved. Random observation: I think Jimmy Lloyd from GCW is in the audience for this. I think I saw his face behind Bret. The Hitman talks about how big of an honor it is to be here to present the world championship belt to the fans, and then he introduces Hangman Page. Bret stumbles through his promo, but the fans are gracious and forgiving.

Just as Hangman is about to speak, here’s MJF with the interruption. Big “asshole” chant from the fans. MJF reminds everyone of how young and fast rising he is, and then he tries to scare Bret by saying a fan is rushing the ring. Bret smiles, because he’s not a mark! MJF says the fans boo him because they are jealous of him, and that a horse like Hangman can’t be the face of AEW. He adds that when a horse has a bum leg, it becomes as useful as the fans in Vegas, and then you kill it behind the barn. Nice.

MJF says Hangman should relinquish his spot in the World Title match to a man who is better than Bret Hart. Hangman goes to strike MJF, but he backs off. Here’s Jungle Boy to cut him off. MJF easily walks past him, but now here’s Jimmy Havoc to cut off MJF from leaving. The Long Island native is completely cornered by all three men, and they all take turns taking strikes at him. Hangman tosses MJF into the fans, and JB and Havoc chase him through the crowd.

In the ring, Bret reveals the AEW World Championship, and it’s a big boy. As I write this, it’s currently been sitting in a briefcase held hostage by Jon Moxley since October of 2024. Hangman eyes the title, as the segment ends. Good little break from the action here. It’s always great to see Bret Hart, and he got a great reception. It was a good spotlight for Hangman, MJF, Jungle Boy and Jimmy Havoc, three men who would become huge parts of AEW – and Havoc, who currently works at a gas station because he is a Grade A abuser.

We cut to a video package hyping up our sole title match of the evening. The Young Bucks believe AEW is the place for tag team wrestling to take the spotlight once again. The Lucha Brothers – Pentagon, Jr. & Rey Fenix – interrupt them during a rally, and a scrap ensues. While the brothers from Mexico have been wrestling nonstop recently, the Bucks have not had a match in many months. Will ring rust play a factor here?

6. AAA World Tag Team Championships: Young Bucks © vs. Lucha Brothers.

I was probably more excited to see Penta and Fenix in AEW than I was anyone else at this time, even guys like Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. I was huge fans of both in Lucha Underground, especially Penta, and I was beyond stoked to see them get a chance on a major stage like this.

Whether anyone wants to admit it or not, much of modern wrestling’s success in the United States is owed to what the Young Bucks have accomplished.

The crowd is hot for this at the introductions. The bell sounds, and we start things off with Matt Jackson and Pentagon, Jr. They trash talk right away, and Penta removes his glove. He tries his trademark “Cero Miedo” taunt, and Matt blocks it. They scramble for a moment, until Penta finally does his taunt. Penta tags in Fenix, and Matt opts to stay inside. Matt takes the side headlock, and Nick makes the blind tag.

The Bucks go to hip toss Fenix, and he bounces off the ropes with a double arm drag. The Bucks get sent to the outside, and Fenix taunts them. Nick kicks Fenix into the ropes, and he gets sent to the apron. He blocks a dropkick, and goes for a PK. Fenix avoids it, and they trade counters and exchanges on the floor, with neither man getting the upper hand. Back in the ring, Nick lands a shoulder tackle, but Fenix doesn’t budge.

“Tag Team Wrestling” chant breaks out, and I’m all for it! Big chop by Fenix, and one by Nick. Fenix lands a dropkick out of nowhere, and here’s some Lucha Brothers double team offense on Matt with a double superkick. Sling Blade by Penta to Nick, and a double team splash for a 2 count. Fenix tags back in, and Nick is able to land a head scissors/arm drag combo on both Penta and Fenix. Matt tags in, and takes both men down with clotheslines. He press slams Fenix, and hits a spear on Penta. That was unexpected! Nick tags back in, and drops an elbow on Penta’s arm. Matt tags in immediately, and hits an elbow to the head. Penta trash talks him, and he gets slapped for his troubles. The Bucks continue their frequent tags, as Nick is back in, and he goes for a double stomp, but he lands on Matt by mistake!

He gets back in the lead, and kicks at Penta’s midsection. Matt is back in, and we get a nice hurricanrana to Penta, and a dropkick to Fenix off the apron. Straight right hand to Penta by Matt, and here’s Nick to kick Matt by mistake! Penta monkey flips the Bucks into each other, as they continue to be their own worst enemy. Fenix tags in, and places Nick on the ropes. He walks the ropes, and head scissors him to the mat! Cutter to Matt, and it only gets him a 2 count.

Fenix chops the chest of Matt, and tags in his brother Penta, who lands a stiff thigh kick. Matt fires back with a flipping Stunner off the top rope, and Penta lands on the side of his neck. Matt now hits the Locomotion Northern Lights Suplexes to Fenix, and then transitions into the Sharpshooter. Penta tries to break it up, and Matt gives him a suplex while in the submission. Nick makes the tag, and hits a PK to Penta, a Facebuster to Fenix, and a moonsault from the apron to Penta, all within seconds of each other.

In the ring, Nick lands a lariat/bulldog combination to both Lucha Brothers, and now he tags in Matt. The Bucks trip them, and sunset flip in from the apron into dueling Sharpshooters. They’re able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Matt holds Fenix dangling off the middle rope, and here’s Nick with a top rope 450 splash. Penta breaks up the pin attempt, and Matt sends him to the floor. The Bucks hit a Buckle Bomb/enziguri combo in the corner, and then Nick tags in.

Nick gets in powerbomb position, and Matt hits a neckbreaker into a powerbomb! They cover, and Fenix kicks out. The Bucks take a moment to taunt, and here’s Penta to chop the shit out of them. All four men bust out superkicks to each other, and the sequence ends with Matt and Fenix taking each other out with a double clothesline. The fans stand in approval, and pop at the action. Matt and Penta go to the apron, and exchange kicks and punches.

Both go down on double pump kicks. Fenix kicks Nick in the head, and then Penta bounces off of Fenix into a Destroyer to Matt to the floor! Fenix with one to Nick, and he somehow kicks out! Nice sequence. The Lucha Brothers gear up for an aerial assault, and then Penta launches Fenix from his shoulders onto the Bucks on the floor! In the ring, Penta hits a Gory Special and a Package Piledriver to both Bucks, and Fenix follows up with a Senton! He covers, but Nick is able to kick out.

Penta makes the tag, and now he looks to break Nick’s arm, Lucha Underground style, but here’s Matt with a superkick to the jaw. Matt makes the tag, and lands a Half Nelson to Penta. Fenix springboards in, and lands into a Superkick Party! Matt with a Helluva Kick, Generico style, to Fenix, and he places him on the top rope next. Matt with a top rope brainbuster to the turnbuckle, also Generico style! The Bucks hit More Bang for Your Buck, and Penta still kicks out!

Matt hits a Package Piledriver, with a Nick assisted double stomp. Nick dives to the floor onto Fenix, as Matt makes the cover. Penta kicks out again! The Bucks try for the Meltzer Driver, but Fenix cuts them off! Penta snaps Matt’s arm backwards! He follows with Made in Japan! He covers, but Matt still kicks out! Fenix sends Nick to the top of the stage, then makes the tag. He lands a series of superkicks to Matt’s now injured shoulder.

He places Matt on the top rope, and he’s able to recover quick enough to catch a rushing Fenix. Nick is back, and takes Penta out. The Meltzer Driver connect, and that gets them the win to retain the championships! That was awesome. It was exactly what you’d expect from these four, and while that doesn’t always translate to great tag team wrestling, it does lead to some exciting action. I wish they had leaned more into the “Bucks are rusty” story, as it worked really well when they led with it here, but I still feel they left a lot to be desired in that department.

The sequences at the end were really good, and you can tell that all four men really wanted to show out for the tag teams. Whether this is top tier tag team style wrestling is up to your own tastes, but you can’t deny that in the landscape of American wrestling in 2019, this was the best tag team match that had happened in many, many years. As it stands in 2025, it’s a really fun and solid match that I can always sit down and watch, but it’s also one that I’ve seen a million times. Not a bad thing, just a fact.

We get a video package highlighting the build to our main event. At a rally in February, Kenny Omega officially announced that he had signed full time to AEW, after much – and I do mean much – speculation that he would be heading to WWE in the aftermath of his New Japan run ending. There, he was confronted by Chris Jericho, arguably the biggest signing AEW has had to this point. Jericho signing with AEW was a monumental moment. Jericho has come and gone from WWE since 1999, so for him to sign a full time contract somewhere else was crazy at the time.

Omega has been the hottest wrestler in the world for quite some time, and he’s coming off of a legendary New Japan run where he helped elevate the company to international success, and elevate himself as the biggest wrestling star not in WWE. These two have obvious history as well. Jericho stunned the world in 2017, when he challenged Omega to a match at Wrestle Kingdom 12, and it created a level of hype that international wrestling hadn’t seen in decades.

Their match, a generational – and arguably an interpromotional – dream match was a major success, drawing a huge crowd to the Tokyo Dome, and creating so much buzz for itself that Tony Khan, in attendance that night, saw the possibility that a new wrestling company could take charge in the future. That match’s experience for Khan, combined with the success of All In for Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks, is what ultimately led to the formation of AEW.

Jericho gets a special entrance, highlighting his past characters, before falling onto his current incarnation – a fedora, and a cool jacket straight out of a 1998 punk bar. I can’t say much about Jericho and his awful Learning Tree gimmick today, but Jericho in 2019 AEW was a huge deal for me and wrestling at large. He could’ve costed on his success in WWE, but instead, he took a chance and signed with AEW, and helped build their legacy to what it is today.

When talking about chances, look no further than Kenny Omega in 2019. After achieving huge success in New Japan, he could’ve easily went to WWE to carve his footprint in America. Instead, he also took a chance with AEW to begin his own legacy, and helped this new promotion stamp its own path in a wrestling landscape that desperately called for change. In many ways, this is the perfect main event for the first AEW show – two guys who could’ve taken the easy path, and instead ventured into unknown waters.

7. Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho.

The winner of this match will advance to face Hangman Page for the inaugural AEW World Championship at All Out.

This is both men’s first match since Wrestle Kingdom 13 in January, where Jericho lost the IWGP Intercontinental Championship to Tetsuya Naito, and Omega lost the IWGP Heavyweight Championship in the main event to Hiroshi Tanahashi.

Hey, why is there a Cracker Barrel barrel in the ring? Who knows, but it gets removed rather quickly.

The bell sounds, and here we go. Commentary talks about how Jericho has teased a new finisher tonight, and they think that maybe he’s lying just to get under Omega’s skin. They lock up, and Jericho has Omega up against the ropes. He slaps Omega, and Omega gives him one back. Jericho takes the side headlock, and then hits a shoulder tackle. Omega fires back with some nice chops to the chest. Irish whip by Omega, and a back elbow by Jericho. Omega misses the V Trigger, and eats the turnbuckle.

Some chops by Jericho in the ropes, and a kick to the chest. Nice hurricanrana attempt by Omega, and it’s quickly reversed into the Walls of Jericho. He frantically gets to the ropes, and goes to the outside. Jericho stays on him, and hits a baseball slide. He grabs the ring bell, and rings it, declaring himself the victor. Hey, that’s not how this works! They exchange chops, until Omega powerslams Jericho on the time keeper’s podium.

Omega goes to springboard off the barricade, and Jericho responds by shoving him into the first row. Jericho – or as Excalibur calls him, “Generico” - takes the camera and films Omega, who responds with a nice missile dropkick. Back inside the ring, Omega stays on Jericho with strikes and chops. Fireman’s Carry slam, and the middle rope moonsault connects, and Jericho kicks out. Jericho trips Omega into the middle turnbuckle.

He drives his boot into the injured eye of Omega, and follows up with some chops. Nice middle rope dropkick by Jericho, and he gets a nearfall off of it. They exchange chops again, until Jericho destroys him with a huge clothesline. It’s still only enough for a 2 count. Jericho flips off the audience, and starts to talk some smack to strangers. Omega is bleeding from his nose now. He’s able to fire back with a hurricanrana, and a clothesline to the outside.

Omega drops to the mat, and begins the Terminator taunt. Jericho grabs a table from under the ring, as Omega runs the ropes. Omega sees it, and lands a baseball slide into the table. He follows that with a huge Senton to the outside, landing on the table and crashing into Jericho! Omega is up, and he tosses the table onto Jericho’s prone body. He returns to the ring, and springboards to the outside with a double foot stomp onto the table, crushing Jericho even more!

Omega sets the table up, as Jericho rolls back into the ring. Kotaro Crusher connects, but Jericho kicks out. He tries for the Snap Dragon Suplex, and Jericho blocks it. Omega turns it into a water wheel kick to the back of the head, and he follows with a V Trigger to Jericho in the middle turnbuckle. Omega places Jericho on the top rope, and he tries for a back suplex. Jericho is able to fight it off, but Omega is tenacious.

Omega tries for the top rope Snap Dragon, and somewhere, Kazuchika Okada just shuddered. Omega switches to the back suplex, and he’s able to hit it! Nasty landing for both men. Omega rolls him over for the pin, and Jericho is able to kick out. Omega sets up for the V Trigger, and Jericho counters with a back elbow. Lionsault connects, but Omega has the knees up to block it! V Trigger connects, and now Omega tries for the One Winged Angel, but Jericho counters into a release German Suplex.

Lionsault connects to the back of the head, and then proper to the chest. Jericho covers, and Omega kicks out. Omega blocks the Code Breaker, and hits a V Trigger on the mush. Jericho blocks the Tiger Driver, and sends Omega flying to the floor, crashing through the table! Omega takes his time returning to the ring, and he walks into a strike exchange with Jericho. Headbutt by Omega, and a rake of the eyes by Jericho.

Nice springboard dropkick by Jericho, sending Omega flipping on the apron. He brings Omega to the top turnbuckle, and he’s able to block his offense with a right hand. Omega dives down, and Jericho catches him with a Code Breaker! He covers, and Omega is somehow able to kick out. Jericho can’t believe it. He starts slapping Omega, who responds with a Snap Dragon Suplex. They’re back to their feet, and Omega hits another one out of nowhere.

V Trigger to the jaw, and then Jericho rolls through into the Liontamer. Omega is able to reverse it, and hits the Jay Driller! He covers, and Jericho is able to kick out. Omega gears up for the V Trigger, and Jericho catches it and turns it into the Walls of Jericho, or the Liontamer! Omega crawls for the ropes, and Jericho pulls him away. Omega kicks Jericho away from him, and lands a Discus right hand. V Trigger drops Jericho!

Omega grabs him, and tries for the One Winged Angel again, but Jericho slips free and hits the ugliest DDT you’ll ever see. He covers, and Omega kicks out. Step up enziguri, Inoki style, by Jericho. He goes for the Lionsault again, and Omega catches him in the One Winged Angel. Jericho again escapes and hits a spike DDT. Both are back up, and Jericho destroys him with a Code Breaker. Up again, and Jericho hits the Judas Effect for the first time. He covers, and Jericho has done it! It’ll be Jericho and Hangman at All Out!

My wrestling tastes must’ve changed since 2019. At the time, I didn’t really care for this, but now in 2025, this ruled! It was a physical war, in the same vein as their Wrestle Kingdom 12 match, but without the weapons. It was a gruff and nasty fight between two men determined to make their mark. I saw this as a story of Omega, a huge international star with no US footprint, failing in his first attempt against Jericho, who knows the spotlight of US wrestling very well.

It almost seemed like Omega rested on what brought him to the dance, while Jericho was evolving, desperate to stay ahead of the times. In the end, it just wasn’t Omega’s time here, and Jericho, hell bent on relevancy, got his win back from the Tokyo Dome. This was probably my favorite match of the whole show. It felt like a big deal, it was well wrestled, it was physical, and I think it told a great story about Omega nearly being ready for the next step of his career, but not quite there yet.

Post match, Jericho has the mic. He talks about how AEW has brought all these people to Vegas, and how they have their upcoming debut show on TNT in the fall, and it’s all thanks to Jericho. He tells the world that it’s time to give him what he’s earned – a thank you. If you can believe it, they boo. Jericho demands a thank you, and then many fans in the front row look behind them. Up in the stands, a paradigm shift is happened. Jon Moxley – the former Dean Ambrose, less than a month removed from his final WWE match, is storming to the ring!

Did I immediately jump in front of my TV like a child when Moxley came out? You’re damn right I did! Did I wake my girlfriend up from her nap when I did this? You’re damn right I did!

The hard cam shakes, as Moxley enters the ring to confront Jericho. He’s in arguably the best shape of his career at this point, so that helps! He takes him out with an underhook DDT, and does the same to the referee. The crowd explodes for all of this! He turns his attention to Omega, and they begin to brawl! They work their way up to the stage, where Moxley drills Omega with a DDT onto the Vegas themed chips! The show goes off the air, as Moxley takes in the fresh air of a new promotion, and wrestling fans breathe in a new era of professional wrestling!

And with that, the first Double or Nothing is over! All in all, this was a fantastic first showing for AEW. No bad matches on the card, some true stand out matches, and even better performances. There were some production hiccups throughout, but that’s expected from a major first time event. It was a great showcase for some new wrestlers people hadn’t heard of, and a new platform for some you may have known for years.

The fans were receptive of everything they saw, and respectful of the efforts. The undercard was very solid, but once Cody and Dustin entered the ring, the quality took a step up. While not without its faults, Cody and Dustin was an emotional and story heavy match that still stands high in AEW’s history years later. Meanwhile, the Young Bucks and the Lucha Brothers proved that tag team wrestling in the United States can mean something again with a thrilling encounter. And in the main event, Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho delivered the kind of high quality match that this show needed.

Jon Moxley’s arrival at the end of the event was exactly the kind of thing AEW’s first show needed. Sure, this card was absolutely stacked with talent from top to bottom, but with Moxley, fresh off of a WWE run where he was less than inspired, you have your first big acquisition, and a major statement that AEW is indeed the new player in town. And would you look at that? It’s 2025, and AEW is still a major player in town. Who would’ve thought that the T shirt company would still be around?

Oh yeah, people who want the best for wrestling damn sure thought that.