This Sunday night AEW presents its annual Double or Nothing PPV, and, like always, it is going live from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. This year’s installment is headlined by four of AEW’s homegrown stars, or pillars, as some call them, battling for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. And while the build to that match has taken central focus on much of AEW TV, the rest of the card has slowly taken shape as well.
Here is my official Haus of Wrestling preview post, along with predictions for each match. Obviously, don’t go placing any big bets based on my guess!
PREVIEW: Orange Cassidy has done everything you can ask for in a pro wrestler who is trying to bring prestige to your new title. Nearly every episode of AEW Dynamite in recent memory has started off with Cassidy’s signature Jane theme song, and a defense of his title, which he keeps tucked away in his backpack. With as successful as Cassidy has been as champion, there doesn’t seem to be a good reason to take the title off him yet but this match has a slew of names that could also do it justice.
Jay White, in particular, was one of the hottest free agents in pro wrestling earlier this year, with reports that both WWE and AEW were vying to sign him. His work with Bullet Club teammate Juice Robinson against Ricky Starks has been fun to watch, and throwing a title into the mix could help up the stakes.
PREDICTION: Orange Cassidy
PREVIEW: Wardlow’s TNT Championship reign is only a month or so old but already he could find himself in jeopardy. Granted, Christian Cage lost his last AEW PPV match when “Jungleboy” Jack Perry was able to drop him into a casket, burying their feud for the time being. However, Cage has found renewed life on the other side of that program, getting some of the biggest heat in the company, and elevating all the talent that surrounds him. While it seems too early to take the title off Wardlow, with AEW: Collision heading to TNT next month, don’t be surprised if Captain Charisma shocks the world, and adds his marquee name to the TNT brand.
PREDICTION: Christian Cage
PREVIEW: When Thunder Rosa went down with an injury, Toni Storm inherited the less-than-stellar situation of becoming interim AEW Women’s World Champion. Having not dethroned the official title holder, the crowning achievement felt a bit hollow. Hayter then captured the interim title from Storm at AEW Full Gear last year, and a few days later Rosa officially forfeited her linear championship, making Hayter the official AEW Women’s Champion, and Storm’s interim reign an official one.
Now, the two women will have a chance to settle their differences once and for all, and this time with the official title on the line. Storm and The Outcasts have done a good job picking up momentum as of late, so it is possible the faction could welcome some gold into their ranks. This one could go either way.
PREDICTION: Jamie Hayter (Opening the door for a match against Saraya at All In)
PREVIEW: It goes without saying that The Briscoe Brothers and FTR presented possibly the greatest tag team trilogy ever in Ring of Honor last year. In the end, The Briscoes emerged triumphant and reclaimed their ROH Tag Team Championships in a bloody Dog Collar Match at Final Battle. Sadly, Jay passed away shortly after in a car wreck, leaving his brother to find a new path as a singles star in ROH, and now AEW, as well.
It makes sense that Mark’s first big singles storyline in AEW involves FTR, and the addition of Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Sonjay Dutt, and Satnam Singh has added energy to the mix. Everyone involved seems to understand the line Mark is walking right now, grieving his brother while trying to keep going in the business and is doing their best to provide a compelling but light-hearted tale. It seems insane to think that Mark, as beloved as he is at the moment, will turn heel and cost FTR the match but this is pro wrestling, and strange things can happen.
PREDICTION: FTR
PREVIEW: Chris Jericho doesn’t like Adam Cole and Adam Cole doesn’t like Chris Jericho. Now, they’re going to settle their differences in what is sure to be a bloody, and violent Unsanctioned Match. On top of that, one of the most dangerous men to ever enter a ring or chatroom, Sabu, is going to serve as the special enforcer, making sure both men stay engaged and don’t try to run away, I think. Cole feels like he needs a big win here and Jericho has never shied away from putting people over in AEW when they need it.
PREDICTION: Adam Cole
PREVIEW: Speaking of blood, and violence, let’s talk about the Anarchy In The Arena match going down between The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club. The BCC has been running at full strength with Bryan Danielson out of the world title picture, and back to focusing on making the faction as dominant as possible. To prove their dominance, the stable took aim at The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega, and a series of backstage beatdowns and attacks ensued.
Recently, “Hangman” Adam Page rejoined The Elite ranks, evening the odds, and setting the stage for a match in which Jon Moxley promises lots of blood. And if Moxley is promising lots of blood, you know it is going to be a lot of blood. The Elite appears to be positioned strongly on Wednesday nights going forward, and BCC has its own top names to protect, so don’t be shocked if Wheeler Yuta is the odd-man out in the end, staring at the lights after eating a variety of finishing moves.
PREDICTION: The Elite
PREVIEW: Jade Cargill faces her toughest competition yet this Sunday in Taya Valkyrie. The world-traveled, and highly-decorated Valkyrie set her sights on Cargill from the moment she got to AEW, and looks to add another notch to her belt by taking her TBS title at Double or Nothing. As impressive as Valkyrie is, Tony Khan has been deadset on presenting Cargill as an attraction unlike any other in the company. It is possible that Valkyrie could be just another victim but her pedigree makes her a more compelling contender than others that have come before her.
PREDICTION: Jade Cargill
PREVIEW: The four pillars of AEW will be under pressure as they wage war against each other for the company’s top prize in the main event. The road to this match has been somewhat plodding at times but the action is sure to deliver. With that said, not many believe MJF is in any real jeopardy of losing his title, and he is considered the overwhelming favorite to retain. Hard to argue.
PREDICTION: MJF
BUY IN MATCHES (?)
AEW has not released graphics for the following two matches, at least as far as I can tell, and I believe them to be Buy In bouts. For what it’s worth, Tony Khan did mention on the media call that he believed The Hardys would be on the Buy-In.
I’m just going to pick winners for each.
MATCH: Ethan Page and The Gunns vs The Hardys and Hook
WINNER: The Hardy Party (Freeing Matt from his contract with Page)
MATCH: Six-Man Tag Team Champions The House of Black vs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass
WINNER: The House of Black