It’s been a weird time for wrestling in the current climate, and it’s only set to get weirder.
All Elite Wrestling have taken a different route to others in their morally- questionable direction of keeping weekly television broadcasts up and running. Going from a brief stint in Daily’s Place amphitheatre to a bulk taping in Georgia in QT Marshall’s training facility and then back to Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida now wrestling has been declared an ‘essential business’.
So instead of the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, we stay in the Khan compound, with Double or Nothing being held in the awesome when full, but presentable when empty amphitheatre.
Now, from a personal opinion, the fact All Elite Wrestling are selling this as an actual full-priced pay-per-view does leave a bad taste in one’s mouth, compared to Impact airing it as two-weekly TV special, but the bills do need to be paid. Now I’ve got my grumbles out of the way, this card is stacked. A huge championship tournament final, an insane gimmick war alongside smatterings of competitive title matches, and ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson for reasons.
But, who do we think will pick up the win on Saturday night? Let’s take a look.
The Buy-In: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) vs Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent)
Our Buy-In contest could arguably be in on the main card itself, with the ridiculously talented Private Party going up against the equally as talented and incredibly over Best Friends. Chuck and Trent have been gaining momentum up until the crowds had to go away, starting a feud with Death Triangle.
However, with PAC stuck in the UK and Pentagon Jr in Mexico the feud has taken a major back seat (other than Fenix and Orange Cassidy from the past weeks Dynamite).
Best Friends have been racking up the wins, amassing a 7-3 record. Meanwhile, Private Party has been quietly going about their business on AEW Dark currently going 4-1. With Jungle Express and The Young Bucks in another match and Dark Order stuck in Canada – this is the logical number one contender’s contest. In what will be a fantastic opening contest, Best Friends seem the obvious choice to pick up the win.
Prediction – Best Friends
Kris Statlander vs Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D
Our next match is the fallout from a four way contenders match for the AEW Women’s Championship. Issues between ‘The Galaxys Favourite Alien’ and our resident dentist arose, coming to a head when Baker chose to forgoe the win, deciding to attack Statlander with Lockjaw on the outside.
Britt Baker has been one of AEW’s biggest success stories, but not in the way they expected. Following Kylie Rae’s departure, it seemed Baker was groomed to be the face of the promotion. However, the fans didn’t buy it – because why would you cheer a dentist? They have struck gold by giving Baker a microphone, and letting her release her inner bitch.
Statlander, now I am a fan, but she has ran hot and cold in ring. Her match with Nyla Rose at Revolution wasn’t great and she didn’t cover himself in glory in a tag match from this past week. This match could be in doubt with Britt Baker suffering a possible knee injury, but if we look at this match with both people at 100% – I think Baker is the sensible option.
Prediction – Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D
Dustin Rhodes vs Shawn Spears
This match also has the least amount of build, having been challenged and then accepted this week. We have not seen Dustin Rhodes since he was brutalised by Lance Archer in the TNT Title tournament.
Shawn Spears, who has literally done nothing since his loss to Cody (the finding a tag partner thing doesn’t count) hosted an SSN special report saying that Dustin Rhodes has ‘retired’ and then challenged him to a match immeadiately after, But you just said he re…you know what, forget it.
There are legitimate rumours of Dustin Rhodes’ retirement coming this year, but I feel Rhodes will pick up a win here.
Prediction – Dustin Rhodes
MJF vs Jungle Boy
MJF is the best heel All Elite Wrestling has to offer, so it was a massive shame off the back of the Cody match at Revolution, we were without him due to the pandemic.
Following some vignettes from the last few weeks where MJF told us that he was suffering from a ‘career-threatening’ hangnail injury, that heat came right back and a big return match against a beloved face is exactly what he needs to get him back into the swing of things.
Jungle Boy is a perfect opponent from MJF. The two know each other inside the ring so well, and Jungle Boy is a perfect face foil for MJF. Not much else to say here, MJF picks up the win and can go on to face Jon Moxley for the AEW Championship.
Prediction – MJF
Casino Ladder Match: Darby Allin vs. Colt Cabana vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Rey Fenix vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Kip Sabian vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Luchasaurus vs. TBA
Our giant spotfest of the show, a number one contendership gauntlet ladder match between nine of AEW’s best and brightest. The winner will face the AEW Champion (whoever that may be).
The biggest question is who will be the mystery ninth man. Could it be a recently released WWE star? A new indie darling? Honestly, I have no idea but unless it’s some next level shock appearance – for me, it’s going to be someone that has already been announced.
It looks like Fenix will be available after glitching in mid-air on a dive and eating it on the mat below. I want Orange Cassidy to win, I want Orange Cassidy to win, I want Orange Cassidy to win. There’s nothing else to it, he’s the most over guy in the match and the idea of a star-making match between Cassidy and Moxley on Dynamite is something the world needs right now.
Sidebar, this match is going to really showcase how good Kip Sabian is. So that’ll be fun too.
Prediction – Orange Cassidy
AEW Womens Title, No Disqualification and No Count Out: Nyla Rose (c) vs Hikaru Shida
At last count, Hikaru Shida has been number one contender for about 16 months and this is her first major championship opportunity. Shida won a number one contendership fatal four way (as mentioned previously) and the stipulation was made when Nyla Rose battered her with her own kendo stick.
Nyla Rose hasn’t been able to do anything since her first title defence, so an already slow-moving womens divison was forced to go even slower. Hikaru Shida deserves a big push, and I feel these two will surprise many. It doesn’t make sense to take the title from Nyla Rose so even those I would love to see Shida take the belt, I’m plumping for ‘The Native Beast’.
Prediction – Nyla Rose
Stadium Stampede – Matt Hardy and The Elite (Adam Page, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) vs. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz)
If we aren’t going to get ‘Blood and Guts’ any time soon, this is a more than welcome substitution.
This war has been going on for over a year, on and off and with several other storylines running through it. We have had the fascinating storyline of Kenny Omega and Hangman Page actually making the ‘unlikely tag champions’ shtick interesting. Everybody’s favourite anxiety-ridden, drinking cowboy has been gone for a while, living in the woods and cutting monologues on Being The Elite.
We did see Hangman return this week, doing his best Forrest Gump to help take out The Elite and then walk away – showing that whilst he’ll do the right thing, he still wants to be the lone Desperado.
Also, this match shows the return of The Young Bucks who has been convalescing after Nick Jackson was attacked backstage by seemingly ‘The Inner Circle’. They also returned this week, after doing their own Rocky-style training montage on Being The Elite. Hopefully, Matt Jackson is fine after reportedly injuring his ribs during their return this week.
To be fair, Sammy Guevara survived being run over so Matt should be grand.
In addition, Matt Hardy’s addition to the All Elite Wrestling has led to him crossing paths with ‘Le Champion’ Chris Jericho, including the sad murder of Vanguard 1. Expect absolute insanity in this one, with a whole freaking football stadium in play. The Elite to get the feel good win here, unless we finally get the Hangman Page heel turn. But I feel it’s not the right time.
Prediction: Matt Hardy & The Elite
TNT Championship Tournament Finals: Lance Archer vs Cody
The finals of the TNT Championship tournament was the finals we all expected. The gatekeeper of the promotion against the new big bad of the promotion. The booking of Lance Archer has been on point since his debut, pairing him up with Jake Roberts was a masterstroke and copy and pasting his persona from Japan was a smart move. He has looked like a beast, and with Roberts making things personal by assaulting Brandi Rhodes with his pet snake this not only has prestige, it has heat.
Lance Archer to pick up the win here. However, if Mike Tyson gets involved in some way as the title bearer, we could see Archer’s ego end up giving Cody the win. I’m opting for Archer here.
By the way, if you haven’t seen the promo between Arn Anderson and Jake Roberts from this week – go and watch it. It’s great.
Prediction – Lance Archer
AEW Title: Champion Jon Moxley vs Brodie Lee
Has Brodie Lee’s AEW run worked so far? Yes and no. His debut promo and appearance certainly breathed live into The Dark Order, but his vignettes where he is Vince McMahon but he says he’s not when he is haven’t been so good. Brodie Lee made his intentions clear when him and his minions attacked Jon Moxley and stole his title belt. However, as Moxley put it, all he had to do was ask.
Moxley got a measure of revenge this week by breaking the arm of Brodie’s chosen one, Jeff Ja-sorry, Number 10. Moxley has had his first big hurdle as champion by defeating Jake Hager in an empty arena match so there isn’t the stigma of ‘Moxley needs to win his first title defence’ so there is an element of possibility that Brodie could win to strengthen ‘The Dark Order’s’ position at the top of the card.
However, The Inner Circle exist so I doubt Brodie Lee is getting Big Platinum anytime soon. Moxley retains.
Prediction: Jon Moxley
All-in-all, this show should be great. The matches are solid with enough heat and if they don’t h aveheat, they are set to be spot-fest spectacles. Double or Nothing should be more than enough for AEW to cash out on.
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You can find the author of this article on Twitter @MattyID. Thanks for reading!