Who knew that a silly little bet from journalist Dave Meltzer about independent talents not being able to sell 10,000 tickets would led to the formation of a new wrestling company. Now look at Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson! After taking a risk with the successful independent wrestling event "All In'. They now runs a corporation with the Khan family of NFL Jacksonville Jaguars fame & producing two hour weekly wrestling shows for TNT. It's so surreal. All of this was surly worth the gamble! The promotion continue to press their luck with their inaugural event 'Double or Nothing'! Held at MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Las Vegas, NV. The card comprised nine matches, including two on the pre-show. All of them felt unique with the overall gambling theme & set. You can tell with the 21 Casino Battle Royale. Loosely based on the card game of the same name and WWE Royal Rumble concept. The modified battle royal features twenty one entrants, each in one group of five wrestlers based on the deck such as spades, diamonds, clubs, or hearts. Every three minutes, another group of five wrestlers enter, while the final entrant enters alone as the joker. Everybody is throw out until one individual is left in the ring and earn a future World Championship title shot. Without spoiling the contest too much, while this match rules can be somewhat confusing with group entering being a random order & what is consider as the floor as elimination; but for the most part, the fight was very entertaining. The winner was also very surprising seeing how his single match was canceled due to creative differences. Sadly, the next match was highly forgettable as the crowd was already burn out after the last bout. To add to that, barely anybody in the crowd knew whom Kip Sabian and Sammy Guevera were. While I thought the match was fine. The style of match with generic Indy high spots with barely any selling and over pace was little for the audience to care about. They just wanted the real show to start. I don't blame them. Anyways, the true event began with an off sync national anthem with barely timed fireworks. Foreshadowing some of the sloppy off timed matches later on tonight. As an opener the SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, and Scorpio Sky) facing Strong Hearts (Cima, T-Hawk, and El Lindaman) match was fine. It made me want to check out more of China's Oriental Wrestling Entertainment. However, the 'whole worst town ever' shtick is pretty old. Getting that past its prime New Age Outlaw rip off vibe. Nevertheless, the triple threat match between Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D, Nyla Rose and Bayley rip off Kylie Rae was next on the card. Even with the surprise entry of Awesome Kong, the contest was below average. Moves were delivered in a slow pace, barely connecting and poorly execution. Still, it was lightyears better than the other women match on the card. For me Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Mizunami versus Aja Kong, Emi Sakura, and Yuka Sakazaki was less puroresu strong style and more slow soft style taps type of a contest. Also, anytime Aja Kong was in the ring was cringe-worthy as she is far too old and couldn't keep up with the younger talents. She can barely move. As for the botch false ending. There clearly was some miscommunication between the ref and the timekeeper. That's what happen when the fight felt like a last minute exhibition match than a well plan and build contest. Mediocre. Some of the men preliminary matches were also felt like that. It's seem like nobody in the crowd like the Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) versus Angélico and Jack Evans tag match. You can hear a pin drop for most of it. For me, personally, I found it to be meh as well. Some worthy high flying moments throughout it but the ending & the mild reaction to the Dark Order was a bit awkward. Nevertheless, the show continued on from this and got its biggest pop of the night with the vicious, bloody war waged between brothers Cody and Dustin Rhodes. My God! I love the build to this feud with Cody feeling that WWE made Dustin weak, while the aged 'The Natural' thinks otherwise. It was a lot of believable bad blood. Not only was the entrances for both wrestlers great, but the in ring psychology was impressive with all the body language and moves with Cody cleansing Dustin of his past sins by giving him a crimson mask and Dustin mocking the Stardust gimmick with hand signals. While I wasn't a huge fan of 'I need my brother' speech at the end, after the beat down as I felt that would work better once some time has pass. The match was one of the highlights of the PPV. Great emotional storytelling. The introduction of the World title belt by Bret Hart was also amazing even if the cameras didn't get a good look at it. I totally dig MJF interruption. As for the match between The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) defending the AAA Tag Team Championship against Lucha Brothers (Pentagon Jr and Rey Fenix). It was fun contest with both teams working extremely hard to put a good match. Barely any botches. I just wish they were fighting for the AEW titles rather than some other promotion belts. That was a bit jarring. As for the main event. Chris Jericho facing Kenny Omega for number 1 contender for the inaugural World Championship match was also great. Dig the ending and the surprised ace in their sleeve appearance of a recent ex-WWE superstar. Overall: Despite a few nitpicks. AEW mostly played their cards right with this event. It's clearly a winner. One worth checking out.
11 Reviews
All Elite Wrestling hit the jackpot! This PPV was fun to watch for the most part.
ironhorse_iv17 October 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Top that WWE lol
amgee-8955126 May 2019
Unbelievably awesome
rcdoubletree10 June 2020
This is why wrestling exist
HorrorFan69691 September 2019
Vince please take notes...
muzol127 May 2019
Awesome!
stevenbelinsky26 May 2019
Found my interest in wrestling once again
jameslisenbyiii22 January 2021
When I first saw this, I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into. Gave it a try, & love it.
The 3 matches I recommend y'all to watch are these:
1. Cody vs Dustin Rhodes 2. The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Bros. 3. Kenny Omega vs Chris Jericho
Why? It'll make you like AEW
The 3 matches I recommend y'all to watch are these:
1. Cody vs Dustin Rhodes 2. The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Bros. 3. Kenny Omega vs Chris Jericho
Why? It'll make you like AEW
Double or Nothing
bobcobb30127 May 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Was any match a 5 star classic? No, but top to bottom it felt like a big deal and you saw the matches get the time they deserved.
The AEW roster still needs 4-5 more "heavy hitters" but the promotion got off to a good start here.
The AEW roster still needs 4-5 more "heavy hitters" but the promotion got off to a good start here.
All Elite Wrestling Double or Nothing: They had a lot to prove, and they did
Platypuschow26 May 2019
AEW Double or Nothing was set to be groundbreaking regardless of the quality of the show. It's a brand new high profile well funded wrestling company, and that doesn't happen very often. It's writers, it's creative and it's incredible day one roster primed everyone for an fantastic show and it goes without saying they had a lot to prove.
A lot to prove to the fans, the industry, the WWE (Who we know will have been paying very close attention) and to themselves that this was possible. I have to say, they did on every front and they've put everyone in the industry thoroughly on notice.
If you don't watch independent wrestling very often the first thing that will strike you is the quality of wrestling and just how high it is. WWE's NXT is great but they still have to work the WWE "Style". Here workers have more freedom and it shows, every matches quality was outstanding thanks to both the quality of the workers and the lack of limitations imposed upon them.
My concerns going in were just how many stars mainstream wrestling fans wouldn't know, and in a time of "Superstars" I was worried that might do it damage. It doesn't appear to have done any, in fact this right here is the correct way of creating "Superstars". No one sided matches, everyone came out looking strong and the emphasis was on wrestling not storylines. No backstage interviews, few promos, just pure unadulterated wrestling.
I marveled at Jack Evans and his incredible techniques and maneuvers I've never seen before. I gasped at the sheer volume of blood loss in a certain match (No spoilers here), that was horrific. I cheered at the incredible matches presented before me and the number of surprises they threw in.
I tip my hat, this was better than any PPV the WWE have thrown out in a good decade+. Excellent, here's hoping the quality continues and AEW give the WWE a run for their money.
The Good:
Incredible performances
Great roster
A number of surprises
The Bad:
Entrance music quality was poor
I have my concerns about AEW's women's division
I also have my concerns about reliance on folks who should have retired years ago (Mostly folks in the pre-show battle royale)
A lot to prove to the fans, the industry, the WWE (Who we know will have been paying very close attention) and to themselves that this was possible. I have to say, they did on every front and they've put everyone in the industry thoroughly on notice.
If you don't watch independent wrestling very often the first thing that will strike you is the quality of wrestling and just how high it is. WWE's NXT is great but they still have to work the WWE "Style". Here workers have more freedom and it shows, every matches quality was outstanding thanks to both the quality of the workers and the lack of limitations imposed upon them.
My concerns going in were just how many stars mainstream wrestling fans wouldn't know, and in a time of "Superstars" I was worried that might do it damage. It doesn't appear to have done any, in fact this right here is the correct way of creating "Superstars". No one sided matches, everyone came out looking strong and the emphasis was on wrestling not storylines. No backstage interviews, few promos, just pure unadulterated wrestling.
I marveled at Jack Evans and his incredible techniques and maneuvers I've never seen before. I gasped at the sheer volume of blood loss in a certain match (No spoilers here), that was horrific. I cheered at the incredible matches presented before me and the number of surprises they threw in.
I tip my hat, this was better than any PPV the WWE have thrown out in a good decade+. Excellent, here's hoping the quality continues and AEW give the WWE a run for their money.
The Good:
Incredible performances
Great roster
A number of surprises
The Bad:
Entrance music quality was poor
I have my concerns about AEW's women's division
I also have my concerns about reliance on folks who should have retired years ago (Mostly folks in the pre-show battle royale)
AEW's Premiere Hits The Jackpot
jeremycrimsonfox7 August 2021
Taking place in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, the 2019 edition of AEW Double Or Nothing marks the promotion's debut PPV, and the first time we saw the promotion, which was spun from All In, a wrestling PPV from the previous year that featured wrestlers from promotions like Ring Of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling, and has near universal acclaim.
Starting with a six man tag match between SoCal Uncensored (SCU for short) and Strong Hearts, All Elite Wrestling is a grand display of wrestling talents old and new. The action is well done and energetic, which exciting matches which includes Cody Rhodes Vs. Dustin Rhodes, a match that was so good and emotional, it would win the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award for Best Match of 2019. This is a good start for All Elite Wrestling, as it would go on to do more pay-per-views and even start TV programs like AEW Dynamite.
Starting with a six man tag match between SoCal Uncensored (SCU for short) and Strong Hearts, All Elite Wrestling is a grand display of wrestling talents old and new. The action is well done and energetic, which exciting matches which includes Cody Rhodes Vs. Dustin Rhodes, a match that was so good and emotional, it would win the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Award for Best Match of 2019. This is a good start for All Elite Wrestling, as it would go on to do more pay-per-views and even start TV programs like AEW Dynamite.
AEW double or nothing 2019
jackDee-5656514 February 2021
AEW first ppv was one amazing event, a huge sign that they are here to stay and are not messing around, it had a stacked card every match was 4 or more stars, I give the bucks vs lucha bros a 5.5 stars, Cody vs Dustin a 5 star match and the main event alpha vs omega Jericho vs omega is a 5 star aswell , the bucks lucha bros match was mybpersonal faveourate and for me it was match of the night, Jericho and Kenny's match was great as to be expected and it lived up ti the hype so yeah a huge win for aew and for pro wrestling in general
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