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AEW will present Double or Nothing on Pay Per View this Sunday from Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Here’s our take on what will happen.
AEW World Champion Kenny Omega vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Pac
Mike: I am guessing that Stadium Stampede is closing the show, but this is listed first as it's a World title bout. Orange Cassidy was involved on the go home show, so I would assume he is good to go. I don't see a title change here and I don't believe anyone else really does, either, but this could be a fun match from an in-ring perspective as long as it's not the formula "one guy is out cold but recovers in time to break up the apparent finish" five times in a row. If it's me, Omega wins after Cassidy nearly ends up with the title a few times to build up the sympathy for OC when he is finally pinned. Then, they can do Omega vs. Pack on Dynamite down the line.
Anthony: This may be the least intriguing main event AEW has had to date. It’s way too soon to take the belt off of the belt collector and, I know he’s popular, I don’t see Cassidy at the world title level. Pac has been criminally underused since his return. It’s a no brainer to me that Omega retains. Is this the first 3 way in AEW history?
Cory: I am confused by this main event. Kenny Omega and PAC could be an off the charts match for the hard core fans. Kenny Omega and Orange Cassidy would be a crowd pleasing match to pop the crowd. All three of them in a match seems like a mess. The styles clash, but not in a “boy I'd like to see that” way, but more in a “Why are you pouring been and cheese sauce in your Froot Loops” way. I am not a fan of three way title matches anyway, but Cassidy's sloth style seems like it would mean he is on the outside of the majority fo the match, popping in for a high spot or two as Omega and Pac work a stiff Strong Style match (which I would much rather see). I fully expect Omega to retain, as they have a lot more story to tell with him as the head of the Elite.
Rich: I expected to see Orange Cassidy in this match because I think his entrance will get the loudest reaction from the crowd on Sunday. As for the match itself, I don't know what to expect other than Kenny retaining the title, despite the odds being against him in a Triple Threat Match. Kenny should let the history between Cassidy and Pac be a factor and let the champ watch from the sidelines for a portion of the match. While a main event match should not see interference, I can see it here with Gallows, Anderson, the Bucks, Fenix, Penta, and The Best Friends all doing something (we just can't have nice things at the end of major shows, can we?)
AEW Women's Champion Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker
Mike: Shida was honored on Dynamite, but it's Britt Baker's time. Since the day this company was instituted, Baker has been the one who most look upon as the nucleus of the women's division. I suspect she walks out with the title and a slew of challengers all ready to chase her, including Shida.
Anthony: It took some time, but Britt Baker has completely grown into this spot as the face of the women’s division. She is absolutely everything this company needs in a character. What she may lack in experience, she makes up for in presence. Hikaru Shida deserved better than being champion during a basic no-crowd era. I hope she gets a huge ovation as she exits the ring Sunday after losing. It’s Baker’s night and the moment her era should begin. AEW would be extremely short sighted to not pull the trigger here
Cory: AEW's women's division has finally found its groove, and Shida had been one of the best parts of a loaded division. Her matches are well thought out, tell solid stories, and her big spots don't feel forced. Britt Baker was green as grass when AEW started, but has found her character, promos and ring style to the point where she is always entertaining to watch. I look for this to be the match of the night, and I also expect the Role Model, Britt Baker to get the title.
Rich: AEW just made a big deal about Shida being the champion for more than a year, so that should mean that we get a new champion on Sunday night. If it weren't for injuries, I would have thought that Baker would have already had a run as champion. The women's division has been bolstered at the top, but it seems like the next challenger, after a rematch, would be Thunder Rosa. Keep the Reba interference to a minimum (or less) because this match should be remembered for the athleticism of the women, not some goofy finish that causes an audible groan from Daily's Place.
AEW Tag Team Champions The Young Bucks vs. Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley
Mike: If ever there was title for a title change, this is the time. Kingston and Moxley have such a cool, fun momentum as a duo. This could be a really fun, different match for the Bucks as they can and should, in my minds, be pinballing all over the place the way Shawn Michaels did when he was the heel Intercontinental Champ in early 1993, just making the babyfaces look like monsters and badasses. You can even do the false finish of The Good Brothers getting involved but Moxley and Kingston still make it through as the new champs and have the Good Brothers to battle with coming out of the PPV.
Anthony: I’m smelling title change here, at least a short term reign for Moxley and Kingston. Bucks can become bigger heels by winning the belts back with some serious chicanery. Kingston has been an absolute breakthrough as far as I’m concerned. He deserves at least this moment in the sun.
Cory: I am looking forward to this because whenever you have a clash of styles, you have the makings for a good match., Eddie and Mox have been a good pairing, and even thought they just started as a tag team, I like the group. It's a good way to keep Mox in the hunt without having him keep going after Omega. The Bucks have settled into their role as arrogant, obnoxious heels who constantly showboat well, and I like this version of them much better than whatever they were trying to do before this. Eddie will have to take the loss but in a way the keep the feud simmering between Mox and The Elite.
Rich: If this match is worked in the Kingston/Moxley style and pacing this could be a good match but if they try to book it as Kingston and Moxley working a Young Bucks match, it could end up like Jericho falling through the 'concrete' 'stage' in Blood and Guts. This should be the opening match since that has been the tradition for the Bucks over the last few big shows. I hope this does not go long for the sake of going long because we don't need a 4 1/2 hour show. The Bucks should retain and then maybe we can go back to FTR and the Bucks.
Pinnacle vs. Inner Circle in Stadium Stampede Match (if Inner Circle loses, they must break up)
Mike: This is the true main event of the show, even closing out the go-home show. Santana promised violence when we interviewed him and that's what this should be, a massive brawl all over the place. This should be a big-time, emotional roller coaster since every near fall could mean we are at the end of the Inner Circle's run. In my mind, the Pinnacle should lose here so that we can close out with a big gimmick match at All Out to round out the trilogy.
Anthony: To me, the obvious answer is the Inner Circle winning but, in talking to Cory as I am want to do, I can’t help but think there’s a long game here to be played. The Inner Circle needs a fresh coat of paint. Maybe the time is right to split these guys off. A Pinnacle victory here would cut down on some of the too-numerous factions. Jericho himself may need a reinvention. It sounds crazy and I can’t wIt to see the follow up, but I’m going with the Pinnacle
Cory: I seem to be alone in this one, but I think it's time for the Inner Circle to lose. This will do a number of things that I think will help AEW: It sets the Pinnacle up as the most power heel faction in the company by far, it gives Jericho a way to drop off TV for a bit now that he will be able to tour with his band, and it allows for the members of the Inner Circle to build themselves by going for individual revenge. Plus, Jericho can come back after they are done being bounced around the schedule for a big return and Special Show, which AEW tries to do monthly. This will also be a much more serious brawl all over the Stadium, so I don't know if I will like it, since the first was such a fantastic fun match that didn't take itself seriously.
Rich: If The Inner Circle lose this match and are forced to disband, that means that this angle would have been less than three months long. That is why I think the Inner Circle will win, but the other side of the argument is what is left for the Inner Circle? However, who is next for Pinnacle to feud with if they beat the Inner Circle? The Dark Order? I think Sammy is involved in the finish of this match since he was the one who 'threw in the towel' to save Chris Jericho before his fall onto the 'concrete' 'stage' at the end of Blood and Guts (with lots of blood but no guts). I hope this match happens late enough in the evening that there will be a nice breeze in Jacksonville. We need Tim Tebow and Trevor Lawrence on the field at some point.
TNT Champion Miro vs. Lance Archer
Mike: This should be AWESOME if they really take it to each other. When I think about this match, I can almost envision it being a modern day version of Stan Hansen and Vader beating the hell out of each other and just taking the stiff shots to each other. Lance Archer, even if he loses, could ascend to the next level by putting a beating on Miro while Miro retaining, which is my expectation, helps him look even stronger as he legitimizes his own TNT title reign.
Anthony: Way too soon to take the belt off of Miro. If he loses, it’s akin to a burial and he’ll end end up right where he started. Archer, unfortunately, means nothing right now and has no forward momentum whatsoever. The easy call here is Miro.
Cory: Miro just got the title, so it is way too soon for him to drop it. Sadly, this means that Lance Archer comes out as being ineffectual again. I look forward to this match just being two big guys beating the tar out of each other, and both guys can go, but in the end, Miro retains.
Rich: If you would have told me last month that the match involving Miro would be the one I think will be the best one on the show, I might still have been laughing. FINALLY, Miro has been booked to be a bad ass instead of whatever he was booked as for the first six months of his run. There is still a lot of rehab to do with the gimmick and this could be a good first step. A brawl between Miro and Archer could be a lot of fun and I expect to see Miro retain but I hope this is not the last match between these two.
Adam Page vs Brian Cage
Mike: Brian Cage wanting to fight Page alone like a man makes me wonder if Team Taz isn't down with that plan and get involved, inadvertantly causing Cage's loss. This can be really fun in the ring and Page fighting back against such a massive foe can only help him look like a badass babyface.
Anthony: We couldn’t let Team Taz get a win, could we? Loved the fact that Cage beat Hangman a few weeks ago but, let’s face it, this is team Taz. Their job, unfortunately, is to get the top guys over. Page wins here and continues his road to (for now) nowhere
Cory: Page is being put on a back burner to simmer until they finally pull the trigger on him and Omega, so he has to win this match. Which is a shame, since Brian Cage could be a monster if he weren't in Taz's team. They are teasing a feud between Cage and Ricky Starks, but since no one much cares about Team Taz, I doubt anyone remembers that. I look for this to be a good brawl with Page coming out on top with the Buckshot Lariat.
Richard: Is the ‘title’ on the line or does it even matter. Team Taz won their match for the first half of the year so Page can win the match and then he can start his rise back up the ladder to get him back into relevance so he can take the title from Omega in November.
Cody Rhodes vs. Anthony Ogogo
Mike: Cody should lose here. That simple. He wants to be the American Dream. I get the story but the story can't be told in just one chapter. He needs to lose, so a bigger story can be told.
Anthony: Ogogo loses, and whatever build he’s had is wiped out. Cody loses and his character just gets flatter. I appreciate Cody’s willingness to put guys over. He absolutely needs to do this here. They’ve got something in Ogogo. Quite frankly, QT got the better of the deal with Solow, Ogogo and Commoroto. I say Cody makes Ogogo here in, Hopefully, a star making turn.
Cory: Ogogo has been built as an anti-American, but Cody is calling himself the American Dream. So, Cody has to win and wave the American Flag while fireworks go off Which will kill Ogogo. He is a guy who has been shown to have a single devastating move, and his match last week set in place that if you wrestle him and avoid the gut punch, he can be beat. But, if he loses his first big match, he becomes just another guy, and it makes The Factory another group that can't shoot straight. I would rather if they just had Ogogo as a guy with a devastating move that Cody needs to get revenge on without all of the Patriotism and putting the flag on the Codyboy.
Rich: For me, Ogogo is the face in this match for what he did to "The Head Cheerleader" Austin Gunn. This should not go too long because we have not seen if Ogogo can be in a long match and if they go more than six minutes, it could expose the character. I hope Cody goes full 'American Dream' and gets the birthmark tattooed on his belly welly. I would say that Ogogo should win, but I would give Cody the win and then have Ogogo attack Cody and that can be the reason to keep him off TV if he is needed to be with Brandi.
Sting and Darby Allin vs. Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page
Mike: Sting isn't losing his first time in the ring in six years. Allin will take all the heat. Sting will make the hot tag and it's Scorpion Splash, Deathdrop and pin. As it should be.
Anthony: The live crowd at Dailey’s got shafted at the last PPV not seeing Sting live. I like Page and Sky, but even a win here would do nothing for them as they are flatter than a pancake. They mean not a darn thing. This crowd will be hungry to root on Darby and Sting. This’ll be one of the feel good moments for them as Sting and Allin go over huge.
Cory: I'd like to see Page and Sky beat Darby Allin and his dad, Sting, because Darby could still be hurt and Sting doesn't need the win. However, this is Sting, wrestling in front of a live crowd for the first time in years, and the first time ever with AEW. Darby will carry the majority of the match, do things that make me shout “Don't Do What Darby Do!” and Still will get the win. I am looking forward to Scorpio Sky and Darby Allin tearing it up, unless they go with “Darby is still hurt from being tossed down concrete stairs.”
Rich: I don't know about you guys but I am so excited to see IT'S STING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! live. Since the last match was cinematic and this is live in Daily's Place, is this the night that the rarest thing in pro wrestling happens? Someone turns on Sting? That would be my highlight being at the show. Do you have IT'S STING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! lose his first live match in AEW? Darby should be thrown around like Miro did when it took way too long for Miro to beat Darby for the TNT Title. Sky and Page will get too overconfident and that will cost them.
Casino Battle Royal (for Future AEW World Championship Match)
Mike: I am going to go Dark Horse here. The coolest act of late has been The Acclaimed. I want to see them shock everyone and end up the winners.
Anthony: There is a real lack of star power here and Christian Cage has a little unfinished business with Omega, stemming from that little angle a couple of months back. I say Christian gets the win here and pops a little rating in 2-3 weeks when Omega beats him in the one that matters.
Cory: These are usually just a way to set up for a future Dynamiter and maybe showcase a new wrestler or two. The mistakes made are where the feuds come from, oddly enough. I don't know who they will go with, but with Christian Cage being the only person highlighted about it, he's as good a pick as any,.
Rich: With all of the Dark Order and factions feuding with the Dark Order in this match, it feels like it should be on the Buy In instead of the pay per view proper. Unless the idea is to give us a shocking winner of the match to face Omega, there are only a few people I can see winning this match. If it is going to be a match that Tony thinks can get a good rating, I would save it for the debut episode of AEW Rampage and push the heck out of it to force WWE to go crazy with their 'they aren't really competition, but it is a coincidence that ____ is on tonight's show' booking. I give the victory to Christian Cage because it is expected and it would keep the match from a PPV main event.
NWA Women's Champion Serena Deeb vs. Riho (Buy-In Match)
Mike: Serena retains.
Anthony: Deeb is the feel good story of the last year and the winner has their work cut out for them on June 6th at NWA When the Shadows Fall. I can’t see AEW allowing Riho to get beat by Kamille in that date so I go with the champion. I will mark out like a teenage girl at a New Kids on the Block concert circa 1989 if Kamille confronts her at some point.
Cory: Riho went from the first AEW women's champion to now being there so we can see more of Deeb's move toward being a heel. Deeb has shifted her personality to being more ruthless in the ring, mostly because they are building to her and Thunder Rosa for the NWA Women's title, and Rosa came out fo her feud with Britt Baker as a babyface. I look for Riho to have her typical match when she is the underdog and mounts a series of comebacks, but with Deeb building her new character, Deeb will cut her off and take her down often, and with force.
Rich: This should be a good match and a way to get the crowd ready for the pay per view. Deeb had a solid match in her return to action after an injury and Riho is one of the favorites of the AEW fanbase. This match should get enough time to tell the story and I think Deeb retains the title, but Riho comes close a number of times.
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