Double or Nothing (2024)

Double or Nothing
Promotional poster featuring various AEW wrestlers
Promotion	All Elite Wrestling
Date	May 26, 2024
City	Paradise, Nevada
Venue	MGM Grand Garden Arena
Pay-per-view chronology
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Double or Nothing chronology
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The 2024 Double or Nothing was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was the sixth annual Double or Nothing event and took place during Memorial Day weekend on May 26, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the Las Vegas suburb of Paradise, Nevada. AEW celebrated its five-year anniversary by returning to the MGM Grand Garden Arena, five years after the inaugural 2019 event was held.

Twelve matches were contested at the event, including two on the "Buy In" pre-show. In the event's final match, which was promoted as part of a triple main event, The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, and The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson)) defeated Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, and FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood)) in an Anarchy in the Arena match. The second main event, which was the penultimate match, featured Swerve Strickland defeating Christian Cage to retain the AEW World Championship, and in the first main event, Mercedes Moné defeated Willow Nightingale to win the AEW TBS Championship. In another prominent match, Adam Copeland defeated Malakai Black by referee stoppage in a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match to retain the AEW TNT Championship. The event also featured the return of MJF and Juice Robinson and an appearance by Gangrel.

Production[edit]

Background[edit]

Double or Nothing is considered All Elite Wrestling's (AEW) marquee event, having first been held in 2019, which was the promotion's first professional wrestling event and first pay-per-view (PPV) produced. It is held annually in May during Memorial Day weekend and is one of AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, which includes All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution, their four biggest domestic shows produced quarterly.^[1] The event's name is a reference to its Las Vegas theme and it is traditionally held in the Las Vegas area in Paradise, Nevada. Exceptions from this norm occurred in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions that were in place at the time, but they maintained the Vegas theme.^[2][3]

On March 27, 2024, it was announced that the sixth Double or Nothing event would take place on May 26 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, marking a return to the venue after five years, which was when the inaugural 2019 event was held there. It was also announced that during Double or Nothing weekend, Saturday Night Collision the night before on May 25 would also be held at the venue.^[4]

Storylines[edit]

Double or Nothing featured professional wrestling matches that involve different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds and storylines.^[5] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, and the YouTube series Being The Dark Order.

Starting in early 2024, The Young Bucks turned heel by embracing their roles as AEW's executive vice presidents.^[6] They started abusing their power by (kayfabe) suspending "Hangman" Adam Page and kicking Kenny Omega (who had been inactive due to legitimately suffering from diverticulitis) out of The Elite, while subsequently bringing in New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) mainstay Kazuchika Okada into AEW and The Elite, which also established Okada as a heel after he attacked Eddie Kingston and won his AEW Continental Championship on the March 20 episode of Dynamite, becoming the third Japanese champion in AEW.^[7][8] The Bucks later won the vacant AEW World Tag Team Championship at Dynasty against FTR after receiving assistance from a returning Jack Perry, who had been off AEW television and competing in NJPW following his backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In, which led to Perry's suspension (and Punk's firing),^[9] and Perry officially joined The Elite after assisting them in attacking AEW president and CEO Tony Khan.^[10] Omega made an appearance on the May 1 episode of Dynamite to talk about his health and AEW's status, and would later be attacked by The Elite.^[11] The following week, Omega (via a pre recorded video from the hospital) used his own EVP power to book an Anarchy In the Arena match with The Elite going up against a "Team AEW" originally comprising FTR, Kingston, and Bryan Danielson.^[12] Kingston would be removed from the match after legitimately breaking his leg at NJPW's Resurgence,^[13] with his space in the match taken by Darby Allin, who returned from a broken foot on the May 15 episode of Dynamite to assist Team AEW in fending off The Elite.^[14]

In the main event at Dynasty, Swerve Strickland defeated Samoa Joe to win the AEW World Championship.^[9] After condemning The Elite for their actions against Tony Khan, Swerve found out his Double or Nothing opponent would be a returning Christian Cage, whose Patriarchy stable would assault Swerve.^[11] During another confrontation with The Patriarchy on the May 8 episode of Dynamite, Swerve's Mogul Embassy stablemates would turn on him as well.^[12]

At NJPW Resurgence in 2023, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to become the inaugural NJPW Strong Women's Champion, a match in which Moné suffered a broken ankle.^[15] At Dynamite: Big Business on March 13, 2024, Moné made her anticipated AEW debut, and following the show's main event match, helped Willow Nightingale fend off an attack from AEW TBS Champion Julia Hart.^[16] On the April 3 episode of Dynamite, Moné declared that she would be challenging whoever was the champion at Double or Nothing, which would also be her AEW debut match.^[17] At Dynasty later that month, Nightingale defeated Hart to win the TBS Championship, thus scheduling Nightingale to defend the title against Moné at Double or Nothing.^[9]

At NJPW's Windy City Riot, Jon Moxley defeated Tetsuya Naito to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.^[18] He then began feuding with The Don Callis Family when Don Callis arranged a title match against Powerhouse Hobbs on the April 24 episode of Dynamite. Moxley won the match and would be called out by Konosuke Takeshita.^[10] Takeshita would attack Moxley on the following week's Dynamite, and an eliminator match for a future title shot would be scheduled for Double or Nothing.^[11]

At Revolution, Roderick Strong defeated Orange Cassidy to win the AEW International Championship.^[19] On the April 24 episode of Dynamite, Will Ospreay won a Casino Gauntlet Match to become the number one contender to the championship.^[10]

At Dynasty, TNT Champion Adam Copeland (along with Mark Briscoe and Eddie Kingston) lost a Trios match to House of Black after Malakai Black spit black mist into Copeland's face and hit him with the Black Mass for the win.^[9] In the weeks following, Copeland defeated Buddy Matthews and Brody King in singles matches in order to challenge Black at Double or Nothing to a Barbed Wire Steel Cage match with the title on the line.^[20] On the May 15 episode of Dynamite, House of Black attacked Copeland and stole his wedding ring which belonged to him and his wife, Beth Copeland. In a backstage promo, Black accepted the match, but if he wins, Copeland would have to bend a knee to the House of Black.^[14]

Chris Jericho began feuding with Hook when the latter refused to take on a mentor-student relationship. This led to a match between the two at Dynasty where Jericho won Hook's FTW Championship, turning heel, and adopting a sarcastic advice and guidance offering moniker "The Learning Tree". He took on Big Bill as a "student" when he assisted in Jericho retaining the title in a match against Katsuyori Shibata on the May 1 episode of Dynamite.^[21]. Hook returned on the May 15 episode of Dynamite to demand a rematch for the title, but Jericho said he would have to earn his way back to contendership. Shibata also wanted another shot at Jericho, so a trios qualifying match was set up for the May 22 Dynamite episode with qualifying matches on the May 18 Collision episode. Hook, Shibata, and Bryan Keith won their respective matches again Johnny TV, Rocky Romero, and Boulder,^[22] and during the qualifying match itself, Keith tapped out to both Hook and Shibata's submission holds, causing the FTW Championship match to become a Three-way match.

Event[edit]

Pre-show[edit]

In the first match of the preshow. Rosa attempts to lock on a submission, however, Purrazzo rolled her over and grabbed the ropes for leverage to secure the pinfall.

On the second match on the preshow. Cage tried to introduce a steel chair to the match but had the weapon snatched by Las Vegas Knights mascot Chance the Gila monster. Caster hit Cage with a Fameasser and Gunn rolled up Kaun in the confusion.

Preliminary matches[edit]

On the first match of the PPV. Ospreay tried to blindside Strong with a Hidden Blade during Strong's entrance but the champ ducked it. Ospreay immediately took out Mike Bennett and Matt Taven ringside before attacking Strong. A bizarre moment early involved a distracted referee. The official attended to Strong while Bennett propped Ospreay on his shoulders. Bennett ran the ropes directly in the referee's view before hitting a flipping senton onto Ospreay ringside. Towards the end, the referee checked on Strong for an extended period as Ospreay was looking to close the show. The spot was designed for Don Callis to (unsuccessfully) convince Ospreay to use his retired Tiger Driver 91 manuever. Ospreay eventually connected with the Hidden Blade and Stormbreaker for the win, kicking off the first championship reign of his AEW career.

On the second match. The Gunns occasionally struggled with the pace but generally served well as punching bags. Pac was in tremendous form as usual and sold White's spiked DDT like a scene from "The Exorcist." AEW should seriously consider a prolonged singles program between Pac and White. The finale featured the surprise return of Juice Robinson, whose interference allowed White to hit Pac with a match-ending Blade Runner. High-paced action, a nice surprise return and a strong showing for Death Triangle in defeat.

On the third match. The early exchanges played to Deeb's technical brilliance before Storm took control with a series of power moves and submission holds. Eventually, the champion and challenger duked it out with palm strikes and running attacks. When Mariah May tried to throw in the towel while Storm suffered through a submission attempt, Luther yanked the towel away from May but Storm mistakenly thought that Luther was attempting to forfeit the match. Storm hit Deeb with Storm Zero but Deeb survived and rebelled by flipping the bird. The fans bought into the closing near falls as Deeb hit a pair of Detoxes, including one on the ring apron. Storm rallied back with a violent top rope piledriver and a Storm Zero to win.

On the fourth match. The brawl kicked into overdrive once Beretta spiked Cassidy with a piledriver on the ring apron. Cassidy responded with a Beach Break off the apron to the floor. Cassidy defeated Beretta by bridging over Beretta's gogoplata submission for a quick pinfall.

On the fifth match. Hook and Shibata treated each other to the same fate before all three men grabbed kendo sticks. Jericho continued to suffer as the challengers blasted him with kendo shots. The next plunder introduced was a table. Shibata loaded Hook onto his shoulders before initiating a plunging Death Valley driver onto Jericho who was lying across the table. Hook was on the verge of reclaiming his father's title but Big Bill spoiled it. Hook got revenge by T-Bone suplexing Bill off the apron through a table ringside. The challengers were moments from making Jericho submit with dual submissions but a masked "Bounty Hunter" Bryan Keith saved the day for the champion. Jericho scored a pin amid the chaos.

On the sixth match. Takeshita attacked the arm with excruciatingly effectiveness. When Moxley found moments of success he still expertly sold his injured arm. Takeshita and Moxley are two of wrestling's best strikers and struck with incredible impact. The finish saw Moxley hit a curb stomp onto a steel chair that Takeshita introduced while the referee was distracted.

On the seventh match. Black was busted wide open seconds into the match and Copeland joined him shortly after. Black ground a barbed wire bat into his forehead before powerbombing him off the ropes through a table. Copeland upped the stakes tenfold. The champion strapped his challenger to a table with barbed wire, scaled to the top of the cage and delivered an elbow drop. Brody King and Buddy Matthews teased a change of allegiance before beating down Copeland. The House of Black wrapped Copeland in barbed wire and placed a barbed wire crown on his head. Suddenly, the lights went red and Gangrel emerged from under the ring. Copeland's Brood brother took out King and Matthews with impaler DDTs. Copeland trapped Black in a barbed wire-assisted cross-face until he passed out.

Main event[edit]

On the eighth match and the first match of the triple main event. Mone earned her boos by violently attacking Nightingale's ankle, looking to injure the champion. Nightingale showed an increasing willingness to attack Mone's previously broken ankle as the intensity dialled up. Mone's speed and Nightingale's power nicely contrasted each other. Nightingale had the match won with a powerbomb, but an irate Stokley Hathaway -- flustered by Mone's disrespect -- distracted the referee for too long. Mone hit her Mone Maker finishing soon after to win her first AEW title. Stokley and Kris Statlander betrayed Nightingale post-match by attacking her.

On the ninth match and the second of the triple main event. Nick Wayne tricked the referee into ejecting Prince Nana by passing him the AEW world title. With Strickland stranded, Cage distracted the referee and allowed his subordinates to pounce on the champion. Cage's group eventually got sloppy with their interferences, leading the referee to eject Nick Wayne, Killswitch and Mother Wayne. The finishing sequence was a thing of beauty. Strickland intercepted Cage's spear midair with a House Call that brought the crowd to its feet. A Swerve Stomp and a second House Call sealed the deal.

On the tenth match and the third of the triple main event. Allin hit a Coffin Drop off the arena gate onto his foe and then, Allin drowns Perry in an ice bucket, Perry knocking himself out while seemingly running over Allin with a small bus, Allin emerging from the wreckage only for the Young Bucks to trap him inside the stage elevator, a TK Driver onto giant poker chips and Nicholas hitting a senton atomico off the staging through a table. It turned out these spots were time fillers compared to what the eight participants had in store later. Towards the end of the match, Perry grabbed AEW founder Tony Khan in a callback to the infamous physical altercation between Perry and CM Punk that led to Punk's AEW termination. Perry brought Khan to the rampway but was greeted by Allin's flamethrower. Allin launched a ball of fire at Perry that lit Perry up like a Christmas tree. AEW staff were on hand with fire extinguishers to rescue Perry. Matthew hit Harwood with an exploding chair, Okada used a thumbtacked sleeve to hit Wheeler with the Rain Maker and The Elite hung Allin upside down from the ceiling by his ankles before hitting him with thumbtack-laced superkicks. Danielson tried to save the day but was overwhelmed by his four foes. as Danielson helplessly reached for his unconscious teammate. Perry hit a running knee to pin Danielson.

Results[edit]

FTW Contender Series[edit]

References[edit]

External links[edit]

• All Elite Wrestling website