It’s almost time for the sixth annual AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view event.
All Elite Wrestling returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena for its biggest event of the year. The promotion has already announced a stacked card for the show featuring the likes of Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland, Mercedes Moné and Toni Storm, among others.
Seven titles will be up for grabs this weekend. The AEW Double or Nothing card features an eliminator match for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. So, without further ado, let’s take a look at the line-up for Double or Nothing.
Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay – AEW International Championship
The “Messiah of the Backbreaker” puts his title on the line against the “Aerial Assassin.” Strong and Ospreay’s disdain for each other dates back to their indie days. Ospreay is no stranger to chasing after titles and seems incredibly confident of his chances against Strong despite their latest tag team encounter on AEW Dynamite.
Prediction: “International Champion Will Ospreay” has a nice ring to it. His AEW run has been built around putting classics all over the world. Strong drops the title to Ospreay at AEW Double or Nothing. We might get some interference angle from the Undisputed Kingdom as well.
Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb – AEW Women’s World Championship
Toni Storm’s “Timeless” gimmick is one of the best things going on in AEW. Everything from her presentation, promos and in-ring work has been top-notch lately. Even her oversell of Serena Deeb’s punch made for entertaining television.
Prediction: Storm retains her title against Deeb. The Professor doesn’t need a title to elevate her career. She’s already made an illustrious career through her work in major promotions around the world. I’m thinking they’d plant the seeds for a future title match between Storm and Mariah May at AEW Double or Nothing.
Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black – Barbed Wire Steel Cage match for TNT title at AEW Double or Nothing
Adam Copeland was the best opponent to take the TNT title off of Christian Cage. The Rated R Superstar has elevated the championship by holding the “Cope Open” week in and out. Almost all of his TNT title defenses have been great. Cope has been targeted by the House of Black. He gave Black a taste of his own medicine with a bloodbath on AEW Dynamite.
Prediction: As much as I’m enjoying Adam Copeland’s run as the TNT Champion, it’s time he puts Malakai Black over. The Barbed Wire Steel Cage stipulation could lead to an interference angle from House of Black and Kyle O’Reilly. Please Tony Khan, give Black a clean win instead of booking a turn.
Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita – IWGP World Title Eliminator match
I’m guessing New Japan won’t allow a DDT guy to win their top championship, not just yet, hence the eliminator stipulation. Mox has been the IWGP Champion since he beat Naito for the title at NJPW Windy City Riot 2024. He successfully defended the title against Powerhouse Hobbs in their fateful match on the April 24, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite.
Prediction: I am looking forward to a hard-hitting match between Mox and Takeshita. The champion would probably cut himself open because he loves blood. I’d prefer a clean win for Takeshita, but Don Callis will, no doubt, have a dirty trick up his sleeve. Takeshita walks away with a controversial W to set up a future title match with Mox.
Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy – Former best friends collide at AEW Double or Nothing
The feud stemmed from Beretta’s attack on Orange Cassidy in April 2024. Chuck Taylor chose OC only to have his career shortened by Beretta in their parkin lot fight on April 27, 2024 Rampage. OC and Ospreay would lose their tag team match to Beretta and Strong in the lead-up to AEW Double or Nothing as well.
Prediction: AEW has teased an alliance between OC and Don Callis in the lead-up to Double or Nothing. The pent-up frustration could cause Cassidy to snap during the match, resulting in a DQ win for Beretta. This sets up a sort of anti-hero run for Cassidy with Don Callis as his manager.
Chris Jericho (c) vs. HOOK vs. Shibata – FTW title triple threat match
Chris Jericho has been the FTW Champion since AEW Dynasty. Y2J beat HOOK for the title at the April 21 PPV event. He would successfully defend his title against Shibata on the May 1 episode of Dynamite. Big Bill intervened on Jericho’s behalf to cost Shibata the match. Shibata and HOOK both would submit Bryan Keith this past Wednesday on Dynamite to earn a shot at Le Champion.
Prediction: Jericho doesn’t need to be pinned or submitted to lose his title. The odds are pretty much stacked against him. That said, Jericho is someone who can make the FTW title interesting. He and Big Bill are nailing the insufferable heel gimmicks. I’d very much prefer Bill to take the title off of Jericho than HOOK or Shibata. However, the champion retains this Sunday.
Bullet Club Gold vs. Death Triangle – Unified AEW World Trios Championship
Jay White and the Gunns unified the ROH and AEW World Trios Tag Team titles by beating The Acclaimed on the Dynasty pre-show. The champions got into a confrontation with PAC, dragging him with them to the stage during their entrance on Collision last week. PAC would reform the Death Triangle this past Wednesday on Dynamite to set up a unified trios tag team title match at AEW Double or Nothing.
Prediction: I don’t see Bullet Club Gold dropping the titles in their second defense. The trio had previously retained the titles against Action Andretti and Top Flight. PAC and the Lucha Bros. may have reunited, but the Bang Bang Gang isn’t losing at Double or Nothing.
Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Mercedes Moné – TBS Championship at AEW Double or Nothing
Moné AEW in-ring debut will see her take on bitter rival Willow Nightingale for the TBS title. This feud is tied to Moné’s injury during their previous encounter at an NJPW event. The injury nearly cost Moné her career. Willow’s TBS title run has seen her deliver a great match against Skye Blue.
Prediction: I’d be surprised if Tony Khan books Mercedes Moné to lose her AEW in-ring debut at Double or Nothing. The challenger has been on the receiving end of punishment during the build-up, but she walks away with the title come Double or Nothing – courtesy of Kris Statlander.
The Elite vs. Team AEW – Anarchy in the Arena match
EVP Bucks and Okada were already heels when they officially welcomed Jack Perry into the fold. Matthew and Nicholas shook the entire company by taking out Tony Khan with a TK Driver weeks ago on AEW Dynamite. Kenny Omega wanted to get involved, but his health prevented him. The Cleaner proposed an Anarchy in the Arena match between Team AEW and The Elite. Eddie Kingston was originally part of Team AEW, but his injury put him on the sideline. Darby Allin took his place alongside Bryan Danielson and FTR.
Prediction: This one’s definitely going to be interesting. Having watched Darby, I can guarantee that mad man is going to do something insane at AEW Double or Nothing. Expect flamethrowers and all kinds of insane weapons this Sunday. Assuming Tony Khan wants to continue the power struggle storyline post-DoN, The Elite defeat Team AEW in their Anarchy in the Arena match.
Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage – AEW World Championship
The Elite introduced Christian Cage as Swerve Strickland’s DoN challenger and all heel broke lose. The Patriarch would spend the next few weeks making Swerve’s life miserable. First, he made Brian Cage and the Gates of Agony turn on him. Next, he wiped a photo of Swerve and his daughters off of the champion’s bloody face. Swerve narrowly missed Cage’s head during their parking lot brawl this past Wednesday on Dynamite.
Prediction: Swerve Strickland’s road to AEW World Championship win wasn’t easy. His title run isn’t going to be easy either. The champion has a massive target on his back, but it seems pain only makes him stronger. The build-up to Double or Nothing has been extremely personal, but the payoff could be brutal. Swerve walks away with the title after a brutal back-and-forth match with Christian Cage.
Wrestlezone will have full coverage of AEW Double or Nothing as it airs Sunday, May 26.
