By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Double Or Nothing
Aired live May 25, 2025, on pay-per-view
Glendale, Arizona at Desert Diamond Arena
AEW Double Or Nothing pre-show results: Anna Jay and Harley Cameron defeated Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford in 12:40, and Bandido, AR Fox, Hologram, and Komander beat Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta in 13:25…
Excalibur, Taz, and Tony Schiavone checked in on commentary. Ring announcer Arkady Aura delivered the introductions while the entrances for the opening match took place…
1. Mercedes Mone vs. Jamie Hayter in the Owen Hart Foundation women’s tournament final. The Owen Hart Cup was on a podium at ringside near the entrance aisle. Mone used her legs to hook Mone into a pin for an early two count. A short time later, Mone had Hayter hanging on the apron when she hit her with a meteora that sent both wrestlers to the floor.
Schiavone gave a shout-out to Jim Ross while noting that he was on the original AEW broadcast team. Excalibur wished Ross well and said they would talk more about him. A graphic noted that we are 48 days away from AEW All In Texas.
Mone dominated Hayter with some mat work and put her in a Straightjacket submission hold. A short time later, Hayter showed some signs of life and was on the middle rope when Mone pulled her legs out from under her, causing Hayter’s head to hit the top turnbuckle.
Mone followed up with double knees to the back of Hayter, who was on her knees in a corner of the ring. Mone tried for double knees again, but Hayter avoided it and then suplexed Mone. Hayter went to the middle rope and missile dropkicked Mone before hitting her with a standard dropkick. Hayter hit double knees on Mone in a corner of the ring.
Mone came right back and hit the Three Amigos and then did the Eddie Guerrero shimmy. Mone walked over Hayter and then went to the ropes, but Hayter got up and cut her off. Hayter joined Mone on the ropes and superplexed her. Hayter held on and went for another move, but Mone slipped out of it and hit a Backstabber.
Hayter stuffed Mone’s finisher. Hayter caught Money with a kick. Mone fired back with a kick of her own. Hayter dropped Mone with a lariat clothesline. There were dueling chants for the wrestlers as the production team displayed a wide shot of a portion of the venue that showed off the size of the live crowd.
Both wrestlers ended up at ringside. Hayter tried to run up the ring steps, but she tripped. Hayter got right up and jumped from the steps before clotheslining Mone. Back in the ring, Mone hit three Backstabbers. Mone put Hayter in a submission hold that she was able to escape.
Mone went for a Moneymaker, but Hayter blocked it and backed Mone into the corner a couple of times. Mone hooked Hayter’s head with her legs and then drove her head into the corner. Mone went for a Moneymaker from the middle rope, but Hayter avoided it and slipped under her. Hayter set up for a powerbomb, but Mone stuffed it and then dropped down on Hayter and got a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Mone went for an O’Connor Roll, but Hayter caught her in a rear-naked choke. Mone rolled out of the hold and eventually hooked Hayter in the Statement Maker. Hayter approached the ropes, but Mone used her foot to roll her over and maintain the hold. Hayter powered up Mone, who caught her in a crucifix pin for a two count. Mone powered up Hayter again, but Hayter slammed her to the mat. Hayter blasted Mone with a lariat for a good near fall.
Mone blocked Hayter’s Hayterade attempts and set her up for a tombstone, but Hayter reversed it and got another close near fall. Mone simply lifted her arm, so there were some boos for the crowd that thought it should have been a three count. Hayter signaled for her finisher. Hayter picked up Mone and wound up for the move, but Mone countered into a nasty looking DDT, hooked her leg, and then pinned her.
Mercedes Mone defeated Jamie Hayter in 21:15 to win the Owen Hart Foundation tournament to earn a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at All In Texas.
Mone left the ring and ran to the stage, where she sat next to the podium with the Owen Hart Cup on it. Pryo shot off on the stage while Mone held up the pink Owen Hart Cup title belt. She said she was coming for Toni Storm at All In Texas…
Powell’s POV: Hayter seemed okay after the match, so hopefully the way she took the DDT looked worse than it actually was. This was a strong match. The live crowd was hot and bought into a couple of Hayter’s near falls. I’m already looking forward to seeing them run it back at some point.
The broadcast team was shown at ringside while Excalibur wished Jim Ross well. Excalibur said Ross was a huge mentor to him, and he knows that Schiavone has known him much longer. Schiavone also called him a mentor. Taz said Ross taught him a lot and also labeled him a mentor…
Powell’s POV: All the best to JR in his battle with colon cancer. Jim was beyond generous with his time during the early years of this website, and it was a privilege to interview him several times.
A video package set up the next match. FTR and Stokely Hathaway made their entrance. Daniel Garcia made his entrance and was hugged on the stage by Matt Menard, who headed to the ring with him. Nigel McGuinness made his entrance and received a decent ovation (he deserved better)…
2. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely Hathaway) vs. Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia (w/Matt Menard). Schiavone said McGuinness is always the first one in the ring working out at AEW events. McGuinness hit both opponents with uppercuts. McGuinness and Garcia set up for stereo submission holds, but the FTR duo scrambled to ringside. McGuinness’s chest was red from taking some early chops.
McGuinness hit Harwood with a back elbow at ringside. He set up for the Tower of London, but Wheeler intervened and helped Harwood run McGuinness into the broadcast table. Wheeler stroked Schiavone’s hair to taunt him. Back in the ring, FTR isolated McGuinness.
McGuinness fought back and did a deep lean into the ropes. Wheeler, who was standing on the floor, pulled McGuinness through the ropes into his own Tower of London move. Wheeler taunted Schiavone again. A short time later, McGuinness drilled Wheeler with a clothesline. Harwood tagged in and tried to stop McGuinness from tagging out, but McGuinness hit him with an arm wringer and made the hot tag.
Garcia worked over both opponents and eventually locked Harwood in the Dragon Tamer. Wheeler ran in and broke it up with a short-arm lariat. McGuinness cleared Wheeler from the ring, and then he and Garcia hit an assisted Tower of London, which led to Garcia getting a near fall.
McGuinness and Garcia set up Harwood for a Shatter Machine that Wheeler broke up. The FTR duo accidentally clotheslined one another. McGuinness and Garcia applied simultaneous submission holds. Hathaway tried to enter the ring, but Menard stopped him.
A short time later, Garcia superplexed Harwood twice. Garcia set up Harwood for a third, but Wheeler ran over and blocked it. McGuinness went after Wheeler, who clotheslined him off the apron. Garcia went for the superplex, but Harwood spun him around in midair. Wheeler hit Garcia with a top rope splash.
FTR hit McGuinness with the Shatter Machine on the floor. Schiavone removed his headset to check on McGuinness. Harwood got in Schiavone’s face and intimidated him for a moment. FTR returned to the ring, and then Schiavone checked on his broadcast partner.
Garcia tried to fight off both members of FTR, but Harwood eventually hit him with a piledriver for a near fall. FTR followed up with a spike piledriver, and Harwood had the pin, but Garcia put his leg over the bottom rope to break it up.
Harwood put Garcia in a Sharpshooter. Menard climbed on the apron, but Wheeler took him out. McGuinness was about to pull himself up when Wheeler stomped him. The referee called for the bell…
“FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler defeated Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia in 22:30.
After the match, Schiavone and Menard assisted McGuinness…
Powell’s POV: The replay showed Garcia passing out while in the Sharpshooter, so he didn’t tap out. The match was entertaining. It felt like they were building up to one more big babyface comeback that never came. I’m surprised that Garcia was put in the position to pass out rather than McGuinness, although Garcia felt pretty cold coming into the match anyway. This would be a good place for a promo segment or something to let fans catch their breath after two long matches, but they just go from one match to the next on most AEW pay-per-views.
A video package set up the stretcher match. Justin Roberts took over as the ring announcer. An ambulance arrived on the main floor, and its annoying siren was going over briefly. EMTs pulled a stretcher out of the ambulance. Ricochet made his entrance, and then Ricochet’s entrance followed…
3. Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe in a stretcher match. Ricochet hit Briscoe from behind and knocked him to the floor to start the match. There was a stretcher at ringside. Briscoe and Ricochet fought near the ambulance, where another stretcher was set up. Briscoe tried to put Ricochet in the ambulance, but Ricochet escaped and ran back to ringside.
Ricochet went for a shooting star press off the apron while Briscoe was on the stretcher, but Briscoe moved. Ricochet ended up on the stretcher and was hit by a Cactus Jack elbow. Briscoe grabbed a chair and threw it at Ricochet’s head (he put his hands up). Sabu said it was an homage to Sabu.
Briscoe, who sported a mohawk, worked over Ricochet at ringside before rolling him back in the ring. Briscoe pulled out a bucket of cleaning supplies and then sprayed some on Ricochet’s bald head. Briscoe used a rag to wipe the cleaning solution, which got some cheers from the cruel bastards in the crowd who discriminate against bald people. My fellow bald brother and match referee, Stephon Smith, stood by and allowed this hate crime to occur.
Ricochet sprayed some of the cleaning solution in Briscoe’s eyes and then tossed him to ringside. Ricochet removed the pad from the stretcher. Briscoe bled heavily from the forehead for some strange reason, and then Ricochet slammed Briscoe’s head on the stretcher repeatedly.
Ricochet got Briscoe inside the ambulance and tried to close the door, but Briscoe used a crutch to stop the door from closing. Briscoe sprayed a fire extinguisher at Ricochet. Back in the ring, Briscoe hit a Jay Driller. Briscoe put Ricochet on a table at ringside and then put him through it with a Froggy Bow.
Briscoe set up for a Jay Driller on the entrance ramp, but Ricochet countered with a backdrop. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Ricochet grabbed his golden scissors from underneath the ring and jabbed Briscoe with them. He tried to hit him again, but Briscoe stuffed it and ended up with the scissors.
Ricochet ran off and leaned on the back of the ambulance. Briscoe wound up to hit him with the scissors, but Ricochet cut him off with a shot from a second pair of scissors. Ricochet low-blowed Briscoe and then hit him with the Spirit Gun. Ricochet placed Briscoe inside the ambulance and closed both doors to win the match.
Ricochet beat Mark Briscoe in a stretcher match in 16:20.
After the match, Ricochet stood on a stretcher on the stage and played to the live crowd for heat…
Powell’s POV: Briscoe had quite the crimson mask. I’m still not sure why this was a stretcher match, but the wrestlers came through with a good version of the gimmick match. It’s just a shame the intensity of the feud never reached a point where this blood bad felt necessary.
A video package set up the AEW Tag Team Title match. The Sons of Texas made their entrance. Schiavone, who sat out the last match, returned and gave an update on McGuinness. Schiavone apologized for leaving the desk, but he thought the situation was more serious than it was. The entire Hurt Syndicate made their entrance…
4. Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP, MJF) vs. ROH Tag Team Champions “The Sons of Texas” Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara for the AEW Tag Team Titles. The crowd chanted “We Hurt People” loudly after the entrance music stopped. MVP joined the broadcast team on commentary and said it was a historic night because it was MJF’s first night with The Hurt Syndicate.
Guevara was dumped to ringside. MJF took cheap shots at him. Guevara was isolated once he was back inside the ring. Benjamin popped up Guevara, who hit him with a cutter on the way down and made a hot tag that didn’t get much of a reaction from the live crowd. The crowd was more responsible while Dustin performed some of his signature offense, including Code Red on Benjamin for a near fall.
Lashley entered the ring and was about to blindside Dustin, but Guevara cut him off with a superkick. MJF climbed on the apron and barked at the referee while Dustin hit Shattered Dreams on Benjamin. Dustin followed up with a bulldog for a near fall. MVP claimed Rhodes and Guevara didn’t want to go title for title. “That shows how confident they were,” MVP said.
Benjamin put Rhodes down. MJF climbed on the apron and offered the Dynamite Diamond Ring while adding that it was taking too long. Lashley stepped in and ordered MJF to return to ringside. Lashley tagged in and speared Guevara. Lashley had the pin, but Dustin pulled him to ringside and ran him into the ring post.
MJF tried to throw a punch at Dustin, who blocked it. MJF raked Dustin’s eyes. MJF wound up to hit Dustin with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Lashley grabbed MJF’s arm to stop him. Lashley got in MJF’s face, but then both men smiled and hugged. Lashley speared Dustin through a ringside barricade.
Guevara went for a suicide dive, but Benjamin cut him off with what appeared to be a poorly timed knee strike. Benjamin hit Guevara with a knee strike and a thrust kick before pinning him…
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin defeated ROH Tag Team Champions “The Sons of Texas” Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara in 12:35 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: So the tension between MJF and Lashley was just a swerve for the sake of a swerve? Meh. I was hoping for a more competitive match rather than this being mostly about The Hurt Syndicate. And why would MVP make the babyface look like shit by saying they wouldn’t make it a title vs. title match?
A video package set up the AEW Continental Championship match. Mike Bailey received some cheers, and heel Kazuchika Okada received pyro and got more cheers…
5. Kazuchika Okada vs. Mike Bailey for the AEW Continental Championship. Excalibur called Okada the greatest tournament wrestler ever. Bailey performed an early head-scissors takedown. Okada rolled to ringside. Bailey jumped over the ropes, but Okada slammed his head on the apron. Bailey got Okada down in front of the steps and threw a kick that Okada avoided.
Bailey popped right up despite hitting the ring steps and struck the crane kick pose, and then connected with the Karate Kid special. Bailey performed a moonsault from the middle rope inside the ring onto Okada on the floor. Bailey rolled Okada back in the ring and hit him with fast kicks until Okada cut him off with a dragon screw leg whip.
Bailey eventually battled back and hit a missile dropkick. Okada cut him off with a neckbreaker over his knee. Okada flipped off the camera and was rolled into a pin for a two count. Okada flipped off Bailey, who hit him with a rolling elbow. Bailey went for a top rope shooting star press, but Okada put his knees up. Okada sold knee pain while Bailey clutched his ribs.
A short time later, Bailey set up on the middle rope for a move, but Okada dropkicked him. Okada got Bailey on the apron and set up for a move, but Bailey slipped out of it and swept Okada’s legs out from under him. Bailey performed a knee drop. Back in the ring, Bailey hit a spinning kick in the corner. Okada avoided the Ultimate Weapon and dropkicked Bailey. Okada went for another dropkick, but Bailey held the ropes. Bailey hit a knee drop.
Bailey avoided a Rainmaker and threw a nice kick at Okada. Bailey put Okada down with another kick and covered him. The referee made the three count, but Okada grabbed the bottom rope just before the referee’s hand hit the mat, so the referee waved off the three count.
Bailey held Okada’s arms while throwing kicks at him. Okada fired back with two short-arm clotheslines. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Bailey ducked it. Bailey rolled Okada into a pin for a two count, then tried again for a close near fall. Bailey dropped Okada with a kick and then went up top and went for the Ultimate Weapon, but Okada dropkicked him in midair. Okada hit the Rainmaker and scored the pin…
Kazuchika Okada defeated Mike Bailey in 16:05 to retain the AEW Continental Championship.
Powell’s POV: The Ultima Weapon into the dropkick spot looked great. This was a strong match, but there was just no reason to think Bailey was going to win, so the crowd didn’t buy into the near falls as much as they likely would have under different circumstances.
A video package set up the AEW Women’s Championship match. Mina Shirakawa made her entrance and was well received by the live crowd. Toni Storm made her entrance with Luther and received an even more favorable crowd reaction…
6. Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Mina Shirakawa for the AEW Women’s Championship. Excalibur questioned if the sequel would turn out differently than the first match between the two. A few minutes into the match, Shirakawa hit a tornado DDT and followed up with a running dropkick. Shirakawa blasted Storm with a rolling elbow and then clotheslined her. Shirakawa took Storm down with a dragon screw leg whip. Shirakawa performed another dragon screw over the middle rope.
Storm went to the floor. Shirakawa charged toward her, but Luther got in the way. Shirakawa hit Luther and then jumped off his back and splashed Storm on the floor. Shirakawa went up top and dove toward Storm and Luther, but Storm moved, and Shirakawa took out Luther. Storm picked up Shirakawa and put her right back down with a DDT.
Later, Storm threw elbow strikes while Shirkawa threw kicks at Storm’s right knee. Storm executed a couple of release German suplexes. Storm went for a hip attack, but she sold her injured right knee. Shirakawa took advantage of the injury by attacking Storm, who then put her down with a Sky High for a near fall.
Shirakawa went back to work on the bad right knee. Shirakawa locked in a kneebar until Storm grabbed the bottom rope to break the hold. Shirakawa jumped from the top rope and hit a sling blade clothesline that led to a near fall.
Moments later, Shirakawa went for a Figure Four, but Storm kicked her off and then hit her with a hip attack. Shirakawa came back with more leg kicks. Shirakawa put Storm in the Figure Four and arched up, but not into a full Figure Eight. Storm reached the bottom rope to break the hold.
Shirakawa set up for the Figure Four again, but Storm caught her in an inside cradle and got a two count before Shirakawa reversed it for a two count, and then Storm reversed it again for another two count. When they stood up, Storm headbutted Shirkawa and then hit Storm Zero before getting the three count.
Toni Storm defeated Mina Shirakawa in 15:50 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
After the match, Storm celebrated and then had a moment with Shirakawa while both women were on their knees. They stood up and shared a kiss. Shirakawa dropped to her knees and kissed Storm’s injured right knee. Storm got her title belt and celebrated the win while Shirakawa made her exit. A graphic listed Storm vs. Mone for the AEW Women’s World Championship for AEW All In Texas. Luther carried Storm from the ring…
Powell’s POV: Another strong match. Shirakawa got the bulk of the offense, but it didn’t seem like the crowd really bought into her near falls. It was hard to tell whether that was an issue or if we just reached that point in the night where having match after match with minimal downtime in between approach took its toll.
A video package set up the Anarchy in the Arena match. Justin Roberts stood in the ring and said, “Awwww, shit, get on your feet, this is Anarchy in the Arena.” Swerve Strickland made his entrance wearing what was presumably a video game-inspired outfit while Prince Nana danced behind him. The other babyfaces made their entrances. Kenny Omega had a Captain America-style shield with his own logo on it.
The Death Riders entered the parking garage area in their black Chevy truck and then made their entrance through the crowd. Roberts read from a piece of paper while doing an over-the-top introduction of the Young Bucks as the founding fathers of AEW. They came out wearing silly costumes and waved flags while the scoreboard video screen showed their faces on Mount Rushmore…
7. Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, Powerhouse Hobbs, Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Willow Nightingale vs. Jon Moxley, Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir in an Anarchy in the Arena match. Swerve and Omega left the ring and attacked the Bucks to apparently start the match. Samoa Joe showed up behind Castagnoli and attacked him. They cut briefly to four different camera shots.
Powell’s POV: There’s not a hope in hell of keeping up with this craziness, so I’m sitting back and will try to hit on the meaningful moments.
Omega stood in the ring and motioned for different music. The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” played, which got a rise out of the crowd. Omega looked baffled, but then he started clapping his hands to the beat of the music. Funny. Meanwhile, Joe was working over Castagnoli at a merch table.
Omega got a house mic while Swerve and Shibata cleared the heels from the ring. Omega called for some 2000 alternative rock music. “Sing along,” Omega said. “Let’s get this party started. Play that shit.” The heavy metal song “Bodies” by Drowning Pool played (alternative?!?). Omega hammed it up with a microphone at ringside, and the fans had a lot of fun singing along with the song.
Omega and Yuta fought in a balcony area of the crowd. Hobbs showed up and tossed Yuta onto a group of security guards below. In the ring, Moxley jabbed Hobbs’ forehead with a fork. Hobbs bled. Moxley set up a table in a corner of the ring. Hobbs stood up and speared Moxley through the table.
The “Bodies” song played for the third time (and started to lose its appeal). Willow was shown slamming Shafir on a table outside the building. Shibata dumped Yuta in a big trash bucket on wheels and drove him into a backstage garage door. Shibata wrapped barbed wire around his foot and kicked Yuta with it.
The Bucks, who were still dressed in their silly Revolutionary War-inspired gear, teased throwing a double superkick at Swerve, and then dropped him with a double DDT. The Bucks mocked Swerve’s dance. The “Bodies” song started to play again, but the music stopped when Castagnoli swung Swerve into a speaker on the floor.
Shafir and Willow entered the arena. Shafir was bleeding from the forehead. Shafir tossed Willow and then slammed a frying pan over her back. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Nicholas Jackson had Omega teetering over the top rope when he jumped off the top rope and double-stomped Omega, who flipped over and fell into a powerbomb from Matthew through a table set up on the floor. Cool spot.
Willow was chained to the ring post. The Bucks hit an Indie Taker on Shibata at ringside. A “Please help Willow” chant broke out, which Excalibur acknowledged. The Bucks set Hobbs on a table on the stage. Nicholas performed a Swanton off the top of the smaller screen next to the big screen and put Hobbs through the table. Nicholas came up holding the back of his head and was immediately checked on by his brother and some referees. Nicholas got back to his feet and continued.
Nicholas launched a chair at Hobbs, who hopefully blocked it with his hands. He definitely didn’t block the second chair that Nicholas threw at his head (sigh). The Bucks set up for an EVP Trigger, but they were distracted by the arrival of a forklift on the main floor. Swerve jumped off a pallet on the forklift onto the Bucks on the stage.
In the ring, Hobbs no-sold Castagnoli slamming a chair over his back. Hobbs and Willow took out Castagnoli and Shifir. Moments later, Three simultaneous rear naked chokes were applied. Nicholas performed a 450 splash to break up one, and Swerve broke up another with a top rope move of his own.
Nicholas used a staple gun on the back of Hobbs, who laughed. Hobbs let Nicholas stapled his forehead and then smiled at him. Swerve hit a backbreaker on Nicholas and then stapled him. Swerve continued to use the staple guns on the heels. Matthew got the staple gun and held it in the air, but Swerve tweaked his balls. Shafir hit Swerve with a low blow. Shafir held Swerve’s tongue and stapled it.
Willow took out Shafir and then speared the Jacksons. Moxley hit a cutter on Willow. Omega hit Moxley and the Young Bucks with snap dragon suplexes. Shafir spat in Omega’s face and slapped him Omega put her down with a snap dragon suplex. The Bucks hit a double superkick on Swerve, then turned babyface by double superkicking referee Rick Knox.
The Bucks set up Willow for the TK Driver, but Swerve punched Nicholas off the top rope through a chair on the floor. Willow and Swerve hit the TK Driver on Matthew. Willow had him pinned, but Yuta and Catagnoli broke it up. Another “this is awesome” chant started. Yuta and Moxley hit a Doomsday Device on Swerve.
Hook showed up at ringside and pulled Castagnoli off the apron and jabbed him with a golf club. Hook headed to the back. Joe hit Moxley with a Muscle Buster and then put him in the rear naked choke. Omega and Swerve stopped the Bucks from break it up.
Gabe Kidd showed up and used the title belt briefcase to break up the pin and then bashed several babyfaces with it. Kidd gave Omega a piledriver. Yuta put tacks in the mouth of Omega, and then the Bucks hit Omega with a BTE Trigger. Castagnoli performed the Giant Swing on Omega, and then Yuta dropkicked Omega. Moxley put Omega in the Bulldog Choke until Joe broke it up.
A bloody Mark Briscoe did a flip dive off the stage onto Yuta and Castganoli while Kidd stood in front of the ambulance that was still on the main floor. Joe, Willow, Hobbs, and Shibata got several heels in the ambulance and closed the door, leaving Omega and Swerve alone with the Bucks inside the ring.
Nana pulled out shoes with tacks that Swerve put on. Omega and Matthew ended up on the stage. Omega put Matthew through a table on the floor with a One Winged Angel, and the pyro shot off from underneath the table. In the ring, Swerve hit a top rope double stomp with the tack shoes on Nicholas and then pinned him.
Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, Powerhouse Hobbs, Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and Willow Nightingale defeated Jon Moxley, Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir in 35:10 in an Anarchy in the Arena match.
After the match, Swerve stuck his tongue out and pointed to the stable that was stuck in the middle of it. The babyfaces went to the stage and played to the crowd…
Powell’s POV: Another insane Anarchy in the Arena match. The live crowd loved it, and it was a fun watch at home as well even if it’s not my preferred match style. Oh, man, there’s still the trios match before the main event. Yikes.
Separate backstage shots aired of Hangman Page and Will Ospreay… An ad aired for All In Texas and noted that the event is 48 days away. Excalibur hyped Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Mone for All In Texas…
A video package set up the trios match, and then entrances for the match took place…
8. Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, and Josh Alexander (w/Don Callis, Lance Archer) vs. “The Paragon” Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly. Callis sat in on commentary. Callis got up and went to ringside when his team was struggling, so Archer replaced him on commentary.
Cole set up for a Panama Sunrise on Fletcher, who cut him off with a superkick. The heel trio roughed up Cole and then Takeshita powerbombed him. Fletcher made the cover and had the pin, but Cole’s teammates broke it up. Storm hit Alexander with a backbreaker on the barricade. Damn.
Late in the match, O’Reilly caught Fletcher in a guillotine. Takeshita ran in and drilled O’Reilly with an elbow strike. Fletcher hit a brainbuster on O’Reilly and then pinned him.
Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, and Josh Alexander defeated Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly in 12:50.
After the match, Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero came out. Archer entered the ring, and the Callis Family worked over the babyfaces. Brody King and Tomohiro Ishii made their entrance. King looked back at the stage.
Hiroshi Tanahashi walked out dressed in street clothes. The trio went to the ring and cleared the remaining heels aside from Fletcher. Tanahashi hit Fletcher with a sling blade clothesline. Cole hit Fletcher with The Boom. Cole’s music played and the babyfaces celebrated…
Powell’s POV: I felt bad for these guys, much like I used to feel bad for the WWE Divas who were put in the buffer match position back in the day. The crowd was drained. They were a little more vocal for this match than I anticipated, but they were clearly in need of a breather that AEW pay-per-views don’t provide. It was cool to see Tanahashi make an unadvertised appearance during his final year as an active wrestler, but even that didn’t get the kind of ovation that one might expect from the tired live crowd. If history is any indication, the fans will come to life for the main event.
Excalibur announced that Kenny Omega will defend the AEW International Championship in a four-way on June 4 Fyter Fest in Denver. The qualifying matches will start on Dynamite with Josh Alexander vs. Brody King, and will continue on Saturday’s Collision with Claudio Castagnoli vs. Komander, and Mascara Dorada vs. Hechicero. The graphic noted that Fyter Fest will be a live four-hour broadcast (with Dynamite and Collision combined)…
A video package set up the main event, and then entrances for the match took place. Hangman Page came out first wearing a black jacket with pink tassels. He also had the pink tassels on the black tights that he wore. Will Ospreay had a voiceover that included key lines from the promo that he cut on Wednesday’s Dynamite…
9. Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page in the Owen Hart Foundation men’s tournament final. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the main event. Ospreay ducked an early Buckshot Lariat and then threw a Hidden Blade that Page ducked. Ospreay hit a standing sky twister press for a near fall a short time later.
Ospreay hit a Phenomenal Forearm. Ospreay appeared to land on Page’s knee and came up holding his back, but he seemed to shake it off quickly. Ospreay tried to dive from the ring onto Page on the floor, but Page caught him and executed a fallaway slam into the barricade. Excalibur noted that Page had not appealed to the crowd once during the match.
Powell’s POV: Five-and-a-half hours wasn’t enough. The match has now run past the top of the hour, just as the main event of the last AEW pay-per-view did.
Page caught Ospreay with a clothesline that knocked him off the apron. Page performed a moonsault from the top rope onto Ospreay on the floor. Back in the ring, Page powerbombed Ospreay and got a two count. Page applied a Sharpshooter.
Ospreay caught Page with a kick. Page came right back with a clothesline. Page ran the ropes and was hit with a standing Spanish Fly that left both men down temporarily. Ospreay caught Page with a kick while Page was on the ropes. Ospreay sat Page on the top turnbuckle and then joined him on the ropes. Page headbutted Ospreay three times and held him by the hair before releasing him after the third.
Page flipped off the ropes with a version of the Buckshot Lariat. Page went to the apron for the actual Buckshot Lariat, but Ospreay caught him with a kick. Ospreay draped Page over the top rope and then hit him with a shooting star press for a near fall. Page came back with a tombstone piledriver for a good near fall.
Page used Angel’s Wings to get another near fall. Page went for the Best Moonsault Ever, but Ospreay avoided it and blasted him with a Hidden Blade. Page rolled under the bottom rope to avoid being pinned.
A short time later, Ospreay powerbombed Page on the apron and then followed up with a Styles Clash from the apron to the floor. Ospreay clutched his left knee. The referee checked on Page, whose head bounced off the ringside mat. Ospreay beat the count. Page returned at the last moment and was immediately hit with an OsCutter for a near fall. Ospreay followed up with a Hidden Blade for another near fall.
Page slapped Ospreay, who headbutted him and threw punches and kicks while Page ducked under the bottom rope. The referee pulled Ospreay away and scolded him. Page stood up and was knocked off the apron with a big boot. Ospreay went to the floor and slammed Page’s head on the Spanish broadcast table repeatedly, which drew some boos.
Ospreay cleared the broadcast table and hooked Page’s arms for a move. Page fired up and looked like he was going to set up for a Deadeye, but the damn table collapsed. Both men stayed down for a bit, but Page eventually rolled Ospreay back inside the ring. Page set up for the Buckshot Lariat, but Ospreay stumbled back and fell into the ropes on the other side of the ring. Excalibur didn’t know if he was lucky or good.
Ospreay removed his elbow pad while staring at Page, who was still on the apron. Page removed his elbow pad while staring at Ospreay, who flipped him off. Ospreay charged forward, and then Page connected with a Buckshot Lariat for a near fall.
Page stood on the apron and threw strikes that backed up Ospreay. Page went for Buckshot Lariat, but Ospreay hit him with a Hidden Blade. Ospreay followed up with a Stormbreaker for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Page kneeled against the bottom rope.
Ospreay pointed at him and got some boos before htting a V-Trigger. Ospreay went for a One Winged Angel, but Page blocked it and hit a Skytwister. He had the pin, but Ospreay’s foot hit the rope. Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Ospreay stuffed it and set up for a Stormbreaker, but Page avoided it and turned him inside out with a clothesline. Page followed up with a Buckshot Lariat and scored the clean pin.
Hangman Page defeated Will Ospreay in 36:55 to win the men’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament to earn a shot at the AEW World Championship at AEW All In Texas.
Referee Bryce Remsburg put the Owen Hart Foundation title belt around Page’s waist. Pyro shot off on the stage. A graphic listed Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship at All In Texas. Page exited the ring and looked at the Owen Hart Cup that was sitting on a podium on the stage.
Page turned around and walked back to the ring, where Ospreay was sitting in the middle of the ring with his head in his hands. Page stood behind Ospreay, who eventually looked up at him and slowly got to his feet. Page and Ospreay went face-to-face. Page offered his hand, which Ospreay accepted.
Page exited the ring. Ospreay dropped down to one knee and watched Page return to the stage while the broadcast team recalled Ospreay saying he would stand by Page if he lost. Page held up the title belt on the stage and let out a primal scream before falling to his knees as the show concluded six hours after the start of the pre-show…
Powell’s POV: An outstanding main event to close out an excellent pay-per-view. I continue to wish that Tony Khan would show more discipline by cutting back on the number of matches and the show length, but the last two shows seem to suggest that he’s moving in the opposite direction. Nevertheless, this was a terrific show with a dramatic main event. It seemed like most people expected Ospreay to win, which made the finish that much more exciting.
I will have more to say when Jake Barnett and I team up for our same-night audio review for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below.
Did it end? No websites are updating what’s going on
This is the earliest an AEW ppv has ever ended!
Lol
It’s been an excellent show so far, I’d say the weakest match was the tag title match up to this point, but everything else is what you’d expect from an AEW ppv heck you could argue the two pre show matches were worth the price ppv they were that good.
I thought that song was banned.
WOW!Tacks in the mouth of Omega after what he’s been through..I hope his stomach can handle it if he swallowed any!
@Tom that was crazy. I’ve been to many live wrestling matches, starting in Houston in the 80’s, nothing beats an all out brawl live.
I legitimately forgot this horseshit was happening tonight.
Every match description sounds like dogshit followed by the take that it was a strong match.
@ the-great-e-stone, (is that like kidney stones) must be why you whine and cry after every show.
damn those stones hurt almost as much as your boo-hooing.
Notice me! My mommy didn’t breast feed me. I need attention.
You need to be medicated.
He really does. He goes on WWE threads and praises them and then comes here and bashes AEW.
Does WWE give him balcony tickets and free popcorn to shows in exchange for being a keyboard warrior?
BTW, Jason good coverage, (won’t mention typos, lol), of what must have been a bear to follow and write about.
Every match was really fun to watch and the brawl was non stop incredible action.
Ambulance match was the best I’ve ever seen in 30 yrs, money vs hater was excellent, storm vs Mina was excellent, and the main event was amazing. Mike Bailey vs Okada was so much fun to watch
This was such an awesome momentum building ppv
Mr. Alexander, you are entitled to your opinion that AEW ppv’s are too long with too many matches, but I just ask you to realize/understand that for MANY of us, paying 50$ to watch a wrestling show is a BIG DEAL and in order to make it worthwhile, it should be a BIG SHOW!
Trim the fat and you’d have an outstanding roughly three-hour pay-per-view that would be worth $50. The marathon shows are overkill, just as they were when WWE was doing them.
I’ll dispute that. I don’t think shows need to be 6-8 hours, but unless I’m attending the show live, no matter how good it is paying $50 for a show that only goes 3 hours is REAL hard for me to justify paying.
That’s you and that’s fine. But fans paid $40 to $50 for three hours pay-per-views for many years before WWE moved to Peacock.