There’s a whole lot of information popping out of AEW Double or Nothing 2022. Most significantly, we’ve got a brand new AEW Champion. CM Punk beat “Hangman” Adam Web page in the primary occasion to win the title after what was simply one among AEW’s best-ever matches. The present ended with a crying Punk hoisting up his new prize for the primary time.
It was an incredible climax to an enormous present. The night time started with Wardlow obliterating MJF in surprisingly decisive trend, an entire information story unto itself given the malarkey over the weekend regarding MJF reportedly threatening to no present Double or Nothing. Elsewhere, Adam Cole and Britt Baker gained their respective Owen Hart Cup finals, and Kyle O’Reilly beat Darby Allin in an unexpectedly nice match.
The Anarchy within the Area match ended up being maybe an excessive amount of anarchy for its personal good, and ended with Jericho Appreciation Society standing tall over a fallen Bryan Danielson. Hangman Web page was the lone champion to lose at Double or Nothing, with all different champions retaining their gold.
Learn on for a full recap of Double or Nothing 2022.
CM Punk wins the AEW Championship
In arguably the most effective AEW essential occasion ever, CM Punk pinned Hangman Adam Web page to win the AEW Championship. The Las Vegas crowd was mega into this essential occasion from the outset. We bought duelling “Let’s go Hangman/CM Punk!” chants, and later “Cowboy Shit/CM Punk!” cheers. Each males have been showered with each cheers and boos after virtually each massive transfer — the gang was really cut up on this one.
These two labored intense. The dynamic going into the match was uncommon, with each being babyfaces and with Web page harbouring a deep grudge in opposition to Punk that is by no means actually been defined correctly. Web page wrestled the match with fabulous tenacity; you bought the sense that he actually did have antipathy in direction of Punk. This was amongst Web page’s finest performances.
CM Punk twice tried Web page’s Buckshot Lariat, however botched it each occasions. (After the match, he informed the gang to by no means let him attempt one other Buckshot Lariat). The primary time it led to Web page going for a GTS, which Punk countered. That led into the second try, the place Punk tried however fell on his ass — however bought up and clotheslined Web page anyway.
Punk tried to comply with up with the excessive knee within the nook, however Web page countered with a Final Experience Powerbomb, which he rolled right into a Deadeye. That led to a nice nearfall, with Punk kicking out on the final millisecond. He timed that kickout completely.
Web page then did Punk’s Go To Sleep taunt, which bought an enormous heel response. Web page tried a GTS, however Punk escaped and hit him with a excessive kick. Web page then hoisted Punk up for the GTS anyway, touchdown it this time for one more wonderful nearfall. Punk is so good at timing these kickouts.
The 2 then exchanged kicks, and Web page clotheslined Punk excessive rope. He held up the AEW Championship, yelling “that is mine” at Punk, which bought a whole lot of boos. Web page threw Punk contained in the ring and tried a Buckshot Lariat, however Punk countered right into a GTS. Web page struggled out, however unintentionally hit the referee in doing so. Ref bump activated.
Web page decked Punk with a Lariat after which, with an evil trance, grabbed the AEW Championship belt and debated utilizing it. On the final second he drops it, deciding to go the ethical route, then tries one final Buckshot Lariat. As soon as once more although, Punk escaped and this time managed to land the GTS for the win.
After the match a crying Punk holds the title up as AEW Double or Nothing went off the air.
Ranking: 5 stars. This was a winner for a number of causes. First, it was one among AEW’s finest ever essential occasions, one which noticed arguably Hangman Web page’s finest efficiency within the firm but. Second, it was a historic professional wrestling second, with Punk returning final September and incomes his place on the prime of a wrestling promotion. And thirdly, it units up Hangman Web page for nice new character improvement plus a surefire winner of a rematch.
Jurassic Categorical retain AEW Tag Workforce Championships
Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus efficiently defended their AEW Tag Workforce Championships in opposition to Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland plus Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks in a three-way tag match. Jungle Boy bought the pin after their Jurassic Categorical powerbomb.
This was in a troublesome spot for 2 causes. First, it is late in a present that is been full of a whole lot of motion and excessive spots. Second, the entire premise is foolish. It is a triple-threat tag match, however solely two wrestlers are allowed within the ring at any given second. Meaning always there’s one staff not represented within the ring, who must hope they’ll by some means discover a technique to tag themselves in. Why would anyone tag out? It is a kind of previous wrestling issues that do not get thought of sufficient.
Nonetheless, there was some great things right here. There was a sick sequence the place Jungle Boy tried a Suicide Dive on Keith Lee however Lee caught him in mid air and Powerbombed him into Luchasauraus — twice. Later, we bought a enjoyable showdown between Luchasaurus, Hobbs and Keith Lee that ended with Lee and Hobbs planting Luchasaurus with an enormous double chokeslam.
Moments later, Lee by some means managed a leaping sommersault excessive rope to take out the entire area. That was loopy.
Ricky Starks tried to win through dishonest just a few occasions, first by rolling up Jungle Boy together with his toes on the rope and later by hitting Luchasaurus with one of many tag titles. Each occasions he was foiled by Christian Cage, who was at ringside.
From there it was a sequence of huge strikes, with groups hitting their finishers solely to have the pinfall damaged up by the third staff. Jungle Boy ended up because the authorized man with Swerve Strickland. That they had an superior last jiffy, culminating with Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus hitting their tandem Powerbomb for the win.
Ranking: 3.5 stars.
Jericho Appreciation Society wins Anarchy within the Area
Chris Jericho, Daniel Garcia, Jake Hager, Angelo Parker and Matt Menard beat the staff of Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz in an Anarchy within the Area match. Hager and Jericho made Danielson cross out to win for his or her staff.
This was a little bit of a catastrophe at first. “Anarchy within the Area” is a obscure stipulation, which individuals thought would basically simply imply no guidelines. Certainly there have been no guidelines. However it additionally apparently meant Jon Moxley’s Wild Factor theme music can be performed on repeat as the ten males brawled all through the sector.
That is largely the difficulty: It actually was Anarchy within the Area. The ten males have been cut up up in 5 pairs who brawled in several spots. That meant fixed digicam cuts to completely different components of the sector — contained in the ring, within the crowd, within the again, in one other a part of the gang. It was too disorienting to comply with in any significant means. It was mainly a professional wrestling music video, however not as cool as that sounds.
Finally Jericho ripped the chords out of the soundboard, which stopped Wild Factor from taking part in. That helped so much. I am positive it was tremendous enjoyable within the crowd, however the music taking part in alongside fixed digicam cuts made it too chaotic to observe from dwelling. From that time on, this turned a bit of extra structured, which made it enjoyable to observe (in case you can deal with blood and guts wrestling).
There have been loopy spots, which matches with out saying. Santa and Ortiz crashed by way of two tables doing tandem offense on Jake Hager. Jericho hit Moxley with a large digicam. Daniel Garcia gave Ortiz a Piledriver onto the metal steps.
Every part broke down as soon as everybody bought to the ring. Actually broke down: Moxley untied the tunbuckles from the publish and began hitting Jericho with one. That led to the highest turnbuckles on every nook to be deconstructed. Out close to the again, Santana and Ortiz arrange two of the Jericho goons on tables then introduced out a large ladder, which they leapt off.
Within the ring, Moxley and Danielson squared off in opposition to Jericho and Hager. That they had a slugfest, which the gang got here unglued for. (There’s one thing ironic in regards to the crowd popping big for a bunch of punches after dudes have been leaping off tables and reducing one another up, however I believe that message will go unheeded.) Moxley and Danielson bought the higher of them, resulting in Danielson getting Jericho within the Labelle Lock.
At about that point, Eddie Kingston got here to the ring with gasoline and dunked it throughout Jericho (and Danielson). Kingston took out a lighter to burn Jericho, however Danielson slapped it out of his hand. That led Kingston to start out combating with Danielson. As Moxley tried to interrupt them up, Jericho took out all three with a chair. Hager then knocked Moxley out of the ring, onto a desk with barbed wire on prime — due to course.
Within the ring, Jericho hit Danielson with a turnbuckle and went for the pin. That bought a two depend. Danielson fought again, singlehandedly kicking the hell out of each Jericho and Hager. He bought his Busaiku Knee on Hager, then Jericho tried to hit him with a chair however Danielson did the Busaiku Knee into the chair for an excellent two depend.
Danielson ready to kick Jericho’s “f****** head in”, however Hager clocked him within the knee with Jericho’s bat. Jericho then put Danielson within the Partitions of Jericho as Hager strangled him with the ring rope. Danielson handed out, permitting Jericho’s staff to win.
Ranking: 3 stars. The primary third was terrible, the second third was high quality and the ultimate third was superior. Pretty much as good as this ended up being although, I am unable to assist however really feel this was a waste of Danielson, Kingston and Moxley on pay-per-view. A lot of the match was basically generic brawling, which did not totally benefit from what they may do.
Talking of losing Danielson, having his second-ever AEW loss are available in a 10-man tag feels questionable too.
Thunder Rosa remains to be AEW Ladies’s Champion
Thunder Rosa pinned Serena Deeb with a Fireplace Thunder Drive after an extended, good match.
Deeb and Rosa labored tremendous exhausting right here, and made their match stand out by giving it extra of a wrestling focus. There as loads of grappling and, because the match went on, many robust submission spots. The gang was tremendous into this firstly, popping big for Rosa placing Deeb in a human surfboard.
One of many highlights was when Deeb put Rosa in a Determine 4 Leglock. Deep arched up and slapped Deeb, which led to the basic forwards and backwards slap trade with the Leglock nonetheless in. The 2 then rolled to the skin, leglock nonetheless in place, earlier than it broke exterior.
Rosa retained the title when she planted Deeb with a superplex from the highest after which, a la Eddie Guerrero, shifted her hips to hoist Deeb up once more. However as a substitute of one other suplex, she gave Deeb a Fireplace Thunder Driver for the win. Crowd was mega into the end.
Ranking: 3.5 stars.
Kyle O’Reilly pins Darby Allin
This was a brutal, mile-a-minute match. And it dominated. Kyle O’Reilly ended up successful after he blitzed Darby Allin with three Penalty Kicks, after which a knee strike from the highest rope.
The match began out gnarly, with Allin going for a double-leg takedown and O’Reilly catching him with a knee to the chin. I do not know if it was hardway or a bloodpack, however Allin was bleeding from the mouth from then on.
A lot of the explanation this match was so nice is that Allin took O’Reilly’s offense so nicely. O’Reilly has an MMA model, with stiff kicks and nice grappling, however he is normally smaller than his opponent. He actually kicked Allin across the ring right here, and it made O’Reilly look brutal.
After all, Darby Allin is an entire maniac so there was some loopy stuff right here. Allin did two Suicide Dives. The primary, whether or not on function or not, was sort of like a spinning wheel kick although, as Allin fell wanting touchdown on O’Reilly, however caught him together with his foot on the best way down. The second Suicide Dive, in an excellent spot, was countered by O’Reilly right into a Guillotine Choke. Later within the match, Allin did a Coffin Drop onto the apron.
My favourite half was when Allin went for a Coffin Drop in the midst of the ring, however on the final second O’Reilly reoriented himself and Allin landed proper into an armbar. It was candy. Probably the most intense spot got here when O’Reilly wrapped Allin’s gold chain round Allin’s mouth, then used it to choke him with it. That led to the three Penalty Kicks and the top-rope knee that gained O’Reilly the match.
Ranking: 4.25 stars. They went a bit of too quick, because the match felt rushed in components and would have benefitted from letting among the gnarly spots breathe a bit. However these two have unbelievable chemistry, and placed on an impressive match.
American High Workforce beat Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian and Tay Conti
The staff of Ethan Web page, Scorpio Sky and Paige VanZant defeated Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian and Tay Conti, that means Guevara can not problem for Sky’s TNT Championship.
The primary a part of the match constructed as much as Paige VanZant getting tagged in for her first in-ring efficiency. Paige is inexperienced, however she did nicely. She took down Tay Conti and hit her with strikes from a knee-on-belly place, after which hit Sammy Guevara within the guts when he tried to intervene on Conti’s behalf. She then planted him with a Twister DDT, then tripped Conti into Guevara’s crotch.
Conti bought the higher hand from there, and Sammy congratulated her with a giant hug and a kiss — taking part in into the gimmick that they are a tremendous obnoxious couple. Their OTT PDA allowed American High Workforce to crowd round them, and led to a disgusted Kizarian to not come to Guevara and Conti’s support. Guevara and Conti then bought in a twister blitz with American High Workforce, which led Kazarian to get again into the fray.
He tagged himself in and took out Ethan Web page, however then Conti confronted him over tagging himself in. Guevara tried to Superkick Kazarian, however unintentionally caught Conti as a substitute — which bought an enormous pop and a “you f***** up” chant. Kazarian threw Guevara out of the ring, then ate a TKO from Scorpio Sky, which led to the three depend.
Ranking: 2.5 stars. There have been some enjoyable spots right here, however the dynamic of Kazarian tagging with Conti and Guevara was too dysfunctional. Kizarian can be attacking Guevara one minute after which making an attempt to get a win for his or her staff the subsequent. The important thing spot right here, although, was Guevara unintentionally kicking Conti — the whole lot else was background.
Britt Baker DMD wins Ladies’s Owen Hart Cup
Each Britt Baker and Ruby Soho bought dwell music entrances. Soho’s theme music bought performed by punk band Rancid, which the gang liked. The viewers was scorching for this match firstly and finish, with big “Ruby Soho/DMD” duelling chants firstly and the tip. They have been much less roused all through the center.
Although the gang was invested in each Britt Baker and Ruby Soho, the match itself was missable. Not unhealthy, simply high quality. Soho particularly had a less-than-stellar night time. She did nicely promoting all through the match, however her comebacks lacked the hearth needed to actually get the gang into the match in a giant means. A key spot was Soho placing Britt Baker right into a Sharpshooter, which she did not lock in accurately.
The match ended when Soho went for a rollup, however Baker reversed it right into a rollup of her personal for the three depend.
Afterwards, we bought a ceremony with the Owen Hart Cup winners, Baker and Cole, and a speech from Martha Hart. It was an excellent speech, and an excellent second in professional wrestling historical past. Martha Hart congratulated each titans of wrestling for his or her exhausting fought victory — sort of bizarre that two heels have been put in such a place of glory, however that is OK — and offered each with Owen Hart Cup championship belts.
Ranking: 2.5 stars. OK match, unbelievable ceremony with Martha Hart.
Adam Cole wins Males’s Owen Hart Cup
Adam Cole defeated Samoa Joe with the assistance of Bobby Fish to win the Males’s Owen Hart Cup.
This was a terrific match. It had an excellent move all through: Samoa Joe is a giant monster who dominated the smaller Adam Cole, however Cole labored exhausting to work out from beneath together with his pace and technique — and, in the end, his assist from stabelmate Bobby Fish. Each labored as exhausting as you’d anticipate, and each performed their roles tremendous nicely.
My favourite spot was when Cole went for the Panama Dawn however Joe used his immense dimension benefit to counter it right into a knee buster. Different highlights embrace Joe sick transition from powerbomb to STF, and a stiff clothesline counter to Cole’s Increase Knee try.
As Joe regarded to cinch the victory, proceedings have been interrupted by Bobby Fish, who ran right down to the ring. Joe took out Fish, after which locked the Coquina Clutch sleeper on Cole. Fish distracted once more, with Joe releasing the maintain to knock Fish off the apron. Cole then hit a barrage of Superkicks after which a Increase Knee to get the win.
Ranking: 4.25 stars. For my part the unsuitable man gained — however these two labored exceptionally nicely collectively.
Home of Black defeats Demise Triangle
Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews and Brody King beat Pac, Penta Oscuro and Rey Fenix after Julia Hart appeared and joined Home of Black by spitting black mist into Pac’s face.
This was six extremely expert and intensely gifted athletes doing a bunch of loopy spots for about quarter-hour. It was mindless, with minimal psychology, however lovely to observe nontheless. The motion was so quick and nonstop that it could be impractical to recap it. As a substitute, have a look at just a few gifs of the craziest stuff.
The end got here when Pac hit a low blow on Malakai Black, and went to the highest to hit his ending splash. The lights exit, and after they come again on Julia Hart was standing within the ring. The referee was distracted elsewhere, so he did not see her spraying black mist at Pac. Malakai Black hit his Black Mass roundhouse kick for the end.
Ranking: 4 stars. Take your pondering hat off and this was an unbelievable spectacle.
Jade Cargill retains TBS Championship
Jade Cargill remains to be TBS Champion after defeating Anna Jay in an OK match. After the bout, we bought the AEW debut of Ember Moon — who now goes by Athena.
Some awkward motion and a whole lot of smoke and mirrors right here. Cargill began robust, subduing Jay just like the dominant champion she is. Jay ended up getting in some offense, slowly combating again from beneath till touchdown a (barely botched) top-rope Blockbuster neckbreaker. She then tossed Cargill into the facet steps — Cargill did an excellent job taking this, and making it look painful.
Then the intereference started. Kiera Hogan and Purple Velvet tried to double staff Jay exterior, however Jay fought again. Then, when the ladies have been within the ring, “Good” Mark Sterling ran down and threw a pair of crutches within the ring. As he distracted the ref, Jay took the crutches off Cargill, their meant recipient, and hit Cargill with them, then planted her with a Russian Leg Sweep for a two depend.
Cargill tried her Jaded finisher, however Jay countered with a rollup and locked in a rear-naked choke. Cargill fought out, and the 2 ended up within the nook on the highest turnbuckle. Then Stokely Hathaway, formerely referred to as Malcolm Bivens in NXT, made his technique to the ring, which distracted Jay. Cargill planted Jay with a top-rope Jaded slam for the win.
After the match, Hogan, Velvet and Cargill began to beat down on Jay. Kris Statlander got here to her rescue. Amid a staredown, Athena, previously Ember Moon, made her AEW debut. Alongside Statlander and Jay to stardown Hogan, Velvet and Cargill.
Ranking: 2 stars.
The Hardys defeat The Younger Bucks
The Hardys and The Younger Bucks wrestled twice in Ring of Honor, going 1 for 1. On this rubber match, The Hardys defeated The Younger Bucks in an excellent tag staff bout after Jeff Hardy hit a Swanton Bomb on Nick Jackson. There was some over-the-top motion that is typical of Younger Bucks PPV matches, motion that makes it inconceivable to droop your disbelief, however this was undeniably enjoyable to observe.
The match was nicely paced, starting with a flurry and slowing down when the Younger Bucks took out Jeff Hardy. With Hardy laid out on the skin, The Bucks labored over Matt Hardy, who heroically resisted till Jeff was roused again to life.
As may be anticipated, there have been some artistic spots right here. My favourite was when The Hardys tried a Poetry in Movement, with Jeff launching off Matt’s again to splash Matt Jackson within the nook, however Nick Jackson interrupted with a candy Enziguiri excessive rope.
The tide started to show with a sequence of spots the place Nick unintentionally took out his personal staff. He tried a high-knee within the nook on Jeff, however Jeff dodged and Nick caught Matt as a substitute. Nick then tried to do the “you are lifeless!” Penalty Kick on Matt Hardy exterior, however Matt ducked and Nick kicked Brandon Cutler as a substitute. Facet be aware: Cutler was mega fashionable amongst this crowd.
After some motion exterior the ring, there was a incredible close to fall the place Jeff hit a jawbreaker to Nick on the highest rope, then went for a Swanton Bomb. Nick rolled away, planted Jeff with a Twist of Destiny after which Matt hit Jeff with a Swanton Bomb for a two depend. The gang chanted “That is superior!”
Then, as typically occurs with Younger Bucks matches, issues bought a bit foolish.
The Bucks started a Superkick Celebration, hitting double Superkicks on each Matt and Jeff. With Matt and Jeff on their knees, the Bucks blitzed them with 4 Superkicks every. The Hardys bought to their knees once more, and the Bucks hit each once more with double Superkicks. Each Bucks pinned each Hardys, and each bought two counts.
The Bucks then setup the ring steps on the skin, however the Hardys, after consuming a barrage of Superkicks, immediately revived and fought again. Matt planted Matt Jackson throughout the ring steps, and Jeff Hardy hit a gnarly — gnarly — Swanton Bomb from the highest rope on the steps.
Within the ring, Matt Hardy hit Nick Jackson with a Twist of Destiny for a two depend. He tried one other Twist of Destiny, however Nick countered right into a rollup. Hardy kicked out, hit Nick with a Facet Impact and one other Twist of Destiny, then Jeff Hardy landed a Swanton Bomb on Nick Jackson for the win.
Ranking: 4 stars. I hated the Superkick Celebration. Spots that in actual life would trigger long-term mind injury however right here do not even maintain somebody down for 3 seconds are simply an excessive amount of for be to disregard. Additionally, Matt and Jeff labored exhausting, however each, notably Jeff, definitely do not transfer in addition to they used to. Jeff seems pained a whole lot of the time, which sucks to see.
However with each of these criticisms famous, this was an excellent tag staff match and an entire lot of enjoyable.
Wardlow destroys MJF
Wardlow completely obliterated MJF within the opening match. MJF bought in no offense, and Wardlow pinned MJF after 10 powerbombs. It was a squash match. I am positive the plan was at all times for Wardlow to win, however the squash format might have been punishment for MJF’s real-life menace to no present Double or Nothing.
A testomony to MJF: He had nuclear warmth on this bout. Lots of the followers within the enviornment knew that MJF performed hen with the corporate — he legitimately no-showed a meet and inexperienced on Saturday, a transfer which seems to be a real-life a part of MJF’s contractual disputes with AEW — which led to a sarcastic “he confirmed up!” chant.
Because the match started, the followers chanted “f*** you MJF”.
MJF started by leaping out and in of the ring to keep away from Wardlow. Finally Wardlow grabbed him from the skin and pulled him in. Wardlow tried a powerbomb, however MJF bit him on the top to interrupt it up. He then poked Wardlow within the eyes. Amid a skirmish, MJF tried to pretend a knee harm, and because the ref backed Wardlow off, MJF tried to seize his brass ring — however Wardlow attacked him earlier than MJF might put it on.
From there the match was a sequence of powerbombs. He hit MJF with about 10 powerbombs, then pinned him. After the destruction, MJF bought stretchered out as the gang chanted “you deserve it!”
Up on the ramp, Tony Schiavone met Wardlow and introduced that, per the stipulations of the bout, Wardlow is now formally an AEW wrestler and not sure to be MJF’s bodyguard.
Ranking: No ranking. It seems like this might have been MJF’s punishment for no displaying Saturday’s meet-and-greet occasion and his implicit menace to no-show Double or Nothing. The gang hated MJF, so liked this. However it wasn’t a lot of a match.
Hookhausen beats Tony Nese and “Good” Mark Sterling
The unusual bedfellows pairing of Hook and Danhousen made their debut within the AEW Double or Nothing preshow. It was a easy match, as you’d anticipate from a (thrilling) novice and a comedy act. Danhausen pinned Mark Sterling after Hook gave Sterling a head-arm suplex.
The match had a primary template. Hook opened and took down Tony Nese with a double-leg. With Tony Nese backing away from Hook, Hook tagged in Danhausen. After just a few spots, the place Danhausen tried to curse Nese, Nese bought the higher hand on Danhausen and each he and Sterling bought a couple of minutes of warmth. Danhausen ultimately reversed a transfer from Nese right into a Northern Lights Suplex, then tagged in Hook.
Hook obliterated Nese and with suplexes, then hit the head-arm suplex on Sterling. He then tagged in Danhausen, who put his foot on Nese’s chest for the pin.
Ranking: 2 stars. A-to-B match, however there’s nothing unsuitable with that. Danhausen is just too foolish for me, however in case you’re a fan of his you need this.
