Roundtable: Double Or Nothing

How would you rate the buildup to Double Or Nothing?

David Gibb: For a non-WWE show, it’s the best-promoted wrestling card in 20 years.

Juan Bautista: 10. They have used all their platforms, whether it was the rally, ticket party or YouTube series, to build the card. PAC vs. Adam “Hangman” Page was started at the first rally. The ticket party confirmed the rematch of Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho while the Lucha Bros. attacked the Young Bucks. The YouTube series has done a great job promoting other parts of the card as well.

Neal Wagner: 7/10 after this past week’s altercation between Jericho and Omega. My biggest complaint about the whole thing has been the lack of action between the wrestlers. There has been more talking and promos done for the matches and little on the side of in-ring action outside of Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros and this past week’s Kenny and Jericho segment. Give me some more action and a little less on the promo side.

John Corrigan: 10. I don’t think there is anything else they could do to persuade someone to buy the show. It’s history in the making and now Cody vs. Dustin is the cherry on top.

Steven Jackson: Brilliant. Cody Rhodes and his entourage have really embraced social media to promote this show just as much as All In, and I’m excited to see how this show pans out.

Sam Gladen: It’s been incredible to watch. Between BTE and Nightmare Family, I cannot wait to see how these storylines shake out.

Jack Goodwillie: For a fledgling company with no TV deal (to speak of), you have to give it a perfect…. TEN (wink, wink). But seriously, the build has been extremely outside the box in a wrestling landscape run by “inside the box” thinkers, and that’s been pretty admirable. Between the professionally shot YouTube promos to using the indies as a battle ground to generate excitement for the matches, Tony Khan and company have done all they can do – and then some – to drum up buzz heading into Memorial Day weekend.

Will you be watching Double Or Nothing live?

Gibb: Probably not, but I will watch it within a few days of it happening.

Bautista: Yes, I will watching on the FITE TV app.

Wagner: I have every intention of watching it live because that is always the best way to feel every emotion of the show. Cody and company built that emotion in the fan base during All In and they will definitely do it again.

Corrigan: Goodwillie had me buying a plane ticket until I was reminded I had Billy Joel tickets the night prior. Now on top of that, I’ll be down the shore for Memorial Day weekend and won’t be able to watch until Monday at the earliest. We’re going to need someone to take over @TheWrestlingEst for live tweeting!

Jackson: Living in the U.K., I’m unsure if I will be able to watch Double or Nothing live due to the time difference. As with All In, I think I will be logical and watch the replay.

Gladen: If they’ll ever announce where to buy it in the U.S., I will!

Goodwillie: Well, I was GOING to be there live, if tickets didn’t get scalped out within five minutes! Actually, it’s all good, I can use a Memorial Day weekend off from Las Vegas, anyway, though next time I’d advise booking T-Mobile, as it’s become more than apparent AEW is in store for something much greater than “Indie WrestleMania.” I don’t think I’ll be able to watch it live due to other plans, but will 100% have it streamed within 24 hours.

Which match are you most interested in?

Gibb: Am I not supposed to say Dustin vs. Cody? It’s a featured match we never got in WWE, and Cody has smartly framed it as a clash between paradigms and visions, not just “two brothers fighting,” which is intriguing. From a “which match do I think will have the most exciting action” perspective, I wouldn’t want to miss Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros.

Bautista: So Cal Uncensored vs. Strong Hearts. I haven’t seen the OWE promotion and I am really interested in what they can do and how the two different styles blend.

Wagner: To not point out an obvious one, the women’s 3-way. I have never seen Nyla Rose’s or Kylie Ray’s matches before, but I’ve seen Britt Baker a handful of times, once live at an ROH show. With the right storyline and talent involved, AEW has every capability of building the best women’s division in wrestling.

Corrigan: Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros will be the match of the year. Guaranteed.

Jackson: I’m really excited for the Young Bucks vs. Lucha Bros. as both teams will bring the best out of one another in a true dream match. Also, I have to give special mention to Hangman Page vs. PAC, as this match will surprise everyone and steal the show. They deserve time and a prominent spot, which thankfully AEW has given them both.

Gladen: Dustin vs. Cody has the most potential to steal the show. But SCU vs. the OWE guys looks like it should be amazing. Plus, Adam Page vs. PAC.

Goodwillie: There are four matches that are really worth tuning in for and I can make an argument for any of them. If I had to give an answer, I’d probably have to go with Cody vs. Dustin. This is a match that has been teased inside and outside WWE for YEARS and I’m glad it’s finally happening. With that being said, you have to wonder what lengths the Rhodes brothers will go to in order to make it memorable. Then when you factor in the pre-match promos that are up on YouTube, you really start to get excited.

On a side note, keep an eye on the Casino Battle Royal. I, for one, am eager to find out what separates a “casino” battle royal from a regular one…On a serious note though, keep an eye out for Sunny Daze in the battle royal. The man behind the paint, Dylan Frymyer (fka “Bulldog” James Dylan), like myself is a Wilson High School (West Lawn, PA.) alum and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t proud of him for making the card. Dylan, who is also a long-time member of the DDP Yoga Accountability crib, does some great video work behind the scenes, too. It remains to be seen how far AEW will go with him, but I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t sort of a trip hearing him get announced for the card.

Who wins: Kenny Omega or Chris Jericho?

Gibb: Omega got the win in the Tokyo Dome in 2018, so we’ll see Jericho get the nod on North American soil. AEW needs him perceived as a top heel on a global scale by the time its TV show launches, and beating Omega in spectacular fashion seems like a natural way to build that character.

Bautista: Chris Jericho. They’ll be 1-1 and somewhere down the line they have this epic third match that decides it all.

Wagner: Jericho gets his win finally for two reasons: He has Okada just two weeks later and AEW, while not currently working with New Japan, will want its guy to look strong going into a major main event match for another company, for a world title. They can also do the Okada-Omega route of each man has one win so they can get ready to build for the final match in what will be a trilogy.

Corrigan: As much as I want Jericho to win, I just don’t see Omega losing at the first AEW event. He’s obviously the franchise player and Jericho can afford losses until the end of time.

Jackson: After the recent revelation that Chris Jericho will be challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP Title at Dominion, it makes sense that Jericho wins leading into his world title match.

Gladen: Jericho will win, tying the series at 1-1.

Goodwillie: The funny thing about Jericho and Omega is how AEW is selling it like it’s this blood feud. It’s not. From a worldview perspective, their issue already played out at Wrestle Kingdom 12 AND they had another match on the Jericho Cruise. Let’s face it, this match is solely on the show to sell buys, and chances are it’ll meet the standard of their previous two matches. And that’s more than enough! All that said, I don’t see how Kenny doesn’t leave Double or Nothing with a win. He’ll be the betting favorite to be the company’s first world champion when it’s unveiled.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yA7XmsOMUcc

Give one surprise that you think will happen.

Gibb: There will be something lame involving penises that distracts from a lot of good work.

Bautista: Jon Moxley confronts Jimmy Havoc.

Wagner: Jon Moxley shows up, maybe even Shawn Spears. They already have a stacked card, but they will look to throw a few more surprises into the roster before they start building up for Fight For The Fallen in July.

Corrigan: Maria Manic will crash the party and destroy every woman in her sight.

Jackson: With my nostalgic, dream wrestling hat on, I’d love Dean Malenko to come out and screw Chris Jericho, allowing Kenny Omega to get the win!

Gladen: The Villian will debut and back up Adam Page versus PAC.

Goodwillie: Everyone’s gonna say Dean Ambro… err… Jon Moxley, and while that’s the low hanging fruit, it would be a slam dunk on so many levels. One thing I haven’t seen is anyone giving out any ideas for how he’ll come in. If it were me, I’d keep it simple and go the ECW route of turning the lights off and having him in the ring with some sort of barbaric weapon when they come back on. I’d also do it in a non-marquee match, as it spreads the buzz a little bit more and won’t take away from some of the show’s bigger matches. If he does come to AEW, however, I imagine it will be a freelance agreement for something of a trial run before signing exclusively maybe a year down the line.