Join 411’s Live AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 Coverage

 

Good evening 411 friends! Theo Sambus here, and it’s Sunday night in our traditional pay-per-view slot, as All Elite Wrestling present Double or Nothing 2026. Welcome to 411’s live coverage!

It’s been a gloriously sunny Bank Holiday weekend for me, and I’m stoked to be settling down to catch tonight’s PPV. DoN is always one of the more prominent cards in the AEW calendar, and we have some stellar stuff on tap tonight.

Darby Allin continues his title defense series, as he promises to keep going until the wheels fall off. With two title defenses per week, it’s only a matter of time before that amount of punishment catches up with him. MJF is looking to capitalize on that, as he challenges Allin in a Title vs Hair main event. We’ve seen a LOT of skits and chatter about MJF becoming bald; will that destiny be realized tonight? Or will MJF fulfil his promise to become a 3-time World champion at the age of 30?

We’ve got a real handful of workhorse-style matches too; Moxley vs O’Reilly, Takeshita vs Okada, and Bandido vs Swerve Strickland could all lay claim to MOTN, each coming in with high stakes and well-implemented back stories. I very much enjoyed the last Takeshita/Okada encounter but it certainly felt like they were holding some stuff back – if tonight is where they let loose and go all out, oh BOY we are in for a treat.

We also have the first ever 7 on 7 Stadium Stampede, which has a ton of intersecting angles and promises the usual brand of utter carnage

Elsewhere, we’ll see Thekla defend the Women’s World title in a four-way match, pitting herself against top tier talent in Jamie Hayter, Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander. Shida is clearly UP TO SOMETHING in her dealings with Statlander thus far, so count me INTRIGUED to see how this one goes down.

Alrighty, well by my calculations it is time for our Zero Hour Buy-In, where we’ll be joined for the first time by the one and only Mick Foley. BANG BANG! Oh go on, give us a skit with Juice Robinson and the Gunns, that would be gold.

Location: Queens, NY

Venue: Louis Armstrong Stadium

Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone

 

*The Double or Nothing Buy In is live, and Renee Paquette welcomes the sickos! And here comes the Hardcore Legend, Mick Foley! Huge pop for Mrs Foley’s Baby Boy. Foley says AEW is the reason he fell in love with wrestling again.

 

[AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Five-Minute Eliminator Match] Divine Dominion vs. Zayda Steel and Viva Van (w/ Christopher Daniels)

5 Minutes on the clock, how long can Steel and Van last? Steel heads to the floor and does jumping jacks, hoping to run out the clock. She looks for a spinning DDT on Bayne, Bayne muscles her up, roll up from Steel but Bayne puts on the brakes. Van in with a springboard leg lariat. Van low bridges Bayne to the outside, baseball slide misses, and Kross wipes her out with a big boot. Shoulder thrusts from Bayne, butterfly suplex, sliding lariat from Kross gets 2. Clubbing blows by Bayne, Kross with back elbows. Van with an upkick, looks for the tag, enziguri to Kross, and Steel tags in. Tijeras, running knee in the corner, Kross telegraphs missing a sloppy kick, tornado DDT from Steel gets 2. Under a minute left. Crescent kick from Kross, pump kick, Bayne with a German. Divine Intervention, 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Divine Dominion

Time: 4:45

Rating: *3/4 – A little sloppy in parts, and DD didn’t have the urgency that you’d expect when the clock was running down.

*Post-match, Kross with a thrust kick to Christopher Daniels and they look to continue the assault, but here comes TayJay! Divine Dominion hastily exit the ring, and it looks like we may have their next challengers.

 

Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, and Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Opps (Anthony Bowens, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata)

Bowens and Yuta start us off and Yuta gets an early backslide for a quick nearfall. Hook and Garcia go at it now, Garcia bringing the intensity. Capture suplex from Hook, and Shibata tags in. Shibata wants Castagnoli! Garcia doesn’t oblige, so Shibata shoves Garcia into the corner and forces the tag. Shibata and Castagnoli with furious forearms! Shibata dropkick in the corner, vertical suplex and floats over into a cover for 2. Hook in, T-bone suplex attempt but Castagnoli counters and lifts him into a snake eyes on the buckles. Garcia refuses to dance after some mounted punches, and now Shibata tags back in. Yuta in, met with an atomic drop and more forearms in the corner. Oh but here’s Claudio out of nowhere with an uppercut. Triple big boots from the Death Riders. Shibata welcomes the chops from Garcia. Death Riders run the lariat/uppercut train on Hook, only a 2 count. Claudio tries to lift Hook, Hook tries to counter with Redrum but can’t get it. T-bone suplex to Yuta! Tag to Bowens, and he comes in with strikes to Yuta and Garcia. Fameasser! Superkick to Castagnoli. Rope-assisted twisting DDT on Yuta, 1, 2, Claudio breaks it up. Armbar attempt on Castagnoli, the Death Riders break it up….but Shibata and Hook lock in sleepers! Claudio puts a stop to that. Bowens takes the Death Riders on 3 on 1 but it doesn’t end well for him. Running European uppercut! 1, 2, 3!

Winners: Death Riders

Time: 10:31

Rating: **3/4 – Oh Shibata/Castagnoli went AT IT, that section was neat. Ideal kind of match for a Buy In, with short heat segments, and everyone getting their stuff in. I could have gone for a Bowens win here if we’re supposed to be taking him seriously now, but I guess they’re still going for the slow burn approach.

 

[10-Man Tag Team Contest] Boom & Doom & The Conglomeration vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

The Rizzler is in Orange Cassidy cosplay tonight. Carly Bravo gets bullied in the corner with mounted punches from everyone, until Cassidy gives the one-shot punch. Everything breaks down and people spill to the outside, leaving Cassidy in the ring to receive a Bronco Buster. Taylor tags in, so Cassidy puts his hands in his pockets, only to walk into a body shot from Ogogo. Stundog Millionaire on Moriarty, Bravo in with a sunset flip attempt but Cassidy holds on, walks away and tags in AJ. AJ lariats Taylor to the floor, Sky High on Bravo for 2. AJ may be thinking piledriver, but Moriarty distracts the ref. Catfight on the outside as Harley Cameron takes it to the STP stooge while the Rizzler looks on approvingly. Briscoe brings in a chair, sets it up for the tope con hilo and nails it to the pile of bodies outside the ring. Tower of (Boom &) Doom spot, it’s a triple powerbomb on Carly Bravo to give AJ the 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Boom & Doom & The Conglomeration

Time: 6:29

Rating: ** – I’m still not into the whole Boom & Doom shtick, but at least it made sense here considering their issues with STP stemming from Revolution. And hey, at 6 minutes it certainly didn’t outstay its welcome.

*Boom & Doom with the Conglomeration are surrounded in the middle of the ring after the match…but HERE’S EDDIE KINGSTON! Big NY pop. Eddie storms to the ring along with Mance Warner and Ortiz to run off STP.

*Mick Foley and Renee Paquette continue to highlight tonight’s card…but here comes Maxwell Jacob Friedman! MJF says, are we supposed to care about his opinion because at the height of his career, all he did was fail.

Foley wants to give MJF some advice. Foley may have lost a lot, but he never lost in 2 minutes and 15 seconds. That’s not a loss, that’s a disgrace. Foley says when MJF looks at Darby, he sees a younger Mick Foley. Foley says Max has wavy hair…and tonight, it’s waving goodbye. LOW BLOW TO MICK FOLEY! MJF looks to continue the assault but here comes Darby Allin charging to the ring, and MJF runs like a scolded dog.

Foley on the mic says he didn’t know until a month ago that he had inspired Darby Allin. Foley sees Darby Allin’s success as his own. Tonight, Darby has to win one for the weird ones. Win it for anyone who was told they can’t do it. Show them that he has what it takes to be a legend. BANG BANG!

 

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*And now we turn our attention to the pay-per-view itself…Double or Nothing starts NOW.

[AEW World Tag Team Championships – I Quit New York Street Fight] FTR © vs. Adam Copeland and Christian Cage

And as a reminder, if Cope & Cage lose, they can never team again. Now that the crowd is fully formed, damn they are all packed in there! Great visual. Both teams immediately come to blows after pairing off. Cope and Cash head to the floor, leaving Cage and Dax in the ring. Mounted punches from Christian, and he bites the forehead. Back body drop connects. Killswitch attempt is denied, Dax knocks Cage down with a lariat. Dax grabs barbed wire and wraps it around his wrist, but that’s denied and Cage hits a reverse DDT. Cage wraps barbed wire around the middle rope and drop toe holds Dax into it! And he stands on the back, vintage Cage, digging the barbed wire into the chest and throat of Harwood. Cage takes the belt off ref Paul Turner’s pants and whips Dax with it repeatedly before choking him out. Cope brings a ladder into play and props it up against the barricade. Suplex into the ladder goes Dax! Cope goes digging under the ring, and pulls out a table, setting it up at ringside. He heads up onto the apron with Cash, but here’s Stokely to grab the legs. Dax gets involved but is clotheslined to the floor. Cash with a chairshot to the back of Cope. He wraps the chair around the head and neck of Cope and sends him into the ringpost.

Cage opens up a toolbox and grabs a pair of pliers before plying them to the nose of Dax. And to the BALLS of Cash!! Dax gets a chair and smacks it over Cage’s arm with the hairline fracture, targeting the brace. Cope heads outside with Dax, and they fight onto the announce desk. SPIKE PILEDRIVER on the announce desk by FTR! They grab a cinder block and slide Cage’s arm through it, smacking it with a steel chair. Ref asks Cage if he quits…Cage replies “I…I….I banged your mother”. Cash starts to undo the top turnbuckle, but then thinks about another spike piledriver. Cage tells them to go fuck themselves. Killswitch!! Stoke carries on taking off the top rope. Dax goes to use it, but here’s Cage with a SPEAR! He chokes Dax with the rope until Cash breaks it up. Barbed wire into the throat from Cash. SHATTER MACHINE!! Cash grabs a wrench and hits Cage in the face with it, but here’s Cope with SPEARS to both men! Chairshots raining down from Cope now. Dax takes the mic and pleads with Cope. Cash says he’ll say it, just stop. Stokely in the ring, watch shot to the face of Cope. Shatter Machine!

BETH COPELAND arrives! She takes it to Stokely on the ramp, kicking him into the steel steps, but Dax shoves her into them too, and that’s it, she’s out. Dax pulls out lighter fluid and covers the table at ringside. Oh boy. Stokely has Beth poised on the apron. Dax lights the table on fire!! BUT BETH MOVES, AND CASH SPEARS STOKELY THROUGH THE FLAMING TABLE!!!

Back in the ring, Dax sets Cope up for a conchairto…Dax says if Cope wants to see his two daughters tomorrow, say I Quit. But Beth is back up, LOW BLOW. Another from Cage! Piledriver on Dax! Cage twists him into a Sharpshooter…and Cope joins in with a Crossface too! Cope is directing traffic, and Beth upends the steel steps to find…SPIKE! Spike the Nailbat is here! Cope drives Spike into the head of Dax….AND DAX QUITS!

Winners and NEW AEW World Tag Team Champions: Cope & Cage

Time: 19:35

Rating: **** – They threw everything at this one, and it worked. Super fun start to the show with a bunch of wild spots and payoff to some months-long angles between these teams. I woudn’t expect Cage & Cope to have a long reign, but I think they can do some entertaining stuff while it lasts.

 

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[AEW International Championship] Kazuchika Okada © vs. Konosuke Takeshita

Damn, we are front loading this show! Don Callis joins us for commentary. Both men square off, and they begin by trading forearms. Big boot from Okada, sunset flip by Takeshita, early Rainmaker attempt denied, early Raging Fire attempt! They come to a standoff face to face, and the crowd is HOT! Off the ropes, big boot from Takeshita, flying forearm to follow. Okada sits Takeshita on the top rope and dropkicks him to the floor. He drives Takeshita into the barricade and brings it down to Okada pace, firmly in control. Back to the ring, cocky cover fires up Takeshita. Neckbreaker delivered by Okada, another cocky cover and Takeshita is starting to get pissed. Exploder by the challenger, and again! Takeshita goes up top, goes for a senton but Okada gets the knees up. But Takeshita is back with a leaping knee strike! Okada to the outside, and Takeshita follows up with a picture-perfect tope con hilo.

Back inside, Takeshita runs at Okada in the corner, Okada catches him and delivers the Air Raid neckbreaker across the knee. Body slam, Okada goes up top, elbow drop connects…RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE!!! Rainmaker attempt now, Takeshita elbows out of it, and he avoids a German. Blue Thunder is countered, Okada looks for a tombstone but no, that’s countered into the BASTARD DRIVER and the wheelbarrow German but OKADA IS UP for a dropkick, Takeshita up, ROLLING LARIAT BY OKADA! Good Lord.

They fight onto the apron….Takeshita thinks about a Raging Fire, Okada hits a RAINMAKER while still inside the ring with Takeshita on the apron, beautifully done! Okada follows him to the outside and he hits a flush DDT on the floor, giving that big cheesy grin. Okada thinks about a tombstone but Don Callis leaps up to stop it, he begs Okada to just get him back in the ring. Okada relents and heads back in the ring to take the countout. Okada decides against it though and breaks the count…and Takeshita meets him with a brainbuster on the floor! Don Callis is livid so Takeshita has strong words for him. Both men back in the ring, big boot in the corner, and Takeshita sets Okada up on the top rope, superplex! And he holds on, but Okada slips behind, Rainmaker attempt denied….SKY HIGH GERMAN SUPLEX by Takeshita!! 1, 2, NOOOO. Takeshita backs into the corner, takes a run up, gets DROPPED WITH A LEAPING TOMBSTONE!

Back to their feet, we get the boo-yay strikes. Okada flips him off, and Takeshita fires himself up. He no sells some shots before smacking Okada hard. Rainmaker is countered into the Blue Thunder! Powerdrive knee countered into an Emerald Flowsion!! Rainmaker countered again, seatbelt pin, 1, 2, NOOOOOO!! Powerdrive knee blocked, backslide, lariat and Okada has wrist control. Misses a swing but hits a dropkick! RAINMAKER REVERSED, TAKESHITA HITS ONE OF HIS OWN! But he runs into another dropkick, POWERDRIVE KNEE, 1 COUNT PIN!! AHHHH! They are face to face once more, big elbow strike from Takeshita. Raging Fire!!! 1, 2, 3!!!

Winner and NEW AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita

Time: 19:01

Rating: ***** – Absolutely beautiful pro-wrestling. Just ridiculous ability from both guys on top form. This is the kind of match that makes me love life. Reversals upon reversals, keeping everyone guessing where they were gonna go. Tremendous.

*Post-match as Takeshita celebrates, Don Callis enters the ring with Mark Davis and Rocky Romero. Takeshita looks like he’s going to take on all four men…PROTOSTARRRRR! KYLE F’N FLETCHER is here! He’s suited and booted, and he heads to the ring to stand side by side, shoulder to shoulder with Takeshita. Fletcher gets in the face of Okada, but Callis is there to play peace keeper. The rest of the DCF exit the ring, leaving Fletcher and Takeshita to embrace to a big pop.

WAIT!!! FLETCHER JUST LEVELLED TAKESHITA! Okada is all smiles as Fletcher stands over the knocked out new champion. He lifts Takeshita to his feet, Tak can barely respond but he tries to limply strike him, only for Fletcher to drop him with a sheer drop brainbuster. Okada goes to pick up the belt…as Fletcher reaches for it too. Romero & Davis hold Takeshita up as Fletcher takes the title and cracks him in the face with it. Protoshida is OVER.

 

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[Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Match] Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa

Rebound kick off the ropes from Mina, and she slides and shimmies. Dropkick to the knee, Mina goes into the corner and climbs but Athena meets her with a running kick. Side slam on the apron, Shirakawa is down by the steps and Athena goes for a knee strike but Shirakawa moves and Athena’s knees eat steel. Shirakawa is poised by the barricade, and Athena delivers a shotgun dropkick into the LED board, knocking out the signal.

Back in the ring, Shirakawa manipulates the legs, targeting the knee. She places the leg across the ropes and stamps on it a couple of times. Athena catches her on a crossbody attempt and slams her to the mat. Fishook from Athena, Shirakawa comes back with a springboard enziguri. Slingblade connects. Tornado DDT attempt is denied. goes for it again and hits it this time as Athena spills to the floor. Tornillo to the outside!! Shirakawa up top, shotgun dropkick back inside the ring, and she gets Athena in an electric chair position…awkward landing, not entirely sure what that was but Athena took the brunt of it. She comes back and hits a surfboard stomp to Mina a la Super Dragon, covers for 2. O Face attempt, Mina holds on though! Tijeras SPIKES Athena into the mat, modified seatbelt, 1, 2, NO. Elbow strike, uraken! Figure Four applied, putting pressure on the injured knee! And Athena makes it to the ropes. Shirakawa tries to get control again, another backfist, and she looks for the Glamorous Driver, can’t get it. FUCK, JUMPING TOMBSTONE! Mina looked like she legit landed on her head! Athena up top, O-FACE! 1, 2, 3.

Winner and advancing in the tournament: Athena

Time: 10:43

Rating: ***1/2 – Good to see Mina looking dominant in the early goings as she doesn’t always get that chance. Really good stuff here, slightly suffered from placement after the epic Okada/Takeshita match but these women did some neat work, bar the odd sloppy spot.

 

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*The Conglomeration give Kyle O’Reilly a little pep talk prior to his match. Mark Briscoe hypes him up and says tonight is the night.

 

[AEW Continental Championship – No Time Limit] Jon Moxley vs Kyle O’Reilly

Jim Ross has joined commentary for this next match. Bit of a feeling out process as neither man wants to expend too much energy at this stage. Moxley with wrist control, O’Reilly works out it and fires off a kick to the spine. They work to a standoff before O’Reilly fires up with a series of strikes. Arm wringer, Kyle locks in a guillotine with a body scissors, Moxley counters with a body slam and he gets Kyle in guard postion. O’Reilly with a cross-armbreaker, Moxley rolls through into an ankle lock but O’Reilly counters and shoves him to the outside. Diving knee strike off the apron! Mox slaps him casually in the face and flips him off, suckering O’Reilly in to deliver a kick which Mox dodges, forcing Kyle to kick the ringpost.

More strikes exchanged in the middle of the ring, O’Reilly goes for a kick but his leg is feeling it. He goes for another, can’t put weight on the foot though. Moxley smells blood and gets to work on the ankle. Dropkick to the weakened leg in the ropes, followed by a dragon screw and a spinning toe hold. O’Reilly manages to reach the ropes to break it, but Moxley scampers up his body, raking his back and biting the eyebrow! Body shots, Kyle comes back with a desperation kick to the gut, but again that bothers the leg. Knee to the chest. O’Reilly tries to get some feeling back into his leg, but Moxley with a swift kick to the knee and Kyle goes down. Divorce Court off the ropes, O’Reilly dives with a leaping knee, and both men are down. Kyle covers, 1, 2, kickout but O’Reilly grabs the arm looking for the cross-armbreaker. Moxley has the grip denied but no, O’Reilly gets it locked in. Moxley rolls through into a single leg crab. Moxley goes for a dragon screw but O’Reilly immediately sits out into a cross-armbreaker and transitions into an ankle lock! Moxley kicks him away but NO, O’Reilly has it in tight, keeps it on! O’Reilly is wrenching away at the ankle, but Moxley isn’t tapping. Stomp to the heel! Running PK by O’Reilly and he goes down, the damaged leg affecting him once more.

Moxley slides back in the ring, and O’Reilly meets him with a stomp! But Moxley with fighting spirit hits a cutter out of nowhere, and they’re both down again. They’re back to their feet at 8, and Moxley is looking spritely all of a sudden. They trade boots, O’Reilly coming in with a rebound lariat, but Moxley hits a lariat of his own at the same time. On their knees, they trade jabs and slaps, getting to their feet for more. Biiiig lariat connects on O’Reilly, and Moxley hits the Death Rider! Choke locked in, but O’Reilly manages to roll through, ankle lock applied once more! Nooo, Moxley grabs an ankle lock too! O’Reilly transitions into a pinfall, 2 count, but as Moxley kicks out, he keeps the ankle lock held. O’Reilly is struggling! HE HAS TO TAP!

Winner and STILL AEW Continental Champion: Jon Moxley

Time: 18:41

Rating: ****1/4 – Superb limb work with O’Reilly selling sublimely, keeping it a prevalent part of the match and leading directly into the finish. Really strong series between these two men – I don’t know if this was the best but it’s certainly in the same wheelhouse.

*Post-match, both men show respect, shaking hands.

 

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[Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Match] Samoa Joe vs. Will Ospreay

Taz tags in to commentary for this next match. Joe is making his entrance when Ospreay catches him with an Oscutter as he gets in the ring!! He gets Joe down in the corner, but Joe is right back up with a big uppercut to send Ospreay flying. Leg lariat from Ospreay connects as they set a fast pace. Slingshot crossbody to the outside, Ospreay rolls Joe back in and hits a springboard 450! 1, 2, NO. Juji gatame attempt immediately but Joe is by the ropes. Sasuke Special to the outside, Joe backs away from it and locks in a sleeper and Joe viciously STO’s Ospreay into the barricade, boy it really looks like Ospreay took the brunt of that on the back of his neck. Face wash back in the ring, Mongolian chops and a nerve grip applied. Rolling elbow drops Ospreay, followed by a neck crank. Senton attempt, Ospreay gets the knees up though. Pele kick in the corner from Joe, he sits Ospreay on the top rope, maybe thinking Muscle Buster, but Ospreay kicks him away and hits a double stomp to the arm. Ospreay kips up, arm wringer, handspring corkscrew kick gets 2. Kick to the side of the head, OSCUTTER ATTEMPT but Joe NOPES out of the way and hits a senton! Powerbomb, cover, 1, 2, kick out but Joe transitions into the Boston Crab, then the STF. Crossface now, then the Brutalizer but Ospreay gets the foot on the ropes.

Joe kicks Ospreay in the chest but Ospreay defiantly sits back up. More kicks but Ospreay eats them and gets to his feet, firing up, only to receive a roaring elbow strike. Ospreay floats over…STYLES CLASH!! 1, 2, NOOO! HIDDEN BLADE! 1, 2, NOOOO! He looks for another Hidden Blade but Joe catches him with the snap powerslam. La Mistica from Ospreay, then a flying armbar, the Death Ground he now calls it, Joe turns over into a cover for 2. Sleeper! Ospreay charges into the corner, ST-JOE! Coquina Clutch!!! Ospreay is fading! But he gets a hand on the ropes at the last second.

Headbutts from Joe with Ospreay on the ropes…Muscle Buster attempt but no, Ospreay counters, HIDDEN BLADE, 1 COUNT KICKOUT! ANOTHER HIDDEN BLADE! 1, 2, 3!

Winner and advancing in the tournament: Will Ospreay

Time: 13:50

Rating: **** – They set a fast pace before the bell had even rung and it didn’t let up for the 14 minute duration. That’s the best Joe has looked in quite some time, but this was Ospreay’s game as his journey to All In is the big focus. Great match, delightful finish!

 

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[Men’s Owen Hart Tournament Match] Bandido vs. Swerve Strickland

Bandido and Swerve both throw right hands as the bell rings. Dropkick to the knee and a double stomp to the back from Bandido. Tijeras connects but Swerve shuts it down with a big lariat. Bandido with the military press, and with one arm sends him to the floor! Bandido to the apron, leaping dropkick sends Swerve crashing to the floor. He doesn’t relent, sending Swerve into the barricade on both sides. Superkick, and Bandido sits Swerve on a chair at ringside. Bandido runs along the apron and connects with a flipping senton onto Swerve on the chair! Bandido looks for a spear in the corner but Swerve sidesteps and Bandido crashes face first into the buckles. RELEASE GERMAN into the buckles!

Swerve takes control and delivers a lariat to the back of the neck, signalling that he wants to slow the pace down. Bandido up top, twisting tornillo connects! Leaping forearms, Strickland inverted in the corner eats a superkick and then rolls into a German from Bandido. To the top, Bandido connects with a frog splash, 1, 2, NO. Swerve with a flatliner, 1, 2, NO. Strickland maybe looks for Big Pressure but can’t quite get it. Bandido goes to lift Swerve up, Swerve stands ON HIS SHOULDERS AND HITS A MODIFIED HOUSE CALL!! SWERVE STOMP! 1, 2, NO. My goodness!

On the apron, Swerve gets Bandido on his shoulders…reversal, POISONRANA OFF THE APRON TO THE FLOOR! Back in the ring, Swerve is on the mat…DEADLIFT 21-PLEX! 1, 2…oh but Bandido can’t hold the bridge, he’s convulsing as the neck damage has been too much! Sunset flip, rolls through, Code Red position, Bandido hops up and fires off a BLIND HURRACANRANA with a spike, this is insane. 21-PLEX COUNTERED INTO THE VERTEBREAKER! House Call!! 1, 2, 3!

Winner and advancing in the tournament: Swerve Strickland

Time: 15:15

Rating: ****1/2 – That House Call while standiing on Bandido’s shoulders was INSANITY. This had that Mysterio/Guerrero ’97 feel where the big lucha spots connected PERFECTLY. Bandido has been having a tremendous year but there was no way Swerve was getting knocked out of the tournament at this stage. All eyes are surely on Ospreay vs Strickland at Forbidden Door. Still, Bandido had some excellent hope spots and he’s just killing it every time.

 

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[AEW Women’s World Championship] Thekla © vs. Hikaru Shida vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander

Thekla wants the ‘bitches’ to bring it on, and they do! Senton to Thekla from Statlander, Shida with a running kneelift to follow. Stereo knee strikes from Statlander and Shida to Hayter, but Hayter comes back with a double lariat. Thekla in, gouging the eyes. Tilt-a-whirl headscissors from Thekla, and Statlander splashes both her and Hayter in the corner. Shoulder block attempts from Hayter and Statlander. Haha Thekla with a ‘let’s go bitches’ as she dives with a crossbody, is caught and gets dropkicked. They all trade rollups now, step up enziguri from Shida. Shida whips Statlander into a dive to the outside but Thekla anticipates it and catches her with a knee strike! They battle on the floor as Thekla climbs the buckles before nailing a crossbody to the floor.

Thekla whips Hayter into the steel steps, then takes Statlander into the ring to lock in a brutalizer, wrenching at the jaw too. But Statlander bites the fingers! Body slam connects, and again. Thekla hangs upside down with a Tarantula-esque move but Statlander uses core strength to pull her up and drop her into the buckles. Statlander and Thekla battle on the ropes now…spider suplex and Thekla sits up but Shida is there with a leaping knee. Hayter climbs, battles with Shida, but it’s Shida who hits the superplex. Hayter back up though, Exploder! Discus lariat from Statlander, spear by Thekla. Back drop suplexes by Shida and Statlander and all four women are down. Stereo roundhouse kicks from Hayter and Statlander, before they come to blows. They both have the same idea and collide with crossbodies. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker from Shida on Thekla. Falcon Arrow is countered into a cover by Thekla for 2. Thekla poses upsdie down for the spear but Statlander hoists her up! Statlander gets sent into a rising knee from Shida, not the intended target. Backbreaker by Hayter, Thekla with an octopus hold! Another backbreaker! HAYTERADE!! 1, 2, Shida breaks it up with a running knee. Falcon Arrow, Shida transitions into an ankle lock but Statlander pulls her off. Shida apologizes but then slaps her, and now Shida and Statlander come to blows!

Pump kick on Hayter by Statlander. Thekla misses a spear, eats a thrust kick. Staturday (Stunday?) Night Fever!! 1, 2…SHIDA with a kendo stick to the back of Statlander! Hayter grabs the kendo stick and they spill to the floor, double clothesline. Thekla to her feet, STOMP! 1, 2, 3.

Winner and STILL AEW Women’s World Champion: Thekla

Time: 13:59

Rating: ***1/2 – Highly enjoyable contest with the right result as Thekla still has a lot of life left in her reign. Hayter has really come into her own as a bruiser, so her stuff worked well here, and Shida picked her moments well here. I thought they’d play on the Statlander/Shida stuff a little more, and that could have played a bigger role, but we’re evidently not at the endgame yet.

 

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[Stadium Stampede] Jericho, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Perry, Kenny Omega & Young Bucks vs. The Demand, Mark Davis, Andrade El Idolo & The Dogs

We get a skit set to Metallica’s Devil’s Dance prior to the faces’ entrance which is pretty neat. All fourteen men stand face to face in the ring…and as the bell rings all hell breaks loose and they all go at it. Ricochet takes clotheslines in the corner from almost everyone, before Lashley chokeslams him to the floor. The Elite go for the big dive but Davis and the Dogs cut them off. Andrade with the Three Amigos on Jack Perry, then heads up top, but Benjamin meets him with a rising knee. Spear by Connors! Davis with a PILEDRIVER THROUGH A CHAIR! Liona uppercuts Perry and sits Nick Jackson up there too. Matt Jackson is on Liona’s shoulders, and Liona gets Nick and Jack Perry too…for a triple Samoan Drop!!

Ricochet hops to the top rope, Shooting Star Press to the floor! And The Demand pose for the crowd. Omega sends them to the outside, apart from Liona who locks in an abdominal stretch. We get a chain of all the heels adding pressure, only for MVP to come in with the cane and break it. Omega back body drops Finlay to the outside. The Elite with the Terminator claps…tope suicidas for everyone! Benjamin is poised….TOPE CON HILO! Good ol’ Shelty B. Jericho up top and he dives too for the hell of it. Top rope hurracanranas from the face team. But the Dogs interrupt the celebration. The Elite drop them, Sharpsbhooters applied, and Jericho gets Andrade in the Walls! Perry smacks Davis with a box of some kind of powder and hits a moonsault to the floor.

The tables come out to play now, and the Dogs get laid out on top of them. But no, the Dogs leap up and hop the barricade to escape. We cut to Benjamin and Kaun fighting backstage in the medical room, Lashley and Liona too. Lashley looks up…and Lio Rush is there! Liona grabs him, but Lashley makes the save and Lio charges after Liona, with Lashley following closely behind.

Jericho and Kenny work together to elbow Andrade. We see Matt and Nick target the Dogs by some escalators. Superkick to Connors on the escalator, and Andrade goes to take a selfie with some women at ringside…but as he goes to pose, we see Luchasaurus in a blonde wig!! He spits in the eyes of Andrade! Jericho pulls out a black bag from under the ring, brings it inside and unleashes….tennis balls. Jericho suplexes Ricochet into the balls. Ricochet with a Death Valley Driver into the tennis balls now, covers Jericho for 2. Perry and Davis fight by catering. Omega and Andrade are in catering now, Andrade gets sent into someone…and it was Satnam Singh who has food all over his face now. Singh shouts FOOD FIGHT! And chaos erupts with everyone throwing food everywhere. Finlay and Nick Jackson head up to the entrance, where Matt Jackson appears with a trash can. Matt sits Connors in a shopping cart with a trash can on his head…and Nick hits a superkick as Matt wheels him down the ramp. Nick gets dropkicked out of a shopping cart. Finlay with a Shillelagh shot to Benjamin, and Liona follows up with a senton on the apron. Lashley is back now too, Kaun pushes him into a ringpost, and Connors comes out of nowhere with a spear.

Backstage, Ricochet hits Jericho with a tennis racket. Jericho opens a door and Luther is there to hand Jericho an oversized tennis racket. Jericho turns on a ball machine, which fires away at Ricochet. Cover, 1, 2, no. Benjamin and Matt Jackson hit stereo suplexes, Germans from Benjamin and Northern Lights from Matt. Benjamin with a double German suplex to both Dogs. Superkick party ensues, with Benjamin even joining. Lashley with a spear! Davis outside has a taped up head/eye, and he finds a golf cart. Shades of the first Stadium Stampede! But we hear a horn, and the Jurassic Express comes out of nowhere to crush the golf cart, with Perry exiting the bus.

Bucks look for powerbombs through tables, Dogs counter though. Omega with enziguris and a snap dragon suplex to the Dogs. Andrade looks for the DM but eats a snap dragon instead. V TRIGGER! Benjamin thinks about a German through a table on Liona….and he nails it! Exploder from Lashley on Davis, and another! Spear to Davis through the table. Perry with a dive through a table. Nick and Matt hit tandem dives through tables, while Omega hits the ONE WINGED ANGEL THROUGH A TABLE to Andrade! And they all take time to high five the crowd? Ricochet is surrounded by everyone in the ring now. Rising knee, spear! Knee from Perry, BTE Trigger! And Jericho lines him up for the Judas Effect but Kaun pushes Ricochet to safety. SUPERKICK from all 7 men to Kaun. Lionsault! 1, 2, 3!

Winners: Jericho, the Hurt Syndicate, & The Elite

Time: 31:11

Rating: ***1/2 – Pure entertainment and I had a blast, even if it doesn’t really mean anything in the long run. I will say they did a good job early on of not relying on the weapons, helping it feel different from the I Quit match earlier before we resorted to the PLUNDAH. All the high fiving after the big table spots was a bit much – why wouldn’t you go for the win? It’s all about the car-crash spots so you won’t find a ton of substance here, but I’m less bothered by that when they make a point of pushing the comedy aspects and focus on everyone having a good time.

*Jericho pays respect to Sabu after the match as there’s still a table standing, so he climbs the steps and splashes himself through it.

 

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[AEW World Championship – Title vs. Hair Match] Darby Allin © vs. MJF

Side headlock takeover by Allin! 1, 2, no. Multiple side headlock takeovers, Darby means business! MJF to the outside, Darby goes for a suicide dive…MJF DODGES AND HOLY SHIT DARBY LANDED HORRIBLY! Powerbomb on the ring apron, and now MJF sets up for the Heatseeker, but nope. MJF slingshots Allin in for a cutter, 1, 2, no. Darby tries a Coffin Drop but MJF elbows him in the spine, and hits a big backbreaker for 2.

MJF sits Allin on the top rope, and now looks for the avalanche tombstone. Darby counters and nips behind him, they both slightly slip but it looks like Darby countered with a stundog. Darby up top, thinking Coffin Drop, but MJF heads outside, only to be met with a big suicide dive.

Allin lays out MJF across the apron, heads up top, steps onto the ringpost…COFFIN DROP but MJF moves and Darby goes spine-first into the apron. Maxwell grabs the steel steps and flips them upright, then heads onto the apron next to them. PACKAGE PILEDRIVER ON THE STEPS!

Side headlock in the ring by MJF, Darby with a low blow while the ref is distracted and a side headlock takedown of his own, 1, 2, no. Back elbow from MJF, double stomp to the outstretched arm of Allin. Darby sweeps the legs, steps into a Scorpion Death Lock. MJF thinks about tapping but reaches the ropes. Coffin Drop, MJF with the knees up though, 1, 2, NO. Heatseeker attempt is shrugged off, cutter doesn’t cut it this time, Darby holds on and hits a Scorpion Death Drop. MJF gets a side headlock, Darby with one too. Sunset flip for 2, MJF gets one too, and they trade 1 count pinfalls. Backslide gets 2. Code Red is countered, but he tries it once more and hits it this time.

Darby gets a jacknife for 2. MJF to the floor, Darby gears up for a dive, and MJF pulls the camera man into the oncoming path! Officials tend to the camera man even though one shot shows that the dude barely got hit and he still took the time to place the camera in the right position haha. MJF gets Darby on his shoulders and walks towards the barbers chair in the entrance way. MJF has the clippers but it gets kicked away. Darby locks in a guillotine at the top of the ramp. MJF is limp now, so he lays him out on top of a table and glances up at the scaffolding. Darby climbs to the top of the set…BANG BANG! He dives with a COFFIN DROP off the set, crashing through Max and the table.

Allin drags MJF back towards the ring, and we see that Darby is dripping blood out the back of his head, Darby climbs the buckles once more, COFFIN DROP! 1, 2, NOOOO. Allin goes for the Scorpion Death Lock and gets it…but just like last week, Darby is spent and he collapses forward. MJF is smiling, but Darby reverses a side headlock again and hits a Scorpion Death Drop. KIP UP! Darby climbs the buckles one more time, but MJF is up to crotch him. MJF positions him into a tombstone position…AVALANCHE TOMBSTONE!! Side headlock takedown, 1, 2, 3!!

Winner and NEW AEW World Champion: Maxwell Jacob Friedman

Time: 24:01

Rating: ***3/4 – As we’ve come to expect fromt the Darby title defenses, this is all geared around Darby taking maximum punishment and then somehow walking away with the victory. Tonight that was not the case, however, and the wheels finally fell off. MJF bald could have been a fun way to go, but this schedule for Darby was only going to last so long, and it opens up some interesting directions for him – does he start to take heed of all that advice about slowing down now, seeing as it cost him his body and his championship?

*Darby gets strapped to a stretcher after the match, and MJF stands over him with the championship belt. Here comes Kevin Knight to run him off…but KEVIN KNIGHT WITH THE UFO SPLASH ONTO DARBY ON THE STRETCHER! MJF is shocked but he loves what he sees, and we are left with the shot of Knight admiring his handy work.

And with that, this stellar night of AEW action is over! Thanks for joining us, folks, see you next time!