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This was completed on May 22 as I am off for a camping trip with limited internet. If anything is announced by AEW following this please note I cannot update.
I usually write a lot on the state of AEW but I’m going to have to keep it short here due to my camping trip coming up. Every minute I write here on Thursday night is less sleep for me tomorrow.
I would suggest you read 10 Questions in May 2026 to get a lot of what I might have said here otherwise. A lot of state of AEW stuff in it.
This has been a pretty good run up to Double or Nothing, though it pales in comparison to 2025. 2025 had the Owen Tournament in full swing, and the intrigue of Will Ospreay versus Hangman Adam Page in the main event. A lot of wrestlers from that 2025 event are already missing one year later. Adam Cole, Kyle Fletcher, Josh Alexander, Willow Nightingale, Powerhouse Hobbs, Dustin Rhodes, Timeless Toni Storm, and Mercedes Moné are all not on this show for various reasons. Oh, and Hangman Adam Page. Can’t forget him.
Honestly, if you have issues with the card? Think about how many guys who were integral to last year are not on this show. I’m not trying to make excuses for Tony but even if you have a huge roster? It doesn’t mean you can always effectively one for one replace a guy. Especially the likes of Page and Moné.
Unlike last year though, Double or Nothing here is starting the road to All In London, instead of the last stop. Double or Nothing this year shares more similarities with Dynasty 2025. That show also had Owen Hart Tournament matches, and a few rushed programs. Toni Storm for example had vanquished Mariah May but they really didn’t set up her next heel opponents so she ended up facing a pretty brand new Megan Bayne that show. For all my complaints on the never ending Cope & Cage versus FTR program it’s still better than Hurt Syndicate having magically number one contender opponents based on who they preferred to work instead of who was the best tag team.
This Double or Nothing doesn’t set up All In. Instead, it’s the start of the road. There’s Forbidden Door and a potential July pay per view in Montreal that actually sets up All In London in late August. Those shows in June and (potentially) July will be the true set ups. Until then, AEW will have several divisions to really nail down the top contenders. Otherwise we can expect a bunch of multi-wrestler matches at Wembley. Not ideal.
Finally, credit to the AEW graphics team on the Double or Nothing graphics. The walking man having a steel chair? Great touch.
AEW Double or Nothing 2026
Buy In
10 Wrestler Tag Match
Boom & Doom with The Conglomeration versus Shane Taylor Promotions
Oh look.
It’s QT Marshall.
Getting on the Buy-In.
Again.
Great.
What a waste of The Conglomeration. Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Mark Briscoe all deserve a much better match than this. But here we are. Gotta get them on the show somehow. Can’t possibly have a Trios Championship match or anything. I bet some of you for a second there were like, “Hey, who is the Trios Champions?” and forgot 2/3 of them are in this match.
You could have done Conglomeration versus Shane Taylor Promotions and if STP won they got a shot at KOR, Roddy, and OC. Or even did Freebird rules.
But no. Big Boom AJ is a nice guy to have around and they’ve decided to attach QT Marshall to him. As a babyface. So now we must suffer this.
Maybe I shouldn’t be so dreadful about it. Danhausen is gone. The spectre of him ever showing up on a card is gone for hopefully forever. Maybe I should just be happy with what I get. And hey, I will! If Shane Taylor Promotions gets a push out of this.
Give me a win for STP here leading to a Trios Championship match. Rumble please.
Winners: Shane Taylor Promotions
5 Minute Tag Team Eliminator
Zayda Steel and Viva Van versus Divine Dominion
I can’t say I’ve watched too much of Viva Van and Zayda in ROH but I’ve heard they’ve definitely improved. I am going to guess that’ll lead to them lasting the five minutes so Divine Dominion can have a title defence on a Dynamite or Collision going forward.
Divine Dominion have done a great job as heels lording over the division but they need to start building that division around them.
Winners: Zayda Steel and Viva Van (by surviving 5 minutes)
Trios Match
The Opps versus Death Riders
Hey this makes sense! I do like this. Kinda weird the Trios Champions are not defending their titles in a Trios match but at least the division is represented.
I expect Hook to once again completely kill the vibes of The Opps, who will likely be effective when Anthony Bowens and Katsuyori Shibata are in the ring. For the Death Riders, it’s always good to see Claudio, but boy. What are they doing with Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta? They could be doing so much more.
I was never that high on Daniel Garcia, and I think he made the right decision to stay in AEW, and I even thought the Death Riders would be good for him, but I thought he’d be doing things while in Death Riders. Going after championships. Becoming his own man. Instead he’s just a goon in Death Riders who sometimes gets promo time.
As for Yuta… I already talked about how I feel he’s underutilized in AEW.
I figure this ends up a win for The Opps. AEW loves to give Hook more than he deserves, they are trying to get Bowens over, and I think the plan is to have a bigger match between Opps and Death Riders later.
Winners: The Opps
Double or Nothing 2026
Owen Hart Women’s Tournament Quarter Final
Mina Shirakawa versus Athena
This was originally a different quarter final match in Willow Nightingale versus Alex Windsor but Willow ended up departing the tournament (and vacating the TBS Championship) so they had to book a wild card match for that instead. They don’t want to run it too quickly (likely don’t have the wrestler ready) and are instead booking Mina Shirakawa versus Athena.
This absolutely needs to be a showcase for Athena. I hear it all the time how Athena is in ROH to help be a draw there. Okay. AEW needs her now. With Willow, Toni, and Mercedes out? All Elite Wrestling needs a strong Athena on Dynamite and Collision.
Athena has a great shot of winning this whole thing, and while I adore Mina? AEW clearly sees her at a level they see Athena beyond.
Winner: Athena
Owen Hart Men’s Tournament Quarter Final
Will Ospreay versus Samoa Joe
This is Will Ospreay’s Owen Hart Men’s Tournament.
Last year was just a tease. Just a taste.
Not much to even say here. I know there’s everything between the Blackpool Death Rider Club and Will Ospreay, not to mention Samoa Joe quickly challenging Will Ospreay before they even booked this, but there’s not much to it. Ospreay is going to beat Samoa Joe, probably with a submission, pay tribute to AJ Styles in TNA while doing it, and get the best match out of Joe that anyone can get in 2026.
Will be interesting to see at least if Samoa Joe is fine with losing by submission to a guy just starting to get a submission over.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Owen Hart Men’s Tournament Quarter Final
Swerve Strickland versus Bandido
There’s a part of me that still wishes this was instead for the ROH Men’s World Championship.
I think it would have been less in question as to who was winning this if it was for the title too. Making it just a tournament match without the title on the line is always a big giant sign blinking “CHAMP IS ALLOWED TO LOSE THIS” and this doesn’t feel any different.
It’s too bad for Bandido but until they reform Brodido and have them go after the tag titles again? I don’t really see Brody and Bandido doing much more than building heels for bigger programs.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
AEW International Championship
Konosuke Takeshita versus Kazuchika Okada (c)
This could be the match of the year.
This should be the match of the year.
This should also be the first moment since he came to the company and defeated Eddie Kingston for the AEW Continental Championship that Kazuchika Okada is without gold in the company.
Konosuke needs this win more than anything. His IWGP World Championship has been replaced by an NJPW World Television Championship. Sounds nice at first until you see his opponent list. El Phantasmo, Yujiro Takahashi, Shota Umino, and most recently Chase Owens.
Of course Okada, almost International Champion for a year, has done the same with that title. Bryan Keith, Ace Austin, Myron Reed, Kevin Knight, AR Fox, and Adam Priest for defences in 2026. It feels like a lower midcard title when he defends it. It’s Kazuchika Okada though. One of the greatest wrestlers alive.
I need this match to re-affirm Okada as the greatest wrestler and I need to see Konosuke Takeshita prove he deserves this win. I need it to feel like both the championship and champion are elevated on this win.
I have no doubt in my mind this could be great. I’m sure Tony is considering a finish involving Don Callis and a screwdriver. He needs to show some restraint. Give me something to remember without a dirty finish.
Winner and NEW AEW International Champion: Konosuke Takeshita
AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship
I Quit Match
Cope & Cage versus FTR (c)
I don’t really have much to say. I can just see all of the spots in my head. FTR in simultaneous submissions stopping one guy from tapping. Then two minutes later they do it to Cope and Christian and Christian has to give Cope a middle finger or something to keep him from tapping out.
I’m sure this match will be excellent. I like these teams! Well, I like Christian Cage. Cope is fine. He’s fine. Especially now as a babyface splitting the duty. I just think the AEW Men’s World Tag Team division could be absolutely spectacular, and it’s instead grinded to a halt due to this program.
Let the old guys win and have their gold watch run. Move FTR to Trios with Ciampa for a bit.
Winners and NEW AEW Men’s World Tag Team Champions: Cope & Cage
Stadium Stampede
Chris Jericho, Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, Jack Perry, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks versus Ricochet, Andrade el Idolo, David Finlay, Clark Connors, Mark Davis, and Gates of Agony
I’ve seen some people annoyed that this is a Stadium Stampede instead of Anarchy in the Arena, just because this is in Louis Armstrong Stadium. Come on. Don’t be that pedantic about the names.
No, this won’t be an empty arena because it’s not the pandemic anymore. It won’t be a bunch of pre-recorded fight sequences. It’s going to be live. Though if they do want to do a couple pre-recorded scenes? Hey it could be cool.
I do like this isn’t a match packed full of small guys to jump off stuff. Ricochet and Andrade can jump off stuff, Clark Connors is crazy, the Bucks and Jack Perry will probably do some crazy stuff, but the rest I feel will be pretty grounded. Even Kenny Omega. Actually I wouldn’t be surprised if the craziest jump off something thing ends up being done by Mark Davis.
I think this will be a feel good match with a feel good win so Chris Jericho finally has a win over Ricochet and The Demand.
Winners: Chris Jericho, The Elite, and Hurt Syndicate
AEW Continental Championship
Kyle O’Reilly versus Jon Moxley (c)
Going to a draw on Wednesday was pretty interesting. If Kyle had won, it would feel like a definite loss to Moxley. But Kyle goes to a draw which means he gets a shot. Is that to set up an inevitable win to Mox?
The problem for me is that Moxley’s fate is always intertwined with MJF’s fate. If MJF is champion? Moxley needs something so he doesn’t get involved in the main event. That’s really all the Continental Championship is. It’s a way for Moxley to keep himself out of the main event.
I do believe Moxley will drop the title before All In London 2026 because he’ll need an opponent other than Will Ospreay, the one man he’s really building a story with. There’s a story in the ring with Kyle but not really much of a storyline.
So because of what I think will happen in the main event? I think that means Mox here is retaining. Though trust me, I would not be surprised to see KOR win. First off, Tony Khan right now just loves to book a guy as Trios champion while also holding another title to split his attention on. He just can’t help himself. The other is I believe if Kyle was healthy enough to do this program for Dynasty instead of just being a mystery partner? I think he likely would have beaten Moxley in Vancouver. So why not beat him in New York?
Because Mox doesn’t want to lose his reason to stay out of the main event.
Winner: Jon Moxley
AEW Women’s World Championship
4-Way
Hikaru Shida, Jamie Hayter, Kris Statlander, and Thekla (c)
There isn’t much to say here aside from Thekla retaining.
Jamie Hayter is just delaying her Brawling Birds program with Divine Dominion. Kris Statlander is apparently not 100% so who knows how much she does here. Losing her would just be another blow to the women’s division they cannot afford.
The wild card is Hikaru Shida. Shida is certainly turning (slowly) and it’s hard to say what the result will be. Will it be her bringing out Syuri finally to be a top heel tag team for the women? Or might it just be her being a heel and taking over this division? If she absolutely took out Timeless Toni Storm, as Mina Shirakawa has accused her of, it would make sense for her to be champion.
I just think the plan is to eventually have Mina and Toni team up to beat Shida for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship with her partner (hopefully Syuri) down the road. I don’t think it’s a singles program.
Either way, AEW really needs to build some babyface contenders for Thekla for future programs. They could really use someone like Ruby Soho returning to fill the void.
Winner: Thekla
AEW Men’s World Championship
Title versus Hair
Maxwell Jacob Friedman versus Darby Allin (c)
There’s two ways you can go here.
The first is bald MJF. You set up this perfect situation for him. They are in New York City, close enough to Long Island for MJF to feel like a returning hero, and you give him a beaten down fighting champion on a silver platter. And yet… he doesn’t do it. You have him lose. And not only lose, but get his head shaved. Have him live a few weeks with the embarrassment. Maybe leave for a few months for a movie and return maybe with a “brand new” head of hair. It’ll be the ultimate mockery of him. Fans won’t ever let him live it down.
The second is the inevitable.
I think they go inevitable.
One does have to wonder though, if MJF the end game? We can pretty much feel it that Will Ospreay will be winning the Owen at Forbidden Door to face the AEW Men’s World Champion. Is MJF the guy? Or is it someone else?
It’s probably not Darby. He might win this but he’ll only have a few more weeks in him. But will it really be MJF? And if it isn’t MJF, what would Max do for All In London?
The only possibility that pops in my mind is that there’s a cowboy that gets brought up often who lost his ability to become AEW Men’s World Champion ever again. There’s a Dynamite in Richmond, Virginia, his home state. That’s only in a few weeks. Would it not make sense for him to see an opportunity to cost MJF the match here, or cost him a match later, and become MJF’s opponent at All In London?
It’s the only option I could see. Maybe I’m still too stuck to the idea of Kenny Omega getting the big babyface run and torch pass to Will Ospreay. I probably am. MJF would be the biggest heel Ospreay could face.
It’s just been done before.
Oh well. That’s in the future. This is Sunday.
Max wins back the Triple B and ends one of the greatest title runs in AEW history in terms of pure wrestling quality.
Winner and NEW AEW Men’s World Champion: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
In the words of Ian Riccaboni? Happy Wrestling everyone.
