It’s only fitting that this Sunday will also mark the sixth anniversary of the company’s inaugural event, the first “Double or Nothing” (2019). However, AEW’s landscape has drastically changed over the past six years.
“Double or Nothing” is no longer the marquee PPV event that it once was, on even footing with “All Out,” “Full Gear” and “Revolution.” Instead, it has become one the most pivotal stops on the road to AEW’s grandest stage, “All In” Texas.
This year’s “Double or Nothing” will feature the fourth installment of “Anarchy in Arena;” the finale of both the Men’s and Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, and a slew of other obligatory grudge matches. There will also be three championships on the line: the AEW Women’s World Championship, AEW World Tag Team Championships, and the AEW Continental Championship.
So, here is “Ramblin’” Ray’s gamblin’ guide to “Double or Nothing:”
(Betting odds courtesy of BetOnline)
Stretcher Match: Mark Briscoe (+600) vs. Ricochet (-1500)
This could be a potential showstopper.
Ricochet has been on a hellacious run as of late, winning his last five matches and establishing himself as one of the best working-heels in all of professional wrestling.
However, Mark Briscoe is cut from a different cloth than Angelico, Zach Gowen, and Anthony Bowens. In fact, Ricochet’s last single’s loss was at the hands of Briscoe.
The great equalizer here though is the match’s unique stipulation. Undoubtedly paying homage to the late, great Sabu, a stretcher match is a grueling ordeal; where the winner has to place their opponent on the stretcher and forcibly escort them onto an ambulance.
My money is on the underdog.
WINNER: Mark Briscoe
FTR (-1000) vs. Daniel Garcia & Nigel McGuinness (+550)
When Nigel McGuinness returned to the squared circle last August at “All In” London, for the first time in over a decade, it was clear that McGuinness was wrestling on borrowed time. He returned in October to face his eternal rival, Bryan Danielson, at “Grand Slam,” and once more at Ring Of Honor’s “Final Battle” in December against Lee Moriarty.
Now, he’ll step in the ring once more, aligning himself with the “Dragon Slayer,” Daniel Garcia — against the “Living Legend Killers,” FTR.
Since betraying Adam Copeland at “Dynasty,” Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler have used the Spike Piledriver to devastating effect; attempting to cripple their opponents. To that end, the outcome seems preordained. McGuinness’ time is finite and FTR have no compunctions.
The former ROH World Champion deserves a warrior’s death. FTR will happily be his executioner.
WINNER: FTR
AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate [c] (-5000) vs. The Sons of Texas (+1200)
Bobby Lashley & Shelton Benjamin will put their AEW world tag team championship on the line against the current ROH world tag team champions, Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara.
I think it’s worth noting that the average age of the competitors in this match is 46.
The x-factor here is The Hurt Syndicate’s newest acquisition, Maxwell Jacob Friedman. It isn’t a matter of if MJF will intervene on Lashley and Benjamin’s behalf. It’s how he intervenes on their behalf.
WINNER: The Hurt Syndicate
Trios Match: Paragon vs. Don Callis Family
Adam Cole is the TNT champion. In lieu of defending his title, he’s decided to join his fellow Paragon members, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong, in a trios match against Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, & Josh Alexander of the Don Callis Family.
To be perfectly honest, I have no interest in seeing the remnants of Adam Cole’s “Undisputed Era” in AEW. Evidently, neither does BetOnline, because they couldn’t be bothered to generate a betting line. I would be perfectly fine if the Paragon migrated to Ring Of Honor, where the team flourished nearly a decade ago, prior to joining NXT.
Nonetheless, the Don Callis Family is a force to be recognized, who have run roughshod over AEW in 2025. On paper, Takeshita, Fletcher, and Alexander seem like a tough team to beat.
WINNER: Don Callis Family
AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm [c] (-5000) vs. Mina Shirakawa (+1200)
“Timeless” Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa are no strangers. Nearly one year ago, these two women squared off at “Forbidden Door,” with their mutual comrade, Mariah May, hanging in the balance. However, their love for May united them, as did their eventual resentment towards her.
Shirakawa cast their friendship aside last Wednesday, when she used the ringpost to apply a vicious Figure-Four Leglock to the champion; hindering her chances this Sunday.
Storm is no stranger to adversity, though. While Shirakawa is a compelling challenger, Storm seems destined to defend her championship at AEW’s grandest stage, “All In,” against the winner of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
It’ll be interesting to see if the aforementioned Mariah May returns at “Double or Nothing,” and intervenes in this match.
For what it’s worth, I’d like to see May intervene in the match and attack Mina Shirakawa. As former tag team partners in STARDOM, May and Shirakawa have so much built-in equity.
WINNER: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Anarchy in the Arena: Kenny Omega, Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland, Powerhouse Hobbs, Katsuyori Shibata, & Willow Nightingale vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, & Marina Shafir
“Anarchy in the Arena” is an overly gratuitous riot, masquerading as a professional wrestling match. And, while I’ve enjoyed the previous installments of this match to varying degrees, I’m certainly not a connoisseur.
There are plenty of “Anarchy in the Arena” alumni in this match. Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks are all previous participants; while Jon Moxley has competed in all four installments of the match.
It’s impossible to predict these affairs sequence to sequence. Maybe that’s why there aren’t any betting odds available. What I can confidently say is that Gabe Kidd will undoubtedly be the x-factor in this affair.
Call me an optimist, but I’d love to see Eddie Kingston’s return during this match to neutralize Kidd and help balance the scales in “Team AEW’s” favor.
WINNER: Team AEW
Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finale: Jamie Hayter (+225) vs. Mercedes Moné (-350)
Jamie Hayter needs to win this match.
AEW’s track record of reimplementing former women’s world champions into the roster is horrendous. Riho, Nyla Rose, Hikaru Shida, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D., Saraya, and Mariah May are all either completely absent or unemployed.
If Jamie Hayter won this match, she could advance to “All In” and have a dynamic program (no pun intended” with Toni Storm, whom she lost the AEW Women’s World Championship too.
Mercedes Moné is still currently in possession of the TBS Women’s Championship and the RevPro British Undisputed Championship.
While this would mark the end of the “CEO’s” undefeated streak, the loss would be far more detrimental to Hayter.
WINNER: Jamie Hayter
Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Finale: “Hangman” Adam Page (+500) vs. Will Ospreay (-900)
The evening’s main event. “Hangman” Adam Page and Will Ospreay, squaring off in the finale of the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. The winner will advance to “All In” Texas, where they’ll face Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship.
The term “dream match” is thrown around fairly liberally in professional wrestling discourse. As an ardent supporter of both Page and Ospreay, I think this might qualify as a “dream match.”
Admittedly, I’m a little perplexed why Will Ospreay is the odds on favorite for this match. The logo of “All In” Texas is literally “Hangman” Page’s belt buckle…
On the flip side, “Forbidden Door” is at the doorstep of Will Ospreay’s home in London, at the famed O2 Arena.
Therein lies the dilemma: who is more deserving of this coveted opportunity to dethrone Jon Moxley?
Last Wednesday, both men laid out their respective cases. The beautiful thing about pro-wrestling is that, like all sports, the decision is determined in the ring.
This has the potential to be a match of the year candidate. “Hangman” Page is arguably the most well-rounded performer in all of professional wrestling. Will Ospreay has the midas touch.
WINNER: Will Ospreay
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