AEW Double or Nothing

[FLips]

You have to be holding a fork though or it doesn't count.

[DCW]

AEW/Cody Rhodes gets some unlikely PR from Alexandria Ocasio Cortez:

 

 

Edited May 26, 2019 by DCW

[Vamp]

What struck me was how similar this felt to the WWE. Of the moments where it didn't feel like WWE, the Dustin vs Cody match was a real glimpse at a possible alternative. So was the joshi match to a lesser extent. Otherwise the moments where it didn't feel like the WWE were the cigarette (which had no impact at all because it wasn't filmed), the endless production fuck ups and the endless array of piledrivers. 

The belt ceremony felt like the WWE had written it for them. The constant bragging about trending in the UK (it's the middle of the fucking night, congratulations...), the bathing the crowd in red or blue lighting and the ending segment all felt like they were lifted wholesale from the WWE. 

Then there were the odd moments that seemed to call back to failed previous alternatives. I'm pretty sure WWA got there first with Bret Hart rambling into a live microphone, TNA got there first with the Elvis tag team, convoluted stipulations and the lame shots against WWE and Triple H. 

The good was good. Dustin vs Cody made me uncomfortable but it was a good old school brawl with just too much blood (sadly it was also a pretty good argument against blading). The main event delivered big time and Jericho put a good shift in (even if it did dawn on me that he probably sees himself as the David Bowie of wrestling) and the joshi match was good fun. MJF was a breakout star. If the Young Bucks are your cup of tea than that was very strong tea. As shit as the commentary was JR managed to say that the Young Bucks match was great tag team wrestling and sounded like he meant it. 

There's stuff that needs to go. Jack Evans obviously. Bryce Remsberg could do with a bollocking. The other guy in the announce team. Pretty much everyone in the battle royal. 

[MPDTT]

My favourite photo from Double Or Nothing. 

https://imgur.com/Sz2MWHr

 

[Thunderplex]

How the fuck did Jack Whitehall get this gig?  Seems like he’s a fan though.

[PowerButchi]

He's Tony Khan's best mate, apparently. So, I'm done with AEW now. Sorry Dustin.

Edited May 27, 2019 by PowerButchi

[Rob Lowe]

I thought it was decent overall. I seem to have made the right choice by skipping the pre show.

Cody/Dustin match and post match promo were excellent. Why was Cody being heelish though? Brandi interfering and taking cheap shots too?  I didn't think much of the hype video either. Instead of talking about sibling rivalry and their different experiences with their dad, Cody is calling Dustin old and wants to kill the attitude era. Then after he beats his old brother to a bloody pulp, he wants to tag with him? What? However the match and post promo along were really incredible.

Poor Bret forgot what the hard camera is, never got a good shot of the belt. Production was a bit sloppy throughout.

I enjoyed the Joshi tag, only knew Aja Kong so it was interesting seeing some new faces. I thought it was hilarious that no one referenced that one of the girls was dressed as Freddie Mercury,

I'm surprised at the abuse for Smilie Kylie's gimmick, when there's a fucking dentist (with teeth designs on her ring jacket) in the same match. Not only a terrible gimmick but you're also telling people the poor cow has a regular job because you're too small time to pay her a proper wage.

I needed to take a break after the Young Bucks match, entertaining but so many moves and near falls became too much. Ive not watched them since 'All In' and I'm already knackered, if they do this on a weekly basis people will burn out quick.

Main event was okay, was a bit awkward at points. I felt bad for poor Kenny killing himself. I think Moxley is painfully mediocre but he got a great reaction and a match with Omega is totally new so I'm interested. Bloated Jericho bores me.

I cant remember much else which is a real insult because I watched it today. Many matches went too long, especially the opener. The whole show could have cut some shite and would have been a great 3 hour show.

It seems a bit like TNA in its 2005/06 prime, some good, some bad, some momentum but there's a very good chance it could fall apart quite quickly, so lets not go mad. I missed Mania due to a sudden work emergency and i've still not got round to watching it, any momentum from it appears to have evaporated quickly, so whats the point? It was an okay start, but I am really happy for a mainstream alternative.

[PowerButchi]

AEW's highlight.

 

[Chris B]

I really enjoyed that. Partly, once you got onto the last couple of hours, it felt like everything was different to what came before.

The Buy-In show wasn't great, sadly. I did enjoy the Casino Battle Royale and to be honest, I'm not sure why people are saying it's a confusing concept - four groups of five randomly selected wrestlers, then someone gets the final spot. Admittedly, the 22nd spot was just weird, but I found it funny. Michael Nakazawa with the baby oil, MJF being a completely unsubtle heel, and Hangman Page coming across as a big deal was pretty good going for one match. I also haven't seen LuchaSaurus before, and I liked him a lot. Not-Tye Dillinger had a great new look too. The 10-1 spot was a lot of fun.

Kip Sabian/Sammy Guevera was pretty 'meh', but I did notice how much better Sabian came across here than in ITV's last wrestling show - for all the issues with direction in the pre-show, it's a big step-up for ITV for, in all likelihood, quite a lot less money. The most noticeable thing out of it, for me, was the female ref. A small touch but I really liked that it wasn't a big deal.

The comedy skits... yeah. Considering ITV is a pretty big deal for them, they really should have gone without all the backstage skits being running gags that need explaining and weren't the best they've done either. They'd have worked better on the actual show than the pre-show, if they couldn't be dropped altogether.

However, directing screw-ups in the Battle Royale aside, it felt like it clicked much more into place once the show actually started. The opener was a lot of fun, and while the next couple of matches weren't great, I got a big kick out of seeing Awesome Kong again. I'm now hoping they do some cross-over with GLOW and have her turn up, just once, as Welfare Queen. I could have happily dropped the Best Friends/Indy-Boys match.

However, the Joshi match was one of those I just watched with a big dumb grin on my face. Enormously fun, even with the confusing finish. They could really go.

Cody/Dustin - I'm delighted this went so well. It feels like a story they wanted to do for years, and WWE just didn't see any value in, so I like that they've been vindicated like this. I could have done without the enormous blade job, and having had it spoiled in advance, I was a little unsure about whether I'd enjoy it, but it was so well done as a story. Also, in amongst all the blood and drama, I wasn't expecting to get a belly laugh out of Dustin pulling Cody's tights down and whipping his ass with a belt. 

The belt segment was nice enough - not keen on the logo right in the middle, but I like the design. I also liked how Bret acknowledged his fluff and handled it well. Fair play to him. MJF was hilarious again, and it looked like Bret was trying not to corpse a couple of times. It's so weird that Jack Whitehall was in the ring the entire time though (although along with him and Khan being bezzy mates, I remember it turning up on 'Would I Lie to You' that he's a big wrestling fan and even trained for a little while).

The Young Bucks vs Lucha Bros (and I didn't realise they were actually brothers, which is cool). I could have done with this being five minutes shorter. I like the Bucks rather than love them (and I prefer their youtube series to their matches), but there were some really good spots. Apparently, the feud with the Lucha Bros was a big success in AAA, so it's cool that it's continuing.

Omega vs Jericho... this was okay. I've enjoyed other Omega matches more, but poor sod broke his nose five minutes in, so I'm not surprised it felt a bit patchy and odd. Ross saying Jericho looked in the shape of his life was hilarious, but I was impressed by how much he was willing to hurl himself around the place.I liked a bunch of what happened, but it didn't fully hang together.

Overall though, I thought it was a really strong opening show. Pre-show was poorly handled, but as a full show, I found it a lot more varied and interesting than anything I can remember seeing on a main WWE show in a long time. I also like where they're going with it, and how they set up so many stories. If they learn from it and cut what doesn't work, the overall quality could improve quickly. It's not quite a home run, but I enjoyed it a lot.

[IANdrewDiceClay]

I dont like Jack Whiteall, but I will give him this - a million other comedians would have tried to be a smart arse and do a bit of comedy and fail miserably, becaus their egos are massive (imagine Peter Kay up there?), but he looked like a dog with two dicks introducing Bret Hart. Just tried to be an announcer and did a better job than Justin Roberts.

[Chris B]

2 minutes ago, IANdrewDiceClay said:

I dont like Jack Whiteall, but I will give him this - a million other comedians would have tried to be a smart arse and do a bit of comedy and fail miserably, becaus their egos are massive (imagine Peter Kay up there?), but he looked like a dog with two dicks introducing Bret Hart. Just tried to be an announcer and did a better job than Justin Roberts.

My other half pointed out that there's no way that Bret Hart has any idea who Jack Whitehall is, which I found pretty funny.

[PowerButchi]

Bret Hart's fucking lucky.

[Cannibal Man]

The SSB are great but since their visa issues they haven't wrestled as a team in America for fucking ages have they? Take that plus Uno and Stupefied looking totally different now it's no shock they got no reaction.

Liked the show a lot. Could have done with being a lot shorter, but fucking hell it's so, so much more tolerable than any WWE PPV i've seen in years. Goes to show if the commentating isn't micromanaged to the point of basically just being a list of things they can put in video packages and banging on about core strength and endless plugs for your own shite it can make something a lot easier to handle. Loved the Rhodes match, the Lucha Brothers and The Bucks, the main event and the big Moxley brawl. Rest was fine. Never, ever let fucking any of SCU talk though, jesus tonight. That bald headed prick singing? in the fucking bin mate.

EDIT - just to add yeah, Jack Evans and his mate the fucking symbiote can of Monster - both wank. Evans is intolerable.

Edited May 27, 2019 by Cannibal Man

[Accident Prone]

7 hours ago, Vamp said:

There's stuff that needs to go. Jack Evans obviously. Bryce Remsberg could do with a bollocking. The other guy in the announce team. Pretty much everyone in the battle royal. 

No idea what this is referencing. You're also probably the first person to say that about Remsberg.

5 hours ago, Cannibal Man said:

The SSB are great but since their visa issues they haven't wrestled as a team in America for fucking ages have they? Take that plus Uno and Stupefied looking totally different now it's no shock they got no reaction.

EDIT - just to add yeah, Jack Evans and his mate the fucking symbiote can of Monster - both wank. Evans is intolerable.

Whilst SSB look different, it's still pretty easy to work out who they are. Also, Uno has been working the North American scene for a while. That was the only point in show where I felt like the fans were obnoxious arseholes (well that and the "Fight Forever!" chants during Cody/Dustin).

And I've never seen the appeal in Angelico. He's great at jumping off ladders and balconies, but he's pretty average in every other department. 

[kieranjennings]

Only watched the pre show (which I thought was awful) and highlights I’ve seen on YouTube and fair play to the them for pulling together a well attended and promoted PPV.

From an in-ring production point of view then there is a long way to go for me to make it appear less like a glorified Indy and more like a no.2 with crossover appeal. The target audience is very much late 90’s/early 2000’s fans who seem to want the attitude era and cruiserweights and it looks like they got their fill however some of the talent in the battle royal ( Nakazawa, Havoc, Romero plus others) should never be on this sort of show.

The athleticism of a lot of the talent is amazing to be fair but they need to tell stories that don’t just become a series of big moves with kick outs! From a logic point of view, why do the Young Bucks hit all these big double team manoeuvres if they don’t beat people with them - build to a big one and let that be the memorable finish!!! Try to have a match that people go along with the story of rather than sit and clap moves.

Apart from the intermittent selling of his leg, Hangman Page looks like someone you could make money with. MJF is a great prick heel but need a heater with him to make him more believable against bigger stars at this moment. Moxley is a big signing obviously but I just find his act so forced that I don’t believe for one second he is ‘unhinged’ or the second coming of Austin but time will tell i suppose.

Will be interestingly to see what happens next and they need to get exclusivity on their talent as I’ve seen so many of these guys on ROH, TNA & MLW (and still can in a lot of places). The ex WWE guys have a lot more polish overall and they could really be a player if they manage to draw one or two of the middle to upper guys over in the next year or so.