Written by Mike Mueller & Kimmy Sokol
AEW’s second pay-per-view of the year in Las Vegas, Nevada is a yearly tradition Tony Khan will never eliminate, which is excellent. Now I (Kimmy) have the pleasure of being on-site for this event and I could not be more excited to take part in attending my second-ever AEW pay-per-view. So in good fun, you bet that these predictions I am truly going double or nothing hopefully I will be on the winning part of this one just like I hope to be when gambling in Vegas, anyway here is our Double or Nothing Predictions!
TBS Championship Match: Jade Cargill vs Taya Valkyrie
Kimmy: Jade has been a dominant champion for 500 days, and she has defeated every single person who has ever stepped in her way. Now, the original plans were that Kriss Statlander was supposed to be the one to defeat “That Bitch,” but unfortunately a torn ACL stopped those plans from happening. Jade needs to move on to bigger and better things within the women’s division and her losing her TBS title is the first step in doing so. This may be an upset, but this is the smart bet La Wera Roca all the way!
Winner: “And New” Taya Valkyrie
Mike: Taya has lost once before to Jade, and sadly this time it will be no different. I want to be wrong here because I really like Taya, but until Statlander returns (however long that may be), Jade is going to continue her dominance. Is she ready to move on to the AEW women’s championship? Yes. However, we’re going to have to wait a little while longer for that.
Winner: “And Still” Jade Cargill
AEW International Championship Blackjack Battle Royal
Kimmy: The biggest question here is if there is a Joker in this battle royal, who would that Joker be? There really are not any big free agents at the moment but in years past they have always had a Joker in these types of situations. Expect some superstars from New Japan in this match. Orange will definitely retain, but as far as a Joker is concerned Sabre Jr. or Osprey seems like the same pick.
Winner: “And Still” Orange Cassidy
Mike: f I could take “the field” here, I probably would. However, just like on the craps table, the field is usually a losing bet. A battle royal is a great way to put the belt on a new person while not doing any damage to OC’s credibility. However, with only 4 people announced, it’s hard to pick anybody other than OC. I would love to see someone like Rush or Osprey get the win here, but they might not even be in this thing, so I’m not going to waste a pick on that.
Winner: “And Still” Orange Cassidy
Unsanctioned Match: Adam Cole vs Chris Jericho with Sabu as a Special Guest Enforcer
Kimmy: This match is going to rule. This feud has been nothing short but amazing from the personal stuff with Britt, to Cole showing up last week in the middle of the falls count anywhere match. Jericho was the perfect first feud for Cole because he is going to protect him and make sure that Cole is not doing anything too crazy. Cole will get the win here and move on to bigger things, maybe some championship gold?
Winner: Adam Cole
Mike: As someone who has spent a lot of time criticizing AEW’s lack of storytelling, I can happily say they knocked this out of the park. One never knows with Jericho, but it seems appropriate for him to get his comeuppance here. Cole needs this much more than Jericho does, and blow-offs to personal feuds almost always favor the baby face.
Winner: Adam Cole
TNT Championship Ladder Match: Wardlow vs Christian Cage
Kimmy: Christian should not be getting this title match. This title was designed as a workhorse title and to be used for younger talent to get over before moving on to the World Heavyweight Championship. This match is the complete opposite of that. Wardlow should get the easy win here.
Winner: “And Still” Wardlow
Mike: As long as Christian doesn’t actually win here, I see no problem with him having this match. Also, any credibility with this title is sort of lost, given that there have been 18 champions in three years. I’m excited about this match, even though I’m a bigger fan of Luchasaurus than either Christian or Wardlow. This will be fun and hard-hitting, and Wardlow will end up on top.
Winner: “And Still” Wardlow
AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal with Mark Briscoe as a Special Guest Referee
Kimmy: Imagine getting all of these title opportunities and you keep on losing. That is the current story of Jeff Jarrett. Jarrett has fought for multiple titles over the last couple of months including the tag titles but he keeps on losing. As wrestling Twitter has hated on this, the silver lining is that he is putting the younger talent over when he does not have to. Just like he will in this match-up. Briscoe will turn his back on Lethal and Jarrett and help FTR retain!
Winner: “And Still” FTR (Dax Hardwood & Cash Wheeler)
Mike: I’ve been around since Jarrett’s first run in WWF. Never liked him, and still don’t, but honestly, I’m blown away by any hate he’s been getting. This is the best work he’s done (can’t judge TNA cuz I never watched it, like most of America) and all he’s done is get other guys over. He will continue to do so here, as FTR finally gets to enjoy a lengthy time on top. Briscoe being the special referee just cements this, as he’s still such a sympathetic character after his brother’s death, it would be really stupid to have him go heel here.
Winner: “And Still” FTR (Dax Hardwood & Cash Wheeler)
AEW Women’s World Heavyweight Championship: Jamie Hayter vs Toni Storm
Kimmy: Last week on Dynamite Jamie Hayter was pulled from a six women’s tag team match because of an injury. Now the extent of the injury has not been revealed, but this may have an impact on the match. If the injury is serious AEW may have Storm win the title until Hayter is 100%. However, since this match is still taking place as of this writing, Hayter’s are gonna hate!
Winner: “And Still” Jamie Hayter
Mike: The second most important person in her faction defends the title against the second most important person in another faction for the main title of the AEW women’s roster. I LOVE Hayter and I really enjoy Storm, but the booking and build of both of these women is beyond confusing. I don’t care at all about a match I should be highly invested in. Good job.
Winner: “And Still” Jamie Hayter
Anarchy in the Arena: Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Jon Moxley, & Bryan Danielson) vs The Elite (Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega, and Adam Page)
Kimmy: This match is going to be fun! This feud has been amazing and the major question about this match is what is Don Callis going to do? After his shocking betrayal a couple of weeks ago, some would say Takeshita alongside Callis is going to cost the Elite this match. Some would also say Callis is leading a new faction involving Takeshita and some other young talent within AEW. No matter what your stance is Takeshita will be costing the Elite this one to set up for a Blood and Guts match down the line.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Jon Moxley, & Bryan Danielson)
Mike: If this is a setup for Blood and Guts, then yes it absolutely makes sense for BCC to win here, and my heart wants them to win, cuz The Elite sucks and you’ll never change my mind on that. However, we are here to pick with our heads, not our hearts, and while B&G is a logical next step, we can’t bank on that, and if this is only a one-off, the elite likely pick up the win. My reluctant pick is The Elite.
Winners: The Elite
AEW World Heavyweight Championship: MJF vs Darby Allin vs Jungle Boy vs Sammy Guevara
Kimmy: This match is the hardest one to call simply because of what happens next. As everything in AEW circles back to at this point, it all circles back to CM Punk. If he is not “done” I can see him coming out to confront Punk for the title that he never lost. However, if Punk is truly done with AEW any one of these men can take the title and have a decent run with it. The main story with the main event is never let anyone tell you no. All four of these men were underdogs who were told that they can never make it in wrestling. Now they are main eventing AEW’s biggest show of the year fighting for a world title. How is that for proving the haters wrong? MJF somehow will pick up the win here by hook or by crook.
Winner: “And Still” MJF
Mike: I still believe Jack Perry has the ability to be the best white meat babyface since Ricky Steamboat, but the build for this match clearly favors MJF retaining. MJF is not the type of champion who benefits in any way by a “protected loss” so if he drops the title here, it’ll certainly be by getting pinned himself. As much as I like all three of the opponents, these scenarios just don’t make sense. MJF is destined to drop the title in a much more dramatic fashion than a fatal four-way.
Winner: “And Still” MJF
AEW Double or Nothing 2023 will be streaming live on Bleacher Report Sunday, May 28th at 8 PM EST.
