Double or Nothing 2019: AEW Arrives Like It Already Belongs

Adam Page earned a place in AEW's inaugural World Championship match by last eliminating MJF from the 21-man Casino Battle Royale. Entering as the final participant, Page survived a crowded field that included Jimmy Havoc, Luchasaurus and a late series of eliminations by MJF. MJF tried to avoid the final exchange by hiding at ringside while Page eliminated Luchasaurus, then attempted to dump Page from behind once the field appeared clear. Page held the ropes and answered with lariats that sent MJF out for good. The victory was recorded by over-the-top-rope elimination, not a pinfall, and its value was the championship opportunity against the winner of the Jericho-Omega main event. That stakes-driven finish distinguished the opener from a routine roster showcase.

Kip Sabian pinned Sammy Guevara after countering a planned 630 splash and landing Deathly Hallows in their Buy-In singles match. Guevara's acrobatics threatened to overwhelm Sabian in the early going, and the two traded quick aerial exchanges without an outside ally deciding the result. When Guevara climbed for a 630, Sabian raised his knees to stop the attack and immediately capitalized with his own finishing move. The short bout provided both wrestlers an introduction to AEW's audience, but the recorded result was a standard singles pinfall rather than a tournament advancement or championship decision. Sabian's timed defensive counter made the difference after Guevara took the larger aerial risk.

SoCal Uncensored defeated Strong Hearts when Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky combined for Best Meltzer Ever on El Lindaman, giving their trio the first main-card match victory in AEW history. Cima, T-Hawk and El Lindaman supplied a faster international style that challenged the established SCU partners throughout the six-man encounter. All six traded tags and tandem maneuvers, and Lindaman survived enough early offense to threaten an upset before the closing combination. The match was a promotional showcase rather than a championship defense, with the actual fall scored on Lindaman instead of on Cima or T-Hawk. Its positioning helped introduce a new audience to the developing tag and multi-man division.

Britt Baker pinned Kylie Rae after a superkick and ushigoroshi in a four-way that also involved Nyla Rose and surprise entrant Awesome Kong. The match was originally presented as a three-woman contest until Brandi Rhodes introduced Kong immediately before the bell, changing how the wrestlers approached the early exchanges. Kong's strength forced the others to cooperate to get her out of the ring, while Rose survived a chaotic powerbomb sequence involving several opponents. Baker and Rae continued trading openings after Kong was neutralized; Baker caught Rae with the final combination and scored the cover. No championship changed hands, and Kong's late entrance did not give her the finish or make Baker's pin a one-on-one result.

Best Friends pinned Jack Evans with a Strong Zero combination assisted by Chuck Taylor's diving stomp, beating Evans and Angelico in a fast-moving tag contest. The teams began with tension after Evans and Angelico attacked before Chuck and Trent could complete their familiar embrace. Angelico's crucifix bomb and Evans's 630 splash looked dangerous enough to change the result, but Taylor broke up the cover and his team regained control through a knee-assisted tandem attack. After the finishing pin on Evans, the opponents accepted the offer of a sportsmanlike hug, only to be attacked when masked newcomers surrounded the ring. That postmatch ambush introduced the Dark Order; it did not alter the legal tag result or count as interference in the deciding fall.

Hikaru Shida pinned Emi Sakura after a running knee strike to win a six-woman showcase alongside Riho and Ryo Mizunami over Sakura, Aja Kong and Yuka Sakazaki. Kong's power initially put Shida in danger, while Sakura landed a moonsault during a sequence in which an accidental bell rang before the official had completed the count. The referee ruled the match was still underway, and the women continued. Near the finish Sakura held Shida in position for Kong, but Shida evaded the blow and Kong's backfist struck her own partner. Shida capitalized immediately with the running knee and cover. The disputed bell was not the legal result, and the winners were Shida's trio rather than one of the teams competing earlier on the card.

Cody pinned his brother Dustin Rhodes with Cross Rhodes to end the bloodiest and most emotional rivalry match of AEW's inaugural pay-per-view. Dustin had exposed a middle turnbuckle before Cody drove him headfirst into it, leaving Dustin bleeding heavily through a long sequence of punches, superplexes and reversed finishing moves. Brandi Rhodes speared Dustin at ringside and was ejected by referee Earl Hebner, with Diamond Dallas Page escorting her away. Cody survived Dustin's own Cross Rhodes near fall and landed a low blow before the final struggle. After the bell, Cody asked Dustin to join him against the Young Bucks at Fight for the Fallen, and the brothers embraced. The reconciliation came after a real singles pin, not a draw or a tournament title result.

The Young Bucks retained the AAA World Tag Team Championship by pinning Rey Fenix after the Meltzer Driver in an exhausting match against the Lucha Brothers. Pentagon and Fenix repeatedly threatened a change with a Canadian Destroyer on the apron, a Penta Driver and a high-risk senton, while Matt and Nick Jackson answered with sustained tandem attacks. The Lucha Brothers briefly stopped an earlier Meltzer Driver, and Pentagon attacked Matt's arm to reduce his power. Matt eventually lifted Fenix despite the injured arm, allowing Nick to springboard into the decisive double-team move and complete the cover. It was an AAA championship defense rather than the crowning of AEW's first tag champions, a distinction especially important at the promotion's debut event.

Chris Jericho pinned Kenny Omega following the Judas Effect elbow strike, earning the other place opposite Adam Page in the match to crown AEW's inaugural World Champion. Omega survived several Codebreaker attacks and threatened a One-Winged Angel, but Jericho escaped the finishing setup more than once. Their extended exchange also moved to the floor and through a table, with Omega fighting through a bloodied nose and repeatedly connecting with V-Triggers. Jericho caught Omega in the Walls of Jericho before Omega broke free, then countered the latest attempted finish and finally landed the spinning elbow for the decisive fall. Jon Moxley's surprise entrance and assault on Jericho and Omega happened after the contest, rather than producing the win or adding a third participant.