Britt Baker

The third annual All Elite Wrestling Double or Nothing pay-per-view is set for Sunday, and every title will be on the line as part of a lengthy card.

It will also mark the first All Elite Wrestling show with full fan capacity since the COVID-19 pandemic started last year, meaning Double or Nothing should provide those watching at home with an exciting atmosphere.

In addition to a host of title matches, the second-ever Stadium Stampede match will take place, and the stakes will be huge, with The Inner Circle having to disband if they are unable to defeat The Pinnacle.

Here is a full rundown of the Double or Nothing card, along with a closer look at some of the top matches that could steal the show.

        

Where: Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida

When: Sunday, May 30, at 8 p.m. ET (Pre-Show starts at 7 p.m. ET)

Watch: B/R Live and PPV

      

AEW Double or Nothing 2021 Match Card

• Stadium Stampede: The Pinnacle vs. The Inner Circle
• AEW World Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. PAC vs. Orange Cassidy
• AEW Women's World Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Britt Baker
• AEW World Tag Team Championships: The Young Bucks (c) vs. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston
• AEW TNT Championship: Miro (c) vs. Lance Archer
• Cody Rhodes vs. Anthony Ogogo
• "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Brian Cage
• Sting and Darby Allin vs. Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page
• Casino Battle Royale
• Pre-Show NWA Women's Championship: Serena Deeb (c) vs. Riho

      

Top Matches to Watch

Stadium Stampede

While AEW hasn't announced which match will serve as the main event of Double or Nothing, it seems likely that the Stadium Stampede between The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle will occupy that spot.

Last year's Stadium Stampede between The Inner Circle and The Elite headlined the 2020 PPV, and since it received positive views, the second edition of the match figures to be the headliner as well.

The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle have been embroiled in a heated feud recently, and things truly came to a head on the May 5 episode of Dynamite in the first-ever Blood and Guts match.

That contest was won by The Pinnacle when Sammy Guevara surrendered in order to prevent MJF from throwing Chris Jericho off the top of the cage. Despite that, MJF did it anyway, and The Demo God came away with an elbow injury.

MJF initially refused The Inner Circle's rematch request, but he changed his mind after they doused him and his team in champagne and embarrassed them.

While MJF did agree to have a rematch afterward, he insisted it be Stadium Stampede and carry the stipulation that The Inner Circle must break up forever in the event of a loss.

Last year's event was a fun match with comedic elements that took place inside the Jacksonville Jaguars' TIAA Bank Stadium and throughout the concourse.

This year's version will likely have to be slightly different since there will be fans in attendance, but it is the type of match that will allow AEW to get creative and perhaps provide viewers with something they have never seen before.

       

Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker

Fans have been clamoring for a Britt Baker AEW Women's Championship run for much of her time as a heel, and she may finally reach the top of the mountain at Double or Nothing.

In order to become AEW women's champion, she will have to defeat Hikaru Shida, who has held the title for over a year after winning it from Nyla Rose at last year's Double or Nothing.

Shida has been a dominant champ, but it is fair to say Baker has been the most interesting name in the division thanks to her character and promo work, as well as her willingness to go to great lengths to deliver in the ring.

It became abundantly clear in March that Baker was destined for big things when she faced Thunder Rosa in an Unsanctioned match on Dynamite.

Although she lost the match, she was the big winner in reality, as the wrestling world was buzzing about her performance and the visual of her face covered in blood.

Baker went on a winning streak after that match to become No. 1 contender, and it seems Shida's title reign is now on borrowed time.

Shida carried the women's division for long stretches and put on some great matches during her time as champion, but it is clear most fans are ready for Baker to get her opportunity.

      

The Young Bucks vs. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston

Tag team wrestling has long been a major focus in AEW, so it comes as little surprise that one of the marquee matches at Double or Nothing will be for its world tag team titles.

The Young Bucks have held the belts for nearly seven months, but they will face perhaps their toughest test yet in the form of Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston.

It wasn't long ago that Moxley and The Young Bucks seemed to be on the same page, but Matt and Nick Jackson turned on him and fully aligned themselves with AEW world champion Kenny Omega after he was fresh off a rivalry with Moxley.

Kingston, who ran to Moxley's defense after the Exploding Barbed Wire deathmatch at Revolution on March 7, has entered into a full-on alliance with Mox, and they have been among the most entertaining things in AEW since they joined forces.

It will be an intriguing matchup since many consider the Bucks to be the best tag team in the world, while Moxley is perhaps the best singles wrestler in the business.

Mox and Kingston will also have to be cognizant of potential interference from Elite members such as Omega, The Good Brothers, Brandon Cutler, Michael Nakazawa and even Don Callis.

The Young Bucks vs. Moxley and Kingston may be the most unpredictable match on the card, and the in-ring action should reach a high level as well.

       

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

The All Elite Wrestling women's division has produced some standout stars since the company launched in 2019. Britt Baker, Nyla Rose, Riho and Hikaru Shida have been there since the start. A recent addition who has been getting a lot of praise from fans is Thunder Rosa.

The former NWA women's world champion got her first taste of national exposure with Lucha Underground and went on to compete with promotions such as Ring of Honor, Women of Wrestling and Tokyo Joshi Pro Wrestling before finding her way to AEW.

We had a chance to speak with the 34-year-old this week ahead of her main event Lights Out match against Baker on Dynamite about her feud with the Doctor, MMA, how she got into wrestling and much more.

                                        

In 2014, Melissa Cervantes decided to completely change her career trajectory by going from being a social worker in Oakland, California to becoming a professional wrestler.

That is when Thunder Rosa was born, although she has also gone by names such as Kobra Moon and Serpiente over the years. 

"I was 26 years old and between jobs," Rosa said. "I was a social worker for four years prior to that. It was a difficult time mentally in my life. I was dealing with inner-city kids and adults in Oakland in the Bay Area. Professional wrestling was my out from my reality. My husband was the one who encouraged me to do something interesting and new in my life. Being in the ring is like theater. I did a lot of theater when I was younger. When I was little, I wanted to be a soap opera actress. When I found pro wrestling, it was a marriage of violence and performance and that is what I needed at the time."

Finding the right trainer is important for any athlete's success. There are a lot of pro wrestling schools across the country, but Rosa found the one that was right for her in her own backyard. 

"I attended Gold Rush APW Boot Camp in Pacifica, California," she said. "I was trained by Dylan Drake and Matt Carlos, who I am still in contact with. Every time they see me succeed, I send them a signed article. Every time I go to the Bay Area, I thank them for being so hard on me and never giving up on me because I was the one who wanted to quit 50,000 times. Sara Amato and Cheerleader Melissa graduated from there, so the shoes to fill are so big. I want to continue the legacy of very strong women who come out of that school."

Changing careers is never easy for an adult, especially when that person decides to pursue a role in sports or entertainment. Rosa made sure to acknowledge how the support system she had at home allowed her to chase her dream. 

"We always make decisions as a family," she said. "My husband decided to work full time so I could focus solely on becoming a pro athlete. That is when my career took off. That is why you see me here about to be in the first women's main event in AEW."

This Wednesday, Thunder Rosa will face Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D in a Lights Out match that will also mark the first time two women will main-event Dynamite. 

"You should know by now that I am coming for every limb Britt Baker has," Rosa said. "She has been punking me for the last five months. At the end of the day, I do what I want to do and I have my strategy. No matter what, I am winning this fight. This is not just a match for me. I look at this like I am getting in the cage, so that is how I am preparing mentally."

With the advent of the AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament and matches on AEW Dark and Elevation, the women's division has been getting more opportunities in the fledgling promotion recently. 

And Rosa recognises her contest with Baker has a role to play in furthering the development of women's wrestling.

"As a female athlete, to be in the main event in a major company in the United States, it's everything," she said. "If you know my story, you know I come from very humble beginnings. I never thought I would be doing sports on television like this. It's the wildest thing I could ever wish for, and I am very proud of it. It has been seven years in the making.

"This feud has made me realize the importance of story, and I'm not just talking about one match in the ring. It has to have consistency. Baker is doing that, but she has messed with the wrong woman. I have proved to everybody in the world that I am one of the baddest and toughest athletes in the business. She should be afraid."

In addition to fighting inside the squared circle, Rosa has also been pursuing a career in MMA.

She had her first fight with Combates Americas on Nov 8, 2019, against Nadine Mandiau. She lost in the third round but plans to step back into the cage again when the opportunity arises. 

"I am focused on pro wrestling, but I am contractually obligated to complete my Combates Americas contract," Rosa said. "I am just waiting for a date. I am excited for this challenge. MMA is different than training for pro wrestling, and I can't wait to get back in the cage. This time, I am more ready mentally than I was in my first fight."

Rosa is also a member of the NWA women's roster and a former world champion of the division.

The Billy Corgan-backed promotion had to take a hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic, but a new partnership with Fite TV to broadcast its weekly Powerrr show and the upcoming Back for the Attack pay-per-view have put it back on track. 

Thunder Rosa is advertised for the PPV but we still don't know if she will just be appearing or if she will have a match. When asked about the event and her future with NWA, she said "I am just riding the wave right now. Wherever they send me, that's where I go."

Her current feud with Baker is one of her most high-profile storylines to date, but the program that got her noticed by AEW fans was against Serena Deeb for the NWA Women's Championship. 

"I loved working with Serena Deeb," Rosa said. "I can't wait to take the NWA championship out of her hands. She is someone who will challenge you in different ways than anybody else. She is very technical and very story-driven. I pride myself on being somebody who loves psychology in pro wrestling. Telling a great story is so important. Working with the young talents on Dark has been great fun. I get to learn a lot because you get to work with different styles."

When it comes to dream matches, Rosa prefers to focus on building interesting stories than facing anyone in particular. However, she did mention one woman who she would love to face if the opportunity presented itself. 

"She is retired but Sarah Stock was my inspiration," she said. "I identify with her because she is a Canadian who became a Superstar in Mexico. I was born in Mexico and came to the United States, and I have been able to become a star in a place that is not my homeland. She is one I would love to wrestle. I don't have a lot of dream matches. My goal is to build strong feuds and have fun with my opponents. I want to learn and try new things. Every time I have had a dream match, I have been let down, so I just want to learn and have fun."

Pro wrestling has a long history of Superstars painting their faces like the warriors of ancient civilizations as they prepared for battle. Legends like Sting, The Road Warriors and Luna Vachon have all used facepaint to create interesting characters. Thunder Rosa is carrying on this tradition with her own unique style and the help of AEW's makeup artist, Janet Ventriglia. 

"At AEW, I have been so blessed to have Janet. I love her," Rosa said. "She has been doing my makeup for the past couple of months, and she makes me look fire. I love to give my makeup artist the freedom of creation and we tune it to our emotions. She made me look so good at Revolution."

https://twitter.com/thunderrosa22/status/1371987520016244739

I have to say.... I’m so proud of myself.... 💋☠️😁😁😁 pic.twitter.com/inFgF4YXw1

— Thunder Rosa (@thunderrosa22) March 12, 2021

When she isn't trying to break the limbs of her opponents. Rosa said she finds it hard to fill her free time sometimes. She talked about how spending time with her family is important during her off days.

"I am very anxious. I will fold clothes and put them away for hours sometimes. I just got into playing the Oculus. My son and I have battles all the time. I live in San Antonio so I love going to the river walk to sit down at a restaurant with some chips and queso. When we go to the beach, I like to sit and be a beach bum. It's nice not to have to sit with my phone and answer 50,000 emails, but I don't get to do that too often."

        

Thunder Rosa will face Britt Baker in an Unsanctioned Lights Out match on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite, and she will also be at the upcoming NWA Back for the Attack PPV on Sunday, March 21.

Check out our previous interview with Baker here. 

When All Elite Wrestling first began signing wrestlers in 2018, the first woman the company hired as an in-ring competitor was Dr. Britt Baker DMD. 

The real-life dentist has been wrestling since 2015 for various indie promotions, but her first taste of the national limelight came at the All In pay-per-view on September 1, 2018. At the show billed as the largest event in indie wrestling history, Baker faced Madison Rayne, Chelsea Green and Tessa Blanchard.

Ever since AEW Dynamite began airing in October 2019, Baker has been one of the main stars of the women's division. B/R spoke with The Role Model to discuss her AEW career, being a dentist, not having an action figure and much more.

                                   

On the Feb. 3 edition of Dynamite, Baker faced former NWA women's champion Thunder Rosa. The two had a physical fight that ended with the dentist's hand being raised in victory, and she is still feeling the effects of the contest. 

"That was a war," Baker said. "I'm still hurting and still sore, but I came out on top. Only one person can win and, obviously, it was going to be me. I'm just moving full steam ahead to the tournament because it's time that the face of the women's division holds the title. That match was special to me because we had time. I was really happy with it, obviously because I won."

Baker will compete in the upcoming AEW Women's World Championship Eliminator Tournament alongside 15 others for a chance to face Hikaru Shida, and she is confident about her chances.

"I'm not concerned about anybody," Baker said. "I don't even know who is in the tournament because I know that no matter what, I am going to come out on top. There is nobody in the world more focused than me.

"I have been here since Day 1. I was the very first female signed, and I have been nowhere near that title picture for I don't even know how long. I have been carrying that division on my back, and now I am going to carry it on my back with a title around my waist."

As one of the first people signed by AEW, Baker has battled many of the faces who have become regular fixtures on Dynamite and AEW Dark. When asked about her goals and who she is looking forward to facing in the future, she only has her eye on the champion.

"I just want to help lead the women's division to more TV time and the main event eventually," she said.  "We're getting there, but this is a business, and we need to stay strong. For a long time, the women's segments weren't doing well, but now we are getting to a point where the fans want more women's matches.

"Shida is just a phenomenal athlete. I have a lot of respect for her, even though she premeditated and viciously broke my nose. She picked up and moved her whole world to America. I would love to share the ring with her again. She is really special to AEW because she has been a champion through the hardest period. That being said, time's up."

When the coronavirus pandemic hit, the women's division suffered most in AEW. Many of the Japanese talents were unable to travel to the United States for shows, but the upcoming tournament will see many stars like Riho and Yuka Sakazaki return. 

When Baker first debuted with AEW, she worked as a babyface. The announcers mentioned her dental career so often that some fans turned it into a meme.

When she turned heel, she switched the situation by reminding everybody she was a doctor at every turn. AEW even staged her match with Big Swole at All Out 2020 in a dentist's office, but it didn't take place at her own business as many fans assumed.

"I like getting any reaction from the fans. Whether they boo me or cheer me, it's such an adrenaline rush," Baker said. "My biggest fear is I am going to come out through the tunnel and there will be silence. I love my relationship with the fans. So many people are jealous of me and my place in the women's division. Jealousy is a disease. Get well soon.

"For the vignettes shot with Reba, that was my real office. With Big Swole, it was actually a co-worker of mine from a couple of years ago who had just bought a new office. They had just painted the walls and had some equipment in there, but they weren't done moving in yet. It was perfect because we could get the camera and the crew in there without having to worry about breaking anything."

Reba, aka Rebel, has been Baker's loyal assistant ever since they filmed those segments in her office. When Baker began hosting "The Waiting Room," Reba was a natural choice to serve as her own personal Ed McMahon.

"That was Cody [Rhodes] who came up with the idea for the show," Baker said. "Him and Tony [Khan] developed the whole concept of it, what we will talk about, and the opening monologue. Reba is ridiculously funny, and we just flow together. It's a lot of fun because we have a lot of freedom with it while we advance storylines.

"When we did a vignette in my office, they [AEW] were trying to limit the travel as much as possible. She was a makeup artist for AEW, and we are really good friends. It was Cody's idea to use her as the makeup artist who gets bullied, and it was just so good that we had to keep Reba around. I don't want to share the spotlight with anybody. It's all about me, but Reba is there to have my back."

AEW UNRIVALED series 5 images LEAKED.@JeremyCom @davemeltzerWON @SeanRossSapp pic.twitter.com/JS8t1k22h6

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) January 27, 2021

Speaking of Cody, he and Baker have developed a minor rivalry over the lack of Role Model action figures in recent months. The day after speaking with her, it was revealed she would have one in the upcoming line of AEW toys, and she was not shy about her desire to have her own figure.

"I have been scanned for an action figure since a year and a half ago," she said. "There are rumors that I will have an action figure. When? I can't be sure. Is it going to be 2023 or 2025? I don't know because we have to get those Codys out there. We gotta keep pumping them out. We need dark-hair Cody, suit Cody. He's going to be a father so we need Cody with the crib."

The designers played a joke on Baker by saying her figure would be in a two-pack with Cody before revealing she would have her own figure as well as a "Waiting Room" two-pack that will likely come with some dental accessories. 

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?

I guess they know those Cody figures aren’t gonna sell any other way! #ROLEMODEL

💰 🦷💰🦷💰🦷 https://t.co/0ZLoOQTcRK

— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) February 5, 2021

We played an elaborate joke on Britt today, but, never worry, Dr. Britt Baker’s upcoming single pack figures are very real... AND...

While there won’t be a 2 pack with Cody, there will be a Ringside Dr. Britt Baker 2 pack later this year!@AEW @RealBrittBaker @CodyRhodes

— Jeremy Padawer (@JeremyCom) February 6, 2021

Another recent segment that got Baker a lot of attention had her take Tony Schiavone to a spa for a chest waxing. What many fans may not know is the commentator had no idea that was going to happen before they started putting the wax on his body.

"A lot of our segments aren't scripted so we will just go back and forth. He started looking around when we put the wax on him, but he let it go and was such a good sport about it," she said.

"Tony is one of my best friends. We text every day. He is hilarious and we get along so well. He is one of my favorite people in the entire world. Working with him is so much fun because he is such a good sport about anything. He will do anything for AEW. He is one of the most valuable players we have."

As time-consuming as being an AEW star can be, being a dentist is still important to her. Whenever a celebrity has a second business, fans will often show up in an attempt to get an autograph or picture, but Baker says everyone has respected her office and professional life. 

"At first, I would say I didn't really get recognized at all but as time goes on, there are patients who want to talk about it," she said. "Some of them are actually nervous and don't want to bring it up, but I will see them wearing an AEW shirt. But if they don't know, I will never bring it up because it's my job to work on their mouth.

"Obviously, I don't want these circumstances to continue, but during the pandemic, it has been easier because the dental office hasn't been as busy. Even now, I have a lighter schedule, so I have a lot more time to dedicate to wrestling and training. I have been taking advantage of this as much as possible because it's not going to be forever.

"My boyfriend and I have been enjoying this time together to watch Netflix and Disney movies. I never have time for that because we are always traveling. To be able to watch like six episodes of something in one day, people can really take that for granted. We did Cobra Kai in like a day, which was unreal. We're waiting for Stranger Things.”

While AEW has been able to have a small number of fans attend recent tapings, the company is not touring the country. Baker's message to fans who have been watching at home every week during the pandemic is clear. 

"We are grateful and appreciate them," she said. "We know they are home watching us, and we are wrestling for them right now. We can't wait to get back to performing in live arenas so just keep hanging with us."

Baker can be seen on AEW Dark and Dynamite every week and will be competing in the women's eliminator tournament over the next several weeks.

We don't know who she is facing in the first round yet, but whoever it is may want to wear a mouthguard.