All Elite Wrestling held its go-home episode of Dynamite this week heading into Saturday's Double or Nothing pay-per-view. This will be the second event held under this name since AEW launched last year...
AEW Double or Nothing: Full Breakdown of Every Feud on the Match Card
May 20, 2020
All Elite Wrestling's Double or Nothing, its first pay-per-view event since Revolution in February, airs live on Saturday and features a host of intriguing matches.
Expectations are high for the world championship match between Jon Moxley and Mr. Brodie Lee, the inaugural TNT Championship bout between Cody and Lance Archer, and a Stadium Stampede match featuring The Inner Circle and The Elite.
Here's the breakdown of every announced match at Double or Nothing.
The main card starts at 8 p.m. ET, preceded by a pre-show called The Buy In at 7:30 p.m.
Announced matches (subject to change)
• Jon Moxley (c) vs. Mr. Brodie Lee (world championship)
•Cody vs. Lance Archer (inaugural TNT Championship)
•Nyla Rose (c) vs. Hikaru Shida (women's world championship)
•The Inner Circle vs. The Elite and Matt Hardy (Stadium Stampede match)
•Darby Allin vs. Colt Cabana vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Rey Fenix vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Luchasaurus vs. Kip Sabian vs. Scorpio Sky vs. TBA (9-man Casino Ladder match for a future world championship match)
•MJF vs. Jungle Boy
• Dr. Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
• Best Friends vs. Private Party
Jon Moxley vs. Mr. Brodie Lee (world championship)
Jon Moxley defends his world championship for the second time since winning it at Revolution when he takes on The Exalted One, Mr. Brodie Lee.
Lee made his surprise AEW debut in March and has since led The Dark Order, showcasing his power in and out of the ring by expanding the group and attacking Moxley earlier this month. The Exalted One made his intentions clear by stealing Moxley's title and proclaiming himself the new world champion.
Moxley has since vowed to get revenge. "When the dust settles at Double or Nothing, you may very well find that your AEW career is over before it started," the champion said.
These two have wrestled each other for years now, so the chemistry during this match should be strong.
Cody vs. Lance Archer (inaugural TNT Championship)
The Murderhawk and the American Nightmare have been at each other's throats while keeping their rivalry at the forefront of AEW programming.
Jake "The Snake" Roberts made his surprise debut on the Dynamite after Revolution to confront Cody and discuss a mystery client who was eager to meet him. A week later, Lance Archer made his AEW debut while watching one of Cody's matches.
As competitors in the TNT Championship tournament, Cody defeated Shawn Spears and Darby Allin while Archer beat Colt Cabana and Dustin to get to the final at Double or Nothing. Since then, the two finalists came to blows on Dynamite after Roberts threw a giant snake on Brandi Rhodes.
Whoever comes out on top as the inaugural TNT Champion will likely propel the title immediately as its holder. It helps that boxing legend Mike Tyson will be there to present the winner with the belt and give them further exposure.
Nyla Rose vs. Hikaru Shida (women's world championship)
Before Revolution - @NylaRoseBeast made it clear that no one could stack up to her. Can @shidahikaru be the one to dethrone the beast?
Hikaru Shida won a four-way match against Britt Baker, Kris Statlander and Penelope Ford last week to become the No. 1 contender to Nyla Rose's title. Although Shida did get a title shot last January in another four-way match, this will be her first in a singles bout.
Meanwhile, Rose is on a nine-match winning streak and successfully defended her championship once against Statlander at Revolution in February.
Although this match has flown under the radar considering the lack of buildup between Rose and Shida, they're two of the better workers in the company and should put on a good performance.
The Inner Circle vs. The Elite and Matt Hardy (Stadium Stampede match)
The issues between these two stables go back to the very start of Dynamite last October. It escalated after the addition of Matt Hardy to the AEW roster last March when he helped The Elite fend off The Inner Circle.
Since then, Hardy competed against Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara in a street fight that featured the latter getting hit by a golf cart. One can only imagine what they'll do in an entire stadium.
The two groups were originally supposed to face each other at Blood and Guts, a Dynamite episode originally slated for March but that has since been postponed. Now, they'll finally get their hands on each other.
Casino Ladder Match
Your ninth & final entrant in the Casino Ladder Match was revealed as a mystery participant at Double or Nothing!
There are many interesting names fighting for a shot at the AEW world championship during the Casino Ladder match. Along with Darby Allin, Colt Cabana, Orange Cassidy, Rey Fenix, Frankie Kazarian, Luchasaurus, Kip Sabian and Scorpio Sky, there will also be a mystery participant announced at Double or Nothing.
The match begins with two competitors. Then every 90 seconds, a new entrant will step into the ring. It's not yet known what the entrant order will be.
There are so many intriguing participants that it's tough to pick a favorite, especially with the added wild card of a mystery participant. Regardless of who it is, though, this looks to be a wild, fast-paced match that could steal the show.
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
After a two-month hiatus, The Salt of the Earth made his in-ring return from multiple "injuries" after suffering a hangnail and cut on his neck while shaving.
MJF defeated Lee Johnson last week and is slated to face Jungle Boy's Jurassic Express teammate, Marko Stunt, on the last Dynamite before Double or Nothing. The 24-year-old is on a 12-match winning streak and is undefeated in singles matches since joining AEW. This includes two wins against Jungle Boy.
Meanwhile, this will only be Jungle Boy's fourth singles match. Along with the two defeats against MJF, he also drew against Chris Jericho last December. At 22, Jungle Boy is another young talent who's primed to be one of AEW's future stars. Giving him this spotlight in his first singles match on PPV against a worker like MJF will be valuable experience.
Dr. Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
.@RealBrittBaker had some harsh post-match words for @callmekrisstat lastnight on Dynamite. These two will go head to head on Sat, May 23rd at Double or Nothing. Order Double or Nothing on all major cable & satellite providers / @BRLive / @FITETV (International Fans Only) #AEWDoNpic.twitter.com/VD4Z4tM3Ti
With her "Role Model" persona, Britt Baker has become one of the most annoying, albeit entertaining, members of the AEW roster. She took her dentistry role and started bragging about it ad nauseam to anyone who would listen. The condescending promos she's cut recently give new insight into her personality which we hadn't seen before.
Last week, Baker and Kris Statlander both competed in a four-way match for a meeting with Nyla Rose for the women's world championship at Double or Nothing. Shida won, and Baker attacked Statlander afterwards when she felt that the Galaxy's Greatest Alien cost her the match. Thus, AEW booked a bout between the two at DoN.
Best Friends vs. Private Party
Judging by the amount of people that slept on us, you might as well call us a king size mattress.
On May 23rd we’ll wake y’all up as we get one step closer to the AEW Tag Team Championships 🥂 pic.twitter.com/gneSwHGNQz
The Buy-In match will be a fun way to kick off the show as two energetic tag teams compete to become the No. 1 contenders to Kenny Omega and Adam Page's tag team championships. Best Friends and Private Party rank second and fifth, respectively, in the official AEW tag team rankings.
AEW Double or Nothing 2020: Jon Moxley and Top Stars Who Will Shine at PPV
May 20, 2020
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 04: Jon Moxley attends the All Elite Wrestling panel during 2019 New York Comic Con at Jacob Javits Center on October 04, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Noam Galai/Getty Images for WarnerMedia Company)
All Elite Wrestling's biggest show of the year takes place this Saturday, with Double or Nothing featuring all four major titles on the line in Jacksonville, Florida.
The main event of the show will feature Jon Moxley making his first pay-per-view defense of the AEW world championship against Brodie Lee, while Cody Rhodes and Lance Archer will lock horns for the inaugural TNT title.
Those two bouts will have ramifications for the short- and long-term direction of AEW booking. Everything the company has been building toward since Revolution in February will come to a head this weekend.
Before the second annual Double or Nothing show takes place, let's look at the stars who need to come out of the PPV with victories.
2020 AEW Double or Nothing Card
AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Brodie Lee
TNT Championship: Cody vs. Lance Archer
AEW Women's Championship: Nyla Rose (c) vs. Hikaru Shida
Casino Ladder match for AEW World Championship match: Darby Allinvs.Colt Cabanavs.Orange Cassidyvs.Rey Fénixvs.Scorpio Skyvs.Kip Sabianvs.Frankie Kazarianvs.Luchasaurusvs.TBD
Stadium Stampede match: Matt Hardy and The Elite vs. The Inner Circle
MJF vs. Jungle Boy
Dr. Britt Baker vs. Kris Statlander
No. 1 Contender Tag Team Championship match (pre-show): Private Party vs. Best Friends
Stars Who Must Win
Jon Moxley
There seems to be little doubt Moxley will retain the AEW world title on Saturday. This is his first major defense of the belt on PPV after ending Chris Jericho's unbeaten streak at Revolution.
Since Cody is unable to challenge for the title based on the stipulation from his match with Jericho at Full Gear last November, Moxley is the top babyface in a way that The American Nightmare can't be until AEW tries to get around that booking decision.
Moxley has been fantastic in his role, particularly as the counterpart to Jericho as the top heel. There is an argument to be made that Lee, who is undefeated in AEW (5-0) and making his PPV debut with the promotion, should get the victory.
But Moxley is still in the early stages of his title run and doesn't need to drop the crown right now. Lee has been properly built up with wins over fan favorites such as Christopher Daniels and Marko Stunt on Dynamite.
Ultimately, though, Lee is being set up as the monster heel for the hero to take down. Moxley will get the rub and continue his reign into the summer.
Cody
AEW is in an interesting spot with Cody heading into Double or Nothing. He's currently ranked as the No. 1 contender in the men's division with a 9-1 record this year, but the aforementioned title stipulation makes it impossible for him to challenge for the crown.
Despite that overall record, he has come up short in his last two pay-per-view matches dating back to Full Gear. The November event was used to set up MJF's heel turn, which in turn led to a head-to-head match at Revolution.
MJF defeated Cody at the February event, albeit by using the Dynamite Diamond Ring behind the referee's back.
Given Cody's positioning as the top babyface and his recent PPV shortcomings, Double or Nothing is the perfect place to get him back on track. There's also the poetic ending with him getting revenge for his brother, Dustin, who was retired by Lance Archer with a loss in the second round of the TNT championship tournament.
This tournament also provides a workaround to the championship problem Cody backed himself into. He can win the TNT title, which will be positioned as the No. 2 men's singles crown on Dynamite.
Britt Baker
If not for Jericho's presence on the roster, Britt Baker would be the best heel in AEW right now. The professional dentist has come into her own since giving up her underdog babyface gimmick.
Her promo skills, in particular, have made her must-watch television each week on Dynamite. Her ongoing feud with Tony Schiavone and his love of coffee is as entertaining as any running joke in 2020.
In the ring, AEW has clearly taken notice of Baker's rise. She recently challenged Hikaru Shida for the AEW women's championship on Dynamite and has won each of her last two singles matches after being pinned clean by Shida on April 8.
There's a case to be made for the winner of Baker-Kris Statlander moving into the No. 1 contender spot for the title. They only trail Shida in the current women's division rankings, with Nyla Rose entering Double or Nothing as champion.
Statlander is a promising talent, but her early run in AEW has shown she's not yet ready to be a top star. The Alien will get there eventually and is going to earn her spot.
For now, though, Baker should be put in a prime position in the women's division because of her recent run as a great heel.
AEW's Brodie Lee Explains Why He Left WWE; Kenny Omega Tops His Wishlist
May 17, 2020
AEW star Brodie Lee appeared on Busted Open Radio recently to discuss his WWE departure and who he most wants to wrestle in AEW.
During the interview (h/t WrestlingInc.com's Douglas Canavin), Lee said a lack of opportunities is what prompted his desire to leave WWE:
"That's the main reason why I didn't want to be in WWE anymore; it's because I knew those opportunities weren't coming. No matter how hard I scratched and clawed, no matter what I proved, they weren't coming. I wasn't one of the chosen ones. Now here I am. I'm proving it myself. But now, it's like I know I'm great at professional wrestling. I know I deserve these spots, but now I have to show up and prove that to other people. So now there's a certain pressure on me because there is no one to blame anymore."
Lee had plenty of ups during his time in WWE, where he wrestled as Luke Harper. He was part of The Wyatt Family with Bray Wyatt and Erick Rowan, he had a run as Intercontinental champion, and he held the SmackDown Tag Team Championships with Rowan as The Bludgeon Brothers.
Aside from his brief IC title reign, however, Lee was never really given the chance to have a sustained singles run. It was a surprising decision on WWE's part since his size (billed at 6'9", 295 lbs), look and demeanor potentially could have made him a top monster heel.
Lee is getting the chance to be precisely that in AEW as the leader of Dark Order. Although he debuted only two months ago, he is already slated to face Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing on Saturday.
Moxley vs. Lee is a highly anticipated match, but Lee noted there are many other performers he wants to work with in AEW as well, including Kenny Omega, who is at the top of his list:
"The list is so long. A guy like Kenny Omega, Darby Allin, Jungle Boy, Cody Rhodes now. The list is so hard, even [Proud] And Powerful, Jericho, all those guys. Sammy Guevara.
"It's crazy to say. I don't want to come off like, 'Everybody,' but literally almost everyone on the roster is a fun matchup to me. It's all fresh, it's all new, and it's very cool. But a guy like Kenny Omega is probably at the top of the list to have that crazy, big-time matchup."
Lee has faced many of the biggest names in wrestling between his time in WWE and on the independents, but Omega is one person he has never gotten the chance to lock up with.
Omega is currently one half of the AEW World Tag Team champions with "Hangman" Adam Page, but once Lee gets through feuding with Moxley, Omega stands out as a top candidate to go up against Lee and Dark Order.
Listen toRing Rust Radiofor all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below(warning: some languageNSFW).
Why Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin Will Be AEW's Money Feud After Double or Nothing
May 16, 2020
OSAKA, JAPAN - FEBRUARY 09: Jon Moxley reacts during the New Japan Pro-Wrestling 'The New Beginning in Osaka' at Osaka-Jo Hall on February 09, 2020 in Osaka, Japan. (Photo by Etsuo Hara/Getty Images)
Jon Moxley is set to defend the All Elite Wrestling World Championship against Brodie Lee at Double or Nothing next Saturday, but assuming he comes away with his title reign still intact, Mox should enter directly into a feud with Darby Allin.
Allin will be part of the nine-person Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing with the winner earning a future AEW World title shot. Although there are some big names in the match, nobody stands out more than Allin as an ideal candidate to win and enter the world title scene.
Ever since AEW came into existence, it has been clear that Allin has future star written all over him. He boasts the undeniable "it factor" that few possess, which reminds many fans of Jeff Hardy. That helped Hardy become WWE champion and one of the biggest stars in the business, which is a level Allin can eventually reach as well.
Moxley vs. Allin may not make complete sense on the surface since they are both technically babyfaces, but they have tweener tendencies, and Allin especially leans to the heel side at times.
Most recently, Allin laid out Cody after they lost a tag team match to Sammy Guevara and Shawn Spears on Dynamite, which speaks to how easy it would be for AEW to put him in a program with a popular face like Mox. A clear heel vs. face dynamic is usually ideal, but Moxley and Allin are talented enough to make it work.
They also have some history, as they faced each other on the eighth-ever episode of Dynamite back in November. Moxley won that match, but Allin pushed him to the limit and showed that he is capable of hanging with one of the best in the business.
Several months later in March, Moxley and Allin were scheduled to team up against Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara on Dynamite. That match never happened as intended, though, since Mox was attacked by The Inner Circle beforehand.
As a result, Allin had to wrestle the match on his own and ended up losing. That situation hasn't been touched on since it happened in March, but having Allin become No. 1 contender and then use that as motivation by claiming that Mox left him high and dry would be a good way to add some instant heat to the rivalry.
Over the past couple of weeks, AEW has seemingly been building up Allin in a unique way. During backstage interviews with Taz, he has rejected Taz's offers to help him and revealed that he has an amateur wrestling background.
Allin is primarily viewed as a daredevil and a dark, mysterious character, but bringing up his amateur wrestling experience adds layers to his character and some legitimacy to him as a performer.
Moxley has primarily been a brawler throughout his career, but he has noticeably incorporated more of a ground game and grappling style in AEW. Based on that, AEW playing up Allin's wrestling skill may be a sign that it is preparing for Mox and Allin to clash.
The key in world title feuds is to have both performers come out of the rivalry better than when they went in. Moxley's reign may not end any time soon, and he may not drop the title to Allin, but the program could still be hugely beneficial to the up-and-coming star.
If Moxley retains his title over Allin at a big event, but Allin turns in a memorable performance in the process, then AEW will have a strong champion in Moxley and a star on the rise in Allin, which is the perfect mix.
Listen toRing Rust Radiofor all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below(warning: some languageNSFW).
One Year at AEW: Ranking the Top 5 PPV Matches
May 12, 2020
Double or Nothing takes place May 23, the fifth pay-per-view in All Elite Wrestling's first year. Dozens of matches happened on those previous cards, but there were some that stood out more than others. They're the kinds of matches you want to watch more than once.
Here's our list of the top five matches from AEW PPVs so far. We took into consideration the quality of wrestling, the strength of the storylines and the likelihood of a re-watch.
Disagree with our list? Let us know who you would've included in the comments. Also, you can still order the four previous AEW pay-per-views (Double or Nothing, All Out, Full Gear, Revolution) on B/R Live.
5. Chris Jericho vs. Cody (Full Gear)
Chris Jericho defended his AEW World Championship against Cody at Full Gear, but there was over a month of intense buildup to their match last November.
In the first match of Dynamite's history, the American Nightmare defeated Sammy Guevara. After the bout, Jericho jumped Rhodes and later announced that Guevara, along with Jake Hager, Santana and Ortiz, were members of his Inner Circle. Thus, we saw the formation of a stable that would heavily feature on the company's programming for months to come.
Cody sought the help of half-brother Dustin, best friend MJF and longtime family friend Diamond Dallas Page to get his revenge on the Inner Circle. The result was a massive brawl in the concourse of an arena in which Cody punched a hole through a glass window to get his hands on Jericho for one of the most memorable AEW moments so far.
Eventually, the two fought in the ring at Full Gear. Their match was a storytelling clinic, an expected trait from two top workers. Jericho dominated much of the match as Cody struggled to find any momentum. Eventually, Jericho used his patented Walls submission in an attempt to finish the match. MJF, who was Cody's cornerman, shocked the Baltimore crowd when he threw in the towel to signal his mentor's forfeit.
An initially bewildered Cody eventually accepted the apology of MJF, who was emotional explaining to Cody what he did and why he did it. Then, the Salt of the Earth kicked Cody in the groin and turned on his so-called "best friend." Fans were so angry that one threw a drink at MJF on his way up the ramp. MJF said on the following episode of Dynamite that he felt Cody was holding him back because he was afraid of how well the 24-year-old would do by himself.
The buildup to the match, the bout itself and the aftermath are far too compelling to leave off the list. Jericho established the Inner Circle, Cody came out of it as the most sympathetic face at AEW, and MJF became a red-hot heel.
4. Lucha Brothers vs. Young Bucks (Ladder Match at All Out)
The rivalry between two of the top tag teams in the world reached new heights in what was referred to as an "Escalera de la Muerte," the Lucha Brothers' version of a ladder match. These tag teams are destined to put on great match after great match, but adding ladders to their feud kept things fresh.
What followed was absolute chaos as both teams competed for the AAA Tag Team Championship. Filled with wild and creative spots, it was like watching a beautiful train wreck. At no point in the match could fans really tell who was going to come out on top, adding to the drama. In the end, the Lucha Brothers retained their titles, but not after sending their opponent headfirst through a table from the top of a ladder.
This match last August was further proof that AEW is serious about being an industry leader with their tag team division, rather than treating it just as an afterthought. The Young Bucks are leading that charge and continued to back up their words with a terrific display.
3. Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega (Lights Out Match at Full Gear)
This is probably the most controversial inclusion on the list. Fans either loved this match or hated it, with little room in between.
If one's not into extreme matches, this wasn't for them. The sight of Jon Moxley throwing Kenny Omega on mouse traps and barbed wire can make even the most avid extreme wrestling fans queasy. The match did however prove that AEW will go to levels that other major promotions just won't.
It's rare to see this grotesque of a match happen even on pay-per-view events, but it was justified considering the deep animosity that Moxley and Omega had for each other. Their feud was one of the most personal in AEW's existence. Starting at Double or Nothing last May when Moxley assaulted Omega, things escalated when the former pulled out of their match at All Out because of a staph infection. The Best Bout Machine, incensed by Moxley's carelessness, cut his best AEW promo yet.
When these two finally met in the ring, glass, mouse traps, barbed wire and even an ice pick were used to try to mutilate each other. It may not have been the most technical of matches, but it sent a message that AEW was in fact an alternative product. Not only that, but it was a damn entertaining match.
2. Kenny Omega & Adam Page vs. Young Bucks (Revolution)
It's not an exaggeration to call this clash between The Elite members one of the greatest tag team matches in recent memory. It's certainly the greatest tag team match in AEW's short history.
It was hard to catch one's breath during their bout in February. Thirty minutes of relentless, hard-hitting action, compounded by the growing animosity between Adam Page and the Young Bucks, kept the Chicago crowd on its feet.
A couple months prior, Cowboy stepped away from The Elite as he tried to rebound from a string of losses. Page became more concerned about his personal accomplishments, much to the chagrin of Matt and Nick Jackson. The duo confronted Page on multiple occasions about his behavior and the increased alcohol consumption that has become a staple of his persona now. They even went as far as to call their former associate a "jobber" before the Young Bucks brought Page into New Japan Pro-Wrestling's Bullet Club.
This culminated in a scintillating performance at Revolution filled with big spot after big spot, adding to AEW's argument that they have the best tag division in the world.
1. Cody vs. Dustin (Double or Nothing)
One will struggle to find a finer wrestling match over the past year than Cody vs. Dustin at AEW's first event. The company had one chance to make a good first impression, and it did with this meeting between two top workers who know each other better than most.
Because Double or Nothing was AEW's first show, it didn't have much storyline buildup for most of its matches. Instead, it relied on the already well-established history between Cody and Dustin.
The match showcased the best of professional wrestling.
Chants of "Dusty" rang through the crowd at the start of the match as fans honored Cody and Dustin's late father. The match itself saw Cody control his 50-year-old opponent for the majority of it, but the 11,000 in attendance popped at every comeback attempt that Dustin, who was bleeding profusely, tried to make. It was all for naught, though, as Dustin sold his older age at the end of the match by giving into Cody's offense. The American Nightmare hit the Cross Rhodes to defeat his half-brother as the MGM Grand Arena crowd gave both competitors a standing ovation.
That wasn't the end of it. An emotional Cody grabbed a microphone and cut a touching promo as a battered Dustin sat in the corner of the ring. What followed was the most important moment in AEW's history so far—a shining example of the raw connection AEW hopes to make with its fans.
With the final SmackDown before WWE Money in the Bank in the books, it's full steam toward Sunday night, and it isn't a stretch to say that it's shaping up to be a must-see show based off what's on tap...
For the first time in over a month, All Elite Wrestling Dynamite hit the TNT airwaves live, with a show dedicated to building the May 23 Double or Nothing pay-per-view extravaganza...
One Year of AEW: Ranking the Top 5 Babyfaces
May 4, 2020
It's been almost a year since Double or Nothing, the All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view debut that showed that the company is a major player.
Since then, AEW has built new stars and showcased its established talent. These are the five who stand out as the promotion's most effective babyfaces in its first full year.
5. Luchasaurus
Who would've thought when we saw Luchasaurus for the first time in the Casino Battle Royale at Double or Nothing that the 6'7", 250-pound behemoth portraying a dinosaur would be one of the best babyfaces AEW had to offer?
Those who were familiar with his work at Lucha Underground as a former Trios Championship holder knew what Luchasaurus could bring the table, but those less familiar quickly grew to love his brute strength and sneaky quick offense.
Since Double or Nothing, Luchasaurus has partnered himself with Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt to form the Jurassic Express, which has become one of the most popular stables at AEW. He's showcased himself as one of the best hot tags in wrestling when helping his much smaller partners.
It'll be exciting to see how AEW tries to elevate Luchasaurus in 2020, whether as part of a tag team or in singles competition.
4. Orange Cassidy
"Freshly Squeezed" also made his AEW debut at Double or Nothing's Casino Battle Royale when he delivered hilariously soft kicks to the shins of Tommy Dreamer, much to the crowd's delight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ-L7knAC2Q
Orange Cassidy then made sporadic surprise appearances at pay-per-views and Dynamite episodes to help Best Friends, his newfound tag partners. More often than not, his cameos were highlights of the shows as AEW made a seemingly concerted effort not to overexpose him to fans by regularly featuring him. This made for particularly special moments whenever Cassidy did anything.
No moment was more special than his debut singles match at Revolution against Pac. When the match was first booked, there was plenty of curiosity in seeing how a lackadaisical Cassidy could work with Pac, one of the most technical wrestlers in the world. What transpired was a brilliant way of introducing fans to Cassidy's legitimate wrestling talent while still managing to offer the comedic relief he's known for.
Their match at Revolution in February was one of the most well received and for good reason. No one can really tell what Cassidy's ceiling is yet, but it'll sure be fun to watch the road to it.
3. Darby Allin
No AEW roster member benefited more from the newfound spotlight than Darby Allin.
Very little was known about Allin when he made his debut at Fyter Fest last June. However, AEW did feature promos from him leading up to his match against Cody that showed plenty of promise and showcased a character that we hadn't really seen in wrestling before.
Fast forward to present day and Allin has 20 matches under his belt, including an AEW Championship match against Chris Jericho in October. Despite only winning about half of those matches, Allin's style allows him to display lightning-quick offense while also managing to put over just about any big move an opponent has to offer. That will take him a long way, and if the dark side of his character can continue to blossom, he can eventually be one of the first megastars that AEW could largely take credit for.
2. Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley making his surprise debut at Double or Nothing should go down as one of the greatest and most important moments in AEW history. He became the first marquee name to defect from the WWE while still in the prime of his career—it was an industry-changing decision that made it clear AEW is a top promotion in the world.
Moxley went on to be part of two high-profile feuds with Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. His Lights Out match with Omega may be the most widely talked about one in AEW's existence considering its extreme violence. As a result of defeating Omega, Moxley went on to challenge and defeat Jericho for the AEW World Championship, solidifying himself as a babyface by rejecting The Inner Circle's offer to join them.
His ability to showcase extreme wrestling one week while also relying on his world-class technical ability and in-ring storytelling the next makes him a well-rounded and intriguing character that fans gravitate toward just to see what he does next.
Also, Moxley gets bonus points for receiving the biggest pop of AEW's short history during his debut.
1. Cody
Fans were fully behind Cody at nearly every turn in what was the most eventful year of his career.
The American Nightmare was a part of so many important moments that it becomes clear he's the focal point of AEW.
Putting on the match of the year with Dustin at Double or Nothing was just the beginning for Cody. He went on to help put over Allin in his debut at Fyter Fest before taking a brutal chair shot from Shawn Spears, which only further elevated Cody's position as the top face in the company. His feud with Spears was filled with in-depth storytelling that fans felt invested in, making it that much sweeter when Cody defeated The Chairman at All Out last August.
After opening the first episode of Dynamite with a win over Sammy Guevara, Cody continued to make storytelling a trademark of his rivalries with feuds against Chris Jericho for the AEW World Championship and MJF when the Salt of the Earth turned on him at Full Gear in November.
The reaction to Cody in both feuds was red-hot considering his willingness to forego any future world championship title shots if he were to lose to Jericho and his acceptance of grueling stipulations to compete against MJF, one of which led to the craziest spot in AEW's short history.
Cody Rhodes hit the Steel Cage Moonsault 🌙#AEWDynamite
His willingness to go the extra mile to entertain fans while also giving them a reason to feel invested in just about everything he does is why Cody's the top face at AEW.
Rivalries in wrestling define the sport. It is built on the relationship between the wrestlers or teams. Performers can define each other and their brands to the extent that weekly shows would not work without them...
