AEW Double or Nothing 2025 Review
I don't know, after weeks of AEW presenting this as a very heated fued, this match really came off as tame by comparison. Not really a bad wrestling match, perse, but I was expecting more of a brawl between these two than a heatless technical match. Mercedes winning was kind of predictable, and no doubt she'll go on to win at All In.
★★★½
Nigel McGuiness and Daniel Garcia vs FTR
Started off a bit slow, but managed to win me over near the end. This is probably the worst match of Nigel's since returning, and that's because he was basically treated as the weak link between the two, suffering most of FTR's heelish antics. At least Daniel Garcia looked strong by not tapping! I assume this fued is going to continue since FTR won, but you never know, Khan might lose interest and go a different direction. Who knows!
★★★★
Stretcher Match - Mark Briscoe vs Ricochet
Immediately this match found some way to bug me. Normally in a stretcher match there is only one stretcher and it's at the base of the ring near the ramp, so the tension of the wrestlers pushing the stretcher and fighting off of it is palpable. But for whatever stupid reason, they had a stretcher RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE DAMN AMBULANCE, making any attempt to roll your opponent up there look stupid. Why does AEW always do this, damn it. I want to enjoy this product, but they always get the smallest things wrong, and it bugs me. It's not even the wrestlers fault, too.
★★½
So, instead of doing anything meaningful with your Tag Team titles on Ring of Honor, you decide to challenge the Hurt Syndicate. I'm sorry, but this just felt really rushed together. The match itself was fine, I guess, with a couple of fun spots (it's an MJF match, it's bound to be somewhat entertaining). But, I just can't get over the fact that Khan refuses to do anything interesting with ROH.
★★★
A bit slow to start off, but they were certainly clicking after a while. Somehow, these two, with completely different wrestling styles, put on a spectacular match full of clever reversals and countermoves. While I am a big Mike Bailey fan (loved his work in TNA), it was kind of obvious he was going to lose here, but damn did he give it his all.
★★★★
How the hell do you have your one and only World title match on the card be shorter than both Owen Hart Tournament final matches?! These two put on a fun bout, and it's obvious they have a lot of chemistry together. If the match was given a little more time, then would have a classic on our hands. Why do they keep on doing this to Toni Storm matches when she's the most over act?!!
★★★★
This was honestly a whole bunch of fun. Exactly the kind of chaos I love, and thankfully steers away from the depressing finish of the Death Riders winning with a Jon Moxley chokeout (kind of symbolic of what they're doing to the main event scene if I'm being honest). But, yeah, there was a lot of creative spots here. The ending was absolutely brilliant, with a Swerve Stomp with thumbtack shoes happening concurrently with a one winged angel through an exploding table. Hopefully this is signaling the end of the Death Riders in AEW.
★★★★½
A match that was thrown together on Collision, and of course it was given the death spot between AITA and Hangman vs Ospreay. I don't get the purpose of the Don Callis family. He adds nothing to the show, and being with him doesn't give them title opportunities. Just look at Josh Alexander, coming in around the same time as Mike Bailey after leaving TNA, and he got a title opportunity before he did. I just don't understand this faction at all. Anyway, nothing special about this match, with a nonsense ending. Next!
★★★
I was not expecting this to be the match I was mostly looking forward to, but the two promos they did leading up to the PPV really got me interested in this match. I really wish that AEW would do that more, because I want to care about these characters. Throwing together random "great matches" doesn't really keep me invested. Anyway, this match was incredible, with great in-ring storytelling. Somehow these two never faced off before, but it felt like they knew each other really well. I was not expecting Hangman to win, but honestly it was the right way to go given his story for the past couple of years.
★★★★★
★★★★★
PPV Grade:
Match Quality: 74/100
Show Structure: 76/100
Atmosphere: 95/100
Story: 60/100
Production: 65/100
Overall: C- (71/100)
While this does have the same score as AEW Revolution, I honestly think this show feels better overall. Mainly due to the main event scene FINALLY giving us something different. It feels like we're finally wrapping up with the Death Riders shit. Hopefully this is the case, or All In is in for a scathing review.
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