AEW Double or Nothing
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{short description|All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view event series}}
{{Infobox wrestling PPV series
|name = AEW Double or Nothing
|image = AEW Double or Nothing logo.png
|image_size =
|caption = AEW Double or Nothing logo
|promotions = All Elite Wrestling
|firstevent = 2019
|lastevent =
|signature_match=Stadium Stampede/Anarchy in the Arena
}}
AEW Double or Nothing is a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Established in 2019, it is held annually in May during Memorial Day weekend. The inaugural Double or Nothing was also the first PPV as well as the first event produced by AEW. It is also considered one of the "Big Five" PPVs for AEW, along with All In, All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution, the company's five biggest shows produced annually; until 2023, it was considered AEW's marquee event before being supplanted by All In.
The name Double or Nothing was originally referenced in a promo that Cody Rhodes made immediately after the September 2018 All In event, which was an independently produced PPV that came as a result of a bet with wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer. Rhodes, a key figure behind the original All In who would become a co-founder and wrestler for AEW from 2019 to 2022, said "I know when you make a bet, sometimes you go double or nothing"—AEW was then founded in January 2019 with Double or Nothing as its first event that May. The name is also a reference to its Las Vegas/casino theme, as the event was traditionally held at arenas on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada until 2025. The exceptions to this during this time were the 2020 and 2021 events, which were originally scheduled for Vegas but had to be held at Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida due to the COVID-19 pandemic—after Florida loosened its COVID-19 protocols, the 2021 event was AEW's first PPV to have a full capacity crowd, as well as the final PPV held at Daily's Place before AEW resumed live touring in July that year. The 2025 event will be the first non-pandemic era Double or Nothing to be held outside of Vegas, as it will be held at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, but still maintaining a casino theme due to the venue's connection to Desert Diamond Casinos.
Since the 2020 event, Double or Nothing has featured a specialized tornado tag team match between two multi-man teams as one of its marquee matches, oftentimes the main event. For 2020 and 2021, this was the Stadium Stampede match. To capitalize on the rise of cinematic matches during the pandemic, both year's events were headlined by the Stadium Stampede match, which was contested in both Daily's Place and the adjacent TIAA Bank Field stadium. With the return to touring, the 2022 event replaced Stadium Stampede with Anarchy in the Arena with the wrestlers fighting all throughout the host venue.
History
File:Las Vegas 63.jpg and 2021 events during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Double or Nothing events from 2019 through 2024 took on a Las Vegas theme and were held at venues on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada.]]
After the success of the September 2018 All In event, an independent professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event that came as a result of a bet with wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer,{{cite web|title=7 things to know about 'All In' – the huge indie wrestling show coming to the Chicago area|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-all-in-wrestling-chicago-young-bucks-cody-20180511-story.html|first=Brandon|last=Howard|publisher=Chicago Tribune|date=May 12, 2018|access-date=February 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180514064332/http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/ct-all-in-wrestling-chicago-young-bucks-cody-20180511-story.html|archive-date=May 14, 2018|url-status=live}} a group known as The Elite (Cody, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega), the driving forces behind the event, used the positive response from All In to pursue further events with backing of businessmen Shahid Khan and Tony Khan.{{cite web|title=Jaguars owners backing new wrestling venture|url=http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25713592|date=January 8, 2019|first=KC|last=Joyner|publisher=ESPN|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109111321/http://www.espn.com/espn/story/_/id/25713592|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}}
{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/shad-khan-confirmed-lead-investor-all-elite-wrestling-274096|title=Shad Khan confirmed as lead investor in All Elite Wrestling|date=January 8, 2019|first=Josh|last=Nason|publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=January 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109000726/https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/shad-khan-confirmed-lead-investor-all-elite-wrestling-274096|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}} In a promo after All In, Cody said "I know when you make a bet, sometimes you go double or nothing".{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/cody-young-bucks-tease-another/|title=Cody and Young Bucks Tease Another All In|date=September 2, 2018|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|work=411Mania|access-date=September 15, 2022}} On November 5, 2018, several trademarks were filed in Jacksonville, Florida, among them were "All Elite Wrestling" and "Double or Nothing", leading to speculation of the formation of a professional wrestling promotion and the name of its first event.{{cite web|last1=Nason|first1=John|title=Trademarks filed in Florida for All Elite Wrestling, All Out, and more|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/trademarks-filed-florida-all-elite-wrestling-all-out-and-more-270671|publisher=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=January 2, 2019|date=November 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190102050911/https://www.f4wonline.com/indies/trademarks-filed-florida-all-elite-wrestling-all-out-and-more-270671|archive-date=January 2, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Fernandes|first1=Steven|title=NEW TRADEMARKS POINT TO ELITE PROMOTION, NEXT STEP FOR BUCKS AND CODY|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/121945/new-trademarks-point-to-elite-promotion-next-step-for-bucks-and-cody.html?p=1|publisher=PWInsider|access-date=January 2, 2019|date=November 11, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103005207/https://www.pwinsider.com/article/121945/new-trademarks-point-to-elite-promotion-next-step-for-bucks-and-cody.html?p=1|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Radican|first1=Sean|title=All Elite Wrestling trademarks filed, startup promotion linked to Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Omega, and cast of Being the Elite (w/Radican's Analysis)|url=https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/11/21/all-elite-wrestling-trademarks-filed-startup-promotion-linked-to-young-bucks-cody-rhodes-omega-and-cast-of-being-the-elite/|publisher=PWTorch|access-date=January 2, 2019|date=November 21, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103005058/https://www.pwtorch.com/site/2018/11/21/all-elite-wrestling-trademarks-filed-startup-promotion-linked-to-young-bucks-cody-rhodes-omega-and-cast-of-being-the-elite/|archive-date=January 3, 2019|url-status=live}}
On January 1, 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was officially founded. Along with the announcement, the promotion's inaugural event, Double or Nothing, was scheduled to air on PPV during Memorial Day weekend on May 25, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on the Las Vegas Strip in Paradise, Nevada, with the event taking on a Las Vegas theme.{{cite web|last1=Ghosh|first1=Pratyay|title=All Elite Wrestling News: AEW officially announced, Cody Rhodes confirms his role|url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/all-elite-wrestling/1010194/all-elite-wrestling-news-wwe-tony-khan-to-be-president-of-aew-cody-rhodes-confirms-his-role/|publisher=Fox Sports Asia|access-date=February 8, 2019|date=January 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209124920/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/all-elite-wrestling/1010194/all-elite-wrestling-news-wwe-tony-khan-to-be-president-of-aew-cody-rhodes-confirms-his-role/|archive-date=February 9, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Pratt|first1=Emily|title=The Young Bucks And Cody Officially Announced All Elite Wrestling And Released Some Details|url=https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/young-bucks-cody-all-elite-wrestling-announcement-2019/|publisher=Uproxx|access-date=February 8, 2019|date=January 1, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190109205002/https://uproxx.com/prowrestling/young-bucks-cody-all-elite-wrestling-announcement-2019/|archive-date=January 9, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last1=Fritz|first1=Brian|title=Shad and Tony Khan comment on launch of All Elite Wrestling|url=http://www.sportingnews.com/us/wwe/news/shad-and-tony-khan-comment-on-launch-of-all-elite-wrestling/nmw6ll4by0zh11y4158qqpmuc|publisher=Sportingnews|access-date=February 8, 2019|date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190209102624/http://www.sportingnews.com/us/wwe/news/shad-and-tony-khan-comment-on-launch-of-all-elite-wrestling/nmw6ll4by0zh11y4158qqpmuc|archive-date=February 9, 2019|url-status=live}}
Double or Nothing would become considered AEW's marquee event,{{cite web|title=AEW Double Or Nothing 2020 date and location revealed|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2020/02/05/aew-double-or-nothing-2020-date-and-location-revealed/|publisher=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=February 5, 2020|last=Powell|first=Jason|access-date=February 5, 2020}} with AEW president Tony Khan later referring to the event as being one of the promotion's "big four" PPVs, their four biggest shows of the year produced quarterly, along with All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-likes-big-four-aew-s-pay-view-schedule-announces-beach-break-special-january|title=Tony Khan Likes AEW's 'Big Four' Pay-Per-View Schedule, Announces 'Beach Break' Special For January|date=November 8, 2020|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|accessdate=March 8, 2021}} With All In becoming one of AEW's annual events in 2023, it supplanted Double or Nothing as AEW's marquee event, and overall biggest event of the year, with the previous "big four" plus All In becoming the "big five".{{cite web|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/other-sports/2024/08/16/tony-khan-2025-aew-all-in-texas-globe-life-field/|title=1-on-1 with AEW's Tony Khan: Why All In Texas landed at Globe Life Field and more|date=August 16, 2024|last=Hayden|first=Joey|work=The Dallas Morning News|access-date=October 4, 2024}}
File:DailysPlace Jax Edited1.jpg, the 2020 and 2021 events were held at AEW's home venue of Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida; the 2021 event was subsequently AEW's final pay-per-view event held at Daily's Place as the company resumed live touring that July.]]
While AEW had planned to again host the 2020 event at the same location on May 23 that year, the venue canceled all events up through May 31 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/aew-double-or-nothing-venue-shut-down-until-further-notice/|title=AEW Double Or Nothing Venue Shut Down Until Further Notice|date=April 9, 2020|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|work=411Mania|accessdate=April 10, 2020}} In response, the promotion announced that the 2020 event would still proceed as planned (which occurred at Daily's Place and the TIAA Bank Field stadium in Jacksonville, Florida), while also confirming that a third Double or Nothing would emanate from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 29, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/update-on-aew-double-or-nothing|title=Update On AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING|date=April 14, 2020|author=AEW Staff|work=All Elite Wrestling|accessdate=April 15, 2020}} However, due to the ongoing pandemic, the 2021 event was again held at Daily's Place and was moved back a day to May 30.{{cite tweet|user=AEW|number=1368749530200616960|title=.@AEW Double or Nothing will take place Sunday, May 30 at @DailysPlace in Jacksonville, FL. Ticketing on-sale info will be released at a later date. #AEWDoN|author-link=All Elite Wrestling|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 7, 2021}}{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=AEW Double Or Nothing 2021 Date And Location Announced|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-double-or-nothing-2021-date-and-location-announced|work=Fightful|date=March 7, 2021|access-date=March 7, 2021}} AEW resumed live touring in July, thus the 2021 Double or Nothing was the promotion's final PPV held at Daily's Place during the pandemic. It was also the company's first show to run at full venue capacity during the pandemic after Florida loosened its COVID-19 protocols.{{cite web|last=Powell|first=Jason|title=AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Kenny Omega vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Pac for the AEW Championship, Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker for the AEW Women's Title, Miro vs. Lance Archer for the TNT Title, The Young Bucks vs. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston for the AEW Tag Titles, The Pinnacle vs. The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match|url=https://prowrestling.net/site/2021/05/30/aew-double-or-nothing-results-powells-live-review-of-kenny-omega-vs-orange-cassidy-vs-pac-for-the-aew-championship-hikaru-shida-vs-britt-baker-for-the-aew-womens-title-miro-vs-lance-archer/|work=Pro Wrestling Dot Net|date=May 30, 2021|access-date=May 30, 2021}}
In December 2021, it was confirmed that the 2022 Double or Nothing would return the event to Las Vegas,{{cite web |last1=Lambert |first1=Jeremy |title=Tony Khan Explains Why Owen Hart Cup Will Conclude At AEW Double Or Nothing |url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-explains-why-owen-hart-cup-will-conclude-aew-double-or-nothing |website=Fightful |access-date=December 28, 2021 |date=December 27, 2021}} and it would be held at the T-Mobile Arena.{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-confirms-date-double-or-nothing-2022-three-live-shows-set-las-vegas|title=AEW Confirms Date Of Double Or Nothing 2022, Three Live Shows Set For Las Vegas|date=February 23, 2022|last=Guzzo|first=Gisberto|work=Fightful|access-date=February 23, 2022}} It was also announced that the event would host the finals of the inaugural Owen Hart Cup. The 2023 event was also held at the same arena on May 28 that year.{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=AEW Double Or Nothing 2023 Confirmed For May 28 In Las Vegas|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-double-or-nothing-2023-confirmed-may-28-las-vegas|work=Fightful|date=March 5, 2023|access-date=March 6, 2023}} On March 27, 2024, it was announced that after five years, the 2024 event would return Double or Nothing to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 26 that year.{{cite web|last=Russell|first=Skylar|title=AEW Returning To Las Vegas For Collision On May 25, Double Or Nothing On May 26|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-returning-las-vegas-collision-may-25-double-or-nothing-may-26|work=Fightful|date=March 27, 2024|access-date=March 27, 2024}}
File:Gila River Arena Gate 4 Entrance.jpg will be held at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, which will be the first non-pandemic Double or Nothing event to take place outside of Las Vegas, but still maintaining a casino theme due to the venue's connection to Desert Diamond Casinos.]]
On February 19, 2025, it was announced that the 2025 Double or Nothing was scheduled for May 25, 2025, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona, ending the promotion's tradition of holding the event in the Las Vegas area. The venue shares its namesake with Desert Diamond Casinos, thus continuing Double or Nothing's casino theme.
Events
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See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.allelitewrestling.com/ All Elite Wrestling Official website]
{{All Elite Wrestling events|Double or Nothing}}