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AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING PPV REPORT
MAY 24, 2026
QUEEN, N.Y. AT LOUIE ARMSTRONG STADIUM
STREAMED LIVE ON PPV (including PPV.com)
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier that 14,292 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 14,292, so a legit turnaway sellout.
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[“BUY IN” PRE-SHOW]
Commentators Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Arkady Aura
-Renee Paquette stood mid-ring in a sparsely filled arena and said they were sold out and the crowd was filing in. She introduced Mick Foley as her cohost. He made his entrance to chants of “Foley! Foley!” He was all smiles. He said, “With no hyperbole, this is one of the biggest moments of my life.” He waved to his daughter Noel in the crowd. She asked what brought him to AEW. He said he had a long love affair with pro wrestling, took a break for a few years, and then watched AEW and fell in love again. He said he got to know and befriend Tony Khan 15 years ago and recently he invited him to be part of AEW. He said he wanted to be part of something, and this gives him that chance.
(A) DEVINE DOMINION (Megan Bayne & Lena Kross) vs. VIVA VAN & ZAYDA STEEL (w/Christopher Daniels)
The five minute countdown clock began 8 minutes into the hour. With 14 seconds left, Bayne scored a pin on Steel after a double chokeslam.
WINNERS: Bayne & Kross at 4:46 to prevent Van & Steel from earning an AEW Women’s Title match
-Afterward, Tay Melo and Anna Jay came out to the ring. Bayne & Kross bailed out of the ring.
(B) THE OPPS (Hook & Anthony Bowens & Katsuyori Shibata) vs. THE DEATH RIDERS (Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia & Wheeler Yuta)
A few minutes in, they build to a spot where Shibata called for Clauido to tag in. They exchanged rapid strikes in the ring and then the corner. Nigel said Jim Ross would join them later in the show. Later, the Riders took turns charging at Hook in the corner with various impacts leading to a two count by Claudio. Claudio got out of a Red Rum attempt by Hook. For the finish, Claudio pinned Bowens after a barrage of offense.
WINNERS: The Death Riders.
-Renee talked with Foley on the stage about Owen Hart. Foley said as good as Owen was in the ring, he was a better person outside of the ring. Then the shifted to talking about the AEW Tag Team Title match on the PPV.
-A video package aired on the tag title match.
(C) MARK BRISCOE & RODERICK STRONG & ORANGE CASSIDY & Q.T. MARSHALL & BIG BOOM AJ (w/Big Justice, The Rizzler, Harley Cameron) vs. SHANE TAYLOR PROMOTIONS (Shane Taylor & Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean & Lee Moriarty & Anthony Ogogo w/Christyan XO)
The bell rang 34 minutes into the hour. Briscoe flip dove over the top rope onto a crowd at ringside a 6:00. Back in the ring, they did a powerbomb spot out of the corner leading to Big Boom scoring a three count on Dean.
WINNERS: Briscoe & Strong & Cassidy & Big Boom & Marshall in 7:00.
-After the match, the heels surrounded the faces, but then Eddie Kingston and Ortiz charged out with a cane and chased Taylor and his crew away.
-They went back to the Renee and Foley back in the ring. Fans chanted “Eddie! Eddie!” They discussed Darby vs. MJF. Foley said MJF was playing “not to lose” because he was worried about his hair. Foley predicted a Darby win. MJF interrupted. Renee bailed out of the ring as MJF marched to the ring angrily. MJF asked if they’re supposed to care about Foley who failed in every big moment of his career. MJF told the fans they’re morons for thinking the New York Knicks would ever win an NBA Championship.
Foley said he wanted a moment to take this in because he never thought he’d have a moment like this again. He thanked MJF for it. When Foley mentioned Dwayne Johnson, fans booed loudly. He asked if he ever lost in 2 minutes 15 seconds. “That’s not a loss; that’s a disgrace,” Foley said. Foley said he sees a lot of him in Darby, but he said he was always content to steal the show, whereas Darby is focused on winning too. He told MJF his hair is waving good bye. MJF gave Foley a low-blow. Darby charged out to Foley’s aid. MJF fled the scene. Foley yelled, “Don’t you run away, Max!” Foley told Darby he didn’t know until a month ago that he inspired Darby’s career.
Foley gave an inspirations talk to Darby about how Darby was overlooked and underestimated. He told him to show people that he has what it takes to not just be a champion, but be a legend. Darby soaked up his words. Coley ended with “Bang! Bang!”
(Keller’s Analysis: That was a lot of fun seeing Foley and Darby interact. Darby has gone from Sting to now Foley in terms of legends he’s tied to and interacting with. Foley overall is doing a great job fitting in to the AEW aesthetic and adding to the presentation without making it too much about himself. MJF was tremendous there, too. It made the main event feel bigger. It also made it seem like Darby almost has to win, right?)
-They cut to the announcers at ringside to react to Foley and Darby. The gave a final pitch to the PPV line-up
-A closing video package aired hyping the line-up.
[MAIN PPV]
(1) FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler w/Stokley Hathaway) vs. ADAM COPELAND & CHRISTIAN CAGE – AEW Tag Team Title match with I Quit rules
Copeland made his entrance first and the fans sang his theme song with gusto. Then Christian. Then FTR. The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. At 2:00, Christian wrapped barbed wire around the middle rope and then threw Dax into it and then stood on his back, pushing him against the wire. Dax didn’t quit.
Copeland set up a table at ringside. He got knocked over the top rope by Dax. Copeland’s pant split in the crotch. Cash threw Copeland into the ringpost with a chair wrapped around his head and neck. Dax brought a tool box into the ring. Schiavone said there were a lot of scary devices in it. Christian used pliers on Dax’s nose and then against Cash’s crotch. Dax bashed Christian’s hand and cast-covered forearm with a chair. Cash bashed him across his back.
Copeland fought back at ringside. FTR took over again and put Christian’s arm in a cinder block. When they held the mic up and told him to quit, he yelled, “I banged your mother!” A minute later, he said, “Go f— yourself!” when they held the mic up to him.
With everyone down at 12:o0 in the ring and at ringside, Stokely unwound the top rope. Dax charged at Christian with the turnbuckle aimed at him, but Christian speared him instead. Copeland choked Dax with the top rope. Cash then choked him with barbed wire. FTR gave Christian their Shatter Machine finisher. Cash held up fliers and proclaimed, “This big pussy is going to quit!” Copeland speared him.
Copeland bashed Dax across his back with a chair over and over. Dax begged off as Copeland wound up the chair. “Please don’t!” Dax said. Copeland showed mercy and paused. Cash said, “Okay,I’ll say it. Just stop!” Stokely then snuck up behind Copeland and hit him with his watch. Beth Phoenix’s theme played and she came out, requiring Stokely to freeze in place and not hit Copeland with it. Stokely charged at her on the ramp, but she took it to him. Cash shoved her into the ringside steps, though.
Dax squirted lighter fluid all over the table at ringside. Dax lit it on fire and then Cash went for a spear on Pheonix, but she moved and then Stokely got speared off the ring apron through the flaming table. “This is the first match and they’re burning people!” said Schiavone. “What the hell?!”
Dax circled Copeland and set up a Conchairto. Dax told him if he wants to see his two daughters tomorrow, say “I quit.” Phoenix entered and gave Dax a low blow. Christiain then kicked Dax in the crotch. Copeland gave him a piledriver. Christian then put Dax in a Scorpion Death lock. Copeland put Dax in a crossface at the same time. Phoenix then tipped over the steps and there was “Spike,” the board with spikes sticking out of it. She gave it to Copeland who pressed the spikes into Dax’s skull. Dax yelled, “I quit!”
WINNERS: Christian & Copeland in 20:00 to win the AEW Tag Team Titles.
(Keller’s Analysis: The personalities involved in this were so well-established, that it wasn’t just violence, but a lot of dickishness followed by comeuppance, which played well with the fans.)
(2) KAZUCHIKA OKADA vs. TONOSUKE TAKESHITA – AEW International Title match
The crowd stood and cheered in anticipation at the start of the match, 37 minutes into the hour. They applauded enthusiastically like an old infomercial audience after the first stalemate exchange. They chanted, “F— Don Callis!” at minute in. Callis, on commentary at ringside, toook his headset off and asked what he did to deserve that.
At 5:00 Takeshita took control with exploder suplexes. Okada lifted his knees on a diving senton. Callis said he took too long playing to the crowd. Takeshita came right back, though, and took control. He landed a running flip dive onto Okada at ringside.
Okada took control in the ring. Takeshita came back and landed a wheelbarrow suplex. Okada popped up and hit a Rainmaker. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans stood and applauded the sequence. Excalibur said the crowd was 15,015.
Okada landed a Rainmaker on the ring apron and then set up a move near the announce desk. Callis intervened and said they should settle this in the ring and not risk serious injury. Takeshita then made a comeback at ringside. Takeshita got in Callis’s face.
Back in the ring, Takeshita landed a running boot to the face of Okada. Takeshita then delivered a top rope superoplex. Okada tried to come back with a Rainbaker, but Takeshita blocked it and landed a German suplex for a near fall. Takeshita charged at Okada, but Okada blocked him and landed a tombstone piledriver. Both were down and slow to get up at 15:00.
Both stood and exchanged strikes. Takeshita landed a Blue Thunder Bomb. OKada came back with a gut-wrench slam. Takeshita countered a Rainmaker into a near fall. Okada blocked a power drive knee and took over. He landed a high dropkick, but Takeshita came right back with a Rainmaker of his own. Fans roared with cheers. Okada caught a charging Takeshita with a dropkick, but Takeshita fired back with a power drive knee for a mere one count. Both Takeshita and Okada fired up.
They re-set mid-ring as fans chanted “Holy shit!” Takeshita landed Raging Fire for a three count.
WINNER: Takeshita in 18:00 to capture the AEW International Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really strong match. I think that hit the range of people’s hopes for those two even if it came in short of 20 minutes. They did a lot, but still left something in the tank for rematches.)
-Afterward, Callis, Okada, Mak Davis, and Rocky Romero approached a celebrating Takeshita. Callis had intense words for him. Then Kyle Fletcher walked out to his music in a suit. Fletcher walked up to Okada and stared at him. Callis called for his guys to leave the ring. Excalibur said he already may have lost Takeshita and he couldn’t afford to lose Fletcher as well. Fletcher then hugged Takeshita and smiled. Takeshita hugged him back. Fletcher handed Takeshita the belt and raised his arm, then clotheslined him. Callis smiled and returned to the ring as fans booed. Fletcher got in more shots and then was joined by the Callis Family, who applauded and smiled.
(Keller’s Analysis: The misdirection by Fletcher in and of itself wasn’t awful since it allowed him to play Takeshita for a fool by getting him to buy into trusting him before attacking him. That said, can we all agree to a two year mortatorium on misdirections and fakeouts like this? I’m glad Fletcher stayed heel in general, as he’s more interesting as a heel and AEW doesn’t really need more babyfaces like him at the moment.)
(3) ATHENA vs. MINA SHIRKAWA – Owen Hart Memorial Cup Opening Round match
The bell rang 7 minutes into the second hour. Athena got in a stretch of early offense including at ringside. Shirakawa took over back in the ring and targeted a leg of Athena. Athena hoisted Shirakawa onto her shoulders and slammed her to the mat for a two count.
The announcers gasped on an awkward landing by Athena. Athena then came back and stomped Shirakawa and scored a two count. Athena climbed to the top rope, but Shirakawa blocked her and leveraged Athena’s shoulders down for a very near fall with a seat belt.
Shirakawa took over with some strikes and then applied a figure-four. Athena reached the bottom rope to force a break at 10:00. Athena came back with a leaping tombstone piledriver. She followed with a top rope O-Face for the win.
WINNER: Athena in 11:00 to advance to the second round.
(Keller’s Analysis: Solid non-stop back and forth action. Athena didn’t limp after the match, so I’m curious if he knee is going to be portrayed as an issue as the tournament progresses or if it was just a one-of part of this match.)
(4) JON MOXLEY vs. KYLE O’REILLY – AEW Continental Title match without a time limit
Renee did a ringside report as Mox made his entrance through the crowd. The bell rang 25 minutes into the hour. Jim Ross joined in on commentary. He looked good. This was an interesting choice of a match to have him call.
They fought at ringside a few minutes in. Mox avoided a roundkick by O’Reilly leading to O’Reilly kicking the ringpost. Mox then focused on O’Reilly’s ankle on the mat. Ross talked about Moxley having no conscience and was just there to win. Mox also bit at O’Reilly forehead. The announcers noted the split crowd.
Mox thwarted a comeback tease by O’Reilly as he limped around the ring. The ref forced a Moxley break in the corner before the five count. O’Reilly yanked Mox hard to the mat and then went for a cross armbreaker.
O’Reilly landed a running stomp, but Mox came back with a cutter. Both were down and slow to get up as the ref count reached 8. Both stood. They went back and forth for a while. Mox applied an anklelock and O’Reilly flailed at 18:00 to get out. Mox held on. O’Reilly then tapped.
Mox shook O’Reilly’s hand afterward. Ross called it classy and said, “You don’t see enough of that.” Mox played to the crowd afterward.
WINNER: Moxley in 19:00 to retain the AEW International Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: That’s precisely what you’d expect with those two. Really good action, with those doses of grinding matwork that is a signature of Moxley’s matches these days that aren’t full of blood and weapons. I am pleased they didn’t need to go past 20 minutes even though they had that stip in the match. It felt “too predictable” they’d go past 20, so it’s refreshing they didn’t force it.)
(5) WILL OSPREAY vs. SAMOA JOE – Owen Hart Memorial Tournament Opening Round match
Ospreay came out first. When Joe entered the ring, Ospreay jump-started the match. The ref called for the bell as this was happening. The announcers said that was a result of Mox training him. Joe fought back. Ospreay then took over quickly and flung himself at Joe at ringside. He landed a 450 splash quickly and then went for a submission hold. Joe grabbed the bottom rope to force a break. Joe avoided another Ospreay flip dive over the top rope and applied a sleeper. Joe then rammed the back of Ospreay’s neck into the ringside barricade.
Joe eventually took sustained control at 8:00 and grounded Ospreay. Ospreay draped his boot over the bottom rope. Ospreay came back with a Styles Clash that got a roar from the crowd. He scored a two count. He then landed a Hidden Blade for a near fall at 9:00. Joe caught a charging Ospreay with his signature snap powerslam. Both were down and slow to get up. Fans chanted “This is awesome!”
Joe took over and applied a Coquina Clutch. Ospreay reached the bottom rope to force a break. Taz said that was impressive of Ospreay to break the hold, but it was on for a long time and could still have a lasting effect. Excalibur noted that Joe also expended a lot of energy holding that grip that long.
Joe set up a Muscle Buster, but Ospreay slipped free and then hit a Hidden Blade for a one count. He followed with a second Hidden Blade for the win. Joe bowed in respect at ringside at Ospreay in the ring as fans chanted “Ospreay! Ospreay!” to his theme.
WINNER: Ospreay in 14:00 to advance to the second round.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was fun to watch those two go at it like that in 2026.)
(6) BANDIDO vs. SWERVE STRICKLAND (w/Prince Nana) – Owen Hart Memorial Tournament Opening Round match
The bell rang 12 minutes into the third hour. Bandido went right after Swerve. A few minutes in, with Bandido in control at ringside, Nana said, “This can’t happen, boss!” Bandido threw Swerve into the ringside barricade. After more ringside action, they continued steady back and forth action in the ring including Bandido eventually landing a frog splash for a two count.
By 10 minutes, the crowd was pretty quiet after extended periods of mat exchanges and spurts of offense. A few fans clapped, but it faded. Swerve then really woke up the crowd by leaping onto Bandido’s shoulders and then landing a House Call. He followed with a Swerve Stomp for a believable near fall.
Bandido took Swerve off the ring apron to the floor with a reverse huracanrana. Both were down and slow to get up. The fans chanted, “Holy shit!”
Swerve eventually countered a 21 Plex and turned it into a Vertebreaker followed by a House Call for the win. A medic checked on Bandido afterward who was still on his back a minute after the finish selling that he hurt his neck.
WINNER: Strickland in 15:00 to advance to the second hour.
(Keller’s Analysis: Maybe the pace of match this card needed at this stage, but the steady and solid action the first two-thirds of the match did give fans a chance to catch their breath before a frenzied final few minutes.)
(7) THEKLA vs. JAMIE HAYTER vs. KRIS STATLANDER vs. HIKARU SHIDA – AEW Women’s Title match
The bell rang 34 minutes into the third hour. A steady stream of action with wrestlers pairing off for a series of exchanges. Shida ended up leaping off the ring apron to stomp Thekla on the floor, but Thekla moved.
At 9:00, all four were down and slow to get up. Taz said he didn’t know who had the advantage. Excalibur said it was anybody’s match. They all sat up and began hitting each other mid-ring. Statlander and Hayter kicked Shida and Thekla. Shida and Thekla battled, and Thekla scored a near fall. Statlander entered and lifted Thekla. Thekla slipped free, but Hayter took her down. Statlander whipped Hayter into a Shida knee. Shida wasn’t aiming for Hayter, but shrugged like it was just fine.
Thekla applied her standing submission hold mid-ring. Hayter used a backbreaker to escape and then landed a Hayterade. Shida broke up the cover. Hayter and Shida battled mid-ring. Shida landed a Falcon Arrow for a one count and shifted into a submission hold.
Shida intervened against Stalander. Thekla stomped Statlander to get the win. Shida and Hayter looked frustrate at ringside afterward. The announcers said the relationship between Statlander and Shida would never be the same.
WINNER: Thekla in 15:00 to retain the AEW Women’s Title.
(8) THE YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) & CHRIS JERICHO & SHELTON BENJAMIN & BOBBY LASHLEY (w/MVP) & JACK PERRY & CHRIS JERICHO & KENNY OMEGA vs. ANDRADE & MARK DAVIS & RICOCHET & GOA (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) & THE DOGS (David Finlay & Clark Connors) – Stadium Stampede
They aired cinematic entrance skits where each team fathered. Omega coughed after inhaling cigar smoke. The heels came out first. Then Jericho led his team to “Judas.” The bell rang 58 minutes into the third hour. Fans chanted “We Hurt People!” Everyone brawled at the bell mid-ring and fans roared. The babyfaces cleared the ring at 2:00.
Andrade got in a stretch of offense against Perry one-on-one in the ring. Davis piledrove Shelton on a chair at ringside. Liona lifted both Bucks and Perry on his shoulders and Samoan dropped them. Ricochet landed a shooting star press over the top rope onto a crowd at ringside. Ricochet and GOA posed in the ring.
The heels did a spot where they grabbed each others wrists and yanked on Lashley. MVP broke it up with his cane and the heels dropped like Dominoes. Omega and The Bucks did dives to the floor after that. Shelton then a running flip dive onto a crowd to pop the crowd. Taz said he’s always been a crazy amazing athlete. Jericho leaped off the top rope onto a crowd below next.
The faces then hit a series of moves in the ring and posed in the ring together. The heels recovered and went on the attack. The Bucks, Omega, and Jericho all applied submission leg holds in the ring. At ringside, the Bucks put Finlay and Conors on tables at ringside. The ref helped set up a table Matt was having an issue with. Schiavone drew undue attention to that. Matt and Nick then set up a top rope move, but Finlay and Connors revered and got up and went into the crowd. The Bucks went after them.
They fought in the back where a guy got in the crossfire. Leo Rush showed up, squatting and making baby noises. Leona hit him. Rush leaped onto his back.
Meanwhile, in the ring Omega choked Andrade as Jericho went after Ricochet at 12:00. The Bucks kicked Connors onto an escalator. It varried him to the top. Luchasaurus, meanwhile, showed up at ringside and spooked Andrade. He sprayed Andrade with green mist.
Jericho was isolated with Ricochet. He pulled a big black bag out from under the ring. He held it up and then poured out tennis balls. (I almost woke my dog up from a nap to see that!) Fans chanted, “Balls! Balls!” Schiavone said, “This is fun, isn’t it?” Jericho suplexed Ricochet onto the balls.
Davis and Perry fought in the catering area. Andrade ran into Satnum Singh. He got involved in what turned into a food fight. Excalibur and Schiavone chuckled, but the crowd didn’t seem all that into it. Matt put a trash ca on Connor’s head and rolled him down the aisle where Nick superkicked the can. The ref got knocked down when Liona charged after the Bucks from behind. Liona used a shopping cart as a weapon next at 21:00.
Luther handed Jericho a tennis racquet backstage. Jericho hit Ricochet with it, then turned on a ball launcher to pelt Ricochet leading to a two count. (It was sorta like the paint ball music video scene in “Lurker,” but also entirely different.)
Back in the ring, The Bucks and The Dogs fought. Shelton joined in. Perry drove a bus into a golf cart and car that Davis was near. “Mark Davis was in that!” exclaimed Schiavone.
Back in the ring, The Bucks went for sunset bombs over the top rope onto tables, but the Dogs held onto the top rope. Omega gave The Dogs his signature Snap Dragon suplexes. Andrade received one next, followed by a V-Trigger. Shelton went fro a back suplex off the ring apron onto a table, but Liona on for a while. Eventually he landed it. Davis returned to ringside. Schiavone was relieved he was alive after the bus incident.
The Bucks landed top rope elbows through tables and then Omega hit a leaping One-Winged Angel on Andrade off the ring apron through a table. Schiavone said New York City will never forget this night. An “AEW!” chant rang out.
Jericho was going to stab Ricochet, but Kaun intervened to knock Ricochet out of the way. He ate a seven-way superkick for his efforts afterwar. Jericho the hit a Lionsault for a three count. Jericho saluted Sabu near a broken table afterward. Taz commented on it.
WINNER: Team Jericho in 30:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: This will probably get some votes for best match and worst match in the ProWrestling.net poll later. It’s that kind of match. Some of it was slapstick silly stupid and other stuff was memorable and novel and high-impact and exciting. It was a 30 minute cloud of dust style pro wrestling display.)
(9) DARBY ALLIN vs. MJF – AEW World Title vs. MJF’s Hair
MJF came out first. An intro vignette aired with Darby Allin skateboarding in New York City and walking through an underground tunnel before starting his live ring entrance. MJF made Justin Roberts say he’s not from any of the Burroughs, but instead a mansion fans can’t relate to. Justin said Darby is batshit crazy. The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour.
Darby took a charging MJF down into a side headlock for a two count. He did it two more times. MJF spilled to the floor. Darby dove after him. MJF shoved hiu mid-air and Darby’s boots clipped the rope and he landed hard on the back of his head and neck. They replayed it from several angles. Taz sounded worried. The match continued in the ring.
MJF settled into a chinlock mid-ring. A dueling chant of “MJF! / Let’s Go Darby!” broke out. MJF set up a leaping tombstone off the second rope. Darby blocked it and landed a stunner. Darby started convulsing oddly afterward. Excalibur said he might’ve been trying to get feeling back in his limbs. Darby set up a Coffin Drop next, but MJF rolled to the floor. Darby dove through the ropes and knocked MJF into the announce desk.
Darby leaped off the top rope with a Coffin Drop attempt at MJF on the ring apron, but MJF moved so Darby crash landed. Schiavone said it would have broken MJF’s neck. Excalibur said he is tied for the third-most defenses of the AEW Title in a span of just a month. He listed all of his challengers to date. MJF gave Darby a package piledriver off the ring apron onto the ringside steps which were tipped on their side.
MJF avoided bumping into the ref at 9:00 and Darby gave MJF a low-blow. Schiavone said that was payback for MJF did to Mick Foley earlier. (A lot of fans weren’t in the arena yet for that.) Darby went for a sharpshooter mid-ring. MJF resisted, but Darby persisted and applied it. MJF teased tapping. MJF reached the bottom rope. Darby went for a fast Coffin Drop, but MJF blocked it and scored a near fall.
Darby gave MJF a Scorpion Death Drop to thwart MJF’s momentum. They went into a rapid-fire seies of two count roll-ups and then one-count roll-ups that the crowd delighted in counting along to. They did it nearly two dozen times, it seemed. Darby set up a Code Red, but MJF blocked it. Darby came back and landed a Code Red for a near fall at 14:00. Both were down and slow to get up.
They each sat up and leaned on the bottom rope and looked at each other. They pulled themselves up. Darby landed a jackknife cover for a near fall. MJF rolled to ringside. Darby dove through the ropes and MJF pulled the camera into the path so viewers got a first-person view. Officials came to check on the cameraman. A replay showed Darby ran into the camera and not the cameraman, yet officals surrounded the cameraman as if he took the brunt of the impact. Not sure if the replay was a good idea given how little impact he actually took. The camera guy was helped to the back.
MJF carried Darby up to the stage where a chair and clippers were set up. MJF held the clippers and got a sinister look in his eyes. Darby recovered and applied a front guillotine. Darby put MJF on the table on the stage and then looked up at the entrance scaffolding. Darby leaped off the top and crashed onto MJF. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” after a pause. Darby bled from the back of his head. Darby tried to lift MJF, but he was mostly dead weight. Darby eventually did drag him to the ring and throw him back into the ring.
Darby landed a Coffin Drop for a two count at 21:00. Both were down and slow to get up. Darby applied a Scorpion Death Drop, but he couldn’t hold it. The ref signaled to ringside, telling the medical staff to stay back. MJF lifted his head and got a sinister look. MJF stood and pulled the ref away from the bloodied Darby. Darby surprised MJF with a Scorpion Death Drop and then kipped up. Fans roared. Darby then set up another Coffin Drop. MJF stood and knocked him off balance.
MJF went to the corner and delivered a leaping tombstone. He then shifted into a side headlock and leveraged Darby’s shoulders down for the win.
WINNER: MJF in 24:00 to win the AEW World Title.
(Keller’s Analysis: Amazing performances from both here. They took some chances that felt like a little much, but that’s Darby consistent style. The finish took the life out of the crowd, which is kind of what you want when a heel beats a beloved face, but it came after the match slowed to a crawl several times starting on the stage, so the adrenaline rush had shifted to something else in the closing minutes.)
-As MJF celebrated, Darby was put on a stretcher. MJF stood on the stretcher with one boot and lifted his belt. He insisted, “This is my moment!” Excalibur said if you thought MJF was insufferable in his first two reigns, imagine what’s next. Kevin Knight ran out to supposedly protect Darby or send MJF away. He then leaped off the top rope onto Darby on the stretcher. Fans gasped. MJF looked confused, then smiled. Excalibur said Knight and Darby each trained under Buddy Wayne. “What have you done, Kevin Knight?” asked Excalibur as the PPV ended.
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