{"id":120054,"date":"2021-05-28T10:00:34","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T15:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=120054"},"modified":"2021-05-27T22:42:30","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T03:42:30","slug":"heydorns-take-dont-hold-me-to-this-aew-double-or-nothing-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/05\/28\/heydorns-take-dont-hold-me-to-this-aew-double-or-nothing-2021\/","title":{"rendered":"HEYDORN&#8217;S TAKE: Don\u2019t hold me to this \u2013 AEW Double or Nothing 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1643377838\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>Double or Nothing 2021 marks AEW\u2019s two-year anniversary of existence. What a wild ride it\u2019s been, right? Highs, lows, and a damn global pandemic to boot. AEW has seen quite a bit in its short run, but they\u2019ll get their ace up their sleeve back on Sunday with an arena full of fans back in their grasp for the first time in well over a year.<a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/HeadshotHeydorn2020_180.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-102397 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/07\/HeadshotHeydorn2020_180.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"180\" height=\"210\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the lead story going into the show because the card itself just isn\u2019t one. Sure, there are some good matches on tap and maybe even some great in-ring performances waiting in the wings, but the marquee just doesn\u2019t light up brightest with Kenny Omega in a triple threat match, Cody Rhodes facing a newbie, and Jon Moxley set for a tag team match.<\/p>\n<p>Double or Nothing 2021 is an ensemble card. Whether it\u2019s that way by design or necessity, the sum of its parts along with a rabid crowd can make for a memorable event even if the matches themselves and the build to them leave a little to be desired.<\/p>\n<p>Call this a preview, a calm look into the distant future, or a gaze into a wondrous crystal ball; just don\u2019t hold me to anything, ok?<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Cody Rhodes vs. Anthony Ogogo <\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I know Cody Rhodes likes drama in his wrestling. Usually, he\u2019s extremely effective at harnessing emotion to drive an entertaining narrative with his matches. In this instance, he\u2019s doing way too much. They had something with the young members of The Factory and QT Marshall at the lead turning on Rhodes. Ogogo played the part of a star rookie to a \u2018T\u201d and running down that street to get to this match would have sufficed. The United States angle added an obnoxious layer that cultivated eye rolls instead of intrigue. The only reason to do this match is to make Ogogo. That\u2019s what they\u2019ll do and Cody will lay down to get the job done.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Miro vs. Lance Archer \u2013 AEW TNT Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The promo between both Miro and Archer two weeks ago was all this match needed. Miro came off as comfortable and natural in the role as TNT Champion and Archer countered that with authenticity. Two big goliath&#8217;s going at it will fit well on the show as a different match stylistically from the others. Look for Miro to maintain momentum and get the clean win over Archer.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2836829422\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong><em><u>The Young Bucks vs. Jon Moxley &amp; Eddie Kingston \u2013 AEW World Tag Team Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The match of the night. Both The Young Bucks and the team of Moxley &amp; Kingston are clicking on all cylinders in terms of working their characters. Matt and Nick Jackson have \u201cnext level pain the ass\u201d down pat and have changed their wardrobe to accommodate the new attitude. Moxley and Kingston come across as long-lost brothers within their interactions and it makes for a very enjoyable watch. There are clear babyface and heel lanes here, which makes the storytelling in the bout easy to accomplish. For as fun as Moxley and Kingston are, Tony Khan can\u2019t halt the momentum of the Bucks with an out of nowhere loss. They need to stay credible and will do so by winning here via underhanded tactics.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Adam Page vs. Brian Cage<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In general, we don\u2019t see nearly enough character development for Adam Page. He can be a top guy, but needs the right company framing in order to fully achieve that status. This match isn\u2019t that and feels like something to keep him in a holding pattern on a path to the world title picture. This has \u201csneaky good\u201d written all over it, but will most certainly feature Page beating Cage clean in the middle of the ring.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Casino Battle Royale<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s always tough to predict the madness that is this match, but I\u2019ll take Christian. Yes, it\u2019s a battle royale, but a win on PPV never hurt anyone. Christian could use one too as he tries to hang onto the top the card in his new company.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Darby Allin &amp; Sting vs. Ethan Page &amp; Scorpio Sky<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know about this one, folks. Sting will make his return to an actual ring for the first time since joining AEW and the match just feels like it exists as a means to that end. Page and Sky have been serviceable and they both get an A for effort, but there just isn\u2019t any true heat here. Darby Allin has grown significantly as a star since last year\u2019s Double or Nothing event. With that new star aura around him, it feels like he\u2019s taking a backseat to keep Sting relevant. Obviously, this is a W for Sting and Allin.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2393610220\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong><em><u>The Inner Circle vs. The Pinnacle \u2013 Stadium Stampede Match<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is the best built match on the card and the reason is the personal nature of the feud between both teams. Even though there has been hiccups like the cage bump from Jericho during Blood and Guts and the Bubbly Bath thereafter, both sides have done an effective job conveying their disdain for one another. The feud has also elevated MJF to another level, which may end up being the most impactful happening that comes out of this story. I don\u2019t see Inner Circle breaking up this early into their babyface run. So, with that in mind and Pinnacle having one win thus far, I see Inner Circle getting the victory and inevitably setting up a rubber match later this summer.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker \u2013 AEW Women\u2019s World Championship<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Anyone not looking forward to this? Britt Baker has been the 2021 MVP for AEW thus far and all signs point to this being her crowning moment. The build has been weaker than expected given Shida\u2019s long title reign and Baker\u2019s ascent as a star. Framing the match as a bigger deal with promos would have helped convey its importance. Can Baker stay a heel? She\u2019s earned the respect of fans throughout the pandemic and the question will be whether or not the sold-out crowd plays along and gives her the heat she wants. In wrestling, sometimes timing is everything and the time is now to go with Baker. AEW won\u2019t miss out and we\u2019ll see a new women\u2019s champion on Sunday night.<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><u>Kenny Omega vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Pac<\/u><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What can you say about this one? The bottom line is, it\u2019s too random of an array of stars for Kenny Omega to be wrestling on PPV. It could very well be a good match, but it simply isn\u2019t main event worthy on one of AEW\u2019s four PPV events of the year. Maybe Dynamite, maybe Rampage, but not PPV. Omega needs to and will win this decisively.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH-UP:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/05\/27\/interview-hightlights-cody-rhodes-discusses-aew-movint-to-tbs-first-blood-guts-match-wrestling-ogogo-at-double-or-nothing-ppv\/\">Interview hightlights: Cody Rhodes discusses AEW moving to TBS, first Blood &amp; Guts match, wrestling Ogogo at Double or Nothing PPV<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1106532419\"><div id=\"pwtor-3054958431\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Double or Nothing 2021 marks AEW\u2019s two-year anniversary of existence. What a wild ride it\u2019s been, right? Highs, lows, and a damn global pandemic to boot. AEW has seen quite a bit in its short <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/05\/28\/heydorns-take-dont-hold-me-to-this-aew-double-or-nothing-2021\/\" title=\"HEYDORN&#8217;S TAKE: Don\u2019t hold me to this \u2013 AEW Double or Nothing 2021\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":120055,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,6454,53],"tags":[6121,6120,6148],"class_list":["post-120054","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-heydorns-take","category-opinion_stafftakes","tag-aew","tag-all-elite-wrestling","tag-double-or-nothing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2021\/05\/Double-Or-Nothing.jpeg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120054","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=120054"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120054\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":120057,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/120054\/revisions\/120057"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/120055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=120054"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=120054"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=120054"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}