By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Double Or Nothing Buy-In Pre-Show
Streamed live May 26, 2024 live on AEW YouTube
Las Vegas, Nevada at MGM Grand Garden Arena
-The pre-show was hosted by Renee Paquette, who was joined by Jeff Jarrett and RJ City.
Ring announcer Bobby Cruise handled the introductions for the opening match… Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Matt Menard were on commentary for the pre-show match…
1. Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo. The crowd was still arriving and there were opening seats as the match started. There were dueling chants for the wrestlers.
Purrazzo ended up at ringside and took a dropkick through the ropes. Rosa tossed Purrazzo back inside the ring, but Purrazzo rolled back to the floor and dropped Rosa with a kick. At one point, Schiavone spoke about how he longer believes in clean breaks, adding that if you can get an advantage you have to take it.
Later Rosa hit a seated Purrazzo with a dropkick and then covered her for a two count. A short time later, Rosa went for a Cobra Clutch. When Purrazzo neared the ropes, Rosa used her foot to push off, which put Purrazzo on top of her. Purrazzo held the bottom rope while getting the three count.
Deonna Purrazzo beat Thunder Rosa in 10:15.
After the match, Menard asked if they had instant replay. Schiavone said of course they do, but then they never actually showed a replay…
Powell’s POV: A solid opening match with Purrazzo stealing the win, which keeps her feud with Rosa going. Schiavone stating that he doesn’t believe in clean breaks was counterproductive. It’s not a huge deal, but a neutral broadcast team member should act annoyed by heels cheating to help add heat. Does he draw the line at rope breaks or was he also okay with Purrazzo cheating to win since she also took an advantage when she had it?
-Lexi Nair interviewed Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn on the backstage interview set. Caster acted annoyed that he had to face Brian Cage and Gates of Agony again, adding that he could have been anywhere else. Bowens delivered a more traditional promo about the upcoming match.
-Paquette stood on the stage and introduced Martha Hart and Tony Khan. Hart said it was the 25th anniversary of Owen Hart’s death and she said they had something special in mind for the Owen Hart Cup. Khan announced the annual Owen Hart Foundation Cup tournament. Khan said he spoke with Martha on Christmas Eve when she told him that it would add higher stakes to the men’s and women’s tournaments if the winners would get world title shots. Khan said the finals of the tournament will be in Calgary on July 10 and the winners will get their title shots at AEW All In at Wembley Stadium…
Powell’s POV: Yes, it’s similar to the King and Queen of the Ring tournament winners getting title shots, but so what? I’ve said from the start that I felt the Owen Hart Cup tournament should get title shots, so I’m happy to see it happen.
2. Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn vs. Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun. The Vegas Golden Knights mascot was introduced prior to the match. Caster rapped during his entrance and made a joke about the size of Cage’s penis. Bowens had his left thigh wrapped.
Gunn called for Cage to tag in early in the match. Cage obliged and put Gunn down and posed. Gunn returned the favor by putting Cage down with a shoulder block before posing and delivering a crotch chop.
All six wrestlers ended up brawling at ringside. Bowens was placed to straddle the ring steps and then Gunn was run into the steps. Bowens sold his thigh injury. The heels isolated Caster in the ring while his partners were down on the floor.
Gunn eventually returned to the apron while Bowens was still down at ringside. Caster eventually made the hot tag. Gunn worked over all three opponents with punches and then hit a Cobra Clutch slam on Kaun before covering him for a two count.
Gunn set up for a Fameasser, but Toa returned and put him down. Caster took out Liona. Cage blasted Caster with a clothesline. The heels hit a triple powerbomb on Gunn and Liona had him beat, but Bowens returned to break up the pin.
Cage went to ringside and grabbed a chair, but the Knights mascot took it away from him. Cage went after the mascot, but Caster hit Cage with a Fameasser on the floor. Inside the ring, Gunn caught Liona in an inside cradle and got the three count…
Max Caster, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn beat Brian Cage, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun in 11:45.
Powell’s POV: Billy Gunn continues to be positioned as a dominant force. I was hoping that the Gates of Agony and Cage would go their separate ways once the Mogul Embassy imploded, as I’d prefer to see GOA in the tag team division.
Join me for my live review of the AEW Double Or Nothing pay-per-view in a separate report available via the main page.
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