AEW Double or Nothing 2025: A Night of Electrifying Entertainment
Glendale, Arizona’s Desert Diamond Arena was the home of a magical moment in time on May 25, 2025 when All Elite Wrestling presented Double or Nothing 2025.
The Sickos in attendance, and those watching around the world, were treated to an unforgettable evening of high-octane wrestling, emotional storytelling, and thrilling surprises.
From the opening bell to the final pinfall, the event showcased the best of what professional wrestling has to offer.
The Buy-In: High-Flying Action and Tag Team Triumphs
AEW’s free pre-show event, The Buy-in, set the tone early.
Anna Jay & Harley Cameron vs. Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford
Any match with Harley Cameron is an entertaining match, we can all just acknowledge that to start, but the rest of this match and its participants also did a great job.
All the chatter online these days is about a seemingly soon-to-be-revealed Women’s Tag Team Division. Though not officially announced, it appears we are setting some of the pieces on the board, and this match fit right into that.
Bayne and Ford have already had a working relationship for a while now, and we’ve been seeing Anna Jay and Cameron further cement their partnership over the last several weeks.
This match set an energetic and fun tone that would carry on throughout the evening. Anna Jay and Harley Cameron picked up the victory here via pinfall.
Bandido, AR Fox & Los Titanes del Aire vs. RPG Vice & CRU
If you blinked during this Buy-In match, you probably missed someone getting launched into orbit.
Bandido, AR Fox, and Los Titanes del Aire (Komander & Hologram) delivered a high-flying spectacle that had the crowd roaring. The match was a whirlwind of aerial maneuvers and rapid-fire sequences, culminating in Bandido executing his signature 21 Plex on Action Andretti for the pinfall victory.
RPG Vice, who changed the ‘Roppongi’ part of their name for reasons unknown, teamed up with CRU, a duo that continues to redefine irrelevance in the tag team scene. Despite their efforts, they couldn’t withstand the onslaught from their opponents.
The match served as a thrilling appetizer for the evening. We still need answers on this Roppongi/RPG thing. I don’t like it.
Main Card: A Rollercoaster of Emotions and Athleticism
Mercedes Moné vs. Jamie Hayter – Women’s Owen Hart Cup Final
In a highly anticipated clash, Mercedes Moné faced Jamie Hayter in the Women’s Owen Hart Cup Final. The match was a showcase of resilience and determination, with both competitors delivering a hard-hitting performance that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
Moné’s victory not only earned her the prestigious Owen Hart Cup but also secured her a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In: Texas on July 12, where she is set to challenge “Timeless” Toni Storm.
This victory marks a significant milestone in Moné’s AEW career, as she continues to build her legacy within the promotion. With the upcoming title match against Storm, fans are eagerly anticipating a showdown between two of AEW’s top female talents.
The Women’s Division is poised for an exciting summer, with Moné’s ascent adding a new layer of intrigue to the championship landscape.
FTR vs. Nigel McGuinness & Daniel Garcia
FTR’s heel persona has been gaining traction, and their match against Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia showcased their aggressive tactics.
While the match featured intense action, I feel it ran longer than necessary. This may be an old-guy take, but I don’t really want 5 hour PPVs being the norm, and I think we could have told all of this story in half the time. That said, the story told was really good, and FTR are really sinking into the unlikable characters they are supposed to be.
FTR secured the victory when Dax Harwood applied a sharpshooter, leading to Garcia passing out. So now we can only ask; what is FTR’s next move in AEW’s Tag Team Division?
Ricochet vs. Mark Briscoe – Stretcher Match
Ricochet and Mark Briscoe turned their grudge into a full-blown war in the form of a Stretcher Match.
It is worth noting that Mark Briscoe managed to grow enough hair in time for it not to be weird when everyone made fun of Ricochet for being bald.
Briscoe brought his signature wild energy to the match, which featured everything from cleaning products used to shine Ricochet’s head to scissors being wielded as weapons, culminating in Ricochet delivering a low blow and his “Spirit Gun” finisher before loading Briscoe into the ambulance for the win. (Also, let’s rename the Spirit Gun, yeah?)
It’s ALSO worth noting that Tom picked Briscoe in our PPV Picks on The All Elite Wrapup last week, a choice that, in hindsight, might have been a bit optimistic. Nonetheless, this means you can tune into the All Elite Wrapup LIVE this week to see Tom wearing his favorite Jeff Jarrett t-shirt as punishment for losing!
This match was a brutal spectacle that showcased both wrestlers’ willingness to push the envelope. Ricochet’s victory adds a significant notch to his heel run, while Briscoe’s resilience continues to endear him to fans.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Mike Bailey – AEW Continental Championship Match
Kazuchika Okada defended his AEW Continental Championship against the dynamic “Speedball” Mike Bailey. The match was a masterclass in technical wrestling and storytelling, with Okada targeting Bailey’s leg early on to neutralize his aerial offense.
Bailey, showcasing his resilience, fought back with a series of high-impact kicks and near-falls, including his signature Time Adventure kick that nearly secured him the title.
The match reached its climax when Bailey attempted a shooting star press, only for Okada to counter with a mid-air dropkick, followed by his devastating Rainmaker lariat to retain the championship.
This victory not only solidified Okada’s reign but also showed that Bailey has the ability to deliver spectacle, even if there was little to no story going into the match.
Toni Storm vs. Mina Shirakawa – AEW Women’s World Championship Match
In a captivating rematch at Double or Nothing 2025, “Timeless” Toni Storm defended her AEW Women’s World Championship against Mina Shirakawa. Their previous encounter at Forbidden Door 2024 had set high expectations, and this bout exceeded them with a blend of technical prowess and emotional storytelling.
The match ended when Storm executed the Storm Zero, securing the pinfall victory and retaining her title.Post-match, in a display of mutual respect, Storm and Shirakawa embraced in a heartfelt kiss.
This victory sets the stage for Storm’s next challenge: a title defense against Mercedes Moné at All In: Texas on July 12. I don’t think anyone who watches AEW needs to be told this, but this match is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated matches in recent memory.
The Don Callis Family vs. Paragon
Though this matched featured talented performers, it felt somewhat extraneous on an already lengthy card.
The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Josh Alexander) faced off against Paragon (Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly) in a very technically sound match, with each wrestler showcasing their skills, but it lacked the emotional stakes or narrative weight that characterized other matches on the card.
The match concluded with Fletcher delivering a sheer drop brainbuster to O’Reilly for the pinfall victory. Post-match, the Don Callis Family continued their assault on Paragon, only to be interrupted by Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hiroshi Tanahashi, who made the save and helped the babyfaces regain their footing.
While the match was executed proficiently, its placement on the card contributed to the event’s extended runtime and did little to advance ongoing storylines or provide significant developments, making it feel more like filler than a must-see encounter.
Anarchy in the Arena
Anarchy in the Arena lived up to its name, delivering a chaotic and unforgettable spectacle featuring Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, Willow Nightingale, and The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata) taking on the Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir) and The EVPs (Matthew and Nicholas Jackson).
The match was a whirlwind of violence and creativity, with highlights including an exploding table, thumbtacked shoes, and a soundtrack that oscillated between The Pointer Sisters’ “I’m So Excited” and Drowning Pool’s “Bodies,” the latter playing on loop and energizing the crowd.
The EVPs made a memorable entrance, in full Revolutionary War outfits, with Justin Robert’s reading everyone a history lesson on AEW’s Founding Fathers. I really enjoyed this a lot.
The match concluded with Omega delivering a One-Winged Angel through an exploding table onto Matthew Jackson, while Swerve Strickland executed a Swerve Stomp with thumbtacked shoes onto Nicholas Jackson, securing the victory for their team.
This Anarchy in the Arena match was a testament to AEW’s ability to blend athleticism, storytelling, and spectacle into a cohesive and thrilling experience.
Hangman Adam Page vs. Will Ospreay – Men’s Owen Hart Cup Final
In a main event that delivered both emotionally and athletically, “Hangman” Adam Page defeated Will Ospreay to win the 2025 Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament, earning Hangman an AEW Men’s World Championship match against Jon Moxley at All In this July.
This match was a masterclass in storytelling and in-ring prowess. A particularly intense moment saw Page attempt a Dead Eye through the announce table, which collapsed prematurely, leading him to execute the move on the arena floor instead .
The match culminated in a dramatic exchange of finishers, with Page ultimately securing the win with a decisive Buckshot Lariat.
Post-match, the sportsmanship between the two was evident as Page extended a hand to Ospreay, acknowledging the hard-fought battle. Page’s triumph is seen as a redemption arc, reestablishing him as a top contender after a period of personal and professional challenges.
Meanwhile, Ospreay’s performance solidified his status as one of AEW’s premier talents, ensuring his continued prominence in the promotion, but what about his character? Is Will Ospreay now doomed to the depths of self-doubt that has been plaguing Hangman for so long?
What’s Next for AEW?
With Double or Nothing 2025 now in the books, AEW finds itself loaded with momentum, questions, and potential chaos in all the best ways. From title pictures that just got a major shake-up to factions on the brink of war, and breakout performances demanding follow-up; there’s a palpable electricity in the air.
The landscape has changed, and we’re barreling full-speed into All In season with new contenders, unfinished business, and more eyes on AEW than ever. If Double or Nothing was the spark, AEW Dynamite this Wednesday is where the fire really starts to spread. Don’t miss it.
AND don’t miss The All Elite Wrapup LIVE when Tim and Tom talk to YOU in the chat, and all the other Sickos that show up to help us review and recap AEW Double or Nothing, and AEW Dynamite. (And, the cherry on top, Tom wearing the Jeff Jarrett shirt!)