AEW’s third pay-per-view of the year, Double or Nothing, takes place on May 25 and is set to be headlined by the Owen Hart Foundation tournament final between Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay.
The nine-match card already looks stacked and, on paper, could be a contender for show of the year.
But AEW owner and booker Tony Khan is known for making last-minute additions and changes to his pay-per-view cards.
Here are the late surprises that could shake up or enhance the Double or Nothing card.
5. Gabe Kidd Added To Anarchy In The Arena
New Japan Pro Wrestling star Gabe Kidd shocked AEW fans by revealing himself at Dynamite: Beach Break, aiding Jon Moxley in retaining the AEW World Title against Samoa Joe.
Aligning himself with the Death Riders, it seemed he was poised to be added to the Anarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing.
However, his name has yet to be officially announced, with the match currently listed as a six-on-six: the Death Riders – Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir – teaming with the Young Bucks, against The Opps trio of Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata, alongside Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, and Willow Nightingale.
With Kidd’s simmering rivalry with Kenny Omega now arriving on AEW soil, there’s every reason to believe he’ll be the seventh man added to the match at the last minute.
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4. Eddie Kingston Added To Anarchy In The Arena Match
Gabe Kidd being added as a seventh man for the Death Riders and Young Bucks suggests their opponents may also bring in a last-minute partner.
That person could very well be Eddie Kingston.
Kingston has been out of action with a serious leg injury suffered in a match against Gabe Kidd in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, making him the most fitting addition to the bout – especially given his long, complicated history with both Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli.
While Kingston has denied being ready for a return, there has been some speculation that this was to throw fans off the scent of a surprise last minute addition to the Double or Nothing card.
3. CMLL Luchadores Appear On The Buy-In
The night before Double or Nothing, on May 24, Ring of Honor co-produced Dean-2 with indie promotion Action Wrestling—held in tribute to the late Dean Rasmussen of the Death Valley Driver message board, where a young Tony Khan once posted.
The show featured a host of stars from Mexico’s premier lucha libre promotion, CMLL, who competed in a 10-man Cibernetico match including names like Volador Jr., Averno, Neon, Valiente and Blue Panther.
With only one match currently announced for the Double or Nothing Buy-In pre-show, it’s very likely we see the addition of CMLL talent – whether in a trios or tag team format.
A high-octane, non-stop action lucha libre showcase would be a spectacular way to kick off AEW’s pay-per-view.
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2. The Outrunners vs. Rocky Romero & Trent Beretta Added To The Buy-In
AEW Collision on May 22 opened with a six-man tag match featuring The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta) taking on Bandido and The Outrunners.
The match was critically well-received and continued the current rivalry between The Outrunners and Romero & Beretta.
Incredibly over with the AEW crowd for their throwback gimmick, The Outrunners also showed their in-ring growth and ability to hang with top-tier workers during the bout.
With the Buy-In card still incomplete, a tag bout between The Outrunners and Romero and Beretta could be a last-minute addition that brings both fun and intrigue to Double or Nothing.
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1. Max Caster Loses Again On The Buy-In
When Anthony Bowens defeated Max Caster in just 40 seconds at AEW’s Dynasty PPV Zero Hour, it seemed like Caster’s open challenge gimmick had ended in a final humiliation.
It had not.
Since then, Caster has continued issuing open challenges – most recently losing to Rhino on ROH.
A last-minute addition to the Double or Nothing Buy-In could offer Caster another shot to prove he really is the “Best Wrestler Alive”.
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