Most pro wrestling traditionalists would agree that the defense of a world championship in any company should be the main event of the show. No matter the title or who is in the match. The championship SHOULD always the main event. But as All Elite Wrestling heads into their second Double or Nothing show, an event most would consider their biggest of the year, the have a problem on their hands. That problem? A flat feud for the AEW World Championship that most would agree is nowhere close to deserving of the main event. If there weren’t feuds that were far better TV in the past months of the build then this would be one thing. The main event of the No. 1 or 2 PPV of the company’s calendar year has to be captivating. Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee is far from it.
Absence of the Champion Leading to Weak Feud
Heading into Double or Nothing, it was strange that the AEW World Championship match wasn’t made official until the first week of May. With less than three weeks before the event, the title match was made and a lot of that had to do with the absence of Moxley. Not his fault really, as it was the COVID-19 situation to blame more than anything. But the absence made plenty question if he was going to even be on the show, as there was no feud sparking. Plenty of his time prior was made up of the build to Moxley facing Jake Hager. What’s more shocking is that they didn’t just wait another month and hold that match on Double or Nothing instead. Either way, the build to this “main event” world title match has been suspect due to the absence of the champion.
Mr. Brodie Lee is not worthy of a PPV World Championship match
More so than anything, the blame of why this match should not be the main event goes to the handling of Mr. Brodie Lee since the moment he stepped into the AEW scene. Parading around thinking he is Vince McMahon rather than being the hopeful renegade fans wanted out of him. A lot of the build behind Brodie Lee, fka Luke Harper, was that he is an impressive wrestler who can do a whole lot more than the WWE ever allowed him. So what does AEW do? Gives Lee the opportunity to lead his own group and be a major player. What has that resulted in? Vince McMahon possibly being right. Lee’s whole mantra was that he was not going to be kept down by an old man who didn’t “get him” again. But he has somehow struggled at all of it.
Being the cult leader who should be strong and dominant is instead terrified and backs down from every fight. It’s bogus for a man who is supposed to be a serious threat to Jon Moxley and his AEW World Championship. And if he loses, his image will only take a hit. I wrote earlier this week that Seth Rollins was doing the cult leader gimmick so much better than Lee, and all you need to look to is this week’s episodes of Raw and Dynamite. Rollins stood for something more, grabbing a new follower and bringing it to those who opposed him. Lee allowed 10 to get his arm shattered as he ran away from Moxley as a coward. It’s a gimmick that has not worked and is now being rushed into the main event of one of the company’s most important PPVs.
Matches More Deserving Of Main Event
TNT Championship – Cody vs. Lance Archer
Besides a dreadful build and an unworthy challenger, a good reason this match should not main event the Double or Nothing PPV is due to more than one match is worthy of that main event spot. As was written in a prior article, the TNT Championship has earned the match. Cody vs. Lance Archer has been built masterfully from the moment Jake “The Snake” Roberts introduced himself to the world of AEW and told Cody he was bringing in a man to take everything from him. “The Murderhawk Monster” has been one of AEW’s best-built competitors, the complete opposite of Brodie Lee, and is the perfect man to face Cody. Believe it or not, there is another match on this card deserving of the main event.
Casino Ladder Match for an AEW World Championship opportunity – Darby Allin vs. Luchasaurus vs. Frankie Kazarian vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Colt Cabana vs. Rey Fenix vs. Kip Sabian vs. Mystery Participant
Most would be against the idea of a No. 1 contenders match being the main event but as a ladder match with these names, it may be the most entertaining on the show. Darby Allin has been one of AEW’s most popular competitors as has Orange Cassidy. Giving them a main event spot is enticing. This match also serves as a good opener, but the idea of the mystery participant also gives this one even more intrigue. This is the weakest choice of the three but could provide a huge moment to end the show for any competitor that is involved.
Stadium Stampede – The Elite vs. The Inner Circle
The first-ever Stadium Stampede match is one that has really been built since the first episode of Dynamite. When Chris Jericho debuted The Inner Circle by his side, they were made to take out The Elite. Blood and Guts was the match intended to be the end but was suspended due to COVID-19, the rivalry only carried on. Now they will compete in the first of its kind in the home of the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars. A match that is sure to be entertaining, absurd, and with those competing, full of laughter. “Broken” Matt Hardy, Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, The Young Bucks, Proud N Powerful, Jake Hager, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega.
Fans would agree that these men are among the most popular in the entire company and will be in one of the company’s most interesting matches in its first year. You want fans to stay around for the entire show and stop watching happily. The idea of having Stadium Stampede close out the show would be worthy and satisfying no matter the result. After such a long build, it’s worthy of the main event at Double or Nothing.
More From LWOPW
Stay tuned to Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8pm ET on TNT and AEW DARK Tuesday nights at 6pm on their YouTube Channel. Double or Nothing is this Sunday, May 23, at 8pm EST on Fite.tv.
