AEW celebrated its fifth anniversary this past weekend. There were big returns. Barbwire. Championship changes. A vampire! A man was set on fire! We’ll deal with the fallout on this week’s AEW Dynamite.
A lot happened at the sixth annual Double or Nothing PPV this past Sunday night. The Elite stood tall over Team AEW. Swerve Strickland retained the AEW World Championship.
Both Will Ospreay and Mercedes Moné claimed gold (you can read about what might be next for both champions here). Kris Statlander turned her back on long-time friend Willow Nightingale. Adam Copeland, with the help of Gangrel, was able to defeat Malakai Black.
Lots happened. It leaves more of a blank slate for this week’s AEW Dynamite. Forbidden Door takes place on 30th June in five weeks. The clash between the top wrestlers of AEW and NJPW may be extended upon. Rocky Romero, who has executive responsibilities reportedly in both companies now, has hinted that there is a likelihood that both STARDOM and Mexico’s CMLL could also be involved.
This week’s Dynamite sits as a place setter for things to come. At the time of writing, only one match and one segment have been announced. More details and matchups might be released at the last minute. However, there are enough questions left in the wreckage of Double or Nothing for Dynamite to provide answers for.
#AEWDynamite TOMORROW@thekiaforum | Los Angeles, CA
LIVE 8pm ET/7pm CT | @TBSNetworkIt’s the debut of TV TIME with FTW Champion @IAmJericho!
Please join 🌳 #TheLearningTree TOMORROW on Dynamite for the debut of this brand-new segment! pic.twitter.com/qvJlLSGunt— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 28, 2024
Announced Card Thus Far:
Matches Announced:
- Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet- winner challenges for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door.
- Swerve Strickland vs. Killswitch – sponsored by House of Dragons
Segments Announced:
- Don Callis will offer one wrestler a contract to join The Don Callis Family.
- Kris Statlander, along with Stokely Hathaway, will explain why she turned her back on Willow Nightingale.
- The debut of TV Time with The Learning Tree, Chris Jericho.
Forbidden Door Casino Gauntlet
Not too long ago (about five weeks), Will Ospreay booked his title match for Double or Nothing, winning a Casino Gauntlet match on AEW Dynamite. The match itself proved to be so insane and popular that AEW is doing it again. This time, it is in California with bigger stakes.
No competitors have been announced as of yet. Considering the pattern of NJPW stars challenging for the AEW World Championship at Forbidden Door, do not be surprised to see New Japan wrestlers getting their chance to shine on Wednesday night.
NJPW President Hiroshi Tanahashi was featured on Collision. Various stars, from Minoru Suzuki to Tomohiro Ishii, have walked through the Forbidden Door before. But why stop there? We may see some luchadors from CMLL.
There is a long-term danger that the Casino Gauntlet will become the tournament format of 2023. Yet, given the possibility of competitors from both Japan and Mexico entering this match,
There is also the potential for wider feuds and issues to form between the international locker rooms. What happens if Jay White or the newly returned Juice Robinson of The Bang Bang Gang comes face to face with a member of Bullet Club War Dogs?
There’s also the chance for mini-dream match scenarios and teases also between AEW and NJPW wrestlers. Will Ospreay has not ruled out competing in this latest Casino Gauntlet despite his championship victory. Could we see members of The Elite, Kazuchika Okada, or Jack Perry also enter proceedings?
The potential for creativity, excitement, and a preview of what might be on offer in five weeks in Long Island is salivating.
Who Might Join The Don Callis Family?
For several weeks, Don Callis has been watching Orange Cassidy closely. The Best Friends dissolved thanks to the betrayal of Trent Beretta. Trent heinously put long-time amigo and partner Chuck Taylor in retirement during their parking lot brawl. This, then, means something has not been right with Orange.
In Orange’s first match with Trent Beretta, Orange cheated to get the victory by removing the turnbuckle pad. Then, at Double or Nothing, Orange came out to The Pixies “Where is My Mind?” rather than Jefferson Starship’s “Jane”.
Orange was also sporting a darker shade of denim. Is Orange Cassidy going to the darkness? Or is Callis potentially eyeing up Trent Beretta? The Invisible Hand has a way of manipulating young wrestlers to see things his way.
Although could other tensions within the Don Callis Family also play out? For a few weeks, there have been hints of unease with Will Ospreay and Callis. At Double or Nothing, Ospreay refused to hit Roderick Strong with the Tiger Driver 91 and won. Elsewhere, Konosuke Takeshita followed Callis’ advice and lost.
Could multiple outcomes and directions emerge from one segment? It wouldn’t be the first time.
Other Double or Nothing Fallout – The Questions That Need Answering?
Adam Copeland broke the news on Tuesday that he broke his leg diving off the top of the steel cage. What does this mean for the TNT Championship?
MJF returned and dropped Adam Cole on his head with a brainbuster. Is MJF fully healed and ready to return to AEW Dynamite? Will the self-proclaimed Wolf of Wrestling speak or make his intentions at getting the AEW World Championship known?
More information about this year’s Owen Hart Cup? With the stakes being that the winners will receive world championship matches at All In in London, who will be entered into their respective tournaments? How many will be involved? The finals will take place on the 19th of July in Calgary, Owen’s hometown.
Will fans hear from the current AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland, ahead of the Casino Gauntlet? Will the new champions, Will Ospreay and Mercedes Moné, get time to celebrate their success?
Also, what about The Elite after their victory on Sunday? What’s next for Jack Perry? The Scapegoat left Nevada as their MVP, scoring the deciding fall against Bryan Danielson. Jack’s second chance started excellently. What’s next for all the members of The Elite? Where does Team AEW go next? What does this mean for whoever has control and power over AEW?
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the 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 on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
