AEW Double or Nothing was set to be groundbreaking regardless of the quality of the show. It's a brand new high profile well funded wrestling company, and that doesn't happen very often. It's writers, it's creative and it's incredible day one roster primed everyone for an fantastic show and it goes without saying they had a lot to prove.
A lot to prove to the fans, the industry, the WWE (Who we know will have been paying very close attention) and to themselves that this was possible. I have to say, they did on every front and they've put everyone in the industry thoroughly on notice.
If you don't watch independent wrestling very often the first thing that will strike you is the quality of wrestling and just how high it is. WWE's NXT is great but they still have to work the WWE "Style". Here workers have more freedom and it shows, every matches quality was outstanding thanks to both the quality of the workers and the lack of limitations imposed upon them.
My concerns going in were just how many stars mainstream wrestling fans wouldn't know, and in a time of "Superstars" I was worried that might do it damage. It doesn't appear to have done any, in fact this right here is the correct way of creating "Superstars". No one sided matches, everyone came out looking strong and the emphasis was on wrestling not storylines. No backstage interviews, few promos, just pure unadulterated wrestling.
I marveled at Jack Evans and his incredible techniques and maneuvers I've never seen before. I gasped at the sheer volume of blood loss in a certain match (No spoilers here), that was horrific. I cheered at the incredible matches presented before me and the number of surprises they threw in.
I tip my hat, this was better than any PPV the WWE have thrown out in a good decade+. Excellent, here's hoping the quality continues and AEW give the WWE a run for their money.
The Good:
Incredible performances
Great roster
A number of surprises
The Bad:
Entrance music quality was poor
I have my concerns about AEW's women's division
I also have my concerns about reliance on folks who should have retired years ago (Mostly folks in the pre-show battle royale)
