Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
Ongoing notes from the AEW Double or Nothing press conference from Las Vegas, Nevada:
PRE-SHOW
*Alex Marvez, Conrad Thompson and Excalibur are hosting what amounts to a countdown show for the rally.
*The trio discussed the involvement of OWE in China and wondered how they may factor into Double or Nothing on 5/25.
*MJF showed up to berate Conrad Thompson and cut a promo putting himself over. It was the usual great promo you'd expect from him.
PRESS CONFERENCE
Alex Marvez and Conrad Thompson welcomed everyone to the event. They were at a podium next to the MGM Grand Pool. They put over Excalibur and Marvez said he was looking forward to him "carrying" Marvez for a long time to come.
*Out came Sonny Kiss, a Northeast independent wrestler who was seen in Lucha Underground. Kiss tossed some t-shirts out. Kiss said that he hears AEW is for everyone. Sonny Kiss is for everyone. He said he has some exciting news - he will be at Double or Nothing. He said that while you may see him shaking his a** out there, on May 25th, he'll be kicking it too. You can seal that with a kiss.
*Marvez said that Brandi Rhodes specifically went after Kiss and acquired him for AEW.
*Cody came to the stage. The fans chanted, "Thank you Cody." He thanked them back. He said it was a little cold but it seems and smells like a revolution. The fans chanted "AEW." He said that last month, they talked about their first relationship, partnership with OWE. He said he was very excited that they have reached a second partnership with AAA. The crowd popped. He says what they do matches their goal to have the best sports-centric pro wrestling on the planet.
*The crowd chanted, "We want tickets." Cody said there is a pre-sale sign up at AllEliteWrestling.com. He said they learned from All In and want to make sure the best fans get the best tickets. Tickets will be on sale for the general public on 2/13 but if you go to their website now, he can guarantee you can get tickets. They later clarified that fans signing up would get a specific code on Monday morning to order tickets.
*Cody introduced AAA Cruiserweight Champion Sammy Guevara, who came to the stage. Guevera asked the crowed how they were doing. He introduced himself and said maybe some of the fans are familiar with him and perhaps some are not. He plugged his YouTube channel and said that soon, everyone in AEW will know he is the best ever. He said that he's the current AAA Cruiserweight Champion and what that means is that he is not only one of the best Cruisers or Juniors in the world, but one of the best damn wrestlers in the world. He said he wants everyone in management to understand that no matter who else they bring out, the true superstar is Sammy Guevera. He said everyone should get their tickets and come out and see him do what he does best, steal the show.
*Hangman Adam Page was brought to the podium. Page said he jumped the gun in Jacksonville when he made them his boss. He was going to show up in full gear but he was told he doesn't have the body for it, playing off of that silly storyline on Being the Elite. He said that he's going to work hard, get a gym membership ad at Double or Nothing he'll be in the best shape of his life. He said that he's talked about wanting to be the first-ever AEW Champion, but he a slimy-haired SOB interrupted him. He said that he knew PAC wasn't going to do that tonight because it was his stage. They went to PAC via satellite. He said he was a horrible, devious bas***rd who was pigeon-holed and kept away from mainstream audiences for too long. He said he can see Page with his a**h*** flapping in the wind wondering why him. He told Page that it wasn't personal, but he doesn't like Elitists. He said he was bloody exceptional and Page wasn't on his level. He said he was coming for Page on 5/25. He said to bring his cowboy boots, Page is going to want to ride off in the sunset to never be seen again. They went back to Page who said it was nice to see PAC send in a tape because he was busy doing what he does best, sitting at home. He said they will make it official - Adam Page vs. PAC at Double or Nothing. Page said he was going to bring his cowboy boots and when he was done with PAC, there wasn't going to be a doctor that could pull them out of PAC's A**.
*Alex Marvez introduced The Young Bucks. They told a story about going to WCW in the 1990s and made a pact together that they would grow up and become professional wrestlers, do it as a team, travel the world and become one of the best tag teams of all time. He said that you fast forward to now and fans tell them that they are one of the greatest professional wrestling tag teams of all time. The crowd chanted "Number One." Matt Jackson said it's lonely at the top. He said the last few years it feels like tag team wrestling is a lost art and you can't see it on wrestling programs anymore, but that's all about to change. He said that their main objective is to give the fans the best tag team division in the world. The crowd chanted, "Thank you Young Bucks." Nick said he had a question for everyone: Can tag team wrestling be the main event? They should ask Mid-Atlantic Wrestling fans! The crowd chanted, "Yes!" Nick said they wanted to introduce everyone to one of their favorite tag teams to wrestle - The Best Friends.
Out came Chucky T and Trent Beretta. They shook hands with the Bucks. The Bucks left and gave them the stage. Taylor said the Best Friends have been looking for the best tag team division on Earth and he thinks they made the right decision coming to AEW. Beretta said that everyone's talking about changing the world and tag team wrestling and that's what they are here to do - change the world with the power of friendship. He asked everyone to chant Best Friends and the fans did it. They hugged to close their segment.
*The Lucha Brothers, Rey Fenix and Pentagon Jr. came out. They faced off with the Young Bucks, who had returned to the stage. Fenix and Pentagon attacked The Bucks. Fenix nailed Nick with a superkick and Pentagon drilled Matt with a package piledriver on the stage. Fenix took the mic and said they are the second best tag team in the world. He toid them to be ready in AEW for the Lucha Brothers, because they are the best tag team in the universe and they will change the universe. So, it would appear it will be The Young Bucks vs. Pentagon Jr. & Fenix at Double or Nothing on 5/25. Alex Marvez said the fight for dominance has begun.
*They noted the AEW website crashed but said to everyone that the sign up for the pre-sale code will be up all weekend. They pushed that they don't want to have the same mistakes as Chicago where fans are locked out of buying tickets. Uh, they were locked out because the show sold out! Conrad tried to say they were backstage for hours and never saw the Lucha Brothers there.
*They introduced Brandi Rhodes, saying she would talk about the AEW female division. She said when she spoke in Jacksonville, she made some big promises for the women's division and would be talking to some fantastic Japanese women wrestlers. She announced two stars would be joining them for Double or Nothing. Tokyo Joshi's Yuka Sakazaki will be competing at the show. She then announced the legendary Aja Kong will be competing at Double or Nothing. Brandi said she wanted them to be here today, but they could not. Brandi said it would be weird to not have someone new for the fans. She introduced Kylie Rae, one of the hottest free agents until "I made the call" to sign her.
*Kylie Rae came out and asked the crowd how they were doing tonight. She joked that she bought a dress for tonight but can't wear it because it's too cold, but took off her jacket anyway. The crowd chanted, "Holy sh**." She thanked AEW for wanting to change the business of professional wrestling because as a fan, they needed it. She said to be here from the beginning is something she can't thank them for that enough.
*Brandi then announced that she has brought someone else, bringing out Nyla Rose. The American Kaiju came out and faced off with Rae, who offered her hand. Nyla began trash-talking Rae, but you couldn't hear it. Rae challenged her to go right now, but Brandi, smiling, got between them. Nyla kept advancing and Atlas Security had to intervene to stop it.
*Excalibur came to the podium and said AEW has it's sights set globally, He said he wanted to bring out three men close to his heart from Southern California. Out came SCU - Christopher Daniels, Scorpio Sky and Kazarian. They did their usual promo about this being the worst town they've ever been in. They announced the Double or Nothing afterparty will be titled "SCU All Night" and hosted by all three of them. He said that after a very historic evening, he's inviting everyone to party with SCU.
*Excalibur returned to the stage and introduced footage from OWE in China. OWE executives including CIMA and Dragon Fu came to the stage. They said they are so thankful to be partnering with AEW. They will bring 5,000 years of Kung Fu to the United States and will do something that has never been done in professional wrestling. Dragon Fu said they are going to stand together from China with the United States and two great countries will stand together. Daniels said that CIMA is legendary and said they go all the way back to Michinoku Pro Wrestling. He said CIMA has been a trailblazer, a pioneer and a leader of men. Daniels said they are looking for opposition, allow him to give a proposition. He challenged CIMA to find his best two men and stand across the ring from SCU. They shook on it and raised each others' hands. So, OWE vs. SCU is official.
*The countdown clock on the phone ended and a graphic that was obviously Kenny Omega was shown. Out came Kenny Omega, who was announced as an Executive Vice President. Omega said he wanted to apologize to making everyone wait but the world is strange with legalities. He said he put pen to paper this morning. He said he found his phone and he is now a full-time member of the AEW roster. He said in 2016, he, Nick and Matt Jackson sent on a course to change the world of professional wrestling. He said they called themselves the Elite and wanted to give back to the fans. The journey came to an end in Japan but now it's started again here in the cold in Las Vegas. He said they needed to make this bigger and push it farther than ever before. He's been asked in interviews what it means when he said "change the world." He couldn't explain it eloquently but felt it in his heart. He said at All In, he knew others felt that way and wondered why it couldn't be that way all the time. He said now, he'll get the chance, with the cast and crew of All Elite Wrestling, to finally change the world.
A Fozzy song began to play as Omega looked on. Chris Jericho made his way to the podium. They faced off. The crowd chanted "Holy sh**." They got into a scuffle with Atlas Security, BJ Whitmer and Cody breaking it up. So, while it wasn't announced, Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega is obviously set for Double or Nothing.
Omega, now wearing Jericho's fedora, said he was just about to get to the best part. He did the Goodbye and Good Night Bang line to close the show.
If you enjoy PWInsider.com you can check out the AD-FREE PWInsider Elite section, which features exclusive audio updates, news, our critically acclaimed podcasts, interviews and more by clicking here!
Bang On Casino
