Not many weekends out of the year there are two major events in pro wrestling’s two biggest companies. Jeff Gorman wrote a fantastic preview on WWE King & Queen of the Ring for Saturday’s premium live event, but fans can turn around and watch AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday.

The stakes are high for this pay-per-view to deliver for AEW. Recent criticism online, paired with booking the same weekend as WWE’s event, AEW can remind fans they are an alternate product… and a good one at that.

AEW had great momentum at the inaugural AEW Double or Nothing back in 2019. Five years ago, WWE superstar Dean Ambrose jumped ship and introduced the AEW fans to Jon Moxley. Since, Moxley has been the heart and soul of AEW, even in the time where CM Punk was the “dollars and the cents.”

The question is, can AEW capitalize on that momentum now?

This card is subject to change, but as of this writing, here is what we can expect from AEW Double or Nothing this weekend:

WILLOW NIGHTINGALE vs. MERCEDES MONE (TBS Championship) :: Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, makes her AEW debut and competes for the TBS Championship in her first match against the very person who put her on the shelf last year at a NJPW show in Willow Nightingale. I feel AEW might have booked themselves into a corner. It goes against their identity to hand out title opportunities because 5 years ago, AEW prided itself on having the wrestlers earn title opportunities. Do you have Mercedes lose her first match, or do you go against that identity and have Willow lose the championship a month after winning it?

My prediction? Mercedes doesn’t begin her career 0-1 and wins the TBS Championship.

RODERICK STRONG vs. WILL OSPREAY (International Championship) :: Ospreay went the opposite route of Mercedes Mone. Ospreay made his in-ring debut as a full-time member at AEW Revolution in Greensboro, NC, a match I was present for. That’s the same night Strong won the championship two years ago. It’s another corner they’ve booked themselves into. Strong isn’t deep into his title run and Ospreay can’t take a clean loss.

I think Ospreay wins and Strong gets chastised by Adam Cole for losing the championship. However, I could see a result the Undisputed Kingdom cost Ospreay the championship. If Strong retains, it can’t be clean.

JON MOXLEY vs. KONOSUKE TAKESHITA :: I mentioned Moxley being the heart and soul of AEW, but the reigning IWGP Heavyweight Champion won’t defend his championship at this event. Instead, with a win, Takeshita can earn himself a championship opportunity in the future. I’m critical why you don’t put the championship on the line at a pay-per-view event.

This leads me to believe Moxley is going to lose to Takeshita and set up a title match down the road.

ORANGE CASSIDY vs. TRENT BERETTA :: The two best friends. Admittedly, this is the match I’m excited for the least on a stacked show. How it usually goes is those matches deliver in-ring. Cassidy continues to develop his character and shows a side of aggression, but then loses to Trent.

BANG BANG GANG vs. DEATH TRIANGLE (AEW Trios Championships) :: Pac fell short at AEW Dynasty against Kazuchika Okada, but now he has his trio back with Fenix and Penta joining him to form Death Triangle. However, Bang Bang Gang is on another level right now with the sons of Billy Gunn, Austin and Colten, being led by Jay White. I don’t see the Bang Bang Gang losing their championships anytime soon.

CHRIS JERICHO vs. HOOK vs. KATSUYORI SHIBATA (“For the World” Championship) :: Contested under FTW rules, this triple threat should be a good one. The last time Shibata and Jericho wrestled one-on-one, Jericho’s chest was bruised minutes into the match. The last time Hook and Jericho wrestled each other, Hook took a bat to the skull. Jericho is fantastic under his new “Learning Tree” character, so I believe we see Big Bill get involved and help Jericho retain the FTW Championship.

ADAM COPELAND vs. MALAKAI BLACK (Barbed Wire Steel Cage for the TNT Championship) :: The TNT Championship is AEW’s version of the Intercontinental Championship. Elevating the likes of Brodie Lee and Sammy Guevara, establishing the title with names like Cody Rhodes and Christian Cage, it is a title that means something in this company. This is Adam Copeland’s first championship since his return in 2020 from a career-ending neck injury he retired from in 2011. Malakai Black hasn’t had many opportunities in singles competition, but this could be his moment to be elevated.

I’m 50/50 on this. I love the Cope Opens, but Malakai Black could defend the title frequently under House Rules. Give me Malakai Black winning on Sunday.

“TIMELESS” TONI STORM vs. SERENA DEEB (AEW Women’s Championship) :: Toni Storm has been a phenomenal champion, and Serena Deeb is a great in-ring performer. This run by Toni Storm is one for the ages right now with her current gimmick, so I don’t see her losing the title. Deeb is perfect, however, to help validate the run Toni Storm is having.

THE ELITE vs. TEAM AEW (Anarchy in the Arena) :: The new Elite comprised of Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, and the Young Bucks have leaned into the heat from the crowd and have gone full heel boss mode, before The Rock ever did it in WWE. Therefore, we have FTR, Darby Allin, and Bryan Danielson stepping up to take down the evil bosses. Every “Anarchy in the Arena” match in AEW history has been wild. I genuinely look forward to these more than any WarGames match in recent memory.

However, AEW can not make the mistake WWE did in 2010. A bunch of guys on the WWE roster came together to take on a new heel faction, Nexus. A win by Team WWE completely halted the momentum of one of the most promising groups in WWE history. AEW won’t repeat history twice, expect The Elite to win Anarchy in the Arena.

SWERVE STRICKLAND vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE (AEW World Championship) :: Swerve just won this title, so Christian Cage is the perfect guy to have the first PPV title defense against. Christian elevated the TNT Championship while he held it and has built a great program against Swerve the last few weeks, promising to take something away from Swerve. From a piece of his hair, to the Mogul Embassy, to his blood, Swerve is going in hoping he doesn’t lose the title he worked so hard to get, the AEW World Championship.

With that said, we’ll be swerving til we drive all summer long. Give me Swerve to retain.

Let us know in the comments below what you think AEW needs to do to have a successful Double or Nothing this Sunday.