During the time of the height of the pandemic, All Elite Wrestling introduced two match concepts that the fans are still in awe for till this day and want to see make a return to live television. The two matches are the Stadium Stampede Match and the Blood & Guts Match and the first-ever Stadium Stampede Match took place at the 2020 Double or Nothing Event, when The Elite defeated The Inner Circle, while the second-ever Stadium Stampede Match took place at the 2021 Double or Nothing Event, when The Inner Circle defeated The Pinnacle.
All Elite Wrestling was set to hold their inaugural Blood & Guts Match in March of 2020, but the bout was pushed back a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After being delayed for over a year, AEW had the first-ever Blood & Guts Match on the May 5, 2021 episode of Dynamite, where The Pinnacle would defeat The Inner Circle. It is believed that AEW is planning to hold their second Blood & Guts Matchup soon, but there is no word yet on when the match will take place or at what event.
AEW CEO Tony Khan recently spoke with ESPN’s Marc Raimondi on how he thought about having yet another Stadium Stampede Match, but things are not what it once was and the pro wrestling world isn’t what it was during the pandemic and even though the match is one of their signature matchups, some reasons it was held at the time is the challenges that existed in the world because of the pandemic.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“I’ve thought about it.” “It’s a very different wrestling world now than it was during the pandemic. I think it’s a great match, a signature match for us that people really enjoyed. But some of the reasons we presented that match were because of the challenges that existed in the world because of the pandemic, as far as presenting sporting events with live fans. That doesn’t really exist in this live-event pandemic.”
The AEW President did say however that he expects the second Blood & Guts Match to return this coming Summer, but it wasn’t mentioned what event the match will take place on, though AEW did announce that a show will be taking place on Wednesday, June 29th at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. AEW also announced that the 2022 Double or Nothing Event will take place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday, May 29th.
All Elite Wrestling will also be having live episodes of AEW Dynamite and Rampage inside the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday, May 25 and Friday, May 27. The AEW President said that he has invited UFC to be part of Double or Nothing.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“Hopefully, I can see UFC president Dana White and UFC chief business officer Hunter Campbell in Vegas.” “It’s always great to have them here in Jacksonville for UFC 273 this weekend. This will be the first time I’ve gotten to go back to Vegas since the pandemic started. When I’m out there, they’re definitely people I look up. The only people I’m racing to talk to when I’m out there are Dana and Hunter.”
