AEW’s premier summer spectacle delivered in spades as Double or Nothing 2025 transformed the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona into an explosive battleground Sunday night. From the crowning of this year’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament winners to another blood-soaked edition of Anarchy in the Arena, the event showcased why AEW continues to push professional wrestling’s creative boundaries.
Pre-Show Action Heats Up the Desert
Buy-In: Teamwork Prevails in Women’s Tag Showdown
The festivities kicked off with Anna Jay and Harley Cameron scoring an impressive victory over the powerhouse duo of Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford. Despite Bayne’s dominating presence and Ford’s veteran cunning, Cameron’s quick thinking in the final moments allowed her team to escape a potential doomsday device and secure the pinfall.
High-Flyers Dazzle in Eight-Man Extravaganza
The second Buy-In match showcased aerial excellence when AR Fox, Bandido, Komander and Hologram faced RPG Vice (Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero), Lio Rush, and Action Andretti. After an extraordinary display of synchronized high-flying offense, including a jaw-dropping assisted 450 splash and 21 Plex combination, Fox’s team secured the victory in what could easily have been a main card bout.
Owen Hart Cup Tournament Crowns New Royalty
Mercedes Moné Outsmarts Hayter to Claim Women’s Trophy
In a technical masterpiece, Mercedes Moné continued her undefeated AEW streak by defeating Jamie Hayter to win the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. Moné systematically attacked Hayter’s previously injured back throughout the contest with multiple backstabbers and submission attempts.
“I told everyone I was bringing the CEO level to AEW, and now I’m bringing it to All In Texas,” Moné declared post-match, referencing her newly earned title shot.
Despite Hayter’s remarkable resilience and several near-victories with her devastating Haterade lariat, Moné’s cunning counter of the move into a match-ending DDT variation sealed her triumph and future championship opportunity at All In Texas.
Hangman Page Conquers Ospreay in First-Ever Singles Encounter
The men’s tournament final delivered an instant classic between Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay in their first-ever singles match. The psychological warfare was evident from the opening bell, with Ospreay’s eagerness contrasting Hangman’s measured approach.
Hangman strategically targeted Ospreay’s vulnerable back throughout, while Ospreay countered with breathtaking aerial offense including a Sasuke Special and Sky Twister Press. The match reached fever pitch when Ospreay delivered a devastating OsCutter on the apron, nearly earning a count-out victory when Page barely beat the count at nine.
In a brilliant display of storytelling, Ospreay attempted Kenny Omega’s One-Winged Angel, only for Hangman to escape and pay homage to Swerve Strickland with a counter of his own. The climactic Buckshot Lariat—perhaps the most impactful of Hangman’s career—finally secured him the tournament victory and a shot at Jon Moxley’s AEW World Championship at All In Texas on July 12th.
Championship Gold Remains with Incumbents
Okada Retains Continental Championship Against Undefeated Bailey
Kazuchika Okada successfully defended his AEW Continental Championship against the previously undefeated “Speedball” Mike Bailey in a clash of contrasting styles. Bailey’s explosive offense initially challenged Okada, but a critical error—kicking the steel ring steps—gave Okada the opening he needed to target Bailey’s injured leg.
Bailey nearly secured victory with his signature “Time Adventure,” but Okada’s championship experience proved decisive. In the match’s defining moment, Okada intercepted Bailey’s aerial attack with a perfectly timed dropkick before delivering his devastating Rainmaker lariat for the victory.
Storm Survives Shirakawa’s Technical Assault
“Timeless” Toni Storm retained her AEW Women’s World Championship against a determined Mina Shirakawa, who relentlessly targeted Storm’s injured knee throughout the contest. Despite Shirakawa’s focused strategy and multiple figure-four leg lock attempts, Storm’s resilience proved decisive.
Luther’s comical ringside presence briefly factored into the action, inadvertently providing Shirakawa with an opportunity for a tornado DDT. After surviving Shirakawa’s Glamorous Driver and a series of near-falls, Storm finally secured victory with a sudden headbutt followed by her Storm Zero finisher.
The Hurt Syndicate Overcomes Sons of Texas Challenge
Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, with MVP and MJF in their corner, successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championships against the Sons of Texas, Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara. The champions effectively isolated Guevara for extended periods, neutralizing his high-flying offense with raw power.
Rhodes mounted a spirited comeback with his signature Cross Rhodes and Unnatural Kick, but outside interference proved pivotal. After Dustin was sent crashing through the barricade by Lashley, Benjamin capitalized with a devastating knee strike and superkick combination to Guevara, retaining the titles for The Hurt Syndicate.
Brutality Unleashed in Gimmick Matches
Ricochet’s Ruthlessness Prevails in Stretcher Match
In one of the night’s most violent encounters, Ricochet defeated Mark Briscoe in a Stretcher Match through calculated brutality. After an early sneak attack, the match quickly spilled into the crowd with both men utilizing the stretcher itself as a weapon.
The match’s disturbing turning point came when Ricochet revealed hidden scissors from beneath the ring, using them to viciously wound Briscoe. Despite Briscoe’s resilience and execution of a Jay Driller, Ricochet’s vicious tactics—culminating in a decisive Spirit Gun—allowed him to load Briscoe onto the stretcher and secure victory.
Anarchy Reigns Supreme in Violent Faction Warfare
The night’s most chaotic spectacle saw the Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta) teaming with The Young Bucks against The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs and Katsuyori Shibata), Kenny Omega, Willow Nightingale, and Swerve Strickland in Anarchy in the Arena.
Violence erupted throughout the Desert Diamond Arena as competitors battled through concourses, backstage areas, and into the crowd. Particularly disturbing moments included Moxley carving at Hobbs’ forehead with a fork, Shafir using a staple gun on opponents’ tongues, and Nightingale being chained by her earlobe to a ring post.
The match featured dramatic surprises including Samoa Joe’s strategic late entrance, Mark Briscoe’s return (still bloodied from his earlier match), and Gabe Kidd’s unexpected intervention. The brutal affair concluded when Swerve Strickland delivered a modified Swerve Stomp with thumbtack-adorned shoes onto Nicholas Jackson, securing the victory for his team.
Tag Team Excellence and Faction Warfare
FTR’s Experience Overcomes McGuinness and Garcia
FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) defeated the unlikely pairing of Nigel McGuinness and Daniel Garcia in a match that highlighted McGuinness’ return to high-profile in-ring competition. Despite Garcia’s technical prowess and McGuinness’ veteran savvy, FTR’s teamwork proved superior.
After isolating McGuinness and delivering a Shatter Machine on the floor, FTR focused on Garcia. Despite surviving multiple piledrivers, Garcia eventually succumbed to Harwood’s Sharpshooter, refusing to tap but passing out from the pain. Post-match, McGuinness required assistance from Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard, highlighting the physical toll of the encounter.
Don Callis Family Prevails, But Paragon Gets Last Laugh
The Trios match saw the Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, and Kyle Fletcher) secure a victory over Paragon (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong), but the story didn’t end with the bell.
Despite Fletcher visibly struggling with a leg injury, he managed to pin Kyle O’Reilly for the win. The post-match assault by the expanded Callis Family (including Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta) was dramatically halted by the arrivals of Brody King, Tomohiro Ishii, and most surprisingly, New Japan Pro-Wrestling icon Hiroshi Tanahashi.
The reinforcements swung momentum back to Paragon, with Adam Cole delivering a final “Boom” to Fletcher, leaving the TNT Champion standing tall despite the official match outcome.
The Road to All In Texas Takes Shape
Double or Nothing 2025 set the stage for AEW’s next major event, All In Texas on July 12th. Both Owen Hart Cup Tournament winners secured championship opportunities, with Mercedes Moné targeting the Women’s World Championship and Hangman Page earning a shot at Jon Moxley’s AEW World Championship.
The event’s numerous rivalries and storyline developments, particularly the expanding faction warfare between Paragon and the Don Callis Family, promise to fuel AEW programming in the coming weeks. With international stars like Tanahashi now entering the fray, how will the company’s landscape continue to evolve as we head toward the Texas supershow? The desert heat of Double or Nothing has only intensified the flames of competition throughout All Elite Wrestling.
