2020 AEW Double or Nothing results, recap, grades: Stadium Stampede chaos, two new champions highlight
The eventful Stadium Stampede main event will be the lasting memory from Saturday night in Jacksonville
Double or Nothing, All Elite Wrestling's lone pay-per-view thus far of the empty-arena pandemic period, delivered a show that was entertaining top-to-bottom before ending with one of the wildest matches of the year. In the main event, The Elite, fighting alongside Matt Hardy, managed to outlast Chris Jericho and his Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match that saw the 10 competitors brawl throughout TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville.
The rest of the night's action took place inside the adjoining venue of Daily's Place where a trio of competitive title bouts saw two new champions were crowned. First, Cody managed to defeat Lance Archer to become the inaugural AEW TNT champion. But Cody received a small assist from boxing legend Mike Tyson, who stepped up to scare off Jake Roberts just as "The Snake" was planning to interfere to tip things in Archer's favor.
Nyla Rose, meanwhile, dropped the women's championship to Hikaru Shida in a no disqualification, no countout match. Shida managed to overcome the consistent onslaught of the larger Rose before finally using the rules -- or lack thereof -- to score the win, breaking a kendo stick over Rose's head and hitting a running knee to win her first title in AEW.
In the first of the night's two main events, Jon Moxley successfully defended the AEW world championship against Dark Order leader Brodie Lee. Repeated Paradigm Shifts from Moxley couldn't get the job done, so he resorted to a brute-force choke to secure the referee stoppage.
Still, the lasting memory from the event will be the Stadium Stampede match -- the wildly-entertaining brawl that featured everything from a 100-yard long series of northern lights suplexes to replay challenge flags to insane dives. There were no titles on the line, but there was no better way for Double or Nothing to go off the air than The Elite's triumphant moment in the ambitious cinematic match.
CBS Sports was with you the entire way on Saturday, updating this story with live results and highlights along with detailed recaps of each match. Complete results and grades from each match can be found below.
AEW Double or Nothing results, grades
Best Friends def. Private Party via pinfall after hitting Marq Quen with Strong Zero. The Buy-In match was a fast-paced tag bout, as is to be expected with the involved teams. There was an awkward moment where Trent was hit with the Silly String and landed on his face instead of the top of his head as a result of a modified DDT. Trent appeared to have avoided injury, though. Isiah Kassidy showed out in a big way in the match, with a standout stretch of quick offense, taking out both Chuck Taylor and Trent. The match built well in intensity -- including Private Party hitting Cryme Tyme's G9 in tribute to Shad Gaspard -- though there were some awkward spots where spots didn't quite connect as designed. In the end, Best Friends survived a steady stream of Private Party offense to win with Strong Zero. With the win, Best Friends secured the No. 1 contender spot for the tag titles. Grade: B-
Casino Ladder Match -- Brian Cage def. Orange Cassidy, Joey Janela, Luchasaurus, Scorpio Sky, Frankie Kazarian, Kip Sabian, Darby Allin and Colt Cabana to earn a shot at the AEW world championship in a match that served as the wild, garbage brawl of a multi-man ladder match that was expected, with near-constant high spots and interference from anyone and everyone associated with the nine entrants. The mystery entrant was Brian Cage who was making his AEW debut. Cage was brought out by Taz, leaving some degree of speculation regarding the relationship between the two. Cage obliterated everyone in the ring before Cassidy rode Cage's back as he climbed the ladder, with neither man managing to grab the chip. The other competitors finally teamed up on Cage, taking him out and burying him under ladders, guard rails and giant poker chips at ringside. Cage eventually made his way back into the ring, taking part in a showdown with Luchasaurus and destroying Allin with the Drill Claw before press slamming him to the outside while Allin was laying on the ladder. With the ring empty, Cage was able to climb the ladder for the win. The match had its sloppy moments and may have been a little too chaotic to let everyone shine, but it was ultimately a fun ride to open the main show. Grade: B
MJF def. Jungle Boy via pinfall with a wrist-clutch pin reversal. Early on, MJF took the old-school heel route of going down with an injured knee to get a break in the action before jumping to his feet for a cheap shot on Jungle Boy. The two would trade a lot of big strikes through the match, landing slaps, chops, elbows and forearms in what had turned into a surprisingly hard-hitting bout. MJF eventually focused his offense on Jungle Boy's arm, looking to set up the Salt of the Earth armbar. After some intense offensive explosions from Jungle Boy, the match ended on a flurry of pin reversals before MJF managed to trap Jungle Boy's arms for a clutch pin for the win in a match that surpassed any expectations for two very talented young wrestlers. Grade: B+
TNT Championship -- Cody def. Lance Archer via pinfall after two Cross Rhodes to become the inaugural champion. Archer hit the Blackout seconds into the match but Cody was able to immediately roll out of the ring to avoid the pin. Every time Cody made a little bit of headway in the match, Archer quickly cut him off with big moves. That lasted until Archer exposed the steel turnbuckle and ended up running into it ribs-first, giving Cody an opening to work over the midsection of the larger man. Even with the target, Archer continued dominating the majority of the match. Cody made a strong, late charge, including a top-rope cutter before hitting Cross Rhodes for a two count. Archer was walking the ropes after a chokeslam and EBD Claw, but Arn Anderson took advantage of a distracted referee, crotching Archer on the top rope. This led to both Armstrong and Jake Roberts being ejected from ringside, leaving the men without their seconds. Moments later, Roberts walked back to the ring with a snake, which prompted Mike Tyson to leave his chair at ringside and scare Roberts off. In the ensuing chaos, Rhodes countered Blackout into two Cross Rhodes for the victory and the title victory. Cody fighting the long uphill battle to take out a seemingly unstoppable Archer was done well, even if it wasn't a show-stealing match. Grade: B
Kris Statlander def. Penelope Ford via pinfall after the Big Bang Theory. This was a much better showing for the up-and-coming Statlander than that unfortunate encounter with Nyla Rose back at Revolution. Ford took the upper hand in the beginning of the match before boyfriend Kip Sabian proved to be just too much of a distraction from the outside. Statlander took over and put Ford away with her Big Bang Theory finisher. Solid match that was the showcase for the women's division we look for from this company. Grade: B
Dustin Rhodes def. Shawn Spears via pinfall with Final Reckoning. Spears was out first, wearing a suit and announcing that Rhodes was "at home washing his tights." Rhodes' music hit, and after looking concerned, Spears laughed and admitted he had the music play before demanding the bell ring and Rhodes be counted out. During the count, Rhodes' music played again and Brandi Rhodes walked out on the entrance ramp while Dustin slid in and attacked Spears from behind. Spears was eventually stripped to his underwear, socks and sock garters before having his bare butt spanked. The camera zoomed on Spears' crotch to reveal a picture of Tully Blanchard on the underwear. Rhodes then finished off Spears with Final Reckoning for the win. There wasn't much here but some comedy filler, but the good night for the Rhodes Boys continued. Grade: C
AEW Women's Championship -- Hikaru Shida def. Nyla Rose (c) via pinfall with a running knee strike to win the title. Rose brought a kendo stick to the ring and attempted to use it right away before Shida got her hands on it and took it out of the equation. Already having the upper hand in a straight-up wrestling match, Rose took advantage of the lack of rules in the match to batter Shida around ringside. Shida made a big comeback, using a hip toss to launch Rose onto the giant poker chips serving as arena decoration and then driving her through another one with a running knee. Shida would continue fighting back through powerful offense from Rose, even hitting the bigger woman with an avalanche Falcon Arrow for a near fall. The persistence paid off for Shida, as she eventually managed to overcome the champion using the kendo stick and a running knee strike to get the victory and continue her amazing run over the past several months. This was a good call as Rose has plenty of potential, but Shida is a much more finished product right now. Grade: B
AEW World Championship -- Jon Moxley (c) def. Brodie Lee via stoppage after choking Lee out with a rear-naked choke to retain the title. Moxley got off to a fast start, hitting an early suicide dive. Lee came back with some power offense and a suicide dive of his own. Much of the match was contested at ringside, with both men being driven into the barricades and set decorations as well as being thrown into and off of the ring steps. Moxley would eventually hit a Paradigm Shift from the elevated portion of the entryway through the lower section, busting Lee open. Lee tried to to immediately hit the discus clothesline as they entered the ring, but it was countered into another Paradigm Shift and Lee kicked out at one. Moxley assaulted Lee with a series of elbows and another Paradigm Shift for a two count. Moxley then locked in a bulldog choke and switched to a rear-naked choke to get the victory when Lee's arm dropped. Good physical stuff here, and an interesting finish that kept Lee fairly strong with multiple kickouts after Paradigm Shifts before being put to sleep without submitting. Grade: B
Stadium Stampede -- The Elite & Matt Hardy def. The Inner Circle via pinfall when Kenny Omega hit a diving One-Winged Angel on Sammy Guevara. The teams received full football-style entrances before the match, with Inner Circle in matching football uniforms (including padded football pants). Hangman Page did not enter with his team but was soon out chasing Sammy Guevara down while riding a horse. The action returned early to the ring that was placed at the 50-yard line, allowing for some standard wrestling action in the middle of the chaos. Guevara made his return having escaped Hangman and his horse. Matt Jackson climbed a ladder to the crossbar of a goalpost and hit a moonsault. Having missed Guevara earlier, Page made his way to the stadium bar, leaving his team out to dry for a bit. Santana and Ortiz drove Kenny Omega through a barricade suspended between tables before throwing Matt Hardy in a pool, where Matt Hardy: Version 1 emerged briefly.
Jake Hager found Page in the bar where they shared a drink before breaking down into a fight. The two brawled around the bar, including on a pool table and with Hager sliding Page head-first along the length of the bar. Omega came to lend a hand, with he and Page breaking champagne bottles over the head of Hager. Meanwhile, Matt Jackson hit a series of northern lights suplexes for the full length of the football field while his brother pelted Chris Jericho with footballs. The madness continued with penalty flags, replay challenges and Chris Jericho being painted white by a line marker before Omega hit a massive diving One-Winged Angel from the stadium seats through a platform set up below to score the pin on Guevara. This was one of the wildest matches you're ever going to see and surpassed all expectations for straddling the line between intense brawling and comedy to close out a top-to-bottom solid pay-per-view. Grade: A-
AEW Double or Nothing highlights
Stadium Stampede -- The Elite & Matt Hardy def. The Inner Circle via pinfall when Kenny Omega hit a diving One-Winged Angel on Sammy Guevara. The teams received full football-style entrances before the match, with Inner Circle in matching football uniforms (including padded football pants). Hangman Page did not enter with his team but was soon out chasing Sammy Guevara down while riding a horse. The action returned early to the ring that was placed at the 50-yard line, allowing for some standard wrestling action in the middle of the chaos. Guevara made his return having escaped Hangman and his horse. Matt Jackson climbed a ladder to the crossbar of a goalpost and hit a moonsault. Having missed Guevara earlier, Page made his way to the stadium bar, leaving his team out to dry for a bit. Santana and Ortiz drove Kenny Omega through a barricade suspended between tables before throwing Matt Hardy in a pool, where Matt Hardy: Version 1 emerged briefly.
Jake Hager found Page in the bar where they shared a drink before breaking down into a fight. The two brawled around the bar, including on a pool table and with Hager sliding Page head-first along the length of the bar. Omega came to lend a hand, with he and Page breaking champagne bottles over the head of Hager. Meanwhile, Matt Jackson hit a series of northern lights suplexes for the full length of the football field while his brother pelted Chris Jericho with footballs. The madness continued with penalty flags, replay challenges and Chris Jericho being painted white by a line marker before Omega hit a massive diving One-Winged Angel from the stadium seats through a platform set up below to score the pin on Guevara. This was one of the wildest matches you're ever going to see and surpassed all expectations for straddling the line between intense brawling and comedy to close out a top-to-bottom solid pay-per-view. Grade: A-
AEW World Championship -- Jon Moxley (c) def. Brodie Lee via stoppage after choking Lee out with a rear-naked choke. Moxley got off to a fast start, hitting an early suicide dive. Lee came back with some power offense and a suicide dive of his own. Much of the match was contested at ringside, with both men being driven into the barricades and set decorations as well as being thrown into and off of the ring steps. Moxley would eventually hit a Paradigm Shift from the elevated portion of the entryway through the lower section, busting Lee open. Lee tried to to immediately hit the discus clothesline as they entered the ring, but it was countered into another Paradigm Shift and Lee kicked out at one. Moxley assaulted Lee with a series of elbows and another Paradigm Shift for a two count. Moxley then locked in a bulldog choke and switched to a rear-naked choke to get the victory when Lee's arm dropped. Good physical stuff here, and an interesting finish that kept Lee fairly strong with multiple kickouts after Paradigm Shifts before being put to sleep without submitting. Grade: B
AEW world title match between champ Jon Moxley and challenger Brodie Lee up next!
AEW Women's Championship -- Hikaru Shida def. Nyla Rose (c) via pinfall with a running knee strike to win the title. Rose brought a kendo stick to the ring and attempted to use it right away before Shida got her hands on it and took it out of the equation. Already having the upper hand in a straight-up wrestling match, Rose took advantage of the lack of rules in the match to batter Shida around ringside. Shida made a big comeback, using a hip toss to launch Rose onto the giant poker chips serving as arena decoration and then driving her through another one with a running knee. Shida would continue fighting back through powerful offense from Rose, even hitting the bigger woman with an avalanche Falcon Arrow for a near fall. The persistence paid off for Shida, as she eventually managed to overcome the champion using the kendo stick and a running knee strike to get the victory and continue her amazing run over the past several months. This was a good call as Rose has plenty of potential, but Shida is a much more finished product right now. Grade: B
Dustin Rhodes def. Shawn Spears via pinfall with Final Reckoning. Spears was out first, wearing a suit and announcing that Rhodes was "at home washing his tights." Rhodes' music hit, and after looking concerned, Spears laughed and admitted he had the music play before demanding the bell ring and Rhodes be counted out. During the count, Rhodes' music played again and Brandi Rhodes walked out on the entrance ramp while Dustin slid in and attacked Spears from behind. Spears was eventually stripped to his underwear, socks and sock garters before having his bare butt spanked. The camera zoomed on Spears' crotch to reveal a picture of Tully Blanchard on the underwear. Rhodes then finished off Spears with Final Reckoning for the win. There wasn't much here but some comedy filler, but the good night for the Rhodes Boys continued. Grade: C