10 Things We Learned From AEW's Double Or Nothing Announcement Party
BIG signings, a Double Or Nothing card, and so much more.
One month removed their first rally in Jacksonville, Florida, All Elite Wrestling laid its second foundation stone with last night's Double Or Nothing ticket announcement party, generating further hype for a project that has already brought major changes to how the wrestling business works in 2019.
This was an important night for several reasons. Jacksonville was a shoddy production that yielded big stories, but did little to dissuade those who'd already written AEW off as second-rate. It couldn't decide if it was real or kayfabe, scripted or organic, and while the likes of Chris Jericho showing up at the Double Or Nothing pay-per-view's announcement hit the spot, it wasn't the home run many had expected.
We're pleased to report that last night was a marked improvement, offering a clearer vision of where the promotion will be in a few months' time, big signings, and the first Double Or Nothing matches. It was a knockdown success, though only time will tell if Cody, The Young Bucks, and the Khans can build on it.
The night's biggest talking points have dominated wrestling media all day, and will continue to do so over the weekend. Let's dive into them...
10. Strictly Business
To start with the primary business function of last night's rally, All Elite Wrestling announced that tickets for the 25 May Double Or Nothing pay-per-view in Las Vegas, Nevada, go on public sale on 13 February at noon EST (with a presale commencing two days prior).
It is expected that the MGM Grand Garden Arena will be calibrated for approximately 14,000 fans. As things stand, that won't be anywhere near enough to satisfy demand. AEW have already received a remarkable 12,000 presale code requests. This almost guarantees a complete sellout of the building, perhaps in even less time than the 30 minutes it took ALL IN to fill out last year.
The Young Bucks teased setting the MGM Grand up for 20,000 seats on a recent episode of Being The Elite, but even 14,000 would be a major triumph. These numbers, and the reported demand, show that the hype for this promotion is still through the roof. This is a powerful, organic wrestling movement with billionaire backing, and the sharp business minds of Cody, the Bucks, and Kenny Omega are more tapped into what hardcore wrestling fans want than anyone else in the industry.