13 Match Star Ratings For AEW Double Or Nothing 2022

13. BUY-In: Hookhausen Vs. Tony Nese & Smart Mark Sterling

This was perfect pre-show fodder: fun, compact, feel-good.

It captured the purpose of what this sort of thing should be. A long grudge match, even a great one, like the Revolution trios bout, almost feels like a relegation. This didn't. This was a match expressly (and brilliantly) designed to get the crowd in a good mood.

HOOK is so awesome. He moves like an actual cobra, and he flattened Tony Nese to a huge pop immediately. Nese was on exceptional form and was an inspired choice as Danhausen's first opponent. His sheer rage at being paired against the meme wrestler was worked brilliantly because his conniption fit manifested with propulsive athletic force, allowing Danhausen's slippery, witty escapes to extract the maximum volume.

Smart Mark Sterling pretending to do the hard work was a great bit too, and he committed fully to it by taking a bump directly onto the head when HOOK, who I see knows his judo well, ran wild.

This brevity sadly wasn't a recurring theme...

Star Rating: ★★★