13 Match Star Ratings For AEW Double Or Nothing 2022
1. Hangman Page Vs. CM Punk - AEW World Title Match
This was a strange and thus hard to gauge main event. Uneven in quality with an atmosphere distinct to itself, if there's one word to describe it, 'fascinating' is the most apt.
Elements of the match were worked excellently. This felt like a scouting mission slowly being revealed by two exceptionally capable and highly intelligent pro wrestlers. It felt real and sporting in a way that obviously worked pro wrestling rarely does in that regard.
For all of his aspirations to Bret Hart, Punk missed a rather key detail: execution. His two attempts at the Buckshot lariat were - and this is harsh, fair and unpleasant to actually have to write - utterly embarrassing. Punk twice fell on his arse when flipping over the top rope. The first attempt was actually salvaged with some quick thinking, which made the decision to attempt a second feel hubristic or even stupid. It was pure slapstick in the least ideal context imaginable. You won't see a main event anywhere in wrestling with two spots that awful.
Is it harsh to dwell on those acutely humiliating moments when the match was otherwise a masterclass in pacing and slowly ramping up the drama?
Perhaps - but it was beyond deflating.
Punk redeemed himself with an impossible-looking 2.99 kick-out from Page's GTS. He literally could not have waited longer to throw his shoulder up. It was incredible.
The penny finally dropped on a confusing build, too - Page's moral compass saw him lulled into the trap of a "masturbatory Bret Hart match" (WrestleMania VIII) - which underscored the intelligence at play.
Boos are louder than cheers, which made the split reaction feel like a rejection at weird, irrational points - but it was still unforgettable.
Star Rating: ★★★★