AEW Double Or Nothing: Star Ratings For All 9 Matches

4. Hikaru Shida, Riho Abe & Ryo Mizunami Vs. Aja Kong, Yuka Sakazaki & Emi Sakura

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A match boasting super range, this also diversified the complexion of the card in itself. Perfectly sequenced and loaded with eclectic genre showcases, this promised much ahead of Kenny Omega's much-touted influence over AEW's Women's division.

Aja Kong kicked so hard that you'd have probably welcomed an old Katsuyori Shibata PK in comparison. Teammate Yuka Sakazaki, Kong's physical and character antithesis, endeared herself to an unfamiliar but receptive crowd in a ridiculously charming cameo in which she belied the Kawaii facade with a spirited and hugely energetic offensive game, where Emi Sakura's Freddie Mercury bit brilliantly unglued a gradually welcoming western audience charmed by the personality and brutal head-dropping action on display.

Ryo Mizunami's explosive late showing added to the escalatory drama of an incredibly well-paced match, the build and commitment of which compensated for the few glitches and lagging issues that slowed down the game (if understandably diminished) Aja Kong.

The timekeeping error was unforgivable, even on a debut show. It detracted from the drama of the finish, and revealed significant teething issues Cody's flexing promotion conditioned us to disregard.

Then again, there was a reason the American Nightmare showed such supreme confidence heading into the weekend...

Star Rating: ****

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!