Brian Cage debuts, wins an AEW World title shot in Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing kicked off on Sat., May 23 with the Casino Ladder Match, AEW’s “Money in the Bank with Royal Rumble-style entrances” concept.

The match itself started with the two members of SCU in the match entering #1 and #2. Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky put on a show to the audience of wrestlers and wrestling personalities (like Vickie Guerrero) assembled at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. Neither of them could get the chip hanging above the ring before the timer counted off the two minutes between entrants.

Kip Sabian was next, and his associate Jimmy Havoc helped him take out Scorp & Kaz. But Darby Allin arrived before Superbad or anyone else could win the match. Allin did the Jeff Hardy-esque spot most expected of him in the match, and went down clutching his knee after jumping off one ladder with his skateboard and landing on another.

The next two competitors provided some levity, with Orange Cassidy checking with Excalibur on the rules of the match and being frustrated when he found it involved ladders - which he doesn’t know how to operate.

He was followed by Colt Cabana, then Rey Fenix’s replacement, Joey Janela. Luchasaurus was eighth. Then it was time for the MYSTERY ENTRANT!

Darby recovered and looked to be getting ready to climb when the ninth man showed up, which was thematically important, because the surprise was accompanied by Taz, the man who’s coaching offers Allin has been rejecting. It was the man called CAGE!

Brian Cage was rumored to be headed to AEW when he told the world he’s torn his bicep. But that was back in January, and he’s all better now.

After he took out everyone, and gave O.C. a ride...

... all the other competitors teamed up to take out Cage, burying him under one of Double or Nothing’s signature props - a giant poker chip. Cassidy and Sabian were climbing when Kip’s fiance Penelope Ford provided a distraction and allowed Havoc to choke his old nemesis with his tie. Out came Best Friends, and Marko Stunt showed up to help Luchasaurus, and chaos was the name of the game.

We got some big spots, and a showdown between hosses Cage and Luchasaurus. It looked like Taz’s man would easily claim the chip from there. But the man who rejected Taz tried to stop it. For his trouble, he got laid out on a ladder and thrown - along with the ladder - onto the floor.

Cage has a shot at the AEW World champion in his future.

Keep or catch up with everything happening a Double or Nothing in our live blog here.