Backstage Details On MJF’s Triumphant Return At AEW Double Or Nothing 2024

MJF made a surprise return to AEW at Double or Nothing in Vegas, confronting his arch-nemesis Adam Cole for the first time since Cole betrayed him at Worlds End in December. Fightful Select reports that the return had been planned for some time, with Sunday’s event in Vegas being the target date, and preparations for the return were also made well ahead of time. 

Regarding the injuries which had forced him onto the sidelines in the first place, MJF has reportedly been telling some within the industry that he was wearing a shoulder brace to throw people off of the idea he was returning, but it’s unclear whether or not he underwent surgery. In terms of his feud with Cole, fans shouldn’t expect the pay-off just yet, as it’s noted that as of spring it didn’t appear that Cole vs. MJF would be possible immediately upon the latter’s return. The former AEW World Champion is also said to be penciled in for a top feud, with “significant creative plans” made. 

During his promo after clearing Adam Cole out of the ring, MJF made it clear that he was remaining with AEW, as has been the belief for some time. Fightful reports that he will be doing so on a multi-million dollar per year contract. Prior to his absence, MJF held the AEW World Championship for a record 406 days, coming to an end at the hands of Samoa Joe while he was carrying multiple injuries. Due to the highly-touted “Bidding War of 2024” storyline, some had speculated that he could have entered free agency following the title loss. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Double or Nothing 5/26/2024 (Results), MJF Returns, Gangrel

THE BUY IN
Deonna Purrazzo def. Thunder Rosa

THE BUY IN
The Acclaimed & “Daddy Ass” Billy Gun def. Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Will Ospreay def. Roderick Strong (c) W/Matt Tavin, Mike Bennett & Wardlow) to become the new AEW International Champion

After the match: Adam Cole came down to the ring.

Cole asks who’s ready for story time with Adam Cole. He says Las Vegas sucks, and says he shouldn’t be out at ringside. He says he should be checking on Roderick Strong and rehabbing his ankle. He voices his frustrations with not being disrespected, then pulls out The Devil Mask. He says The Devil will get his dues.

The lights go out, and when they come back on, a video begins playing on the big screen of someone walking through a house with a picture of MJF and the AEW World Championship above the fireplace. He grabs the “Dynamite” Diamond Ring, and the camera pans over to a suit. The person filming grabs a picture cut in half of Adam Cole and MJF.

MJF’s music hits, and he makes his way down to the ring. He looks at the Devil Mask, then stares down Adam Cole. MJF hugs Cole, but low blows him and smiles. He then hits a Brainbuster on Cole and grabs a mic. He mocks Cole and says someone needs to get Cole out of his ring. He says he wants Cole to listen as he’s being helped to the back.

MJF says he gave Cole trust, but that’s not happening again. He says Cole thought he took MJF out, but all he did was remind him who he was. He says his name is Maxwell Jacob Friedman, and he’s better than you and you know it. MJF says he can say that because unlike Cole and everyone else in the ring, he doesn’t need a New Japan or a Vince McMahon because no one made him. He says MJF made MJF, then says there will be no more friendships or bull****.

MJFsays he’s back to being driven by hate rather than love. He says when he’s driven by hate, no one is safe. He picks up the Devil Mask, then says masks are adorned by cowards who want to hide. He says he’s done hiding, being humble, and apologizing for being the best. He says he doesn’t need a mask to prove no one is on the level of the Devil, then looks at the Devil Mask. He says everything that mask symbolizes can go straight to tell, then stomps on it and throws it out into the crowd. He says he’s been betting on himself since day one, then says in regards to his contract status. He rolls up his pant leg to reveal a tattoo of the Double or Nothing poker chip with the words “bet on yourself”. He says he’s not leaving AEW, then hops up on the turnbuckle to celebrate the crowd.

AEW UNIFIED WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP
Bang Bang Gang (Jay White and Gunn Club) def. Death Triangle (Pac & Lucha Bros)

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) def. Serena Deeb

Orange Cassidy def. Trent Beretta

After the match, Beretta storms up the ramp. Rocky Romero joins him and Renee Paquette looks to get a word with Beretta, but Beretta pushes past them and heads through the crowd.

FTW CHAMPIONSHIP – FTW RULES
Chris Jericho (c) w. Big Bill def. Hook and Katsuyori Shibata

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATOR MATCH
If Takeshita wins, he will receive a future IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.
Jon Moxley (c) def. Konosuke Takeshita w/ Don Callis

TNT CHAMPIONSHIP – BARBED WIRE STEEL CAGE MATCH
Adam Copeland (c) def. Malakai Black w/House of Black

The bell rings and the two waste no time going after one another. They try hitting one another with chairs before Copeland hits a flapjack on Black and follows it up with a boot. Copeland grabs a piece of barbed wire and jams it into Black’s head in the corner. Black looks to send Copeland into the barbed wire wrapped around one turnbuckle face first, but Copeland blocks him and powerbombs Black into the side of the steel cage. Copeland drives Black into the mat with an elevated flatliner and charges at Black, but Black intercepts him with a kick. He looks to catapult Copeland into the barbed wire wrapped around the one turnbuckle, but Copeland lands on the ropes. He then trips him and sends him crashing into the barbed wire face first.

Black lands a round kick on Copeland’s head, then grabs a bat wrapped with barbed wire. He jams the bat into Copeland’s forehead, then stomps on Copeland’s chest and lays him on top of a chair. He grabs the bat wrapped in barbed wire and looks to hit Copeland with it, but Copeland moves out of the way and grabs the bat. He hits Black with it in the midsection and jams it into his forehead as he presses the rest of his face into the side of the steel cage. Copeland then sets up a table wrapped in barbed wire and lays Black on top of it, then ascends up the side of the steel cage. Black trips him on the top rope, then joins him on the middle rope and jams his head into the side of the steel cage. Black then powerbombs Copeland through the table.

Copeland spears Black and goes for a pin, but Black kicks out. Copeland then drives Black with a stalling piledriver, then lays him on top of a second table. He wraps barbed wire around Black, then ascends to the top of the cage. He then delivers an elbow drop to Black that sends him crashing through the table. Copeland sets up for the spear, but Black counters with The End and goes for a pin. Copeland kicks out. Black grabs a spool of barbed wire and hits Copeland with it, then fires off kicks on his chest.

Black then kicks Copeland through the cage door and follows him outside. Copeland lands a spear on Black as Buddy Matthews and Brody King march down to the ring. King and Matthews stand by Copeland, but King levels him and Matthews fires off right hands on him. They dump Copeland back inside the cage and follow him, and Matthews fires off right hands on Copeland’s head. King wraps barbed wire around Copeland as Black puts Copeland’s wedding band around his neck. They then place a barbed wire crown on Copeland.

The lights all turn red, and King goes over to one side of the ring to investigate. Gangrel emerges from underneath the ring! He spits mist on both King and Matthews, then lands DDT on them both. Black levels Gangrel, but Copeland catches him with a spear. He then locks in a crossface using a piece of barbed wire, and Black fades.

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP
Mercedes Moné def, Willow Nightingale (c) (with Stokely Hathaway& Kris Statlander) to become the new TBS Champion

Referee Aubrey Edwards warns Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway, Doctor Bomb connects for about an eight count but Edwards is still distracted and comes in too late!

Arm-trap crossface applied, shifting to an STF, Willow crawling, reaching, and she gets the ropes! DDT the leg, up top, roll over, Gory Special… Mercedes Mone is the new TBS Champion.

Post-match, Stokely Hathaway yells at Willow but Kris Statlander shoves him down and they leave him alone in the ring as she helps Nightingale to the back— EXCEPT SHE STOPS AT THE BAsE OF THE RAMP AND DROPS WILLOW WITH A LARIAT! Kris tears the friendship bracelet off and hits a discus lariat while Stoke laughs and laughs!

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Swerve Strickland (c) w/Prince Nana def. Christian Cage w/The Patriarchy

The referee ejected Nick, Mother Wayne, and Killswitch from ringside.

ANARCHY IN THE ARENA MATCH
The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) def. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood)

Bryan Danielson and FTR blindside The Elite on the ramp. Darby Allin’s music hits and he runs down to the ring. The bell rings and Jack Perry jams his knee into Allin’s face whilst Allin wears a mask covered in thumb tacks. Allin jams his knee into Perry’s face as Matthew Jackson grabs a mic and tells the production to cut Allin’s music. He calls for The Elite’s new theme music to be played instead as everyone continues brawling, and Danielson grabs the mic. He calls for the greatest theme song in wrestling history to be played, and The Final Countdown begins playing.

Danielson dumps Kazuchika Okada into the crowd, and Dax Harwood brawls with Matthew up the stairs. He sends Matthew’s head bouncing off a Culture Steak table as Okada and Danielson brawl through the crowd. Harwood takes a drink break, then tosses a trash can on top of Matthew. Allin delivers a Coffin Drop off one of the entrance tunnels to everyone except Harwood and Matthew.

Danielson fires off right hands on Okada as they ascend up the stairs. Allin brawls with Perry as Matthew rains down right hands on Harwood in the middle of the crowd. Cash Wheeler and Nicholas Jackson brawl in the ringside area as Wheeler hits Nicholas with a trash can. Matthew then grabs a mic and calls for production to cut off The Final Countdown due to the money it’s costing them to play the song.

Allin and Perry brawl backstage as Nicholas and Wheeler brawl near the commentary desk. Okada delivers an uppercut to Danielson, and grabs a Rainmaker Drive street sign. He then flies over the barricade to level Danielson.

Perry and Allin brawl outside the arena near the production trucks. Allin dunks Perry in an ice bath, but Perry grabs a steel pipe from a pile of trash and hits Allin with it in his midsection. He chokes Allin with the pipe as The Young Bucks dump Wheeler out of the ring near four chairs set up on the outside and land Shatter Machine on Harwood. Danielson is sent crashing into the corner, and The Bucks look to triple team on him with Okada. Danielson moves out of the way, and The Elite are sent crashing into one another.

Danielson looks to fly out of the ring to level Okada, but Okada grabs a chair and Danielson is sent crashing into it. Nicholas then throws the chair at Danielson as a bus with Scapegoat written on the top of it runs into the pile of trash that Allin is supposedly trapped in. Perry is knocked out, as Matthew beats down Harwood with a chair back inside the ring. FTR delivers an assisted piledriver to Nicholas on the apron, and Harwood ascends to the top to join Matthew. He delivers a superplex, and Wheeler follows it up with a Frog Splash off the top. Wheeler pins Matthew, but Okada breaks the fall.

Okada then lands a dropkick on Harwood, then connects with a shoulder breaker and an elbow drop off the top rope. Okada flips off the crowd, but Wheeler bites his middle finger and snaps it. Okada lands a dropkick on Wheeler, then hits a Tombstone. Allin reemerges at ringside, and begins going after Okada. He delivers a headbutt and a Code Red, then goes for a pin. Okada kicks out.

Allin runs the ropes, but The Young Bucks trip him and deliver a double powerbomb to him on top of the four chairs on the outside. They then drag Allin up the ramp as they call for their entrance platform to be raised. They place Allin on top of it and call for it to be lowered. Production obeys, but Danielson joins The Bucks on the ramp and fires off right hands on them. Nicholas throws Danielson off the stage near a pile of giant poker chips, and Matthew sends Danielson crashing face first into them. The Bucks then deliver a TK Driver to Danielson on top of the poker chip pile before Nicholas sends Wheeler crashing into the pile and Harwood delivers a DDT to Matthew on top of them.

FTR and The Bucks brawl on the ramp, and Matthew levels Harwood with a superkick. Wheeler then lands a superkick on Matthew. Wheeler grabs a table from the back and sets it up on the ramp. Okada lands a DDT to Wheeler on the top of the ramp, then lays him on top of the table as Nicholas ascends up the entrance tunnel. Okada delivers an elbow drop to Wheeler off a stage piece, and Nicholas follows it up with a senton atomico.

Perry finds Tony Khan backstage and drags him away from his position. Allin reemerges with a flame thrower as Perry appears on the ramp with Khan. Allin sets Perry on fire, but The Young Bucks extinguish it and medical officials immediately appear to check on Perry. The Bucks dump Allin back in the ring and Nicholas grabs a garbage can from under the ring as Matthew takes off Allin’s mask. Nicholas ascends to the top, and Matthew sticks Allins head on top of the trash can. He holds it in place, but Allin moves out of the way at the last second and Nicholas collides with the trash can. Okada sets up for the Rainmaker on Allin, but Allin low blows him and lands the Coffin Drop off the top. He goes for a pin, but The Young Bucks break the fall.

The Bucks send Allin colliding with the trash can as a winch lowers down from the ceiling. The Bucks and Okada tie the winch around Allin’s legs, and Harwood levels Okada with a Brainbuster. He clotheslines Matthew out of the ring before he and Wheeler connect with Shatter Machine on Nicholas.

Matthew hits Harwood with an exploding chair, and Nicholas levels Wheeler with a superkick. Okada grabs an arm sleeve covered in thumb tacks and puts it on his arm, then delivers the Rainmaker to Wheeler.

Okada grabs a box of The Elite’s new shoes from under the ring covered in thumb tacks on the bottom and The Young Bucks each put one on. Allin is then lifted up by the winch on the orders of The Bucks, but Allin bites Nicholas. Okada intervenes, and The Bucks land a double superkick on Allin with the shoes covered in thumb tacks. Danielson slides into the ring, but The Elite intercepts him. Danielson then lands the Busaiku Knee on Okada, then grabs Matthew’s thumb tack covered show off his foot. He hits him and Nichlas with it, then fires off The Yes Kicks on The Bucks. Danielson stomps on Matthew’s face, then grabs a chair and delivers the Busaiku Knee to Nicholas using the chair. He goes for a pin, but Okada breaks the fall.

As Allin still hangs from the winch, Okada lands the Rainmaker on Danielson and The Bucks follow it up with the EVP Trigger. Danielson looks to lower Allin from the winch, but Perry lands a running knee on Danielson and pins him for the win.

Transcript from Wrestling Inc.

WWE King & Queen Of The Ring 5/25/2024 (Results)

(Pre-Show) WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (c) def. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Liv Morgan def. Becky Lynch (c) to become new Women’s World Champion

Dominik Mysterio showed up slid a chair into the ring to cause a distraction. Liv hit a DDT on the chair and then a Oblivion to get the win.

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sami Zayn (c) def. Chad Gable and Bronson Reed

Gable berates Otis for not listening to him, shoves him, Otis gets in his face, Chad calls him an idiot and slaps him! Gable holds Sami up again, Otis charges in, Zayn ducks and Gable goes down! Back inside, Reed is in the corner… Zayne with a Helluva Kick. Zayn gets the pin for the win.

QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL
Nia Jax def. Lyra Valkyria

Backstage, Byron Saxton interviews Becky Lynch after she finishes giving Dominik Mysterio a tongue-lashing.

She says she doesn’t know what’s going on, she just knows that she has a rematch clause in her contract and she’s going to talk to Adam Pearce on Monday and give her her rematch.

KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL
Gunther def. Randy Orton

Kayla Braxton interviews Triple H backstage.

He has some breaking news for us, and he says Drew McIntyre has been medically cleared to compete, and he’s making it official right now— Damian Priest vs. Drew McIntyre for the World Heavyweight Championship at Clash at the Castle next month.

Ibrahim Al-Hajjaj has guest ring announcer duties for our main event.

WWE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Cody Rhodes (C) def. Logan Paul

In the middle of the match, on the outside, Cody fights with one of Paul’s guys and the other hands Paul brass knucks. Cody charges in, jumping off the steel steps… AND LOGAN NAILS HIM IN THE INJURED RIBS WITH THE KNUCKS! Michael Cole gives him hell for using the knucks anyway and calls him a loser, Logan charges after him and Corey Graves stands up and gets in his way! RHODES DIVES ON HIM!

Later in the match: Rhodes jumps up to the barricade… CODY CUTTER INTO THE TABLE! Referee Ryan Tran is going to count Logan out but Cody tells him not to, saying he has to learn! Rhodes clears the Arabic announce desk, breaks the count, taking Paul over, thrown into the steps… LOGAN DROPS HIM WITH A RIGHT HAND TO THE JAW!

Paul throws him onto the Arabic table, bottle of Prime in hand as he breaks the count, up top, Prime mist… PLANCHA OFF THE TOP AND THROUGH THE DAMN TABLE! Back in the ring, frog splash… CODY KICKS OUT! Back and forth, Ref gets squashed by a Stinger Splash from Paul, Rhodes gets him up… COP KILLER BUT THERE’S NOBODY TO MAKE THE COUNT!

Cody tries to wake him up, Logan uppercuts him in the gentleman’s area, he gets the knucks back out, loads his fist… IBRAHIM AL-HAJJAJ PULLS HIM OUT OF THE RING! Logan recovers, right hand, Cody blocks him, inverted facelock… CROSS RHODES! Rolled into a second one, a third as the Ref gets back to his feet… makes the 3 count for Rhodes.

A New Wyatt 6 QR Code Airs On WWE SmackDown

A new QR code appeared on this week’s episode of WWE SmackDown.

During the entrance for A-Town Down Under, a QR code led fans to a website that had links to “recovered” poems and letters.

AEW Collision Preview 5/25/2024

AEW Collision live on TBS from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, NV. Final show before Sunday’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

  • The Gunns vs. The Lucha Bros
  • Bryan Danielson & FTR vs. Satnam Singh, Jeff Jarrett, & Jay Lethal

AEW Double or Nothing 5/26/2024 (Card)

AEW Double or Nothing – Sunday May 26 2024 – from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada.

CARD

AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Swerve Strickland (c) vs. Christian Cage

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP
Willow Nightingale (c) (with Stokely Hathaway) vs. Mercedes Moné

AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Roderick Strong (c) vs. Will Ospreay

AEW WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Serena Deeb

ANARCHY IN THE ARENA MATCH
The Elite (Kazuchika Okada, Jack Perry, Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) vs. Team AEW (Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood)

TNT CHAMPIONSHIP – BARBED WIRE STEEL CAGE MATCH
Adam Copeland (c) vs. Malakai Black

IWGP WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP ELIMINATOR MATCH
If Takeshita wins, he will receive a future IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match.
Jon Moxley (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita

AEW UNIFIED WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIP
Bang Bang Gang (Jay White and Gunn Club) vs. Death Triangle (Pac & Lucha Bros)

FTW CHAMPIONSHIP – FTW RULES
Chris Jericho (c) vs. Hook vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Trent Beretta vs. Orange Cassidy

THE BUY IN
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thunder Rosa

THE BUY IN
The Acclaimed & “Daddy Ass” Billy Gun vs. Cage of Agony (Brian Cage, Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)

WWE SmackDown Preview 5/24/2024

WWE SmackDown will air tonight on FOX from the Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for the first time.

Tonight’s SmackDown is the go-home show for Saturday’s King and Queen of the Ring premium live event.

  • King of the Ring Semifinal Match: Tama Tonga vs. Randy Orton
  • Queen of the Ring Semifinal Match: Bianca Belair vs. Nia Jax
  • The Street Profits vs. Tonga Loa and Solo Sikoa
  • WWE Women’s Champion Bayley vs. Chelsea Green (Non-Title Match)
  • AJ Styles will confront SmackDown General Manager Nick Aldis

Triple H announced that the winners of the King and Queen of the Ring series will also receive world title matches at the August 2024 SummerSlam event, which emanates from Cleveland, Ohio.

AEW Rampage Preview 5/24/2024

The lineup for tonight’s new Rampage episode from the Mechanics Bank Arena in Bakersfield, CA on TNT at a special time. (6pm ET.)

  • PAC vs. Rocky Romero
  • Willow Nightingale & Kris Statlander vs. Anna Jay & Alex Windsor
  • RUSH vs. Isiah Kassidy
  • Samoa Joe in action

WWE King & Queen Of The Ring 5/25/2024 (Card)

WWE King and Queen of the Ring – Saturday May 25, 2024 from Jeddah Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

WWE UNDISPUTED WWE CHAMPIONSHIP
Cody Rhodes (C) vs. Logan Paul

WOMEN’S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Becky Lynch (c) vs. Liv Morgan

WWE INTERCONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Sami Zayn (c) vs. Chad Gable vs. Bronson Reed

KING OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL
Gunther vs. Randy Orton

QUEEN OF THE RING TOURNAMENT FINAL
Lyra Valkyria vs. Nia Jax

(Pre-Show) WWE WOMEN’S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
Bianca Belair & Jade Cargill (c) vs. Candice LeRae & Indi Hartwell

Winners of the King and Queen of the Ring series will also receive world title matches at the August 2024 SummerSlam event, which emanates from Cleveland, Ohio.

Kenny Omega Underwent Surgery For Diverticulitis

Kenny Omega recently underwent surgery for diverticulitis.

Fightful Select is reporting that the AEW wrestler underwent surgery on May 16th in New York.

Omega is expected to face a “lengthy recovery” and there are no creative plans in place for him at this time.

Source: eWn