AEW Double or Nothing 2021: 5 Biggest news stories - WWE legend is "All Elite", popular team mock The Shield  

AEW Double or Nothing 2021 ended on a feel-good note.
AEW Double or Nothing 2021 ended on a feel-good note.

This year's AEW Double or Nothing event will go down as a significant pro wrestling pay-per-view in history. The presence of a full-capacity crowd at Daily's Place added a lot of momentum to the show, with fans in attendance being consistently energetic from start to finish.

Just like the go-home episode of AEW Dynamite before Double or Nothing, the live crowd's exhilarating presence put a band-aid over the weaker aspects of Sunday's pay-per-view.

As AEW stars embark on another lengthy journey towards their next major pay-per-view (All Out - September 5), let us know your thoughts regarding Double or Nothing in the comments section below.

Here are the five biggest news stories from AEW Double or Nothing (May 30, 2021).

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#5 WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry has jumped over to AEW

One particular moment from Double or Nothing that surprised fans in attendance was Tony Schiavone's announcement related to AEW's new show, Rampage.

"The World's Strongest Man" Mark Henry was announced as an analyst for the said show, which will begin August 13th at 10 pm on TNT. Henry briefly appeared at Double or Nothing, waving to the crowd before Schiavone revealed that fans should check out the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite to hear the legendary star speak.

Tony Khan spoke highly of Mark Henry's AEW signing in the post-show media scrum, as the latter is expected to be a great influence both on and off the screen.

Additionally, another former WWE Superstar made his AEW debut at Sunday's pay-per-view. Lio Rush, currently signed to NJPW, entered as the Joker in the Casino Battle Royale.

While Rush didn't win the entire contest, he had a great presence in the Battle Royale. Fans and critics are now looking forward to what he can offer in Tony Khan's promotion.

#4 The Young Bucks possibly put on the best match of AEW Double or Nothing

Sunday's AEW pay-per-view featured many great matches, and The Elite's members took part in two exhilarating bouts on the same night.

Firstly, Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks defended their tag team titles against Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston. While their back-and-forth contest featured several interferences and other shenanigans, Moxley and Kingston's brawler-style mentality served as an excellent contrast to The Young Bucks' in-ring offense.

Matt and Nick Jackson have done a great job of becoming more and more unlikeable as heels with each passing week. There was a point during the match where they mocked Moxley's former WWE faction, The Shield, which has certainly got both AEW and WWE fans buzzing on social media.

The champions eventually finished the job by delivering four straight BTE Triggers to Moxley, as the latter couldn't kick out at the end of their 21-minute melee.

Later in the night, Kenny Omega fought PAC and Orange Cassidy in a three-way contest with the AEW World Championship on the line. The fans in attendance were firmly behind Cassidy, and their reactions proved that there is a huge demand for him to embark on a future title run.

All three participants put on solid performances, although Don Callis' interference indirectly led to Omega rolling up Cassidy for the win.

On the same pay-per-view, Jungle Boy won the Casino Battle Royale, also earning Christian Cage's respect in the process. As a result, he has received a world title match against Kenny Omega in two weeks.

#3 Sting's first live match in six years took place at AEW Double or Nothing

Following Sting's successful cinematic showdown at AEW Revolution, the WCW legend returned to in-ring competition in front of a live crowd at Double or Nothing.

Sting and Darby Allin teamed up against Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page during the pay-per-view. For a 62-year old man, he surprised everyone with his performance and his ability to take risky bumps, even though Allin did most of the heavy lifting.

The tag team match ended up being a fun ride from start to finish. And in the end, a Scorpion Death Drop to Sky allowed Sting and his ally to win the bout.

Thus far, AEW has done a good job protecting the WCW icon's credibility in the promotion. Many were skeptical over his return to pro wrestling, but judging by current trends, Sting's AEW run could end up being a memorable part of his decades-long career.

After Double or Nothing, what do you think is next in store for the veteran and his tag team partner, Darby Allin?

#2 Stadium Stampede: Part II ended on a feel-good note for AEW fans

The Stadium Stampede match made a comeback at the recently-concluded AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view. The Inner Circle (Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz) and The Pinnacle (MJF, Shawn Spears, Wardlow, and FTR) went to war in the main event, and once again, the Stadium Stampede contest ended up being a heavy dose of entertainment and brutality.

Each member of both factions got a chance to shine in isolated brawls throughout the match, and the fight scenes were well-produced, to say the least. Jacksonville Jaguars head coach Urban Meyer and pro wrestling legend Konnan made cameo appearances, as the latter's history with Santana and Ortiz was acknowledged by AEW.

The Stadium Stampede match took a surprising turn towards the end. Instead of focusing on Chris Jericho and MJF's central feud, Sammy Guevara got to shine in front of the live crowd.

Guevara and Shawn Spears' brawl took the spotlight, with the former victoriously emerging over his opponent. The Stadium Stampede sequel ended with The Inner Circle staying intact, as fans in attendance sang along to "Judas" to end the AEW pay-per-view on an uplifting note.

How do you think The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle should move forward on AEW Dynamite?

#1 Dr. Britt Baker reached the pinnacle of the AEW women's division at Double or Nothing

On February 25, 2021, Hikaru Shida became the longest reigning overall champion in AEW. As the AEW Women's Champion, Shida's historic 372-day title reign came to an end at this year's Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

Over the past few months, Dr. Britt Baker has gradually gained popularity among fans and critics alike. After her Unsanctioned Lights Out match against Thunder Rosa, Baker's momentum skyrocketed to a whole new level, which indirectly led to her world title clash against Hikaru Shida at Sunday's pay-per-view.

Despite Shida being the babyface, fans were firmly behind Baker, signaling the title change that eventually took place after their back-and-forth encounter.

Yes, it was a bittersweet moment, because after all, the woman who carried the division for so long lost her title right when capacity crowds made a comeback. In AEW's defense, they only acknowledged current trends by booking Britt Baker as the new champion, which is a smart move.

Judging by the evolution of Baker's character, her world championship reign should be an entertaining ride.

How would you rate AEW Double or Nothing 2021 on a scale of 1-10? Be sure to sound off in the comments section, and while you're here, feel free to check out Sportskeeda Wrestling's Double or Nothing review in the video posted below.

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Edited by Kaushik Das
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