AEW Double or Nothing 2026 Preview and Predictions

AEW Double or Nothing Promotional Poster.

Tonight’s AEW Double or Nothing, which is considered to be one of the company’s biggest pay-per-views, and the card is stacked with some interesting matches, for the most part. I was debating whether or not I wanted to give any predictions, but after some thought, I decided to do a preview and give my analysis along with a predicted outcome for some of the matches.

Women’s Title Match: 4-Way Match: Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla ( c )

Note: This match looks thrown together, in my opinion, because I don’t remember seeing any kind of build-up — no major build-up, anyway — prior to the match.

Prediction: Thekla retains.

International Title Match: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada ( c)

Note: I’ll admit, this rivalry between Okada and Takeshita is low-key funny. I’ve been saying for months that the Don Callis Family is going to turn on Takeshita, and I think that comes to pass tonight.

Prediction: Okada retains.

Continental Title Match: Kyle O’ Reilly vs. Jon Moxley ( c)

Note: With two previous victories over Moxley, and a draw in Wednesday’s match, I don’t think the third time will be a charm for O’Reilly.

Prediction: Moxley retains.

Tag Team Title Match: “I Quit” Match: Copeland & Cage vs. FTR ( c )

Note: Despite the stipulation that will end C & C as a tag team if they lose, I think this will be their last run as a tag team, regardless. I actually thought they would win the titles at Dynasty last month, but clearly that wasn’t the case.

Prediction: Copeland & Cage wins the tag titles.

Stadium Stampede: 7 vs. 7: Chris Jericho, the Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, Jack Perry, and the Hurt Syndicate vs. The Demand, Andrade, Mark Davis, and the Dogs

Note: Jericho finally gets his revenge and victory over Ricochet, probably beating him with the Lionsault.

Prediction: Jericho, Young Bucks, Omega, Perry, and the Hurt Syndicate.

Owen Hart Tournament (Men’s Quarterfinals):

Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido

Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe

Note: These are only two matches of the men’s tournament for tonight. I’m guessing the others will take place between Wednesday’s Dynamite and maybe Saturday’s Collison. I think the finalists will be Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland. I would like to see Swerve win it, but looking at the way the storyline is going, among other things, I have a feeling Ospreay is going to win the tournament.

Prediction: Swerve over Bandido; Ospreay over Samoa Joe.

Owen Hart Tournament (Women’s Quarterfinals):

Athena vs. Mina Shirakawa

Note: As with the men, this will not be only match in the quarterfinals. Due to an injury to Willow Nightingale, she had to be removed from the bracket, and unfortunately, relinquish the TBS title. I think the woman who will take that spot in the tournament will be Mercedes Mone, making a comeback after a long hiatus — probably as a face. Megan Bayne is another possibility, but I think it will be Mercedes, and if my prediction is correct, I think she will win the tournament.

I would like to see Athena win it. I think it’s time for her to make the move to AEW and become the Women’s Champion, and I think — no — I know she’s capable of dominating that division like she’s doing in Ring of Honor, but with her retaining the ROH Women’s title, I don’t think that’s going to happen anytime soon. However, this is a topic for another post, which may be coming soon because this has been on my mind on and off for a while. We’ll see.

Prediction: Athena over Shirakawa.

World Title Match: Hair vs. Title: MJF vs. Darby Allin ( c )

Note: I’m not convinced that Darby Allin will have a long reign as World Champion. I said when he won last month that he wouldn’t keep the title past Double or Nothing, plus the event is in New York, giving MJF a home field advantage, so to speak; likewise, when Allin won the title on his turf in a strange squash match.

Prediction: MJF wins the AEW World title.

Overall, the matches on the card looks pretty good on paper. The men’s quarterfinals matches are the two that stand out the most to me. This will be my first time watching an AEW pay-per-view, and I’ve heard over the last few months that AEW’s pay-per-views are much better than their weekly shows. Well, I’ll find out tonight.