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Check out the best photos of CM Punk defeating Hangman Adam Page for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing 2022.
Check out the best photos of CM Punk defeating Hangman Adam Page for the AEW World Championship at Double or Nothing 2022, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 29, 2022. (Photos courtesy of All Elite Wrestling)
Prepare for AEW Double or Nothing 2022 with the full card, previews and predictions for every match.
Get ready to hear your favorite (or least favorite) gambling analogies or puns plenty of times on Sunday, because AEW Double or Nothing is back in Las Vegas. After a two-year detour to Jacksonville due to the COVID-19 pandemic, AEW’s Memorial Day weekend pay-per-view returns to its spiritual home, this time at the T-Mobile Arena — which also hosts Dynamite and Rampage this week.
Heading up the card is an AEW World Championship match between titleholder Hangman Adam Page and challenger CM Punk. But there are plenty of other championships at stake, as Thunder Rosa, Jade Cargill, and Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus will all put their titles on the line as well. There are even rumors that more titles will make their debuts, because the winners of the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments will also be crowned, and could receive some gold of their own.
We’ll update this article with those two finals once they’re decided as well as the Wardlow vs. MJF match that is all but assured to be finalized. Until then, read on for everything you need to know to prepare yourself for AEW Double or Nothing.
Get ready for the week of May 23 in WWE and AEW with previews for Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.
Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week ahead.
There’s a big confrontation being advertised for this week’s Raw, and by that we mean large in terms of how it’s being positioned and the physical size of the men involved. Bobby Lashley, who managed to beat Omos in a Steel Cage match even though he was thrown through the cage, has another challenge for the Nigerian Giant that he’ll apparently lay out Monday night.
And Cody Rhodes, who is increasingly being shown off as one of WWE’s biggest fan favorites, will be in action as well, taking on The Miz. But the real question is whether there will be another “Countdown to Cody” timer.
Also on tap for this week:
There could be worse things than being in Las Vegas all week for a full week of AEW leading up to Double or Nothing on Sunday night. The slate begins with Dynamite on Wednesday, and even with the pay-per-view just days away, the card is pretty loaded. It’s headlined by a Steel Cage match between Wardlow and Shawn Spears, which the big man must win if he wants to get his hands on MJF (spoiler: he does want that, very much).
From a pure in-ring action standpoint, the bout of the night could (should be?) the Jungle Boy vs. Swerve Strickland vs. Ricky Starks three-way dance. Hard to imagine that one won’t be a lot of fun.
Also announce by AEW for this week’s Dynamite:
When will AEW Rampage air this week? It’s an open question as of the time of this post, due to the uncertainty of the NBA and NHL playoff schedules and what time games might air on TNT. It’s possible it could be headed for the 5:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. PT time slot that got the show its lowest ratings ever a few weeks ago.
Be that as it may, Rampage is set to be live this week as part of the full Las Vegas AEW experience, and we’ll update with more on the matches as they are announced.
Though it feels like the New Day has been feuding forever with the group now officially know as the Brawling Brutes, it was only this past week that Xavier Woods said out loud what we all knew: his side is outnumbered.
That being the case, he and Kofi Kingston are recruiting a mystery partner to their cause for a six-man tag team match this Friday. Who will it be, and can Woods pull off the Backwoods in a bout with so many people in it? We’ll find out on SmackDown.
Get ready for the week in WWE and AEW with previews for Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage.
Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week ahead.
With Bobby Lashley and Omos tied at one win apiece in their feud, it’s time for the two powerhouses to settle things inside a steel cage.
If Lashley loses, he can’t complain since it was his idea to lay out this particular challenge last Monday. The idea, of course, is that MVP can’t interfere, something that directly contributed to Omos’ win at WrestleMania Backlash. But this particular storyline feels like one that might continue into Hell in a Cell, so don’t be shocked if there’s no definitive winner Monday night even though the stipulation suggests there should be.
AEW is billing this week’s Dynamite as “Wild Card Wednesday,” which fits their gambling-related theming for the upcoming Double or Nothing PPV, but is also a reference to the jokers being revealed for both Owen Hart Foundation tournaments. Whoever the mystery wrestlers are, they’ll have their hands full in quarterfinal matchups with Samoa Joe and Dr. Britt Baker.
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Also on tap for this week’s Dynamite:
The most interesting question for Rampage each week at this point is when it will air on TNT thanks to NBA and NH playoff games. The answer for this Friday, May 20 is 7 p.m. ET/6 p.m. CT.
As for the card, the one match we know for sure is going down is an Owen Hart Foundation women’s quarterfinal between Red Velvet and Kris Statlander. Statlander is taking the place of Velvet’s originally announced opponent, Hikaru Shida.
This is it, finally. The tag team titles have been teased for a unification match since prior to WrestleMania Backlash, with The Usos trying to fulfill a directive from Roman Reigns to obtain both sets of titles and RK-Bro understandably figuring it would be cool to grab them for themselves.
This Friday, the two teams will settle things once and for all to decide which tag team reigns supreme. Probably. If Reigns doesn’t interfere, and the Street Profits, who have been on the periphery of this story throughout, don’t decide to do something. Just saying, Hell in a Cell isn’t that far away …
Check out previews for Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Rampage, including the fallout from WrestleMania Backlash and the kickoff of the Owen Hart Foundation tournaments.
Welcome to the Opening Bell, where we round up what’s been announced for WWE (Raw and SmackDown) and AEW (Dynamite and Rampage) programming for the week ahead.
WWE hasn’t released its official Raw preview yet, perhaps allowing WrestleMania Backlash to soak in just a bit more. But the fallout from the event should be front and center, particularly what’s next for the Raw Tag Team Champions, RK-Bro. Is a tag team unification bout still on the horizon?
Seth Rollins won’t be happy following his second straight loss to Cody Rhodes, particularly the way it came about. The Visionary should have something to say about that Monday night, and could give us a hint as to whether he’s seeking a third match with Rhodes or moving on to something else.
And plenty of recent Raw storylines didn’t play a part in Backlash, so those are worth watching for as well. Particularly intriguing is the Kevin Owens situation, as he continues to turn what would otherwise be just another midcard subplot into gold with his quest to prove Ezekiel isn’t who he claims to be.
The Owen Hart Foundation tournaments get underway this Wednesday on TBS. The men’s tourney will see Darby Allin take on Jeff Hardy, as well as Dax Harwood vs. Adam Cole, while the women’s tourney features Jamie Hayter vs. Toni Storm. And since the “Most Magical Place in the World” is his hometown, MJF is sure to have something special cooked up for his contract signing with Wardlow.
Also announced for Dynamite this week:
The big match announced for SmackDown this week is one that fans may have rightfully expected to see at WrestleMania Backlash: the Women’s Tag Team Championship match. Sasha Banks and Naomi will look to retain their titles as they face Shayna Baszler and Natalya.
There’s a title on the line this week on Rampage, as Scorpio Sky lived up to his promise to give former SCU teammate Frankie Kazarian the first crack at his TNT Championship.
Also revealed for this Friday:
Back in pro wrestling with AEW, CM Punk has put the UFC and his MMA career behind him – at least for now.
Back in professional wrestling, [autotag]CM Punk[/autotag] is putting his MMA career behind him – at least for now.
On Tuesday, the UFC removed Punk (0-1) from its “active” online roster list and dubbed him a “former fighter.” Shortly thereafter, MMA Junkie confirmed via a person with knowledge of the change that Punk opted out of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency testing pool at the start of 2021. It is unclear whether or not the UFC still retains his rights should he decide an MMA comeback is in store.
Punk, 42, walked away from pro wrestling in 2014 as one of the most popular performers in the business. On Aug. 20, he returned for the first time in seven years and received a thunderous ovation from the AEW crowd in his hometown of Chicago.
In December 2014, Punk signed with the UFC. After nearly two years of training under Duke Roufus at Roufusport, Punk made his MMA debut at UFC 203 in September 2016. He lost to Mickey Gall by first-round submission.
In June 2019, Punk returned to the cage and faced Mike “The Truth” Jackson at UFC 225. He lost a unanimous decision. However, the result was later overturned to a no contest after Jackson tested positive for marijuana.
While Punk never officially announced his retirement from MMA, neither he nor UFC president Dana White indicated a third fight would be in the cards. Punk remained in the USADA testing pool through the end of 2020.
Punk has served as a color commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championship, which streams its events on UFC Fight Pass, since late 2018 – a gig he plans to continue even as an AEW wrestler.
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“I’m back.”
After seven long years of waiting, CM Punk is back!
Wrestling fans finally have gotten everything they have asked for and more, as on Friday night during AEW Rampage in Chicago, Punk made his return to the ring in glorious, emotional fashion. It’s been over seven years since Punk and WWE split quite unceremoniously, but now the 42-year-old is back in the ring, and with his former company’s biggest competitor to boot.
Even before AEW Rampage got underway, fans in Chicago were already anticipating Punk’s return with cheers and chants. Once the opening notes of “Cult of Personality” — Punk’s entrance song — rang out through the arena, however, fans went absolutely NUTS.
Just listen to this crowd!
It's clobberin' time @CMPunk #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/QMaDo1mAJr
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021
What a reaction from the fans! Then from Punk himself too as he takes in the awe-inspiring moment on stage. I’m not a wrestling fan in the slightest but I know a cool sports moment when I see it.
Oh, and Punk’s official press release signifying his return is all kinds of awesome too.
OFFICIAL RELEASE FROM THE DESK OF @CMPunk #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/L51roZzL8P
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021
“I’m back” indeed!
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CM Punk is officially back in the world of professional wrestling after joining AEW.
[autotag]CM Punk[/autotag] is back in the world of professional wrestling.
After weeks of anticipation by the pro wrestling community, Punk returned to a thunderous ovation at AEW Rampage, which took place at United Center in his hometown of Chicago.
Immediately following the broadcast open, the crowd already was chanting Punk’s name. AEW wasted no time as Punk’s signature “Cult of Personality” theme song played, sending the crowd into a frenzy. At one point during his walkout, Punk dove into the stands to embrace a sea of hyped-up fans.
Check out the highlights below (via Twitter):
It's clobberin' time @CMPunk #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/QMaDo1mAJr
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021
Happy @CMPunk Day #AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/zVIj8TR6ro
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021
Tune in to @tntdrama NOW! @CMPunk is in the ring with a live microphone when we come back from commercial on #AEWRampage #theFirstDance! pic.twitter.com/BIlTcAoyK2
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 21, 2021
It's been a long time since @CMPunk has been in a ring, and he feels it!
Tune into @tntdrama NOW to watch #AEWRampage #theFirstDance LIVE! pic.twitter.com/L6GgQb96AC
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 21, 2021
"I'm BACK! – @CMPunk
Tune into @tntdrama NOW to watch #AEWRampage #theFirstDance LIVE! pic.twitter.com/3UOaQuvQp5
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 21, 2021
First on @CMPunk's list: @darbyallin 👀#AEWRampage pic.twitter.com/ABqTNT8sYy
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) August 21, 2021
Punk, 42, walked away from pro wrestling in 2014 as one of the most popular competitors in the business. The retirement ended a nine-year stint with WWE.
In December 2014, Punk signed with the UFC. After nearly two years of training under Duke Roufus at Roufusport, Punk made his MMA debut at UFC 203 in September 2016. He lost to Mickey Gall by first-round submission.
In June 2019, Punk returned to the cage and faced Mike “The Truth” Jackson at UFC 225 in Chicago. He lost a unanimous decision. However, the result was later overturned to a no contest after Jackson tested positive for marijuana.
While Punk never officially announced his retirement from mixed martial arts, neither he nor UFC president Dana White indicated a third fight would be in the cards. Punk remained in the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency’s testing pool through the end of 2020.
Punk has served a color commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championship, which streams its events on UFC Fight Pass, since late 2018.
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Three years later, MMA Junkie has learned that CM Punk had one loss removed from his professional MMA record.
It’s been more than three years since Phil “[autotag]CM Punk[/autotag]” Brooks stepped foot inside a UFC cage.
For the duration of his absence from MMA competition, everyone – Punk included – thought his record stood at no wins with two losses. As it turns out, that’s not the case.
MMA Junkie learned through a Freedom of Information Act request and subsequent confirmation from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation that Punk’s unanimous decision loss to [autotag]Mike Jackson[/autotag] at UFC 225 has been overturned to a no contest.
The change in result to the June 2018 fight, which wasn’t reported publicly until now, stems from Jackson testing positive for marijuana on fight night. On June 9, 2018, the night of UFC 225, Jackson tested positive for “tetrahydrocannabinol due to marijuana,” according to a commission disciplinary document obtained by MMA Junkie. Jackson’s discipline was finalized in October 2018 with all parties’ signatures.
As a result of his positive test, Jackson’s win was overturned and he was suspended three months retroactive to the positive test. It’s unknown if Jackson was handed any further discipline such as a fine; the public disciplinary action document alludes to the possibility of further discipline.
“The official result of a full contact martial arts bout can be changed to a ‘no contest’ as an outcome of an adverse post-bout disciplinary finding against a contestant,” Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation public information officer Chris Slaby told MMA Junkie in a written statement on Wednesday. “As detailed in the consent order provided, Mr. Jackson tested positive for tetrahydrocannabinol due to marijuana following the June 9, 2018 UFC event at the United Center in Chicago.”
Prior to UFC 225, fighters received a memo weeks in advance warning them about Illinois’ strict marijuana policy.
“Because of Illinois’ no tolerance policy for marijuana, we recommend that marijuana use be discontinued for anyone participating on the UFC 225 card between now and the event,” the memo read (per MMA Weekly).
At the time of publication, neither Punk nor Jackson has returned request for comment.
Jackson, 36, has not competed since UFC 225, though he remains on the promotion’s roster and was briefly linked to a fight against Irish prospect Dean Barry in early 2021.
Meanwhile, Punk, 42, has remained in the public eye of MMA fans as a cageside commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championships, which streams on UFC Fight Pass.
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CM Punk is back… sort of.
Nearly six long years after his last WWE match, CM Punk appeared on WWE programming for the first time on Tuesday night, and many fans are hoping the former WWE Champion’s return will eventually lead him back to the ring.
CM Punk made a surprise entrance on WWE Backstage, Fox’s live studio WWE show. It had been speculated for weeks that Punk could be coming to the show, and revealed in October that he was in talks with Fox, but had not been contacted by anyone at WWE. Punk has also stated that he’s not interested in an in-ring return, a stance he’s maintained for years since his departure from WWE and run in UFC.
THAT. JUST. HAPPENED. #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/TDd5n0qk25
— WWE on FOX (@WWEonFOX) November 13, 2019
On the show, Punk said that he would be returning next week.
“It’s as simple as this: Just when they think they’ve got the answers, I change the culture. I’ll see you here next week.”
Punk has already received a challenge from WWE star Seth Rollins.
Fight me @CMPunk
— Seth Rollins (@WWERollins) November 13, 2019
Fans, meanwhile, lost it on Twitter.
Twitter's reaction of CM Punk returning in a nutshell pic.twitter.com/7jKHRnwsVP
— Luis Torres (@TheLTFiles) November 13, 2019
In May 2017, CM Punk posted a screencap of the intro to Blade Runner, a 1982 movie predicting what our future would look like. The screencap is where/when the movie is set in location/date.
In Los Angeles, in November 2019, it ended up being CM Punk returning to pro wrestling. pic.twitter.com/FNfiLPoRf6
— Danny (@dajosc11) November 13, 2019
Fans: I don't care if CM Punk comes back tbh
CM Punk on WWE backstage: Hi
Fans: #WWEBackstage pic.twitter.com/4SYX4AQUHr
— Fiending for Followers (@FiendThe1) November 13, 2019
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