For the first time since 2013, CM Punk is a world champion. Punk defeated "Hangman" Adam Page in the main event of AEW Double or Nothing on Sunday night to capture the AEW world heavyweight championship, capping off an uncharacteristically uneven pay-per-view event for AEW.
Page may have been able to pick up the win inside T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, but he hesitated when deciding whether to use the championship belt as a shortcut while the referee was knocked out, allowing Punk to counter a Buckshot Lariat into the Go To Sleep to capture the title.
It was a long night of action that saw many of AEW's top stars in action, though the standout match of the night was likely the Anarchy in the Arena match that saw Chris Jericho and The Jericho Appreciation Society pick up a win over the team of Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Santana and Ortiz in a wild bloodbath that took place throughout the arena before Jericho and Jake Hager were able to work together to choke Danielson unconscious.
CBS Sports was with you the whole way through the event, providing updates and highlights as the action goes went in the live blog below.
2022 AEW Double or Nothing results, grades
Hookhausen vs. Tony Nese & Mark Sterling: Danhausen spent the early period of the match in the ring, cut off from his corner as Nese and Sterling built early momentum. He was finally able to make the tag to Hook and Sterling bailed from the ring apron rather than take the tag initially. But Danhausen made the mistake of patting Nese on the back, which counted as a tag as Hook ran wild on both members of the team with a variety of throws and suplexes. After Hook put Sterling down, Danhausen asked for the tag and came in to put his foot on Sterling's chest for the pin. There wasn't much to the match beyond warming the crowd up by having the very over team of Hookhausen getting the win. Hookhausen def. Tony Nese & Mark Sterling via pinfall. Grade: C
MJF vs. Wardlow: Wardlow entered in handcuffs with no music after MJF made his ring walk, putting to end concerns MJF wouldn't appear at the event after no-showing a fan meet and greet on Saturday afternoon. After running away from Wardlow repeatedly, MJF nearly found himself powerbombed in the first move of the match but instead bit the forehead of Wardlow before a poke to the eye. MJF then attempted to use his diamond ring only for Wardlow and the referee to catch him in the act, leaving MJF to offer to quadruple Wardlow's pay. Instead, Wardlow kicked MJF in the stomach and hit a powerbomb. Rather than going for the pin, Wardlow hit a second powerbomb and three more before pinning MJF for a two-count and breaking the pin. After bringing the total number of powerbombs to 10, Wardlow finally pinned MJF to put him out of his misery. Not much of a "match," but the payoff the fans wanted as the big man got his moment and MJF got his comeuppance. Wardlow def. MJF via pinfall. Grade: B
The Young Bucks vs. The Hardys: Early momentum swings saw the Bucks have success with speed and the Hardys come back with crafty veteran tactics. Brandon Cutler also gave the Bucks some assistance from the outside. Jeff Hardy's boot appeared to break during the match, leaving him to pull off moves like the Whisper in the Wind somewhat awkwardly without stable footing. The Bucks largely dominated the match, with Matt and Jeff bumping and struggling to keep up with their rivals. Jeff missed a late swanton and Matt Jackson hit a Twist of Fate before Nick Jackson hit a swanton, stealing the Hardys' trademark moves for a late near fall. The Hardys came back late, turning the ring steps on their side for Jeff to hit a swanton from the top rope onto Matt Jackson on the steps. A twist of fate by Matt Hardy on Nick Jackson followed by a Jeff Hardy swanton brought the match to an end. Big moments late from The Hardys, but the match barely held together as the Hardys were well out of form throughout, looking rough as the Bucks did everything they could to try and hold it together. The Hardys def. The Young Bucks via pinfall. Grade: C-
TBS Championship -- Jade Cargill (c) vs. Anna Jay: Cargill dominated early, overwhelming Jay with speed and power until Jay was able to counter Cargill into a superplex. Jay had to deal with outside interference by The Baddies during the match before Mark Sterling also made his way to the ring and slid in a crutch, which Jay was able to grab before Cargill to hit an assisted Russian leg sweep for a near fall before Sterling was chased off by John Silver. Stokely Hathaway then made his AEW debut, walking down the ramp and distracting Jay, allowing Cargill to hit an avalanche Jaded for the win. Kris Statlander ran into the ring to save Jay from any after-the-bell attacks and then Athena (formerly Ember Moon in WWE) made her debut, standing with Jay and Statlander. The match was rough, to put it mildly, but the addition of Hathaway and Athena are solid moves for AEW. Jade Cargill (c) def. Anna Jay via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: C-
House of Black vs. Death Triangle: An early section filled with counters and both teams showing they knew the other's tricks and quirks before a brawl between all six men ended with Brody King and Malakai Black able to briefly build momentum against PAC. PAC eventually made the hot tag to Rey Fenix as he and Penta Oscuro were able to clear house, including stereo dives to take out the Death Triangle members outside the ring. A section followed with every man in the ring hitting huge highlight-reel dives, ending in King launching himself over the top rope onto Fenix and PAC. The wild highspots kept coming from everyone in the match before PAC hit Black with a low blow and was set to hit the Black Arrow before the lights went out. When they came back, Julia Hart was in the ring and spit mist into PAC's eyes, setting him up for a kick from Black to finish the match. Thrilling action here from start to finish and everyone involved really showcasing the things that make them special. House of Black def. Death Triangle via pinfall. Grade: A-
Men's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final -- Samoa Joe vs. Adam Cole: Joe was firmly in control early before Cole was able to counter a charge outside the ring into a superkick. Cole then tried to slow the action down and ground Joe with a variety of holds and attacks on his arm. Despite an injured shoulder from the Cole attack, Joe continued to come back with big power counter slams and lariats to keep Cole from building up any real momentum. Bobby Fish interfered, yanking Joe's arm over the top rope to set Cole up for the finish only for Joe to catch Cole trying to take advantage of the situation. Cole was still able to hit a Boom to the back of Joe's head when Joe was distracted by Fish a second time, giving him the big tournament win. A fun, short match that suited Joe's late-career limitations well enough. Adam Cole def. Samoa Joe via pinfall to win the Men's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Grade: B-
Women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final -- Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Ruby Soho: Rancid played Soho to the ring while Fozzy's guitarist played for Baker. Baker worked early to soften Soho's arm and ribs. Baker also had success beating Soho to the literal punch in striking exchanges. The rib work by Baker paid off as Soho was constantly clutching her ribs, even when hitting a top rope senton for a near fall. Baker hit a stomp for a near fall after landing on the top turnbuckle chest-first. Baker put on the glove and tried to set up Lockjaw, but Soho was able to counter twice, the second time into a pin and then hitting No Future before locking Baker in a Sharpshooter, paying tribute to Owen Hart. Baker was able to break the hold after twice crawling to the ropes. Soho tried for a victory roll to score the pin, but Baker reversed into a pin for the win. A solid match that had a questionable winner as Soho would have benefited much more from winning the match than Baker, who has already been an established force in AEW. Interesting that Cole and Baker won their respective tournaments as a real-life couple. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. def. Ruby Soho via pinfall to win the Women's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Grade: B
Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page & Paige VanZant vs. Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian & Tay Conti: Guevara looked to make a big statement against Sky early and got it, hitting Sky with a big springboard cutter and double-teaming with Conti. Conti also made sure that VanZant could not get tagged in early, knocking her off the canvas. Kazarian and Guevara had plenty of issues teaming together before VanZant finally got the tag and tossed Conti around a bit before Guevara made the save. VanZant then hit Guevara with a punch to the stomach and a tilt-a-whirl DDT. The teams faced off in the center of the ring, but Kazarian refused to work with Guevara until he tagged himself in. Moments later, Guevara accidentally superkicked Conti, leading Sky to hit a cutter on Kazarian for the win. Fine for what it was, if ultimately unspectacular. Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page & Paige VanZant def. Sammy Guevara, Frankie Kazarian & Tay Conti via pinfall. Grade: B-
Kyle O'Reilly vs. Darby Allin: O'Reilly got the jump on Allin, attacking him with grounded strikes that drew blood from Allin's mouth. Allin came back with an attack on O'Reilly's leg before a reverse DDT. Allin hit some big moves, including a code red and a dive to the outside where he landed awkwardly. He tried a suicide dive seconds later, but O'Reilly caught him in a guillotine choke as Allin crashed into him. Momentum swings continued with big moves like an Allin Coffin Drop onto O'Reilly as he was hanging off the ropes above the ring apron. Allin tried for another Coffin Drop in the ring, but O'Reilly caught him in a choke that he turned into an armbar. O'Reilly eventually managed to get the win with a big knee drop to the back from the top rope. A fine match that showed O'Reilly's mean streak nicely, though the match was – like many on the show -- lacking a little something. Kyle O'Reilly def. Darby Allin via pinfall. Grade: B
AEW Women's World Championship -- Thunder Rosa (c) vs. Serena Deeb: Solid counter wrestling with pinfall reversals to start, leading to Rosa locking in a pendulum submission. Deeb took advantage of Rosa's mistakes, using a neckbreaker over the ropes to take over the momentum of the match by following up with a swinging neckbreaker back inside the ring. The match really built around counters and elaborate submission holds from both women. Rosa hit a stomp to Deeb as she was bent over and followed with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall, but Deeb came right back with a chop block into a figure-four, forcing Rosa to roll from the ring, spilling both women to the floor. Deeb hit Deebtox for a near fall as Rosa got her foot on the bottom rope. Deeb followed up with a powerbomb and a cloverleaf that Deeb managed to escape. Rosa hit a superplex and fire thunder driver for the pinfall moments later, retaining her belt. A very nice showing here for the AEW women's division as both showed some solid technical skills and grit to put on a fine match. Thunder Rosa (c) def. Serena Deeb via pinfall to retain the title. Grade: B+
The Jericho Appreciation Society vs. Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz, Bryan Danielson & Jon Moxley (Anarchy in the Arena): As expected, this match was basically chaos from the opening jump, with all 10 men brawling around the arena and blood being spilled. Matt Menard was bleeding wildly early and Moxley also began bleeding moments into the match. Wild Thing continued to play through the match until Jericho smashed the sound board. Jake Hager was put through two tables with a Street Sweeper to the outside of the ring. Daniel Garcia hit Ortiz with a piledriver from the apron onto the ring steps. Everyone was paired off through the crowd, around the ring, in the concession area and anywhere else they could brawl. Moxley unhooked the top rope and used it to crotch Jericho while Kingston and Garcia brawled in a freight elevator. After more chaos than could really be typed out, Moxley and Danielson were paired with Jericho and Hager back in the ring until Kingston stumbled out from the back with a can of gasoline. He dumped the gas on Jericho and Danielson until Danielson tried to stop Kingston from setting off a lighter. Kingston and Danielson brawled until Jericho hit both men with a chair and Hager sent Moxley onto a table full of barbed wire. Jericho hit Danielson with the turnbuckle assembly for a two count. Danielson fought off Hager and Jericho until they were finally able to take him out with Jericho locking in a half-crab and Hager wrapping the top rope around Danielson's neck until Danielson passed out. If you were hoping for chaos out of this match, you got it. Blood, big moves, wild brawling, barbed wire and the threat of a man being lit on fire. Professional wrestling at its most ridiculous and honest. The Jericho Appreciation Society def. Eddie Kingston, Santana, Ortiz, Bryan Danielson & Jon Moxley via submission. Grade: A+
AEW Tag Team Championship -- Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus vs. Team Taz vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland: Seconds into the match, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus hit stereo moonsaults to the outside on both contending teams. After some action from all involved, Lee caught Jungle Boy on a dive and powerbombed him onto the back of Luchasaurus. With three teams involved, each team had moments of control where they could show off their trademark moves and have big moments, everyone coming out looking impressive. That included Lee hitting a big dive over the top rope to the outside on members of both teams. Luchasaurus accidentally hit Jungle Boy with a kick late, nearly leading to Lee and Swerve picking up the win, though Jungle Boy was able to fight through until he and Luchasaurus hit Jurassic Express to retain their titles. This was a fun match that really did well in the quest to let everyone shine throughout even with a few moments of sloppiness. Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus (c) def. Team Taz and Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland via pinfall to retain the titles. Grade: B
AEW World Championship -- "Hangman" Adam Page (c) vs. CM Punk: Punk looked to grind down Page with mat wrestling early. Punk retained control until he tried to go high-risk with a crossbody off the top rope, allowing Page to roll through and hit a fallaway slam and a crossbody over the top rope to the floor. Page's momentum led him to a point where he was ready to set up for the Buckshot Lariat only for Punk to charge him and knock him from the ring apron into the ringside barricade. Punk continued his comeback with a superplex, constantly trying to fight against Page building on any advantage. Page would eventually damage his own leg with a moonsault to the floor, providing an opening for Punk to try and come back with his own Buckshot Lariat, though he fell down and Page lifted him for a Go To Sleep, which Punk was then able to counter out of before failing on another attempt at a Buckshot.
Page was able to hit the Deadeye for a two count, with Punk kicking out as late as possible -- and possibly too late. Punk again had to kick out late after Page hit Punk's Go To Sleep. Page remained in control until going for the Buckshot again and Punk countered into an attempt at the Go To Sleep only for the referee to get kicked in the head and go down. With the ref down, Page grabbed the belt and looked to hit Punk with it only to hesitate, drop the belt and look for the Buckshot again. Punk countered again with the Go To Sleep, this time hitting it and getting the victory and winning the AEW world title. A bit clunky at times, particularly when they tried to get a little bit too clever for their own good. When they just went at each other, things were fine. CM Punk def. Adam Page (c) via pinfall to win the title. Grade: B