AEW: From Day 01

[Dubb]

Day 00.


December 31, 2018.
11:54pm...

 

[Dubb]

-Day 01-
-January 1, 2019-


​

After several months of speculation, Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks have finally announced the rumored All Elite Wrestling promotion. "Last time, we went all in. This time, we go Double or Nothing," said Cody as part of a midnight announcement that advertised a Double or Nothing event featuring Rhodes, his wife Brandi, the Young Bucks, Adam "Hangman" Page, Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky. A rally was announced at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville for January 8 at 5 pm ET. While there is no television deal announced, PWInsider reports there are multiple offers in place. The promotion will be backed by Tony Khan of the billionaire Khan family while Rhodes and the Young Bucks are all expected to have mutli-year deals. -Forbes ​

-Day 08-
-January 8, 2019-


[Double Or Nothing Rally]​

Tuesday, January 8 2019 marked the next big step in the early legacy of All Elite Wrestling, which was announced exactly one week ago on January 1. With the Double or Nothing Rally at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville, Fla., AEW was afforded a large platform to make a first impression. Here are the highlights of the event: *Cody Rhodes declared that this promotion was by the fans, for the fans. That werestlers will be better paid and "happy wrestlers mean happy fans." He promised they would change the wrestling economy. *Double Or Nothing was announced to take place on May 25 in Las Vegas at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. *Brandi Rhodes was announced as Chief Marketing Officer but also commented on creating a women's division, promising to scour the world for the best women's wrestlers. She also promised that women would be paid equally. Britt Baker was announced as the first woman officially signed with AEW, but was followed up with Lisa Marie Varon as the first women's "coach." *"Mr. Ass" himself, Billy Gunn, was in attendance and was revealed as the first men's "coach." *Maxwell Jacob Friedman came out and announced he was signing with AEW, cutting a heel promo that declared himself the next biggest superstar in the industry. He ran down Jacksonville, calling it the dumpster fire of America and then attacked the Jacksonville Jaguars mascot until Chuck Taylor & Trent Baretta made the save, both in Jaguars jerseys, chasing off MJF and announcing that The Best Friends were also coming to AEW. *Hangman Adam Page came out and said that in 2019, he would become the first ever AEW Champion. However, he was interrupted by NJPW's Zack Sabre Jr. Sabre mocked Hangman for wanting to become a champion in 2019, because he was already champion - referring to his recently won British Heavyweight Championship. He declares himself the best in the world and he wouldn't be afraid to prove it. He tells Page he has a long way to go to be on top, because right now he couldn't even lace ZSJ's boots. *And finally, the rally wrapped up with an appearance by Kenny Omega who announced that he would be joining AEW as well once his finished fulfilling his contract with NJPW in just a couple months. But Omega's announcement was interrupted by a surprise appearance by AJ Styles. Styles, whose WWE contract had expired in late 2018, confronted Omega - telling him he hadn't forgotten about what he had done to him in Japan. Omega was then attacked by The Good Brothers, Karl Anderson and Doc Anderson from behind. Security pulled everyone apart as AJ Styles declared the AEW wasn't just Elite... it was going to be Phenomenal. ​

 

[Tommy Shelby]

Good start this @Dubb keep going I'll be reading it . Gonna start my own soon.

 

[Roy Mustang]

Very cool start to this with a sort of branching timeline because I've heard the story of AJ and The Good Brothers joining AEW being the original plan for the debut episode. Also ZSJ vs Hangman is a match I have always wanted to see as a huge fan of both

 

[Qui-Gon Bren]

Of course Dubb re-writes a parking lot pep rally and gets me to say "whoa!"
Regardless of how disappointed I often am with the current output, I'm an AEW fan boy through and through. In 2019 I was on cloud 9! An addition like AJ STYLES is huge. I cannot wait to see how this alternate AEW timeline plays out. I'm locked in dude.

 

[Dubb]

[Kenny Omega vs. Chris Jericho]
Winner Advances to AEW World Championship Match at All Out

The animosity between Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho traces back to Wrestle Kingdom 12 in January 2018, where Omega defeated Jericho in an epic encounter. The rivalry reignited months later at All In in 2019, when Jericho ambushed Omega after his hard-fought victory over Penta El Zero. Tensions escalated further at Jericho’s Rock ‘N’ Wrestling Rager at Sea, where Omega’s team triumphed over Jericho’s in a six-man tag match.

The hostility reached new heights at AEW’s Double or Nothing announcement rally, where Omega declared his allegiance to AEW after wrapping up his NJPW contract. Jericho, feeling slighted, crashed the Double or Nothing ticket sale event, insisting that Omega had unfinished business with him. Their heated brawl had to be broken up by Cody, Christopher Daniels, and security. Now, they meet in a high-stakes rematch—one that will send the winner to All Out, where they will compete for the AEW World Championship against the winner of the Casino Battle Royale.

[Britt Baker vs. Bea Priestley]

The AEW women’s division began to take shape at the inaugural Jacksonville rally, where Britt Baker proudly announced herself as the company’s first female signee. At the Las Vegas ticket sale rally, Baker expressed her ambitions of becoming AEW’s first Women’s Champion, only to be confronted by Bea Priestley. Priestley, also officially signed to AEW, had no intention of letting Baker claim the division’s top spot unchallenged. Tensions boiled over into a war of words, leading AEW officials to sanction this grudge match for Double or Nothing. With both women eager to establish themselves as the face of AEW’s women’s division, expect an intense showdown.

[SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian & Scorpio Sky) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)]
AAA Tag Team Championship Match

From the moment AEW was announced on January 1, SoCal Uncensored (SCU) made it clear they were here to elevate tag team wrestling. At the Double or Nothing ticket rally, Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks echoed this sentiment, vowing to make AEW the premier destination for tag team wrestling. SCU, believing themselves to be the best team in the world, challenged The Young Bucks to a match to kickstart AEW’s tag division with a bang. However, when The Bucks defeated The Lucha Brothers (Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fénix) at AAA’s Rey de Reyes, the stakes of this dream match skyrocketed—the AAA Tag Team Championships would now be on the line. SCU and The Young Bucks are set to tear the house down in a battle for supremacy.

[AR Fox vs. Matt Sydal]

With the tag and women's division certainly getting their focus, AEW’s first show wouldn’t be complete without a showcase of high-flying action. Matt Sydal, a veteran known for his gravity-defying offense, continues to prove that age is just a number as he prepares to face the dynamic AR Fox. Fox, a decorated high flyer with championship accolades in CZW, Evolve, and Dragon Gate and has impressed fans worldwide with his jaw-dropping maneuvers, most recently in Lucha Underground. Both men are looking to make an early impact in AEW, and this match will undoubtedly leave fans in awe.

[Nyla Rose & Awesome Kong vs. Kylie Rae & Lisa Marie Varon]

Lisa Marie Varon was introduced at the Double or Nothing rally as AEW’s first female coach, offering her veteran experience to the women’s division. She followed this up at the Las Vegas ticket rally, as she proudly welcomed "Smiley" Kylie Rae as AEW’s newest signee, with Kylie being, well, all smiles as she made her debut and expressed her significant admiration for Lisa Marie. She couldn't contain herself as she talked of her excitement to be mentored by one of her heroes. However, their celebration was cut short by the imposing duo of Nyla Rose and Awesome Kong. Nyla mocked Kylie’s enthusiasm, dismissing Lisa Marie as irrelevant and proclaiming Kong as the only true legend in AEW’s women’s division. Lisa Marie, unwilling to back down, challenged them to put their words to the test in a tag team match at Double or Nothing. Now, Kylie and Lisa Marie must find a way to counteract the sheer power of Kong and Rose.

[Hangman Adam Page vs. Zack Sabre Jr.]
RevPro British Heavyweight Championship Match

Zack Sabre Jr., a man who considers himself the best pure wrestler in the world, was successful in reclaiming the RevPro British Heavyweight Title over Tomohiro Ishii at Wrestle Kingdom 13. Days later, he appeared at the Double or Nothing rally, interrupting Hangman Adam Page’s press conference. Page, eager to prove himself as a future champion in AEW, found himself mocked by Sabre, who claimed that Page wasn’t even worthy of lacing his boots. The challenge was laid out, and now, at Double or Nothing, Page looks to silence Sabre and bring in some more gold to the Elite and AEW.

[Casino Battle Royale]
Winner Faces Omega or Jericho for the AEW World Title at All Out

On The Road to Double or Nothing, Cody Rhodes announced while All In's Over the Budget Battle Royale was fun, at Double or Nothing they are leveling up. He introduced the the Casino Battle Royale. This is 21-man over the top battle royal which features a unique format—four wrestlers will start and then one new entrant will enter every three minutes until all 21 participants have entered. Once there are FOUR competitors remaining, the match will become pinfall/eliminations only. Last man standing wins. But watch out for the JOKER (a super secret surprise entrant that will enter 21st) and the WILD CARD (one randomly designated wrestler who will be allowed to re-enter AFTER being eliminated (a perk not even the wrestler will know until AFTER they've been eliminated).

Cody made himself the first confirmed entrant

Other competitors include MJF, Best Friends (Trent? & Chuck Taylor), Christopher Daniels, Colt Cabana, Brandon Cutler, Brian Pillman Jr., and Sammy Guevara. But the biggest shock came when "The Phenomenal" AJ Styles appeared at the Double or Nothing rally, confronting Kenny Omega and declaring his AEW debut. With 11 more entrants yet to be revealed, this match is sure to deliver surprises, especially with rumors swirling about potential former "big name" talent who are currently free agents.

The winner will advance to All Out for a chance to make history as AEW’s first World Champion.

[THE BUY-IN]

Riho, Yuka Sakazaki, & Hikaru Shida vs. Priscilla Kelly, Allie, and Leva Bates

Super Smash Brothers (Evil Uno & Stu Grayson) vs. The Hybrid 2 (Angelico & Jack Evans)​

 

[Rasky]

Really excited to be reading this and go through the journey of AEW's beginning, Dubb.

Some subtle changes that peak my interest with the general Double or Nothing card. That Wild Card in the Casino Battle Royal is a fun way to add your own enhancement to the match. AJ Styles will be the biggest attention grabber here will be followed closely. Since the card is posted I figure I will leave some predictions of the winners:

Chris Jericho
Dr. Britt Baker DMD
The Young Bucks
Matt Sydal
Nyla Rose & Awesome Kong
Zack Sabre Jr.
Casino Battle Royal - Jon Moxley
Riho, Sakazaki, and Shida
Super Smash Brothers

Good luck with this, Dubb!

 

[EZ3]

Will definitely be following along. It's always interesting with the early AEW threads because of how much space you have to play with. The importance of Jericho being the first World Champ in real life can't be underestimated so it's interesting to see how you'll play with that in this timeline and if there's a spanner thrown into the works there.

AJ being involved is a big get and really makes a solid point of difference without breaking that realism barrier too much.