Folks, grab your popcorn and settle in because AEW’s Double Or Nothing 2024 gave us a marathon worth every minute! Wrestling fans, get ready to dive into the genius (or madness?) of Tony Khan, who’s been planning this six-hour spectacle for months.
Jim Ross and the Four-Hour Conundrum
Jim Ross and others have often said, “AEW’s pay-per-views are longer than a CVS receipt!” These events typically run four hours, plus a 90-minute pre-show that kicks off on social media and YouTube. But this year, Double Or Nothing went for the gold, clocking in at a whopping six hours when you include the pre-show.
The Genius of Khan’s Plan
According to Dave Meltzer from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Tony Khan’s strategy was like a chess game planned months in advance. Khan bought an extra 30 minutes of pay-per-view time way ahead of schedule. Why? To outwit the NBA!
The idea was that if AEW’s event coincided with a major NBA game, the top three matches would air after the game ended. This way, fans could catch both the basketball action and the wrestling showdowns without missing a beat. Smart move, right? This foresight is what led to the triple main event featuring Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone, Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage, and the chaotic Anarchy in the Arena III.
NBA Drama? Not So Much!
In a twist of irony, the NBA game didn’t end up being the ratings monster Khan feared. But who cares? The plan was in place, and the fans got a wrestling extravaganza for the ages.