20 Elite Wrestlers Vie for AEW International Championship at Double or Nothing

AEW's highly anticipated annual pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing, is set to take place this Sunday. This will mark the fifth installment of the event, which promises to deliver an action-packed match card featuring several championship bouts. Among the most anticipated matches is the Blackjack Battle Royale, where Orange Cassidy will defend his International Championship against a formidable list of opponents that AEW has recently revealed. Cassidy made history earlier this year as the first-ever AEW International Champion, taking over from the now-retired All-Atlantic Championship.

After successfully defending his championship this past Wednesday, Cassidy is set to put his International Championship on the line in a Blackjack Battle Royale this Sunday. The competition will be fierce, with 20 challengers vying for the title. Among them are some familiar faces, including The Butcher, The Blade, Bandido, Komander, Lee Moriarty, Big Bill, Ari Daivari, Tony Nese, Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, Kip Sabain, Rey Fenix, Dustin Rhodes, Keith Lee, Juice Robinson, Jay White, Ricky Starks, Brian Cage, Swerve Strickland, and Penta El Zero M. Some of these men have failed in previous attempts to dethrone Cassidy, but they will be hoping for a change of fate this time around.

Many of the competitors in the battle royale will have allies by their side. Cassidy may have the support of Taylor and Beretta of the Best Friends, depending on their strategy. However, there are several pairs that have frequently teamed up or come to each other's aid in the past, such as Strickland and Cage, Moriarty and Bill, Butcher and Blade, the Lucha Bros., White and Robinson, and Rhodes and Lee. While this is an every-man-for-himself match, it's likely that these alliances will work together to eliminate their biggest threats before turning on each other.

With a multitude of allies present in the match, there are just as many, if not more, rivals. Strickland and Cage have been engaged in a heated feud with Lee and Rhodes for several weeks, while White and Robinson of Bullet Club Gold have been wreaking havoc on Starks since White's official AEW debut in early April. Cassidy, Beretta, and Taylor have faced off against their opponents in various combinations, including as a trio, tag team, and individually, multiple times before. The presence of the current Ring of Honor Tag Team Champions, the Lucha Bros., only adds to the tension, as many of the tag teams involved may have their sights set on more than just Cassidy's International Championship.

Despite having defended his title over 20 times, Orange Cassidy faces a tough challenge to continue his reign as the AEW International Champion. His recent defense against Kyle Fletcher of Aussie Open will have left him less rested than some of his competitors. With the bad blood between the participants in the Blackjack Battle Royale, Cassidy may find himself distracted enough to be caught off guard, but he will undoubtedly do everything in his power to retain his hard-earned International Championship.

AEW Double or Nothing 2023 will air live from Paradise, Nevada, on May 28, 2023, at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Source: All Elite Wrestling