All Elite Wrestling Announces Two Shows, Six New Hires at Jacksonville Event
All Elite Wrestling promised that big announcements would come from its Double or Nothing Rallly, held outside the TIAA Bank Field in Jackonsville, FL. The upstart federation, rumored for months but officially announced on New Year’s Day, had a lot to prove after its brazen reveal, and while the rally was light on details about the company’s plan to build itself as an alternative wrestling company in an increasingly crowded field, it’s hard to argue that The Elite’s new baby didn’t deliver on the excitement.
First, they provided concrete details on Double or Nothing, the follow-up to All In that was announced alongside the company. Nick Jackson revealed that event will be held on May 25 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Even ignoring the on-the-nose punnery of holding a show named after a gambling term in Las Vegas, it’s a well calculated move on the nascent company’s behalf – the MGM Grand Garden Arena was the Vegas home of WCW, hosting numerous Monday Nitros and the last four Halloween Havoc PPVs. Plus, the venue can seat almost 6,000 more people than Chicago’s Sears Centre, giving the company the chance to break their attendance record set at All In. Later in the press conference, Cody announced that the company’s second show will be held in Jacksonville at some undetermined future date. The EVP was scant on details, but promised that “a large portion” of ticket sale revenue will be donated “to support victims of gun violence.” That can mean a whole lot of things and it will be interesting to see what, exactly, the company considers a “large portion” and their interpretation of “supporting” victims, but it’s a very nice sentiment and promise nonetheless.
And, of course, there was the announcement of the first signees. The press conference provided ample time to the seven employees we’ve known about for close to a week now – Cody, “The Young Bucks” Matt and Nick Johnson, “Hangman” Adam Page, and the SoCal Uncensored team of Frankie Kazarian, Christopher Daniels and Scorpio Sky – but interspersed between them were the debuts of several talents from the indies and beyond. First, as part of her announcement of the Women’s Division, Brandi Rhodes revealed the division’s Inaugural members: herself, and Britt Baker, an indie wrestling darling with an actual honest-to-god doctorate in dentistry, meaning she’s already accomplished far more in life than I will ever do.
