Dave meltzer ratings double or nothing 2022

All Elite Wrestling has been d, particularly on Pay-Per-View, since their inception in January 2019. It is always a thrill tuning into an AEW PPV to see a much-anticipated match up.

But that doesn’t mean there aren’t still bouts which are overpraised by fans and critics alike. Dave Meltzer of the ‘Wrestling Observer Newsletter’ and his star-rating system are the benchmark for professional wrestling match ratings, but regardless there are matches, particularly in AEW’s short history, which Meltzer has overhyped. Which AEW PPV matches in their history rank as the most overrated by Dave Meltzer?

10/10 Adam Page Vs. Chris Jericho, AEW World Championship, AEW All Out 2019, 4*

This was a good bout in the main event of AEW’s All Out Pay-Per-View in 2019 to determine the first AEW World Champion, but not a standout, excellent match as four stars may suggest. The two worked well together, but it lacked the drama of a world championship match thanks to the predictable result.

The match was good top to bottom but nothing exhilarating with Jericho, and Page, wrestling far superior performances on later PPVs. A disappointing match, although still a strong bout but nothing particularly memorable as 4* would suggest.

9/10 Chris Jericho Vs. Kenny Omega, AEW Double Or Nothing 2019, 4.25*

This was a very good main event between Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega in their much-anticipated rematch after their Wrestle Kingdom classic. Taking place at AEW’s first PPV event in 2019, Double or Nothing, unfortunately this bout did not set the wrestling world alight like their first encounter did. Still, strong work from both here as Jericho adopted his more brawl-heavy style, with Omega slowing down slightly due to this.

There were a few sloppy moments as well, although great bumps and stellar sequences were sprinkled throughout. Jericho debuting the Judas Effect was a slightly lackluster ending as he defeated Omega, with a Jon Moxley post-match debut saving this from being quite an underwhelming match. Still, strong top to bottom, but not a fantastic match by any means.

8/10 Andrade El Idolo & Malakai Black Vs. PAC & Cody Rhodes, AEW Full Gear 2021, 4.25*

A very good tag team clash at last year’s Full Gear PPV, as Andrade El Idolo and Malakai Black faced off against PAC and Cody Rhodes. With such talent this should have been exhilarating, but a glaring lack of story and a heavy focus on Cody from the crowd led to this bout falling short of its potential.

The action was still strong regardless, but AEW would have been better served turning this match into a Fatal-4-Way, or a singles bout between two of the four competitors involved. Not a fantastic tag team encounter as 4.25* indicates.

7/10 Bryan Danielson Vs. Miro, AEW Full Gear 2021, 4.5*

This was a very good clash between Bryan Danielson and Miro at 2021s Full Gear PPV, but underwhelming given the talent at hand. A slower paced, physical match-up that was more reliant on psychology than dazzling offense, this was still a very strong bout but lacking in the fire of other Danielson match-ups in AEW.

Running a tad too long with a slow pace did no favors here as the finish felt slightly flat, but regardless still a strong match. But nothing to write home about as a 4.5* rating suggests.

6/10 Adam Page Vs. CM Punk, AEW World Championship, AEW Double Or Nothing 2022, 4.5*

A very good main event with ‘Hangman’ Adam Page defending against CM Punk, but underwhelming given the build and hype leading up. A couple of glaring botches from Punk were the main gripe here from viewers as he failed to execute the Buckshot Lariat twice, but outside of that this was very good with strong intensity, storytelling, and in-ring work.

But given the anticipation, this did not deliver even with Punk claiming the AEW World Championship in a nice moment. A very good main event that should have been superb.

5/10 Dudes With Attitudes (Darby Allin, Shingo Takagi, & Sting) Vs. Bullet Club (The Young Bucks & El Phantasmo), Six-Man Tag, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 4.5*

This was a highly entertaining, chaotic six-man tag at the recent AEW & NJPW collaboration at the Forbidden Door PPV. Each competitor looked good here with Sting in particular having a stellar performance, with some great antics from El Phantasmo and the Bucks. Very good in-ring action from bell to bell and a lot of fun.

However, not a match that warranted 4.5* by any means, particularly compared to other matches rated similarly on the very same show.

4/10 Jon Moxley Vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, AEW Interim World Championship, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 4.5*

On paper, this had classic main event written all over it with Jon Moxley facing NJPW’s legendary Hiroshi Tanahashi for the Interim AEW World Championship. However, it did not fulfill this potential with a very good bout unfolding but nothing quite more than that. The crowd were invested, the action was strong, and the character work splendid, but this never kicked into full gear as it could have.

The result felt predictable from the start, although there were moments where Tanahashi reeled viewers into believing otherwise. Add an unnecessary blade job from Moxley as well as his predictable win, and this felt like a bout trying to be epic, but not achieving the result.

3/10 Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki, & Sammy Guevara Vs. Eddie Kingston, Shota Umino, & Wheeler Yuta, Six-Man Tag, AEW/NJPW Forbidden Door, 4.75*

Great six-man tag to open AEW and NJPW’s Forbidden Door PPV, but certainly not a 4.75* show stealer as the rating implies. While the crowd was red-hot for the action and the in-ring work was highly exciting bell to bell with every competitor getting a chance to shine, this was not a classic by any means but rather simply a fiery, highly entertaining opening bout.

While there were certainly memorable moments, particularly Kingston and Suzuki’s interactions, it’s hard to understand how this could receive more than other AEW classic match ups.

2/10 Christian Cage & Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) Vs. Superkliq (Adam Cole & The Young Bucks), Falls Count Anywhere Six-Man Tag, AEW Full Gear 2021, 5*

While this was still fantastic as the two trios went to war in this Falls Count Anywhere six-man tag, it is clear that this is not a 5-star-classic by any stretch of the imagination. Clearly any spotfest match involving the Young Bucks is going to be incredibly entertaining, with blisteringly fun, chaotic, brutal spots throughout.

But this was not without the usual lack of selling, over-choreographed nature of the spots, and general lack of psychology. Still, a stellar match in its own right but not nearly the level of what entails a 5-star contest.

1/10 The Young Bucks Vs. Lucha Brothers, AAA Tag Team Championship, Escalera De La Muerte Match, AEW All Out 2019, 5.25*

A spectacular Ladder match between the Young Bucks and Lucha Brothers at 2019s All Out PPV, but not a 5.25* instantaneous classic. While the creativity, spots, and athleticism were stupendous, there were moments where the craziness of the spots made viewers more concerned for the wrestler than the character in the story.

There was a complete lack of selling at times after absurd damage taken as well, which is of course to be expected in a spotfest such as this bout. While still a fantastic match, there were certainly flaws that prevent this from being close to a 5-star-classic, unlike their Steel Cage match at 2021s All Out.