Who doesn’t love a surprise? AEW sure does. They created an entire format of match around a surprise. The Casino style of match includes their version of a Battle Royale and Ladder match with multiple entrants and one surprise “Joker” entrant. This creates intrigue, breeds discussion, and builds hype around the unknown element.
Who have been the Joker cards in these matches and what are their overall records?
The first Casino Battle Royale was held at the inaugural Double or Nothing in 2019, and Adam Page was the Joker entrant. He ended up winning that match, but every “Joker” entrant since hasn’t faired very well with two exception. Here’s your list in order of appearance:
- Mercedes Martinez
- Brian Cage (won inaugural Casino Ladder match)
- Matt Sydal
- Ethan Page
- Lio Rush
- Ruby Soho (winner!)
That means three out of the seven Joker cards have won their respective matches. Some have had good showings in defeat (Ethan Page and Mercedes Martinez), another had a quick exit and injury (Lio Rush), and Matt Sydal probably wishes his never happened.
We have another Casino Ladder match this Wednesday. The match is already stacked without the Joker card, but adding in said Joker makes it so much better. Who could it be!? I believe the Joker is winning the match, therefore I had to create my list based on that fact. Who could realistically challenge for the title? Would it be on the next Pay Per View or a special edition of Dynamite? I have a couple hunches and one wish.
Here’s my possible list!
5. Windham Rotunda (FKA Bray Wyatt)
This possible prediction is truly me just wishing. I don’t think he’s coming to AEW, but I hope he does. Windham is one of those special talents that’s able to take whatever he’s given and make the best of it. It wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I LOVED The Fiend in WWE. The booking of the Fiend at Hell in the Cell 2019 was the final nail in the coffin for my watching of WWE. I haven’t watched any of their product since. They had a goldmine in that character, but that was always the story for Bray Wyatt: what could have been?
4. Jay White/Wil Ospreay/Kazuchika Okada (Forbidden Door)
My next prediction is a little bit of a cheat. If Tony Khan wants to open the forbidden door again, it honestly could be anybody. Therefore I’m grouping all of the NJPW guys into one prediction. I think the Joker card is winning the match on Wednesday, which would set up a date with Kenny Omega. Why not put on another Okada classic at Full Gear or a Kenny/Jay White match on a Dynamite?
3. Buddy Matthews (FKA Buddy Murphy)
Here’s where it gets interesting. Buddy is freshly a free agent, would fit perfectly in AEW, and is widely touted as a younger clone of Kenny Omega. Both Kenny and Buddy have openly admitted to wanting matches against each other. Why not do so on a random Dynamite in October? Buddy has even been hinting at it on twitter.
AEW is one to tease things without actually saying it, so Buddy doing that himself makes it almost too obvious for me. I’m a massive fan of being worked and having AEW blindside me of their booking decisions. That’s why I think there are two better possibilities.
2. Bryan Danielson
If Bryan Danielson is eyeing another title shot, why wouldn’t he attempt to jump the line again? This would be the way to do it! Enter the Casino Ladder Match, push your chips in, and test your luck. Danielson is incredible in ladder matches and I think he would win to set up another match with Omega. Any fan of professional wrestling should want another Omega and Danielson match. Bryan beating Nick Jackson this past Friday on Rampage seems to indicate AEW’s intent on continuing the feud between Danielson and the Elite. Does that culminate with Bryan challenging Omega for a title shot for Full Gear? That seems to be the outcome we’re supposed to believe.
However, I still think the Joker is everyone’s favorite cowboy.
1. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page
The last time we saw Hangman was during the Homecoming event at Daily’s Place in August. The Elite beat him down and the Dark Order wouldn’t save him. This was simultaneously the cause of the rift between the Dark Order and Hangman’s absence. What happens now that the Dark Order has seemingly healed itself and the Elite is still running rampant?
It’s time for the Hangman to come back and claim what is his! It wouldn’t make sense to make him climb the rankings again to regain his top spot for a challenge. The pop when he climbs the ladder and grabs the contract for a AEW world title match would be enormous! He’s already being promoted for the Dynamite following Full Gear in his hometown, therefore he will be appearing at Full Gear in some capacity. Will that Dynamite be a championship celebration for Hangman, or a declaration of impending doom for Omega? Tony Khan knows what the fans want. Just like Excalibur says: you’ve GOT to give the people what they want.
“And NEWW All Elite Wrestling champion: ‘Hangman’ Adam Page.”
And that’s my list! I started writing the list knowing Hangman was going to be the Joker card, but creating theories in my head for other wrestlers debuting really sparked my creative juices. Tony Khan has promised multiple surprises for Wednesday. Maybe its multiple people from the list, but maybe it’s none of them! Regardless, I love how the company keeps me guessing. This should be a great episode!