Who Should Be The Final Entrant In AEW’s Casino Ladder Match?

AEW’s inaugural Casino ladder match is quickly becoming one of the most hotly anticipated bouts on this weekend’s Double or Nothing card. With an AEW Championship shot up for grabs, the nine competitors have plenty of reason to lay it all on the line and take some crazy bumps in the process. Currently, the field stands with eight of AEW’s top mid-carders being confirmed for the ladder match, ranging from the daredevil Darby Allin to the towering Luchasaurus.

With one more spot available, there’s plenty of budding stars looking to secure their place in Las Vegas this Saturday. Many of AEW’s top mid-carders and future champions are still waiting in the wings to find themselves a role for Double or Nothing, what better opportunity than being the final entrant into the Casino Ladder match?

We run down 5 potential wrestlers who could fill in the final spot in one of the most exciting matches booked for Double or Nothing. Make sure you drop your own predictions down in the comments below.

 

1. Chris Hero

The recently released ‘Wrestling Genius’ has yet to re-emerge on the indies to re-establish himself as a big-time player across the global scene. With many fans expecting Chris Hero to eventually sign with one of the bigger promotions like AEW or NJPW, this could be the perfect chance for Hero to make a shocking first appearance since being let go from his NXT contract.

Hero would naturally become of the most talked about signings in AEW history and would easily fit in amongst the rest of AEW’s mid-carders in a marquee pay-per-view match. Chris Hero has heaps of potential that’s waiting to be exploited by a big-time company like All Elite Wrestling. With a portion of the fans left disappointed after his runs in NXT and NXT UK, it’s about time that someone lets Hero run wild with sharp elbows and forearms against some of the hardest-hitters in the industry today.

Could Hero become one of AEW’s biggest assets in his official debut in the Casino Ladder match?

 

2. Christopher Daniels

With the other two thirds of SCU already confirmed for the Casino Ladder match at Double or Nothing, it seems strange that ‘The Fallen Angel’ hasn’t also been included in the affair to help shift the odds even more in their favour. You’d think that after Daniels battled the potential future AEW Champion Brodie Lee during last week’s episode of Dynamite, Daniels might be itching for the chance to meet him again in a title rematch, making for a perfect excuse to get him into the ladder match.

Even though SCU remain one of the most over tandems on the AEW roster, an interesting twist in their career would be growing tensions between Daniels, Kazarian and Scorpio Sky that stem from this ladder match. With a shot at singles fame on the line, you’d think that friendships might be cast aside when push comes to shove.

SCU imploding would be a great storyline for AEW to run with throughout the summer, perhaps using the former duo of Daniels/Kazarian as means of getting Scorpio Sky even more over as a future contender. A lot can be accomplished by featuring Christopher Daniels in the ladder match as well as his two stablemates.

 

3. Jimmy Havoc

One performer that has slowly been clawing his way onto episodes of AEW Dynamite has been the satanic Jimmy Havoc. Havoc has struck up quite the friendship with fellow BritWres star Kip Sabian, forming the Superbad Death Squad. With Sabian already being granted a spot in the Casino ladder match, there’s precedent for his hardcore aficionado partner to also be given a chance to shine at Double or Nothing.

Havoc is no stranger to taking vicious bumps between spouts of brutal punishment. Havoc would feel right at home in the eight-man ladder match, putting together some gnarly spots with the likes of Darby Allin, who will undoubtedly push for more of an extreme version of the classic stipulation.

Havoc might not be everyone’s first choice to win the contendership, but you can’t tell me that you wouldn’t want to see him featured for a chance to face Jon Moxley. Jimmy might be the glue that this match needs for it to become an instant classic.

 

4. Wardlow

MJF’s heater has been impressing fans with his regular appearances on AEW Dark. His matches have been no more than squashes over enhancement workers, but they’ve done a great job at presenting him as one of the most versatile big men we’ve seen in quite some time. With MJF in action elsewhere on the show against Jungle Boy, this leaves Wardlow with not much to do aside from stand about in a suit. This would be a great way at establishing him as his own star.

Wardlow has already shown that he can hang in stipulation matches, his cage bout with Cody was something worth tracking down if you haven’t had the chance to watch it. I’m intrigued to see exactly what Wardlow could do in a ladder match situation, watching him defy expectations would be a great way to kick off his singles career and maybe even set him up for a main-event title fight with Jon Moxley or Brodie Lee to help further cement his star.

 

5. Dustin Rhodes

Even though Dustin has spoken of retirement, the artist formerly known as Goldust has been as active as ever on episodes of AEW Dynamite. Should Dustin’s career indeed be on the wind-down, there’s nothing stopping him from having one last shot at a major championship after climbing the ladder in Las Vegas. Rhodes would be a perfect candidate to take that last spot in the Casino ladder match, adding that necessary ring general element to help string together a decent bout.

Dustin has been on fire since first returning in 2013, there’s nothing that should stop him from being included in a big match such as this, he’s more than earned his place among the young studs of All Elite Wrestling. Rhodes would make for an underdog hero for the fans at home to get behind, I personally would love to see Dustin fight through the odds and scale the ladder to take home the title shot.