AEW brought Double or Nothing to Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, on May 24, as the Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament continued with a quarterfinal showdown between Bandido and Swerve Strickland.
The match had the difficult task of following Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe, which had already blown the roof off the building. Then it was time for another tournament match.
Bandido brought his usual mix of speed and creativity, while Strickland wrestled with a more aggressive and focused approach throughout the match. Both men managed to keep the energy high with a fast-paced battle that felt important from the opening bell.
This match went the way that most fans would have expected. Both competitors came out of the gate very hot, and they kept the action up the entire time. Swerve carried on with his brutal reputation, as he showed Bandido no mercy in his assault.
Bandido sold the assault as Swerve Strickland stalked his opponent. This match carried on after Bandido kicked out of a double stomp from the top rope. They eventually battled on the ring apron, where Swerve took a reverse poisonrana to the floor from his masked opponent.
In the end, Sweve Strickland overcame Bandido to secure the clean pinfall. This was a hard-fought win, for sure, and it is certainly one that took a lot out of both stars in the match. Now, Swerve will take on the winner of Claudio and Brody King later on in the tournament.
The Men’s Owen Hart Cup has become one of AEW’s most prestigious tournaments since launching in 2022. Past winners, including Adam Cole, Ricky Starks, Bryan Danielson, and Hangman Page, have helped turn the tournament into a major stepping stone toward the AEW World Championship picture.
What’s your take on the Owen Hart Cup Tournament this year? Do you believe that they are on the right track? Let us know what you think in the comments section!