Gangrel aids Adam Copeland in barbed wire cage match at AEW Double or Nothing
Image: Bryan Rose
Just when TNT Champion Adam Copeland appeared to be down and out at Double or Nothing, former Brood-mate Gangrel made his AEW return Sunday to play a role in Copeland leaving Las Vegas with his title.
Malakai Black’s House of Black teammates Brody King and Buddy Matthews came out during Copeland and Black’s barbed wire cage match to help Black. As the three men had wrapped Copeland in barbed wire and were ready to finish him off, the lights went out and began to flicker red.
King went over to a spot in the ring and was sprayed by something which turned out to be Gangrel. He then emerged through the mat and sprayed Matthews in the face as well. He punched Black and then delivered Impaler DDTs to both Matthews and King to take them out, leaving a window open for Copeland to spear Black.
Gangrel has made two appearances in AEW before, once in Matt Hardy’s Elite Deletion match at 2020’s Full Gear and again on a May 2022 Rampage, accompanying the Young Bucks to the ring when they were in a feud with the Hardys.
Copeland came out to Slayer’s “South of Heaven” with a modified entrance, complete with a Brood graphic.
The match itself was a violent spectacle that involved chairs and tables in addition to the barbed wire. At one point, Copeland wrapped Black in barbed wire on a table and then went to the top of the cage, leaping off with an elbow drop. However, Copeland’s legs went straight down into the mat. While he was able to work the rest of the match, he was noticeably favoring his left leg walking out with Gangrel at the match’s end.
The finish of the match came when Copeland had a crossface on Black while his head was wrapped with barbed wire, causing the bloodied Black to pass out.
Copeland’s reign started in March with Sunday’s win as the sixth of his second run with the title.