Jim Ross has shared his thoughts on the AEW World Championship match between Darby Allin and MJF, while also praising AEW’s current creative direction heading into Double or Nothing.

Speaking on Grilling JR, Ross discussed the segment from the May 13 episode of Dynamite that made the title vs. hair match official. He made it clear that AEW’s focus on Allin is working and currently stands as the promotion’s top priority.

“I like it. I like what AEW is doing with Darby. They’re getting some momentum. He provides hope in his little undersized body. He’s very resourceful. He sells great. So I’m very pleased with where AEW Tony Khan are heading with Darby Allin. He’s a player, and people cheer for the underdog, and whether he’s a champion or he isn’t, he’s the underdog. Just look at the scales.”

Ross continued by emphasizing that nothing else on AEW programming feels more important at the moment than Allin’s push.

“AEW’s TVs lately have been very good. And what they’re doing with Darby, they’re not doing anything more important on their television than featuring Darby Allin and letting us support him and get behind him and all that stuff. So he’s very resilient. And I like how his approach a lot. So we’ll see how that materializes over the next few weeks. I plan on being in New York in a couple of weeks. And I’m excited about this card. It’s loaded, man. It’s got some good shit on it.”

The main event was set after Allin retained the AEW World Championship against Konosuke Takeshita before being attacked by MJF, who later signed the contract for the match. The added stipulation means MJF will put his hair on the line when they meet at Double or Nothing.

Ross also highlighted another major match on the card, pointing to Kazuchika Okada facing Hiroshi Tanahashi as a bout with major significance, especially given their shared history and status in Japan.

“I think Okada and his adversary, his fellow Japanese star, are going to put a match out there that people are not going to soon forget. Just no doubt in my mind. And you can only imagine the uproar it’s causing and will cause in Japan as two of their homegrown favorite sons step in the ring against each other in what should be a phenomenal matchup.”

The returning Stadium Stampede match was also discussed, with Ross noting the challenges that come with calling such a large, multi-man contest.

“Those matches are hard to lay out because you got so many moving parts. So I don’t know who’s going to be the captain of their teams and be the point man, because it’s gotta run through somebody. It’s kind of like a basketball game. You got a point guard that keeps the ball moving. Jericho, obviously, will be representing. I’m just talking off the top of my head that he will play a major role in the leadership of his team. Jericho is a veteran. He’s been around a long time. He’s just coming back. He’s going to want to make a good returning impression.”

Ross also commented on the AEW World Tag Team Championship match, where FTR will defend against Adam Copeland and Christian Cage in an I Quit match with major implications for the challengers.

“I saw enough of them together to make a determination that if chosen to go that route, that they could be an outstanding tag team. Now I was lucky on that one, because that came true. They’re a great team, and they’ve had some tremendous matches. They elevated the tag team division immensely. But now they’re in a different chapter of the book, and I can’t see those guys having that many more matches, tag matches or otherwise.”

AEW Double or Nothing 2026 is scheduled to take place on May 25 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, featuring a stacked card built around championship matches and tournament bouts.

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