Former WWE Superstar and cruiserweight champion Lio Rush debuted in the AEW Casino Battle Royale at AEW Double or Nothing. Rush entered the Battle Royale in the Joker position. Jungle Boy ultimately won the match, last eliminating Christian.

With Daniel Bryan and Andrade leading a growing class of high-profile free agents eligible to appear on AEW television, there were high expectations for AEW’s vaunted “TBA” entrant.

AEW has struggled with high-expectations in big matches of late, with AEW Revolution producing quite possibly its lowest moment–through an embarrassing pyro mishap at the conclusion of an excellent Exploding Barbed Wire main event between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega. Earlier this month following AEW Blood and Guts, Chris Jericho’s anti-climactic fall produced similar, albeit far less extreme, backlash from fans.

Fans in the live arena were very pleased with the reveal of Lio Rush, and booed heavily when he was eliminated. Casino Battle Royale winner Jungle Boy will now face the winner of tonight’s Kenny Omega vs. Pac vs. Orange Cassidy AEW World Championship match.

AEW Casino Battle Royale 2021 Results and Eliminations

1. Christian Cage (Jungle Boy)
2. Matt Sydal (Max Caster)
3. Powerhouse Hobbs (Christian Cage)
4. Dustin Rhodes (Powerhouse Hobbs)
5. Max Caster (Christian Cage)
6. Isiah Kassidy (Jungle Boy)
7. Matt Hardy (Christian Cage)
8. 10 Preston Vance (Dustin Rhodes)
9. Nick Comoroto (Dustin Rhodes)
10. Serpentico (10)
11. Brian Pillman Jr. (Private Party
12. Griff Garrison (Matt Hardy)
13. Colt Cabana (Isiah Kassidy)
14. Anthony Bowens (Brian Pillman Jr.)
15. Penta El Zero M (Jungle Boy)
16. Jungle Boy—Winner
17. Marq Quen (Christian Cage)
18. Aaron Solow (Lee Johnson)
19. Evil Uno (Penta El Zero M)
20. Lee Johnson (Matt Hardy)
21. Lio Rush (Matt Hardy)