By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Worlds End
Aired live December 28, 2024 on pay-per-view
Orlando, Florida at Addition Financial Arena
AEW Worlds End pre-show results: Toni Storm defeated Leila Grey in 6:50, Jeff Jarrett defeated QT Marshall in 9:25, and Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Lance Archer, and Brian Cage defeated “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum and “Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin in 10:50…
The broadcast team was Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness, and Tony Schiavone. Ring announcer Justin Roberts delivered the introductions for the opening match while the entrances took place…
1. Blue League winner Kyle Fletcher vs. Gold League runner-up Will Ospreay in a Continental Classic semifinal match. At ringside, Ospreay jumped off the ring steps and went for a huracanrana, but Fletcher caught him and powerbombed him on the apron. Fletcher lawn darted Ospreay into the barricade.
Fletcher stood on the barricade and tore up an “Ospreay Better” sign. A fan held up an “Ospreay Still Better” sign. Funny. Ospreay bladed during this time and bled heavily from the forehead. Back in the ring, Fletcher lawn darted Ospreay into the corner and then covered him for a two count.
Ospreay had a crimson mask and the blood was dripping off his nose. Fletcher taunted Ospreay, who then turned him inside out with a clothesline. Ospreay tossed Fletcher face first into a turnbuckle and then followed up with a big boot. Ospreay performed a Standing Sky Twister for a two count.
After Ospreay and Fletcher both hit big moves, Ospreay executed a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall. Both wrestlers traded chops. Ospreay put his hands behind his back and invited another chop. Fletcher threw a kick that Ospreay caught. Ospreay hit an OsCutter for a near fall.
Ospreay went for the Hidden Blade, but Fletcher turned him inside out with a clothesline. Ospreay countered out of a move and hit a Poison Rana. Fletcher came right back with a Hidden Blade and then both men stayed down while the fans chanted AEW.
Fletcher rolled Ospreay into a pin, but referee Paul Turner caught him using the ropes. Fletcher protested and then shoved Turner. Ospreay took advantage of the distraction and hit a Hidden Blade for a two count. Ospreay went for another, but Fletcher pulled the referee in front of him, causing Ospreay to stop short.
Fletcher used the distraction to hit a series of moves on Ospreay that he capped off with a brainbuster for a near fall. Fletcher executed a Liger Bomb for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Fletcher hit a weary Ospreay with a couple of kicks in the corner,. Fletcher set up for a brainbuster, but Ospreay countered into a huracanrana. Ospreay followed up with a Styles Clash and scored the clean pin.
Will Ospreay defeated Kyle Fletcher in 16:20 to advance to the Continental Classic final.
After the match, Ospreay looked at Fletcher and used his index fingers to let him know they are 1-1 in matches against one another. Fletcher was fuming as Ospreay made his exit. Ospreay stumbled on the ramp to sell his weariness and then rubbed some blood on the entrance chute…
Powell’s POV: The match lived up to my lofty expectations. Great work from both men. I could have done without Ospreay hitting a gusher in the opening match, but I’ll wait until after the tournament final to decide whether it was necessary for the story they are telling.
A video package set up the other semifinal match and then entrances for the match took place…
2. Gold League winner Ricochet vs. Blue League runner-up Kazuchika Okada in a Continental Classic semifinal match. Schiavone said Ricochet would need to wrestle a perfect match to beat Okada. There was an early chant for Okada.
Ricochet cleared Okada from the ring and then played to the crowd for heat before running the ropes for a dive. Okada returned to the ring and cut him off with a kick to the head. Okada ran the ropes and then stopped and slapped Ricochet’s head, which got a big rise out of the crowd.
Ricochet caught Okada in the ropes and pulled his leg so that his groin hit the ropes. Okada sold it and went to ringside where he was hit by a suicide dive. Ricochet played to the crowd for heat before rolling Okada back inside the ring. Ricochet hit a springboard clothesline and got a two count.
Later, Okada took offensive control while McGuinness praised him as a great tournament wrestler who lets opponents unload their big guns, which he absorbs before taking over. Okada did the Rainmaker tease and then flipped off Ricochet, who avoided the finisher.
Ricochet countered out of a tombstone attempt and slammed Okada awkwardly to the mat for a two count. Ricochet hit a shooting star press for a near fall. Okada avoided the Spirit Gun. Ricochet hit Okada with a knee strike and a kick, but Okada put him down with a dropkick.
Okada avoided the Spirit Gun again and hit Ricochet with a Rainmaker clothesline before pinning him…
Kazuchika Okada defeated Ricochet in 13:00 to advance to the Continental Classic final.
Excalibur hyped Ospreay vs. Okada for the tournament final for later in the show. Okada headed to the back. Ricochet was down in the ring when a fan threw a roll of toilet paper into the ring.
Swerve Strickland made his entrance and stood on the stage. Swerve congratulated Ricochet for making it just as far as he did in last year’s Continental Classic. Swerve recalled Ricochet saying he would win the tournament.
Swerve recalled saying that if Ricochet blew it, he would embarrass him and make it big. Swerve said Ricochet has run his mouth since he arrived in AEW, going so far as to claim the company wouldn’t exist if it wasn’t for him.
Swerve said he was there to clean up Ricochet’s mess and asked if he knew the best way to clean up a mess. Prince Nana walked out with a small wagon filled with toilet paper rolls. Nana went to ringside and tossed the toilet paper to fans and told them to wait for the cue.
Swerve said the fans would wish Ricochet a happy new year. Swerve counted to three and then the fans tossed the toilet paper rolls at Ricochet while saying happy new year. “Happy New Year, Trevor,” Swerve said before tossing one more toilet paper roll at him and then making his exit. Ricochet stood in the ring and looked down at all of the toilet paper while some was wrapped around his neck…
Powell’s POV: A good match. Ospreay won the match, but it’s really cool to see how things have turned around for Ricochet. He was failing as a babyface and is has quickly emerged as a fun and effective heel. The post match bit was fine in that Swerve made good on his vow and it increases the friction between him and Ricochet.
Backstage, Ospreay was being tended to by a trainer, who stepped aside while Ospreay spoke with Renee Paquette. Ospreay said he’s faced Okada about ten times and lost eight of them. He played to the crowd for their support. He said it’s about overcoming one of the greatest tournament wrestlers of all-time. Ospreay said it’s about beating his mentor and big brother. Ospreay then quoted Tony Khan by closing out the promo by saying, “Let’s fricking go, lads”…
A video package set up the AEW Women’s Championship match and then entrance for the match took place. Thunder Rosa came out dressed in a leather vest and wore a red bandana on her head. McGuinness hilariously said she looks like actor Danny Trejo. Mariah May had some pyro during her entrance. May went to ringside and approached Rosa’s father. Rosa dove at May and attacked her on the floor.
3. Mariah May vs. Thunder Rosa in a Tijuana Street Fight for the AEW Women’s Championship. Rosa had a pinata in her corner of the ring. Rosa hit an early senton for a two count. The wrestlers fought to the stage where May took a swig of tequila and spat it in Rosa’s face. Rosa responded by spearing her through a part of the set for the match that seemed like it was there just for this moment.
Back at ringside, Rosa slammed a bottle over the head of May and then covered her for a two count. Miraculously, May did not bleed despite being hit over the head with a bottle. Good lord. In the ring, Rosa slammed May’s head onto one of several chairs that were lying on the mat. Rosa jawed at May while jabbing a chair into her throat.
Rosa opened the pinata, which contained thumbtacks that fell all over the mat. May stuffed a Rosa move and then hit Mayday finisher on the tacks for a near fall. Both women ended up at ringside. May took Rosa’s father’s cane and then mocked him by limping around with it.
May grabbed a piece of barbwire from underneath the ring and srapped it around her right knee. May charged Rosa, who moved, causing May to drive her knee into the ring steps. Rosa covered May for a two count.
Rosa got her father’s cane and beat May with it. Rosa pulled a table out and partially set it up. Rosa ran up the table and dropkicked May. Back in the ring, Rosa used a steel chain to choke May, who grabbed dirt out of a black bag and threw it in Rosa’s eyes. Excalibur said it was dirt from a Tijuana graveyard that Rosa’s father brought with her. May performed a piledriver off the apron and through a table on the floor and then pinned Rosa at ringside…
Mariah May defeated Thunder Rosa in a Tijuana Street Fight in 13:10 to retain the AEW Women’s Championship.
Powell’s POV: This match was doomed before the opening bell rang as far as I’m concerned. They never established enough storyline friction between the two characters to justify the need an over the top hardcore match. So while both women worked hard and that will be enough for some viewers, I felt like they were having a hardcore match just for the sake of having a hardcore match.
After an ad for the company’s daily fantasy sports partner, a video package set up the match for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. MJF made his entrance and the spray tan on his face made him resemble Kirk Lazarus from Topic Thunder. A giant tapestry dropped opposite the hard camera that read “Thank Me Later.” MJF flipped off the crowd. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were at ringside before Adam Cole made his entrance…
4. MJF vs. Adam Cole for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett were at ringside standing in front of the ring that was resting on a podium. Taven and Bennett were said to be there to prevent MJF from using the ring before he earned it (you know, because they couldn’t just keep the ring backstage until after the match).
Early in the match, MJF shoved Cole face first into the ring steps. Cole came up bleeding from the forehead. MJF responded to a fan chant by saying he didn’t need their help and then yelled at them to shut the f— up. MJF ran Cole’s head into the ring post. MJF was in control until he went to the ropes and said, “MJF BayBay.” MJF jumped into a superkick from Cole.
Cole performed a brainbuster on his knee for a near fall. Cole went for a Panama Sunrise, but MJF charged, so Cole jumped over him. Cole sold ankle pain when he landed. MJF targeted the bad ankle while the broadcast team explained that it was surgically repaired.
MFJ slammed Cole’s ankle into the ring post twice and then called for one more time. Cole used his leg to pull MJF into the ring post. MJF came up bleeding from the forehead and returned to the ring. Cole threw punches at MJF and then mounted him in the corner and threw nine more while the fans counted along. Cole teased a tenth and then bit MJF instead.
Cole hit the Panama Sunrise. Cole followed up with the Boom knee strike and then covered MJF for a near fall. Cole acted surprised that it wasn’t enough to get the pin. Cole lowered his kneepad and ran the ropes, but MJF collapsed before he could hit another Boom.
Cole sat MJF up and then ran the ropes, but MJF shot up and clipped Cole’s knee. MJF and Cole sat on opposite sides of the ring and jawed at one another before meeting in the middle and throwing punches. Cole got the better of it. MJF spat at Cole, who responded with a superkick.
MJF took Cole down and applied a Figure Four. Cole eventually turned it over, and then MJF broke the hold by reaching the bottom rope. MJF went to ringside and approached Taven and Bennett. MJF slammed the ring steps and then acted like he’d been attacked. Referee Bryce Remsburg turned around and ejected Taven and Bennett from ringside.
While the referee was tied up with Taven and Bennett, MJF grabbed the ring and tried to hit Cole, who caught him with a superkick. Cole grabbed the ring and tried to hit MJF, who kicked him in the balls. MJF hit the Heat Seeker piledriver and then scored the pin.
MJF defeated Adam Cole in 14:35 to retain the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
After the match, MJF grabbed a chair. He yelled to cut his music because he wanted everyone to hear when he broke Cole’s leg. MJF wrapped the chair around Cole’s ankle and set up to stomp it.
Roderick Strong ran out and ran off MJF, who headed to the stage. Kyle O’Reilly came out. MJF talked to O’Reilly and tried to leave, but O’Reilly grabbed him and brought him to the ring. Strong and O’Reilly hit MJF with a high/low move. O’Reilly pulled Cole to his feet and then hugged him.
Strong and O’Reilly picked up MJF and held him while Cole hit him with the ring. Cole spat on the ring and placed it on MJF’s chest before leaving. There were some boos. Cole, Strong, and O’Reilly hugged and there were some cheers. Taven and Bennett returned and the Undisputed Kingdom members all played to a seemingly half interested crowd. The Undisputed Kingdom members went to the stage and posed again…
Powell’s POV: Why would they have two more blade jobs when they seem to be trying to tell a story based around the gusher that Ospreay hit in the opening match? The Undisputed Kingdom just won’t die despite the obvious disinterest from the majority of fans. Hopefully MJF can move on from this mess.
The broadcast team hyped AEW Dynamite’s Fight For The Fallen edition for Wednesday. Excalibur hyped Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart, and Jeff Jarrett’s announcement.
Excalibur announced Daniel Garcia vs. Mark Briscoe for the TNT Title, Private Party vs. Action Andretti and Lio Rush for the AEW Tag Team Titles, and Deonna Purrazzo vs. Toni Storm for Saturday’s AEW Collision…
A video package aired for the AEW International Championship match and then entrances took place…
5. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Powerhouse Hobbs for the AEW International Championship. Don Callis came out with Takeshita and then joined the broadcast team. Hobbs got the better of Takeshita early and then taunted Callis before hitting him with an elbow strike in front of the broadcast table. Takeshita fought back and hoisted up Hobbs on his shoulders before dropping his bad knee on the apron.
Takeshita slammed Hobbs’s bad knee into ring post twice and then punched it. Hobbs battled back and blasted Takeshita with repeated clubs in the corner before powerslamming him for a two count. Takeshita came back with an inverted piledriver for a near fall.
Later, Takeshita superplexed Hobbs and then followed up with a top rope senton. Takeshita waited for Hobbs to get up and then charged him, but Hobbs put him down with a spinebuster for a near fall. Both men stayed down while the crowd chanted AEW.
Hobbs lowered the straps on his gear. Takeshita rolled to the apron to avoid him. Hobbs got Takeshita on the ropes. Takeshita thumbed the eye of Hobbs, who then powerslammed him from the top rope. Hobbs sold his knee rather than go for the pin. Hobbs tried to remove his knee brace and needed help from referee Aubrey Edwards to get it off.
Takeshita kicked Hobbs’s knee and then hit him with additional strikes. Takeshita put Hobbs in a guillotine submission hold, then released it and hit his Raging Fire finisher, which led to the pin…
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Powerhouse Hobbs in 16:30 to retain the AEW International Championship.
Powell’s POV: This is another match that received a lousy build, but the wrestlers overcame it by producing a strong match that got the crowd fully invested. Hobbs lost clean, yet he came out of this looking stronger than ever in the eyes of the fans.
Renee Paquette interviewed Kazuchika Okada in the backstage area and asked how it he felt about facing Will Ospreay. Okada said Ospreay is like his younger brother. Okada said Ospreay is on another level, but not his level. Okada closed it out by calling Ospreay a bitch…
A brief video package set up the TBS Title match and then entrances for the match took place…
6. Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the title match. Statlander had Mone on her shoulders when she went for a move that Mone countered into an arm drag, which sent Statlander to the floor.
Mone hit Statlander with a sliding kick and then ran her into the ring steps. Mone hit double knees against the barricade. Mone climbed onto the barricade and played to the crowd before diving at Statlander, who caught her.
Statlander held up Mone while walking up the steps and then slammed her onto the apron. Once in the ring, Statlander covered Mone for a two count. A short time later, Statlander performed a powerslam and then picked up Mone and gave her a backbreaker. Statlander performed a fallaway slam.
Mone regained offensive control by powerbombing Statlander from the ropes onto the apron. Mone dominated the next few minutes until she went for a meteora. Statlander caught Mone and slammed her to the mat, leaving both women down.
Statlander went on the offensive and hit Mone with a running knee followed by Chaos Theory for a near fall. Mone took control again and performed the Three Amigos and kept it going with five more suplexes, which the crowd applauded. Mone did the shimmy and an “Eddie” chant broke out.
Mone frog splashed Statlander for a two count. Mone showed concern over not getting the pin. Statlander avoided double knees and then hit a package piledriver for a good near fall. Statlander acted shocked that she didn’t get the pin.
A short time later, both women tumbled the floor and the ring skirt was pulled down with them. Mone hit the Moneymaker on the floor. Mone returned to the ring at the referee’s six count. Statlander was going to be counted out, but Mone opted to break the count by returning to the floor.
Mone placed Statlander’s boot over the frame of the ring and it was caught in one of the bands. Mone returned to the ring and could have won by count-out again, but she opted to perform double knees from the apron and then threw punches before returning to the ring.
Statlander removed her boot to free herself. Mone went to the apron and jumped at Statlander, who caught her and then dumped her on the apron. Back in the ring, Statlander hit an F5 for a near fall.
Mone battled back and hit an inverted piledriver on the apron. Referee Stephon Smith checked on Statlander and then returned to the ring and started his count. The count reached nine and then Mone held up her arms arrogantly, but Statlander returned to the ring to beat the count.
“Why won’t you die?” Mone asked before slapping Statlander. Mone applied the Statement Maker and then countered into an STF, but Statlander reached the ropes. “Why won’t you give up?” Mone asked. A “fight forever” chant broke out.
Mone slapped Statlander again and then ran the ropes and was drilled with a clothesline. Statlander set up for her finisher, but Mone slipped under her and applied an ankle lock. Statlander rolled out of the hold and then rolled up Mone, for two, and then Mone reversed the pin for a two count of her own. Mone rolled Statlander into another pin and got the three count.
Mercedes Mone defeated Kris Statlander in 24:35 to retain the TBS Championship.
After the match, Mone went to the stage and got emotional before she held up her title belt and then kissed it. The crowd cheered Statlander, who was seated in the ring. Statlander rolled to the apron and then went to the stage and looked back at the crowd before heading backstage…
Powell’s POV: Another strong match from Mone and Statlander. I’m not sure what comes next, but my guess is that the third time will be the charm for Statlander, whenever that match takes place.
After Renee Paquette and RJ City hosted an ad for the company’s daily fantasy sports partner…
An ad listed AEW Revolution for Sunday, March 9 in Los Angeles at Crypto.com Arena (f/k/a Staples Center)…
Jim Ross joined Excalibur and Schiavone on commentary. Entrances for the Continental Classic final took place. Will Ospreay came out first and had his head bandaged. Ospreay sold his weariness by stumbling on the ramp. Kazuchika Okada’s entrance followed. Ross noted that it’s his 50th year in the business and felt that something special was about to happen in this match…
7. Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay in the Continental Classic tournament final for the AEW Continental Championship. Justin Roberts delivered in-ring introductions for the match. Paul Turner was the referee. The crowd chanted “holy shit” while the bell rang to start the match.
Ospreay wrestled with the bandage on his head and played to the crowd, which responded with loud cheers. Okada backed Ospreay into the ropes and teased a clean break before hitting him with an elbow strike to the head.
Ospreay took Okada down with a huracanrana. Okada rolled to the floor. Ospreay dove onto Okada at ringside. Okada came back with a Draping DDT from the apron. Back in the ring, Okada covered Ospreay for a two count.
Okada put Ospreay down with a neckbreaker. Ospreay’s head wrap came off. Okada picked up a piece of bloody gauze and wiped his own forehead with it. Ospreay suplexed Okada and then hit a handspring into the ropes followed by a kick. Ospreay hit a Phenomenal Forearm for a two count.
Ospreay went to the ropes and was dropkicked by Okada. Both men ended up at ringside. Okada set up for a tombstone, but Ospreay avoided it and shoved him into the barricade. Ospreay kicked Okada and then jumped from the barricade and hit a cutter on the way down.
Later, Ospreay hit a Styles Clash for a near fall. Okada came right back with a tilt-a-whirl slam and then put Ospreay down with a Rainmaker clothesline for a near fall. Okada acted shocked by Ospreay kicking out. A “fight forever” chant broke out.
Okada toyed with Ospreay by throwing quick kicks at his head while he was down. Once Ospreay stood up, Okada headbutted him to put him down again. Ospreay’s cut was reopened. Okada hit a German suplex and then held up his middle finger before a Rainmaker attempt that Ospreay countered into a standing Spanish Fly for a near fall.
Okada caught Ospreay coming off the ropes with a dropkick. Ospreay ducked a Rainmaker and then hit Okada with one of his own. Ospreay hit a Storm Breaker for a great near fall that the live crowd counted along with. Ospreay set up for a double underhook move, but Okada countered into a Rainmaker. Ospreay came back and Okada avoided a Hidden Blade. Okada hit Ospreay with the Rainmaker and then got the three count.
Kazuchika Okada defeated Will Ospreay in 19:15 to win the Continental Classic tournament and to retain the AEW Continental Championship.
Excalibur said Okada now tied Masahiro Chono’s record of five major tournament wins. A graphic on the big screen also listed this as Okada’s fifth major tournament win. Okada approached Ospreay, who was on his knees when he accepted the handshake. Ospreay rolled out of the ring, leaving Okada to have his moment.
Christopher Daniels walked onto the stage and congratulated Okada on winning the tournament and continuing his reign as Continental Champion. Daniels said this would normally be the time when he would go to the ring and present him with the title belt, but he said he couldn’t do that. Daniels announced that he is no longer an executive vice president of AEW. “But this man is…” Daniels said.
Kenny Omega made his entrance dressed in a black suit. Daniels applauded Omega, who stood on the stage while the fans chanted Omega’s first name. Omega took the title belt off of the podium and brought it to the ring. A “holy shit” chant broke out while Omega slowly handed the belt to Okada, who held it up while staring Omega in the eyes.
Omega smirked and clapped before acknowledging Okada. Another “Kenny” chant broke out. Schiavone said they don’t know how long it will take Omega to get back in wrestling shape because he was out for a long time. Omega slapped some fan hands as he headed to the stage. Okada and Omega had a long distance staredown. Okada exited the ring and the camera did a closeup of the AEW All In Texas sign. Excalibur acknowledged that Omega will be wrestling for New Japan at Wrestle Dynasty…
Powell’s POV: A very good main event. The crowd would have erupted had Ospreay won the match, but they were not deflated by Okada going over. The post match scene with Omega returning and presenting Okada with the title belt went great, and it definitely came off like they were teasing a match between the two for the stadium show in July. It’s great to have Omega back and seemingly in good health. It’s been just over a year since his last match. I know a lot of people will be upset that Ospreay lost another match in the tournament. While there is a risk that he will lose momentum, they have set him up with some big obstacles to overcome and I think he’s going to be just fine. More than anything, I’m surprised they didn’t close the show with that match and the post match angle. I guess we’ll see what they have in mind for the AEW World Championship match.
A video package set up the AEW World Championship match…
Orange Cassidy made his entrance to a mild reaction. Hangman Page made his entrance to a slightly better reaction. Jay White’s entrance followed to a team reaction. The live crowd was clearly still recovering from the previous match and the post match scene. Jon Moxley made his entrance through the crowd with Marina Shafir. Schiavone said Moxley had a better than 25 percent chance of winning the match due to the Death Riders…
8. Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Hangman Page vs. Jay White in a four-way for the AEW World Championship. Ross, Excalibur, and Schiavone called the main event. Bryce Remsburg was the referee. The briefcase containing the title belt was chained to the middle rope. Shafir had trouble unlocking it and simply yanked it off the chain.
Page, White, and Cassidy moved toward Moxley, but Page and White started bickering. Moxley rolled to ringside while the bickering continued. Cassidy hit Moxley with a suicide dive. Page and White joined in on working over Moxley at ringside.
Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta showed up and pulled Moxley over the barricade. The challengers hopped the barricade and the wrestlers brawled in the crowd. Shafir hit Cassidy with cheap shots, allowing Moxley to get the better of him. Moxley brought Cassidy back to the ring, but Cassidy rolled out the other side.
Moxley followed Cassidy, who told him to wait and then put his hands in his pockets. Page and White returned to ringside and held Moxley’s arms while Cassidy hit him with an Orange Punch. The challengers performed a triple powerbomb that put Moxley through the Spanish broadcast table.
Page hit White from behind and then ran Cassidy into the barricade. Page rolled White inside the ring and went for a Deadeye that White avoided. Page dropped White with a clothesline. Cassidy returned to the ring. Page hit Cassidy with a fallaway slam in the corner and went for the pin, but White returned to break it up.
Christian Cage, Mother Wayne, Nick Wayne, and Kip Sabian were shown watching the match from a luxury box. Hook was shown watching Cage and his crew from luxury box. Christian stood and pointed at the case that contains his Money in the Bank style contract.
The three challengers fought in the ring while Moxley stayed down at ringside. White clotheslined Page to the floor and was the last man in the ring when Moxley returned and hit him from behind. Cassidy returned and hit Moxley with a PK. Moxley, who was bleeding from the back of the head, but Cassidy down with a cutter.
Page returned to the ring and went nose-to-nose with Moxley while a “Cowboy Shit” chant broke out. Moxley and Page traded elbow strikes. White returned and rolled up Moxley for a two count. Moxley avoided a Bladerunner and rolled up White for two. Cassidy put Moxley down with a DDT. All four men were down temporarily.
A short time later, Page hit White with a Buckshot Lariat. Moxley went after Page, who put him down with a Deadeye for the second time. Page set up for a Buckshot Lariat, but Yuta showed up at ringside and grabbed his leg.
Page kicked his leg free. Moxley got a chair and walked toward Page, who hit him with a Buckshot Lariat. Page had Moxley beat, but the referee was down at ringside. The referee returned, but Cassidy rolled Page into a pin for a two count.
White hit Moxley with the Bladerunner and had him beat, but Yuta hit referee and knocked him out of the ring. A “f— you, Yuta” chant broke out. White stared down Yuta, who was at ringside. Shafir approached White from behind. White turned around and gave Shafir a Bladerunner. Yuta hit White with a Busaiku Knee. Moxley followed up with a Death Rider on White and covered him. Castagnoli shoved the referee back in the ring and then referee made the three count.
Jon Moxley defeated Jay White, Hangman Page, and Orange Cassidy in a four-way in roughly 17:00 to retain the AEW World Championship.
After the match, Moxley had Castagnoli grab White. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler made their entrance. The lights went out and then a “Rated FTR” logo appeared on the screen. Adam Copeland’s theme song played and then he joined FTR on the stage.
FTR headed to the ring and fought with Castagnoli and Yuta. Copeland watched from the floor while FTR cleared Castagnoli from the ring and then hit Shatter Machine on Yuta while Moxley was down.
Copeland entered the ring and then Moxley stood up and went face-to-face with Copeland. A “holy shit” chant broke out. Moxley threw a clothesline that Copeland ducked before running the ropes and then spearing Moxley.
Christian was shown motioning for his crew to leave their luxury box. Copeland used a chair leg while putting Moxley in a crossface. Copeland got a microphone once Moxley was out of the ring.
Copeland called Moxley a kid and told him to look at him while he was talking to him. Copeland said he called Moxley a kid because he was growing pubes when he started. “You’re all mine,” Copeland said. “Rated FTR, we’re taking it all.” Copeland’s theme song played.
Schiavone said Tony Khan told him that Copeland, Harwood, and Wheeler will face Moxley, Castagnoli, and Yuta on Wednesday’s Dynamite. Copeland, Harwood, and Wheeler continued to play to the crowd in the ring. The camera zoomed in on a banner for AEW Revolution while Ross closed the show…
Powell’s POV: The wrestlers worked hard, but there was no mystery regarding the outcome of the main event. I think they would have been better off going with the Continental Classic finals in the main event slot and closing with Omega’s return as opposed to the Copeland return, but that’s just me. It’s worth nothing that the show concluded 23 minutes before the top of the hour, not that I’m complaining. I don’t feel as good about Ospreay coming up short now that it feels like AEW is opting to go with some older wrestlers over the younger wrestlers, though hopefully it’s just temporary.
Overall, this was a strong pay-per-view event. The Ospreay matches both delivered, the TBS Title match was also really good. I’ll have a lot more to say when Jake Barnett and I team up for our same night audio review exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the show by voting for the best match and grading the overall show below.
“Omega slapped some fans as he headed to the stage.”
Well that’s just plain mean.
Fuck off, Nigel. Type for nearly five hours straight and lets see how you do. Er, I mean thanks for the correction.
So it wasn’t a heel turn?
I kid.
Okada has been a clown for most of 2024 and Ospreay should have been the savior of AEW. Absolutely horrible booking despite the entertaining matches. Ospreay did NOT need to be built up when he arrived and you should not be in a position to rebuild him now. He was a major star last year at this time now he is a .500 wrestler.
I am also generally not a fan of the tournament at all (no one who gets pinned twice in a tournament should end up in the final – personal preference). This will only work moving forward if there are NO other tournaments during the year (and please please please no women’s CC next year)
I wasn’t a big fan of their last two ppv’s despite the fact they were probably the better shows of the weekend when they ran….however this one hit on all cylinders and was fantastic, everything a PLE/PPV should be and well worth going out of your way to see(if you haven’t) The live crowd was hot all night for just about everything which made it fun.
Didn’t even bother streaming this for free and based on reading this review, I’m glad I didn’t. AEW is ice cold and the snowman is the only one to blame.
It sounded like there was a “This is stupid” chant during the Cole/Kingdom stuff. Did anyone hear it differently?
Okada continues AEW’s disgusting trend og wrestlers playing with each other’s blood. Glad he didn’t eat the bandage, I suppose.
I’m glad Kenny is back, but his first match will be for another company?
Edge has a hot return then blows it with a stupid promo about pubes. 1. He didn’t need to talk. 2. Pubes. 3. Why bring up age? Mox running the joint is the story, and Edge and FTR are sick of it. That’s the story. Why call a guy who looks like Popeye “Kid”? How old does that make you?
>>Okada continues AEW’s disgusting trend og wrestlers playing with each other’s blood. <<
Wow, I almost think I've seen that in EVERY wrestling company, but hey, I get you have to do nothing but bash AEW, "Steve". GREATEST post you've done all day, right?