AEW takes big swings toward 2025 with two huge returns at Worlds End

AEW played it safe at Worlds End while also taking some big swings toward 2025.

No championships changed hands at the company’s final pay-per-view of 2024 and it gave us a lackluster end to the MJF and Adam Cole story at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando on Saturday. 

But it somewhat made up for that with two huge returns and three stellar matches — including a classic between two longtime rivals. 

Here are five takeaways from Worlds End:

On the Edge of tomorrow

The fatal four-way main event was much less about the match itself than what it set up. Orange Cassidy, Jay White and “Hangman” Adam Page had success when they were focused on taking out Jon Moxley. That included a Shield-like triple powerbomb through the announce table that left the back of the champion’s head bloodied. 

Chaos seemed to ensue when Cassidy, White and Page fought each other. That cost any of them a chance at winning, especially when Page pulled the ref out of the ring to keep Cassidy from doing so and then the same ref being knocked out meant he could not count Hangman’s pin attempt.

Eventually, the Death Riders interfered with Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir and Claudio Castagnoli all helping Moxley hit a Death Rider DDT on White for the pin.

It sparked the early Return of FTR — who the Death Riders attacked in the parking lot — and the surprise return of Adam Copeland to reform Rated-R FTR. Copeland has been out of action since he broke his ankle in a cage match with Malakai Black in May. He proceeded to break up a piece of chair, put it in Moxley’s mouth and pull back on it.

It was a really effective end to the show as it set up a trios match for the Jan. 1 Dynamite in Asheville, N.C.— the first streaming on Max — and presented a group that feels like a real threat to the Death Riders and one not afraid to flip the extreme violence on them.

It also means we are getting a Copeland-Moxley world title feud to start 2025 with Christian holding a contract for a championship match at any time of his choosing. Copeland and Moxley have never had a match of any kind together. This should be fun,

A Continental Classic  

Tokyo Dome Kazuchika Okada finally arrived in AEW as it took a Continental Classic final with rival Will Ospreay to bring out all the things that make the Rainmaker one of the best wrestlers in the world. These two men could probably have this match in their sleep as their timing, selling and explosiveness always felt in sync. 

Ospreay came into the match telling the story of losing a lot of blood in his semifinal win over Kyle Fletcher – who continues to wrestle at a special level – and Okada beat him down until Ospreay sold barely being able to stand. 

But Ospreay gradually built a fiery rally – even kicking out of the first Rainmaker from Okada. Okada got his shoulder up after a Styles Clash and eventually a Stormbreaker but never let Ospreay hit the Hidden Blade. 

Ospreay absurdly countered a Rainmaker attempt into a flash Spanish fly, but finally ran into a second one – as Okada turned back his every attempt to get to the Hidden Blade – to end the match. It was Okada’s fifth major tournament win, tying him with Masahiro Chono.

More importantly, Okada’s victory brought the surprise return of Kenny Omega to AEW television before he steps into the ring for the first time in a year after recovering from diverticulitis surgery at Wrestle Dynasty on Jan. 5 against Gabe Kidd. He took over as EVP from Christopher Daniels and with no words presented the belt to his longtime rival with the All In Texas sign in the background. It potentially foreshadows one of the biggest matches AEW can make at its biggest show. 

A Moné Team

Mercedes Moné may have found her Charlotte Flair or Bayley in AEW with Kris Statlander as someone she could wrestle 100 times and never have a bad match with. These two at least equaled and possibly topped their fantastic match from Full Gear because this one felt like Statlander would become TBS champion in the first AEW women’s match to go over 20 minutes.

There were multiple times late it looked like Statlander was heading to a loss. Moné delivered her Moné Maker finisher on the outside, but twice didn’t leave her there for a countout win. The first time, she went back out at nine and crushed Statlander’s ankle in the ring frame and left it stuck in there. Statlander eventually got free by taking her boot off.

After both got back in the ring, Moné needed a late kickout to stay alive and would piledrive Statlander on the ring apron and began celebrating in the ring as it looked like she’d win by countout. AEW got a great camera shot of Statlander diving into ring, much to the surprise of Moné.

The champ would ask “why won’t you just die?” and screamed after Statlander got to the rope to break an STF attempt. It sparked “fight forever” chants.

Moné, who had a really strong close to 2024, turned Statlander’s Saturday Night Fever finisher into an ankle lock on the exposed ankle. They botched Statlander rolling out of it as Moné had to kind of throw herself into the rope. Statlander twice tried to roll Moné into pins to no avail. The champ countered with a unique pin that had her under Statlander, but hooking her arms and a leg so she could keep them down to secure the win.  

The story and crowd reaction felt like it was building toward a win for Statlander – who still leaves in a better place looking to be great. But AEW needs to make sure it doesn’t regret not going with a title change here as it will likely be some time before these two can square off again.

 Not Worth the Wait 

AEW took the easy way out when it came to Adam Cole and MJF’s feud. MJF won the match by distracting the ref by faking he was attacked by Matt Taven and Mike Bennett on the outside. It opened the door for him get in the ring, deliver a low blow to Cole and win the Dynamite Diamond ring for a sixth straight year with a Heat Seeker DDT from the apron. 

MJF then went to break Cole’s surgically repaired ankle again with a chair, but Roderick Strong, who MJF tried to injure previously, and Kyle O’Reilly, who had been at odds with Cole during this revenge tour try, came to his aid. Eventually, Cole, Taven, Bennett, O’Reilly and Strong came together and Cole smashed MJF in the face with the ring. 

Instead of having someone turn on Cole, AEW kept the status quo with the ring and having the Undisputed Kingdom leave on the same happy page again, Did O’Reilly just drop the Conglomeration cold? It felt like a lackluster payoff to an injury-extended story that was nearly two years long. Hopefully, both men are finally moving on.  

Moving in the right direction 

Ricochet may have lost his Continental Classic semifinal match to Okada but his heel turn is taking hold. Fans in the arena chanted, “You are bald!” after he motioned as if he had hair at times. After the loss, Swerve Strickland came out and had Prince Nana pass out toilet paper to the crowd to make good on his promise to embrace Ricochet.

They showered a seething Ricochet with it. His feud with Strickland could unlock new areas of Ricochet’s character we have yet to see, especially with a possible link-up with the Hurt Syndicate feeling like it’s still looming in the background. 

Other matches

Konosuke Takeshita over “Powerhouse” Hobbs to retain the International championship

It felt like a long shot for Takeshita to lose the title with a date with Shingo Takagi set for Wrestle Dynasty but these men really had the audience hooked in. The match ended with each man throwing a proverbial haymaker to get the thing done from a sidewalk slam, Blue Thunder bomb, superplex and an avalanche power slam. None of it ended the match until Takeshita delivered his Raging Fire finisher. Takeshita’s star is being built slowly and effectively so far.

Mariah May over Thunder Rosa to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship in a Street Fight

This had some solid connective storytelling elements and two cool spots – including a thumbtack-filled pinata. May taunted Rosa’s father at ringside with the challenger down. She even took his cane to mock his age. Rosa rallied and eventually used the cane to strike the champ. 

Rosa broke a submission with a chain in May’s mouth when she would not tap. May would get her hands on the bag of dirt from the graveyards of Tijuana that Rosa’s dad brought her to inspire her and tossed in her face. May, who is biding time before a Toni Storm rematch, proceeds to deliver a Storm Zero through a table at ringside to earn the pin.  

Notes

• Jeff Jarrett teased an announcement regarding his career on Dynamite.
• Revolution was announced for March 9 at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.

Biggest Winner: Kazuchika Okada

Biggest Losers: Adam Cole and MJF

Best match: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay 

Grade: B+