Backstage Notes Ahead Of AEW Worlds End 2025: Jericho Update, MJF & Okada Notes, More

AEW is set to present its AEW Worlds End 2025 pay-per-view from the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, tonight. The show is set to be headlined by a four-way match between defending champion Samoa Joe and former champs Swerve Strickland, MJF, and Hangman Page for the AEW World Championship.

It was initially slated to be a three-way match between Joe, Page, and Strickland. However, MJF turned it into a four-way contest after returning to weekly programming at AEW Holiday Bash in Manchester earlier this month and signing his Casino Gauntlet contract. According to Fightful Select, MJF being added to the match was in the works since at least mid-November. Additionally, people close to Kazuchika Okada are allegedly surprised that he is facing Konosuke Takeshita in the semi-final of the Continental Classic at Worlds End and are interested to see how it pans out with Wrestle Kingdom on the horizon.

The website has provided further backstage information related to AEW. According to it, several wrestlers, who are set to compete tonight, will head to Japan for Wrestle Kingdom after the upcoming episode of Dynamite. Meanwhile, Christian Cage will not be present at Worlds End, as he is currently in Bridgeport to attend a hockey game, per Wrestlevotes.

In a backstage interview on Dynamite on 34th Street, Kenny Omega said that The Young Bucks’ injury gives him the time to take care of some things. According to Fightful, Omega’s comments were in relation to him being inserted into the World Title scene very soon.

What a reunion it was! 💥

The Elite (@youngbucks & @KennyOmegamanX) stood tall against the Don Callis Family, but with the Bucks not cleared, what exactly is Kenny Omega hinting at?

Watch #AEWDynamite on TBS & HBO Max pic.twitter.com/XTQdd6tpj4

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) December 25, 2025

AEW President Tony Khan recently told Sports Illustrated that he has taken more creative control over AEW this year, admitting that he had been “too collaborative” in the past. An AEW source confirmed this to Fightful, stating that Khan is “more in the woods” in 2025 compared to previous years and that he has also missed a few Jacksonville Jaguars games due to AEW obligations, which rarely happened in the past. Another source told Fightful that Khan is “extremely proud” of the recognition that the company has received this year with respect to the awards.

Regarding Chris Jericho’s status with AEW, Fightful reported that sources within the company told them that his name hasn’t come up during discussions. The website also reported that Hyan and Maya World, who are set to compete against the Sisters of Sin at AEW Worlds End 2025 Zero Hour, are highly regarded in the company.