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Join 411’s Live AEW Worlds End 2025 Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Sickos! How’s everyone doing tonight? Theo Sambus reporting for duty, still full to the brim with festive food. Calories don’t count between Christmas and New Year, right? Pretty sure that’s scientifically proven… *side-eye*
Hope you’ve all had a glorious few days, whatever you celebrate. I was gutted to miss spending Christmas Collision with the 411 faithful as that ended up being probably one of the best Collisions of the year, stuffed full of Continental Classic greatness. The C2 has been on absolute top form this year, and I am HYPED for the semis and final this evening.
So yes, let’s turn our attention to the marquee attraction ahead of us – Worlds End is here! It’s our final PPV of the AEW calendar, with a plethora of Good Graps for us to sink our teeth into. We have the intrigue of the Fatal Four-Way for the Men’s World Championship, as Samoa Joe defends against MJF, Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland, in a match that has any number of combustible elements. We have a rare non-traditional tag encounter from FTR, taking on the Bang Bang Gang in a Chicago Street Fight in one final attempt for Juice and Gunn to grab the titles. We have a seemingly friendly encounter between Statlander and Hayter for the Women’s World Championship, albeit with tensions mounting and both women with a chip on their shoulder. We have Mixed Nuts Mayhem! Which I guess speaks for itself considering Toni Storm is in it. Bring on the double entendres!
And of course, our two semi-final matches for the C2 will round out the card, with Kyle Fletcher vs Jon Moxley, and Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita. Santa is stretching out the gift giving to the 27th it would seem! What are we all saying as a prediction for the Finals? I’ll go with Fletcher vs Takeshita in a Don Callis Family showdown, with Okada likely none too pleased about it all.
First up, we have some Zero Hour action, so let’s head straight to ringside to kick us off.
Location: Hoffman Estates, IL
Venue: NOW Arena
Commentators: Excalibur, Bryan Danielson, Tony Schiavone, & Nigel McGuinness
ZERO HOUR
Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs Hyan & Maya World
Hyan and Blue start us off, Hyan rolling away from kick attempts from Blue. Hart tags in, double flapjack on Hyan, Maya drags Blue to the floor. Leg drop from Hyan gets a 2 count. Hyan and Maya dump Hart to the apron for a little double team action, slingshot splash connects. Hyan and Maya go for tope suicidas but the Sister catch them with forearms to put a stop to it. Corner clothesline from Julia, handspring slap from Blue and a snapmare, followed by a kick to the head. Tarantula from Hart, allows Blue to hit a dropkick to the chest. 1, 2, no. Suplex attempt blocked, Hyan reverses into one of her own. Pump kick, tag to Maya, Blue tags in Hart too. Maya with a leaping elbow strike, dropkick from the middle rope. Double stomp to Julia, Maya covers, 1, 2, no. Boot to the face from Julia, superkick by Blue. Maya with forearms, Blue strikes back. CODE BLUE! But Hyan was legal, and she interrupts the cover. Double team swinging uranage connects on Hyan, and that gives the Sisters the 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Sisters of Sin
Time: 6:05
Rating: **1/4 – Very competitive, perhaps surprisingly so, with Hyan and Maya trying to make the most of their spots. They probably got more shine here than the Sisters, but that double team finisher works a treat for Hart & Blue.
Eddie Kingston vs Zack Gibson (w/ James Drake)
Gibson attempts to cut a promo on his way to the ring but Kingston interrupts with his entrance. Kingston takes it to both James Drake and Zack Gibson, knocking Drake to the outside and the bell rings. Chops from Eddie, Drake pulls Eddie to the outside, and Gibson attacks from behind with a blind suicide dive. Damn, Gibson landed on Eddie’s head there! Back in the ring, Gibson rakes the eyes, and Eddie flips him off. Zack pie faces him, riling Eddie up. They trade chops. Drake gets on the apron, uses the scarf to take Eddie down while the ref is distracted. Gibson poised, codebreaker off the middle rope! 1, 2, no! Gibson talks trash and delivers some forearms but Eddie shakes it off. Slap to the face, and now Eddie fires up, both guys with palm strikes. Leaping enziguri! DDT connects, 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Time: 5:38
Rating: *3/4 – I like GYV and feel they could have done some decent things in the tag division, but they’re just jobbers in this Eddie TV mini-feud. Shame.
*James Drake immediately attacks after the bell, choking Eddie with the scarf. Gibson aids him, choking Eddie out and raking the nose. The music of ORTIZ hits, Ortiz is here! Ortiz makes the save and runs GYV out of here. Kingston and Ortiz leave together.
*Commentary let us know that we’ll be kicking off the PPV with the C2 Semi-finals. Music to my ears!
Mascara Dorada & Bandido vs Rocky Romero & Mark Davis
Davis and Bandido are legal as the bell rings, Davis catches a spin kick, and they trade shoulder blocks.Bandido goes for a body slam, Davis is the one to get it though, and he nails a senton to follow. Tag to Rocky, Bandido knocks him away and tags Dorada in for a cross body. Dorada shows off the agility, hits a tijeras, walks the ropes with Rocky’s arm held, kicks Davis and hits a rope rebound flip. Dorada goes for a suicida to Davis on the floor but Davis catches him and holds him for a running kick from Rocky. Running hip attack to Bandido against the barricade. Back in the ring, Rocky delivers a dropkick to Dorada and does his Ronaldo sliding pose. Davis in, body slam, misses the senton. Tag to Bandido! Military press on Rocky, Davis pulls him down though. Crossbody from Dorada is caught, but Bandido launches himself with a tornillo to knock everyone down. Bandido and Dorada tie up Rocky with his own arms, kicks in the corner…overhang DDT by Dorada, and Bandido is there to hit the frog splash…1, 2, Davis breaks it up! Enziguri from Davis, sliced bread by Romero, 1, 2, no.
Forever Clotheslines from Romero. Dorada kicks Romero off the buckles, hits a tijeras on Davis. Tilt-a-whirl into the X-Knee, Dorada with the SSP! Tornillo over the top, Bandido tossing him! 21 Plex to Romero, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Mascara Dorada & Bandido
Time: 7:29
Rating: *** – Commentary seem to be pushing the idea of Bandido and Dorada as a potential team going forward…whaaaat, I’m not done with Brodido yet! Dorada & Bandido do show good synergy though, and they are fun to watch, so this worked well as a zero hour throwaway match.
*El Clon promo! Clon activated. El Clon is coming to Collision in 2026! Nice.
[8-man Tag Team Contest] JetSpeed & Jurassic Express vs The Demand & Josh Alexander
The Demand attack Jurassic Express from behind as they make their entrance, and now everyone battles on the ramp. Bailey is sent into the steps. Kaun with a biiig suplex on Perry on the ramp, and he almost slipped there by the looks of things. Liona and Kaun take Luchasaurus to the back. JetSpeed with double crossbodies to the floor. Bell rings and it’s JetSpeed taking on Alexander in the ring. Ricochet gets LAUNCHED over the top rope, taking everyone out on the floor. Rolling UFO Splash gets a 2 for Knight, tag to Bailey, who gets SHOVED hard to the floor by Ricochet. Yikes, could have broken an ankle on the apron there! Kaun tosses him back in for a cover, which gets 2. Falling headbutt from Ricochet. Backbreaker from Kaun, springboard rolling senton from Ricochet, just a 1 count. Dropkick from Speedball, Bailey looks for the tag but Ricochet sends Knight into the front row. Josh in, C4 attempt, Bailey with the Ultima Weapon! Perry is back up and begging for the tag, and he makes it. Elbow strikes to everyone, stunner over the ropes to Liona. Rebound lariat on Ricochet. Leaping DDT to Alexander, cover for 2 as Kaun kicks him to break it up. The Demand hit some triple team moves on Perry, with Ricochet hitting a standing SSP for 2. Small package from Perry gets 2. Backslide for 2 as well. DVD by Ricochet, cover, 1, 2, NO. He calls for the Spirit Gun…and the Jurassic Express music hits again, and here comes Luchasaurus all bandaged up. He takes everyone down, Ricochet misses the Spirit Gun and Perry tags Luchasaurus in. Bailey with a triangle moonsault to take out Liona. Chokeslam by Luchasaurus, Ricochet is down. Perry back in, running knee! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: JetSpeed & Jurassic Express
Time: 8:57
Rating: **1/2 – Harmless fun; not sure why Luchasaurus was taken out for the majority of the match, apart from an attempt to protect him, I assume?
AEW Worlds End 2025
*Pyro and BALLYHOO welcomes us to the show, Oh my GOODNESS, we’re starting with it! Takeshita vs Okada is up first!
[AEW Continental Classic Semi-Final] Kazuchika Okada [9] vs Konosuke Takeshita [13]
Big Fight Feel! Both men stare each other down at opposite ends of the ring. They circle. Okada extends the hand for a shake…Takeshita slaps it away. Collar and elbow tie-up, tentative start. A little mat wrestling, and Okada gives a clean break in the ropes, but then kicks Takeshita in the gut. They trade shoulder blocks, Okada goes for the Rainmaker, Powerdrive knee attempt from Takeshita, both dodged. Flying forearm from Takeshita knocks Okada down! Side Russian leg sweep, and a body scissors applied with Takeshita wrenching the arm of Okada backwards. Rope break, Okada rolls to the floor and Takeshita follows. Okada gets sent into the barricade, Takeshita takes a run up and ends up going face first into a chair. Spike DDT on the floor!
Back in the ring, a neckbreaker connects and Okada gives a cocky cover with the foot on the chest. Oh that’s pissed Takeshita off. Another DDT by Okada, but he doesn’t follow up with a cover, taking his time to pose and grin. He finally covers, just a 2. Back elbows in the corner, he tries for another DDT but Takeshita muscles him up, suplex! Leaping hurracanrana from Takeshita, Okada rolls to the floor again. TOPE CON HILOOOO crushes Okada on the outside. Takeshita takes a look at the title and likes what he sees. He re-enters the ring and stalks Okada. Big boot! Exploder! 1, 2, NO. Okada rakes the eyes of Takeshita, Okada gets his boots up to block in the corner…Air Raid Crash neckbreaker across the knee. Body slam, goes up top, Okada elbow drop…MIDDLE FINGER RAINMAKER POSE. And he holds the middle finger to the face of Takeshita. Forearms by Takeshita, they trade blows now. Wobbly knees from Okada. Biiiig uppercut and Takeshita goes down to his knees. Tombstone attempt, Okada can’t get him up, they reverse each other a few times…BASTARD DRIVER! WHEELBARROW GERMAN! Powerdrive Knee is countered into an Emerald Flowsion. Rainmaker COUNTERED INTO A BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Both men are down!
Okada hits a big lariat but Takeshita doesn’t go down! Another connects and Takeshita does go down this time, with Okada maintaining wrist control. Elbow strike from Takeshita. Backslide into the Powerdrive knee avoided, German by Okada!! Waist control maintained, tries for the arm…Rainmaker countered into a roll up, 1, 2, no! Shotgun dropkick by Okada, Takeshita runs into another dropkick. Rainmaker blocked, poisonrana! Powerdrive Knee! 1, 2, NOOOOO! Okada gets the arm up!
Raging Fire is countered, Okada grabs a screw driver from under the buckles! Knee to the back of the head. Rainmaker attempt, Okada uses the screwdriver on Takeshita, smashing him in the head with it, ref didn’t see it! 1, 2, 3!!! What the heck!
Winner and advancing to the Finals: Kazuchika Okada
Time: 17:16
Rating: ****1/4 – We were treated to some fantastic strong style graps right there, and those counters (and counters of counters) looked like a thing of beauty. I could watch that Rainmaker counter into the Blue Thunder ALL DAY! Finish is understandably a downer but it works perfectly for where Okada’s character is right now. And just how much is Don Callis involved? Is Okada working alone there, going off-piste, or is there a CONSPIRACY?!
[AEW Continental Classic Semi-Final] Kyle Fletcher [9] vs Jon Moxley [9]
Don Callis isn’t at the commentary desk for this one, perhaps notable. Mox gets the better of Fletcher with a chop, and Fletcher heads to the floor to recuperate. Mox goes out after him and works over the arm, then bounces his face off the announcer’s desk. Back in the ring, a scoop slam from Fletcher connects. They trade hard strikes in the corner and spill to the floor once more. Fletcher is sent into the barricade. More elbow strikes back and forth. Moxley tries to take Fletcher up the steel steps, but Fletcher traps Moxley’s leg between the steps and the ring, and dropkicks it to sandwich the leg. Fletcher gets Moxley back in the ring and applies an Indian Deathlock. Fletcher continues to work over the leg in the corner. Single leg crab applied now. Moxley escapes and hits a desperation cutter. Mox with a tope to the floor, but that understandably jars the leg.
Back in the ring, a Michinoku Driver out of nowhere from Fletcher gets 2! Fletcher is thinking big boot in the corner, but Moxley comes out with a lariat. Fletcher asks for another, then delivers one of his own. Running lariat this time knocks Fletcher down, but Moxley’s ankle is seemingly shot. They go face to face now, trading forearms. Jabs from Moxley, elbows from Kyle. Shotgun dropkick! He goes to the corner for mounted punches, but Kyle dumps him to the apron. Running kick is caught, Moxley swings the leg to smack him face first into the apron. Stomp misses, Fletcher hits the BRAINBUSTER ON THE APRON!
Fletcher is back in the ring while Moxley gets counted out on the outside. At 8, Mox is still on the floor. Up at 9, he beats the count! Fletcher is waiting for him, Liger Bomb, 1, 2, NOOOO! Straight into the single leg crab again, sits back. Kyle applies pressure to the back of the neck with a boot. Fletcher drags him back to the center, wrenches back, but Moxley reaches across and locks in the bulldog choke! Fletcher got caught there! Nicely done. Fletcher gets the ankle though, and applies an ankle lock! Fletcher is wrenching at that leg, Moxley is fighting!! He makes it to the ropes and the crowd is going nuts. Fletcher stomps Moxley down in the corner, then lifts him to the turnbuckle…may be thinking brainbustahhh? Moxley bites him to escape. Mox shoves him to crotch him on the top turnbuckle. Bulldog choke but he has to break it by 5. BULLDOG CUTTHROAT SUPLEX OFF THE TOP!!! Fletcher landed on his head, fuuuuck! MOXLEY WITH A STOMP! Moxley covers, 1, 2, Fletcher with a crucifix to reverse, gets 2. Half and half from Kyle, knee strike, ONE COUNT! Running kick in the corner, BRAINBUSTER! 1, 2, NOOOOOO! Moxley gets the shoulder up! Both men to their feet, and Moxley slaps Fletcher! Kyle responds with a HARD lariat and he flips off the crowd who are solidly behind Moxley at this point. Fletcher looks for the screwdriver in the buckles, doesn’t realise Okada already took it!
Small package from Mox, 1, 2, NOOO! Bulldog choke! PARADIGM SHIFT! 1, 2, NOOOOO! Fletcher gets the arm up, and Moxley is livid. DEATH RIDER! 1, 2, NOOOO. Sleeper locked in, Kyle is fighting….he gets to his knees, gets up….drops to his knees again. Fletcher’s hands drop….he desperately doesn’t want to quit, keeps catching the ref’s hands. But he starts turning purple, and the ref calls for the bell!
Winner and advancing to the Finals: Jon Moxley
Time: 23:32
Rating: ****1/2 – A methodical start that built into something wildly epic. I was tempted to call it ‘star-making’ for Fletcher but that’s so old hat at this point, we all know he’s a star. Narly spots, real hardcore strikes, and above all of that it was the DRAMA that had everyone on the edge of their seats for the entire last 7 or 8 minutes.
*Fletcher attacks Moxley with a chopblock while he celebrates! Moxley manages to walk to the back through the crowd, but he is limping heavily as he heads off to prepare for Okada.
[AEW World Tag Team Championships – Chicago Street Fight] FTR (c) vs Bang Bang Gang
Both teams immediately come to blows as the bell rings. We have a table propped up against the barricade. Juice and Dax fight into the crowd up the steps, and Cash suplexes Austin on the ramp. They fight near the top of the stage, and Austin runs Cash into the big LED screen. Gunn has a trash can and levels Cash with it. He takes a run up, Cash throws the can at him now. Austin tumbles down the ramp at another trash can shot. Stokely sets up some tables for his boys, so kind of him. Dax thinks about a piledriver through the table, Juice counters and slingshots Dax into the ringpost. Dax is laid out on the table, Juice goes up top…Cash from behind crotches him. Belly to back suplex from Cash connects. Dax with trash can shots to Gunn, and Cash uses a kendo stick for added insult. Backbreaker from Dax, diving trash can shot for the double team assist from Cash. Gunn is sent head first into the trash can in the corner as FTR are firmly in control.
Gunn and Cash spill to the floor with a biiig clothesline, and Juice hits a frog splash for 2. Jabs from Juice now, then Dax goes for the eyes, only to get clotheslined. Spinebuster, 1, 2, NO. Gunn is shoved shoulder first into the steel steps. Cash grabs a belt, Dax takes it and clocks Juice with it. Gunn blocks a kendo shot with a trash can lid and then ties it to his back like a TMNT. He dives as Cash, Cash dodges and sends him into the Spanish Announce Team. Juice is bleeding now. Chopblock from Cash. and Stokely holds the leg while Cash works over it. Dax drives a chair into the leg now, chair shot bounces off the leg. Dax is kicked into Cash, Juice with a rollup gets 2. More jabs from Juice, Cash comes in with a chair shot from behind. Dax ties up the legs, and Cash hits a diving stomp to the inside of the knee. Inverted figure 4 applied, Juice struggles to the ropes, but Cash helps drags Juice back to the center. Gunn is here with a fire extinguisher. WHEELER WITH A SUICIDE DIVE INTO THE TABLE, not sure who got the worst of that! Juice gets the ropes but it doesn’t matter in a street fight. Instead he grabs the fire extinguisher and unleashes it in the face of Dax. Juice with the falling DDT, cover, 1, 2, STOKELY ATTACKS THE REF! Stoke takes a chair, Juice is up though and grabs the chair, while Stokely escapes the ring. Chairshot to Dax. One to Cash. Again. Juice tries another chairshot, Stokely grabs the chair and shoves Stokely backwards off the apron into the table, table doesn’t break and Stoke eats shit on the floor. SHATTER MACHINE! 1, 2…GUNN breaks it up! Low blow to Cash…Dax with a piledriver to Gunn into the trash can! 1, 2, NOOO.
Dax and Cash hit the stump piledriver on Gunn…and another on the belt this time. Dax rolls him over and covers for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners and STILL AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR
Time: 16:58
Rating: ***1/4 – God bless them for following that semi-final. Reasonably heated, and while there wasn’t much ‘new’ on offer here from the stipulation, they did a fine job of getting fans back into the action. Where does the BBG go from here?
[AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championships] The Babes of Wrath (c) vs Mercedes Mone & Athena
Catapult into the knee from Cameron as the Babes double team Mone early on. Enziguris miss, Mone hits a Meteora as Athena delivers a sliding elbow. Mone misses a Meteora on the outside and Willow nails her wth an apron powerbomb. Athena out of nowhere with a torpedo suicida! Willow spears her in response. Backstabber on Cameron from Mone gets a 2 count. Athena and Mone work over Cameron in their corner, and Mone delivers a Meteora for 2. Snap suplex from Athena, and even more Meteoras from Mone as she goes into Spam Mode. Cameron finally makes the tag and Willow comes in as a house of fire.
Hip attack in the corner, Mone catches the boot but walks into a spinebuster. Tijeras from Willow, Athena cartwheels out of it though. GERMAN by Athena! DOMINATOR by Athena and her knee DESTROYS Willow’s face, good LORD. 1, 2, NO. POOOOOOUNCE! Willow tags in Harley, neckbreaker to Mone, clothesline and slingblade to Athena. Cameron goes up top, Mone holds the legs and the challengers climbs up but here’s Willow for a Tower of Doom spot. Harley stays on the buckles and hits a crossbody. Double crucifix bomb, 1, 2, no! Cameron is pulling out all the stops here. Tag to Willow, Sole Food into the back drop. Cameron tosses Mone to the floor. Willow catapults Athena but she hits a low angle O-Face on Cameron! Statement Maker on Willow!Mone prevents the rope break and rolls back, but Willow uses the momentum to hit a DVD! Athena breaks up the pin but hits her own partner. Mone does the same. Willow stacks them up in the cormer…running splash and a double clothesline. Nightingale up top now, Athena catches her, she assists Mone up for a double team superplex/powerbomb combo. That’s Her Finishing Move! Mone takes out Cameron. Babe with the Powerbomb countered, Willow rolls up Mone with a modified prawn hold…1, 2, 3!!
Winners and STILL AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions: Babes of Wrath
Time: 13:08
Rating: *** – They tried to get in quite a few innovative spots and they didn’t all work out, but props to them for trying. Sometimes, less is more. Still, Cameron worked her ass off, and Athena is always a joy to watch; she really needs to be regular fixture on AEW programming.
Darby Allin vs Gabe Kidd
In case you weren’t aware, Gabe Kidd is a madman – don’t worry, he’ll tell you 11 times in one sentence. Darby with a dropkick right out the gate, and Kidd locks in a sleeper. Kidd sits Darby on the top rope and slaps him all the way to the floor. He tosses Darby into the steel steps and whips him into the opposite barricade. Kidd charges, Darby moves and Kidd sends himself into the barricade. A tope from Darby connects and both men are down on the outside.
Kidd throws Darby over the timekeeper’s table, and then catapults him upwards into the steel steps. Ouch? Darbs is busted wide open from that one, dripping blood on the canvas. Gabe bounces Darby off the ringpost, sending him careering to the floor. Kidd tries to use a steel chair, Darby ducks and Kidd smacks it into the ringpost. Dropkick by Darby. Kidd is busted open now and placed on a chair as Darby goes up top…missile dropkick from the top sends Gabe head over heels. Coffin splash in the corner is countered with the knees up, and Kidd comes out with a John Woo dropkick. Kidd bites the bloody head of Darby and sets him up on the top rope. He may be looking for a piledriver off the ropes….Darby bites the nose and rakes the back, then hits a Code Red off the ropes! 1, 2, NO. Coffin Drop connects! Kidd rolls to the floor to prevent Darby from making another cover. Darby up top once more, COFFIN DROP to the floor this time. Both guys are a bloody mess at this point. Darby crawls to a cover, 1, 2, Kidd kicks ut but Darby has him hooked in the Scorpion Death Drop. Connects! Scorpion Death Lock applied too. Darby slumps forward and lets go, exhausted. Kidd smacks him with a right hand and a headbutt. Rebound lariat! JUMPING PILEDRIVER. 1, 2, NO. Kidd pounds away, locks in a sleeper once more but Darby rolls back into a tight cover, 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 12:49
Rating: *** – They’ve technically been feuding for months but it’s been stretched out and didn’t feel all that hot coming in to the PPV, which possibly explains why the live crowd didn’t seem all that into it. I’m not entirely sure what the point of this was, as Gabe is sporadic with AEW appearances, and Darby didn’t really ‘need’ another superhero story, overcoming the odds. Still, some good visuals from this one with all the blood and high spots, if that’s your kinda thing.
[Mixed Nuts Mayhem] Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, & Marina Shafir vs The Conglomeration & Toni Storm
And we’re off, with everyone going at it. Tornado tag rules, falls have to take place in the ring but that’s about it. Yuta tosses Storm to the outside to a huge chorus of boos. Briscoe takes it to him with a flying forearm. Tope con hilo through the ropes from Briscoe wipes out Garcia. Castagnoli comes in to uppercut Strong, continuing to work over him in the corner with stomps. Dropkick from Strong turns the tables. Garcia and Cassidy come face to face, and OC does a sloth-style Garcia dance. Garcia with the guillotine, OC reverses into a Stundog Millionaire. Big wind-up punch from OC connects. Marina gets in his face now…and she tucks her hands in her back pockets as OC delves into his pockets. She sweeps his legs out but he tosses her to the floor nonetheless. Yuta in, taking it to OC. Claudio joins him for the assault. Death Riders all run the train of corner lariats on OC. Strong gets beaten down now, the numbers game coming in to play. Marina chops Roddy! They all run the train on Roddy now and kick him to the outside. Briscoe takes his turn now, again getting beaten down. Garcia and Yuta pose while Castagnoli chokes him out. Briscoe taken out on the repeated lariat offense. Storm shoves Briscoe out of the way of a strike from Shafir, and they do battle now. Hip attack sends Shafir to the outside. Claudio grabs Storm but Briscoe makes the save….double shoulder tackle from Storm and Briscoe! Garcia looks for a piledriver on Storm but OC with an Orange Punch. Storm and OC dance a little while fending off everyone, with Storm being the one to dip OC as they tango, amazing. German by Storm, Hip Attack is avoided, and Storm narrowly avoids an uppercut from Claudio. OC delivers a satellite DDT, Froggy Bow from Briscoe gets 2 but is broken up by the Death Riders.
Yuta with a snap suplex on Cassidy, and Garcia helps out to beat him down. Storm takes it to Garcia and Yuta now….German to Garcia! One to Yuta! Shafir in, boxes the ears, but Storm with a Big Package, only to get scooped up by Claudio…and she delivers a tornado DDT, GIANT SWING TO TONI STORM!!! Knee strike from Strong, and now Strong comes face to face with Shafir…and she LEVELS him with a boot to the face. Storm Zero to Garcia! Yuta grabs Storm from behind, Orange Punch connects to break it. HIP ATTACK TO YUTA. Briscoe delivers the Jay Driller, and that’s enough for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners: The Conglomeration & Toni Storm
Time: 12:44
Rating: ***1/4 – Barmy, chaotic and messy fun, with the intergender aspects taking the forefront of attention. The Roddy/Marina sections were particularly fun, and the crowd came alive for those. OC and Storm were clearly having a blast too. Good to have some silliness to break up all the serious storylines elsewhere on the card.
*Mina Shirakawa heads to the ring with Luther after the match for the celebration. Haha Orange Cassidy jumps on Storm in the same way Mina does, legs wrapped around her.
*Lexy Nair hopes to get a word with Mercedes Mone, but Mone storms past her and we hear her having a tantrum. Mone comes back out and pretends to be fine. Mone reminds Lexy that she is Ultimo Mone and she’ll beat Willow’s f’n ass at New Year’s Smash.
[AEW Women’s World Championship] Kris Statlander (c) vs Jamie Hayter
Quick paced feeling-out process, Hayter misses a Hayterade but knocks Statlander down with a shoulder block. They both run the ropes and go for another shoulder block, but bounce off each other. Roundhouse kick connects, and Statlander delivers a guillotine over the middle rope. Pendulum moonsault misses, but Statlander catches the legs of Hayter and catapults her into the steel steps. Back suplex, Statlander with an inside slingshot splash as the fans begin to get into it with duelling chants. Scoop slam by the champion, misses the splash this time, and Hayter clotheslines her to the floor. Kris is back up to sweep the legs and drag her to the floor, before laying Jamie out on the announce table. Hayter with a missile dropkick off the announce desk. Back in the ring, another missile dropkick connects. Corner clothesline, exploder suplex, and Jamie covers for a 2 count.
Boot to the chest by Jamie gets 2. Chinlock applied now, Kris gets out of it and hits a snapmare facebuster. Running knee, Fisherman’s Driver! Both women trade strikes now. Neckbreaker across the knee, sliding lariat from Hayter gets 2. Exploder off the second rope! 1, 2, kickout. Statlander with a package piledriver! 1, 2, noooo. They fight on the buckles again, trading places, before Statlander delivers a FISHERMAN’S DRIVER OFF THE TOP! Stat doesn’t go for the cover, and instead thinks about a Hayterade….which Jamie reverses. Running knee! 1, 2, NO. Enziguri from Stat, uranage across the knee! Vertical suplex from Statlander. HAYTERADE from Statlander! Staturday Night reversed, Hayter hits one of her own! Kris looks for a roaring elbow but Jamie cuts her off with a lariat. Staturday Night Fever finally connects, and Statlander covers…1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW Women’s World Champion: Kris Statlander
Time: 18:07
Rating: *** – Pacing issues lost the crowd, and it didn’t feel like the drama was there, which was a shame as it seemed like they were trying to tell something epic. Selling issues plagued this down the stretch too – Jamie just shrugged off that top rope avalanche Fisherman’s Driver? It didn’t even seem like fighting spirit, just sporadic selling depending on the spots they were doing. The ‘story’ elements with them trying to one-up each other with their own moves was neat, but it didn’t stick the landing in my book.
*Jack Perry vs Ricochet for the National Championship at New Year’s Smash is made official.
*Don Callis and Kazuchika Okada backstage hype up the Finals, and Callis says history will be made, with the first ever back-to-back Continental Classic wins. Callis wants to exact revenge on people who have wronged him, so he wants Okada to leave Jon Moxley laying. Okada says Moxley has accomplished a lot, but he’s never beaten him, and he never will.
*Jon Moxley says the C2 is a beautiful thing. Win, lose, or draw, it’s about passion. Showing the world what you’ve given your life to. Okada…you’re going to have to kill him.
[AEW Continental Championship – Continental Classic Finals] Kazuchika Okada vs Jon Moxley
Super special in-ring introductions for this big occasion. Okada and Moxley come face to face, Okada asks for a handshake but Moxley flips him off. Okada gets him in the ropes, looks to be a clean break but then flips him off. Okada makes a grab of the ankle, so Moxley rolls to the outside to shake it off. Okada again grounds Moxley, forcing Mox to the ropes. Full Nelson applied by Mox, Okada picks the ankle but Moxley rakes the eyes to escape. They pie-face each other, Okada picks the ankle once more and wrenches it. Dropkick to Moxley while he’s on the buckles, and his boot gets caught, briefly hanging him upside down. DDT on the floor by Okada.
Okada drops Moxley knee-first onto the steel steps. Back in the ring, Moxley unloads on Okada only for Okada to stomp the ankle. Moxley delivers a headbutt to escape a Figure 4 variation. DDT connects in the ring this time as Okada covers for a 2 count. Running kick to the side of the head. Slingshot senton from Okada. Air Raid Crash neckreaker connects, cover, 1, 2, no. Scoop slam, Okada up top for the elbow drop, and it connects. RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE…but Moxley grabs the finger and twists. Running lariat knocks Okada down. Okada tries a shotgun dropkick but Moxley puts the brakes on and applies a figure four instead.
Dragon screw by Okada keeps the focus on Moxley’s leg. Texas Cloverleaf! Mox reaches the ropes. Elbows and forearms in the corner connect, Okada looks for the neckbreaker again but Moxley counters and hits a Gotch-style piledriver! 1, 2, NO. Moxley flips round into the bulldog choke but can’t fully get it. Okada back to his feet, but his hands drop. Paradigm Shift countered. They almost hit the ref, he cowers, and that allows Okada to low blow Moxley! Rainmaker! 1, 2, NOOO.
Okada grabs the title belt from the desk and brings it into the ring. The ref sees it and takes it away, and that allows Moxley a split second to low blow Okada himself. Mox and Okada come face to face once more, with Moxley drawing a metaphorical line in the sand. Forearms traded. DROPKICK from Okada, but Moxley stands back up! Backslide into the Rainmaker! He maintains wrist control but Moxley kicks him away, Paradigm Shift connects! Slow to cover, finally does, 1, 2, NO. Mox continues to adjust to get the choke, ends up hitting his own Rainmaker! PARADIGM SHIFT! 1, OKADA KICKS OUT AT 1! STOMP from Moxley! Death Rider connects! 1, 2, 3!!!!
Winner and NEW AEW Continental Champion: Jon Moxley
Time: 20:01
Rating: ***3/4 – Very smartly, we started off with the “NJPW Okada Style” match, slow and methodical, with him firmly in control. He focused on the weak spot of his opponent, but it simply wasn’t enough to combat the heart and determination of Moxley. Was not expecting a clean victory like that! Without his bag of tricks, Okada was unable to get the job done…and I doubt that will sit well with the Don Callis Family.
*The Death Riders join Moxley to celebrate. Tony Schiavone has the microphone and enters the ring to get some words with Moxley. Mox says the title doesn’t belong to him. The Continental Championship belongs to everyone who busted their ass, who gave it everything they had. It belongs to the fans who support pro wrestling. He owes it to his teammates. He’s not just talking about the people standing in the ring with him right now, he means everyone in AEW who shows up every single day. Moxley slaps hands with the Death Riders and they all head to the back.
[AEW Men’s World Championship] Samoa Joe (c) vs Swerve Strickland vs Hangman Page vs MJF
Swerve and MJF go at it, as does Joe and Hangman. Joe is sent to the floor, as Page delivers a fallaway slam to MJF and a slingshot crossbody to Joe, followed by the leaping lariat to MJF. Joe comes back in to enziguri Page, being so kind as to wash his face with his boot in the corner. Swerve kicks away at Joe, MJF in, and MJF mocks the Griddy. Body slam from MJF, takes a run up and hits the crotch bump into the face of Swerve. Strickland doesn’t take kindly to it and hits the diving European uppercut, before hitting a crotch bump of his own. Fosbury Flop to the outside takes out MJF! Joe is in the ring, takes a run up, tope sucida!! And Hangman is poised, moonsault to the outside.
MJF sets Swerve up for the Heatseeker, Swerve shrugs him off though. Swerve stomp to the outside! Page nails a Buckshot Lariat off the back of Swerve to take out Joe, and now Page and Swerve turn their attention to each other. Palpable tension!
Page and Swerve circle each other and come to blows. Page is thinking Deadeye, avoided, Page avoids a suplex attempt. Moonsault into a tombstone, Swerve reverses, DEADEYE BY SWERVE! House Call is cut off with a lariat. Page is ready for the Buckshot, nails it! 1, 2, Joe breaks it up. Joe places Swerve on the buckles, looks for the Muscle Buster, Page pulls him away, and now Page hits a fallaway slam on Swerve into MJF, with Joe also powerbombing Page at the same time.
Joe again thinks Muscle Buster, Swerve gets out of it and hits the leaping flatliner on MJF. German to Samoa Joe! Backbreaker by Swerve, biiiig powerslam on Hangman gets 2. Strickland tries to hook the arms, gets splashed by Joe in the corner. Hangman clotheslines MJF to the floor. ANGEL’S WINGS by Page on Swerve! He skins the cat, then moonsaults onto MJF. Buckshot is ducked, but Page hits a powerbomb on Swerve. 1, 2, NO. Page gets Joe down in one corner, MJF stomps the arm of Page. Waterwheel Drop on Swerve. Buskhot is avoided, MJF misses the Heatseeker, but he launches Page into a cutter! 1, 2, noooo but he locks in the Salt of the Earth! Joe locks Swerve in the Coquina Clutch so MJF releases his hold to break up the other submission. Joe gets MJF into the Coquina Clutch, harking back to 2 years ago. Ref is checking the arm….HOUSE CALL before the arm can drop a third time! Swerve thinks about Big Pressure, reversed. MJF thumbs the eye. Page knocks him away, and together him and Swerve take out both Joe and MJF. Swerve and Page then take out each other with roaring elbows/enziguris and all 4 men are down.
PANAMA SUNRISE on Swerve! 1, 2, Joe breaks it up. DEADEYE by Page, 1, 2, noooo MJF escapes. Joe pushes Page of the apron, Swerve hits a DDT on Joe. He’s poised for the House Call, but here come The Opps to take everyone out on the outside. Joe hits the Muscle Buster on Page, 1, 2, NOOO Page gets the arm up. Hook gets on the apron. Prince Nana gets cornered by Shibata and Hobbs….but Swerve is there to take them out with a Swerve Stomp off the top. Page drops Joe with a right hand and now he has his sights set on Hook. Page grabs Hook but Joe gets him from behind. Coquina Clutch! Swerve climbs the ropes…SWERVE STOMP TO JOE! Other refs come out to take the Opps backstage. Swerve to the top again, Joe sweeps the legs…Swerve counters and powerbombs Joe to the mat. SWERVE STOMP, noooo MJF shoves him to the floor! MJF gets kicked away by Page. Buckshot Lariat but Joe doesn’t go down. 2 Buckshots! A third is blocked, low blow by MJF. Heatseeker to Joe! 1, 2, 3!
Winner and NEW AEW Men’s World Champion: MJF
Time: 20:31
Rating: ***3/4 – They were going for finishers early on, and it did become a bit of a finisher-fest, but the timings were near perfect so it looked smooth as butter. Plus they kept us guessing right to the very end, as it really could have gone any way, with each competitor getting a fantastic nearfall that looked like it was ‘the one’. In the end, MJF outsmarted his competition, and solidified himself back at the top of the company.
*MJF celebrates with his title and the pyro goes off as the broadcast comes to an end. That’s all for tonight, gang – enjoy your evening! Thanks for joining us here at 411 – see you next time.
