AEW Worlds End Review - December 28, 2024

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

Zero Hour: Toni Storm def. Leila Grey

It's possible Grey will start to get more in-ring opportunities now that Top Flight aren't with Lio Rush and Action Andretti anymore. She's improved from where she was a few years ago but is still several notches below the rest of the women's division in AEW. This was another extended showcase for Storm, who we found out a little later on will face Deonna Purrazzo on next week's Collision.

Zero Hour: Jeff Jarrett def. QT Marshall

I had no idea why this was added to the card when it was originally announced a few days ago, but then I remembered that Jarrett got involved in Marshall's match with Jay Lethal at ROH Final Battle. That was a little over as week ago, but it feels like it was a month ago with the amount of AEW and Ring of Honor programming content I've consumed since then. At any rate, Jarrett was super over with this crowd and Marshall played his role well. They had a nice little match, but it could've been slightly shorter and it wouldn't have mattered.

Zero Hour: Lio Rush, Action Andretti and Murder Machines def. Top Flight and The Outrunners

I have no idea why Rush and Andretti didn't get their shot at the AEW World Tag Team Championship on this show. At least they won here to keep their momentum rolling. This was a fun showcase for all four teams involved and had quality action. AEW's tag team division lacks depth at the moment, but I want to think these teams can play a part in turning things around.

Will Ospreay def. Kyle Fletcher in a Continental Classic Semifinal Match

These two have such incredible chemistry together that it would've been tough for them to have anything less than an excellent match. Sure enough, they knocked it out of the park. Part of me wanted to see Fletcher score a second straight win over Ospreay and advance to the finals, but Ospreay avenging the loss was perfectly logical. This was more stellar stuff from Ospreay and Fletcher and the latter loses nothing in defeat.

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada def. Ricochet in a Continental Classic Semifinal Match (Non-Title)

I like the decision to get the semifinal matches out of the way early and to put them back-the-back. Unfortunately, Okada and Ricochet had the tough task of having to follow Ospreay and Ricochet. This was good, but it fell well below my expectations given it was their first-ever one-one-one encounter. As the current Continental champ, Okada needed to advance to the finals. Swerve Strickland taunting Ricochet afterward confirms that as the next feud for both men.

AEW Women's World Champion Mariah May def. Thunder Rosa in a Tijuana Street Fight

I don't think anyone actually thought Rosa had a chance of beating May for the AEW Women's World Championship on this show, so adding the Tijuana Street Fight stipulation was smart to make the match more interesting. The crowd came alive for several spots but were quiet at other points. They put forth a commendable effort and did the best they could considering the circumstances.

MJF def. Adam Cole to Maintain Possession of the Dynamite Diamond Ring

The Dynamite Diamond Ring serves so little purpose at this point that I'm shocked Cole didn't win it just so he can scrap it, but obviously, that didn't happen. The rekindling of their rivalry has left a lot to be desired since October, but they had the entertaining outing they were capable of, nonetheless. Despite MJF winning, Cole and the rest of Undisputed Kingdom (as well as Kyle O'Reilly) left him laying afterward. I'd rather see this storyline end so both Cole and MJF can move on.

AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita def. Powerhouse Hobbs

This had a simple story with Hobbs being frustrated over The Don Callis Family not checking up on him while he was out injured, but AEW did almost nothing to flesh out the feud coming into this event. You can partially blame the tepid crowd reaction on that. To their credit, they had a solid match. One seemingly botched spot hurt the flow, but I liked this otherwise. Takeshita should feel like a bigger deal than he does at the moment, but I realize a majority of the focus in The Don Callis Family as of late has been on Fletcher.

AEW TBS Champion and NJPW Strong Women's Champion Mercedes Mone def. Kris Statlander (NJPW Strong Women's Championship Was Not Defended)

Mone and Statlander had one of the best women's matches in AEW history at Full Gear, so I was excited when it was announced that they'd be running it back on this show. Statlander was my pick to win, but it looks like they want to tell a longer story with her in chase mode. As long as she eventually defeats Mone (preferably for the TBS title), I'm content. This was a strong sequel to their last match. Mone will defend her Strong Women's title against Mina Shirakawa at Wrestle Dynasty next weekend.

AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada def. Will Ospreay to Win the 2024 Continental Classic

It was clear from the get-go that Okada was winning based on the story they were telling with Ospreay being exhausted from his war with Fletcher and Okada being the ultimately tournament wrestler, but the crowd was hot for every nearfall down the stretch, regardless. There's been plenty of Okada matches this year that have underdelivered (including on this show against Ricochet), but this was not one of them. This turned into a terrific match. Kenny Omega's post-match return and confrontation with Okada was expected, but it made for a memorable moment. Now the question is we get Okada vs. Omega soon or if they hold off on it for a big stage down the road.

AEW World Champion Jon Moxley def. Jay White, "Hangman" Adam Page and Orange Cassidy in a Four-Way Match

The build for this bout was all over the place and the Death Riders angle in general has been a dud, but this was a well-worked match and all four guys got their time to shine. Moxley retaining was predictable, but it didn't make the finish any less deflating. Thankfully, they ended this event on a high note with FTR and the returning Adam Copeland coming out afterward to fend off The Death Riders. That was a cool cliffhanger for Wednesday's Dynamite where Copeland and FTR will take on Death Riders in a six-man tag team matchup.

Overall Show

I feel like a broken record, but even with the buzz surrounding the the weekly AEW product being at an all-time low, the company continues to kill it on pay-per-view. The Continental Classic was once again a success, the wrestling on the whole was top-notch, and Omega and Copeland being back are two big boosts. That said, AEW desperately needs to start fresh in the new year by generating some excitement among its audience.

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