Tag: Aew Worlds End 2023

Tonight’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view features a World title defense, plus the finals of the Continental Classic tournament. 

MJF will defend the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe. MJF’s title reign has stretched for over 400 days, but he is battling hip and shoulder injuries and faces a tough test in Joe. 

The Continental Classic tournament will also conclude on the show, as Jon Moxley faces Eddie Kingston in the finals to crown a Triple Crown Champion. The winner will be the AEW Continental Champion, the ROH World Champion, plus the NJPW Strong Openweight Champion. 

Three more title matches are also set. 

Christian Cage defends the TNT title against Adam Copeland in a no-DQ match, Toni Storm defends the Women’s World title against Riho, plus TBS Champion Julia Hart defends against Abadon. 

Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee, plus Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo are the other featured singles bouts on the show. 

Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Mark Briscoe vs. Jay White, Rush, Brody King & Jay Lethal in an eight-man tag is also scheduled. 

Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Sting & Darby Allin face Big Bill, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher in another eight-man tag. 

Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale, a 20-man battle royale for a future TNT title shot, plus Hook defending the FTW title against Wheeler Yuta are set for the Zero Hour pre-show.

Zero Hour

The WrestleAunts, Renee Paquette & RJ City welcome us to Zero Hour and run down the card for this evening. Due to an injury, we’re told that Keith Lee is unable to compete tonight, so his Naturally Limitless partner, Dustin Rhodes, will be taking his place against Swerve Strickland.

Paquette announced Jeff Jarrett to the panel and he wishes everyone a Slappy New Year. Jarrett has known Samoa Joe for a long time and wasn’t surprised by Joe turning on MJF this past Wednesday. MJF is anything but focused on his AEW World Title and guarantees the landscape will change tonight. When talking about the Continental Classic, Jarrett said it was very fitting that the Finals come down to Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston, who Jarrett called a bum.

Excalibur, Taz, Nigel McGuinness & Stokely Hathaway are on commentary for our opening contest.

Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander

(The late arriving crowd got into the match in the second half and the only downfall was the ending, which took a few tries to get to work correctly. These two ladies had a hard hitting match and this is the first time Statlander has lost back to back singles matches in her AEW run.)

An even back and forth to start, as Nightingale hit a bodyslam a running low cross body for a near fall. Statlander responded with a leg sweep and handstand leg drop, until Nightingale leapt off the second with a cross body for two. Statlander was sent to the floor, as Nightingale followed with a somersault senton off the apron. Back inside, Nightingale tried a Doctor Bomb, but Statlander fought it off with a forearm and somersault senton of her own. Statlander kept Nightingale grounded with a body scissors and Cobra Clutch until Nightingale fought free with a cartwheel into an enzugiri. Statlander dodged a high boot into a back suplex, but both ladies collided into the double down.

Nightingale struck first with a series of offense in the corner before a spinebuster connected for two. Both ladies traded Three Amiga attempts, with each able to hit two of the three multiple times before both just collapsed. Statlander was up first and hit a front face suplex, lifting Nightingale in an electric chair position and dropped Nightingale face first. Statlander was slow to follow, which allowed Nightingale to connect with the Pounce, corner cannonball and Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Statlander ducked a lariat and really had to fight for a Blue Thunder Bomb and scissors kick. Statlander signaled for the 450 on the top, but Nightingale cut her off with a powerbomb on the apron. Back inside, Nightingale hit a shotgun dropkick off the second, but Statlander again kicked out. Statlander tried Saturday Night Fever, but Nightingale rolled out, hit a glancing enzugiri, but Statlander answered with a discus lariat, only to miss a 450 Splash. Nightingale turned Statlander inside out with a lariat and tried a Doctor Bomb, but couldn’t hit it all the way after two attempts. The camera cut to Hathaway on commentary as Nightingale tried and successfully hit the Doctor Bomb on the third try to get the win. Hathaway said he hasn’t been this disappointed since they cancelled Martin.

-A video package of Serena Deeb is shown in a straightjacket saying she’s been studying the women’s division since her time off. She escaped the straightjacket and was shown training as well. The Woman of 1,000 Holds, The Professor of Professional Wrestling is ready to return.

Killswitch won the 20 Man Battle Royale for a shot at the TNT Title Anytime, Anywhere last eliminating Trent Beretta

(Pretty much your standard battle royale, as some of the local guys got hometown pops before getting eliminated, resulting in boos from the crowd. The two giants being trapped under tables to start just meant they got to rest for half the match, as the winner made the most sense out of everyone involved. Killswitch now gets a TNT Title match whenever he wants.)

Other participants included Danhausen, Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, The Butcher, The Blade, Action Andretti, Darius Martin, Christopher Daniels, Matt Menard, Bryan Keith, Kip Sabian, John Silver, Alex Reynolds, Angelo Parker, Lee Johnson, Johnny TV, Dalton Castle & Serpentico

Multiple guys trapped Lane Archer & Killswitch under tables ringside before everyone else spilled into the ring. Danhausen cursed Serpentico, who was quickly dumped by Beretta. Castle tried to get his hands on Johnny TV, but was eliminated by Sabian rather quickly, disappointing the crowd and continuing Castle’s downward spiral. Romero launched Danhausen into Johnny TV on the apron to eliminate him. Johnson was eliminated by Parker, who was then sent packing by the Dark Order after a Wombo Combo by Silver & Reynolds. Sabian, Butcher & Blade triple teamed and eliminated Reynolds, as Silver fought them all off to get a hometown pop before being dumped by The Butcher. Keith hit an enzugiri on the apron to eliminate Sabian, as Danhausen was about to curse him, until Butcher & Blade put a stop to it, eliminating Keith in the process.

Archer rose from the tables and cleaned house, dumping Menard and Daniels. Beretta, Romero & Danhausen tried to triple team the big man, but Archer was fresh, so he hit a Blackout over the top on Romero. Andretti slammed a bottle of water, which I guess is his thing now and hit a double team pop up hurricanrana with Martin on Archer. Killswitch is finally in and collided with Archer before dumping out Andretti & Martin. The Butcher & Blade were tossed next, as the final 4 are Archer, Killswitch, Danhausen & Beretta, as it was Danhausen who was seved from Blackout by Beretta. After a groin punch, both Beretta & Danhausen eliminated Archer before doing a Best Friends hug. Beretta turned on Danhausen and dumped him before delivering multiple charging knees to Killswitch. Beretta low bridged Killswitch to the apron, but ran into the clutches, pulled over the top and clobbered by the big man to allow Killswitch to win the match and the open TNT Title contract.

HOOK defeated Wheeler Yuta to retain the FTW Title under FTW Rules

(These two had a fun match, with the weapons being kept to trash cans, lids and then the finish with the hockey stick. It’s probably for the best, as we have a No DQ on tap tonight. The crowd popped big for HOOK’s victory here.)

Yuta ran down Long Island before the match began and was drowned out by the New York Islanders horn as HOOK made his entrance wearing Islanders colors. HOOK lit up Yuta with corner strikes, and wanted to duck a Yuta chop, but Yuta caught HOOK right in the face with the chop instead. Yuta brought out a few weapons, but HOOK took the fight to the stage with a Northern Lights. Yuta scrambled to ringside and decked HOOK with a trash can lid before opting to trash talk Taz, knocking his beverage over in the process. Yuta kept HOOK grounded until HOOK fought back with a suplex and series of clotheslines. Yuta rolled through REDRUM as both men traded German suplexes until a slugfest ensued into the double down.

Yuta bit at HOOK and hit a fisherman’s suplex with a bridge for two. A trash can shot led to HOOK blocking a knee into an overhead suplex into the corner where a trash can was set up. HOOK sank in REDRUM, but Yuta piggy backed and drove HOOK onto the trash can. Yuta is bleeding from the head as he planted HOOK with a DDT on a stop sign for two. HOOK rolled to the floor, allowing Yuta to grab a 2×4, as HOOK emerged with a hockey stick and swept the leg of Yuta before busting the stick over Yuta’s back. With a piece of the stick, HOOK applied REDRUM and got the submission win.

AEW World’s End 2023

“It’s Saturday Night, you know what that means.” Excalibur welcomed us alongside Taz & Nigel McGuinness, who were joined by Daddy Magic Matt Menard for our opening All Star 8 Man Tag.

Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Mark Briscoe defeated Switchblade Jay White, Brody King, Rush & Jay Lethal

(A hell of a party match opener, with Garcia gaining respect from the Blackpool Combat Club and getting the big win for his team. The crowd just wanted Garcia to do his dance and they were rewarded as a result.)

McGuinness is really pouring on the insults on Danielson before the match even began. The more this happens, the more I think a match between the two will happen before Danielson wraps up his full time career. Rush & Castagnoli had a fast opening sequence, with Rush nearly hitting a dive, but Castagnoli sprinted back in the ring for a face off. Briscoe & Lethal picked up where they left off with a nice back and forth, loud series of chops included. White & Danielson came in for their first interaction with White immediately trapped in a LeBell Lock, getting the ropes and Danielson reminds Rick Knox he has until 5. Chops in bunches by White, but Danielson answered with kicks and chops of his own before delivering a corner hurricanrana. Danielson went for a home run Yes Kick, but Garcia stole the tag, as payback for Danielson cutting off Garcia’s dance during the entrances.

Garcia & King tagged in and King immediately planted Garcia with a Black Hole Slam for two. King got into Menard’s face ringside, with White egging the big man on, as the crowd had loud Daddy Magic chants. Back inside, Rush mocked Garcia’s dance as Garcia found himself isolated. Finally able to get free, Briscoe made the hot tag and cleaned house. Danielson flew to the floor to take out Rush, as Castagnoli lit up King with uppercuts, while Briscoe hit a Blockbuster to the floor followed by a Cactus Jack elbow on Rush. Back inside, Briscoe hit a massive Fisherman’s Bomb on White for two. White spun out of a Jay Driller, but White hit an Exploder over the top to the floor where Lethal & King got in their shots. Lethal connected on a superplex, but White rolled out of a Gonzo Bomb by King to tag in Castagnoli, as the two big men of the match went at it in a striking war.

My stream died for about a minute, as when it returned, Castagnoli was giving King a giant swing and Danielson hit the Tyson Kidd-esque dropkick mid revolution. The match broke down and picked up a lightning quick pace with Lethal hitting a Lethal Combination on Garcia followed by a Figure Four as everyone brawled ringside. Briscoe came flying in with a Froggy Bow to save his partner, as everyone took turns hitting their home run signature shots until Garcia was left with King and hit a stalling Saito Suplex. Lethal tried to cut off Garcia, who pulled out the legs and got a roll up for the win. Garcia did his dance for the crowd and Menard joined in on commentary. Lethal was being talked to by Sonjay Dutt post match, as more seeds are planted for dissention in that group.

Miro submitted Andrade El Idolo (w/CJ Perry)

(With the rumors of Andrade finishing up tonight with AEW and expected back in WWE as soon as a few days, it made the most sense for Miro to get the win here and also end the partnership of Andrade & Perry. I assume this story could’ve gone longer, but if Andrade is leaving, there’s no reason to keep Perry & Miro apart any longer. They should’ve been together from the start.)

After being hospitalized recently, it’s good to see Perry back, as she looks great. Miro attacked right at the bell, before Andrade could even get his jacket off. Andrade fought back and wanted a dive, but Miro put a stop to that. Back inside, Miro escaped a Figure Four and pulled Andrade into an overhead throw. Miro yelled at Perry if this is what she wanted and she yelled right back at her husband. Miro connected on a spinning side slam before taking the fight to Andrade ringside into the barricade. Perry yelled at Andrade to fight back, but Miro dumped him on the announce table. Rough night for commentators trying to protect their drinks so far. Andrade responded by launching Miro over the table, landing right on his head. Back inside, Miro fought back in the corner and hit a superplex for the reset.

Perry screamed for both men to get up, as they did, starting their slugfest, as Andrade’s chops echoed loud in the arena. Andrade caught Miro’s leg in the ropes and hit a dragon screw before a cross body off the top led to a flying forearm. Miro bailed from the corner charge, but rolled right in position for Andrade to hit a moonsault to the floor. Andrade hugged Perry, as Miro avoided the first moonsault back inside, but not the follow up, which got Andrade two. Miro battled back and flattened Andrade before sinking in Game Over, but Andrade got the ropes. Miro turned his attention too long to his wife, as Andrade went back after the leg and hit the spinning back elbow flush for a close two.

Andrade locked in the Figure Four, but couldn’t bridge to the Eight. Miro briefly reversed and got the Figure Eight, as Miro grabbed the ref. This allowed Perry to pull the arms out from Andrade, as he asks why, allowing Miro to clock him with a superkick for two. Miro applied Game Over in the middle of the ring and got the submission. Perry smiled at her husband, who didn’t seem to know what to think of his wife siding with him.

Timeless Toni Storm (w/Luther) defeated Riho to retain the AEW Women’s Title

(Storm controlled so much of this match I thought it was going to be a complete squash, but once Luther got ejected, Riho was able to make a comeback. Despite getting a few near falls and taking the fight to the champion, Storm was able to avoid the offense and retain the title. The crowd was loudly behind Storm and her character.)

After taking an early bodyslam, Riho bridged out of a pin and tried a bodyslam of her own, but couldn’t get Storm down, so opted for a dropkick and running bulldog. Storm went to the floor, where Riho tried a cross body onto Luther, who caught and passed her to Storm, hitting a bodyslam ringside. Back inside, Storm got her black and white close up before keeping Riho grounded for an extended period. Riho tried to use her speed, but Storm’s power was too much and hit a sitout choke bomb for two. Storm repeatedly stepped on the lower back before posing for the crowd. While sitting on Luther’s shoulders, Storm launched Riho to the floor off the apron. Riho broke the count, robbing Storm of her close up, as Storm sank in a Texas Cloverleaf. Luther pulled the ropes back from Riho and got ejected as a result.

This was enough for Riho to mount her comeback with forearms, head scissors and Tiger Feint Kick. To the top, Riho hit the cross body and finally got enough of a bodyslam for two. Storm again rolled to the floor, but Luther wasn’t there to save her from a diving Riho. Storm went to the apron and Riho met her with a diving double stomp before a Dragon Suplex back inside connected for two. Riho missed the corner charge, but Storm whiffed on Sweet Cheek Music as well, only to successfully hit Storm Zero for a close near fall. Riho nearly stole the pin with a roll up, but took too long to go to the second rope and Storm pulled the legs out for a bad landing. Storm hit an over the back DDT and got the victory. Post match, Mariah May appeared with a bucket of roses to shower over Storm to celebrate.

-Lexy Nair is backstage with Dante Martin, who said he’s been doing good, but not great. Getting injured put a stop to his momentum in AEW. Orange Cassidy walks in and Martin immediately accepted the International Title match against Cassidy for Wednesday on Dynamite.

Swerve Strickland (w/Prince Nana) defeated Dustin Rhodes

(Take nothing away from Rhodes, who is as tough as they come, but with Strickland being a potential World Title contender in 2024, I’m not sure this match needed to go as long as it did. Especially with how this match started with the use of the cinderblock, which still baffles me the medical staff allowed this match to just happen. Strickland got a dominating win and I assume when Keith Lee is cleared, we’ll finally get the match, now over a year in the making.)

Strickland got the jump immediately when Rhodes tried to climb in the ring and slammed Rhodes into the post and barricade. A charging dropkick into the steps led to Nana pulling out a cinderblock and placing Rhodes’ ankle on it. Strickland debated it, only to smile and hit a Swerve Stomp, shattering the cinderblock. The doctors checked on Rhodes as loud Whose House chants rang out. Doctors and staff helped Rhodes up the ramp, but he turned around and made his way back to the ring. The ref just allowed this to happen, as the match officially began and Strickland hit a pump kick, mocking Keith Lee, saying this could’ve been him.

Rhodes fought off Strickland in the corner and managed a cross body for two, as Rhodes continued to mount a comeback with a Canadian Destroyer and powerslam for another near fall. Rhodes set up Strickland for the Unnatural Kick and hit it, as Nana had the referee. A Piledriver by Rhodes led to Cross Rhodes, spiking Strickland for two. Strickland kicked away from a Figure Four and hit the rolling Flatliner before sinking in a single leg crab transitioning to a Stretch Muffler. Rhodes got the ropes, as Strickland toyed too much and Rhodes was able to hype himself up, flipping off and spitting at Strickland. Multiple House Call kicks connected, as instead of giving the crowd one more time like they wanted, Strickland snapped the arm of Rhodes and hit the Swerve Stomp for the win.

Chris Jericho, Sting, Darby Allin & Sammy Guevara defeated Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Powerhouse Hobbs & Konosuke Takeshita (w/Don Callis)

(Another party match that took longer than the opener to kick into gear, but once it did, it was good stuff. With Jericho & Guevara getting the next Tag Title shot, it made sense for him to pin either Starks or Bill. For the few unaware, I’ll let you figure out why Jericho was getting booed by the Long Island crowd. They did not however, boo Sting, who got a loud reaction and Thank You Sting chants post match for his final match in New York. I absolutely need to point out superfan Vladimir sitting ringside and Sting made sure to hug both he & his pal, Charlie.)

Guevara tried to tell Takeshtia he didn’t need Don Callis, but the advice was ignored and was had a fast little opening sequence before Jericho made the tag to boos from the crowd. Le Sex Gods pose also got boos, as Starks tagged in, only to flip off Jericho before Hobbs made the tag and mowed down Jericho. Bill made the tag and flattened Jericho, who answered with an eye poke and chops. Allin made the tag to a nice ovation, as the pace quickened and had a nice back and forth with Takeshita for a few near falls. Takeshita tried Chaos Theory, but Allin flipped out into a shotgun dropkick and Code Red for two. Callis distracted Allin long enough for stop a Coffin Drop attempt, as Takeshita hit a wild Avalanche Helicopter Blue Thunder Bomb. Allin remained isolated before as Hobbs & Bill flung Allin clear across the ring like he was a sack of potatoes in an incredible spot.

Allin finally was able to escape the clutches of Takeshita and dive for a Sting hot tag, which the crowd went nuts for. A series of Stinger Splashes cleaned house with Bill getting crotched in the process. Dueling Splashes by Sting & Jericho until Bill ran through Sting like a truck. Starks lit up Sting in the corner before doing the rope walk clubbing blow. Sting tried a hot shot, but missed the ropes and Starks crashed to the mat. Guevara made the tag, tried a rolling cutter, but opted for one off the second for two. Bill used his power to hit a massive Boss Man Slam on Guevara, as Jericho flew in with a Code Breaker, which got boos.

Bill no sold the move and just poured down punches on Jericho, to cheers from the crowd. Jericho answered with a dropkick, but ran into a Hobbs spinebuster. A World’s Strongest Slam hit by Hobbs, who went for a second, but Allin flew in with a Coffin Splash and Scorpion Death Drop. Takeshita came in and dropped Allin right on his head before delivering a double German to Guevara & Allin. Takeshita tried a jumping knee on Sting, who ate the first one, but blocked a second with a Scorpion Death Lock. Don Callis jumped in with a baseball bat and chased off by Sting, as Jericho applied a Walls of Jericho on Hobbs. Sting again put the Death Lock on Takeshita, but Starks broke it up.

Sting wanted a Death Drop on Starks, but Bill came in with a big boot. Allin made the save and sent Bill to the floor where he met him with a fast dive. Guevara wanted a dive, but took too long and Starks flew in with a Spear for two, as did an Angels Wings. Starks wanted Roshambo, but Guevara escaped with a superkick and GTH. Guevara followed up with a Shooting Star Press to get the victory.

Julia Hart defeated Abadon to retain the TBS Title under House Rules

(The crowd didn’t know what to make of the spookyness of this one early on, but Abadon put up a solid fight. The numbers were too much to overcome, as Hart retained with help from her new running buddy.)

A reminder that House Rules means 20 counts on the floor, no rope breaks and DQ’s are enforced. However, the one stipulation the challenger chose was that biting is legal. This Is Spooky chants from the crowd, as Abadon fired off a cutter and series of corner lariats to follow. A Boss Man Slam got Abadon two before both traded mounting strikes, an exchange that Abadon won. Hart spun out of a spinning side slam into a crucifix for two, as both slowly crawled around into a face off, pie facing one another. Hart got a leg sweep and poured down right hands, as she sent Abadon to the floor repeatedly. After allowing Abadon back in the ring, Hart choked them in the ropes and reminded referee Aubrey there’s no rope breaks.

Abadon escaped and pulled Hart throat first into the ropes before Hart fired off a punch and wore Abadon down more until Abadon bit at the arm to break the submission. Abadon bit the arm again and ran wild with double knees in the corner, which was followed by a lungblower for two. Abadon was cut off in the ropes, as Hart connected on a superplex for two of her own. Hart had Hartless applied, as Abadon had to fight their way out of the submission and hit a swinging side slam followed by a running knee strike. Hart again cut Abadon off in the ropes, but they bit the head of Hart, who took the ref. Skye Blue appeared and shoved Abadon from the ropes, bailing under the ring, but Abadon was out after her. Abadon pulled Blue out and dropped her with a right hand and charging knee. Hart decked Abadon from behind and slammed them into the ring steps repeatedly before going back to the ring, connecting with the moonsault to retain the title.

Adam Copeland defeated Christian Cage (w/Nick & Mother Wayne) in a No DQ Match to win the TNT Title

(This was an absolute war and the story here was Copeland needs help if he wants to have any chance against Cage & The Patriarchy. He enjoyed his win for a few seconds before it all came crashing down. The spell that Cage has still over Killswitch set the stage for Cage to regain his title within minutes.)

Copeland attacked Cage on the ramp and sent him tumbling ringside. Copeland took a sip of a fans drink and it over his own head. Nigel McGuinness was trash talking Copeland, who told him to shut up and McGuinness quickly obliged, backing off. The crowd chanted TLC as Cage bailed to the floor again, but was sent knee first into the steps by Copeland. Cage escaped through the crowd, up the stairs until Nick Wayne attacked and got beat up as a result. Copeland disappeared briefly and showed up on top of an upper level section and dove off onto Cage & Wayne. Back to ringside they went, as Copeland walked the barricade and hit a diving clothesline. After 10 corner punches in the ring, Cage sidestepped a Spear and sent Copeland shoulder first into the post. Cage stomped down onto Copeland’s face placed on the steps, busting Copeland open in the process.

Cage decked Copeland with kendo stick shots, driving the corner down on the throat, as Wayne threw in multiple chairs. With a chair set up on Copeland’s neck, Cage locked in a Boston Crab sitting on the chair. Copeland escaped, as Wayne handed Cage a metal rod as he swung for the fences, Copeland ducked and took Cage down. Copeland got his revenge with kendo stick shots to the neck and back before applying a crossface. Cage nearly got the metal rod, but Copeland wrestled it away and choked him with it. Copeland let the hold go and opted for a ladder under the ring to a huge pop. Set up in the corner, Copeland hit a slingshot on the ladder to Cage’s face, but took too long to follow, as Cage hit a kendo stick shot low and reverse DDT.

Cage climbed the ladder, but also took too long, as Copeland cut him off, tried a superplex, but Cage countered into a sunset flip powerbomb. Cage got the ladder as far away from the ring as possible and decided to get the tables, with Wayne helping set them up. Cage wanted a suplex to the floor, but Copeland escaped, tried a Spear, but Wayne made the save. Copeland with an Impaler on the chair back in the ring, as he wanted a Con-Chair-To, but Wayne made the save allowing Cage to get a low blow for two. With a table set up in the corner, Copeland leap frogged a Spear attempt, launched a chair into the face of Cage and hit a Spear through the table, but Shayna Wayne pulled the ref to the floor during the count. Copeland slowly went after Shayna, as Nick decked Copeland with the TNT Title and a Wayne’s World on the floor. Copeland was sent back in the ring where Cage hit a Killswitch for two.

Cage pulled out lighter fluid with Nick and sprayed what Excalibur called a Homer Simpson-esque amount. Nick lit the table on fire, Cage told Copeland to go F himself, but Copeland dodged and fought off Nick, having to re-light the table and powerbomb Nick through it. Thankfully Nick just clipped the table, but enough of it. Back in the ring, Copeland avoided the belt shot by Cage, hit a low blow and Killswitch to get the pin and the title.

Christian Cage defeated Adam Copeland to regain the TNT Title

Copeland was celebrating with the TNT Title when Killswitch appeared from behind and leveled Copeland with a lariat, chokeslam and another through a chair. Killswitch was going to give his TNT Title contract he won from the Battle Royale to referee Paul Turner when Cage demanded the contract instead. Cage whispered something to Killswitch, who gave away the contract, which Cage signed and gave to the referee. The bell rang; Cage hit a Spear and regained the title. Cage, The Waynes & Killswitch celebrated up the ramp, as Copeland was left recovering in the ring with Excalibur saying this is the shortest TNT Title reign ever, questioning where Copeland goes from here?

Eddie Kingston defeated Jon Moxley in the Continental Classic Final to win the inaugural Triple Crown Title

(These two just love beating the crap out of one another and they delivered big time. Once it was clear this would be the Final, you knew both were going to leave it all out there and this was the Match of the Night. I hope we get a rematch sooner than later, as with this win, Kingston wins the Continental Classic, conquering the entire Blackpool Combat Club in the process, to lead to his biggest victory of his career. Excalibur told us that Kingston dedicated this match to the memory of wrestler Kurtis “Mad Kurt” Chapman.)

Bryan Danielson joined commentary and said there’s nowhere else he’d rather be if he wasn’t able to be in this actual match. Kingston is wearing Toshiaki Kawada inspired kick pads for this one, as a grappling exchange opened things off, with Kingston pulling guard and daring Moxley to fight. The feeling out process led to both exchanging snapmares and kicks to the back, which just pissed each other off, resulting in chops aplenty. Kingston fired off chops to the neck and an enzugiri sent Moxley to the floor, where a dive resulted in Kingston’s head smacking the barricade badly. Kingston shook it off, but was met with a German suplex from Moxley back inside. To the floor again, this time Moxley hit a Paradigm Shift before waiting for Kingston to beat the count. Danielson said he can’t believe he lost to this guy, as Kingston shook off the neck pain, back inside trying a chop, which Moxley blocked and the slow-mo showed how gnarly that looked to Kingston’s forearm. Moxley connected with a piledriver before sinking in a STF, which Kingston bit his way out of.

Both men traded chops and Kingston’s was so loud that it brought Moxley to his knees and made the crowd go crazy. This chop battle was insane, with both men taking turns flipping each other off in the process. Switching to lariats, Kingston hit an Exploder, which Moxley popped right up from, but stumbled briefly into a spinning backfist, only to have Kingston crumble. Both raised to their feet and Kingston unleashed machine gun chops, sweat bursting off from Moxley until a DDT followed, but took too long to capitalize, as Moxley hit a Cutter and King Kong Lariat. Moxley went for Death Rider, but Kingston countered into a Northern Lights Bomb for two, transitioning into a Bulldog Choke. Anvil elbows from Kingston poured down before going back to the Bulldog, which Moxley escaped out of into one of his own.

Kingston got the ropes and was able to hit another Northern Lights Bomb for two. Kingston wanted the powerbomb, but Moxley exploded out with a lariat for the double down. Moxley hit the lariat so hard that he’s clutching his own arm. Taz brought up how he once broke Sabu’s jaw and tore his own arm in the process delivering a lariat once. An exchange of headbutts on their knees was won by Moxley, who started a slap battle, which Kingston answered by firing off a wild backfist for the ages to crumble Moxley and get the pinfall. Referee Bryce presented the Triple Crown Title to Kingston, who held that, the ROH World and NJPW Strong Openweight Titles high in the air in a phenomenal match. Moxley hugged Kingston post match and gave the ring to his best friend. Kingston said “Mad Kurt, Rest in Peace.”

Samoa Joe defeated MJF (w/Adam Cole) to win the AEW World Title

(I don’t think I’m doing it justice when I said you could hear a pin drop at the finish of this. Maybe some saw Joe winning the title, but absolutely no one saw this ending the way that it did. The crowd was so loudly behind MJF from the start that even with the bad arm, Max still had a shot. Unfortunately, MJF is hurt and needs to heal up, so Joe winning the title here is probably for the best overall. The post match, we finally got the reveal of The Devil and his Henchmen and can thankfully put this who is it story to an end. I’m interested in seeing where this crew goes from here, as we’re off to the races for AEW in 2024 with a new World Champ and new heel stable ready to roll.)

The intro for MJF featured folks from Long Island painting MJF as the never say die babyface, saying that he is their scumbag. Before the official introductions, Adam Cole’s music hit and he came to the ring on crutches to corner his “best friend”. MJF was introduced as being from The Most Magical Place in the World, Long Island, New York.

After an early eye poke, MJF charged at Joe in the corner, but was planted with a Uranage right on the bad shoulder. Joe stomped away and trash talked the Long Island crowd before punting their hero repeatedly in the bad arm. Joe no sold a chop from the bad arm and hit his signature combo of an atomic drop, big boot and running senton to the arm. MJF escaped a Muscle Buster and low bridged Joe to get enough time to recover and get a few pin attempts. MJF took too long to go for the Kangaroo Kick, as Joe hit a slingshot over the top, but MJF tried to skin the cat and ate a charging Joe boot. Joe followed with a Tope and Death Valley Driver back inside for two. Rolling German and Dragon suplexes from Joe, who brought MJF to the apron and hit a violent Muscle Buster onto the edge of the ring. The expression on Adam Cole’s face is priceless at how horrified he was. MJF still managed to kick out back in the ring.

Joe wanted a proper Muscle Buster, but this time, MJF escaped and drove Joe head first repeatedly in the buckle. MJF bit Joe and wanted the Kangaroo Kick, but again, failed, as Joe kicked him out of mid air. Joe went to the second rope, but MJF cut him off and wanted a Death Valley Driver, but the legs gave out. MJF did connect flush on a double stomp to the arm before delivering a Heat Seeker for two. MJF wanted another, but this time, Joe avoided, so MJF rolled through and applied Salt of the Earth. Joe rolled through as well, getting an arm breaker of his own. MJF got the rope break, but Joe sank in the rear naked choke, MJF spun out and rammed Joe into referee Bryce. MJF cracked Joe with a low blow and this time followed up with a F5, but the referee took too long to recover and Joe kicked out.

MJF wanted Cole to give him the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but took too long to find it, as got the Coquina Clutch, which MJF nearly got the Bret/Piper Mania 8 kick out of the corner spot for a two count. Joe reapplied the choke and MJF faded, the ref dropping the arm three times and Joe wins the title. The crowd was speechless, no one realized the match was over, as Joe got up and celebrated with the realization finally hitting the crowd. Joe went to the back with the AEW World Title and the crowd started loud Bullsh*t chants.

Cole checked on MJF post match before four of The Devil’s Henchmen appeared ringside and held back Cole, who screamed for them to hit him with the chair instead of Max. Right as the Henchmen turned to hit Cole, the lights went out and when they came back on, Cole was seated in the chair with the Henchmen by his side. All four Henchmen revealed themselves to be Wardlow, Roderick Strong, and new ROH Tag Team Champions Matt Taven & Mike Bennett as MJF pleaded for an explanation from Cole, who watched as Wardlow laid out MJF with a powerbomb. Cole brought out The Devil’s mask and stood over the fallen MJF with his buddies to end the show.