For the last month, AEW programming has been dominated by the Continental Classic: a round-robin tournament to decide the fate of the AEW Continental Championship. The current champion, Kazuchika Okada, advanced to the semifinals this past week on Wednesday Night “Dynamite.”
The three other participants who advanced to the semifinals were his opponent, Ricochet, as well as Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher. “Worlds End” saw the end of the Continental Classic, with each semifinal winner advancing to the finale later on in the evening.
In addition to the conclusion Continental Classic, the International Championship, TBS Championship, Dynamite Diamond Ring, Women’s World Championship, and Men’s World Championship were all on the line.
Did the second annual “World’s End” event live up to our expectations?
HIT: Will Ospreay defeated Kyle Fletcher
The show opened with the first semi-finals match in the Continental Classic. Not only did this determine who advanced to the finale, but it was the highly anticipated rubber-match in Fletcher and Ospreay’s series of matches this year. Ospreay won their first encounter earlier this year, while Fletcher evened the score at “Full Gear” one-month ago. The third installment in this trilogy didn’t disappoint, either.
Ospreay and Fletcher wasted no time early in this match, demonstrating their intimate familiarity with one another. Early in the match, Ospreay’s forehead was split open by a lawn dart onto the ring barricade. The blood poured out from his wound, covering his face with the proverbial crimson mask. Quite frankly, it was astonishing how much blood he lost.
This was a fantastic match to open the show, which only further cemented Fletcher as one of AEW’s brightest rising stars. Fletcher went to war with Ospreay, trading blows with one of the best punchers in professional wrestling. In the end, it was Ospreay who claimed the trilogy, finishing Fletcher with a beautiful Styles Clash.
With that, Ospreay advanced to the finale.
Rating: ****
HIT: Kazuchika Okada defeated Ricochet
The “Rainmaker’s” quest to retain his Continental Championship continued, when he faced Ricochet in the second semi-final match.
This match was noticeably slower than Ospreay and Fletcher’s. So much slower, that it was jarring at times. Still, the crowd seemed invested in the match.
While both men are currently heels, the crowd was certainly in favor of Okada. I don’t know if that’s a testament to Ricochet’s recent work as a heel or if it simply speaks to Okada’s popularity.
Ultimately, Okada defeated Ricochet with his aptly named ripcord lariat: the Rainmaker. With that, the table is set for the finale, rekindling a familiar rivalry for NJPW fans.
Rating: ***
HIT: Swerve Strickland teepeed Ricochet
After the semi-final match, Ricochet is left in the ring: prompting Swerve Strickland’s music. Last week, Ricochet was critical of Strickland for failing to win last year’s “Continental Classic.” So, Strickland warned Ricochet that, if he failed to win the tournament, Strickland would be there to remind him of his hubris.
Prince Nana followed Strickland shortly thereafter, with a wagon full of toilet paper. Last week in the Hammerstein Ballroom, fans began affectionately throwing toilet paper at Ricochet. Nana distributed the toilet paper amongst the audience, per Strickland’s request, so they could all wish Ricochet a “happy new year.” At the count of three, everyone threw their toilet paper — teepeeing Ricochet in the center of the ring.
Ricochet looked furious, demonstrating a range of emotion that we’ve yet to see from the superstar. I look forward to seeing how Ricochet returns the favor to Strickland in the immediate future.
This was a really fun Pay-Per-View segment that will make a great clip for “Dynamite” next week.
HIT: Mariah May defeated Thunder Rosa
The third match of the evening saw Mariah May defend her world championship against Thunder Rosa in a Tijuana Street Fight. Rosa’s father was ringside for this match and seemingly every other match, hoping to witness his daughter recapture the AEW Women’s World Championship. Unfortunately, his hopes were crushed by May.
Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander’s match at “All Out” really raised the bar for women’s street fights in AEW. If that match could be considered a blueprint for this one, then this match certainly needed more time and far more foreign objects.
While I’m glad to see May actually defend her title on a Pay-Per-View, I still wish the AEW Women’s World Championship would have been allotted a little more time to ply her trade. This was a fun match, but it just needed more substance. Thunder Rosa is a great foil for May; capable of matching her proclivity for violence.
In the end, May narrowly escaped Rosa’s onslaught — swinging the momentum in her favor and winning with a piledriver through a table. Not only did the piledriver level Rosa, but it looked legitimately devastating to boot.
If this match was a bit longer, I think it could have been really special.
Rating: ***¼
HIT: MJF defeated Adam Cole
This was the culmination of MJF and Adam Cole’s two-month long story, where the winner would walk away with MJF’s illustrious Dynamite Diamond Ring.
To be frank, I haven’t enjoyed this feud. Left to his own devices, Adam Cole hasn’t entertained me in MJF’s absence. Still, this was a fun match, thanks in large part to MJF’s work with the crowd. The spot where MJF tricked referee Bryce Remsburg into ejecting Matt Taven and Mike Bennett was great stuff.
While Remsburg was preoccupied with Taven and Bennett, MJF stole the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but was intercepted by a superkick from Cole. While Cole was trying to steal the ring, MJF delivered a low blow and a heatseeker. Remsburg turned around and MJF covered Cole for the three-count.
After the match, MJF tried breaking Cole’s leg with a chair, but was thwarted by the return of Roderick Strong. MJF tried to escape, but was intercepted by Kyle O’Reilly. Three three men cornered MJF in the ring and finally gave MJF the undisputed asskicking that they promised him. Taven and Bennett joined Cole, O’Reilly, and Strong afterwards: receiving a standing ovation.
Hopefully, this feud is finally over.
Rating: ***
MISS: Konosuke Takeshita defeated Powerhouse Hobbs
The fifth match saw Konosuke Takeshita defend his International Championship against former fellow Don Callis Family member, Powerhouse Hobbs.
This match was fine. This was the second most predictable outcome of the evening and I wasn’t terribly impressed by either man’s performance. I feel like this match would have been much better suited for television or even the “Zero Hour” pre-show. Instead, it just used valuable pay-per-view time. I would have much rather seen a longer Tijuana Street Fight, than this match.
Rating: **¾
HIT: Mercedes Moné defeated Kris Statlander
The sixth match saw Mercedes Moné defend her TBS Women’s Championship yet again against Kris Statlander. These two had an epic encounter at “Full Gear” one-month ago, so I was anxiously awaiting this bout.
Like their first encounter, Moné became increasingly more exasperated as the match continued — stunned by Statlander’s resiliency. Both women exhausted their offensive repertoires, trying to use every weapon in their arsenal to finish the job. Finally, after 24 minutes and a series of subsequent pinning predicaments, Moné scored a precarious pinfall with a makeshift seatbelt.
I loved the ending of this match. At “Full Gear,” these women set a new record for the longest women’s match in AEW history. Last night, they broke that record yet again. This match didn’t have a decisive, climactic finish. Moné stole this victory from Statlander, narrowly escaping with her championship.
After the match, Statlander received a great ovation from the crowd — which was well earned. Not only because of this great match, but because her body of work in 2024 was unassailable.
Rating: ****
HIT: Kazuchika Okada defeated Will Ospreay
The entire Continental Classic culminated in this match, between two of the greatest professional wrestlers alive: Kazuchika Okada and Will Ospreay.
For the fans keeping score, Okada and Ospreay had met 10 times prior to this encounter. The “Rainmaker” won 8 of those 10 matches. Suffice it to say, Ospreay is the clear underdog in this match, which is uncommon for the “Aerial Assassin” in AEW.
Earlier this year, both Okada and Ospreay left NJPW to join AEW, but their journeys couldn’t have been any more dissimilar. Ospreay has legitimately become one of the most prominent figures in AEW, while Okada has become a caricature of himself. So, it’s ironic that, among all 12 competitors, these two men are the ones who have advanced to the finale of the “Continental Classic.”
Not only was this a satisfying conclusion to the “Continental Classic,” but it was a phenomenal match. Okada might portray a caricature of himself outside the ring, but between the ropes he’s still the “Rainmaker.”
Considering how much blood he lost against Kyle Fletcher, this was a truly gutsy performance by Ospreay. The “Aerial Assassin” proudly wears his emotions on his sleeves and this match was no different. Ospreay’s fighting spirit burned bright, giving Okada 110%. Unfortunately, Ospreay’s onslaught wasn’t enough to defeat the “Rainmaker.”
Okada has been positioned as the greatest tournament-exhibitionist in wrestling history, because he’s the consummate ring general, capable of adapting to any style. That includes Ospreay’s frenetic offense. Okada never allowed the tempo to escape his grasp. In the end, Okada found a way to escape Ospreay’s Storm Breaker, creating an opportunity to land one climactic Rainmaker for the three-count.
Having won the Continental Classic, Christopher Daniels came out to deliver Okada’s title. However, Daniels announced that he won’t be doing that, because he’s been relieved of his duties as Interim Executive Vice-President. Instead, the actual Executive Vice President has finally returned.
Kenny Omega has finally returned to AEW. Omega met Okada in the ring, handing him the Continental Championship. The two shared a moment, standing face-to-face, before Omega left the ring.
Consider me excited.
Rating: ****½
MISS: Jon Moxley defeated “Hangman” Adam Page, “Switchblade” Jay White, and Orange Cassidy
The main event saw Jon Moxley successfully retain his AEW World Championship against “Hangman” Adam Page, “Switchblade” Jay White, and Orange Cassidy.
This entire feud suffered from its predictability. There was no doubt in my mind that Moxley was going to retain his championship, so the match itself needed to click on all cylinders if it were going to succeed. No one delivered an exceptional performance. There weren’t any mesmerizing exchanges or inventive sequences.
This match was aggressively good. If it were a bridge between two exciting bouts, I think it would have felt more satisfying. Instead, this was a really average main event that should have taken a back seat to the finale of the Continental Classic.
Jon Moxley received a little help from Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli to gain an advantage over Jay White, dropping him with a Death Rider for the three-count. After the match, the Death Riders tried to cripple White, but were interrupted by FTR. FTR made their way half way down the aisle, before Adam Copeland made his triumphant return.
The trio, called “Rated FTR,” weren’t afraid to meet the Death Riders head on. Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler made quick work of Yuta and Castagnoli, while Copeland attacked Moxley. Copeland broke off the crossbar from a steel chair, and used it to apply an assisted crossface on Moxley. Before he could seriously injure the AEW World Champion, Castagnoli grabbed Moxley so they could escape.
Before the Death Riders fled the arena, Copeland called Moxley a “kid,” and promised the Death Riders that Rated-FTR will take everything from them. While the match itself was rather disappointing, the ending delivered the adrenaline-rush that wrestling fans live for.
This coming Wednesday at “Fight For The Fallen,” Rated-FTR will face the Death Riders in their hometown of Asheville, NC.
Rating: ***
Final Verdict
Despite the lackluster main event and a few middle-of-the-pack matches, both of Ospreay’s matches and Moné’s TBS title defense made this show well worth the price of admission. I still wish the finale of the “Continental Classic” was the main event, though.
Rating: ***½
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