WORLDS END III - 12/27/2025

[dorfus malorfus]

I was going to start watching this company again now that Ospreay is gone but then they go and make Gabe Kidd a regular. Looked like a fun show though. People can hate on MJF all they want but he's one of their only guys who gets himself super over without working the tediously maximalist house style. You'll know this company is finally doomed when they start putting the belt on nondescript "great workers" like Takeshita and Fletcher.

[Johnny Sorrow]

4 hours ago, just drew said:

Took a break after that last post. Seasonal depression is real.

Here's my theory; Mox is gonna win the CC. Takeshita is gonna beat Okada. Mox is gonna dig deep and beat Fletcher. Takeshita is gonna have the match won and Okada is gonna cost him. That's gonna trigger the DCF blowup/Takeshita face turn.

Close, but you forgot the smoking screwdriver. The bright yellow big one that the ref didn't see somehow. Maybe because it was so bright yellow it temporarily blinded him.

[DreamBroken]

Moxley's the man. Him and Fletcher was my fav match of the night and highly enjoyed him and Okada too. Great triumph for Mox and the deathriders.

I was hoping the Bang Bang Gang were gonna pull it off so the finish there felt kind of deflating, solid match though. 

Mixed nuts tag was fun. Loved the pop for the Roderick/Marina face off.

Pretty good main event. I don't love MJF just coming back and being champ again so suddenly. Thought Joe would retain and hold it a little bit longer than a month. 

Skye Blue with one of the most perfectly executed Code Blue ever on Maya was a top highlight. 

[Mike Campbell]

Honestly, it felt pretty low key for an AEW PPV, especially with Chicago usually being a hot market for them. I honestly have to wonder if the Ravens/Packers game was stealing the crowd's attention (given that the Raven's win clinches the Bears the NFC North). I was also surprised by the lack of angles or advancement, other than how Okada won his semifinal match and the promo Mox cut after the C2 finals.

[The Natural]

On 12/27/2025 at 11:21 AM, The Natural said:

Predictions:

FOUR WAY MATCH FOR THE MEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Samoe Joe (c) vs. Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland vs. MJF.

FOR THE WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Jamie Hayter.

SEMI-FINAL #1 FOR THE CONTINTENTAL CLASSIC: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita.

SEMI-FINAL #2 FOR THE CONTINENTAL CLASSIC: Jon Moxley vs. Kyle Fletcher.

FINALS OF THE CONTINENTAL CLASSIC FOR THE CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Kyle Fletcher.

CHICAGO STREET FIGHT FOR THE MEN'S TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Dax Harwood/Cash Wheeler vs. Juice Robinson/Austin Gunn.

FOR THE AEW WOMENS TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP: Willow Nightingale/Harley Cameron vs. Mercedes Mone/Athena.

MIXED NUTS MAYHEM: Toni Storm/Orange Cassidy/Mark Briscoe/Roderick Strong vs. Marina Shafir/Claudio Castagnoli/Daniel Garcia/Wheeler Yuta.

Darby Allin vs. Gabe Kidd.

---

I can see a few outcomes in the CC: Okada winning again, Takeshita winning, Fletcher going 3-0 against Okada or Okada gets his win back and less likely Kyle O'Reilly winning as he's beaten one of the biggest names clean recently in Mox. Going with my gut, Fletcher wins. Hope I'm wrong about MJF. I can see this show going well over four hours.

Fucked up the Continental Classic. Didn't see Moxley winning, thought he was the least likely to. I'd have elevated and made a new star even more in Takeshita/Fletcher. Mox didn't need it although he's done some high profile jobs recently and he's the longstanding ace there.

I thought MJF was nailed on to become AEW World Champion again. Ugh. I'm thinking his reign goes 6-9 months.

I won't quote RazorbladeKiss87's post about my predictions until he's seen the show.

Edited December 28, 2025 by The Natural

[The Natural]

5 hours ago, Mike Campbell said:

Honestly, it felt pretty low key for an AEW PPV, especially with Chicago usually being a hot market for them. I honestly have to wonder if the Ravens/Packers game was stealing the crowd's attention (given that the Raven's win clinches the Bears the NFC North). I was also surprised by the lack of angles or advancement, other than how Okada won his semifinal match and the promo Mox cut after the C2 finals.

AEW World's End is the AEW PPV with the worst AEW track record. Got me thinking about how few great December wrestling PPV's in history there are. I can only think of WCW Starrcade 1992 and WCW Starrcade 1996. WWF In Your House 5 was a one match show, Bret Hart vs. British Bulldog. Caveat: I'm tired as fuck.

Edited December 28, 2025 by The Natural

[The Natural]

NSFW.

@Niners Fan in CT.

[just drew]

Jon Moxley is the fucking man. Some folks on here were shitting on him early in the year, and it was somewhat warranted. He's the wrestler of the year. Holy shit. 

My lady didn't understand why I was cackling when Marina and Roddy were facing off. That was some funny shit.

How can anyone not love Harley and Willow? I'm blown away by Harley's rate of improvement and just how fucking good Willow is. Mercedes and Athena are consistently so solid that it's easy to forget them, but that match was incredible.

I enjoyed the main event. That ending felt a little telegraphed, but that doesn't mean it was the wrong choice. Very solid show.

[The Natural]

Kazuchika Okada's reign as AEW Continental Champion ends after 647 days.

Edited December 28, 2025 by The Natural

[JLSigman]

This was a really solid show from top to bottom. 

Opening with Okada/Takeshita was not what I expected, and the implosion of the Don Callis family continues. Takeshita cut a very short promo later on and I cannot wait for a 7 match series between these two.

I also did not expect Moxley over Fletcher, but it worked in the end. Fletcher doesn't take a hit from this loss, and he'll be hanging out in the upper echelons for a while.

FTR vs Juice and Gunn had some good spots, but felt a bit disjointed. I hadn't heard about the other Gunn had blown up his leg or something, and had no idea who this Bubba Ray Dudley Gunn guy was.

Babes of Wrath won, as expected, and Moné's downward spiral continues. She and Athena should have some matches after she and Willow do.

Darby vs Kidd was there. Darby's been injured for most of the time I've been watching, so I don't know if I like him as a wrestler much yet.

Mixed Nuts mayhem was exactly what we needed at this point in the show - plenty of comedy and some great pairings. 

Women's champ match took a while to get going, but was very good. Statlander is teasing a heel turn while Hayter has fans.

Moxley/Okada was INCREDIBLE. Storytelling, technical, spots, everything. I really was expected Takeshita to make an appearance, or even just distract Okada with his entrance music starting to play, but this was solid. Well deserved win, Moxley is the man to beat.

Main event up to the finish was everyone taking turns making MJF eat shit. I was really expect Joe to hold the title longer, but maybe he's got upcoming stuff?

[maciej]

Left the building a little deflated after the MJF win (his promos are unwatchable to me but I also don't often watch the weekly TV live, so whatever), but had a great time otherwise and still very glad i decided to go to the show while in town to visit family.

Has there been a recent (or non-recent) PPV with so many matches where the face/heel alignment is nonexistent (the women's title match, arguably the main event, given the reactions that MJF and Joe get) or in flux (the tournament matches)? The Moxley story worked great through the night and I think telling that in a self-contained way without having to immediately have Death Riders turn on him was a great example of the kind of credit that AEW gives its audience sometimes that other companies won't.

Re: someone above calling Takeshita "nondescript" above man, I admit that I am incredibly in the tank for him cuz I was in a big DDT phase when he was coming up, but I just don't see that at all. Obviously he's gotten over on his wrestling and not on his promos, but that doesn't mean his wrestling isn't unique in its movements and dynamic in its transitions, and it doesn't mean that he doesn't have a ton of charisma. 

Edited December 28, 2025 by maciej

[The Natural]

WTF is on MJF's bonce?

[Niners Fan in CT]

Yesterday was my birthday so I was out but I just watched the show this morning.  Those first two matches! Loved them.  The drama was on another level.  I did NOT see a Moxley redemption arc coming, this is insane. I desperately want him out of the Death Riders, I think it's coming but wow I am legit shocked and the crowd is already cheering him on.  

Loving everything coming out of the women's division too.  Hayter and Stat rocked,  the tag title match was fun.  Toni and Marina was lots of fun.  

This Mercedes crash out is wonderful.  She could legit lose the TBS title now at any time, it could be to Willow!  We don't know! 

MJF winning the title,  I'm fine with this but I honestly would have preferred any of the other three so let's see where this goes. 

[The Natural]

21 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

Yesterday was my birthday so I was out but I just watched the show this morning.  Those first two matches! Loved them.  The drama was on another level.  I did NOT see a Moxley redemption arc coming, this is insane. I desperately want him out of the Death Riders, I think it's coming but wow I am legit shocked and the crowd is already cheering him on.  

Loving everything coming out of the women's division too.  Hayter and Stat rocked,  the tag title match was fun.  Toni and Marina was lots of fun.  

This Mercedes crash out is wonderful.  She could legit lose the TBS title now at any time, it could be to Willow!  We don't know! 

MJF winning the title,  I'm fine with this but I honestly would have preferred any of the other three so let's see where this goes. 

I now know your birthday so will give you shout out in the happy birthday thread when this goes through. Belated happy returns. Be fitting if Mercedes Mone loses the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale as that's whom she beat for it in her first AEW match at AEW Double or Nothing 2024.

[Niners Fan in CT]

12 minutes ago, The Natural said:

I now know your birthday so will give you shout out in the happy birthday thread when this goes through. Belated happy returns. Be fitting if Mercedes Mone loses the TBS Championship to Willow Nightingale as that's whom she beat for it in her first AEW match at AEW Double or Nothing 2024.

And Willow was the one to beat her in the finals of the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, the match where Mercedes called an in-ring audible when she got injured. They have a lot of history.  Thanks for the birthday shout! 

I'm not sure it'll be Willow.  Athena would also make sense.  But we now know the reign is coming to an end sooner than later. 

[NoFistsJustFlips]

10 hours ago, DreamBroken said:

Moxley's the man.

4 hours ago, just drew said:

Jon Moxley is the fucking man.

2 hours ago, JLSigman said:

Well deserved win, Moxley is the man to beat.

I think it's time for me to take a break from AEW. Have purchased every PPV they've ever ran (full price, no VPNs), but the Mox over push shit is just too much for me. Having him win the CC when the other 3 finalists all made more sense and would have been more satisfying is it for me. Cherry on top being them creating and abandoning the Unified Title deal in less than six months with zero purpose and another title being added back into the mix. Generally the work is amazing in AEW. But TK has his favs just like McMahon did. 18 time world Champion Jon Moxley is going to be a thing. I'd put money on it. I just won't be around to see it.

Beyond saying that, I'll keep to myself. Just had to get that out but don't want to go any harder and yuck on people's yum.

[mystman]

I was absolutely shocked that Okada got pinned a week out of Tanahashi's retirement match. I wonder how pisses NJPW is.

[The Natural]

18 minutes ago, Niners Fan in CT said:

And Willow was the one to beat her in the finals of the NJPW Strong Women's Championship, the match where Mercedes called an in-ring audible when she got injured. They have a lot of history.  Thanks for the birthday shout! 

I'm not sure it'll be Willow.  Athena would also make sense.  But we now know the reign is coming to an end sooner than later. 

Indeed, a lot of history. Be interesting to see who they pick to end Mercedes Mone TBS Championship reign. Kris Statlander was my #1 pick as she was 0-2 against Mone but Statlander went on to beat the women's Ace Timeless Toni Storm for the AEW World Championship, defended it in a rematch and got her win back against Mone. So any one of Willow Nightingale, Jamie Hayter, Athena or Harley Cameron. I'd like Willow or Hayter as both need their wins back. I'd go with Hayter as Nightingale already holds a belt, the AEW Women's World Tag Team Championship with Cameron who I'd rule out for the same reason in Babes of Wrath. Does Athena need to drop the ROH Women's World Championship first? She needs her win back from Mone as well. You're welcome for the birthday shoutout.

[SovietShooter]

1 minute ago, mystman said:

I was absolutely shocked that Okada got pinned a week out of Tanahashi's retirement match. I wonder how pisses NJPW is.

If NJPW is gonna be pissed, it's probably more about Take losing to Okada. But I have no doubt that Coach keeps the folks in NJPW & CMLL informed on what the plans are. 

[The Natural]

28 minutes ago, NoFistsJustFlips said:

I think it's time for me to take a break from AEW. Have purchased every PPV they've ever ran (full price, no VPNs), but the Mox over push shit is just too much for me. Having him win the CC when the other 3 finalists all made more sense and would have been more satisfying is it for me. Cherry on top being them creating and abandoning the Unified Title deal in less than six months with zero purpose and another title being added back into the mix. Generally the work is amazing in AEW. But TK has his favs just like McMahon did. 18 time world Champion Jon Moxley is going to be a thing. I'd put money on it. I just won't be around to see it.

Beyond saying that, I'll keep to myself. Just had to get that out but don't want to go any harder and yuck on people's yum.

I wouldn't have put the Continental Championship on Jon Moxley as he's won nearly all the big championships in AEW. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita needed it more. There's too many belts in AEW.

Mox to you is Will Ospreay to me.

8 minutes ago, mystman said:

I was absolutely shocked that Okada got pinned a week out of Tanahashi's retirement match. I wonder how pisses NJPW is.

So was I. I thought if Kazuchika Okada was to lose, it would be to Konosuke Takeshita who is the reigning IWGP World Heavyweight Champion. Okada, Takeshita and NJPW must have been shitting bricks if Okada and Takeshita got injured before their two biggest matches a week out from IWGP Wrestle Kingdom 20 especially Okada as he's in the main event in Hiroshi Tanahashi's final match ever.

Edited December 28, 2025 by The Natural

[Niners Fan in CT]

5 minutes ago, The Natural said:

Does Athena need to drop the ROH Women's World Championship first? She needs her win back from Mone as well. You're welcome for the birthday shoutout.

My thought,  which could still happen I suppose,  was that the Athena/Mercedes team would implode and then they would have a title vs. title match so Mercedes could try to get another title added back to her count after losing 3 of them over the course of a week or so.  

[The Natural]

Just now, Niners Fan in CT said:

My thought,  which could still happen I suppose,  was that the Athena/Mercedes team would implode and then they would have a title vs. title match so Mercedes could try to get another title added back to her count after losing 3 of them over the course of a week or so.  

I like that idea.

[porksweats]

While I'm not happy MJF won, it was better to use Joe as a transition champ rather than having Page hold on for another month and lose to MJF here. 

[twiztor]

Mox winning the CC was the worst possible call of the four potential winners IMO. So you're telling me that this guy who has held the entire company hostage for a year, and then suddenly turned into a coward and kept tapping to Kyle O'Reilly, just made a face turn and was able to overcome everything? fuck me, this is not what i want to see. 

and MJF winning the AEW title? ugh.

everything other than that was, as worst, good.

[Niners Fan in CT]

I admit the Mox redemption arc was quick but people are buying it (or at least that live crowd was).  You can tell with the promo that he's turning a new leaf and my guess is Claudio and them won't be cool with that shit.