WORLDS END III - 12/27/2025

[SturmCRF]

1 hour ago, NikoBaltimore said:

It bums me out reading this thread and even some discussion on Discord about the show.  I only saw the CC matches and the main so far but thought the CC matches were fucking incredible with the main being pretty good.  I get why people are against MJF having it but he was the only one that made sense to me.  Joe was always gonna be the transitional champ though that leads to questions regarding why more wasn't done with him.  Swerve just came back and him winning would have felt cold to me.  And Hangman I'd rather see him win in a one-on-one match down the line.  I find MJF's promos insufferable but like the idea of him as champ.  In order to make it mean something you have to have the right person to dethrone him.  I'm not saying "Just enjoy it" but I'm willing to see where they go with it.

I don't like MJF winning the title and I'd be lying if I said I did, but my main objection was them making it so obvious he was going to do so by setting up his first challenger in advance. 

He can win it, that's fine, but I can really do without another year plus reign of terror, and they need to start laying more groundwork for some first time champions. People winning their first world title is almost always more compelling than the established main eventers trading it.

Ospreay, Fletcher, Takeshita and Okada (get him out of his Codyverse, please) are already at a point where people would accept them, but I also want to see Bandido, Brody, Garcia, Knight, Bailey, O'Reilly in the mix. Even guys like Hobbs and Hook, who might never be ready to be at that level, but should be booked like they could be.

[Brandon Bones]

I had a great time watching the PPV.

[Nice Guy Eddie]

3 minutes ago, Brandon Bones said:

I had a great time watching the PPV.

Same here. I especially enjoyed the Mixed Nuts tag match. 

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

[Go2Sleep]

25 minutes ago, SturmCRF said:

People winning their first world title is almost always more compelling than the established main eventers trading it.

 

This reminds me why I didn't care for Joe being the transitional champ. With a little foresight, you could've easily put Lashley or even Ricochet in the same role and it would've helped them a million times more. I know Bobby got hurt but imagine him stopping Hanger cold then MJF tying up that loose end. Ricochet would've been fun winning by cheating his balls off, let him be annoying for a month, then have him get killed by AEW's non-Ospreay top 3. 

 

[southofheavy]

Here's the running order for the next World champs: Eddie, Kyle Fletcher, Darby. 

Book it, Coach. 

As for the PPV, I skipped the main except for the finish because I spoiled it for myself on accident. Other than that, I watched more of this PPV than I have of every other in a loooong time. I even watched most of Zero Hour. Not having the Bucks on it helps a lot, but I was invested in every match. I got CC spoiled, too, but I still wanted to see the matches. Say what you want about Mox winning the CC, but I think it was the right call, even if it isn't the most interesting result. Fletcher's got plenty of time to win a CC or two, and there's mileage to be had in delaying it. Takeshita vs Okada can get a lot more heat than it does right now, too. Regarding that match, for as much as those two don't get along, I don't think chain wrestling to start off with really gets across the dissension that's been brewing between them. If they hate each other, wrestle like it. 

Still, coming out of this PPV, the seeds of the blowup of both the DCF and the Death Riders are about to sprout and I'm stoked to see where it all leads. 

I'm not stoked about MJF winning the belt, but I can't wait to see who takes it off of him. I can't wait to see him lose it, either, and in that, I think MJF is doing exactly what he should be doing. I hate his corny nicknames, he talks too goddamn much and you know he acts like he's got 365 of those scarves when he only has one. I wanna see him get his ass kicked and I want that belt off of him. 

My only real complaint about this PPV is Stat/Jamie. It was heatless for the most part and I think it's because of the buildup. That might be due to the fact that it felt a little rushed, but it's also because Stat's instincts just ain't there. That promo on the go-home show was atrocious. 

 

[Iron Moose]

24 minutes ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

Same here. I especially enjoyed the Mixed Nuts tag match. 

100% agree. It was a real breath of fresh air and I think the kind of thing that helps bring in new fans. 

[Nice Guy Eddie]

19 minutes ago, southofheavy said:

Here's the running order for the next World champs: Eddie, Kyle Fletcher, Darby. 

Book it, Coach. 

As for the PPV, I skipped the main except for the finish because I spoiled it for myself on accident. Other than that, I watched more of this PPV than I have of every other in a loooong time. I even watched most of Zero Hour. Not having the Bucks on it helps a lot, but I was invested in every match. I got CC spoiled, too, but I still wanted to see the matches. Say what you want about Mox winning the CC, but I think it was the right call, even if it isn't the most interesting result. Fletcher's got plenty of time to win a CC or two, and there's mileage to be had in delaying it. Takeshita vs Okada can get a lot more heat than it does right now, too. Regarding that match, for as much as those two don't get along, I don't think chain wrestling to start off with really gets across the dissension that's been brewing between them. If they hate each other, wrestle like it. 

Still, coming out of this PPV, the seeds of the blowup of both the DCF and the Death Riders are about to sprout and I'm stoked to see where it all leads. 

I'm not stoked about MJF winning the belt, but I can't wait to see who takes it off of him. I can't wait to see him lose it, either, and in that, I think MJF is doing exactly what he should be doing. I hate his corny nicknames, he talks too goddamn much and you know he acts like he's got 365 of those scarves when he only has one. I wanna see him get his ass kicked and I want that belt off of him. 

My only real complaint about this PPV is Stat/Jamie. It was heatless for the most part and I think it's because of the buildup. That might be due to the fact that it felt a little rushed, but it's also because Stat's instincts just ain't there. That promo on the go-home show was atrocious. 

 

We don't know how many Burberry scarves MJF actually has. It could be like that episode of Seinfeld where Jerry dates a woman who either wore the same dress all the time or had a closet full of them. We never found out the answer. 

Edited December 29, 2025 by Nice Guy Eddie

[ExcellenceofAirPollution]

The entire C2 was unpredictable right down to the Finals so kudos on that.  After the first night I thought Mox was going to finish behind Claudio and Pac in the standings!  I was suprised, but looking at the landscape of everything it really makes sense.  Mox is the true ace of the promotion, as a workhorse and stepping up every time they've needed him to.  He isn't going to be back in the World Title picture any time soon, and he didn't NEED this, but it's another jewel in his crown and further solidifies him.  Also with whatever politics might be involved it just makes sense the more I think about it.  Okada is probably losing to Tanahashi, Takeshita is probably losing to Tsuji......you don't want the C2 winner losing their first match post-tourny in another promotion.  That leaves KF as the other option, but they're clearly telling a longterm story there with him and the C2 and he already got his win over Okada.  So whoever thinks Mox going over was the wrong choice, and that it's a waste not "making" someone (I think KF is already made anyway) I respectfully disagree

I didn't love the show but was still thoroughly entertained.  I have super high expectations for AEW PPVs and I might have set my expectations too high for the semifinals matches.  Especially Takeshita/Okada as it felt like they were holding back for a match down the line.  Dave/Bryan and tons of people have been raving about Mox/KF so I should probably rewatch it, I thought it was good but not great and not in conversation for match of the tourny like others did.  Hated the headdrop, and Okada took a nasty one against Mox as well.  I liked the Mixed Nuts match and Darby/Kidd the most of the non-tourny matches.

Meltzer thinks we're getting Death Riders v. Callis Family before the DR split, they've been teasing it off and on for a while, so that should be dope.  If they can book that in a way where they go to war while both groups are simultaneously at war with themselves it could be pretty epic

Edited December 29, 2025 by ExcellenceofAirPollution

[John E. Dynamite]

MJF winning the title by the end of the year was telegraphed as soon as they had his title shot contract retconned back into his possession. His putting over Mistico and Mark Briscoe compounded it for me, classic "don't worry about it you'll win later" booking.

AEW is completely aware that the first MJF title reign was when the company's "vibes were off" so I'm interested in how they'll go about it this time. Surely it can't be that hard to shave 5 minutes off of long promo segments, knock off the buttheaded 90's shock value and keep Adam Cole miles away from whatever goes down. He's got so many storyline threads to tie up. But who knows? Maybe it'll be cameos from the Sandler-verse and one last desperate attempt at a Wardlow program and I'll roll my eyes at it.

With Ospreay, Darby, Jay White, Okada, Takeshita, and Fletcher as options I figure the next champ will be a new one

[Matt D]

Fletcher vs Mox: 2300+ words.

https://segundacaida.blogspot.com/2025/12/aew-five-fingers-of-death-and-friends_29.html?m=1

[SovietShooter]

6 hours ago, southofheavy said:

My only real complaint about this PPV is Stat/Jamie. It was heatless for the most part and I think it's because of the buildup. That might be due to the fact that it felt a little rushed, but it's also because Stat's instincts just ain't there. That promo on the go-home show was atrocious. 

As much as I enjoyed that match, and looked forward to these two hard hitting ladies throwing down, it was a face vs face match, with a weak build. I don't think anything was expected from them aside from having a good match to pad out the PPV, and it did that. Doesn't mean that a quite crowd for that match isn't a problem that shouldn't be addressed, but it wasn't the ladies' fault. 

[southofheavy]

1 hour ago, SovietShooter said:

 it was a face vs face match 

Stat really should be a heel. 

Regardless, they did beat the brakes off of each other and that was awesome. 

[HarryArchieGus]

Exhausted crowds at a marathon AEW ppv are to be expected. Hayter-Stat despite having no heat was finely contested. Statlander is delivering in ring. I think there's a far better presentation for Stat, and I think it includes a manager. I really hope Jamie doesn't disappear after this with another injury.  

[HarryArchieGus]

This was a challenging show. I get the divisive takes. Okada-Takeshita off the top felt like the 'feeling', but then completely lost it by the horrible screwdriver-in-plain-view finish. Mox-Fletcher, Gabe Kidd-Darby and Stat/Hayter were all excellent. Mixed nuts was a fun platform for Toni. I'd love to see them do more with Roddy-Marina. I love the Babes, but not digging their title run. FTR-Juice/Gunn was a bit frustrating. I despised the choice to work over Juice's leg with a chair and then let him sit in a submission for however long following. Smashing a guy's leg with a chair should set them up for an easy tap - especially Rock Hard. I don't think FTR were the problem there. Mox-Okada was fine, but if I'm honest didn't really grab me. I like the Mox C2 win and turn on paper, but it didn't quite hit the mark in execution. The Main Event was never really for me - see first fall 4 ways. I enjoyed some spots, but got tired of the silly choreography. At least MJF pinned the actual Champion. What was with the 'classic' 3 try arm raise for the choke after establishing 1 try earlier in the show? I find that inconsistency a bit challenging as a viewer. I liked a lot of the action and displays of effort on this show, but I'm finding some of the creative directions a little frustrating. Do we now have an International Champion and National Champion?  

[Go2Sleep]

1 hour ago, HarryArchieGus said:

 Do we now have an International Champion and National Champion?  

TNT - Best wrestler on the network 
National - Best wrestler in the country
International - Best wrestler in every UN-recognized country
Continental - Best wrestler on every continent (including Antarctica and a handful of disputed territories within other continents) 
World - Best wrestler on the entire planet including all islands and oceans, and ice caps.

By 2031, we will have a tournaments for solar system, galactic, intergalactic, universal, and multiversal champions as well. 

[AxB]

5 hours ago, HarryArchieGus said:

 What was with the 'classic' 3 try arm raise for the choke after establishing 1 try earlier in the show? I find that inconsistency a bit challenging as a viewer. 

 If you use a traditional Pro-Wrestling Sleeper Hold, the refs do the three arm raises, because they're all well aware of the years of precedents for people surviving after the first two arm drops. But with a modern MMA-style choke, it's well known that there's no coming back from those, and when you;re out, you're out so they only check once.

 Now,this doesn;t actually make sense, because in anatomical terms what a Sleeper Hold does (puts the opponent to sleep by cutting off blood supply to the brain) and what a Choke does (Choke an opponent unconscious by cutting off blood supply to the brain) are the same thing. But just think of "Asleep" and "Choked Out" as two different status effects, and you can understand why a rush of adrenaline wakes you up from one and not the other.

 Really though, they shouldn't co-exist. A case can by made that the traditional Three Drops should have been eliminated from wrestling as soon as MMA got big, because it's unrealistic. In the era when almost nobody did Judo and fewer people than that did Jiu Jitsu, it was something you could convince people was legit, but those days are long gone. A case can be made that almost everything in wrestling is unrealistic, so therefore every Sleeper-type should triple drop, and the guys who actually get wins with it clearly have better technique at applying it. Because lets face it, whenever a ref starts doing the three drops, you know that they're firing up and getting out after the first two. Having the arm drop a third time sometimes would legitimise the Sleeper as a finisher again.

[SovietShooter]

1 hour ago, AxB said:

A case can by made that the traditional Three Drops should have been eliminated from wrestling as soon as MMA got big, because it's unrealistic. In the era when almost nobody did Judo and fewer people than that did Jiu Jitsu, it was something you could convince people was legit, but those days are long gone.

Amen.

[HarryArchieGus]

2 hours ago, AxB said:

 If you use a traditional Pro-Wrestling Sleeper Hold, the refs do the three arm raises, because they're all well aware of the years of precedents for people surviving after the first two arm drops. But with a modern MMA-style choke, it's well known that there's no coming back from those, and when you;re out, you're out so they only check once.

 Now,this doesn;t actually make sense, because in anatomical terms what a Sleeper Hold does (puts the opponent to sleep by cutting off blood supply to the brain) and what a Choke does (Choke an opponent unconscious by cutting off blood supply to the brain) are the same thing. But just think of "Asleep" and "Choked Out" as two different status effects, and you can understand why a rush of adrenaline wakes you up from one and not the other.

 Really though, they shouldn't co-exist. A case can by made that the traditional Three Drops should have been eliminated from wrestling as soon as MMA got big, because it's unrealistic. In the era when almost nobody did Judo and fewer people than that did Jiu Jitsu, it was something you could convince people was legit, but those days are long gone. A case can be made that almost everything in wrestling is unrealistic, so therefore every Sleeper-type should triple drop, and the guys who actually get wins with it clearly have better technique at applying it. Because lets face it, whenever a ref starts doing the three drops, you know that they're firing up and getting out after the first two. Having the arm drop a third time sometimes would legitimise the Sleeper as a finisher again.

I'm not sure I can distinguish between an MMA choke and a sleeperhold - especially when applied by Samoa Joe (who was the one with the move locked in for the three attempts). I don't recall the 3 arm attempts on a submission being made during any of Joe's matches prior. That said, I'd be (sorta) fine with the old world three arm attempts on a submission if it was consistent. Consistency is the issue.

[Brandon Bones]

2 hours ago, AxB said:

 If you use a traditional Pro-Wrestling Sleeper Hold, the refs do the three arm raises, because they're all well aware of the years of precedents for people surviving after the first two arm drops. But with a modern MMA-style choke, it's well known that there's no coming back from those, and when you;re out, you're out so they only check once.

 Now,this doesn;t actually make sense, because in anatomical terms what a Sleeper Hold does (puts the opponent to sleep by cutting off blood supply to the brain) and what a Choke does (Choke an opponent unconscious by cutting off blood supply to the brain) are the same thing. But just think of "Asleep" and "Choked Out" as two different status effects, and you can understand why a rush of adrenaline wakes you up from one and not the other.

 Really though, they shouldn't co-exist. A case can by made that the traditional Three Drops should have been eliminated from wrestling as soon as MMA got big, because it's unrealistic. In the era when almost nobody did Judo and fewer people than that did Jiu Jitsu, it was something you could convince people was legit, but those days are long gone. A case can be made that almost everything in wrestling is unrealistic, so therefore every Sleeper-type should triple drop, and the guys who actually get wins with it clearly have better technique at applying it. Because let’s face it, whenever a ref starts doing the three drops, you know that they're firing up and getting out after the first two. Having the arm drop a third time sometimes would legitimize the Sleeper as a finisher again.

Do you think there is any merit to the idea of “referee’s discretion” as far as the arm drop goes?  We also see it with a rope break being an actual contact with the ropes vs. a part of the body being out of bounds UNDER the rope.

Yeah, it’s weird and visually inconsistent to the crowd in the room.  But it’s happened enough either way maybe that idea could fill in the logical gaps.

[mystman]

6 hours ago, Go2Sleep said:

 

By 2031, we will have a tournaments for solar system, galactic, intergalactic, universal, and multiversal champions as well. 

They'll have to call it the "legally-distinct universal championship '

[twiztor]

7 hours ago, Go2Sleep said:

TNT - Best wrestler on the network 
National - Best wrestler in the country
International - Best wrestler in every UN-recognized country
Continental - Best wrestler on every continent (including Antarctica and a handful of disputed territories within other continents) 
World - Best wrestler on the entire planet including all islands and oceans, and ice caps.

By 2031, we will have a tournaments for solar system, galactic, intergalactic, universal, and multiversal champions as well. 

A slight tweak:

International - Best wrestler in "international waters/territories", i.e. unclaimed areas. I'm including the moon until we get a specific Lunar Champion. (this makes Continental a bit less superfluous).

[RazorbladeKiss87]

Not quite finished yet (still have from Darby/Kidd on and will be skipping the main event) but what I've seen has been fun. Two chunks of an hour or so each is a great way to watch this stuff, except for getting spoiled. 

Takeshita is so damn good. Fletcher is so damn good. Not a fan of the execution of the finish in Okada/Takeshita but the match was fun. Fletcher/Mox was extremely my shit. Two legit sickos doing sicko shit. I understand how it might not be for everyone but it was for me. Fletcher and Skye make a great couple. 

I like the story of Mox finding what he's been looking for in the CC. Still not a huge fan of the Death Riders angle in the middle stages until Hangman was involved but I'm interested in where it goes. 

I wish Athena and Mercedes would stay together. The women's tag division needs more than the champs and their current challengers. However, I want to see them wrestle each other again. Also very excited for Willow/Mercedes this week. Never would have guessed I'd say that about Mercedes but I'm fully on board. 

[JLSigman]

That was such a cool outfit and entrance. His ring actually lit up, too! He can do John Stewart Lantern anytime.

[NoFistsJustFlips]

14 hours ago, southofheavy said:

Stat really should be a heel. 

Regardless, they did beat the brakes off of each other and that was awesome. 

Man Stat had so much steam before the heel turn. I wish they never did that. Shes great but I think the crowd still hasn't full re-embraced her.

Hayter by all accounts changed her look deliberately and says this is closer to who she is. But the Scooby Doo gimmick has tanked her aura.

Think its just a case of two great performers being matched up at not a great time. This match with the a pre heel turn Stat vs a pre 70s gal gimmick for Hayter would have set the world on fire.