The pro wrestling PPV calendar will wrap up with the brand new AEW Worlds End PPV event on Saturday night December 30, live from the Nassau Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum on Long Island on Bleacher Report, Fite TV internationally, and traditional PPV. On paper, the event is a “B” show with the main hook being the final match in the first annual AEW Continental Classic tournament.
The Continental Classic has been the primary focus of AEW television for the past month, so it makes sense for that to be the key point of intrigue for fans. It’d be nice to see Tony Khan round out the show with strong bouts around it, but that simply isn’t the story.
MJF will defend the AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe in an all to predictable main event. Both women’s championships are on the line, but both are even more predictable the MJF vs. Joe. Outside of that, Christian Cage vs. Adam Copeland should be interesting and Hook vs. Wheeler Yuta in an FTW Rules Match that has the potential to reignite Hook to 2021 levels of popularity.
The other reason why fans may purchase this event has nothing to do with the card itself. It’s that ‘ol devil mystery that AEW has cooking. The AEW Devil has been a prevalent story in AEW for months, but is overdue for some true narrative progression. On a show without a lot of news on it, a devil reveal is a logical move to keep people talking about AEW heading into the new year.
Call this a preview, a calm look into the distant future, or a gaze into a wondrous crystal ball; just don’t hold me to anything, ok?
Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage – TNT Championship No Disqualification Match
Christian Cage has a win over Adam Copeland in AEW, but he’s not going to add to that record in this match. The Cage vs. Copeland feud has had it’s high points, but doesn’t seem to have captured the full attention and intrigue of the AEW faithful. There’s an element of “been there, done that” with these two that the new AEW environment isn’t adding to at this point in their career.
Cage has been wonderful in the heel role he occupies. He’s not only tormented Copeland, but has found a way to get real bad guy heat regularly.
It’s time to wrap this up so both guys can go their own way. That means the good guy goes over to finish the story properly. So, Copeland gets the win and finally silences The Patriarch.
Prediction: Adam Copeland
Toni Storm vs. Riho – AEW Women’s World Championship
Riho is a formidable opponent for Toni Storm given her history as a former AEW Women’s World Champion, but formidable doesn’t mean credible. Storm is the “it” act in the AEW women’s division right now and the only real over character in that division as well. It would be silly for her to lose the championship given those circumstances.
AEW jumped through the right hoops and had Riho earn her way to a title shot by winning, but the story between her and Storm starts and ends there. This is missing heat, but Storm’s “Timeless” persona is doing wonders to fill the void. Look for Storm to win clean.
Prediction: Toni Storm
Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
This match has been over a year in the making, so it’s a bit tough to see AEW finally get to it with almost zero build or hype. Strickland has been involved in the Continental Classic and Keith Lee has been calling out “Him.” Apparently “Him” is Swerve Strickland and now both men are on a collision course.
There was a lot of meat on the bone here considering Lee and Strickland were tag team champions and the match will have a bit of meaning and context because of that. Outside of that context, though, there isn’t a broad story here. With Strickland losing in the Continental Classic semifinal he needs a win here and will get it cleanly opposite Lee.
Prediction: Swerve Strickland
Hook vs. Wheeler Yuta – FTW Championship FTW Rules Match
Honestly, this feels like an AEW Rampage main event. Hook and Yuta have a little history that the feud is leaning on, but it isn’t a deep one.
Hook hasn’t show and ability to connect on a narrative level with his stories and the end result is usually a flat tone and tenor. Yuta isn’t a beacon of charisma either, which leaves this match with an uphill battle to climb.
The high end of expectations would be these two tearing it up in a bloody brawl that changes the perception of both coming out regardless of who wins. The more likely scenario is a bloody brawl that leaves both in the exact same position.
In either scenario, Hook wins to retain his championship. The bottom line is the FTW Championship isn’t anything without Hook and Hook isn’t anything without the championship. They need each other.
Prediction: Hook
Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
I’ve really liked what these guys have done with this feud. Lana and Miro have been at odds with one another because of Lana managing Andrade, but it’s been done in a tasteful way that very much features Miro’s dedication to wrestling. Andrade is a strong heel foil for Miro and has shown to have some chemistry with Lana.
As for Lana, she’s worked in a very believable way that shows off her sadness due to her split from Miro on the topic of wrestling, but also her determination to continue working in the business she loves.
At this point, Lana is the most important character in this story, so Andrade takes the win if for no other reason than to simply give Lana credibility as a returning manager.
Prediction: Andrade El Idolo
Julia Hart vs. Abadon – TBS Championship
The Abadon program is a holdover feud for Julia Hart and that’s ok. Establishing Hart as a winner is a key element of her run as champion, so it’s nice to see AEW take a couple weeks to try and establish Abadon as a challenger, so Hart can beat her.
This is the pinnacle of the Abadon character. In it’s current form, the gimmick can’t get past this spot on the card and to that end, Abadon has played things ok. Hart is a strong personality to play off of, which enhances the act.
Fans aren’t salivating for an Abadon title win here and that’s a good thing because she certainly isn’t getting one. Hart wins as clean as a sheet in the middle of the ring.
Prediction: Julia Hart
Sting, Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara & Darby Allin vs. Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs
Not much to this except for a one night brawl on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. Kenny Omega getting sick threw off the courses of Jericho, Ricky Starks, and Big Bill and this is a way to collect some of those pieces and get them on the card. Sting is involved, so the babyfaces take this after a wild fight.
Prediction: Sting, Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, and Darby Allin
20-Man Battle Royal
This one doesn’t have an announced participant list, but it is for a shot at the TNT Championship, so there are are some stakes even if it is on the PPV Zero Hour pre-show. That said, I’ll go out on a limb and say Malaki Black is the winner as I strongly believe Copeland is walking out of the show with the TNT title.
Prediction: Malaki Black
Jon Moxley vs. Eddie Kingston – AEW Continental Classic Tournament Final
You’re looking at the match of the night with this one. The tournament final creates some very high stakes, but the personal nature of Moxley and Kingston’s friendship and rivalry adds significant depth to the match as well. The tournament has been about Eddie Kingston. He got the comeback angle and put up his championships to create the triple crown title that the winner of the tournament gets. It makes perfect sense for him to vanquish Moxley and get the W. Plus, Moxley simply isn’t going to be toiling around with lower card ROH and NJPW titles as part of the AEW Triple Crown. Kingston is a strong choice for that role.
Prediction: Eddie Kingston
MJF vs. Samoa Joe – AEW World Championship
AEW has a lot of balls to juggle with their final main event championship of the year. So many, in fact, it’s as if the Joe vs. MJF story and feud is a secondary player to everything else going on.
The big focus going into the match and within the build to the match itself has been the AEW Devil. The Devil has played a central role in the relationship between Joe and MJF, bringing both men together and on the same page ahead of the match. Not great given the fact you of course want the championship at the center of what’s happening, but it leaves AEW the opportunity to reveal who the devil is on PPV as the company heads into 2023.
The other big focus is on MJF himself. The champion’s contract ends at the end of this year and one has to wonder whether or not he’s signed a new deal. If he has, of course he’s retaining the title here. If not, Joe just may get a surprising world title win.
Now, my guess is MJF has re-signed or will re-sign and will retain his championship over Joe with the big devil reveal coming after the match. MJF will get a clean win on Joe and then execute the angle with the devil, leading to that feud taking over AEW programming in the first quarter of next year.
Prediction: MJF