Sports blog information from USA TODAY.
Check out some of the best photos from AEW Worlds End 2023, held at the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island.
The first ever AEW Worlds End gave fans new champions, the culmination of the Continental Classic and the reveal of the Devil and his masked men. Sounds like a memorable night on Long Island to us.
Take a look back at some of the images that will stay with everyone who watched Worlds End well into the new year.
(Images courtesy of All Elite Wrestling)
Get the vibe of AEW Worlds End from amidst the live crowd from Wrestling Junkie’s Rob Wolkenbrod.
LONG ISLAND, NY — Entering Worlds End, it felt like a pay-per-view AEW needed to hit out of the park. The second half of the company’s 2023 left something to be desired, with lagging ticket sales, unfortunate injuries to Adam Cole, Kenny Omega and MJF, and backstage controversies remaining constant.
Filling the Nassau Coliseum wasn’t an issue Saturday night; AEW fans loaded the arena waiting on their favorite “scumbag,” the culmination of the Continental Classic and the next step of Christian Cage and Adam Copeland’s feud. The rest of the card had little fanfare since AEW glued it together within the last week, and it showed from the start of the main show until the main event matches.
At the same time, Worlds End was always billed as a three-match show featuring the three longest-running storylines in AEW. Along with the impending reveal of the Devil, the final 90 minutes of the five-hour show held all the eggs in the basket.
But even though fans were awaiting the identity of the person under the mask, questions loomed about MJF’s injury status. Was it his final night wrestling for a while? Did AEW extend his contract into 2024 and beyond? Tony Khan said he can’t comment on the AEW future of the Long Island native after the show, so take that as you will.
AEW answered questions beyond that during Worlds End, though, creating an interesting night of pro wrestling to close 2023.
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The AEW Devil and the masked men were finally revealed in the final moments of Worlds End.
Sometimes it’s the people who you trust most who can hurt you the most. MJF learned that the hard way at AEW Worlds End Saturday night on Long Island, when his main event loss was followed by a more painful turn of events — the heartbreaking reveal of the Devil.
It happened right after MJF was defeated by submission, losing his AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. He was supported throughout the match by Adam Cole, who was at ringside despite still being on crutches. The only sign that something might be amiss is when MJF asked Cole for his Dynamite Diamond Ring and his friend was slow to produce it, giving Joe a chance to recover.
After the match, Cole appeared to console MJF until the ring was surrounded by the Devil’s masked men. They were both quickly overpowered, and they took turns telling one of the assailants with a steel chair to hit them and spare the other.
Just as it looked like a decision would be made, the lights went out … and came back up to find Cole sitting on the chair with the men beside him. They unmasked to reveal their identities as well: Roderick Strong, The Kingdom and Wardlow. To remove any doubt, Cole took out and held up a Devil mask, then Wardlow powerbombed MJF to end the show.
According to Fightful Select (subscription required), MJF will likely take time off now to heal up from a variety of injuries, so both his title loss and a resolution to the Devil storyline made sense. It may not have been as wild a reveal as some guesses floating around, but it’s one that should benefit the wrestlers involved and sets the stage for a red hot MJF-Cole feud sometime down the road.
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In front of his hometown fans, MJF had a bad night at AEW Worlds End.
Samoa Joe is all business on his way to the ring, but MJF gets an extended entrance with a funny video featuring Long Island natives. His entrance gear says “Most Magical Place in the World” under the arms. Joe gets a bit of a surprise when Adam Cole’s music hits and he comes out on crutches to support his friend. Or so we think, anyway.
Once the bell rings, MJF does a little Ric Flair-style strut, and he has both a brace and tape on his left shoulder. That doesn’t stop him from stomping and kicking away in the corner, but Joe quickly sends him to the mat. Joe throws a series of right hands as the fans get on him.
Now it’s kicks to MJF’s chest and a legdrop on the already ailing arm. The challenger’s attack stays focused on the left arm until some head shots in the corner. Joe wants a Muscle Buster, but MJF wriggles free and dumps his foe over the top rope to the floor.
MJF tries an inside cradle and the surprise factor works for a near fall, as does a sunset flip and a schoolboy. Max wants a Kangaroo Kick but sees it countered, but his attempt to skin the cat on the ropes gets him kicked in the head.
A big suicide dive by Joe is on target, causing some concern from Cole. The challenger gets a two count and stays calm when the match continues on. A German suplex flows right into a dragon suplex and a release straitjacket German. Another cover follows, and MJF manages to get one foot on the ropes to get a break.
They head to the apron, where a headbutt drives MJF back and leaves him vulnerable to a Muscle Buster on the apron. Cole’s face is likely to be memed far and wide, though MJF manages to kick out from the ensuing pinfall attempt.
Finally, MJF launches a rally with a lariat and some biting in the corner. The Kangaroo Kick is countered for a second time, and Max collapses when he tries to get Joe up for a fireman’s carry. But he comes back fast with a rolling elbow and a double stomp on Joe’s arm, then a Heatseeker for a two count.
Several counters leave both men on the mat, where MJF is trying for the Salt of the Earth, using some of his own athletic tape to yank on Joe’s arm until the ref prevents it. Joe reverses the hold, and Cole is working hard to urge his friend to reach the ropes … and he eventually does.
Joe looks for the Coquina Clutch, and Max’s escape leads to a ref bump. MJF sees an opportunity, delivering a low blow and hoisting Joe for an F-5. Wow. The champ crawls and puts an arm over Joe’s chest, but the ref only recovers in time to count to two.
Cole slips Max the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but the Coquina Clutch has him in trouble. Bryce Remsburg checks on MJF’s arm twice, then three time. He doesn’t answer, and he’s lost it by submission.
Cole looks distraught as Joe leaves with the championship belt. He climbs in the ring while the crowd starts a “bulls–t” chant. They’re surrounded by the Devil’s masked men, who quickly take both of them captive. Both men tell a guy with a chair to hit them … but the lights go out.
When they come back up, Cole is sitting on a chair. The masked men unmask to show that they are The Kingdom, Wardlow and Roderick Strong. Wardlow drops MJF with a powerbomb as Cole holds up the Devil mask.
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Eddie Kingston completed his epic Continental Classic comeback, defeating Jon Moxley at AEW Worlds End.
While Eddie Kingston hustles quickly down the ramp, Jon Moxley takes his sweet old time walking all the way from the back as he typically does. The crowd is definitely backing New York native Kingston as they lock up.
Kingston does some MMA-style lures to try to get Mox on the mat, but he won’t bite. Moxley nearly gets some holds applied after Kingston lands some quick strikes.
They engage in a test of strength until Moxley sneaks in a kick to the spine. Kingston repays him in kind and they exchange some words, then chops. Eddie connects on an enzuigiri, then nearly overshoots a suicide drive and lands hard on his head.
Moxley isn’t making Kingston’s head any better with a DDT on the floor. Back in the ring they go, with Moxley scoring some kicks until Kingston catches one of them and blasts away with strikes. Mox battles through and presses Eddie’s neck into the ropes, and replay shows the two men hit forearm and forearm in painful fashion. Moxley uses a piledriver to earn a near fall.
Middle fingers and chops start flowing in both directions. Both men end up on the mat as Bryan Danielson urges on his teammate from guest commentary. Kingston treats Moxley to machine gun chops, following him from corner to corner, but Mox hits a cutter and a King Kong lariat. A suplex from the Mad King gets him a near fall as an immediate response.
Kingston takes things to the mat, locking his foe in a bulldog choke that gets reversed. After he breaks free, Kingston suckers Mox in for a spinning back fist and a Northern Lights bomb, with two counts after each one.
Moxley wakes back up with a clothesline and both men are back on the canvas. They rise together and exchange slaps, with Kingston knocking Moxley down with his spinning version, and he covers and gets the three.
With the fans chanting “you deserve it” for Kingston, he hugs Moxley before raising his three title belts.
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It looked like Adam Copeland beat Christian Cage at AEW Worlds End, but his triumph was fleeting.
There’s no waiting here: Adam Copeland attacks Christian Cage during his entrance and smashes him into one of the big video panels. As he continues beating the Patriarch to the ring, he chokes the champ with his own shirt as the crowd gets an early “we want tables” chant going, followed by “TLC.”
Cage is whipped into the steps, hitting his knees hard as he flies over. He barely avoids getting his head stomped on the steps and heads into the crowd and up the steps. Nick Wayne tries to jump in but gets some right hands for his trouble. Copeland jumps off the section 104 portion of the stands and lands on his foe, slapping five with fans on his way back down to the ringside area.
The champ finally gets the momentum back in his favor, pulling off what Copeland tried on him on top of the steps. He kicks out at two after a cover but is bleeding over his left eye.
Cage grabs a kendo stick and Shayna Wayne laughs as he nails his former friend on the back, then chokes him with Copeland’s head between the top two ropes. The stick is pressed into Copeland’s neck as well, but he manages to kick out at two again.
Nick Wayne grabs some chairs and slides them into the ring, and Cage flexes before doing a Boston crab while sitting on a chair across the back of Copeland’s neck. The champ finally misses with a metal rod and is dragged down backward by Copeland, who proceeds to go to town with a kendo stick.
Copeland locks in a crossface with the help of the rod before leaving to look for more plunder. He brings a ladder into the ring and places it across one corner. Cage gets catapulted into the bottom of it, but he surprises his foe with a kendo stick shot and slams him back down.
They battle to the top of the ladder, now standing in the corner, and Cage hits a sunset flip powerbomb that gets him a near fall. Copeland rallies to hit a DDT on a chair in the center of the ring, but Nick Wayne prevents him from hitting a Conchairto, and Cage’s low blow with a chair nearly steals a win.
A table is set up in the corner by the Patriarch and his “son,” and he looks like he wants a spear. Copeland leapfrogs it, however, throws two chairs in Cage’s face and spears the champ through the table instead. The cover is made but Shayna Wayne pulls the ref out of the ring.
Nick Wayne hits a running shot with the title belt and then Wayne’s World, barely missing a table on the floor. Both men stumble backwards into each other and Cage hits the Killswitch … but Copeland manages to kick out at the very last second.
Cage and Nick Wayne pour lighter fluid on the table, setting it ablaze, but Copeland spears Cage and ends up relighting the table. Nick Wayne is powerbombed into the flaming table and nearly misses it.
Climbing back in the ring, Copeland avoids a belt shot and kicks Cage in the groin. Whispering “go f–k yourself,” Copeland hits the Killswitch and gets the three count and the title.
Speaking of Killswitch … the former Luchasaurus won a Battle Royale during the pre-show to earn a title shot and lays out Copeland. He wants to cash in the contract, but Cage tries to convince him to hand it over … which he does.
Cage quickly fills it out and tells the ref to start the match. He spears Copeland and gets the pin to re-win the TNT Championship.
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See how Toni Storm was able to remain AEW Women’s World Championship at Worlds End.
Riho looks typically cheerful as she makes her way to the ring for her title shot. The announcers note that these wrestlers have only met once before and Riho was the winner. Toni Storm gets the black and white treatment as usual, coming down to defend her championship.
The challenger tries to go right at the champ only to get caught and slammed for a cover, though she bridges out easily. Riho cartwheels away from a lariat to hit several kicks and a running knee, covering for a quick two.
Another high kick sends Storm to the floor, where Luther catches the challenger and hands her to the champ to get slammed on the floor. Toni tries another cover and gets a two.
Riho gets her own two with an inside cradle before getting sent back to the mat and needing to kick out for herself. A scoop and slam and a lateral press forces Riho into another kickout.
Storm looks to focus on Riho’s back, then delivers a Sky High for yet another near fall. Toni steps on Riho’s lower back several times while posing for the crowd, then tortures her challenger’s back some more while tangled in the ropes.
A half crab keeps up the assault on Riho’s back until she can force a rope break. While riding on Luther’s back, Storm grabs her foe by the air and hurls her to the floor.
Back to the crab goes Storm, with Luther pulling the ropes away from Riho … and getting tossed by the ref as a result. The challenger hits the tiger feint kick and a high cross body for a two count.
Another cross body sends Riho all the way to the floor before she climbs up top again for a stomp. A dragon suplex and a high stack get Riho close to winning, but not quite.
Storm misses the hip attack but has the wherewithal to quickly pull off a Storm Zero for a two count. The announcers think Riho may be done, but she gets two covers in quick succession, the second of which makes Toni reach for the ropes for a break.
After yanking Riho off the turnbuckles, Storm hits a variation on a DDT and that’s enough to win it. Mariah May comes to the ring to throw rose petals on the champ in celebration.
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Get live AEW Worlds End results for the year-ending pay-per-view from Long Island.
It’s time to see how AEW will look going into 2024, with plenty of big matches in store for AEW Worlds End. And in the hometown of AEW World Champion MJF, will he even leave Long Island with the title?
It’s a legitimate question given the status of his health and contract. There’s every chance that Samoa Joe could walk out of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum as the top champion in AEW, which is something not many probably would have predicted at the start of the year.
Many fans will also be watching to see if the Devil gets involved in the main event, with insiders suggesting their identity will be revealed before the end of the night. That only figures to make MJF’s chances of retaining his beloved Triple B even shorter.
Another highlight should be the Continental Classic final between Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley, two men who know each other extremely well even in an industry in which saying that is something of a trope. Can the Mad King throw off his bad luck in the biggest spots, not to mention his winless record against Mox, and finally come through?
We’ll also see both women’s championships defended (finally), another grudge match between Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, and much more from Long Island. We’re raring to go, so hopefully you are too.
(click or tap on any match with a link for full details)
See who emerges with wins during the AEW Worlds End Zero Hour pre-show.
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Before the world can end, there must be a Zero Hour.
Well, it’s true for the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view, at least. The inaugural event comes to us tonight from the venerable Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum on Long Island, set to send the year in AEW wrestling out with a bang.
The main card starts on PPV at 8 p.m. ET, but there’s wrestling to be had on the Zero Hour pre-show which begins at 6:30 p.m. More like a Zero Hour and a Half, if you will.
One title will be on the line when Hook defends his FTW Championship against the Blackpool Combat Club’s Wheeler Yuta. We’ll also see friends compete when Kris Statlander squares off with Willow Nightingale.
And in case your favorite AEW men’s wrestler isn’t on the Worlds End card, no worries: There’s a decent chance he’ll be in the Battle Royale on Zero Hour. The winner receives a TNT Championship shot somewhere down the road, so perhaps said winner will be a clue as to whether Christian Cage will retain that belt when he battles Adam Copeland on the PPV.
We have multiple team members in the building tonight and will be ready on the laptop as well, so let’s get into this pre-show.
Take a look at the confirmed match card for the inaugural AEW Worlds End.
This year, the AEW pay-per-view schedule has been in full swing. Since its inception, AEW has only held a few major shows per year, but they have now increased to almost one per month. This trend will continue with the final show for 2023, Worlds End, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Dec. 30 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York.
MJF, AEW’s resident Long Islander, will headline the show by defending his AEW World Championship against Samoa Joe. This will be their second title match in New York within the past 90 days, with MJF aiming to extend his record title reign as the incumbent.
On the Dec. 23 episode of AEW Collision, Christian Cage accepted Adam Copeland’s challenge for a No DQ match for his TNT Championship. The two longtime friends turned bitter rivals may finally settle their explosive beef on Long Island.
Worlds End will also have the climax of the inaugural AEW Continental Classic, with the final match going down at the event. The winner will be crowned the first ever AEW Triple Crown Champion by virtue of winning the new AEW Continental Championship, the ROH World Championship and the Strong Openweight Championship (as the latter two titles were put up for grabs by Eddie Kingston). Fittingly, Kingston will be one of the finalists, going up against Jon Moxley.
Several other matches were finalized on the Dec. 27 episode of Dynamite.
Worlds End goes down on Saturday, Dec. 30. Check out the full card below.
Latest update: Dec. 29, 2023, 10:25 p.m. ET.
