AEW Worlds End 2023 was a professional wrestling pay-per-view (PPV) event produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It took place on December 30, 2023 at the Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale, New York.
Production[]
Background[]
On the October 25, 2023 episode of Dynamite, it was announced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW) that they would hold a pay-per-view (PPV) event dubbed "Worlds End" on December 30 at the Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, New York, the company's first PPV held in New York.
Storylines[]
Following the disbandment of Swerve In Our Glory in late 2022, Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland did not face off in singles competition to settle their feud. On the December 27, 2023 episode of Dynamite, after failing to win the Continental Classic Gold League final, Strickland turned his attention to a match with his former partner Lee, with Tony Schiavone producing a contract for a match between the two, making it official for Worlds End. However, before the event, it was announced that Lee was not medically cleared to compete and would be replaced by his tag team partner Dustin Rhodes.
At Full Gear on November 18, Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega became the number one contenders for the AEW World Tag Team Championship after defeating The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson). On the December 13 episode of Dynamite, Jericho and Omega challenged AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks and Big Bill to a title match at Worlds End, which was accepted. However, on December 15, the match was cancelled after Omega revealed he had been diagnosed with diverticulitis, putting him out indefinitely. Jericho went on to announce on the December 23 episode of Collision that he would find another partner to face Starks and Bill at a later date. On the December 27 episode of Dynamite, a returning Sammy Guevara was attacked by The Don Callis Family (Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Powerhouse Hobbs), with Jericho making the save. This led to Starks and Bill arriving to help attack Jericho and Guevara, which saw Darby Allin and Sting come to the aid of Jericho and Guevara. This set up an eight man tag team match pitting Jericho, Guevara, Allin, and Sting against Starks, Bill, and The Don Callis Family.
At WrestleDream on October 1, Christian Cage successfully retained his TNT Championship against Darby Allin. After, Cage, Nick Wayne, and Luchasaurus would attack Allin, fending off an attempt from Sting to make the save. As the trio were about to hit Sting with a con-chair-to, Adam Copeland made his AEW debut to prevent the attack, saving Allin and Sting. On the October 4 episode of Dynamite, Copeland extended an invitation to Cage to reform their tag team, however, Cage declined. At Full Gear on November 18, Copeland partnered up with Allin and Sting to defeat Cage, Wayne, and Luchasaurus. This led to Copeland challenging Cage for the TNT Championship on the December 6 episode of Dynamite, which saw Copeland fail to win the title after interference from Wayne's mother, Shayna. On the December 16 episode of Collision, Copeland challenged Cage to a rematch with a no disqualification stipulation at Worlds End, which Cage later accepted.
On the November 11 episode of Collision, AEW President Tony Khan announced the Continental Classic tournament, featuring two blocks of six wrestlers, with the winner becoming the Triple Crown Champion, comprised of the ROH World Championship, the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship, and the AEW Continental Championship. On the December 27 episode of Dynamite, Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley won their league final matches, winning the Blue League and Gold League respectively. As a result, it was confirmed that Kingston and Moxley would face off in the Continental Classic final at Worlds End.
On the December 6 episode of Dynamite, after Toni Storm defeated Skye Blue to retain the AEW Women's World Championship, Riho made her return, confronting Storm. Making her intentions to challenge Storm clear, Riho defeated Saraya in a number one contenders match on the December 20 episode of Dynamite. As a result, it was confirmed that Storm would defend her title against Riho at Worlds End.
On the September 20 episode of Dynamite, AEW World Champion MJF successfully retained his title against Samoa Joe. During the match, MJF's tag team partner, Adam Cole, would injure himself coming to support the champion. As a result, Cole was unable to team with MJF to defend their ROH World Tag Team Championship on the Full Gear pre-show on November 18. Joe offered to defend the title with MJF on the condition that he receive another championship match. MJF initially declined, however, after Joe saved MJF from a beatdown, MJF agreed. The pair would go on to retain the ROH World Tag Team Championship at Full Gear. On the November 22 episode of Dynamite, MJF offered to give Joe his championship rematch that night. However, Joe declined due to MJF having a minor injury. Wanting to face a fully healed MJF, Joe challenged him to a title match at Worlds End, which was accepted.
Results[]
- Numbers in parentheses indicate the length of the match.
- (c) refers to the champion(s) heading into the match.
- Pre-Show: Willow Nightingale defeated Kris Statlander (13:25)
- Pre-Show: Killswitch won a Battle Royale to become the #1 Contender for the AEW TNT Championship (13:50)
- Pre-Show: Hook (c) defeated Wheeler Yuta in an FTW Rules Match to retain the FTW Championship (10:20)
- Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia & Mark Briscoe defeated Rush, Jay White, Jay Lethal & Brody King in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (17:16)
- Miro defeated Andrade El Idolo (15:12)
- Toni Storm (w/Luther) (c) defeated Riho to retain the AEW Women's World Championship (11:45)
- Swerve Strickland defeated Dustin Rhodes (9:28)
- Sting, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara & Chris Jericho defeated The Don Callis Family (Kyle Fletcher & Powerhouse Hobbs), Ricky Starks & Big Bill (w/Don Callis) in an Eight Man Tag Team Match (15:42)
- Julia Hart (c) defeated Abadon to retain the AEW TBS Championship (11:57)
- Adam Copeland defeated Christian Cage (w/Mother Wayne & Nick Wayne) (c) in a No Disqualification Match to win the AEW TNT Championship (24:48)
- Christian Cage (w/Killswitch, Mother Wayne & Nick Wayne) defeated Adam Copeland (c) to win the AEW TNT Championship (0:12)
- Eddie Kingston defeated Jon Moxley in the Continental Classic Final Match (17:16)
- Samoa Joe defeated MJF (w/Adam Cole) (c) to win the AEW World Championship (17:52)
Other on-screen talent[]
|
|