A couple of months after the success of WrestleDream, AEW presents another new addition to its pay-per-view lineup in Worlds End. MJF’s back is against the wall and we may finally find out who The Devil is.
AEW Worlds End 2023 date, start time
AEW Worlds End will air live on Saturday, December 30. It will begin at 8pm ET.
How to watch AEW Worlds End 2023
AEW Worlds End will be available to purchase from traditional pay-per-view, the Bleacher Report app in the United States, and FiteTV elsewhere. It will cost $49.99.
AEW Worlds End 2023 card and predictions
20-man Battle Royale for a future AEW TNT Championship match
Jason: Bit of a spoiler for one of my predictions later in this article, but this needs to be won by either a young up-and-comer or a dastardly heel, and why not both? Let’s see Nick Wayne get some shine and create a bit of intrigue for the night.
Winner: Nick Wayne
Darius: I think a babyface takes this one because it’s a result that wouldn’t give away the result of the TNT Title Match later in the show. While Jason’s pick of Nick Wayne is great because he could feasibly fight Copeland or Cage after this and get a good story out of it, I feel like it’s too early to tease anything, even as a bit, falling apart between Christian Cage and Nick Wayne. I think it could be fun to have a Hardy make it near the end to tease a feud with their old rivals; meanwhile, Santana or Ortiz winning would work for the New York crowd if they weren’t both banished to the indies. While the natural middle ground of those two thoughts is Isiah Kassidy (Hardy-related and a New Yorker), the New Yorker I’m betting on is someone AEW loves to give random singles pushes to, someone who’d be a relatively fresh fight for Copeland, and someone whose mom Christian would probably be rude to.
Winner: Trent Beretta
Jay: So, the winner of this match gets a TNT title match whenever and wherever they want. Where have I heard that stipulation before and which wrestler is that stipulation synonymous with? I honestly have no idea who wins this match as I don’t know who in the midcard is worthy of beating who is likely to be Adam Copeland for the belt. I think this would be a great spot for Jay White to win which would allow him to transition into a feud with Copeland.
Winner: Jay White
Hook (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta for the FTW Championship (FTW Rules)
Jason: A pre show match? Send me Hook! Bloom is kind of off the rose for both these guys, but the FTR title exists specifically for Taz’s boy so it doesn’t make sense for the BCC young boy to take it off him. I assume there may be shenanigans that lead to his win, but I digress. Hook takes it.
Winner: Hook
Darius: Not going to lie, I would probably be more excited for this match if it weren’t an FTW Rules match, as HOOK has all the makings of a great technical wrestler and would probably kill it with Yuta if let off the chair-swinging leash. That being said, even though this match leaves a lot of room for Yuta to cheat, it’s hard to bet against the guy with only three losses ever versus the guy who only just won his first AEW singles match in three years. Also, it’s New York.
Winner: HOOK (all caps when you spell the man’s name)
Jay: The last time Hook was on the pre-show wrestling for the FTW title, Tony Khan feared for his life. I feel like Hook has not progressed at all since his debut in 2022 and neither has Yuta. I don’t really care about this match. Probably Yuta due to a returning Jack Perry?
Winner: Wheeler Yuta
Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon for the TBS Championship
Jason: Abadon on a PPV? And it’s not Halloween? As I live and breathe, this is the most I’ve seen of the zombie since this whole AEW thing got started. It’s weird that they’re feuding with the other gothy act in the company, but let’s not lose sight of the fact that Julia Hart is also way more over. As such, expect the former cheerleader/current creepy hat enthusiast honoring the House of Black to walk away with the title still on her shoulder.
Winner: Julia Hart
Darius: I love me some Abadon, but no shot is AEW giving them a win over Julia at this stage. As Jason said, Abandon has pretty much been a non-entity for a majority of their AEW career for various reasons (injury, booking ideas, training, Covid, etc.), and while it’s neat that Abadon’s back, Julia is just about the winningest woman in all of AEW in 2023, and she just got the title that was owed to her last month. I could see Abadon eventually becoming TBS Champion, but not at this juncture.
Winner: Honoring the House of Black, Julia Hart
Jay: Julia Hart deserves all the flowers right now. She has become a legit star and has a fantastic career ahead of her. We have been asking for more Abadon since the pandemic era and they’ve earned this spot on the card, but it just isn’t their time.
Winner: Julia Hart
Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
Jason: I recognize I’m creating a pattern by starting yet another entry with an incredulous question, but shouldn’t we have done this match like six months ago? Like I completely forgot that Swerve in Our Glory was a thing, and remember even less about their contentious breakup. As an isolated story, it would mostly make sense for the wronged face to earn his revenge. Yet this denouement took so long that Swerve has become one of the most organically popular stars in the company and a guy that absolutely should be the next World Champ, which means my boy Keith Lee is going to have to eat yet another pinfall loss. Swerve’s got a whole crew of henchmen that can make it a screwy victory to try and protect Keith to some degree, but the big man deserves better than what’s going to happen to him in this one.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Darius: This feels like a match that was building toward Revolution, as Swerve has been preoccupied while Keith Lee had been feuding with Shane Taylor up to and during the beginning stage of this restarted feud. While the 8-man tag later also feels thrown together, it’s at least got the excuse of injuries. This one feels both too early and too late given the potential grandeur of it and the ramifications for both men if they lose. As is, Lee feels like he needs a win but won’t get this win, because Swerve has been booked like a star while Lee has barely been booked.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Jay: I am very happy to see Keith Lee get some shine but he isn’t getting past Swerve right now. This match needs to happen because they have never had a proper blow-off to their feud and it will be a banger but Swerve is taking it.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Miro vs. Andrade El Idolo
Jason: This is an interesting matchup with an uninteresting story. I feel like both guys’ styles mesh well, and both are in position where they could definitely use a win to cement some upward momentum, but that this all boils down to a kerfuffle over one dude’s wife being the other dude’s manager – and said wife potentially not making it to the show following a scary looking hand injury – is more than a little underwhelming. I guess I’ll give it to Miro, as he probably has the brighter future, and Andrade may still end up in WWE sooner than later.
Winner: Miro
Darius: I believe conventional wisdom says to give this to the man who appears to sticking around longer — that being Miro — but with Andrade’s strong performance in the Continental Classic, plus the fact that CJ Perry has barely had time to be ringside for Andrade due to the rules of the C2, I feel Andrade might put Miro away here. If Miro wins and demolishes Andrade like he wanted, I doubt CJ and him just make up and become a team again. I think Miro, the character, needs to be humbled and allow his wife to manage both other clients and her own career, and I only think he can come to that conclusion if a suave Mexican man beats him up on Long Island.
Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Jay: Miro always loses when his wife is involved. The man deserves so much more and he’s been threatening God with a capital G for years now. This man looks like a star, acts like a star, and the fans treat him like a star. Andrade is a fantastic wrestler in his own right but we need to stop faking our enthusiasm for him. Miro should take this but he probably won’t. I’m going to predict Miro regardless because why not?
Winner: Miro
Ricky Starks, Big Bill, Kyle Fletcher, and Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Le Sex Gods, Sting, and Darby Allin
Jason: An “everyone in the pool” match designed to put these stories somewhere on the PPV card, this one is a big fat “who cares” from me. I’m gonna guess the faces win because Sting is on their team and he’s probably winning every match until he puts over his stepson Darby in his farewell bout. Plus Sammy just came back and blah blah blah. Whatever.
Winners: Le Sex Gods, Sting, and Darby Allin
Darius: The one cool thing about all these Sting multi-mans is that a bunch of young guys can claim that they got to wrestle Sting before he retired. In this case, cool for Kyle Fletcher and Big Bill, and congrats to Hobbs for officially getting a Sting match after already being involved with Sting’s debut match at Revolution 2021. But we just had a Sting and Jericho interaction this year, and even if they’re teaming up this time, I do wish we got a different mix of people in this slot. I’m excited to see the combinations of Starks and Hobbs and that of Darby and Sammy go out of their way to have important character interactions in this match based on their histories, but even those interesting things aren’t part of this match. I can’t be too mad since it’s a panic decision after Omega went down with diverticulitis, but I think it’s fair to be a little disappointed with said panic decision. Anyways, Sting wins.
Winners: Le Sex Gods, Sting, and Darby Allin
Jay: I can’t hate on this match too much as they obviously had to change gears quickly due to Kenny Omega’s injury. It will be a fun little match and I’m happy to see Sting as we are so close to his retirement. Sting has not lost a match since coming to AEW and he will keep his streak alive here.
Winners: Le Sex Gods, Sting, and Darby Allin
“Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Riho for the AEW Women’s World Championship
Jason: I don’t know if it’s JUST the AIPT discord that feels this way, but who actually wants Riho to win this? The Timeless character is the most I’ve ever enjoyed Toni Storm, and I definitely shouldn’t be used to put over a 75 lb woman who is only around every couple of months and whose offense is so completely unbelievable that it calls to mind those old matches where Kenny Omega fought a blowup doll. Hopefully TK sees the light on this one, and does the right thing.
Winner: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Darius: I’ve recently had to take up arms as AIPT’s resident Riho supporter, but that appreciation for Riho does not come at the cost of my absolute adoration of “Timeless” Toni Storm. Toni is probably my favorite woman on the roster (which is crazy to say with Willow Nightingale right there), and it sounds to me like many, if not most, other fans feel the same way. Toni is money, which doesn’t rhyme, but it’s still true. Riho’s here to give Toni a great match then get out of dodge, because even though Toni herself is Timeless, I’m still of the opinion that right now is, indeed, Toni Time.
Winner: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Jay: I’m a co-founder of the Ri-NO club on the AIPT discord. In fact, we are all co-founders except for Darius. Toni Storm is the strongest character in all of AEW right now and she isn’t losing till Mariah May is ready to take it from her.
Winner: “Timeless” Toni Storm
Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland for the TNT Championship (No Disqualification)
Jason: It’s still weird to think that Edge is in AEW, and he’s the least interesting part of his own storyline because Christian Cage is CRUSHING it as the scumbag stepfather gimmick. That being said, I imagine it’s time we moved the TNT Championship off of the best heel in the business so that TK’s expensive new toy can win a match of consequence – and a title in the process.
Winner: Adam Copeland
Darius: It’s weird because I feel like Adam Copeland didn’t come to AEW to win a singles title off of his best buddy, who himself has been having arguably the run of his career. That being said, I don’t know how we get to the ultimate end goal of Copeland and Cage’s retirement tag run from here. I used this word earlier with Miro, but I simply can’t see Christian Cage humbling himself enough to team with Copeland later if Copeland doesn’t beat him up now. On the other hand, Christian Cage’s character is bolstered by having a title right now in a way that fresh dream match machine Copeland wouldn’t be. Back to the first hand, giving the title to Copeland does give him ample reason to wrestle half of the AEW roster while he waits for Killswitch and the Prodigy to turn on their Father, AND it wouldn’t hurt to have a new TNT Champion since Christian’s been physically holding the belt for six months. After weighing the pros and cons, I think it’s time Christian Cage gets big-brothered.
Winner: Adam Copeland
Jay: I don’t think Adam Copeland wants to beat Christian Cage here. His character keeps getting stronger and Copeland probably doesn’t want it to end but at the same time, he needs a marquee win to cement his status in AEW. I suspect he will lose the title back quickly to Christian, but Cope needs the win here.
Winner: Adam Copeland
Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Jon Moxley (Championship Final of the AEW Continental Classic)
Jason: I know I’m alone in this, but I don’t care in the least for how this tournament turned out. I don’t get the Eddie Kingston thing, and that this tournament was transparently a vehicle for the guy that reminds me of uncles who never left the Bronx is so underwhelming. I was already pretty done with Mox winning the Gold league, but him vs. Danielson had potential. Him fighting Kingston again just feels…like an indie show. If the tournament was always a means to a midcard end, then including big names like Danielson and Swerve just to have them lose feels wasteful when your Keith Lees and Pentas of the world could also put on banger matches and use the rub. Anyway, Kingson’s going to win, Mox’s gonna bleed and we’re all going to move on with our lives.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Darius: I really, really enjoyed the inaugural C2, and while I do have things I’d have changed myself (at least one more upset, more post-match interviews on TV, a simple trophy instead of a new title), I’m overall content with how it played out. While Moxley was my personal least favorite of the three Gold League finalists, his presence gives the tournament finals legitimacy, and he’s also the only person I would have no qualms about seeing lose to Eddie — and I really want Eddie to win this. These two are going to fight like their lives depend on it, and in the end, we’re going to get a new “Modern Triple Crown Champion.” After becoming a world champion, meeting Kobashi, entering the G1, and beating Claudio, ending the year by becoming a triple crown champion is a pretty neat way to cap off the greatest year of Eddie Kingston’s career. Also, it’s New York.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Jay: The C2 was an incredible tournament that went a long way towards righting the ship for AEW. They had been experimenting with more character-based, WWE-style storylines to little payoff and I am so happy to see them going back towards a more sports-like presentation. However, the curse of this tournament was that it was for a mid-card prize. You can’t have main eventers win a mid-card prize because then they have to function in the mid-card. So it was, arguably, deflating to see Danielson, Swerve, Jay White, and now likely Moxley lose but this will go a long way to solidifying Eddie Kingston. The prize for this tournament should have been a world title match at All In in September. It is the biggest match in their biggest show of the year and you can earmark a wrestler for greatness nine months out. This gives AEW ample time to build a new star en route to that match but alas, we are being forced to feign concern for the NJPW Strong Openweight Title, the ROH world title, and the fourth – FOURTH! – men’s singles championship in AEW. Sigh. Anyway, I love Eddie Kingston and am happy that he will have his moment.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship
Jason: If Joe had waited to do his double cross until this match he could have won the title, but unless MJF’s injury is serious enough that he can’t perform in more than the “smoke and mirrors” nonsense we’ve had to deal with for the past few months, Max is holding onto that belt for a little while longer. Not sure what the quality of this match will be, given Max’s injury, but I’m assuming it’ll be a walky, brawly match that ends with Joe braining himself on the ringpost or something to allow MJF to eke out some semblance of victory.
Winner: MJF
Darius: I think I might be a freak for this one, but I’m not pulling for the New Yorker — the LONG ISLANDER — here. I know a lot of people are already at this point with MJF’s title reign, but given the booking leading up to this moment, I think Joe losing here might be the jump-the-shark moment. Joe just gave up the longest ROH TV Championship reign in history to go after this belt, chasing a guy who already beat him in New York three months ago. MJF is backed into a corner with an enemy who seems hellbent on taking out MJF the person, not merely winning the AEW World Championship off of him. While I think a heel MJF would win here and play up the Bidding War of 2024 schtick, I think Worlds End might see the End of a World Championship reign. Otherwise, you can place Joe right there next to Jay White and the Righteous on the list of people made to look incredibly incompetent by babyface MJF.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Bonus: who is the devil?
Jason: I saw a fan theory that the devil is Tony Khan and it’s the only thing that would not be a letdown. In kayfabe, Max has mocked him, threatened to leave for WWE, and has been an all around hard person to deal with, so it only makes sense that he would want to take his company’s title off of the arrogant jerk who called him a “F—ing Mark” on live TV. Since this is wrestling, the best way to get rid of the guy is to put on a mask, find some muscly goons and cut cryptic promos while you beat up him and all his friends.
Darius: If Tony Khan is going to book incredibly logically (and based on the result of the Continental Classic, Khan appears to be in “safe bet” mode), the Devil is 100% Adam Cole, and his henchmen include, at least in part, the Kingdom. I don’t know if Wardlow is involved or even if Roderick Strong is involved, but with Cole having pushed incredibly hard for MJF to let Joe get close to him, it’s what makes the most sense, and that is my locked-in guess. THAT BEING SAID, I wouldn’t be surprised if Cole is one last red herring and the Devil is still Jack Perry aligned with the remnants of QTV or something.
Jay: This storyline reminds me of “Who ran over Stone Cold?” and “The Higher Power.” It is a major storyline that has been plaguing the programming for months. It started off excellent as having MJF under siege by multiple antagonists was actually great for him. At the end of October, MJF was going through it with The Devil and his henchmen, Kenny Omega, Bullet Club Gold and Jay White, and Samoa Joe while defending the ROH Titles in handicap matches. It was really great work in making MJF look like a star and it even paved the way for more storylines for him in the future but alas, now you have to pay off all that potential or all of this was for naught and there are no good options.
Much like Rikishi and Vinnie Mac were letdowns for Stone Cold, I feel that whoever is revealed to be the devil will be the same. Adam Cole is too obvious but it makes the most sense and is very functional. No one cares about Roderick Strong like that. I hope they don’t try to make Jack Perry a thing. Christopher Daniels to make up for what could have been in 1999? It could be Richard Holliday, MJF’s old running partner in MLW. Why did Roderick Strong go out of his way to rule out Capt. Shawn Dean? It could even be MJF himself. Who knows? F*ck it, it’s Rikishi AND Vince McMahon. I can see it now.
Vince: “IT’S ME MAXWELL”
JR: “Ah, son of a bitch!”
Vince: “I WAS ME. ALL ALONG, MAXWELL!”
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