Quick Thoughts: AEW World's End 2024

As we are days away from 2024 ending we have the final AEW PPV of the year in World's End. As someone who's real interest differs between in ring or promos being what I am more interested the Continental Classic came around at a good time for good in ring action. It's really the only time AEW likes booking star vs. star on TV and has thrown great matches like Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin and Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe. That's not to take away from other matches on the card but my main interest going into this was the tournament conclusion. As someone who's enjoying The Death Riders I do also like the evolution to the story actually featuring the bigger stars and not just Mox squashing the lower card. I do expect this to move into Mox vs. Omega again but we will see.

Again, I won't be going over the preshow matches as they are just thrown together last minute and don't add much so I will just go over stuff in and around them I want to talk about. It is odd Swerve is not on the show match wise I'm writing this part before the show starts later today so maybe he will have some kind of segment (which segments on PPV that aren't a post match type thing annoy me) but just odd. Same with Private Party, I was looking forward to them vs. Action & Lio but it was just not on this show. I think AEW should see the market opportunity when it comes to TNA retiring the X Division title (such a terrible idea) and look at Private Party, Lio & Action and Private Party as well as Top Flight to give that all thrills fast paced X Division style of match. Getting rid of that belt means somewhere needs to get that style back and AEW is probably the best place for it. 

Toni Storm remains one of the best character workers in wrestling. I can't tell if this current act is her losing her memory or her playing the role of Rocker Toni Storm as Timeless Toni Storm. I think it gives an option into what is the best. It does feel like we are holding out for Toni vs. Mariah 2 in Grand Slam Australia but we will see.  

I'll cover the Continental Classic in one go here. I think this year is a marked improvement it feels like it means more but that should be expected on a year to year build when you have a history of a tournament to go back on. This year felt more star studded even with last year having Danielson, Mox & Eddie (as well as Jay & Swerve who weren't really fully pushed acts at the time). I do think this has helped with Daniel Garcia and also with the push of Kyle Fletcher. I imagine the idea of an Okada vs. Ospreay final is to have the first big highly rated and remembered final should it be at the level expected of the two so they can use it going forward. We will see, I do think next year Daniel Garcia should win just to show the change over 3 years in the tournament as in my opinion nobody embodies the Continental Classic more then him.  

Main Show

Continental Classic Semifinal: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
As I mentioned beforehand with the classic you'd expect the 3 matches tonight to be top quality. This match is one hell of a way to open the show. I am glad Ospreay won with the Styles Clash seeing as he never has before. This was a real difference to a norma Ospreay match which I liked. More blading and slower paced stuff Ospreay deliveres again. 

Continental Classic Semifinal: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Ricochet
If Ricochet could stop retweeting Andrew Tate then honestly I would say he's doing so well. This new heel run seems to be helping him click. This was a good match not as good as the opening match but still good nonetheless. Post match stuff did make me laugh I imagine Ricochet will get some form of revenge for being TP'd on Dynamite. 

AEW Women's World Championship Tijuana Street Fight: Mariah May (c) vs. Thunder Rosa
Weird match that I felt really didn't have much build that was Thunder and Mariah apart from their brawl last Dynamite. Still hardcore brawls in AEW are always fun and makes sense when both women have won these in recent weeks/months. Was a fun match despite the build but was just as ever a holding pattern for when Mariah and Toni fight again.

MJF vs. Adam Cole
Be nice for once this match is done the feud is over. It's been a year since the devil reveal and it is now time for both me to do somerhing differet. I have not been a fan of this part of the feud but they should at least look to end this feud with a good match. I mean it was fine and honestly don't care for the O'Reilly and Cole stuff post match just end the feud. Thanks.

AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
I love both of these guys and wouldn't be made at either man winning. The issue for Hobbs is timing as Takeshita has a title for title match already booked for WrestleKingdom next week. Hobbs should be in line for a title run of some kind next year just unfortunately can't be now. I really enjoyed this one these two worked well and recovered from any issues hopefully post Wrestle Kingdom and Dynasty we get a rematch.

AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Kris Statlander
You know a match went really well when the rematch graphic highlights it is match number two. Full Gear these two had a really good showing at Full Gear and expect this to follow up in a similar fashion. It does feel odd the rematch felt thrown together I would've made a bigger deal about it but I guess not. Really enjoyed this match as well surprised Mercedes retained and now I am unsure who takes the belt from her. Personally I would be looking to Mercedes vs. Jamie next. 

Continental Classic Final: Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada
Final of the Classic this year pits two of the biggest signings in AEW in the past 12 months against each other to add to the ever evolving history of this tournament. The ending of the match was so so good and honestly Ospreay has worked two very not Ospreay like matches and they were both good. And hey I was wrong we are building to Omega vs. Okada for the Continental Title and not the world title. I like it and will be interesting when it happens.

AEW World Championship Match: Jon Moxley (c) (with Marina Shafir) vs. Orange Cassidy vs. "Hangman" Adam Page vs. Jay White
It's nice that Hangman is getting a world title shot, honestly he should be winning that belt next year. I don't think the Mox title run can go on much longer it has felt like it has lost steam story wise but I feel that is because the bigger talent took too long to really be in the story. There's only so many times your world champion can beat up Top Flight and Dark Order. That was a quick match surprised how quick it went. Cope returnning at the end of this match was a surprise I thought it would be saved for New Years Dynamite. Not the best main event AEW have done but people will remember the after instead. Wonder what Jay White does now as the one that took the pinfall.

Really fun show in the end and a mamoth performance from Will Ospreay as well. It is always good when a PPV delivers so many good matches but has that weird WCW feeling of great undercard but not so good main event. I dunno if the four way was rushed or cut for time but something just didn't click for it. I do think that that Mox vs. Cope is a stop gap for Darby vs. Mox so it isn't exactly hooking me in as much as I would want. I'll still watch but much like this one it feels like something were the world title isn't in danger of changing hands.