AEW Worlds End 2023 Results

So here we are. After a tumultuous year for All Elite Wrestling the company bids goodbye to 2023 with the first ever Worlds End pay-per-view live from Uniondale, New York, a night where the shadow of the mysterious Devil loomed large.

AEW President Tony Khan hinted in the run-up to the show that the Devil’s identity may not be a mystery for much longer, but would they reveal themselves at Worlds End? Read on for the full results from the event.

Willow Nightingale def. Kris Statlander - Zero Hour Pre-Show

A friendly exhibition to kick off Zero Hour, with allies Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale competing to prove who is the stronger link in their team. Statlander got the best of the opening exchanges, but Willow turned it round with a rebound crossbody for two before dumping the former TBS Champion over the top rope and following with an apron senton. Stat worked her way back into the bout, cutting off Willow’s momentum with a back suplex, but  a shoulder-barge off ended with both competitors on the mat. Nightingale got a nearfall off a big Faarooq-esque spinebuster, then the two out-countered one another with Three Amigo attempts.

Stat showed amazing strength by hositing Willow into an Electric Chair drop, but her momentum was cut out by a Willow Pounce and corner cannonball. Spicolli Driver by Willow got a two, before a big Scissor kick got a two for Statlander. Nasty apron powerbomb and a follow-up Bret’s Rope dropkick got a two for Willow, but a follow up Babe With The Powerbomb attempt was reveresed, with Nightingale then reversing a Saturday Night Fever attempt for a nearfall. Stat recovered but missed the 450 splash, before eating a lariat and a sloppy powerbomb for two. Nightingale recovered and hit a flush Babe With The Powerbomb for the win. Post-match the two celebrated together in the middle of the ring.

Return vignette for the long absent Serena Deeb, showing ‘The Professor’ training in the ring, whilst simultaneously breaking out of a straitjacket. 

Killswitch wins the TNT Championship Number One Contender's 20-Man Battle Royale - Zero Hour Pre-Show

Darius Martin, Action Andretti, Bryan Keith, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, Danhausen, Angelo Parker, Matt Menard, Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, Lee Johnson, Butcher, Blade, Kip Sabian, Johnny TV, Serpentico, Christopher Daniels, Lance Archer, Killswitch, and an increasingly disheveled Dalton Castle competed for a shot at the TNT Championship whenever and wherever they pleased.

The action started outside the ring and was instant mayhem, with a ton of chairs and tables brought out from under the ring in order to keep Killswitch at bay. The competitors made their way into the ring to officially start the match, with Serpentico the first to taste defeat, closely followed by Dalton Castle to a chorus of boos. Johnny TV followed, then Big Shotty Lee Johnson, and Coll Hand Ang. Reynolds was next, followed by Silver, Sabian, and The Bounty Hunter Bryan Keith. Lance Archer finally came to from beneath the pile of tables and made his way into the ring, launching Daddy Magic and Christopher Daniels out of the match before throwing Romero over the top with a Blackout. Killswitch then made his way into the bout, as he and Archer eliminated Action Andretti and Darious Martin in tandem. Archer then eliminated The Blade as Killswitch saw off The Butcher. Danhausen and Trent then teamed up to see of Archer before giving the people what they want… as Trent snuck up on Danhausen and launched him to the floor.

Down to the final two; Trent Beretta and Killswitch. Trent had the former Luchasaurus dangling over the top, but his follow-up attempt saw him pulled onto the apron as the fight teetered on the edge. Eventually Beretta’s luck ran out as Killswitch nailed an elbow to send the CHAOS member to the floor.

HOOK (c) def. Wheeler Yuta - FTW Championship FTW Rules Match - Zero Hour Pre-Show

Yuta took the mic before the match to criticise HOOK and his home state of New York, delivering some old school ‘your hockey team sucks’ verbiage when running down Long Island. Yuta was cut off by the Islanders’ horn before ‘The Chairman’s Intent’ filled the arena as HOOK made his way to the ring.

HOOK flew out of the traps, pasting Yuta with body blows and a beautiful judo hip throw before the fight spilled to the floor. The two fought up the entrance ramp, with Yuta launched back down the ramp with a big release Northern Lights suplex, but this allowed the ROH PURE Champion to grab a bin lid and blast HOOK in the face. Yuta continued the assault with various weapons, but HOOK soon fired back with several clotheslines and another Northern Lights suplex for two. RedRum attempt was thwarted, leading to Yuta and HOOK exchanging German suplexes and clotheslines, taking one another out. 

Loud ‘HOOK’ chants rang out but it didn’t deter Yuta… until HOOK caught him in a capture Tazplex into a trash can in the corner for two. HOOK once again went for RedRum, but Yuta launched himself backwards into a different trashcan to crush the young FTW Champion. HOOK smashed a hockey stick over Yuta, then used a portion of the handle to assist in a successful RedRum attempt for the win.

Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe, & Daniel Garcia def. Brody King, Jay Lethal, Jay White, & RUSH

Eight of the Continental Classic competitors clashed in a big tag match for bragging rights, to settle some scores, and to throw a stiff dig or two. Daddy Magic joined commentary for this one.

Former ROH World Champions Claudio Castagnoli and RUSH started things off, exchanging some big strikes before bringing in Mark Briscoe and Jay Lethal respectively. The two ROH legends flew out of the traps, chopping the heck out of one another until Lethal went down to one knee. The crowd erupted as Bryan Danielson and Jay White tagged in, Danielson quickly locking in the LeBell Lock as White made the ropes, Danielson reminding the ref that he ‘has ’til five’. Switchblade then lit Danielson up with chops, before Danielson took it up top for a Frankensteiner into some Yes Kicks, Garcia blind tagging in Danielson before he could finish the round of kicks. Brody King also tagged in, but Garcia was not phased, rocking the big man with strikes before eating a big Blackhole Slam.

The heels utilised quick tags to work over Garcia in their corner, with the PWG World Champion bleeding from the nose. Jay White lit Garcia up with chops, but Garcia fired up, eventually tagging in Briscoe who ran wild with some of his patented Redneck kung fu as the other competitors started fighting all round the ringside area. The faces were in control as Briscoe hit the Cactus Elbow to RUSH on the floor, then followed up with a Fisherman’s Bomb on White for two in the ring. The heels continued making quick tags, before Briscoe brought in Castagnoli to have a meaty fight with Brody King to the delight of the fans. Big gasps as Claudio hit a deadlift delayed vertical suplex on King for two. Big cheers as Claudio took King for a swing, with Danielson nailing a pinpoint dropkick to the big man’s head mid rotation. 

With the match again spilling all over the ring, it was down to Garcia and Lethal in the ring, with Lethal locking in a Figure Four leglock after a successful Lethal Combination. Finisher Parade from all the competitors, with Garcia getting the win out of nowhere with a pinning combination on Jay Lethal as Lethal was going for a Lethal Injection.

Post-match Brody king blindsided Daddy Magic on comms as Sonjay Dutt discussed matters with Jay Lethal. Garcia gave a hard stare to Danielson before making his way to the back.

Miro def. Andrade el Idolo

The last hurrah of Andrade in AEW? Miro didn’t give Andrade time to acknowledge the fans, with ‘The Redeemer’ rushing his opponent as he was disrobing, with CJ Perry watching on from ringside. Big release side suplex sent Andrade flying as Miro bickered with Perry. Andrade briefly fired back, but Miro had an answer for everything he threw at him before taking the match to the floor. Miro went for a belly-to-back suplex into the announce table, with Andrade fought back, before shoving the big Bulgarian over the table, Miro landing on his neck on the floor. 

With momentum in his favour, Andrade brought the fight back into the ring, but Miro met him up-top, bringing him back into the ring with a superplex. Chop exchange saw Miro come out on top as duelling chants filled the arena, Andrade using his time to recover and hit a massive diving crossbody. Miro avoided the bull’s horns but ate a moonsault press on the floor, as El Idolo finally found his footing int the bout. Two-step moonsault from Andrade got a two, but soon it was Game Over, as Miro locked in the deep Camel Clutch… only for Andrade to make the ropes. 

Miro and CJ bickered once more, as El Idolo clocked the former TNT Champion with a Judas Effect for two. Follow-up Figure Four mutated into a Figure Eight, before Miro reversed the pressure into a hold of his own. Andrade locked in another Figure Eight, but Perry swiped his arms away to his chagrin, allowing Miro to hit the machka kick… for two. A second Game Over followed in the centre of the ring as Andrade tapped out. Miro didn’t know how to react to his ‘hot and flexible wife’, as Perry smiled and presented Miro to the world. 

Toni Storm (c) def. Riho - AEW Women’s World Championship

Storm was in a cocky mood, disrespecting Riho as the bell rang, but the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion soon came into the macth, sneding Storm reeling after a series of strikes. Riho bodysplash to the outside was caught by Storm’s butler Luther, allowing the champ to regain control. Storm handily outmuscled the challenger with a series of bodyslams, with the crowd firmly behind the ‘Timeless’ champ. Luther assisted his employer with a piggyback attack against Riho on the apron, then held the rope away from Riho as Storm hasd a Texas Cloverleaf locked in, the latter seeing Luther ejected from the ringside area by referee Rick Knox. 

Riho fired back with a series of elbow strikes and a headscissors, before hitting a 619 and a diving crossbody to build momentum. Bodyslam by Riho got a two count, and as Storm sought to exit to the back Riho cut her off with a diving crossbody to the floor. Dragon Suplex by Riho folded Storm for two, but Storm regained composure to hit a Storm Zero snap piledriver… for two. Storm continued the assault, hitting a back-to-back rollthrough DDT for the win and successful defence of the title. Post-match, Mariah May came to the ring with a bucket of rose petals to shower her idol as Storm writhed on the apron. 

Backstage, Dante Martin spoke with Lexy Nair, before Orange Cassidy showed up. Cassidy granted Martin a title shot, with the two set to tangle on the next episode of Dynamite.

Swerve Strickland def. Dustin Rhodes

Big reaction for Swerve Strickland and Prince Nana to the surprise of no-one, with Dustin Rhodes stepping in to replace his injured tag partner Keith Lee in this bout. Swerve attacked ‘The Natural’ as he was entering the ring, before launching the veteran all over the ringside area. Prince Nana unearthed a cinder block and placed it under Rhodes’ ankle, Swerve hitting a double foot stomp off the apron onto the ankle as medical staff ran to Rhodes’ aid. Loud ‘SWERVE’S HOUSE’ chants as Strickland observed from the ring, with Rhodes helped to the back by medical staff.

Dustin returned to the ring heavily limping, referee Stefon Smith ringing the bell at Rhodes’ insistence. Swerve rushed Dustin and continued his assault on the ankle, Rhodes did manage to dig deep and hit a diving crossbody for two and several standing jabs, as well as a Candian Destroyer and Natural snap powerslam out of nowhere for two. Adrenaline drove Rhodes as he hit Shattered Dreams, a piledriver, and a Crossrhodes for two. A frustrated Swerve fired back with a roll through Flatliner, then locked in a single leg crab to further work over Rhodes’ duff leg, transitioning into a Stretch Muffler. On his knees, a defiant fired up Dustin flipped the bird, spat at Strickland and called him a ‘motherf****r’ before eating a series of House Calls. Strickland then snapped Rhodes’ arm and crushed him with a Swerve Stomp for the win. Post-match, Strickland motioned that he wants singles gold.

Sting, Darby Allin, Chris Jericho, & Sammy Guevara def. Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, & Big Bill

Quick tags started this one off, with the crowd loudly booing Chris Jericho upon his entrance into the match - a reaction to the allegations that surfaced over the course of the day. The heels proceeded to work over Jericho with quick tags until Darby Allin tagged in, the former TNT Champion using his speed and agility to try and outmanoeuvre the much larger Takeshita. Takeshita soon made his mark with a truly awesome spinout avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb, before Powerhouse Hobbs came in to lay waste to Darby. Hobbs and Bill would team up to give Darby a leg and a wing across the ring, with the heels utilising quick tags to keep Darby isolated from his team. 

Darby managed to tag in Sting to a loud ovation, with ‘The icon’ sending the heels flying with chops, clotheslines, and a few Stinger Splashes for good measure. Jericho came in to dish out some splashes of his own, clearly overjoyed to be in the ring with Sting. Big Bill was having none of it, restoring the heel team’s advantage, but Sting wouldn’t stay down. Guevara came back in, nailing a lovely Guevara Cutter on Starks for two before tangling with Big Bill. Jericho Codebreaker didn’t phase the seven-footer, with Hobbs coming in to rock Jericho with a Spinebuster and World’s Strongest Slam before Darby once again made his way into the match. All order went out of the window, with Takeshita running in to dump Darby on his head with a release German Suplex, before hitting bothDarby and Sammy with a duo German. Sting came in and slapped a Scorpion Deathlock on Takeshita, only breaking it when confronted by a baseball bat wielding Don Callis - the ‘Invisible Hand’ legging it when Sting made a lunge at him. Sting resumed the Deathlock on Takeshita as Jericho put a Walls of Jericho on Hobbs, only for Starks to make the save for his team. Allin crushed Big Bill with a tope suicida, as Starks got a nearfall with a Spear on Sammy. Guevara avoided a Rochambeau to hit a GTH and a Shooting Star Press for the win. Post-match Sting said his farewell to New York, receiving a standing ovation.

Julia Hart (c) def. Abadon - TBS Championship House Rules Match

House Rules, meaning a 20 count outside the ring, with Abadon requesting that bites are legal for the bout. Loud ‘this is spooky’ chant as the bell rang, Abadon coming out the traps with a cutter on the champ. Neither wrestler was willing to back down from the other, Hart shoving Abadon down with a choke throw to try and get a mental edge in the bout. Hart took the fight to the floor, suplexing Abadon on the mats before choking the ‘Living Dead Girl’ on the ring ropes - no rope breaks in a House Rules match.

Abadon sank their teeth into Hart’s arms at the first opportunity, following up with clotheslines and corner knees to restore momentum in their favour. Hart soon fired back with a Lariat and the double arm stretch, Abadon rolling through into a pin for two. Abadon again bit Hart, sinking their teeth into the champ’s head, as Skye Blue appeared out of nowhere to throw Abadon from the top turnbuckle. Abadon went to the floor to attack Blue, sending her reeling with a short arm clothesline and a running knee to the jaw, but this allowed Hart to sneak attack the challenger, throwing Abadon into the steel steps. Back in ring, Julia hit a form of moonsault press knee drop for the three count before celebrating with Skye Blue.

Adam Copeland def. Christian Cage (c) - TNT Championship No DQ Match

This one started on the ramp, Copeland attacking Cage during his entrance as the two brawled on the ramp. The action sprawled round the ringside area, a fired up Copeland bleeding hardway and shouting abuse at Nigel McGuinness as the crowd chanted ‘TLC’ in reference to Copeland and Cage’s pioneering matches during the Attitude Era. Cage avoided getting his neck stamped into the steel steps and bailed into the crowd, but Copeland was in hot pursuit, as was Nick Wayne, with Wayne hitting Copeland in order to protect ‘The Patriarch’. Copeland peppered the two with strikes then took to the next section up, hitting a crossbody from the upper level onto Cage and Wayne to a huge reaction. 

The fight returned to the ringside area, with Copeland firmly in control. Cage soon turned the tide by avoiding a Spear, sending his former tag partner careening into the turnbuckle post. Cage followed up by stamping Copeland’s neck into the steel steps to loud boos, further opening Copeland up. Christian grabbed a pair of kendo sticks, going all Sandman and Tommy Dreamer with a series of cane shots to Copeland’s exposed back. Cage grabbed a couple of steel chairs, setting one up atop Copeland to aid in a Boston Crab attempt, Copeland escaping and hitting the Edge-o-Matic as Cage went to strike him with a metal pole. It was Copeland’s turn to swing the cane, repeatedly striking Cage before sinking in a Crossface in the centre of the ring, using the aforementioned pole in Cage’s mouth for extra punishment.

Copeland gave the fans what they wanted by introducing a ladder into the bout, slingshotting the TNT Champ face first into the underside of the weapon. Cage recovered and scaled the ladder, hitting a big sunset flip powerbomb onto Copeland to the mat for two. Tables were then introduced alongside the ladders and chairs (oh my), Nick Wayne propping up the wood on the floor outside the ring. Impaler DDT on a chair laid Cage out, but a follow-up Conchairto was interrupted by Nick Wayne, allowing Cage back into the match. Cage’s comeback was short lived, as he missed a spear, ate a chair to the face, then received a Spear through a table, Shayna Wayne saving Christian by yanking referee Paul Turner from the ring mid-count. Nick Wayne crushed Copeland on the floor with the TNT Championship and a Wayne’s World Cutter from the turnbuckle, Cage hitting a Kilswitch in the ring for a 2.99 count. 

The crowd went berserk as Cage and Nick Wayne doused the remaining table in lighter fluid, Cage telling Copeland to ‘go f*** himself’ as Nick set the table alight. Copeland speared Cage then roughly powerbombed Wayne off the apron into the table, Wayne largely overshooting the table and bouncing off the floor. Back in ring, Copeland hit a Killswitch on his old pal for the win, and the TNT Championship.

As Copeland celebrated, new number one contender Killswitch jumped him from behind, chokeslamming the ‘Rated R Superstar’ then hitting a second onto a chair. Killswitch then motioned to cash in his title shot, only for Cage to stop him and demand the shot himself, whispering something into Killswitch’s ear. A glum Killswitch handed the contract to Cage who cashed it in.

Christian Cage def. Adam Copeland (c) - TNT Championship

A spear, a one-two-three, and Cage is once again champion. Killswitch carried a KO’d Wayne to the back as Christian Cage celebrated with Shayna Wayne on the ramp, a bloodied Copeland attended to by AEW medical staff.

Eddie Kingston def. Jon Moxley - Continental Classic Final for the Continental Crown

Bryan Danielson joined commentary for this one, Nigel McGuinness making his excuses and leaving before his old rival joined the booth. 

Moxley came into the match with a 3-0 singles record against his old pal Kingston in AEW, with AEW’s ace looking to make it 4-0. The New York crowd were very pro Kingston, with the match starting slowly, both men feeling each other out. Mox decided to get into a standing stirke contest with Eddie, Kingston getting the better after a jumping enziguri. Kingston went outside of his norm to nail a tope suicida, overshooting Mox and landing awkwardly on the floor. Mox followed up with a release German Suplex in the ring, and a Paradigm Shift on the floor. Kingston was hurting, and a smilling Mox peppered him with kicks. Kingston hit some chops, but a well timed block allowed Moxley back in, a classic piledriver getting the former AEW World Champion a two count.

Never rule Kingston out, as ‘The Mad King’ rocked Mox with some stiff knife edge chops, Mox even going down to one knee as a result. The exchange continued, until Kingston launched Mox with an Exploder, then caught him with an Uriken backfist. Kingston went back in with Machine Gun Chops in the corner and a DDT, Mox returning with a Cutter, Kingston hitting a second Uriken and a Northern Lights Bomb for two. Kingston sank a Moxley Bulldog choke, but Mox managed to roll out into a Bulldog of his own before transitioning into a rear naked choke, Kingston managing to fall into the ropes after making it back to his feet. A second Northern Lights bomb got another two for Kingston, before Mox took Kingston’s head off with a standing lariat, potentially damaging his own bicep in the process. An out-and-out slapfight broke out, but Mox was reeling, with a third Uriken enough for Kingston to get the win and become the first ever holder of the Continental Crown.

Eddie Kingston now stands as a simultaneous holder of AEW, ROH, and NJPW gold, Kingston further following in the footsteps of All Japan’s Four Pillars of Heaven, of Jun Akiyama, Genichiro Tenryu, and Jumbo Tsuruta. After being handed the new title belt to add to his collection, Kingston paid tribute to the recently departed mad Kurt, then shared a hug with Jon Moxley to enormous cheers.

Samoa Joe def. MJF (c) - AEW World Championship

Main event time. After a focused Samoa Joe made his way to the ring, a video played highlighting the best of Long Island, as locals proclaimed MJF ‘their scumbag’.

MJF sat atop the turnbuckle looking emotional, soaking in the adulation of the crowd before pointing to the entrance stage as Adam Cole came out on crutches to be in MJF’s corner. Big match in-ring introductions from Justin Roberts, as a heavily taped and bandaged MJF disrobed.

The champ got a few licks on Joe in the opening exchanged but quickly ate a standing Uranage, landing flush on his duff shoulder. Joe followed up with strikes to the champ, telling him ‘Long Island sucks’ before hitting a leg drop to MJF’s bad arm. Early Muscle Buster attempt was thwarted, MJF trying to sneak a win off of a quick pin after hitting Joe with a series of schoolboys, roll-ups, and the like. The crowd exploded as MJF went for the Kangaroo Kick, but Joe caught him and catapulted him to the outside, MJF straining his shoulder when attempting to skin the cat, taking a single leg dropkick to the face for his troubles. Joe followed up with an elbow suicida as Adam Cole looked on.

Back in ring, a big Spicolli Driver by Joe got a two, the ‘Samoan Submission Machine’ following up with a series of high angle suplexes. Joe further crushed the champ after hitting a Muscle Buster on the apron, MJF landing flush on his bad shoulder. A follow-up Muscle Buster in the ring was thwarted, MJF hitting Joe with whatever he could to get a foothold in the match. The champ went for a Spicolli Driver but couldn’t keep the big man up, instead following up with a stomp to Joe’s arm, and a Heatseeker for two. Joe avoided a second Heatseeker but was instead caught in the Salt of the Earth Fujiwara armbar. MJF couldn’t lock the hold in, allowing Joe to roll through into a reverse armbar, Cole willing his tag team partner to the ropes. Joe went for the Rear Naked Choke, but MJF backed the challenger into the corner, crushing referee Bryce Remsburg in the process. MJF hit a low blow on Joe, then got the former ROH World Champion up off the top turnbuckle for an F5 to a big reaction. The ref woke and counted two as Joe kicked out, MJF asking Cole for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Joe took advantage and locked in the choke, blocking his face in case the champ swung wildly with the trusty ring. But Joe need not have worried, as the ref dropped MJF’s arm three times, Joe winning the AEW World Championship as Adam Cole looked shocked at ringside.

Joe walked off triumphantly with the Triple B as Cole consoled MJF in-ring to loud ‘bulls***’ chants. Suddenly the Devil’s associates made their way to the ring, holding Cole in place as they beat down MJF. Cole told a chair wielding goon to hit him instead, and as they went to swing the lights went out…

…as they came back on Cole was sat on the chair, the goons unmasking behind him as Roderick Strong, The Kingdom, and Wardlow. Cole was the Devil all along. Cole retrieved the Devil mask from his jacket and watched coldly as Wardlow crushed his old enemy with a powerbomb.

Full results, AEW Worlds End, December 30 2023:

• Samoa Joe def. MJF (c) - AEW World Championship
• Eddie Kingston def. Jon Moxley - Continental Classic Final for the Continental Crown
• Christian Cage def. Adam Copeland (c) - TNT Championship
• Adam Copeland def. Christian Cage (c) - TNT Championship No DQ Match
• Julia Hart (c) def. Abadon - TBS Championship House Rules Match
• Sting, Darby Allin, Chris Jericho, & Sammy Guevara def. Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, & Big Bill
• Swerve Strickland def. Dustin Rhodes
• Toni Storm (c) def. Riho - AEW Women’s World Championship
• Miro def. Andrade el Idolo
• Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Mark Briscoe, & Daniel Garcia def. Brody King, Jay Lethal, Jay White, & RUSH
• HOOK (c) def. Wheeler Yuta - FTW Championship FTW Rules Match - Zero Hour Pre-Show
• Killswitch wins the TNT Championship Number One Contenders 20-Man Battle Royale - Zero Hour Pre-Show
• Willow Nightingale def. Kris Statlander - Zero Hour Pre-Show