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On Saturday, December 28, AEW returns to PPV action with its second annual Worlds End event live from the Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida. The promotion’s final PPV of the year is shaping up to be an exciting one with numerous championships on the line, along with crowning the winner for the 2024 Continental Classic Tournament (C2).
Like in 2023, this year’s edition of the C2 provided many memorable moments along the way as some of the company’s top superstars competed in the tournament. In fact, when the list of participants first came out, it was hard not to get excited for this tourney. It was also difficult trying to pick a winner from the participants.
At Worlds End, we will see the two remaining Semifinals matches most likely at the beginning of the PPV, and then the Tournament Finals at the end of the show.
Blue League winner Kyle Fletcher will compete against his former friend Will Ospreay in one Semifinal bout. The other Semifinal matchup features Gold League winner Ricochet battling Okada.
Also on the card is a fatal four-way match where Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against Orange Cassidy, Hangman Adam Page, and Jay White. Mercedes Mone, Mariah May and Konosuke Takeshita will all be defending their respective championships on the PPV as well.
As of this writing, the only non-championship or C2 match on the card is MJF vs. Adam Cole, which will settle a long running feud and storyline.
Let’s take a look at the latest AEW Worlds End odds, courtesy of the top sports betting sites, and make our AEW Worlds End Predictions. As of this writing, the betting odds are still trickling out. Make sure to check back throughout the week for updated odds.
AEW Worlds End Card
The following matches have been confirmed as of this writing:
Worlds End Match | Favorite | Prediction |
---|---|---|
Continental Classic Semifinal Match #1 | NA | Kazuchika Okada (NA) |
Continental Classic Semifinal Match #2 | NA | Will Ospreay (NA) |
AEW TBS Title Match | NA | Mercedes Mone (NA) |
AEW Women’s Title Tijuana Street Fight | Mariah May (-3000) | Mariah May (-3000) |
MJF vs. Adam Cole | MJF (-200) | MJF (-200) |
AEW International Title Match | Konosuke Takeshita (-3000) | Konosuke Takeshita (-3000) |
AEW World Championship Match | Jon Moxley (-3000) | Jon Moxley (-3000) |
Continental Classic Finals Match | NA | Kazuchika Okada (NA) |
As of this publication, not all of the Worlds End PPV matches have listed odds. All three of the Continental Classic matches have yet to receive odds. Furthermore, we won’t get betting lines for the Finals match unless sportsbooks release them during the PPV.
As for the four AEW championship matches, all four champions are large betting favorites. Surprisingly, Moxley is a large favorite (-3000) in the fatal four-way bout for the AEW World Title.
Oddsmakers think he’s a lock to win just like Takeshita and May. Typically, four-way matches have odds that are more evenly spread out among the participants. Not this match!
AEW Worlds End Predictions
The following AEW predictions are for the confirmed Worlds End matches. At this time of writing, not all matches have available odds:
2024 Continental Classic Recap
Before we dive into the C2 Tournament matches at the PPV, let’s recap what’s happened up to this point.
The Blue League
On paper, The Blue League was easier to predict the wrestlers to advance compared to the Gold League. We all knew that Kazuchika Okada would advance to the Worlds End PPV. However, it was a debate over Shelton Benjamin or Kyle Fletcher joining him. Odds favored Fletcher, but Benjamin had the Hurt Syndicate on his side.
As we saw on the Christmas edition of Dynamite, Fletcher and Okada both advanced at the expense of Daniel Garcia and Benjamin respectively. Fletcher won the Blue League with 12 points after defeating Garcia, while Okada finished second with 10 points after beating Benjamin.
The Gold League
The Gold League was much harder to predict. This group featured Ricochet, Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Brody King and Claudio Castagnoli. It was very difficult picking which two men would advance especially with some of the storylines heading into the tourney.
For example, Ricochet seemed directionless, Ospreay had lost multiple PPV matches, Allin was feuding Claudio Castagnoli and The Death Riders, and Brody King was picking up some steam. The only thing we knew was that Juice Robinson, and Komander who replaced an injured Robinson, would not advance.
So, the tournament gets underway and we see some crazy results. For example, we see Ospreay lose to Darby Allin. We also see Ricochet and Brody King lose to Claudio.
Fast forward to Christmas and the scenarios for advancing to the PPV became much clearer. At this point, it was easier to see who was going to advance. Eventually, Ricochet would score a Draw with Allin in a great match. Allin would be eliminated and Ricochet would move on by winning the Gold League.
Ospreay needed a win to have any hope of staving off elimination. The “aerial assassin” ended up defeating Brody King in a great opener to Dynamite. So, it all came down to Claudio vs. Komander. If Claudio won, then he would move on to the Semifinals at the PPV.
In a nice twist, Komander used Claudio’s brass knuckles to pick up the victory. This eliminated Claudio from the tournament and allowed Ospreay to move on where he will face Fletcher in the Semifinals. Ricochet will battle Okada.
Now that we have recapped the tourney, let’s dive off the top rope into the two Semifinal matchups and also predict which AEW star will win the entire tournament.
C2 Semifinal Match: Ricochet vs. Okada
- Ricochet (NA)
- Kazuchika Okada (NA)
If you are a wrestling fan of the last few decades, then you must be doing moonsaults over this booking. This is a matchup that could headline a stadium show as these two men are known around the world for their in-ring talent and success.
As mentioned, Ricochet won the Gold league with points. That was one more point than Ospreay and Castagnoli. However, that’s as many points as Okada scored after finishing second in the Blue League behind Fletcher.
As I stated above, Ricochet seemed a bit directionless heading into this tournament. He was hyped up big time with his debut at the All In London PPV in August. Eventually, he made his way into the International title picture and the triple threat match at WrestleDream.
For the next six weeks following that triple threat loss, it seemed that Ricochet had no real storyline, feud or direction. He was then punked by The Hurt Syndicate and also had a few intense exchanges with Swerve Strickland backstage.
On the Christmas edition of Dynamite, Strickland told Ricochet that if he doesn’t win then tournament then he would end up embarrassing him. Before we go further down this road, let’s look at Okada.
So, if you recall, Okada didn’t compete in the Continental Classic last year. He ended up defeating Eddie Kingston in March for the Continental Championship, which he’s held for nine months now. Because he was the Continental Champion, Okada was automatically entered into this tournament.
However, if you recall, Okada opened the tourney with a Draw against Garcia. He also lost to Fletcher after the latter cheated. Okada needed victories over Benjamin, Briscoe and Mortos to move on to the next round. His bout versus Briscoe was a solid one, as was his win over Benjamin.
Not only has Ricochet found his footing in the promotion, he’s also solidified his personality and direction. Trevor, as Swerve called him on television, is a heel now but not along the lines of Strickland. He’s more so a heel that annoys the fans than one that gets cheered for.
Additionally, Ricochet seems to have a ready-made feud with Strickland following the tournament. And, I believe that means he will lose to Okada in the Semifinals. It should be a fantastic match, but one that ends with Okada getting the victory.
Hopefully, Strickland makes good on his threat towards Ricochet at the January 1, 2025, Dynamite that will be simulcast on MAX as well.
Bet: Kazuchika Okada (NA)
C2 Semifinal Match: Fletcher vs. Ospreay
- Kyle Fletcher (NA)
- Will Ospreay (NA)
At the WrestleDream PPV, I predicted that Fletcher would interfere and turn on Ospreay:
“Give me a “barber shop” moment this weekend, where we get the Fletcher heel turn as he, Takeshita and the new addition of Lance Archer get a huge boost to become one of the top factions in the company.”
However, I missed the call on the Fletcher vs. Ospreay match at Full Gear. I was right that it would steal the show, but I wanted it to end in a No Contest as Fletcher needed a strong showing for his ascension. So, I said the safe bet was on Ospready. Well, I was wrong.
My thought was that Ospreay didn’t need to lose another PPV match. Up to that point, Ospreay had lost the previously mentioned triple threat match, a bout versus MJF on Dynamite, and a PPV bout against Strickland. It felt like one of the biggest stars in the world had lost too many times already.
Well, at Full Gear, after a match that stole the show and displayed how great Fletcher can be, Ospreay did the job and lost cleanly. It sent shockwaves throughout AEW.
So, I share all that to say there’s no way Ospreay can lose twice to Fletcher. If anything, a win here would make them even at 1-1 and that could set up for a rubber match at Grand Slam Australia in February 2025. Guess who’s from Australia. Yes, it’s Kyle Fletcher.
Having the third bout between Ospreay and Fletcher headline the Australia event would be massive and one that could sell out any venue “Down Under.”
As for this tournament, Ospreay needs the win more than Fletcher. He’s already lost twice in this tournament. Ricochet cheated to win and Allin got the victory as well.
Take Ospreay to pick up the victory at Worlds End in what you can say is a “win the battle, but not the war” moment.
Bet: Will Ospreay (NA)
Continental Classic Tournament Finals
- Kazuchika Okada (NA)
- Will Ospreay (NA)
Okada and Ospreay have wrestled each other nearly 50 times that we know of. One source has it listed at 47 encounters between the two men. 99% of their encounters came in Japan.
In fact, it was Ospreay’s match against Okada at the Global Wars UK event in 2015, Okada and others pushed for Ospreay to be signed by New Japan. He would eventually show up in 2016 and a rocket was strapped to his back. They would even be in the same stable for quite some time.
If you recall, Ospreay faced Ricochet a month after his NJPW debut in the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors tournament that was praised as one of the best matches of this era. In fact, it’s one of the reasons that Ricochet came to AEW once his WWE contract ended this summer.
From 2019 to 2023, before both men would join AEW full time, Ospreay and Okada had beat each other up so many times that their rivalry became legendary and up there with Omega vs. Okada.
It’s hard to pick the best match between Ospreay and Okada. If I had to take just one, I would say their bout at NJPW G1 Climax 32 was the best. If you haven’t seen this match, go out of your way to find it. The storyline was incredible, the ring work was phenomenal, and the result was damn near perfect.
It would be great to have Ospreay win this tournament and overcome one of the men that got the better of him for so many years. I will be rooting for this outcome even though it pains me to see either man lose.
However, if I am to put my fantasy booking hat on, then my ultimate outcome would be as follows: Kenny Omega returns to lay out both men. Somehow Okada lands on Ospreay to get the pin. It sets up a feud between all three at different points.
I doubt AEW will do this, so then it’s my hope that Omega appears and has a face-to-face confrontation with the winner. And, with the way things have gone for bookings this year, you would have to think Okada gets the win.
One of Japan’s greatest wrestlers of all-time has been virtually unbeatable since joining AEW. Ospreay has already lost a few big-time matches. Take Okada to win the tournament.
Bet: Kazuchika Okada (NA)
AEW TBS Title Match
- Mercedes Mone (NA)
- Kris Statlander (NA)
AEW certainly didn’t waste any time booking a rematch between these two. And, yet, it felt very uneventful in the build to this rematch. In fact, it reminded me of how little the build for their first match at Full Gear was.
I was really down on this match heading into that PPV last month. It made little sense to have it booked considering Statlander has been so inconsistent in her place within the women’s roster. This wasn’t her fault; it was due to shoddy booking by AEW.
With that said, these two women went into Full Gear and tore the house down. It was arguably the best women’s match in AEW this year and it was one of the best matches on a loaded PPV.
So, having the rematch should definitely be entertaining between the ropes. However, the booking for this match still feels flat. What is the point of having Statlander beat Mone?
Mone has definitely elevated the women’s division inside the ring. However, her TBS title run is stale and has lost steam in regards to entertainment value.
The Kamille split was anticlimactic and another pointless storyline in a long list of meaningless booking decisions for the women’s roster.
There’s a good chance that Kamille shows up, interferes and costs Mone the match. Or, Mone could just win again as expected.
The Women’s division needs another electric feud. Storm vs. May needs to be reignited. Storm vs. Mone would be great as well. I would love to see Storm defeat Mone and then fight May for both women’s titles. How hard is it for AEW’s booking team to come up with something more interesting for the ladies of the ring.
As much as I want to pick Statlander to win, I’m going to stay with Money until someone actually beats her.
Bet: Mercedes Mone (NA)
AEW Women’s Title Tijuana Street Fight
- (c)Mariah May (-3000)
- Thunder Rosa (+850)
There was a time when Thunder Rosa used to be one of the top two women on the roster. Unfortunately, that time has come and gone. Both her and Britt Baker have taken a big step down the pecking order. Yet, that doesn’t mean that this match won’t be entertaining.
Like the TBS title match, both Rosa and May can wrestle. And, if they have chemistry along with a solid in-ring story, then this match could be a sleeper for the PPV.
With that said, May should win and retain the title. She’s the most entertaining woman on the roster right now with her mic work and ring work. A feud against Thunder Rosa has brought the latter back into relevancy, but it’s only so May can pick up another victory.
Bet: Mariah May (-3000)
MJF vs. Adam Cole
- MJF (-200)
- Adam Cole (+150)
Throughout most of 2023, Adam Cole and MJF did the bro story and became best of friends. It was actually an entertaining run for this duo as they became tag-team champions along with MJF holding the AEW world championship.
Eventually, Maxwell Jacob Friedman became the target of a mysterious group of figures led by an individual wearing a devil’s mask. This group targeted MJF for a few months before everything came to a head at the 2023 edition of Worlds End.
While MJF was being hunted by this mysterious group, Adam Cole was involved with an obsessed Roderick Strong who wanted all of Cole’s attention. In fact, it became almost stalkerish if Strong wasn’t so hilarious with his neck strong angle.
Cole would get hurt and it left MJF to defend the ROH tag titles by himself versus two of the masked men. Of course, MJF would lose those titles.
Then at Worlds End, MJF would eventually lose the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe. After the match, the masked men came out to attack MJF and Cole. The lights would go out, and when they came back on, Cole had joined the group.
Cole revealed that he was the one behind the devil mask. The rest of the men would reveal themselves to be Roderick Strong, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett and Wardlow.
MJF would take time off for a few months and Cole was off TV for a while due to his real injury. MFJ would return and attack Cole over the summer. Then, Cole would return in the fall and reignite his feud against MJF.
Unfortunately, the storyline had taken so long to advance that it really fell flat. In fact, most fans seem to want it to come to an end quickly.
The one wrinkle that added a little bit of entertainment back to the feud was the addition of Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong to this. MJF would beat Strong at Full Gear and injure his arm. O’Reilly would take offense to this and blame Cole.
Cole’s obsession with MJF has caused issues with O’Reilly. And, I expect these issues to continue in this match. Look for Taven and Bennett to either turn on Cole or allow MJF to cheat to win. I wouldn’t be surprised if Strong, O’Reilly, Taven and Bennett all turned on Cole to form their own group and punish Cole.
Whatever happens with Cole and his Undisputed Kingdom group, MJF is going to get the victory on Saturday at Worlds End.
Bet: MJF (-200)
AEW International Title Match
- (c)Konosuke Takeshita (-3000)
- Powerhouse Hobbs (+850)
As much as I like Will Hobbs, it makes no sense for the big man to go right after Konosuke Takeshita. This bout is too soon and did not receive the proper build up that’s needed.
Hobbs returned and became a footnote in the feud between Ospreay and Fletcher. Since then, he’s had little presence on television. Eventually, he would challenge Takeshita to an International Title match at Worlds End, but it means little right now.
Hobbs should’ve worked his way up through The Don Callis Family to get to Takeshita. And this should’ve been given more time to build up. Hobbs battling Cage, Archer and whomever else Callis pays off, could’ve been a nice storyline built for the new year.
Instead, they rushed it for the Worlds End PPV and nobody thinks that Hobss will win. Just look at the odds and you will see that sportsbooks heavily favor Takeshita. And, rightfully so considering he beat Ricochet and Ospreay in the best triple-threat match I’ve seen.
As for this weekend’s bout, take Takeshita to win and retain the International Championship.
Bet: Konosuke Takeshita (-3000)
AEW World Championship Match
- (c)Jon Moxley (-3000)
- Orange Cassidy (+700)
- Jay White (+900)
- Hangman Adam Page (+1200)
The AEW World Championship match has numerous layers to it. Not only are there three challengers to Moxley’s title, but you also have The Death Riders that can interfere, and Christian Cage looming in the background ready to cash in his contract for a world title shot.
I would absolutely love for Christian to somehow enter the new year as the world champion. Then have him lose to Adam Copeland a few months later. But I’m getting ahead of myself here.
First, we need to pick a winner of this bout. The rivalry between Hangman Page and Jay White will come to a head in this match one way or another. These two don’t get along and I can see Page taking out his anger on White. The Death Riders will also get involved one way or another in this matchup.
Do those two subplots play a direct outcome on the finish? More than likely, yes.
With that said, I do think Moxley will retain the belt despite how much I want to see Jay White become world champ.
However, there’s a part of me that thinks Christian finally cashes in and takes advantage of the chaos in this match to win the world title. If that happens, it will probably be after the bout is over and we see a large mele ensue. This allows Christian to sneak in for the win.
Or, maybe Orange Cassidy picks up the victory but doesn’t have time to celebrate because Christian cashes in and wins.
As you can see, there are many scenarios that could be at play for this match. In that regard, AEW has done a good job making things more uncertain for the future of this world title. The safe bet is on Moxley to win the bout, regardless of what happens after the match is over.
Bet: Jon Moxley (-3000)