Featured Columnist IVDecember 29, 2024
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Jon Moxley beat Orange Cassidy, “Hangman” Adam Page and Jay White in a four-way match at AEW Worlds End on Saturday to retain the AEW World Championship.
All Elite Wrestling @AEW
The Death Riders numbers are too great with Jay White being so close to getting the win!
Order #AEWWorldsEnd LIVE on PPVhttps://t.co/JlBXZPLNGj@orangecassidy | @JayWhiteNZ | @JonMoxley | #HangmanAdamPage pic.twitter.com/p2rRq18o9m
The four-way match was intense, to say the least, with it feeling like anyone could win at any moment. After Moxley was hit with a three-way powerbomb through the announcer table, he regained control, pinned Jay White and retained his title.
In addition, the long-awaited return of Adam Copeland surprised AEW fans with one of the loudest pops of the year, adding to the excitement.
The night ended with Copeland attacking Moxley after his victory, leaving the audience with a promise that Rated FTR is “taking it all.”
All Elite Wrestling @AEW
‘Rated FTR – We’re taking it all!’ – Adam Copeland
Order #AEWWorldsEnd LIVE on PPVhttps://t.co/JlBXZPLNGj@RatedRCope | @JonMoxley pic.twitter.com/LBMt2Pl8wt
After turning heel on Bryan Danielson at All Out back in September, Moxley beat Danielson for the title at WrestleDream in October and essentially declared war on the rest of AEW.
As one of AEW’s longest-tenured and most-popular stars, Cassidy stepped up as the first challenger to take on Moxley, attempting to take the AEW World Championship from him at Full Gear last month.
Due in part to interference from Death Riders member Wheeler Yuta, Mox managed to retain, but things devolved into chaos after the match.
Page arrived to save OC from being poisoned by the Death Riders, leading to Christian Cage making his way to the ring with his contract for a guaranteed world title match at a time and place of his choosing.
However, White showed up and prevented Cage from cashing in, at which point Moxley and the Death Riders escaped the ring and made their way out of the building.
Given how things played out at the conclusion of Full Gear, a tag team match was booked for the Dec. 11 Winter Is Coming edition of Dynamite, pitting Mox and his Death Riders stablemate Pac against Cassidy and White.
There was no definitive winner, though, as Page interfered and caused the match to be thrown out and ruled a no contest.
Later that night, Moxley announced that at Worlds End he would put the AEW world title up for grabs in a four-way match against Cassidy, Page and White.
Despite having to contend with three of AEW’s best and most successful stars, Moxley was victorious, which will allow him to continue his reign of terror over AEW.
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