Top Matches I Watched in December 2024

Top Matches I Watched in December 2024

By Alex Kalil

Big finish to the end of 2024! Continental Classic delivers yet again with World's End being an amazing show! Plus NJPW and ROH having some really good shows. Just a few more matches to go and 2024 is done!

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli at AEW Dynamite 12/4/24: A fun Hoss battle from these two. At the bell, the two men go at it with big strikes back and forth. Brody has the size and power advantage in this so Claudio changes tactics and starts trying to work on the right arm to take away that striking power. Some nice action with Brody fighting through the pain or using his left arm to fight back while Claudio keeps going to the arm to take back control. As Brody starts laying in the big bombs, Claudio gets desperate and tries for a count-out but Brody makes it back in at 9. Claudio looks to meet him with a Lariat, as he has to win matches in the past, but Brody cuts him off with a Lariat of his own. Gonzo Bomb attempted but Claudio goes to Brody's eyes to block it.  Low blow behind the referee's back and Claudio hits the Neutralizer to get the win. Very fun TV match with Claudio not able to match Brody's power so he tried to pick him apart, only to still be outmatched so Claudio takes to cheating to get the win. ****

Super Junior Tag League 2024 Final Match: Catch 22 vs. Ichiban Sweet Boys at NJPW Power Struggle 2024: An exciting and fast paced wrestling match. Things kick off and right away the Sweet Boys are able to control the pace with their impressive speed. Catch 22 uses their tag team experience to cut them off and goes to work on Fujita for a bit. Eagles gets the hot tag to get the Sweet Boys back in the match. Things pick up as both teams go for bigger and bigger offenses all while their opponents keep countering everything they throw at each other. Tons of big near-falls for both teams as the crowd goes nuts for the action! Eagles and TJP do some great counter for counter wrestling, including both countering the other's trademark submission into roll-ups for close near-falls. Eagles is able to counter TJP for another School Boy and hold him down just long enough for the 3 count! Excellent bell to bell wrestling from these two teams. Loved Catch 22 being the experienced veterans against the young and fiery team. Finish was really nice as it felt like it could go either way but Eagles was just able to hold TJP down for the pin long enough for the win. ****1/4

IWGP World Heavyweight Championship Match: Zack Sabre Jr. (c) vs. Shingo Takagi at NJPW Power Struggle 2024: Another amazing match from these rivals. We get some fast back and forth counter for counter offense early on with neither man able to gain the advantage. Both men fall back into their tried and true strategies: Sabre wanting to pick apart Shingo piece by piece while Shingo tries to hammer Sabre into defeat. Sabre starts off going after Shingo's neck before moving to the right arm to try and neutralize Shingo's powerful lariats. Shingo does a nice job trying to adapt to this by using his left arm and even trying for his own submissions on Sabre. Sabre keeps to his strategy and starts going after the left arm of Shingo to take away both arms. Both men start firing off bigger bombs with Shingo hitting a Made in Japan and Sabre using the Zack Driver for nice near-falls. Sabre finally goes to the knees of Shingo with some brutal submissions that seem to finally slow down the Dragon. Shingo is able to fire up and hit a Last of the Dragon but his knees are too hurt to cover right away and Sabre rolls to the ropes. Shingo goes for one more Last of the Dragon but his knees give out! It's over. A German and a PK by Sabre before a Zack Driver ends it and Sabre retains. Loved the story with Shingo being this monster that Sabre had to chip away at bit by bit and limb by limb to finally put him down. Finish was perfect with Shingo trying to fight through all the punishment but it finally took its toll and Sabre was able to end it. ****1/2 

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Will Ospreay vs. Claudio Castagnoli at AEW Dynamite 12/11/24-Winter Is Coming: A really good back and forth battle from these two. Ospreay starts things off hot and fast, looking to take Claudio by surprise with his speed. Claudio responds back with his impressive power to cut off some of Ospreay's momentum and starts targeting Ospreay's, still healing, left arm. Match becomes a back and forth of Claudio grounding and punishing Ospreay, forcing him to fight from underneath and really rely on his speed and agility to create any kind of openings on Claudio. Some good near-falls and nice counters including Ospreay trying for the Oscutter but his left arm gives out. Claudio capitalizes and nails Swiss Death and a big Lariat before setting up for the Neutralizer but Ospreay counters with a roll-up and gets the 3! Good match with Ospreay needing a different game plan to match the power of Claudio and work around his hurt arm. In the end, Ospreay got a fluke win out of the jaws of defeat. ****

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Ricochet vs. Brody King at AEW Dynamite 12/11/24-Winter Is Coming: A super fun high flyer vs. monster match. At the bell, Ricochet looks to stick and move against Brody, who seems almost unfazed by Ricochet's offense. Brody finally cuts off Ricochet with a brutal powerbomb on the apron and starts going to work on him. Big chops, strikes and power moves from Brody all while Ricochet tries to fight back as best he can. Ricochet finally is able to get Brody down long enough to hit a 450. Only for Brody to kick out at 1 and immediately take off Ricochet's head with a Lariat! Brody tries for the Gonzo Bomb but Ricochet fights out of it and into the corner. Sunset Flip Powerbomb by Ricochet, during which the turnbuckle gets exposed. Shooting Star Press by Ricochet but Brody just catches by the throat! Hangman Sleeper by Brody and Ricochet is fading fast! Ricochet fights to the corner again and is able to DDT Brody onto the exposed turnbuckle! Brody is rocked! Ricochet kicks him into the exposed turnbuckle again and nails a Spirit Gun. A second Spirit Gun is enough for the win. Really loved Brody being a beast all match and all but no-selling everything Ricochet threw at him. Ricochet had to resort to using the exposed turnbuckle to rattle Brody enough to get the win. Great storytelling. ****

Continental Classic 2024 Blue League Match: Mark Briscoe vs. Kyle Fletcher at AEW Collision 12/14/24-Winter Is Coming: A really well done classic heel vs. face match. Fletcher looks to stall and take his time while Mark wants to fight. Fletcher does a nice job grounding and working over Mark with basic wrestling holds, trying to prevent Mark from letting loose with his offense. Mark is able to make some openings for himself and goes full speed trying to knock off Fletcher. We get some great back and forth with Mark looking for the Jay Driller while Fletcher looks to do everything he can to cut off Mark's momentum time and time again. Some nice near-falls with Fletcher hitting a Brainbuster and Mark hitting the Cut-Throat Driver but neither getting the job done. 1 minute to go and Mark hits a Froggy Bow but Fletcher still kicks out. Time is running out and Fletcher is desperate so he tries for a low blow to steal the win but Mark blocks it! Jay Driller! Mark gets the win with seconds to go! Really good match with Fletcher having the clear advantage all match but just couldn't keep the fiery babyface Mark Briscoe down. Mark gets the last second win to keep him alive in the tournament. ****

IWGP Women's Championship Match: Mayu Iwatani (c) vs. Momo Watanabe at NJPW/Stardom Historic X-Over II: A really great back and forth match between these two rivals. In the early goings, Mayu uses her quickness while Momo lays in her strikes with some nice aggression. Momo's stablemates in Hate help take some cheapshots at Mayu to let Momo control early. Hate's antics backfire and Mayu takes them out with a big dive and starts to fire up and lay in her own strikes on Momo. Match spills to the apron and Momo nails a B Driver on Mayu, only for Mayu to respond right back with a Dragon Suplex on the apron! The match becomes a bomb-fest with both women laying in the big offense for some great near-falls. Mayu finally hits a big Moonsault but Hate pulls the referee from the ring! Momo looks to use a bat on Mayu but wants to beat her on her own so just lays in some more vicious kicks. More big near-falls as both women lay in every big strike and offense they have. Finally Mayu is able to hit the Two Step Dragon Suplex to get the well earned win. Just two women going all out here. Really enjoyed Momo using her stablemates during the match but drawing the line at full on cheating and wanting to win with her own abilities while Mayu fought like a woman possessed to retain. ****1/4

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin at AEW Dynamite 12/18/24-Holiday Bash: An incredible match from these two! Things start off and Darby looks to try and wrestle Ospreay in the early goings and keep things even on the mat but Ospreay isn't letting that happen and opens up on Darby with his speed and quick strikes. Darby sees that he is outmatched with Ospreay so he goes to his all or nothing style and starts throwing himself at Ospreay. Darby tries for a Coffin Drop on the apron but Ospreay moves and Darby crashes and burns hard! Ospreay shows no mercy and goes right to work on Darby's back. Darby fires back and we start getting some insane back and forth counters and action from both men. Great spot with Darby going for a Code Red but Ospreay flips him off. Hidden Blade to Darby's face! Stormbreaker by Ospreay but Darby counters with a Code Red! Holy shit! Ospreay and Darby fight to the apron and Ospreay hits a Styles Clash off the apron to the floor! Darby barely makes it back in the ring before the count-out but is hit with an Oscutter as soon he gets to his feet! Kickout! Ospreay goes for the Stormbreaker again but Darby fights out and hits the Scorpion Death Drop! Coffin Drop by Darby! And another Coffin Drop! Darby gets the 3! Awesome match with Ospreay having the clear edge in terms of size and power and using both against Darby, who once again, went all out to try and get the win. Some amazing exchanges from these two before Darby was able to find a way to overcome Ospreay, get him down and hammer him with Coffin Drops to get the win. What a match! ****1/2

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Brody King vs. Komander at AEW Rampage 12/20/24-Holiday Bash: A super fun big man vs. high flyer match. Komander starts off trying to move fast and catch Brody off guard but Brody shuts that down fast. Big chops and strikes from Brody as he just tosses around and manhandles Komander with ease. Great spots with Komander trying for his high flying but Brody just smacks him out of the sky. Komander tries for a few submissions to do something different and beat Brody but Brody just muscles out of it. Match spills to the floor and Brody misses a cannonball into the barricade. Komander takes advantage and starts throwing himself at Brody with big dives to try and get the Hail Mary win. Sunset Bomb out of the corner and a 450 Splash! But Brody still kicks out! Cielito Lindo by Komander but again, Brody kicks out! Komander keeps on the gas and goes for a handspring right into Brody's arms. Gonzo Bomb by Brody and it's over! I really loved this match. Brody was a beast all match and looked to overwhelm Komander from the start. Komander nicely tried just about anything to stay in the match before finding success with his big high flying offense but Brody was still just too powerful to be put down that way. **** 

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet at AEW Collision 12/21/24-Christmas Collision: A really great storytelling match from these two. Right from the start, the crowd is firmly against Ricochet and anything he does. Ospreay and Ricochet go through some classic back and forth exchanges but Ospreay is very clearly more in control of the pace of the match and has the edge. Ricochet responds not by being flashy but instead goes to work on Ospreay's neck with some nice subtle heel work. Ricochet is able to take over but still tries to win over the crowd with some impressive agility, only to slip on one of the moves; a botch but one that worked here. We get some great back and forth from these two as always when Ospreay fights back, ending with Ricochet going for the Spirit Gun but is cut off with a Hidden Blade by Ospreay! Ospreay sets up for the Stormbreaker but Ricochet grabs the referee to block it before inadvertently shoving Opreay into the referee. Ospreay is still able to hit the Stormbreaker but no referee. Ospreay goes to the top to try and end things but Ricochet kicks the referee into the ropes and crotches Ospreay! Spirit Gun delivered and Ricochet gets the win! Really solid in-ring action like always from these two but the extra layer with the crowd being against Ricochet and him leaning into a more heel role. In the end, Ospreay had this match won until Ricochet resorted to cheating to steal the win. Really great stuff! ****1/4

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli at AEW Collision 12/21/24-Christmas Collision: A very good big man vs. little man match. Darby jumps Claudio before he makes it in the ring and they fight on the floor for a bit. Darby hits a crazy dive off the stage before the match finally gets in the ring. Immediately, Claudio hits Swiss Death and goes to work on Darby. Match goes as you would expect with Claudio hitting big power moves and tossing Darby around with ease while Darby does everything he can to stay alive and find unique ways to counter Claudio and fight back. Claudio gets frustrated at Darby's resilience and starts to get more aggressive with his offense. A press slam onto the timekeeper's table and a Giant Swing into the steel steps but Darby won't stay down. Darby is able to counter Claudio up top for a Super Scorpion Death Drop but Claudio gets his knees up to block the Coffin Drop! Ricola Bomb by Claudio but Darby still isn't going down. Claudio tries to bring in a chair but the referee stops him. It was a trap! Claudio clocks Darby with brass knuckles to get the cheap win. Really enjoyed this with Darby showing fire and will to keep going against the bigger man. Finish was nice with Claudio using every way to keep Darby down before needing to cheap to finally put him down for the 3. **** 

ROH Pure Championship Match: Lee Moriarty (c) vs. Nigel McGuinness at ROH Final Battle 2024: This was an excellent back and forth technical match between a veteran and up and coming wrestler. Match starts and we get a clear showing of the story to the match: Moriarty is the younger and faster wrestler but Nigel is more experienced. Nigel is able to force Moriarty into the ropes to burn his first rope break and fakes a punch to the face to cost Moriarty his second rope break. Brilliant stuff. Nigel is able to run through some trademark offense including the London Dungeon, toying with Moriarty to use his last rope break but Moriarty is able to counter out instead and locks in the Border City Stretch and forces Nigel to the ropes. Nigel goes back to trying to outsmart Moriarty, like looking for a count-out and catching him with a Tower of London. London Dungeon locked in but again Moriarty counters into the Border City Stretch and Nigel uses his second rope break. Moriarty stays on Nigel this time and is able to lock in the Border City Stretch once again to force Nigel to use his last rope break. Nigel starts going all out with his Lariats and big bombs. Tower of London again and a cover. 3 count! But Moriarty had the ropes! No more rope breaks for either man. Both men start swinging away at each other with Moriarty even using Nigel's own Lariat against him for a great spot. Nigel goes for any pinning combination he can to try and get the win but Moriarty won't stay down. Border City Stretch again by Moriarity but this time he pushes off the ropes for leverage and Nigel taps! Awesome match! Loved Nigel using the rules of the match to try and get the win and not necessarily beat Moriarty. Meanwhile, Moriarty was able to use the Border City Stretch time and time again to put Nigel on defense and use his rope breaks until Moriarty was able to use the ropes to get the win. ****1/4

Survival of the Fittest Match for the ROH World Television Championship: Brian Cage (c) vs. Willie Mack vs. AR Fox vs. Mark Davis vs. Komander vs. Blake Christian at ROH Final Battle 2024: A super fun and chaotic match! Everyone in the match had a role to play: Cage the defending champion and the powerhouse, Davis going after Cage for his association with Don Callis, Mack trying to prove himself, Fox the wild high flyer, Blake the opportunistic heel and Komander the fiery babyface. Lots of fast action from the bell with everyone getting some shine on them and highlighting their role in the match. Mack runs wild with Stunners for everyone before Cage spoils the fun and eliminates him with a Discus Lariat. Fox gets his big shine moment and starts hitting everyone with big dives and some impressive high flying offense. Fox tries a top rope move on Cage but Cage is too strong and nails a top rope powerbomb and Fox is gone. Cage and Davis go at it like two big bulls. Really fun spot with Komander and Blake trying to get involved but both are quickly tossed aside so the big lads can go at it.  Davis rocks Cage with a Lariat before hitting a piledriver and Cage is gone! We are gonna have a new champion! Low blow by Blake, who rolls up Davis! It's down to Blake and Komander as the crowd goes nuts! Some insane back and forth action and near-falls from both men as the crowd rallies behind Komander and boos Blake. Komander is able to daze Blake with a Mexican Destroyer and hits the Area Code Kick. Cielito Lindo by Komander! Cover and 3!!! Komander is the new TV Champion! What a match! Super exciting action all match before it came down to a clear babyface and heel with the babyface overcoming all the odds to get the big win. ****1/4

ROH World Women's Championship Match: Athena (c) vs. Billie Starkz at ROH Final Battle 2024: A good follow-up to these two's match one year ago. Billie takes the fight to Athena at the bell and shows a nice change from their first match. Doesn't take Athena long to respond and go to work on Billie. Big stiff strikes and working over the legs of Billie to slow her down and just simple heat getting offense done very well by Athena. The match unfolds with Billie fighting back over and over again, only for Athena to prove to be the better wrestler and shut down her momentum at every turn but gets frustrated at Billie's resolve to fight on. Some nice back and forth and near-falls from both wrestlers before Billie hits Athena with an Alabama Slam on the apron! Swanton from Bret's rope to the floor by Billie! She is taking all the risks to win tonight! Back in the ring and Billie hits an Elevated Piledriver for a huge near-fall. Athena is able to take back over and suplexes Billie to the floor. Referee checks on Billie and both get taken out by a dive from Athena. Lexy Nair hands Athena the3223 microphone but Billie ducks the shot and hits an Electric Chair! Referee is back in but only a 2 count! Billie tries for another but Athena rips off the turnbuckle pad and hits a reverse rana on Billie. Athena trips Billie into the exposed turnbuckle and hits the O Face for the win. A really good match with Billie showing her growth from a year ago and having a more even match with Athena but still falling short to the more experienced and vicious champion. Match was a little too long and slowed down too much at times for me. Still a nice chapter in this feud. ****

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Will Ospreay vs. Brody King at AEW Dynamite 12/25/24-Dynamite on 34th Street: Another great big man vs. little match. Right at the bell we get a clear story: Brody is bigger and way more powerful so Ospreay needs to use his speed and agility to try and beat him. Some really nice back and forth with Brody just absorbing everything Ospreay throws at him while Ospreay tries to weather the storm of Brody's heavy strikes and offense. As the match goes on, Brody seems to almost toy with Ospreay and mock him for his efforts, which only serves to piss off Ospreay, who comes firing back at Brody for more. Ospreay starts laying in his shots more and more and is even able to get Brody up for a Styles Clash! Brody fires right back with some big Lariats and looks for the Gonzo Bomb but Ospreay fights out of it and finally knocks Brody off his feet with a Lariat. Cover but only a 1! Hidden Blade but Brody still kicks out! Ospreay gets Brody up! Stormbreaker! Cover and 3! Really good stuff with Brody once again being an amazing monster for the valiant babyface to fight and overcome. Ospreay did a great job of showcasing how hard he had to fight to chip away and defeat Brody here. ****1/4

Continental Classic 2024 Gold League Match: Darby Allin vs. Ricochet at AEW Dynamite 12/25/24-Dynamite on 34th Street: A great match that put over both men's roles as a heel and babyface. Darby comes in banged up so he tries to wrestle Ricochet in the early goings, while Ricochet gets in some nice cheap heat. Ricochet is able to take over with just a straight punch to the face and goes to work on Darby's ribs and back. Some nice heel stuff by Ricochet as he keeps trying to show off to the crowd like hitting a 630 to the outside putting Darby through a table to hurt his ribs more and just because he can. Ricochet takes Darby too lightly as the match goes on and misses a 450, and Darby immediately locks in a Fujiwara Armbar but Ricochet gets to the ropes. Time is running out and Darby tries to push himself to get the win. Scorpion Death Drop and Darby climbs to the top and nails a Coffin Drop! But time expires before he can cover and Ricochet advances to the semi-finals with a draw. Really good stuff. Loved Darby being so banged up that he needed to work a more safer style here while Ricochet really leaned into his new heel role here. A perfect match for both these guys. ****

Continental Classic 2024 Semi-Final Match: Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher at AEW World's End 2024: Another incredible match from these two. Things start off quick with both men wanting to end things quickly to save their strength for the finals. Ospreay is able to take over early before Fletcher catches a hurracanrana and powerbombs Ospreay onto the apron! Fletcher stays on Ospreay and lawn darts him into the barricade! Ospreay is busted open and pouring blood now! From here, we get some great heat by Fletcher as Ospreay tries to fight through the blood loss. Great selling by Ospreay as he looks wobbly on his feet and desperately looks for any opening to land some offense on Fletcher and get the quick pin. We get some amazing back and forth from both men including Fletcher using the Hidden Blade on Ospreay for a nice near-fall. Both men fight to their feet as they start laying in some stiff headbutts. Fletcher hits the ropes and goes for a jumping headbutt but Ospreay blocks with a superkick! Fletcher goes for the desperate roll-up with the ropes but the referee sees it. Hidden Blade to Fletcher! Kickout! Ospreay tries for another but Fletcher uses the referee as a shield! Brainbuster for another near-fall. Fletcher starts laying in his leg lariats and goes for one last Brainbuster to end it but Ospreay counters with a hurracanrana. Styles Clash by Ospreay! And the 3 count! Ospreay advances! Amazing match once again with Ospreay once again playing the babyface in peril to Fletcher but with the amazing added addition of Ospreay pouring blood most of the match. Great back and forth by both as they worked fast to get the win and move on. Ospreay ends up getting the win by catching Fletcher out of nowhere to nicely set up for a third match. ****1/2

Continental Classic 2024 Semi-Final Match: Ricochet vs. Kazuchika Okada at AEW World's End 2024: A fun and enjoyable match. We get the obvious story of Ricochet using his speed and agility to match up to Okada's size and power advantage, while Okada looks to work over the neck to set up for the Rainmaker.  Some good stuff with both men being heels so they both take opportunities to just be a dick to each other and show off how talented they are. As the match goes on, Ricochet gets frustrated at Okada kicking out and starts going for bigger and bigger offense, all while Okada stays calm and focused. Okada starts laying in his trademark offense but his Tombstone gets countered by Ricochet into a Vertigo for a nice near-fall. A lazy cover after a Shooting Star Press only gets a 2 for Ricochet. Spirit Gun misses but Okada's dropkick doesn't. Cobra Flowson and a Rainmaker gives Okada the win. A good match that was a lot of fun seeing two heels going at it. Ricochet getting frustrated compared to Okada's calm pace to the match was a nice bit of storytelling as well. ****

AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Powerhouse Hobbs at AEW World's End 2024: A hard hitting and well done storytelling match. Things start off with both men throwing stiff shots at each other and quickly it becomes clear that Hobbs is the more powerful of the two. Takeshita switches tactics and goes after the previously injured knee of Hobbs with some nice limb work. From there we get a nice flow to the match with Hobbs trying to fight back through the pain in his knee to hammer Takeshita, while Takeshita goes back to the knee to take back over time and time again to land his own big shots. Bastard Driver, Blue Thunder Bomb and even a Superplex but Hobbs doesn't stay down. Powerdrive Knee but Hobbs blocks with a big Spinebuster for a near-fall. Avalanche Powerslam by Hobbs but Takeshita rolls away from the cover and Hobbs' knee is too hurt to follow up. Hobbs takes the time to remove the brace and relieve some of the pressure, but Takeshita has time to recover as well. A kick right to the knee and a knee to the face of Hobbs before Takeshita locks in a Guillotine and takes the fight out of Hobbs. Raging Fire is enough for the 3. Really good stuff! Loved both men throwing big bombs and stiff shots at each other but Takeshita was smart to go to the knee time and time again. In the end, the knee played right into the finish with Takeshita choking Hobbs out before one last shot ended it. ****

AEW TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Kris Statlander at AEW World's End 2024: An excellent technical wrestler vs. powerhouse match. Mone starts off trying to out-wrestle Statlander in the early goings but Statlander is too powerful. Statlander easily counters a lot of Mone's offense and just muscles her around. Mone is able to slip out of one of Statlander's power moves and hits an apron powerbomb. Statlander's back is hurt now as Mone goes to work on her for some nice heat. Statlander keeps fighting back with her power as we get a really great back and forth from both women. The fight spills to the outside and Mone hits the Monemaker on the floor! Mone stops the referee from counting Statlander out, only to tie Statlander's foot in the ring frame and hit her with a Meteora. Statlander removes her boot to get out of the ring frame and catches a dive by Mone! F5 on the floor and another in the ring but Mone kicks out! Statlander goes to the top to follow up but Mone cuts her off and hits a Tombstone on the apron! Holy shit! Mone looks for the count out again but Statlander just barely makes it in time! Huge pop for Statlander staying in this! Mone is pissed and locks in the Statement Maker with the hurt leg trapped as well! Statlander is still able to fight to the ropes for the break! Statlander muscles Mone up for the Saturday Night Fever but Mone counters out and into an Ankle Lock. Statlander rolls through and we get a similar spot to how their last match ended, only Mone is able to kick-out and tie up Statlander for the pin and the win. Amazing match with Statlander clearly having an edge to Mone early on until Mone's wrestling ability was able to chip away at the more powerful woman. Loved Mone getting desperate and going for a count-out to get the cheap win before falling back on her wrestling to more or less steal a win out from under Statlander. Just a great match! ****1/2

Continental Classic 2024 Final Match: Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada at AEW World's End 2024: An incredible back and forth match from these two! Ospreay comes in banged up and hurt while Okada seems perfectly fine after the semifinals. Ospreay looks to move fast and catch Okada off guard but it doesn't take Okada long to counter a Springboard Elbow by Ospreay and hit a DDT on the floor. Now we are in Okada's wheelhouse as he works the neck with DDTs and takes his time toying with Ospreay for some nice heat. Ospreay keeps trying to fight back like a pure babyface but keeps getting cut off by Okada. Ospreay is able to fight out of a Tombstone on the floor and nails an Oscutter! Okada just barely beats the count-out, only for Ospreay to nail him with a dropkick entering the ring. Ospreay has the opening and is keeping his foot on the gas to try and get the win. Okada blocks a Stormbreaker and we start trading big offense with some insane counters back and forth. Rainmaker countered by Ospreay into a powerbomb and a Styles Clash! Ospreay goes for the Hidden Blade but Okada counters into the Rainmaker! Cover! Only 2! Ospreay looks all but done as Okada asks him to hit him. Big German Suplex by Okada right into the Rainmaker... No! Spanish Fly by Ospreay! Ospreay hits Okada with the Rainmaker! Stormbreaker! Kickout! My God, What a match! Both men keep fighting for the killing blow before Okada is able to arm drag out of a Stormbreaker and hit the Rainmaker again to finally end things! What a final match to the tournament. Ospreay fought like a true babyface while Okada looked like the dominant Ace of Japan that he was before AEW. Just an amazing back and forth match and easily the best match of the whole tournament. *****