Storylines
Worlds End featured 13 professional wrestling matches, including four on the Zero Hour pre-show, that involved different wrestlers from pre-existing feuds and storylines. [7] Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs, Dynamite and Collision .
As the incumbent Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada was automatically entered into the C2. Months prior in July at All In: Texas, Okada had also won the AEW International Championship, subsequently holding and defending both titles under the AEW Unified Championship. [8] Amid confusion over the Unified title in regards to the C2, it was confirmed that only the Continental Championship would be the prize of the 2025 tournament, with Okada only carrying the International Championship belt throughout the league matches. It was also revealed that should Okada lose the Continental Championship in the C2, he would also lose the Unified Championship. [9]
At Full Gear, Samoa Joe defeated "Hangman" Adam Page to win the AEW World Championship after Hook turned on Page. [10] After the bout, Swerve Strickland returned and feigned attacking Page, attacking The Opps dojo instead. On the following episode of Dynamite, Page challenged Joe to a rematch at Worlds End. During Collision: Winter is Coming, Strickland declared himself the rightful contender following Page's initial challenge to Joe. At Dynamite: Holiday Bash on December 17, during the contract signing for the match at Worlds End, MJF made his return since his last appearance at All Out and invoked his Casino Gauntlet match cash-in contract to put him into the match with Joe, Page, and Strickland, making it a four-way match for the title.
