AEW delivers MJF’s redemption and a big World’s End surprise to enter 2026 on right foot

World’s End was about redemption for so many of AEW’s biggest stars.

The show wasn’t one of the company’s top-tier efforts as it lacked some sizzle to go along with the well-cooked pro wrestling meat and potatoes that fans at Chicago’s Now Arena received on Saturday night. 

AEW did the smart thing and gave the hot-returning MJF his redemption and revenge all in one fell swoop in the main event. MJF beat the company’s top two babyfaces in “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland in the same night, all while getting payback on Samoa Joe by pinning him two years after he beat him for the AEW Men’s World championship at World’s End in 2023.

MJF, who did his entrance from the middle of the stage and not the heel tunnel, got the least amount of offense of any of the four men in the match, but swooped in to steal the win from Page. He cut off a Buckshot Lariat attempt on Joe by kicking the cowboy between the legs and hitting the Heat Seeker DDT on the champ to get the win. It made Joe’s stunning win over Page at Full Gear to become champion make more sense.