Welcome to another eWrestlingNews Question of the Day!
This week’s episodes of AEW Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision are branded the annual AEW Winter is Coming specials, meaning we should treat them as pseudo pay-per-view events. With that in mind, some rather important matches are taking place that we should toss out some predictions for!
My question for you today is “Who do you think will win at AEW Winter is Coming 2024?”
Remember to answer with your response in the comments below.
AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Will Ospreay
I’m sticking to my idea that the two finalists in the Gold and Blue Leagues will be Will Ospreay, Ricochet, Kyle Fletcher, and Kazuchika Okada. With that in mind, Ospreay needs to win this in order to not only boost himself up in the rankings, but also, to keep Castagnoli from earning more points for an even bigger lead. Plus, Ospreay is a top babyface, so it’s more than okay for Claudio to lose to him.
AEW Continental Classic Gold League Match: Brody King vs. Ricochet
As mentioned, I think Ricochet is going to be either #1 or #2 in his league. Let’s get those points up. Brody King has had a strong showing so far, but he’s mostly there for that purpose, rather than to win it. Ricochet overcoming someone of his size will look good on Ricochet’s resume.
AEW Women’s World Championship Match: Mariah May (c) vs. Mina Shirakawa
Obviously, Shirakawa isn’t winning this title. She’s set up to be someone for May to feud with that will be a personal story; not to be the next potential champion.
Frankly, I don’t have a lot of faith this match will be all that wonderful. When the main way they’ve sold the feud has been to shake their chests—which, albeit, great in a different context, sure—it doesn’t strike me like they’ll be “working” in a way that will undo all the harm the AEW women’s division has undergone even from May’s promos alone.
It’s pretty bad when a heel champion belittles their own division and instead of coming across egotistical and rude, they just seem right in their assessment.
Adam Cole vs. Kyle O’Reilly – Winner Faces MJF at AEW Worlds End for the Dynamite Diamond Ring
So much is being made about O’Reilly calling attention to people fighting Cole’s battles for him, and MJF made it a point to say he doesn’t think Cole can beat O’Reilly, I think we’re looking at stretching this out even longer to get to MJF vs. Cole.
O’Reilly wins here, but loses to MJF at Worlds End. That way, MJF can keep the Dynamite Diamond Ring, and the match against Cole can happen on a show like Fight for the Fallen.
Then again, if AEW wants to be done with this sooner, rather than later, then Cole could not only win this, but also beat MJF. He’d be a possible good contender to take that ring away from MJF and lord it over him, or even ditch it entirely so that they can abandon the concept going forward, if that’s what the goal is.
I’ll stick with my O’Reilly prediction, but if Cole wins, I’ll be then assuming he beats MJF at Worlds End, too.
Death Riders (Jon Moxley and Pac) vs. Orange Cassidy and Jay White
This could go either way, as PAC could particularly take a pinfall. I don’t think Death Riders should eat a loss here, though. I’d rather this be in their favor due to some sort of miscommunication with “Hangman” Adam Page getting involved and unintentionally screwing Cassidy and White out of a victory.
International Women’s Cup Qualifier: Jamie Hayter vs. Willow Nightingale
So much more has been made about Jamie Hayter getting into this match that I’d feel bad if Willow Nightingale won. Otherwise, I’d have gone with Willow. I even like Willow more, if I’m being honest. But I don’t want her to get booed out of spite for Hayter fans wanting her to go the distance, and I don’t think it’s a good idea for Hayter to lose due to Julia Hart and for Willow to capitalize and look like a heel. If Hart is going to do something, she can do something after the match.
AEW Continental Classic Blue League Match: The Beast Mortos vs. Kazuchika Okada
As I mentioned, I’m expecting Okada to make it to the semifinals, if not the finals, if not also win this whole tournament. Future projection, I can see Okada beating Ricochet in the semifinals, Ospreay beating Fletcher, and then Fletcher costing Ospreay so that Okada ultimately wins the tournament.
To get to that point, Okada should stay strong, and I don’t see any reasoning toward giving a win to The Beast Mortos.
What do you think? Drop your thoughts below!