Ladies and gentlemen, the Zero Hour pre-show for AEW’s Worlds End wasn’t just a warm-up; it was a spectacle of rookie antics, guitar shenanigans, and a tornado of chaos in an eight-person tag. Let’s dive in, shall we?
Storm Warning: Toni’s Timeless Debut (Sort Of?)
Toni Storm, AEW’s self-proclaimed “rookie” (cue the sarcastic air quotes), waltzed into Orlando with all the swagger of someone who doesn’t quite know what year it is—but hey, she owns it. Her opponent, Leila Grey, wasn’t here to roll out the red carpet, though. Grey brought her A-game, even landing a jaw-dropping middle-rope Blockbuster that nearly derailed Storm’s, ahem, “historic” debut.
Storm’s big moment came when she almost hit a timeless post—literally. In a daze that can only be described as vintage Toni, she threw up her rock-on hand signs to a bewildered yet delighted crowd. Eventually, Storm managed to secure a roll-up victory, proving that even when the hips don’t lie, the pins can still be sneaky.
Backstage, Deonna Purazzo didn’t waste time raining on Storm’s parade, issuing a challenge for January 1’s Collision. Will Storm’s next match be another stroll down Rookie Lane, or is she about to prove she’s “timeless” in more ways than one? Stay tuned.
Jeff Jarrett: The Chosen One Strikes Again
Next up, we had Jeff Jarrett and QT Marshall in a showdown so dripping with ego you’d think it was sponsored by mirror sales. Jarrett, armed with his decades of wrestling wisdom and a questionable hat choice, locked horns with QT in a match that was equal parts wrestling clinic and petty taunting fest.
QT nearly tipped the scales with outside help from Aaron Solo, but Jarrett, being the seasoned scoundrel he is, turned the chaos to his advantage. A well-timed intervention from Jay Lethal neutralized QT’s guitar ambitions, and Jarrett sealed the deal with The Stroke. Post-match, Double J teased an “important announcement” for Dynamite, because why settle for just winning when you can also keep people guessing?
Rush and Crew: Tornado DDTs and Team Domination
Closing out Zero Hour, we got an eight-person tag match that can only be described as beautifully chaotic. Top Flight and The Outrunners joined forces against Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Lance Archer, and Brian Cage. Spoiler: It didn’t go well for Top Flight.
Rush and company zeroed in on Dante Martin like they were in a video game on cheat mode. A Tornado DDT, two Powerbombs, and a Frog Splash later, Dante found himself pinned by Rush, who now has more momentum than a freight train heading into 2025.