On Saturday night for AEW Collision: Grand Slam, Kazuchika Okada defeated Sammy Guevara in an eliminator for the AEW Continental Championship in an excellent main event.
Okada defeated Eddie Kingston back on March 20, 2024 for the Continental Championship. After a defence against PC at Dynasty and a Dynamite match against Dax Harwood in May, Okada wouldn’t defend the belt again until August 21 against Claudio Castagnoli in Cardiff, Wales. In September, Okada has defended against Kyle Fletcher and a four way match at All Out featuring Konosuke Takeshita, Orange Cassidy, and Mark Briscoe.
The Guevara match being an Eliminator and not an official title match was something I didn’t actually catch until today. I thought it was absolutely a title defence. Guevara lost his prior match to Ricochet, so it makes sense it wasn’t actually for the title. It was still good enough to have been a title match.
Entering October, we are likely around eight weeks from the start of the next Continental Classic. The first annual Continental Classic was announced on November 11, 2023 with the first matches on November 22, 2023. Last year the CC started after Full Gear on the 18th. With Full Gear this year on the 23rd of November and World’s End on the 28th of December, I could actually see it starting either at Full Gear.
I’m expecting the tournament to have the same format as last year. 12 competitors from the men’s division, split into two leagues (Blue and Gold) with 60 matches to decide the four playoff spots. Last year we had a tie in the Gold League, which I hope doesn’t happen again this year.
Eddie Kingston won the Continental Classic last year, defeating Jon Moxley at World’s End. Eddie had put up his ROH World Championship and New Japan Strong Openweight Championship’s on the line along with the new AEW Continental Championship to the winner. This year it’s likely just the Continental Championship on the line.
I’ve heard people say that Okada is definitely dropping the Continental Championship before the 2nd Annual Continental Classic so he doesn’t have to participate in a G1 style round-robin. And it’s possible. Konosuke Takeshita is absolutely getting a shot at the Continental Championship at some point, maybe even at WrestleDream on October 12. But it’s more fun if both are in the Continental Classic.
I’m also going to suggest AEW think about changing the Blue and Gold names. They don’t really mean or represent anything. You can either go the NHL route which named their divisions and conferences after real people. You could have a Brodie Lee League (Brodie League?) and an Antonio Inoki League. You could go ahead and find sponsors so the leagues make you a little bit of money every time you do the matches. I’m good with either. Blue and Gold means nothing.
Hey what about a Women’s Continental Classic?
I agree! That would be cool! I would not do it the same time as the men and would consider something like that in the spring. I’ll discuss how I would run that later this week.
Continental Classic Roles
Each side should have certain roles for wrestlers to play. That’s how I planned out my picks for the Continental Classic. I will suggest alternates. There’s of course wrestlers you could add to it just because they are big stars, and I get that. But I think each side should have archetypes.
The Spoiler: This is a wrestler who everyone knows isn’t going to win this but could absolutely spoil it for someone else. Daniel Garcia did this last year with his win against Brody King on the final night.
The Powerhouse Finalist: This is a big name who could win the tournament and if it was just about star power probably should but won’t. This is Bryan Danielson and Jon Moxley last year.
The Breakout Star: This is someone who turns some heads with their performance. This was Brody King and Swerve Strickland last year.
The New Flavour: If you end up having too much of one style you need someone to add a new flavour so matches are not too samey. Brody King and Claudio provided it for Blue League last year, while Rush provided it for Gold League.
The Pin Eater: This is someone who either isn’t ready for the Continental Classic or just isn’t at the level of the people in their league. This was Jay Lethal last year.
The Favourite: Pretty self explanatory. This is someone you expect to win. Eddie Kingston putting his belts on the line kind of telegraphed him winning, and AEW did a good job doing the ol’ Naito lose early and have to catch up with him as well as focusing so much on the powerhouse finalists to make it feel more like an underdog win.
The Return: This is someone who was in the Continental Classic last year and is making a return. The Return didn’t exist last year, because it was obviously the first CC.
Here’s who I would select if healthy and available for the Continental Classic:
Blue League
The Favourite – Konosuke Takeshita
If we get to the Continental Classic and Takeshita has yet to win the championship from Kazuchika Okada? It’s pretty clear he’s going to be the man to go all the way for the Continental Classic to beat Okada for the championship in the final. It could absolutely be the AEW Match of the Year.
The Powerhouse Finalist – Darby Allin
If Darby Allin isn’t fighting for the AEW Men’s World Championship at World’s End against Jon Moxley then he needs to be in this. Darby is a big enough star for people to believe he could win, and of course he’s one of the best wrestlers on the roster. Alternates: Hangman Adam Page and Orange Cassidy
The Spoiler – Juice Robinson
Juice has some pretty good experience in G1 Climax in New Japan Pro Wrestling, having entered G1 Climax 27, 28, 29, 30, and 32. In G1 Climax 27 he beat Kenny Omega in a shocker. It didn’t keep Kenny from making it to the final, but it was one of only two losses he took in that year before losing to Tetsuya Naito in one of the best matches of the 2010s. In G1 Climax 29, he beat Jon Moxley in the final night to ensure Mox would finish 2nd in Block B. At G1 Climax 32 he did poorly but his early win against Shingo Takagi ensured he wouldn’t win the block.
Essentially I have Juice here not to win the Blue League but stop someone else from winning. Their last win is going to cost someone from making the semi finals. Alternates: Kyle Fletcher and PAC
The Pin Eater – Nick Wayne
“Some must die so others may live!”
– Kevin Sullivan
Nick Wayne is extremely young. It’s a shock he’s as good as he is, but he still has a lot of work to do. The young man needs reps, and being in the Continental Classic is perfect for him. He doesn’t have to win a single match. He just needs to perform well. Alternates: Anthony Bowens and Evil Uno
The Return – Brody King
I loved Brody King in the CC last year. I think he’d be great to return. He’s technically also a new flavour for this as he brings some size and power that only Takeshita would bring in the Blue League. Alternates: Claudio Castagnoli, RUSH
The Breakout Star – Daniel Garcia or Wheeler Yuta
This one doesn’t really fit one of the categories, and that’s okay. This one is about having a young star who can finish close to the top. Maybe it’s similar to Jay White and Swerve Strickland from Gold League last year. Daniel Garcia was The Spoiler for Brody King last year so seeing him in this we could see his growth as a wrestler and place on the card. But if for some reason he isn’t in AEW? This is now Wheeler Yuta’s spot to take.
Gold League
The Favourite – Kazuchika Okada
Whether he walks in as champ or walks in as the former champion trying to regain his title, I expect if Okada is in this he’s going to the final. If for some crazy reason Kazuchika Okada isn’t working the Continental Classic? Alternates: Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega
The Powerhouse Finalist – Maxwell Jacob Friedman
It might surprise some that I would put MJF in this but I would love to see MJF in a Continental Classic. Even just one. He can win most of his matches and finish in the semi final but lose there. I don’t think you need him in the final, but having a strong finish, you could have a situation where he beats everyone except one guy who beats him in the final match. He’s so upset about that loss he’s distracted in the semi final, and now you got a match for MJF at World’s End. Alternates: Jay White and Swerve Strickland
The Pin Eater – Action Andretti
It might surprise some for me to put Action Andretti here but I am a fan of his current storyline of him fed up with the lack of progress in Top Flight. I don’t know how fast he’s going to turn that around, which is why he’d be good for Continental Classic. Let’s see him show something more of himself in this. Alternates: Sammy Guevara and Josh Woods
The Breakout Star – Big Bill
I am convinced that Big Bill is going to be turning on Chris Jericho and leaving The Learning Tree. If he does so, Continental Classic is a great place to prove to people he can hang with the best wrestlers in the company. There’s a lot of great matchups he could have to show he is ready to move up the card. He could be in the spot Swerve Strickland was last year. Alternates: Katsuyori Shibata and Keith Lee
The Spoiler – Kyle O’Reilly or The Return – Mark Briscoe
Kyle O’Reilly is the perfect guy for a Continental Classic. He can pretty much work against anyone and he’s a guy that doesn’t need to win too much for his ego. He could absolutely cost a guy like MJF a loss or hold a guy like Big Bill from going to the semi finals. His Conglomerate partner Mark Briscoe fits more a Return role than a spoiler role but he’d be great to return as well. Alternates: Roderick Strong
The New Flavour – The Beast Mortos
The Beast Mortos brings a lot of what Brody King brings, but he also brings fresh matchups in such a way that I could see almost all of his matches a must see. Okada versus Mortos? MJF versus Mortos? Big Bill versus Mortos? All three of those matches I want to see right here right now. I think he’s perfect for this, and he’d be happy to finish with one or two wins. Alternates: HOOK and Ricochet
We should find out soon who is going to be in the Continental Classic. I should also add, I wonder if it being so close to Wrestle Kingdom/Wrestle Dynasty if we see someone from New Japan Pro Wrestling crossing the ocean to participate in the C2? Fun thought to drop.
Photos by Lee South and Richard Havlik for All Elite Wrestling
