The 2025 AEW Continental Classic tournament kicked off after the Thanksgiving Eve episode of “AEW Dynamite,” but four more AEW wrestlers are required to fully launch the tournament, which began on the Thanksgiving edition of “AEW Collision.”
The Death Riders had a strong start with Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli both winning their opening matches, earning three points each. PAC aimed for his first win in the Gold League against “Speedball” Mike Bailey. PAC took control early, working to prevent Bailey from executing his signature fatal kick. Despite PAC’s efforts to control the pace and keep Bailey at bay, Bailey managed a moonsault out of bounds. Bailey maintained dominance through the commercial break, but upon returning, PAC countered with a powerful belly-to-belly superplex. The two exchanged intense maneuvers, including dropkicks outside the ring and multiple suplexes and strikes. Ultimately, PAC hit a lariat and locked in his Brutalizer submission, stunning Bailey and claiming his first three points. PAC will next face Kazuchika Okada on the upcoming Dynamite episode.
The first round of league matches wrapped up with a Blue League bout between Roderick Strong and IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita. The contest was close, but Strong, known as “The Savior of Backbreakers,” targeted Takeshita’s back from the start. Takeshita responded with a Blue Thunder Bomb into the guardrail, injuring Strong’s neck. Though Strong attempted a comeback, Takeshita dominated the later stages. Near the finish, Strong nearly won after escaping a brainbuster and enduring several heavy moves, but Takeshita ultimately secured the victory with a Chaos Theory Suplex, Power Drive Knee, and Raging Fire, earning three points. Takeshita leads the Blue League standings with three points, ahead of Moxley and Castagnoli, who will face each other next week.
Fan Take: This tournament is shaping up to be a thrilling showcase of AEW’s top talent, blending international stars with homegrown heroes, which can elevate the competition level and storyline depth. For AEW fans, it signals exciting matchups ahead and could set the stage for new rivalries, helping to keep the sport fresh and unpredictable.
