The 2025 Winter Is Coming edition of AEW Collision made history by hosting the Continental Classic Tournament match outside North America for the first time, thrilling fans in Cardiff, Wales. The Blue League featured a high-stakes showdown between IWGP World Heavyweight Champion Konosuke Takeshita and CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Claudio Castagnoli, both vying for the top spot. Takeshita, who was undefeated until recently, faced Castagnoli in a match that ended in a 20-minute time limit draw, leaving them tied at seven points each. The intense battle displayed a flurry of powerful exchanges and strategic maneuvers, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.
Meanwhile, in the Gold League, “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight clashed in a three-point match. Both wrestlers entered with three points, having experienced mixed results earlier in the tournament. The match was a fierce contest of familiarity and grit, with Knight targeting Bailey’s back and Bailey using his tag team experience to counter. Ultimately, Bailey secured victory with a Flamingo Driver—a move he had never landed in AEW before—tying him with Kazuchika Okada and Kyle Fletcher at six points, while the Knights remain at three.
Fan Take: This groundbreaking event not only expands AEW’s global reach but also highlights the incredible talent and competitive spirit within the Continental Classic Tournament. For AEW fans, this signals exciting international opportunities and thrilling matchups that could redefine professional wrestling’s landscape.
