After a grueling series of 32 matches, the final two competitors of the 2025 AEW Continental Classic tournament stood ready. On one side was Kazuchika Okada, the reigning AEW Continental Champion and winner of the 2024 tournament, known as “The Rainmaker.” On the other was Jon Moxley, a four-time AEW Men’s World Champion and leader of the Death Riders. Both had battled through a field of 10 others to reach the finals, but it was Moxley who emerged victorious at AEW World’s End, claiming both the 2025 Continental Classic title and the AEW Continental Championship.
Despite starting the match in good condition, Moxley encountered leg troubles after a dropkick from Okada left him caught on the top rope. Okada leveraged his tournament experience to maintain control, though Moxley managed to land a King Kong Glariat and later applied a figure-four leglock on Okada. The momentum swung back and forth as Okada countered with moves like the Dragon Screw and Texas Cloverleaf, but Moxley rallied by striking harder, nearly securing the win with a Gotch-style piledriver. Following a series of near falls, an interference involving a low blow exchanged between the two wrestlers, and exhaustion on both sides, Moxley finally overcame Okada after delivering a decisive Curb Stomp and Paradigm Shift.
With his victory, Moxley became the new AEW Continental Champion and winner of the 2025 Continental Classic, while his Death Riders teammates celebrated alongside him. In a post-match promo, Moxley dedicated the title not just to himself but to everyone involved in the Continental Classic, including fans, teammates, and those who have contributed to making AEW a top professional wrestling promotion worldwide.
Fan Take: This win is a defining moment for Jon Moxley and AEW alike, showcasing the blend of endurance, skill, and storytelling that keeps fans hooked. It signals a new chapter in AEW’s championship scene, promising intense rivalries and elevating the prestige of the Continental Classic tournament for years to come.
