The AEW Continental Classic tournament starts this Wednesday on Dynamite. The full field hasn’t been revealed yet, but we saw a glimpse of what to expect with three wrestlers declaring their participation.
Kazuchika Okada is the obvious number one, since he holds the AEW Continental Championship, which is now part of the AEW Unified Championship. The Rainmaker will defend his title. Okada won’t be the only Callis Family member in the tournament.
Konosuke Takeshita has had enough of Okada’s bullshit.
Instead of breaking up the family, Takeshita is taking a smart workaround to possibly putting hands on Okada by entering the tournament as well. The unspoken intent is that the Alpha is hoping for a match against the Rainmaker. Even better would be to take the title from Okada in the final.
The third man is a former TNT champion. After losing the gold to Mark Briscoe, Kyle Fletcher is stepping up to participate in the Continental Classic. The Protostar was peeved about Okada and Takeshita not bothering to help him against Briscoe.
The scene unfolded backstage at Full Gear (Nov. 22, 2025).
This will be the third year for the Continental Classic tournament. Twelve wrestlers enter, one man walks out as champion. The structure is set up for league play (six wrestlers in each league) to determine the semifinalists. The final will likely take place at the Worlds End PPV on December 27.
Okada, Takeshita, and Fletcher makes three. That leaves nine more spots open.
2025 will be Takeshita’s first Continental Classic. Takeshita is coming in hot after winning this year’s G1 Climax in NJPW and subsequently the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Okada and Fletcher were both in the tournament for 2024. Okada lived up to his reputation as the greatest tournament wrestler by winning the big prize. The Rainmaker took down Ricochet in the semifinal and Will Ospreay in the final. Fletcher was in Okada’s league and holds a victory over the Rainmaker. The Protostar passed to the semifinals, and that’s where he lost to Ospreay.
Share your thoughts on Kazuchika Okada, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher entering the AEW Continental Classic. Who do you want to see fill out the field? Give us your splits for each league.
