AEW Continental Classic 2025: Full Brackets Revealed (AEW News)
Both blocks have been announced for AEW's 2025 version of the Continental Classic.
AEW has revealed the entrants in the 'Gold' and 'Blue' leagues for its 2025 Continental Classic round robin tournament. 12 wrestlers in total will compete to become Continental Champion, although it's worth noting that the original belt was merged with the International Title at All In: Texas on 12 July - Kazuchika Okada beat Kenny Omega to unify both championships.
Thus, the winner of 2025's Classic will become AEW Unified Champion. Reigning incumbent Okada will be involved in the tournament, and he'll defend his title throughout.
Tony Schiavone announced who'd be in the 'Gold' and 'Blue' brackets during a special reveal video on YouTube. Here's the full lineup:
Gold: Kazuchika Okada, Darby Allin, PAC, Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey and Kyle Fletcher.
Blue: Konosuke Takeshita, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy and Mascara Dorada.
As usual, successful matches will earn workers who win them points. Those will be tallied up over the next month or so heading into the Worlds End pay-per-view. It's entirely possible for Okada to be posted missing from the final - he probably won't be (given he's the reigning champ), but it's not outwith the realms of possibility if Tony Khan is feeling adventurous when booking the tourney.
Eddie Kingston won the first Continental Classic by defeating Jon Moxley in 2023. Then, Okada toppled Will Ospreay to take home the prize in 2024. Heavy hitters like Okada, Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy and Kyle Fletcher will be considered firm favourites for 2025's version.
If nothing else, the Classic does give most TV matches some purpose on episodes of Dynamite and Collision.