AEW Continental Classic 2025 Leagues Competitors Revealed

Last night, Tony Schiavone revealed the competitors and leagues for the 2025 AEW Continental Classic. A mix of fan favourites, there are some notable returnees, some interesting first-timers and an absence or two that might leave some fans disappointed.

The roadmap to World’s End and the fate of the AEW Continental Championship already seemed foreshadowed. Yet that doesn’t reduce or limit the potential bangers, storylines, and big developments in the final part of AEW’s year.

Before we get to the competitors and brackets, here’s a reminder of the rules.

The Rules of the Continental Classic

The Continental Classic (C2) is a round-robin tournament consisting of two leagues (Gold and Blue). The six competitors in each league will battle against each other in five individual matches across the weeks. Two competitors from each bracket will progress to the semi-finals based on their victories and points scored.

Competitors gain 3 points for a victory, 1 for a draw, and 0 for losing. Matches take place under Continental rules. Each match has a strict 20-minute time limit, meaning a draw is possible and has happened in previous tournaments. No one is allowed at ringside to eliminate interference. Breaking the latter rule will result in a wrestler being banned from AEW.

In the event of a tiebreaker at the league stages, with competitors sharing the same number of points, the head-to-head record will be used to determine who advances. The competitors with the most wins progress.

The semi-finals and finals will happen at AEW’s final PPV of the year, Worlds End. At the semi-final stage, the winner of each league faces the runner-up of the opposing league (i.e., the winner of the Gold League faces the runner-up of the Blue League).

Gold League Competitors

• A) Kazuchika Okada (2^nd Continental Classic, winner 2024- group stage record- 3-1-1)
• B) Speedball Mike Bailey (1^st Continental Classic)
• C) Kyle Fletcher (2^nd Continental Classic, semi-finalist 2024- group stage record- 4-1)
• D) Kevin Knight (1^st Continental Classic)
• E) PAC (1^st Continental Classic)
• F) Darby Allin (2^nd Continental Classic, 4^th in Gold League- group stage – 3-1-2)

Blue League Competitors

• A) Jon Moxley (2^nd Continental Classic, finalist 2023- group stage – 4-1)
• B) Claudio Castagnoli (3^rd Continental Classic- 3^rd in Gold League 2024- group stage (3-2)
• C) Konosuke Takeshita (1^st Continental Classic)
• D) Roderick Strong (1^st Continental Classic)
• E) Mascara Dorara (1^st Continental Classic)
• F) Orange Cassidy (1^st Continental Classic)

Speculation

Each Continental Classic league always contains three core types of wrestlers- established stars with a story to tell, dark horses, and pin-eaters.

Of the first, established wrestlers with a story to tell, the eventual final feels like destiny. NJPW World Heavyweight Champion, Konosuke Takeshita, is taking on Kazuchika Okada. A battle that sees one former Ace of New Japan Pro Wrestling passing the torch to the man who many see as the future standard bearer.

Yet Okada’s 2024 league stage told an interesting story of being out of his depth. Surprises could happen. With the return of Kyle Fletcher, another Don Callis Family member, who could be more pivotal in the story.

Elsewhere, it seems the Continental Classic will be the vehicle and means for perhaps the next long-awaited stage of the Death Riders saga. The Jon Moxley of 2025 is not the Moxley of 2023. Moxley will have to face Claudio Castagnoli at some point. Will this be the turning point?