Ladies and gentlemen, the 2024 AEW Continental Classic is heating up faster than a wrestler slamming through a flaming table. Last night’s episode of Dynamite was a game-changer for the Blue and Gold Leagues, with Kyle Fletcher and Claudio Castagnoli rising to the top of their brackets. But let’s be honest—these wins weren’t exactly squeaky clean.
Blue League: Fletcher Gets Crafty
Kyle Fletcher, aka “The Proto-Star,” squared off against Shelton Benjamin, a man so technical he probably suplexes spreadsheets. Early on, Benjamin showcased his expertise with a series of crisp German Suplexes that would make Kurt Angle nod in approval. But Fletcher, being the sneaky devil he is, flipped the script—literally—by escaping to the outside. When Benjamin tried to bring him back into the ring, Fletcher hit a Sunset Flip and added a dash of controversy by grabbing the ropes for leverage. Three points later, Fletcher stood tall, though perhaps not honorably, at the top of the Blue League standings with six points.
Blue League Standings:
- Kyle Fletcher: 6 points
- Shelton Benjamin: 3 points
- Daniel Garcia: 1 point
- Kazuchika Okada: 1 point
Gold League: Castagnoli’s Dubious Dominance
Over in the Gold League, Claudio Castagnoli showed Brody King no mercy in what was dubbed a “heavyweight slugfest.” King, already bandaged up like an extra in Rocky IV, battled valiantly despite bleeding from the nose and an eardrum. He even landed a jaw-dropping Superplex that shook the ring harder than a malfunctioning pyro rig.
But Castagnoli? The man wasn’t playing fair. A sneaky low blow took King out of commission long enough for Castagnoli to hit the Neutralizer and collect three points. And just like that, Castagnoli now leads the Gold League standings with six points.
Gold League Standings:
- Claudio Castagnoli: 6 points
- Will Ospreay: 3 points
- Brody King: 3 points
What’s Next?
With Fletcher and Castagnoli leading their leagues, the stakes are only getting higher. Will someone topple these controversial frontrunners, or are we heading toward a showdown of the slyest competitors AEW has ever seen? Tune in to AEW Collision this weekend to see if honor makes a comeback—or if it gets body-slammed again.