The race for the AEW Continental Classic championship is officially a barnburner, with standings tightening after this week’s AEW Dynamite. Two Gold League matches delivered the action, drama, and turnbuckle headbutts fans have come to expect, leaving three competitors tied for the lead at six points apiece.
Ospreay Outlasts Castagnoli
In a high-speed clash of styles, Will Ospreay bested Claudio Castagnoli to earn three crucial points, tying the Swiss Superman at the top of the leaderboard. Castagnoli opened strong, nearly decapitating Ospreay with the Very European Uppercut and setting him up for the Neutralizer. But Ospreay’s catlike reflexes came through in the clutch, reversing the Neutralizer into a jackknife pin for the three-count.
Post-match, Castagnoli tried to make a statement with his fists, but Darby Allin had other ideas, sprinting to the ring and forcing the Swiss to retreat. Allin, set to face Ospreay next week, clearly wanted to soften him up—because nothing says “friendly competition” like intervening with a skateboard in hand.
Ricochet Dethrones the Monster
Ricochet faced an uphill battle against Brody King, whose offense resembled a freight train running over a windchime. King manhandled Ricochet for much of the match, including an ominous choke break out of a pin attempt. Ricochet, however, turned the tide after a top-rope maneuver left an exposed turnbuckle, sending King crashing into it headfirst.
Not one to waste an opportunity, Ricochet followed with back-to-back Spirit Guns to seal the victory. Now sitting at six points alongside Ospreay and Castagnoli, Ricochet proved that speed and precision can overcome brute force—or at least sneakily exposed turnbuckles.
Gold League Standings (12/11/2024)
| Wrestler | Points | Matches Remaining |
|---|---|---|
| Will Ospreay | 6 | 3 |
| Claudio Castagnoli | 6 | 3 |
| Ricochet | 6 | 3 |
| Brody King | 3 | 3 |
| Darby Allin | 3 | 3 |
| Komander | 0 | 3 |
With the standings neck and neck, next week’s matches are make-or-break for the Gold League competitors. Will Komander finally get on the board? Can Allin overcome Ospreay’s momentum? And will Brody King find another turnbuckle to break?