Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that magical time of year when Santa Claus isn’t the only one checking his list twice—because AEW wrestlers are too busy checking their points in the 2024 Continental Classic! On the latest Christmas Collision, fans were treated to a sleigh-load of high-flying drama, brass-knuckle betrayals, and at least one guy named Mortos probably wishing he’d stayed home. Let’s unwrap the highlights, shall we?
Gold League: Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay
🎄Christmas Rivalry Extraordinaire
When Ricochet and Will Ospreay step into the ring, you know you’re about to witness moves so insane, they’d make your chiropractor cry. The stakes were high as these two aerial acrobats brought their decade-long rivalry to a head, and boy, did Ricochet gift himself an early Christmas miracle.
Ospreay, after heroically pulling off a Stormbreaker and nearly sealing the deal, was derailed by a referee taking a scenic nap mid-match. (Don’t worry, it happens.) Ricochet, ever the opportunist, decided it was time to channel his inner villain—sending the ref hurtling into Ospreay before delivering a Spirit Gun to steal the win. With this victory, Ricochet bagged three points, bringing his total to nine. Ospreay, meanwhile, has six points and a lot of questions about why Santa left him on the naughty list.
Main Event: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Darby Allin
🪵Tables, Knuckles, and a Sleeper Hold Christmas
In the final Gold League match of the evening, Claudio Castagnoli and Darby Allin delivered a barnburner that included some light property destruction. Darby, true to form, spent much of the match as AEW’s favorite human crash test dummy, finding himself driven through a table while attempting a sleeper hold. But the true twist? Castagnoli whipped out the Brass Knuckles of Doom (patent pending) to seal the deal. Nothing says “season’s greetings” like an illegal foreign object!
With the win, Castagnoli clinched a semi-finals spot, reaching a tournament-high 12 points. Allin, with six points, needs a Christmas miracle (or at least a lot of brass knuckles).
Blue League: Shelton Benjamin vs. Daniel Garcia
🎅A Christmas Survival Story
Shelton Benjamin looked like a man determined to ruin Daniel Garcia’s festive spirit, tossing him around like a bag of gifts marked “fragile.” But Garcia, channeling Rudolph-level perseverance, managed to eke out a roll-up pin for the win. Cue Mark Briscoe and Swerve Strickland swooping in to stop Benjamin and his goons from decking Garcia’s halls after the bell. With this win, Garcia now sits at seven points, just ahead of Benjamin’s six.
Mark Briscoe vs. Mortos
🎁Mortos, We Hardly Knew Ye
Ah, Mortos. With zero points and zero hope, the Beast Mortos fought valiantly but ultimately fell victim to Mark Briscoe’s J-Driller. Briscoe now sits on nine points, his tournament fate depending entirely on some favorable outcomes in the remaining matches. As for Mortos, maybe next year, pal. Or maybe just a nice nap.
Final Thoughts
From flying finishers to underhanded antics, AEW’s Continental Classic is delivering more twists than a candy cane! Stay tuned for the next chapter as wrestlers continue to jingle their bells (and each other) in pursuit of gold and glory. Until then, let’s all raise a glass of eggnog to referee interference and brass knuckles—truly the gifts that keep on giving. 🎄