Ho, ho, hold onto your turnbuckles, wrestling fans! AEW’s Continental Classic barreled through the Hammerstein Ballroom like a reindeer on a sugar rush, delivering high-flying drama, brutal brawls, and enough tournament math to make a CPA sweat. By the end of the night, four elite grapplers—Will Ospreay, Kyle Fletcher, Kazuchika Okada, and Ricochet—punched their tickets to the semifinals, leaving fans buzzing about the potential “Match of the Year” showdowns.
Gold League: Ospreay’s Rocket Ride and Ricochet’s Resilience
First on Santa’s naughty list was Brody King, whose attempts to muscle past Will Ospreay were as effective as wrapping a present with oven mitts. Ospreay, the “Aerial Assassin,” flipped, spun, and dropkicked his way to victory, notching three crucial points to tie him at the top with Ricochet and Claudio Castagnoli. But in tournament-style heartbreak, Castagnoli was left home for the holidays after a surprise loss to Komander. Ospreay, having a better record, advanced and gave the smuggest “cheerio” imaginable.
Meanwhile, Ricochet and Darby Allin engaged in a gravity-defying chess match that had the audience clutching their pearls (or neck braces). A 20-minute time-limit draw saw both men earn just one point, but that was enough for Ricochet to lock in his spot at the top of the Gold League. A true Christmas miracle—minus the chestnuts roasting.
Blue League: Okada’s Coronation and Fletcher’s Fire
Over in the Blue League, Kazuchika Okada reminded everyone why he’s the rainmaker of champions, delivering a dominant performance over Shelton Benjamin. Three points later, Okada stood tall at ten total, ensuring his spot in the semis while maintaining his cool-as-ice Continental Champion status.
Kyle Fletcher, not to be outdone, lit up the ring against TNT Champion Daniel Garcia. Fletcher earned three points and a dozen Christmas cookies (figuratively), hitting an untouchable 12-point tally. The Blue League couldn’t catch him if they had rocket boots.
Semifinal Showdowns: Friendships and Frenemies Collide
As the dust settled, the semifinal matchups emerged, setting the stage for a “Worlds End” extravaganza:
- Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher: Former friends turned tournament rivals. Expect tears, sweat, and possibly a Shakespearean soliloquy.
- Ricochet vs. Kazuchika Okada: The high-flyer versus the reigning champ. Will Ricochet deliver another upset, or will Okada make it rain on his parade?
The winners will collide later that night in the finals to determine the new Continental Champion. For Okada, his reign remains secure—at least until he either wins or loses that final. For everyone else? It’s a Continental Christmas or bust.