Some wrestlers win titles. Kazuchika Okada collects them like infinity stones and then holds onto them just to remind everyone who’s in charge. On March 20, “The Rainmaker” officially hit the one-year mark as AEW Continental Champion, making him the first person to ever hold the belt for a full calendar year.
Now, granted, there have only been two Continental Champions in history (Eddie Kingston and Okada himself), but let’s not get bogged down in details. A record is a record.
Okada’s Reign: Among the Elite of AEW
With 365 days and counting, Okada now boasts the longest title reign out of all current AEW champions. But where does he rank all-time? Right now, he sits sixth in AEW history, behind:
📅 Hikaru Shida’s first AEW Women’s Title reign (372 days)
📅 Brian Cage’s FTW Title reign (377 days)
📅 Ricky Starks’ FTW Title reign (378 days)
📅 MJF’s AEW World Title reign (406 days)
📅 Jade Cargill’s historic AEW TBS Title reign (508 days)
If Okada makes it to AEW Dynasty on April 6 still holding the belt, he’ll move up to third all-time. And if he somehow survives with the title past Forbidden Door on August 24, he’ll officially surpass Jade Cargill’s record for the longest AEW title reign in history.
Will Okada’s Reign Last? AEW’s Plans Say… Maybe Not.
While Okada’s historic reign is something to celebrate, it might not last much longer. Reports suggest that AEW is considering merging the Continental Championship with the International Championship, which could cut Okada’s run short before he gets a chance to make even more history.
But whether his reign lasts another week or another year, one thing is for sure—Okada will go down as the greatest AEW Continental Champion in history. (Yes, the sample size is small, but still.)