AEW Continental Championship
{{short description|Men's professional wrestling championship}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022}}
{{Infobox pro wrestling championship
|name = AEW Continental Championship
|image = AEW Continental Title.jpg
|caption = The AEW Continental Championship belt.
|currentholder = Kazuchika Okada
|won = March 20, 2024
|created = November 18, 2023
|promotion = All Elite Wrestling
|mostreigns =
|firstchamp = Eddie Kingston
|longestreign = Kazuchika Okada
({{age in days|March 20, 2024}}+ days)
|shortestreign =Eddie Kingston
(81 days)
|oldest = Eddie Kingston
({{age in years and days|December 12, 1981|December 30, 2023}})
|youngest = Kazuchika Okada
({{age in years and days|November 8, 1987|March 20, 2024}})
|heaviest = Eddie Kingston
({{convert|240|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|lightest = Kazuchika Okada
({{convert|236|lb|kg|abbr=on}})
|pastnames =
}}
The AEW Continental Championship is a men's professional wrestling championship created and promoted by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Established on November 18, 2023, the title has a special attribute in that it is defended under Continental Rules in which no one is allowed at ringside and outside interference is strictly prohibited. Matches also have a 20-minute time limit. The reigning champion is Kazuchika Okada, who is in his first reign, which is the longest reign for the title. He won the title by defeating Eddie Kingston on the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite.
The title is also the prize of the promotion's Continental Classic (C2), an annual round-robin tournament that begins at the end of November and culminates at the Worlds End pay-per-view event in late December. The incumbent champion at the time of the tournament is automatically entered and defends the title in the C2. Eddie Kingston became the first-ever Continental Champion after winning the inaugural tournament in December 2023.
History
File:Eddie Kingston Worlds End 2023 12 30 004 (cropped).jpg as the Continental Crown Champion (AEW Continental Championship, ROH World Championship, and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship)]]
On November 11, 2023, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced a tournament called the Continental Classic (C2). AEW president Tony Khan and AEW wrestler Bryan Danielson announced that the tournament would begin on the November 22, 2023, episode of Dynamite, lasting six weeks and held across episodes of Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, and then concluding at the Worlds End pay-per-view (PPV) event on December 30.{{cite web|last=Defelice|first=Robert|title=Tony Khan Announces AEW Continental Classic Tournament Starts On 11/22, Concludes At AEW Worlds End|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|work=Fightful|date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 11, 2023|archive-date=November 12, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231112034526/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/tony-khan-announces-aew-continental-classic-tournament-starts-1122-concludes-aew-worlds-end|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Bryan |title=AEW announces Continental Classic tournament, Bryan Danielson first entrant |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-continental-classic-tournament-bryan-danielson-first-entrant |date=November 11, 2023|access-date=November 14, 2023 |website=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online}} It was also announced that the winner of the tournament would become the inaugural holder of the AEW Continental Championship.{{cite web |last=Renner |first=Ethan |title=AEW announces new title & Continental Classic competitors |url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/aew-announces-new-title-continental-classic-competitors |work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|date=November 18, 2023|access-date=November 18, 2023}}
Eddie Kingston became the inaugural Continental Champion by defeating Jon Moxley in the final of the C2 at Worlds End.{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/eddie-kingston-wins-first-ever-continental-crown-at-aew-worlds-end|title=Eddie Kingston wins first-ever Continental Crown at AEW Worlds End|date=December 30, 2023|last=Nason|first=Josh|work=Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online|access-date=March 26, 2024}} Kingston was also declared the American Triple Crown Champion (also referred to as the Continental Crown) upon winning the Continental Championship, as he simultaneously held the ROH World Championship of sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) and the Strong Openweight Championship of partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). By being part of the Triple Crown Championship, the Continental Championship was recognized by AEW, ROH, and NJPW, allowing it to be defended in all three promotions.{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Jeremy |title=Tony Khan Gives More Details on AEW Continental Classic, Will Conclude At Worlds End |url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-details-aew-continental-classic-worlds-end/ |work=411Mania |date=November 19, 2023 |access-date=November 19, 2023}}
On the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite, the championship was defended for the first time by itself, where Kazuchika Okada defeated Kingston to win the title. This in turn separated the Continental Championship from the Triple Crown. Tony Khan then clarified the rules of the championship. Title matches are held under Continental Rules, which are the same rules that were used during the C2 in which no one is allowed at ringside and outside interference is strictly prohibited. He also re-clarified that whoever is champion coming out of November's Full Gear PPV, they would automatically be entered into the C2 and would defend the title in the tournament.{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/tony-khan-clarifies-rules-aew-continental-title/|title=Tony Khan Clarifies Rules Around AEW Continental Title|date=March 22, 2024|last=Thomas|first=Jeremy|work=411Mania|access-date=March 22, 2024}}
Reigns
image:Kazuchika Okada at All In in August 2024 (cropped).jpg, who has held the title for {{age in days|March 20, 2024}}+ days]]
As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, there have been two reigns. Eddie Kingston was the inaugural champion, which was the shortest reign at 81 days, while Kazuchika Okada's ongoing reign is the longest at {{age in days|March 20, 2024}}+ days. Kingston is also the oldest champion at 42 years old, while Okada is the youngest at 36.
Kazuchika Okada is the reigning champion in his first reign. He defeated Eddie Kingston on the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes}}
{{PWtitlereign
|sort number = 0.5
|type = promotion
|name = All Elite Wrestling (AEW)
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number = 1
|champion = Eddie Kingston
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|December 30, 2023}}
|days = {{age in days nts|December 30, 2023|March 20, 2024}}
|location = Uniondale, NY
|event = Worlds End
|notes = Defeated Jon Moxley in the finals of the 12-man Continental Classic tournament; Kingston's ROH World Championship and NJPW Strong Openweight Championship were also on the line, and he was dubbed the inaugural American Triple Crown Champion (also referred to as the Continental Crown) for holding all three titles.{{Cite web |title=AEW Continental Classic Final Set for Worlds End |url=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/aew-continental-classic-final-set-for-worlds-end |access-date=2023-12-28 |website=www.allelitewrestling.com}}
}}
{{PWtitlereign
|number = 2
|champion = Kazuchika Okada
|reign = 1
|date = {{dts|March 20, 2024}}
|days = {{age in days nts|March 20, 2024}}+
|location = Toronto, ON, Canada
|event = Dynamite
|notes = This match was only for the Continental Championship.
}}{{BundleEnd}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{commons}}
- [https://www.allelitewrestling.com/continental-championship-history Official AEW Continental Championship Title History]
{{All Elite Wrestling}}{{Continental Classic}}
Category:All Elite Wrestling championships