Continental Classic 2024

[Chris B]

Figure this might deserve it's own thread. Last year's was really strong. While there's a few people I'd have loved to see in this year's, it's a strong selection overall, and lacks the weak points (Jay Lethal) of last year's. AEW put out this look at each of the competitors, which made it feel more special - a look at first-time matches and facts and figures of each competitor.

My guess is this year won't be received quite as well, as it'll lack the 'pleasant surprise' of last year's. They'll also have to fight against the most obvious final - Okada/Ospreay... but then, when that's the 'boring' option, fair play to them. My guess is actually a Darby/Okada final.

While I'd love to see a Hangman, Orange Cassidy or Takeshita in, there's always next year.

[CDM]

@Chris B I've gone for darby as my winner prediction on other platforms and I'm gonna stick with it. I think osprey will probably win the world title at forbidden door and I think if he wins it it will give him almost to much momentum and he will need a title challenge. A lot of people think darby will be the next world champion and maybe this will give him that believability. I wish Takeshita was in it. I didn't really have much of an interest in him before but I do now. Him v okada would be great. 

[TheBurningRed]

AEW has posted a near 6 hour video recapping last years tournament, with promos and a few minutes from every match. 

[RedTwoster]

For me, it has Fletcher/Ospreay final written all over it; but it’s also hard to see where Okada falters given the no interference rule.

6 hours ago, Chris B said:

While I'd love to see a Hangman, Orange Cassidy or Takeshita in, there's always next year.

I’m a little surprised that Orange isn’t involved as it seems like an obvious direction for him after the Moxley match; with the ‘brutality’ of that bout giving him an out for losing early stage matches. As you say though, there’s always next year, and they’re not going to want to vary the line-up and save some exciting competitors in order to keep the concept feeling fresh.

[Chris B]

I'm still catching up on this, but enjoying it a lot. It's a different pace and style of storytelling that really works for me. There hasn't been a duff match yet.

Couple of quick thoughts:

1 - LOVED Brodie King's respect with Darby Allin, and squaring up to Claudio. That was a proper goosebumps moment.

2 - Okada really works in this environment. Just putting on a sequence of strong matches as the obvious favourite, while the commentators always make the point about how he's pacing himself for the entire tournament. And he's being a smug, hilarious prick about it as well.

3 - The difference between an out-of-his-depth Garcia last year, and how confident he is this year, is really well-done. I really like the idea of that draw to Garcia being the only point that Okada drops.

4- Not convinced by Kommander, but the Ricochet match was fun.

5 - Beast Mortos continues to be fun, but I think he's got a ceiling.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

5 minutes ago, Chris B said:

Beast Mortos continues to be fun, but I think he's got a ceiling

Wooly Bully is great but even I as one of his biggest fans agree that he has a ceiling. I think most of the luchadores ironically have quite a low ceiling, but Mortos must have the highest one. He will continue to have good/great matches with whoever you put him in with but he's never going to be "The Man" in AEW. 

[Chris B]

20 minutes ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

Wooly Bully is great but even I as one of his biggest fans agree that he has a ceiling. I think most of the luchadores ironically have quite a low ceiling, but Mortos must have the highest one. He will continue to have good/great matches with whoever you put him in with but he's never going to be "The Man" in AEW. 

It's the weird balance of his impactful stuff not being devastating, and his high-flying being really impressive considering his size - but it means he's neither the most impactful nor the greatest high-flyer. But... fuck me, he's fun. I don't get super into his matches, but it's ten minutes I can safely relax knowing it'll be really good. Which is perfect for this kind of tournament - and that's part of why Ishii ended up getting the rep he has, due to pretty much always having really good, varied tournament matches.