Top AEW star leaks return of fan-favorite tournament; starting date revealed
Autumn has arrived, and after AEW's sprint through this year's All In, All Out, and WrestleDream, fans are looking forward to a new season of action. While Full Gear is on the horizon, perhaps All Elite Wrestling's most anticipated event is the Continental Classic, the starting date of which ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe just revealed.
The Continental Classic, or C2, is a round-robin tournament centered on the AEW Continental Championship, which is currently held by The Elite's Kazuchika Okada. Tony Khan debuted the tournament last year, generating several weeks of excitement as multiple storylines were woven into it across Dynamite and Collision.
In a recent conversation with Adam Barnard of Foundation Radio, ROH World Champion Mark Briscoe discussed his current rivalry with Chris Jericho, his iconic series with FTR, and potentially challenging Kazuchika Okada for the Continental Championship. In doing so, he revealed that this year's C2 will begin on November 27 in Chicago:
"Continental Classic season is coming up. Thanksgiving Eve, that's the start of the Continental Classic. With [Kazuchika] Okada being the current Continental Champion, he's the focal point. He's the target. I feel like the Continental Classic last year was, in a way, in my singles career, it was almost like a coming-out party. It was like I got a chance to wrestle four guys in my block. I don't think anybody knew what I could do in singles competition. I didn't really make out too well in the wins and the losses, but I learned, so I didn't lose. I learned. I'm either going to win, or I'm going to learn. Ain't no losing, you understand?"
Briscoe further expressed his desire to win the title and become a dual champion:
"I'm looking forward to it, man. I'm looking forward to hopefully being in the Continental Classic this year. But one way or the other, I would love to take on Okada, and I would love to have a Ring of Honor strap here, Continental title here. I think that would look good on me." [H/T Adam Barnard]
AEW's Continental Classic will have a new playing field this year
After starting last year's tournament with a losing streak, Eddie Kingston fought his way back to win the Continental Championship. Fans raved about his "King of the Bums" storyline, but with Kingston currently injured and a completely new playing field, this year's C2 could be even more unpredictable.
Other major players from last year's Continental Classic include Andrade El Idolo, who departed AEW and returned to WWE earlier this year, and Bryan Danielson, who was dethroned as AEW World Champion at WrestleDream and is now potentially retired from full-time competition.
Tony Khan loaded the tournament's blocks with major stars last year, which will likely be the case again. If Kazuchika Okada is still the Continental Champion when the C2 starts, he will be entered automatically. Additionally, fans should expect the likes of Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, Kyle Fletcher, Daniel Garcia, and other top stars to take part.