4) Range of Stories
The Continental Classic distils the best aspects of AEW’s creative process. As a vehicle for enhancing and developing character development, personal stories and rivalries, it’s one of AEW’s best weapons. To give credit, AEW weaved several interesting stories throughout the Blood and Guts match and the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship tournament.
Nevertheless, there is a disparity between the care of the ongoing “Timeless” Toni Storm/Mina Shirakawa/Marina Shafir feud and Jamie Hayter and Thekla, which hasn’t conclusively ended, despite a banger of a match at AEW All Out. The Triangle of Madness was utilised as a pest to progress Hayter, challenging Statlander at Worlds End, while Thekla just waited.
Before, during, and after the tournament, most competitors need some larger motivation, arc, or story spurring them to win. Also, it allows us as fans to invest in their tournament progression. The tournament structure allows plenty of wrestling-oriented options.
For some, that’s about breaking out. Take Kevin Knight and Speedball Mike Bailey, ending 2025 with big signature wins after a year of close yet so far losses. Even pin-eaters like Roderick Strong or Jay Lethal changed as characters due to their losses. Others need long-term stories or rivalries that are drawing towards the pay-off. Some needs to be individual and personal, such as revenge or closure against an old partner, like Statlander vs. Nightingale.
