Continental Classic - AEW Dynamite
The anticipation leading into the special Thanksgiving Eve edition of AEW Dynamite on November 26, 2025, was palpable. This event marked not just another weekly show but the highly-awaited launch of the Continental Classic tournament. Fans packed the Nashville venue, eager to witness the opening salvos of this prestigious competition, which promised high stakes and intense matchups. This AEW Dynamite Review covers every crucial moment.
This episode delivered everything All Elite Wrestling loyalists have come to expect: stellar in-ring action, major storyline developments, and shocking results. We saw champions fall, challengers rise, and the stage set for some brutal battles ahead in the Continental Classic’s Gold and Blue Leagues. The night’s action definitively established new power dynamics within the company as we approach the end of the calendar year.
The stakes were higher than ever, given the start of the tournament, which features some of the best professional wrestlers in the world. From unexpected victories to a bloody main event angle, this November 26 2025 edition of Dynamite cemented its place as a must-see piece of All Elite Wrestling television. The intricate booking proved that every segment serves a critical purpose in the ongoing narrative of AEW.
Continental Classic Gold League: “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher Vs. AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada
The first Continental Classic match of the evening pitted “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher against the reigning Continental Champion, Kazuchika Okada. This matchup carried significant history, as Fletcher defeated Okada in the previous year’s tournament, making this a pivotal rematch for both men in the Gold League. The action was technically brilliant, demonstrating the smooth, high-speed exchange that both men are known for, with Okada focusing on methodical offense to stifle Fletcher’s incredible speed and aerial attack throughout the early stages of the bout.
Fletcher’s resilience was on full display throughout the contest. His ability to absorb punishment and continuously find openings for big power moves, such as his half-and-half suplex, broke up Okada’s momentum multiple times. The match reached a fever pitch in the final five minutes, with desperate reversals and near-falls that had the Nashville crowd on its feet, fully invested in the outcome of this competitive rematch that set the standard for the tournament.
In a breathtaking finish, Fletcher secured the victory by reversing a Rainmaker attempt into a cunning Cazadora roll-up, securing the three-count for the second consecutive year against the former IWGP Champion. This victory instantly grants Fletcher three crucial points, immediately putting the champion in a 0-point hole. This victory solidified Fletcher as a top contender in the 2025 Continental Classic, shaping the early AEW results.
Winner: “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher
Following the stunning victory, Don Callis entered the ring to raise the hands of both men after they showed mutual respect with a post-match handshake, confirming Callis’s continued involvement with both competitors.
Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks Mend Fences
Lexy Nair cornered Kenny Omega outside his locker room and asked if it was safe to say that he was reunited with the Young Bucks. Omega gave a reflective and honest appraisal of the situation, admitting to his own past faults and the mistakes he made, including being fooled by Don Callis. This humility marked a significant shift in his character, suggesting he was ready to put the past behind him and move forward with his long-time friends, Matt and Nick Jackson, a major update for All Elite Wrestling.
His philosophical statement—”If my friends are willing to accept me and my faults… who am I to say that the Bucks don’t deserve a second chance?”—seemed to signal a definitive end to the separation and confirms the foundation for a renewed, perhaps more mature, version of the iconic faction in this AEW Dynamite Review. The reconciliation has been building since Full Gear, and this segment provided the final narrative piece without an extravagant in-ring celebration.
As Omega returned to his locker room, Matt and Nick Jackson emerged from the same door just a few seconds later, giving a nonchalant “Hey, what’s up?” to a baffled Lexy Nair before walking away. The next segment was The NEW TNT Champion Mark Briscoe Speaks on His Victory.
The NEW TNT Champion Mark Briscoe Speaks on His Victory
We were taken to pre-recorded comments from the newly crowned TNT Champion, Mark Briscoe, shortly after his emotional victory over Kyle Fletcher at Full Gear. Briscoe spoke candidly about the difficult journey since the loss of his brother, Jay, admitting he struggled with whether he wanted to continue wrestling without his other half. He emphasized that he had to continue to make his brother proud, enduring “failure after failure” until this monumental victory.
The key development in his promo was the explicit mention of his “road family” and “home family,” specifically shouting out his crew, The Conglomeration, alongside his immediate family. He stated that having family on the line “changes everything,” establishing them as a core part of his motivation. This victory is not just a personal triumph but a statement for The Conglomeration, establishing them as a group associated with gold and working-class grit.
Briscoe, looking to the sky with his first AEW gold draped over his knee, pointed up and declared, “This is for you, dawg. We did it, baby.” The next segment was the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal.
4. AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Tournament Semifinal: Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) Vs. Sisters of Sin (Skye Blue and Julia Hart)
This semifinal match pitted the unique power pairing of Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) against the dark and dangerous Sisters of Sin (Skye Blue and Julia Hart). The match was a thrilling clash of styles, starting with Willow’s power being immediately neutralized as the Sisters of Sin strategically isolated Harley Cameron, relying on Hart’s psychological warfare and synchronized attacks to maintain control of the early stages.
The match escalated quickly with high-impact moves and relentless offense from both teams. Blue and Hart utilized every underhanded tactic, coming agonizingly close to victory after a combination of kicks and a powerbomb on Willow, but Nightingale’s resilience allowed her team to stay in the fight. The action was fast-paced, with numerous pin break-ups highlighting the desire of both teams to secure a place in the tournament finals and an opportunity at the new championships.
The conclusion saw Willow Nightingale, utilizing a crucial blind tag, take out Skye Blue with a devastating lariat. Harley Cameron then hit a key backstabber on Julia Hart, setting up Willow to execute The Babe with the Powerbomb for the pinfall victory. This tactical execution secured the victory and proved that the Babes of Wrath are a dangerous and well-rounded team, ready for the finals.
Winner: Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron)
Babes of Wrath successfully move on to the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament Final. The next segment was Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland Ruin Samoa Joe’s Celebration.
Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland Ruin Samoa Joe’s Celebration
Tony Schiavone introduced Samoa Joe as the new AEW World Champion and first-ever Double AEW World Champion, alongside his partners, Katsuyori Shibata and Powerhouse Hobbs (The Opps). Before Joe could properly begin his celebration, he immediately dismissed Schiavone, underlining his dismissive and arrogant champion persona. This set the stage for the massive Storyline Update that followed, establishing The Opps as the most dominant heel faction in All Elite Wrestling.
The celebration was immediately cut short by a colossal interruption. Prince Nana dropped off Swerve Strickland in the parking lot, who made his way to the ring, chain in hand, filled with violent intent. He was then shockingly joined by his bitter rival, “Hangman” Adam Page, also armed with a chain, signaling a violent and united front against The Opps’ new regime in this week’s AEW Dynamite Review. The resulting brawl was pure chaos, with Swerve and Page brutally targeting The Opps Dojo members to send a bloody message to Joe.
The segment culminated with Joe, Hobbs, and Shibata watching from the ring, surrounded by the carnage and the incapacitated members of The Opps Dojo. Swerve and Page had successfully ruined the celebration, proving they are still the most dangerous threats to Joe’s reign. The next segment was the Continental Classic Blue League Match.
Continental Classic Blue League Match: Jon Moxley Vs. Máscara Dorada
The Blue League kicked off with the visceral Jon Moxley facing the high-flying Máscara Dorada. This match was a classic clash of styles, pitting Moxley’s brawling, Death Rider mentality against Dorada’s Lucha Libre speed and acrobatics. Moxley immediately sought to ground his opponent, using his strength and power to counteract Dorada’s speed. He was also willing to take a risk, delivering a spectacular torpedo-like dive through the ropes that took down Dorada but sent Moxley crashing into the guardrail.
Despite Moxley’s brutality, Dorada’s agility allowed him to capitalize on Moxley’s few mistakes, leading to a nail-biting near-fall following a Code Red. The two battled on the outside and the raised aisleway, with Dorada executing a cutter over the guardrail and a breathtaking Tornillo dive to the floor. However, Moxley’s endurance and raw power continued to break up Dorada’s momentum and counter the high-impact moves.
Moxley’s brutal style ultimately prevailed. After surviving a daring 450 Splash from Dorada, Moxley trapped the luchador in a deep rear-naked choke (Dutch choke). Dorada faded and passed out, forcing the referee to stop the contest. Moxley earned his first three points, proving the Death Riders faction means business in the 2025 Continental Classic.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Aftermath: Marina Shafir immediately entered the ring to celebrate Moxley’s victory, but their moment was swiftly interrupted by “Timeless” Toni Storm, who marched directly to the ring with a microphone in hand. The next segment was “Timeless” Toni Storm Makes the Semifinal Stipulation.
“Timeless” Toni Storm Makes the Semifinal Stipulation
”Timeless” Toni Storm, accompanied by Mina Shirakawa, marched right to the ring to confront Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir, setting up next week’s highly anticipated semifinal match. Storm adopted a dramatic, almost theatrical persona, justifying her coming actions as “operating in love,” stating that what she does for love is “far more violent than you could ever imagine, darling,” in an impressive display of her heel persona.
The segment’s purpose was to announce the stipulation for the upcoming semifinal match between Timeless Love Bombs and the team of Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir. Storm humorously noted she couldn’t decide on a stipulation until she realized she hadn’t gotten her lover, Mina, a Christmas present, providing a bizarre twist to the announcement and confirming the match’s theme.
The “gift” was the stipulation itself: a Hardcore Holiday Death Match, complete with no tags, no countouts, and no disqualifications. Moxley had to hold a furious Shafir back as Timeless Love Bombs saluted them from the stage, promising an unforgettable and brutal conclusion to the tournament semifinal round. The next segment was AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander Looks Ahead.
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander Looks Ahead
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander appeared in a brief backstage interview with Renee Paquette following her massive victory over TBS Champion Mercedes Moné at Full Gear. That victory made Statlander one of the only people to pin Moné in All Elite Wrestling and gave her immense momentum, which she addressed directly in her focused promo.
Statlander’s promo focused on the disbelief she has faced throughout her career, both when winning the TBS and Women’s World Titles and achieving landmark victories over major stars like Moné and Toni Storm. Using Paquette as a reference point, Statlander laid out her philosophy: the audience can dwell in the past or focus on the present, but she is always moving toward the future.
This cosmic, forward-looking Storyline Update signals that Statlander is ready for her next challenger, whoever they may be, after clearing out the last round of contenders. She concluded by challenging the entire division to try and follow her path. The next segment was the Continental Classic Gold League.
Continental Classic Gold League: “The Jet” Kevin Knight Vs. Darby Allin.
This was the Continental Classic debut for “The Jet” Kevin Knight and the first-ever meeting between Knight and the notoriously unpredictable Darby Allin. Allin controlled and grounded Knight in the early going until Knight hit a big knee and flipped Allin awkwardly into the mat, sending him to the outside grabbing at his knee, thus establishing the target for the rest of the match. Knight followed Allin out, avoiding an Allin charge at the guardrail and nailing him from the adjacent guardrail, showcasing his agility and power.
The match reached its climax when Allin went for the Coffin Drop, but Knight quickly leapt to the top and connected with a massive avalanche back suplex. The two traded reversals, leading to a DDT on the ramp from Knight, but the most devastating moment came when Knight got a head of speed and destroyed Allin with a leaping clothesline over the top rope onto the ramp, showing his desperate determination to win this Gold League opener and earn his three points.
Knight finally secured the win by stopping Allin from hitting another Coffin Drop and trapping him in the Tree of Woe. Knight scaled the parallel turnbuckle for a coast-to-coast dropkick to Allin’s face. He quickly pulled Allin to the middle of the ring and hit the UFO Splash on the second attempt to get the pinfall victory. This win is the biggest of Kevin Knight’s career and secures the first upset of the Continental Classic, immediately casting doubt on Darby Allin’s tournament run.
Winner: “The Jet” Kevin Knight
Aftermath: Knight and Allin showed respect by shaking hands after the match, although Allin was clearly still in pain from the brutal assault on his body. The next segment was Eddie Kingston vs. Katsuyori Shibata on Thanksgiving Collision!
Eddie Kingston vs. Katsuyori Shibata on Thanksgiving Collision!
A quick but effective segment built anticipation for the upcoming Thanksgiving Collision event, focusing on a newly sanctioned match. Eddie Kingston, known for his hard-hitting style and emotional intensity, addressed the ongoing conflict involving Samoa Joe and his faction, The Opps, admitting he didn’t want to talk about HOOK but had heard Joe mention his name earlier.
He acknowledged Joe’s comments, stating he knew he wasn’t in line for a title shot yet, but declared that if he can take out the notoriously tough Katsuyori Shibata, he would undeniably propel himself into the championship conversation. This sets up an incredibly stiff, highly anticipated contest between two of wrestling’s most respected hard-hitters, sanctioned by Tony Khan as an official Thanksgiving treat.
Tony Khan officially made the match between Eddie Kingston and Katsuyori Shibata official for Thanksgiving Collision, guaranteeing a brutal holiday battle. The next segment was the Continental Classic Gold League.
Continental Classic Gold League: Claudio Castagnoli Vs. Orange Cassidy.
The final tournament match of the night pitted the ever-popular Orange Cassidy against the powerful Claudio Castagnoli, another member of the victorious Death Riders. Cassidy, demanding the match be moved up, showed unusual urgency, immediately attempting multiple pin attempts to try and catch the larger Castagnoli off guard, but the Swiss Superman was ready.
Castagnoli immediately went into dominance mode, utilizing brutal backbreakers and powerful throws, including a brutal throw face-first into the corner, to neutralize Cassidy’s momentum. The Swiss Superman’s superior strength was the defining factor throughout the early and middle stages of the match, including a devastating sequence where he mercilessly swung Cassidy into the LED boards on the outside, a visual that emphasized the severity of the tournament.
Despite the punishment, Cassidy fought back, utilizing his signature momentum-shifting counters and an outside dive. However, the power difference was too vast to overcome, and Castagnoli eventually secured the victory after throwing Cassidy around and hitting the definitive Ricola Bomb for the pinfall. This win established the second Death Rider with three points in the Continental Classic, completely shutting out Cassidy from his opening match.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli
With the match over, a massive brawl erupted involving many of the participants from the Continental Classic tournament. This chaotic ending set the intense tone for the rest of the tournament and concluded the night’s broadcast.
Final Thoughts on a Chaotic and Defining Night
The AEW Dynamite Review of November 26, 2025, will be remembered as the night the Continental Classic took center stage, immediately delivering shocking upsets and high-quality tournament action. The victory of Kevin Knight over Darby Allin was perhaps the biggest surprise, instantly shaking up the Gold League standings and proving that any competitor can steal the spotlight.
The four tournament matches proved that the Continental Classic is not just about rankings; it’s about endurance, strategy, and avoiding critical mistakes. From Kyle Fletcher defeating Kazuchika Okada again to Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli dominating the Blue League, every bout was pivotal to the developing tournament narrative in All Elite Wrestling. Furthermore, the Women’s Tag Team Tournament advanced with the Babes of Wrath securing a place in the finals, setting up a brutal Hardcore Holiday Death Match to determine their opponents.
However, the defining moment of the entire episode was the chaotic, bloody interruption of Samoa Joe’s celebration by Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Adam Page. This violent confrontation solidified the next major feud and delivered the kind of unpredictable, intense storytelling that keeps the November 26 2025 audience hooked and invested in the World Championship picture.
The combination of the tournament’s high stakes and the World Championship’s volatile storyline makes the next few weeks of programming essential viewing. For more detailed analysis, match predictions, and exclusive wrestler interviews, be sure to visit AEWTalkDown.com and subscribe to our official YouTube Channel, @AEWTalkDownEng, for all the latest insights and breaking AEW results.
