Wrestling On FanNation

Jon Moxley Defeats Kazuchika Okada To Win 2025 AEW Continental Classic

The Don Callis Family had a 75 percent chance of leaving AEW Worlds End with the Continental Championship, but Jon Moxley overcame the odds to win the 2025 Continental Classic.
Rick Ucchino|
Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley | Lee South - All Elite Wrestling

Prior to Saturday night's Continental Classic Championship Match at AEW Worlds End, a battered Jon Moxley vowed that Kazuchika Okada would have to kill him to walk out of Chicago with the Continental Title still around his waist.

The former AEW World Champion fought through busted teeth and an injured ankle to try and knock off the self-proclaimed greatest tournament wrestler in history, and in the end, Moxley proved that he just wanted the title a little bit more than the Rainmaker.

Okada dominated much of the match-up and appeared to have the tournament won on multiple occasions, including after connecting flush with his Rainmaker clothesline, but Moxley shockingly kicked out at two.

Riding a wave of adrenaline afterward, Moxley surprised Okada with a flurry of offense. He connected with a Paradigm shift, a Rainmaker clothesline of his own, a stomp and then finally the Death Rider to score the upset victory and end Okada's reign as Continental Champion at 647 days.

Moxley cut a fiery promo after the match, and dedicated his win to every man who entered the Continental Classic, the entire locker room and all the fans who help make AEW the most elite wrestling promotion in the world.

How Okada and Moxley punched their ticket to the C2 Finals

Kazuchika Okada will defend the AEW Unified Championship against Bandido tonight on Dynamite.
Kazuchika Okada | All Elite Wrestling

Okada advanced to the Continental Classic Championship Match for the second consecutive year after he defeated fellow Don Callis Family member Konosuke Takeshita in the semifinals.

The Rainmaker versus The Alpha was one of the most highly anticipated AEW contests of 2025, and fans inside the NOW Arena in suburban Chicago were treated to a brilliant chess match. The encounter started off slow with Okada looking to outwrestle his younger opponent, but the pace fired up quickly once Takeshita was able to get his feet underneath him and utilize his raw power.

Following a back-and-forth strike exchange, Takeshita nearly pulled out the victory after connecting with a flush knee strike. Okada escaped a Raging Fire attempt and found himself in the corner of the ring, where it turns out he had hidden a screwdriver in some of the turnbuckle padding.

He attempted The Rainmaker with the tool tucked along his forearm, but Takeshita was able to duck out of the way. When he turned around, however, Okada was right there to crack him in the temple with the screwdriver — somehow out of sight of the referee — and pinned the IWGP Heavyweight Champion to win the match in extraordinarily controversial fashion. 

A situation to monitor in the future, Don Callis neither checked on Takeshita after the match nor did he seem upset by the finish.

Jon Moxley and Kyle Fletcher had the tough draw having to following Okada and Takeshita, and all they did was deliver an early contender for The Takedown on SI's Match of the Year for 2026 (matches taking place after December 13, 2025 qualify for next year's awards).

Mox and The Protostar fought an incredibly intense battle and it nearly ended in catastrophe after Fletcher landed directly on the top of his head off an avalanche suplex. Not only did Fletcher miraculous survive, but he went full throttle to close out the match. He delivered a picture perfect super kick to Moxley and followed it up with the Sheer Drop Brainbuster.

When the former AEW World Champion dug down deep and kicked out of the ensuing pinfall attempt at two, a flustered Fletched found himself in the same corner as Okada searching for the aforementioned screwdriver. Except when he went to retrieve it, it wasn't there. Okada had discarded it under the ring after using it on Takeshita.

Moxley utilized the opening to deliver a Paradigm Shift, but Fletcher kicked out at two. He followed up with the Death Rider, but once again Kyle was able to get his shoulder up in time.

There was no quit in either man on this night, but in the end, Mox was able to lock in the bulldog choke and forced Fletcher to pass out to earn a very hard fought victory.

After the Protostar gained consciousness, he protested the referee's decision to call off the match, saying he never gave up. Clearly upset over the loss, Fletcher delivered a chop block to the injured ankle of Jon Moxley and left him hobbled ahead of the finals.

The Latest On WWE, AEW & More

The Takedown On SI's 2025 Pro Wrestling Awards: Best Wrestlers, Storyline, Match, Rivalry & More

Tony Khan Reveals What It Will Take For Women To Main Event An AEW PPV (Exclusive)

In-Ring Return Delayed For Injured AEW Star

Jack Perry Opens Up About 2023 AEW Suspension Following Incident With CM Punk

Published
Rick Ucchino
RICK UCCHINO

Rick Ucchino is the Assistant Editor & Content Coordinator for The Takedown on SI. He also works full-time for 700WLW Radio in Cincinnati, Ohio as a local news and sports anchor, in addition to his time covering the Cincinnati Bengals for Sirius XM. Rick has been on the professional wrestling beat since 2019, having provided coverage for a number of outlets, including Fightful, SB Nation’s Cageside Seats and the Bleav Podcast Network. With an educational background in theater, creative writing and journalism, Rick focuses primarily on the storytelling aspect of pro wrestling, but he’s no stranger to the squared circle himself. He had the privilege of training with former WWE & WCW cruiserweight Jimmy Wang Yang for nearly two years and retired early due to back issues with a perfect 1-0 record in singles competition. Rick is a married father of two incredibly adorable children, who are budding pro wrestling fans themselves. Much to the chagrin of their mother. You can reach Rick at rwucchino@gmail.com

Home/AEW