The AEW Continental Championship is a men's professional wrestlingchampionship created and promoted by the AmericanpromotionAll Elite Wrestling (AEW). Established on November 18, 2023, the title has a special attribute in that it is defended under Continental Rules in which no one is allowed at ringside, outside interference is strictly prohibited, and matches have a 20-minute time limit. The reigning champion is Kazuchika Okada, who is in his first reign, which is the longest reign for the title, and as of August 11, 2025, it is the longest-reign of any AEW championship, surpassing Jade Cargill's 508-day reign as AEW TBS Champion. He won the title by defeating Eddie Kingston on the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite.
The title is also the prize of the promotion's Continental Classic (C2), an annual round-robin tournament that begins at the end of November and culminates at the Worlds Endpay-per-view event in late December. The incumbent champion at the time of the tournament is automatically entered and defends the title in the C2. Eddie Kingston became the first-ever Continental Champion after winning the inaugural tournament in December 2023. At All In: Texas on July 12, 2025, the title was unified with the AEW International Championship as the AEW Unified Championship, but with the titles maintaining their respective individual lineages.
On November 11, 2023, the American professional wrestling promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) announced a tournament called the Continental Classic (C2). AEW president Tony Khan and AEW wrestler Bryan Danielson announced that the tournament would begin on the November 22, 2023, episode of Dynamite, lasting six weeks and held across episodes of Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, and then concluding at the Worlds Endpay-per-view (PPV) event on December 30.[1][2] It was also announced that the winner of the tournament would become the inaugural holder of the AEW Continental Championship.[3]
Eddie Kingston became the inaugural Continental Champion by defeating Jon Moxley in the final of the C2 at Worlds End.[4] Kingston was also declared the American Triple Crown Champion (also referred to as the Continental Crown) upon winning the Continental Championship, as he simultaneously held the ROH World Championship of sister promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) and the Strong Openweight Championship of partner promotion New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW). By being part of the Triple Crown Championship, the Continental Championship was recognized by AEW, ROH, and NJPW, allowing it to be defended in all three promotions.[3][5]
On the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite, the championship was defended for the first time by itself, where Kazuchika Okada defeated Kingston to win the title. This in turn separated the Continental Championship from the Triple Crown. Tony Khan then clarified the rules of the championship. Title matches are held under Continental Rules, which are the same rules that were used during the C2 in which no one is allowed at ringside and outside interference is strictly prohibited. He also re-clarified that whoever is champion coming out of November's Full Gear PPV, they would automatically be entered into the C2 and would defend the title in the tournament.[6]
At Dynamite: Fyter Fest on June 4, 2025, reigning champion Okada confronted AEW International ChampionKenny Omega to set up a Winner Takes All match for All In on July 12.[7] A week later during the contract signing at Dynamite: Summer Blockbuster, Tony Schiavone announced that the winner would also unify the International and Continental titles as the AEW Unified Championship.[8] During the All In: Texas media call just a few days prior to the event on July 8, Tony Khan clarified that neither the Continental or International Championships would be retired and that their lineages would still be intact along with a new lineage for the Unified Championship, and the champion has the option to carry around all three belts.[9] At All In, Okada defeated Omega to become the Unified Champion.[10]
On August 11, 2025, Okada became the longest-reigning champion in AEW's history at 509 days with the Continential Championship, surpasssing Jade Cargill's 508-day reign with the AEW TBS Championship.[11]
Reigns
Current and longest-reigning champion Kazuchika Okada, who has held the title for 550+ days
As of September21, 2025, there have been two reigns. Eddie Kingston was the inaugural champion, which was the shortest reign at 81 days, while Kazuchika Okada's ongoing reign is the longest at 550+ days, which is also the longest reign of any AEW championship . Kingston is also the oldest champion at 42 years old, while Okada is the youngest at 36. Okada defeated Kingston to become champion on the March 20, 2024, episode of Dynamite in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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