The 2024 Continental Traditional continued throughout “AEW Christmas Collision” with 4 matches within the Gold and Blue Leagues.
The present kicked off with the primary of two matches within the Gold League pitting Will Ospreay in opposition to profession rival Ricochet, who bent the principles to safe the win, leaving their general saga tied at 5-5-1. Ricochet and Ospreay met very similar to they’ve executed earlier than, exchanging high-flying and acrobatic offense, and each seeking to safe the win with their respective finisher, the Spirit Gun or the Hidden Blade.
Ospreay did handle to land his finisher, however discovered himself unable to capitalize by exhaustion as each laid within the ring, however he would comply with up with a Stormbreaker. Nonetheless, the referee had been drawn into the crossfire simply moments earlier than and was thus unable to make the depend. Ospreay went to the highest rope for the exclamation level, however Ricochet despatched the referee into the nook, opening Ospreay up for the Spirit Gun to win by way of pinfall. Along with his win, Ricochet secured three factors to maneuver his whole to 9 factors with one match left to go, whereas Ospreay stays with six forward of his final match in opposition to Brody King.
Ricochet’s subsequent and closing opponent, Darby Allin, confronted Claudio Castagnoli in the principle occasion of the present. Castagnoli began the bout sturdy with Allin restricted to transient moments of counter-offense, primarily on the expense of himself on the identical time; as he held Castagnoli in a sleeper, he was pushed into by a desk. Nonetheless, Castagnoli must resort to dishonest to safe the win, placing Allin with the brass knuckles whereas the referee was distracted for the pinfall. Castagnoli and Allin each have one match left, although the previous secured qualification to the semi-finals by reaching 12 factors, and the latter wants a win with six factors thus far.
Shelton Benjamin and Mark Briscoe gained within the Blue League
The Blue League motion on Saturday kicked off with Shelton Benjamin in opposition to TNT Champion Daniel Garcia. Benjamin dominated a lot of the bout, halting what little offense Garcia supplied up with variations of powerslams and suplexes. However the story was in the end one in every of Garcia’s perseverance, successful by the best of margins after he nearly regarded to have overwhelmed, rolling up Benjamin for a decent pinfall. Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, and MVP sought to beat Garcia down, solely to be interrupted by the rising Mark Briscoe and Swerve Strickland.
With the win, Garcia moved forward of Benjamin’s whole of six with seven factors and another match left to go. Benjamin will likely be going through Kazuchika Okada, and has an opportunity at not solely qualifying for the semi-finals but additionally confirming a brand new Continental Champion ought to he handle to beat the reigning titleholder, who sits on seven factors. Garcia will subsequent face Kyle Fletcher, who holds a 9 level whole forward of his personal final bout.
The second match within the group noticed Briscoe taking over The Beast Mortos, with the latter getting into the bout with no single level and already mathematically eradicated. Not a lot modified for Mortos, struggling one more loss to Briscoe regardless of an excellent displaying, kicking out of the Froggy ‘Bow earlier than receiving one other one adopted by a J-Driller for the pinfall. Briscoe’s win noticed him end the group with 9 factors, having executed all he can do and his event future to be decided by the group’s closing bouts. He would want a positive win and a draw to take action.
