Kenny Omega needs to win the AEW Continental Classic

This past Saturday night on AEW Collision, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan appeared to deliver the news of a 12-man round-robin tournament that would culminate at the Worlds End pay-per-view. Fans have been clamoring for a G1 Climax style tournament since AEW’s inception and the AEW Continental Classic is coming at the perfect time.

AEW in general, and specifically Wednesday Night Dynamite, recently has gotten too far away from in-ring wrestling in trade for comedy segments and more promos. This tournament, which has action happening on all three AEW weekly programs, injects a star-studded opportunity into a bloated roster for between-the-ropes greatness.

It’s very difficult to choose 11 men to fill the remaining spots in the tournament with Bryan Danielson being the first man announced, but here’s my crack at it.

League A:

• Bryan Danielson
• Eddie Kingston
• Rush
• Darby Allin
• Jay White
• Konosuke Takeshita

League B:

• Kenny Omega
• Andrade
• Jon Moxley
• Pac
• Keith Lee
• Malaki Black

A multitude of dream matches will see their first time ever match-ups with these 12 men involved, and it creates of field of AEW’s best with no room for error. Additionally, the man that should reign above all on December 30 should be the ‘best bout machine’ Kenny Omega. That nickname seems something of a former life at this point, but here is Omega’s chance to earn it back. AEW has to end the theatrics with the Don Callis family feud and get back to letting Kenny Omega be pound-for-pound one of the best wrestlers in the world.

I think everyone has seen enough multi-man tag matches for Omega this year, with the trios’ division and now teaming with Chris Jericho. Remember Omega in the World Title match a few weeks ago on Collision versus MJF? That felt like only a tease for what we should see from him in this tournament. With guys like Keith Lee and Malaki Black in League B with Kenny Omega, it creates an interesting proposition of time-limit draw matches, or Omega being pinned by those two men. This is an excellent opportunity to let Omega reestablish his already outstanding singles career while putting over AEW talent that some consider misused throughout their time with the promotion.

At the end of the day, the end goal for this tournament should be to refocus the direction of talent that seems kind of directionless right now. The two final men that meet at the end should be a rematch of Grand Slam 2021, with Omega versus Danielson II. Sure, this may not offer the shocking upset you may see in a G1 Climax, but the last years of these legends’ careers cannot be wasted any longer. AEW fans need to see Omega versus Danielson again before one of them hangs up the boots. The last time we saw this match was when Omega was banged up, had vertigo, and was certainly below one hundred percent health. This is his chance for redemption in what was already a highly regarded match, to make it even better.

After Omega wins this tournament, he must get away from his feuds with the Elite and his rivals in the Don Callis family. These stories have outstayed their welcome, and Omega in the closing moments of his career with AEW has to be vying for the World Title again. I’m not talking about a match on a three-day build either, a true program to retake control of the company he created. One of your top stars should not feel lost in the shuffle, like Omega has over the past 6 months.

Put Omega in in-ring classic matches every week against the best wrestlers in the world over the next month and a half. Fans will be left with no reason to deny Omega anymore from retaking his throne. The Continental Classic should serve as a rebuilding period for Kenny on his way back to becoming the ‘belt collector’ once again.