In a move that will surely ease the minds of many All Elite Wrestling (AEW) fans, company CEO and President Tony Khan has confirmed that neither the AEW Continental Championship nor the AEW International Championship are being retired. This clarification comes amidst discussions surrounding the unification bout between Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada and International Champion Kenny Omega at AEW All In: Texas on July 12, which will crown the inaugural AEW Unified Champion.
Speculation had been rife that the unification match might spell the end for one or both of the existing titles, particularly with AEW's growing championship landscape. However, Khan directly addressed these concerns during a recent media call, stating unequivocally that the belts will not be retired. He emphasized that while a new "Unified Championship" will be introduced to signify the importance of the Omega/Okada clash, the lineage of both the Continental and International titles will remain intact and will be contained within the new unified belt.
This decision suggests a strategic approach by AEW to maintain the prestige and history associated with both championships. The AEW Continental Championship, established in November 2023, has quickly gained prominence, especially with its association with the Continental Classic tournament and its current holder, Kazuchika Okada. The AEW International Championship, formerly the All-Atlantic Championship, has been a staple since June 2022 and has seen a lineage of popular champions, including its current holder, Kenny Omega.
Khan also affirmed that the Continental Classic tournament, a fan-favorite, will continue to be an annual event. While it remains to be seen if the Unified Championship will become the prize of the tournament in future iterations, the commitment to the tournament's existence is a positive sign for the Continental title's continued relevance.
The move to unify the titles while retaining their individual lineages is a unique approach in professional wrestling, often seeing the losing championship being dissolved. This decision by Tony Khan could potentially allow for future storylines where the titles might be separated again, or simply ensures that the legacy of past champions is preserved under the new unified banner.
As AEW heads into All In: Texas, the focus remains on the highly anticipated encounter between Okada and Omega. The revelation that the Continental and International titles will live on, albeit under a unified banner, adds another layer of intrigue to what is already set to be a monumental event in AEW history. Fans can now look forward to the continued presence of these championships within the AEW ecosystem, carrying their history forward into a new era.
