Kazuchika Okada has etched his name into All Elite Wrestling history by becoming the first AEW Continental Champion to hold the title for over a year.
The former IWGP World Champion captured the gold on the 20 March 2024 episode of Dynamite, where he defeated Eddie Kingston. Since then, Okada has been a dominant champion, successfully defending the title against top competitors such as Brody King, Buddy Matthews, and Claudio Castagnoli.
Over the past year, Okada has defended the championship 11 times, further solidifying his reign by retaining the title throughout the Continental Classic Tournament, defeating Will Ospreay in the final. Okada’s 11 defences of the title also means he has the reigning record for most successful Continental Champion defences.
With his reign now surpassing a full year, all eyes will be on Okada to see how much longer he can hold onto the Continental Championship.
Which WWE Hall Of Famer Criticised All Elite Wrestling Over Their Use Of Kazuchika Okada?
WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry spoke critically of AEW over their initial use of Kazuchika Okada when he first signed for the company in 2024. Henry expressed his frustration with Okada’s initial comedic role alongside The Young Bucks and said that they should allow Okada to showcase his abilities in the ring rather than in comedy promos.