Kazuchika Okada triumphed over Konosuke Takeshita in a highly charged Continental Classic semifinal match, which ended under controversial circumstances involving a screwdriver. This win propels the AEW Unified Champion into the tournament final at the forthcoming AEW Worlds End pay-per-view.
The match, which opened the main card, kicked off with high tension as Okada extended a handshake that Takeshita vehemently rejected. The momentum rapidly shifted as Takeshita executed a high-flying flip dive to the outside, but Okada soon countered, smashing Takeshita onto a chair and the barricade, even taunting him with a middle finger.
As the bout progressed, both competitors showcased their skills through a series of impactful counters. Takeshita managed an impressive reversal of a tombstone piledriver into a Bastard Driver and followed up with a release German suplex. Okada responded with a dramatic Rainmaker clothesline, which Takeshita impressively withstood. In a thrilling exchange, Takeshita countered another Rainmaker into a Blue Thunder Bomb near fall. The excitement escalated with Takeshita executing a Poison Rana and a Power Drive Knee, tantalizing the crowd with a near-upset.
The climactic finish unfolded when Okada retrieved a screwdriver from a turnbuckle pad. Following an initial dodge by Takeshita, referee Paul Turner momentarily diverted his attention from the match, allowing Okada to use the weapon to strike Takeshita and secure the pinfall victory.
After the match, Don Callis briefly checked on Takeshita before leaving to celebrate with Okada, highlighting the stark abandonment of Takeshita in this moment of defeat.
Kazuchika Okada will now face the winner of the upcoming clash between Jon Moxley and Kyle Fletcher in the Continental Classic final, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the tournament. The upcoming AEW Worlds End pay-per-view promises to be an unmissable event as the drama unfolds.