With AEW Full Gear set to take place next weekend, it means that we are close to the beginning of Continental Classic season, which begins the week following Full Gear.

Over the years, many names have appeared multiple times in the tournament, but there are always some new faces who enter the line up for the first time.

Here are some AEW stars that could make their Continental Classic debuts this year.

Tommaso Ciampa

After leaving WWE back in January, Tommaso Ciampa has gone on to have a very impressive first year in AEW, which included him winning the TNT Championship in his first match.

Now reigning as the AEW National Champion, Tommaso has become a key part of AEW television, with his matches often being a highlight of the show every week.

The Continental Classic would allow him to face off against a number of top AEW stars such as Jon Moxley and Adam Page, as well as running back matches from earlier this year with the likes of Darby Allin and Kyle Fletcher.

Ilja Dragunov

In recent weeks, Ciampa has found himself seemingly building towards a match with Ilja Dragunov, which could take place for Ciampa’s National Championship at Full Gear.

Coming out of the show though, it’s time to truly integrate Dragunov onto the AEW roster, and he is a wrestler who was almost put on this Earth to take part in a tournament like the Continental Classic.

The tournament is going to be filled with many faces that Dragunov has yet to face off with in an AEW ring, which will make every single match that he competes in during the tournament must see.

Nick Wayne

Have you heard the news?

AEW has it’s newest rising star on the roster in the form of the 21 year old prodigy Nick Wayne, who recently defeated Chris Jericho twice, in case you somehow weren’t made aware.

Since beating Chris Jericho twice, Nick Wayne has continued winmaxxing on AEW television, and has become one of the most entertaining parts of AEW television with his new character.

The Continental Classic would serve as an opportunity for Nick Wayne to test his resolve against a number of AEW’s very best to see if he truly belongs, and he may even mog some of them along the way.