AEW creating National title, reveals how inaugural champion will be determined
AEW is adding yet another new title to the mix with the new men’s National Championship.
Initially announced prior to Wednesday’s Dynamite by AEW head Tony Khan, the inaugural champion will be decided in a Casino Gauntlet match at this month’s AEW Full Gear.
Khan appeared on an X stream alongside Tony Schiavone, saying that he has missed seeing the National Championship on TBS TV as the original NWA version dates back to Georgia Championship Wrestling adne eventually making its way to Mid-Atlantic Championship Wrestling.
The title was merged in 1986 in a unification bout that took place between then-United States Champion Nikita Koloff and then-National Wahoo McDaniel in a bout Koloff won. The merged title became the U.S. title that currently resides in WWE.
Khan said he has wanted to have the title for a long time, so he was bringing it back. He said it will be defended across multiple promotions like Ring of Honor and NJPW Strong in addition to AEW.
The first several men announced for the match are Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin and Ricochet. The three men, in addition to MVP and the Gates of Agony had a verbal confrontation on Dynamite as their feud continues.
It’s the fourth title Khan has introduced this year including the AEW Women’s World Tag Team titles, the AEW Unified title (the merged Continental and International titles), and the Ring of Honor Women’s Pure title.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.