Tony Khan dropped a late-season bombshell on AEW programming this week: the casino gauntlet — AEW’s high-drama, staggered-entry match concept — is returning at Full Gear on Saturday, November 22 and will be used to crown the inaugural AEW National Champion. Khan framed the new title as a revival of a belt with real television lineage (the NWA/Georgia/TBS “National” name), promising a mix of history and modern AEW spectacle as the Prudential Center in Newark prepares to host one of the promotion’s biggest pay-per-views of the year.
What Khan announced (and why it matters)
Khan’s official AEW post makes two short but important points: (1) AEW will introduce a National Championship at Full Gear, and (2) the first champion will be determined inside a Casino Gauntlet. The announcement explicitly ties the name of the title to the storied “National” lineage last seen on TBS television in the 1980s — a deliberate nod to senior-level TV history meant to give the belt an instant sense of pedigree. In other words: AEW isn’t just adding another accessory to the belt rack — they are branding this one with a legacy angle from the start.
How many championships does AEW + ROH have right now?
Counting current, active championships (not future announcements or speculative belts):
- AEW: Wikipedia’s live tally lists 9 active championships (five men’s singles, multiple secondary/tv belts, tag, trios, and two women’s singles), with an additional women’s tag title tournament announced and to be awarded soon.
- ROH (sister promotion): Wikipedia lists 7 active championships across men’s and women’s divisions (ROH World, TV, Pure, Tag, Six-Man, and women’s titles).
That puts the combined, live-roster total at roughly 16 recognized active titles between AEW and ROH today (with AEW’s new National Championship adding to the AEW side after Full Gear). Exact tallies shift when promotions create, retire, unify, or put belts on hiatus — which AEW has done before — but those are the official counts as of the announcement.
Why does AEW (and its ROH sibling) have so many titles?
There are several practical and creative reasons promotions accumulate belts:
- Television value & storytelling windows. TV-centric belts like the TNT/TBS Championship exist to create must-see weekly stakes and give a regular feature for broadcasts. AEW leans on televised title defenses to build momentum between pay-per-views.
- Roster depth and talent elevation. Multiple belts create more headline opportunities: midcard performers can have meaningful programs, carry stakes, and become stars without immediately needing a world title push. That’s a deliberate developmental tool.
- Brand differentiation & legacy ties. ROH’s titles give the legacy brand identity (Pure title, ROH World), and AEW uses ROH belts to cross-promote and showcase different styles. AEW’s new National title leverages historical cachet to create instant credibility.
- Merchandising and event hooks. New championships = new belt reveals, photo ops, and storylines that can help sell tickets and subscriptions.
Those are defensible business reasons — but there are downsides too (below).
The importance hierarchy: which titles mean the most (and why)
- World Championships (AEW World / ROH World): Top of the card. They’re the company’s credibility markers and booking anchors for long-term storytelling.
- Secondary/Regional/International belts (AEW International, Continental, ROH TV): These are the classic “workhorse” titles — used to elevate tough, dependable wrestlers and to create meaningful midcard feuds. They often mark someone as “must-see TV.”
- Television belts (TBS/TNT): Built for weekly TV relevance — quick title matches, highlight segments, and rating hooks.
- Specialty belts (Pure Championship, Continental rules): Different rulesets or lineages make these unique; they attract a niche crowd and promote in-ring credibility (e.g., ROH Pure rules).
- Tag & Trios Titles: Important for tag divisions and for giving groups and teams headline spots. AEW’s trios title, for instance, lets three-person storylines stay top-card relevant.
Is having so many titles good or bad for a wrestling company?
Short answer: It depends. Long answer:
- Good when titles are carefully differentiated and actively defended: multiple championships create more protagonists and more TV-worthy matches. They let the promotion spread meaningful screen time across a deep roster and create multiple investment points for fans. AEW’s use of TV belts and specialty rules shows how titles can be creative tools rather than clutter.
- Bad when titles are over-proliferated, poorly explained, or rarely defended: title inflation dilutes importance. If every midcard change is “history made,” fans stop treating belts as special. Some wrestling writers and analysts flagged this exact risk when AEW teased additional championships — the concern being that adding too many belts could water down perceived prestige.
AEW’s challenge is the classic balance: create enough championships to showcase talent and TV, but not so many that the “World” or marquee belts lose luster.
How the new AEW National Championship can stand out
AEW is trying to give this belt three things that will help it stand out:
- Historical framing: by explicitly referencing the NWA/TBS National lineage, AEW gives the belt instant narrative weight rather than presenting it as just “another new strap.” That history can be used in promos, TV packages, and legacy storylines.
- A proactive match type: debuting the belt in a Casino Gauntlet creates spectacle (randomized entries, surprise entrants, gauntlet pacing) and a marquee moment at a major PPV — better optics than quietly crowning someone on TV.
- Clear placement in the hierarchy: if AEW positions the National Championship as a prestigious secondary/tertiary prize with regular defenses, a distinct ruleset, or a regional flavor (e.g., “national TV workhorse” status), it will be easier to treat it as valuable rather than redundant. AEW’s messaging about the belt’s TBS roots suggests they intend exactly that.
Who could put the belt on the map? (speculative — with reasoning)
The title’s success will depend as much on who holds it and how AEW books them as on the belt itself. Candidates most likely to raise the belt’s stature:
- A high-charisma young star (example profile: someone like Nick Wayne or other rising TV favorites) — a younger figure holding the belt gives a “launching pad” narrative and creates fresh rivalries. (Speculative.)
- A consistent TV presence / reliable worker (someone who defends often and in different styles) — the new National title could be built as a “workhorse” belt; the holder must show up on Dynamite/Collision weekly and carry memorable defenses.
- A well-known but not main-event act (someone with crossover name recognition who can still feel like an underdog) — they can provide legitimacy while still allowing future stars to beat them for a defining moment.
- ROH crossover talent (e.g., a current ROH champion or top challenger) — using ROH performers can underscore the belt’s historical / regional theme and broaden the title’s perceived cachet.
Who exactly? AEW’s deep roster gives them options: established midcard names, hot young wrestlers, or ROH standouts could all be used. The key will be booking: frequent, varied defenses; meaningful challengers; and promotional storytelling that ties the belt to history and opportunity — not just another prop.
Final read: how AEW should avoid title-inflation pitfalls
If AEW wants the National Championship to be more than “yet another strap,” the company should:
- Give it consistent TV visibility (frequent defenses and storylines).
- Differentiate its identity (rule tweaks, legacy vignettes, regional hooks).
- Avoid over-unifying or muddy lineage (keep the National’s identity clear even if other belts get unified/retired in future).
- Use meaningful challengers — elevating new stars via clean, strong programs rather than campaign-style title changes for shock value.
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