The inaugural AEW National Champion will probably be crowned at AEW Full Gear. Together with the title, though, comes the responsibility of defending it world wide, with Columbus, Ohio already being marked as a destination.
On the AEW Full Gear media call, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that the AEW National Championship will probably be placed on the road at Ring of Honor Final Battle, slated for December 5 on the Greater Columbus Convention Center. “I believe it’s an incredible opportunity to crown a brand new champion, but in addition to create this latest tradition and likewise for AEW to spread our influence, whether or not it’s stars from the skin coming to challenge for our National Championship here or our National Championship touring around America or other places and visiting another promotions,” Khan said.
“One thing I’ve never done is have an AEW champion show up and defend the belt at Ring of Honor. That’s going to occur at Final Battle. The National Champion will probably be there and defending the championship. That is something I’m enthusiastic about because at no point in Ring of Honor in its history, before we owned the promotion or within the time since I took over ROH, has there ever been an AEW champion appearing and defending the title on the show, so I believe that is going to be something very exciting.”
Inspired by the NWA National Heavyweight Championship prominently featured within the Eighties, the AEW National Championship will meet its first holder after the completion of the Men’s Casino Gauntlet at Full Gear on November 22. To this point, five competitions are confirmed for the bout — Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Ricochet, Kevin Knight, and “Speedball” Mike Bailey. On account of Khan’s intention of showcasing the title across your entire wrestling landscape, other names from AEW, ROH, and Recent Japan Pro-Wrestling could potentially enter as well.
Should you use any of the quotes in this text, please credit AEW with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.