AEW is adding some fresh gold to its lineup — and the first-ever AEW National Champion will be crowned later this month.
During this week’s AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan officially announced that a Casino Gauntlet Match will take place at Full Gear 2025 on November 22 to determine the inaugural champion. The new title pays tribute to the classic NWA National Championship, a belt that debuted in 1980 and was once held by legends like Jack Brisco, Dusty Rhodes, and Tully Blanchard. The original NWA version was unified with the U.S. Title in 1986 before being reintroduced years later — but as Khan pointed out, a “National Championship” hasn’t been featured on TBS in nearly four decades.
Khan also revealed that the AEW National Championship won’t be limited to AEW rings. The new title is designed as a traveling championship, meaning it can be defended across promotions worldwide, including New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor, as well as on AEW programming.
So far, the lineup for the Casino Gauntlet is already shaping up with some big names. Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and Ricochet were confirmed as the first three competitors, and more entrants are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
With AEW Full Gear 2025 just around the corner, fans can expect plenty of speculation — and surprises — as the company crowns its newest champion and adds another layer to its growing championship scene.
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