AEW Introduces New National Championship Title – But Do We Really Need It?
AEW New Title : AEW National Championship – But Do We Really Need It? In a surprising announcement on the November 5, 2025 episode of AEW Dynamite, Tony Schiavone and Tony Khan revealed that All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is adding yet another championship to its growing list — the AEW National Championship. The reveal came after Tony Khan hinted at something big on social media before the show, sparking speculation among fans about AEW’s next move.
During the live broadcast, Tony Khan confirmed that a casino gauntlet match will take place at AEW Full Gear 2025, with the winner being crowned the first-ever AEW National Champion. So far, Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin have been officially announced for the bout, and during the segment, Ricochet threw his name into the mix, vowing to prevent the Hurt Syndicate duo from taking the new title.
As tensions rose, MVP reminded fans that “Hurt Syndicate hurts other people, not themselves”, asserting that no matter how things play out, the championship would stay within their faction. The segment ended with Ricochet standing tall, declaring himself part of the highly anticipated casino gauntlet match.
Why Fans Are Questioning AEW’s Decision
While the announcement generated buzz, it also reignited criticism that AEW may now have too many championships. The promotion already boasts a stacked lineup: the AEW World Heavyweight Championship, TNT Championship, International Championship, Continental Championship, Unified Championship, Tag Team Titles, Trios Titles, and the ongoing Women’s Tag Team Championship Tournament.
Add to that AEW’s acquisition of Ring of Honor (ROH) — bringing all of its titles onto AEW programming — and fans are understandably skeptical. With ROH World Champion Bandido also holding AEW Tag Team gold and appearing regularly on AEW TV, it’s becoming harder to keep track of which championships truly matter.
The Overlap Problem
Before the show, Tony Khan mentioned that the AEW National Championship would be defended across the United States, even in promotions like NJPW and other independent companies. However, that statement raised eyebrows, as fans noted that the AEW International Championship was already designed to serve the same purpose.
So, what makes the National Championship different from the International Championship? If both titles can be defended across promotions, fans fear it could dilute the importance of each championship, especially if not all belts receive regular TV time or storylines.
Do We Really Need a New Title?
More titles can create opportunities for wrestlers — more goals to chase and more stories to tell. But there’s a fine line between opportunity and oversaturation. When too many champions exist, the value of each title tends to drop. This is a lesson wrestling fans have already seen play out in other promotions, where belts became props rather than symbols of prestige.
Some fans believe there may be a deeper reason behind this decision. With rumors swirling about AEW and the NWA quietly competing for traditional wrestling territory influence, the AEW National Championship might be Tony Khan’s way of reclaiming a historic wrestling concept — the “National Champion” — and establishing AEW’s dominance over American wrestling markets. There might be something more to this announcement in hindsight. To know more about it read the new article on the website soon here.
Whether it’s a strategic move or an unnecessary addition, the AEW National Championship has already done one thing successfully — got everyone talking. Weather is positive or negative the word is out and everyone is giving their opinion which make people talk and it’s a really good promotion for AEW. As there is no such thing as good publicity or bad publicity there is just publicity.
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