AEW Set to Crown First National Champion at Full Gear Event

NEWARK, New Jersey — All Elite Wrestling (AEW) will determine its first-ever National Champion in a Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear on November 22. This announcement was made by AEW’s GM and CEO Tony Khan before the latest episode of Dynamite.

The National Championship has a rich history dating back to the days of Georgia Championship Wrestling, one of the leading wrestling promotions in the U.S. The title has not been contested on TBS since 1986, but that will change with the upcoming event.

“In 1985, we combined Midnight Championship Wrestling with Georgia Championship Wrestling, and the National Championship was unified with the US Championship that same year,” explained Tony Schiavone, a longtime wrestling commentator. “We haven’t had a National Champion in almost 40 years.”

Khan expressed excitement about reintroducing the Championship to TBS and allowing the titleholder to compete across various promotions, including New Japan Strong and Ring of Honor. “This championship represents a prestigious part of wrestling history, and we aim to bring that back,” he noted.

So far, three competitors have been announced for the Casino Gauntlet match: Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and Ricochet. Schiavone indicated that many more wrestlers are eager to join the lineup.

AEW Full Gear will not only showcase the Casino Gauntlet match but will also feature other significant bouts, including Hangman Adam Page vs. Samoa Joe for the AEW World Championship and Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Fans are looking forward to a night filled with high-stakes competition.