AEW TNT Championship

The AEW TNT Championship is a professional wrestling television championship created and promoted by the American promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was announced on March 30, 2020 and is named after the TNT television network, which airs AEW's flagship program, Dynamite. The current and inaugural champion is Cody.

AEW TNT Championship
The unfinished AEW TNT Championship belt with silver plating; the finalized version will have nickel and gold plating and be unveiled at a later date[lower-alpha 1][1]
Details
PromotionAll Elite Wrestling
Date establishedMarch 30, 2020
Current champion(s)Cody
Date wonMay 23, 2020

History

In September 2019, a month before All Elite Wrestling (AEW) launched their weekly television program, AEW Executive Vice President and wrestler Cody teased that the promotion would eventually debut a television championship, but their focus at that time was on their other recently established titles.[2] In February 2020, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer directly asked Cody on the possibility of the promotion adding a secondary championship. Although he did not confirm or deny it, Cody did not rule out the possibility of a secondary or "mid-card" title debuting that year.[3] The following month on March 30 on AEW's YouTube series Road to Dynamite, a secondary championship was officially announced. AEW play-by-play commentator and senior producer Tony Schiavone revealed that there would be an eight-man, single-elimination tournament to crown the first-ever AEW TNT Champion.[4] The tournament began on the April 8 episode of Dynamite with the final scheduled for Double or Nothing on May 23.[5] On the April 29 episode, Cody and Lance Archer won their respective semifinals matches, setting up the inaugural championship match.[6] At Double or Nothing, Cody defeated Archer to become the inaugural champion. Former professional boxer Mike Tyson presented the championship to Cody.[1]

The championship is named after the TNT television network, which airs AEW's flagship program, Dynamite. In the press release about the TNT Championship, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan stated:

it's only fitting that the champion and the title belt will carry the logo of the globally-respected TNT brand, and that they'll represent not only AEW but also the great quality programming, massive reach, and storied history in the wrestling business that are all associated with TNT.[7]

Inaugural tournament
Cody, who won the inaugural tournament to become the first TNT Champion

The first half of the TNT Championship Tournament bracket was announced on the March 31 episode of Dark,[8] with the second half revealed on the following night's Dynamite.[9] The tournament began on the April 8 episode of Dynamite and concluded at Double or Nothing on May 23.[5]

Quarterfinals
Dynamite
(April 8, 15, 22, 2020) 		Semifinals
Dynamite
(April 29, 2020) 		Final
Double or Nothing
(May 23, 2020)
         
Cody Pin
Shawn Spears 21:38[10]
Cody Pin
Darby Allin 20:10[6]
Sammy Guevara 10:50[11]
Darby Allin Pin
Cody Pin
Lance Archer 22:00[1]
Dustin Rhodes Pin
Kip Sabian 14:10[11]
Dustin Rhodes 22:45[6]
Lance Archer Pin
Colt Cabana 12:42[12]
Lance Archer Pin

Belt design

The championship belt features six plates on a red leather strap. The center plate prominently features the TNT network logo at the center. Above the TNT logo is AEW's logo, while below the TNT logo is a red banner that says "CHAMPION". The two inner side plates feature TNT founder Ted Turner's "mansion" (the front facade of Turner Broadcasting's Techwood campus), where the network first held its operations. The two outer side plates feature AEW's logo, while a third smaller side plate on the far right side also features AEW's logo. When the belt was unveiled at Double or Nothing on May 23, it had silver plating, but commentator Tony Schiavone stated during the broadcast that production of the belt had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the final version will have gold plating, which will be unveiled at a later date.[1][13][14] The belt was produced by Ron Edwardson of Red Leather, who also made the AEW World Tag Team Championship belts. He further said that there would also be nickel plating in addition to gold on the final version of the TNT Championship as well as a "relief TNT logo".[15]

Reigns

The current champion is Cody, who won the title by defeating Lance Archer in a tournament final to become inaugural champion at Double or Nothing in Jacksonville, Florida on May 23, 2020.

Key
No. Overall reign number
Reign Reign number for the specific champion
Days Number of days held
+ Current reign is changing daily
No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref.
Date Event Location Reign Days
1 Cody May 23, 2020 Double or Nothing Jacksonville, Florida 1 33+ Defeated Lance Archer in the tournament final to become the inaugural champion. [4][1]

Notes
  1. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed production of the belt.

References
  1. Powell, Jason (May 23, 2020). "AEW Double Or Nothing results: Powell's live review of Cody vs. Lance Archer to become the first TNT Champion (Mike Tyson presents the belt), Jon Moxley vs. Brodie Lee for the AEW Championship, The Elite vs. The Inner Circle in a Stadium Stampede match". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved May 23, 2020.
  2. Fowler, Matt (September 7, 2019). "AEW on TNT: Cody Rhodes Wants Quality Over Quantity - IGN First". IGN. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  3. Guzzo, Gisberto (February 11, 2020). "Cody Rhodes Says AEW Secondary Title Is Being Discussed". Fightful. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  4. Currier, Joseph (March 30, 2020). "AEW INTRODUCING TNT CHAMPIONSHIP, TOURNAMENT TO BEGIN ON APRIL 8". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  5. Powell, Jason (March 30, 2020). "AEW introducing the TNT Championship belt, winner to be crowned in a tournament". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  6. Powell, Jason (April 29, 2020). "4/29 AEW Dynamite TV results: Powell's live review of Cody vs. Darby Allin and Dustin Rhodes vs. Lance Archer in TNT Title tournament semifinal matches, Best Friends vs. Jimmy Havoc and Kip Sabian, Brodie Lee vs. Marko Stunt, AEW Champ Jon Moxley's promo". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 30, 2020.
  7. AEW Staff (March 30, 2020). "AEW Announces Inaugural "TNT CHAMPIONSHIP" Tournament Beginning April 8 on AEW: DYNAMITE". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved March 31, 2020.
  8. Currier, Joseph (March 31, 2020). "AEW REVEALS FIRST HALF OF TNT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT BRACKET". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  9. Nason, Josh (April 1, 2020). "AEW REVEALS FULL BRACKET FOR TNT CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT". Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
  10. Barnett, Jake (April 8, 2020). "4/8 AEW Dynamite TV results: Barnett's live review of Cody vs. Shawn Spears in a TNT Title tournament quarterfinal match, Hikaru Shida vs. Britt Baker, Lance Archer and Brodie Lee in action". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  11. Powell, Jason (April 22, 2020). "4/22 AEW Dynamite TV results: Powell's live review of Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara and Dustin Rhodes vs. Kip Sabian in TNT Title tournament matches, Orange Cassidy vs. Jimmy Havoc, Kenny Omega and Wardlow in action". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
  12. Barnett, Jake (April 15, 2020). "4/15 AEW Dynamite TV results: Barnett's live review of Jon Moxley vs. Jake Hager in a No Holds Barred empty arena match for the AEW Title, Colt Cabana vs. Lance Archer in a TNT Title tournament quarterfinal match, Chuck Taylor vs. Kip Sabian, Sammy Guevara vs. Sugar D". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  13. Ashish (May 24, 2020). "Cody Rhodes Praises Lance Archer, Reveals Meaning Behind House on TNT Title Belt, Calls Mike Tyson Moment Surreal". 411mania.com. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  14. Droste, Ryan (May 23, 2020). "First Look: AEW Unveils TNT Championship Belt". ComicBook.com. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
  15. Heel, N. (May 23, 2020). "BACKSTAGE NEWS ON AEW TNT CHAMPIONSHIP NOT BEING FINISHED". Heel By Nature. Retrieved May 26, 2020.
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