AEW TNT Championship

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AEW TNT CHAMPIONSHIP

Date established: March 30th, 2020

Current champion(s): "Scapegoat" Jack Perry

Date won: June 30th, 2024

First champion(s): Cody Rhodes

Most reigns: Cody Rhodes, Wardlow and Sammy Guevara (3 reigns)

Longest reign: Darby Allin (1st reign, 186 days)

Shortest reign: Adam Copeland (3 minutes)

Oldest champion: Adam Copeland (50 years, 142 days)

Youngest champion: "Scapegoat" Jack Perry (27 years, 14 days)

Heaviest champion: Samoa Joe (310 lb (140 kg))

Lightest champion: "Scapegoat" Jack Perry 

History of the AEW TNT Championship:

Cody Rhodes was the inaugural champion, winning the title after winning the AEW TNT Championship Tournament. He defeated Lance Archer in the tournament final at AEW Double or Nothing 2020

In September 2019, a month before All Elite Wrestling (AEW) launched their first weekly television program, AEW Dynamite, then-AEW executive Vice President and wrestler Cody Rhodes teased that the promotion would eventually debut a television championship, but their focus at that time was on their other recently established titles. In February 2020, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer directly asked Cody Rhodes 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. The following month on March 30th 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. The tournament began on the April 8th episode of AEW Dynamite with the final scheduled for AEW Double or Nothing 2020 on May 23rd. On the April 29th episode, Cody Rhodes and Lance Archer won their respective semifinals matches, setting up the inaugural championship match.

At AEW Double or Nothing 2020, Cody Rhodes defeated Lance Archer to become the inaugural champion. Former professional boxer "Iron" Mike Tyson presented the championship to Cody. His first reign with the title included an "open challenge" where he would defend the title on a near weekly televised basis, even to independent wrestlers outside the promotion. These performances notably led to the signings of Ricky Starks and Eddie Kingston. 

Mr. Brodie Lee held the title for almost two months after shockingly making quick work of Cody Rhodes. Brodie suddenly passed away at the end of 2020 and AEW decided to retire this version of the championship belt (Red strap version).

During the Brodie Lee Celebration of Life, which was the December 30th, 2020 episode of AEW Dynamite, AEW announced that they had retired the red strap version of the title belt that had been used up to that point to honor Huber, whose ring name was Mr. Brodie Lee, the second-ever AEW TNT Champion. Lee unexpectedly passed away on December 26th and his final match was on the October 7th episode of AEW Dynamite where he unsuccessfully defended the TNT Championship against Cody Rhodes in a Dog Collar Match. The retired TNT Championship belt was given to Huber's son, Brodie Lee, Jr. (real name Brodie Huber), who was honored as being "TNT Champion for life" by AEW President and Chief Executive Officer Tony Khan. AEW commentator Tony Schiavone clarified that only the belt design was retired, not the championship itself; a new black strap version of the belt was debuted by champion Darby Allin during Night 1 of the special New Year's Smash episode of AEW Dynamite on January 6th, 2021.

Darby Allin was the third man to ever hold the title, ending Cody Rhodes second reign at 31 days. Allin would hold the title for 186 days before dropping it to Miro

"The Redeemer" Miro had a lengthy run, holding the title for 140 days. 

Sammy Guevara has held the title a record-tying three times. He holds the record for most TNT Championship reigns (at three) with Cody Rhodes

During the special Holiday Bash episode of AEW Rampage on December 25th, 2021, Cody Rhodes defeated Sammy Guevara to become a record three-time AEW TNT Champion. The two were scheduled to have a rematch for the championship at AEW Battle of the Belts I on January 8th, 2022; however, Cody was pulled from the event as he had been in contact with family who had tested positive for COVID-19, thus requiring him to quarantine. Guevara instead faced Cody's brother Dustin Rhodes to determine an interim champion. Guevara defeated Dustin and served as the interim champion until the January 26th episode of AEW Dynamite. That episode, which was a special episode titled Beach Break, Guevara faced and defeated Cody in a ladder match to determine the undisputed TNT Champion.

Scorpio Sky has held the title twice. Once for 37 days and once for 70 days. 

Wardlow has held the title twice. The first time for 136 days, the second time for only 3.

Samoa Joe is another two time champion. Joe was referred to as "The King of Television" during this time due to holding both the AEW TNT and Ring of Honor World Television Championships simultaneously.

Powerhouse Hobbs won the 2023 face of the Revolution Ladder Match, earning him a shot at the TNT Championship, which he won ending Wardlow's second reign at only 3 days.

Luchasaurus was champion for 98 days, however, his manager Christian Cage would hold onto the title during the reign, proclaiming himself as "co-champion" and holding up the title during his entrances. Cage would end up winning the title officially in a three-way match also involving Darby Allin on September 23rd, 2023. 

On March 5th, 2023, at AEW Revolution 2023, Wardlow defeated Samoa Joe for the championship. Three days later, and initially not as part of a storyline, Wardlow's rental car was broken into; both his gear and the championship belt was stolen as a result. On the March 15th episode of AEW Dynamite, it was revealed during QT Marshall's QTV segment that the person who broke into Wardlow's car (in storyline) was Marshall's associate and The Factory member Aaron Solo.

Inaugural Tournament:

Quarterfinals AEW Dynamite (April 8, 15, 22, 2020)

Semifinals AEW Dynamite (April 29, 2020)

Final  AEW Double or Nothing (May 23, 2020)

Cody Rhodes

Pin

Shawn Spears

21:38

Cody Rhodes

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Darby Allin

20:10

Sammy Guevara

10:50

Darby Allin

Pin

Cody Rhodes

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Lance Archer

22:00

Dustin Rhodes

Pin

Kip Sabian

14:10

Dustin Rhodes

22:45

Lance Archer

Pin

Colt Cabana

12:42

Lance Archer

Pin

List of AEW TNT Champions:

No.	Champion	Championship change			Reign statistics			Notes	Ref.
		Date	Event	Location	Reign	Days	Days recog.
1	Cody Rhodes	May 23, 2020	AEW Double or Nothing 2020	Jacksonville, FL	1	82	91	Defeated Lance Archer in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion. AEW recognizes Cody's reign as ending on August 22, 2020, when the following episode aired on tape delay.
2	Mr. Brodie Lee	August 13, 2020	AEW Saturday Night Dynamite	Jacksonville, FL	1	55	46	AEW recognizes Lee's reign as beginning on August 22, 2020, when the episode aired on tape delay.
3	Cody Rhodes	October 7, 2020	AEW Dynamite: Chris Jericho's 30 Year Anniversary Show	Jacksonville, FL	2	31	31	This was a "Dog Collar" match.
4	Darby Allin	November 7, 2020	AEW Full Gear 2020	Jacksonville, FL	1	186	186
5	Miro	May 12, 2021	AEW Dynamite	Jacksonville, FL	1	140	140
6	Sammy Guevara	September 29, 2021	AEW Dynamite	Rochester, NY	1	84	87	AEW recognizes Guevara's reign as ending on December 25, 2021, when the following episode aired on tape delay.
7	Cody Rhodes	December 22, 2021	AEW Rampage: Holiday Bash	Greensboro, NC	3	35	32	AEW recognizes Rhodes' reign as beginning on December 25, 2021, when the episode aired on tape delay, and ending on January 26, 2022.
—	Sammy Guevara	January 8, 2022	AEW Battle of the Belts I	Charlotte, NC	—	18	—	Lineal champion Cody Rhodes was originally scheduled to defend the title against Guevara at this event, but was pulled due to COVID-19-related issues. Guevara was instead scheduled to face Dustin Rhodes to determine the interim TNT Champion.
8	Sammy Guevara	January 26, 2022	AEW Dynamite: Beach Break	Cleveland, OH	2	42	42	Defeated lineal champion Cody Rhodes in a ladder match to determine the undisputed champion. AEW officially recognizes this as the start of Guevara's second reign.
9	Scorpio Sky	March 9, 2022	AEW Dynamite	Estero, FL	1	37	38	AEW recognizes Sky's reign as ending on April 16, 2022, when the following event aired on tape delay.
10	Sammy Guevara	April 15, 2022	AEW Battle of the Belts II	Garland, TX	3	12	11	AEW recognizes Guevara's reign as beginning on April 16, 2022, when the event aired on tape delay.
11	Scorpio Sky	April 27, 2022	AEW Dynamite	Philadelphia, PA	2	70	70	This was a ladder match.
12	Wardlow	July 6, 2022	AEW Dynamite	Rochester, NY	1	136	136	This was a Street Fight.
13	Samoa Joe	November 19, 2022	AEW Full Gear 2022	Newark, NJ	1	46	46	This was a three-way match, also involving Powerhouse Hobbs, who Joe submitted.
14	Darby Allin	January 4, 2023	AEW Dynamite	Seattle, WA	2	28	28
15	Samoa Joe	February 1, 2023	AEW Dynamite	Dayton, OH	2	32	32	This was a No Holds Barred match.
16	Wardlow	March 5, 2023	AEW Revolution 2023	San Francisco, CA	2	3	3
17	Powerhouse Hobbs	March 8, 2023	AEW Dynamite	Sacramento, CA	1	42	42	This was a Falls Count Anywhere match that Hobbs won by technical knockout.

18	Wardlow	April 19, 2023	AEW Dynamite	Pittsburgh, PA	3	59	59
19	Luchasaurus	June 17, 2023	AEW Collision	Chicago, IL	1	98	98
20	Christian Cage	September 23, 2023	AEW Collision	Grand Rapids, MI	1	98	98	This was a three-way match, also involving Darby Allin.
21	Adam Copeland	December 30, 2023	AEW Worlds End 2023	Uniondale, NY	1	<1	<1	This was a no disqualification match.
22	Christian Cage	December 30, 2023	AEW Worlds End 2023	Uniondale, NY	2	81	81	After his loss to Copeland, Cage immediately invoked the title shot earned by his Patriarchy member Killswitch earlier in the night to get an immediate rematch for the title.

23	Adam Copeland	March 20, 2024	AEW Dynamite	Toronto, Ontario, Canada	2	70	70	This was an "I Quit" match. Copeland was forced to relinquish the title due to an injury suffered during his Barbed Wire Steel Cage match with Makakai Black at Double or Nothing 2024, which saw Copeland retain over Black.

	-	VACATED	May 29th, 2024	AEW Dynamite	Inglewood, California	-	-	-	AEW Executive Vice Presidents The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson) stripped Adam Copeland of the title due to Copeland's legitimate leg injury incurred at AEW Double or Nothing 2024 three days prior.

	24	Jack Perry	June 30th, 2024	AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024	Elmont, New York	1	8+	8+	Defeated Mark Briscoe, Konosuke Takeshita, Dante Martin, Lio Rush and El Phantasmo in a 6-Man Ladder match to win the vacant title.

	Different Custom Title Designs: One key aspect of the overall look and feel of the AEW TNT Championship is that AEW frequently introduces custom personalized versions of the championship when new champions are crowned (in some instances, in other instances a wrestler might keep the traditional design of the belt, especially if said wrestler isn't in the plans to be champion for a long time).  Darby Allin, Mr. Brodie Lee, Sammy Guevara, Miro, Scorpio Sky and now Jack Perry, have all introduced their own versions of the belt.  The original 'red strap' version of the championship was retired in December 2020 following the passing of the 2nd-ever AEW TNT Champion, Mr. Brodie Lee. Following Lee's passing, Darby Allin would introduce an all-black strapped version, which would see some changes over time adding a  Blingy look to it when Sammy Guevara held the title  During Miro's reign, the colors on the main plate were changed to match that of the colors of the Bulgarian flag (Miro's home). Likewise, during Scorpio Sky's 2nd reign, an L.A. Lakers inspired design was used showcasing the purple and yellow colors.  The current iteration of the championship design is a grungy dark looking one that was actually made by Jack Perry himself (as seen on video that is rotating around social media).