Pro Wrestling fans have been conditioned to believe there is only one way a championship should be presented.
Long, drawn-out, rarely defended championship reigns with a dominant champion has been the path of legends for decades.
Most world championships are rarely even defended on television let alone at the consistency of a television championship.
The idea that the World Championship and the TNT Championship be presented at the same level is great in theory but both championships play a different role.
The role of what the TNT Championship is with wrestlers winning and defending the title represents a vital part of AEW’s weekly television shows.
Let’s take a look at why the ‘hot potato’ situation with the TNT Title might not actually be a bad thing…
This Is A TELEVISION CHAMPIONSHIP
The consistency the television championship is defended as compared to a World Championship is going to increase the chances of a championship changing hands.
Going back to the days of the NWA, the television championship was a way to add stakes to the TV show and when they formed with WCW they became great at that with the Saturday night shows.
AEW has adopted that format with their TNT championship and they have kept with that consistency of the past.
The TNT championship was created six months after the AEW championship and has been defended 49 times as compared to 32 defenses.
At this rate, of course the TNT championship would have changed hands more times – if roles were reversed the World title would have more than four title winners.
Wrestlers Have Been Made Whether They Won Or Lost
The TNT Championship has presented some of the best matches in Dynamite and Rampage history.
Wrestlers like Brodie Lee, Darby Allin and Cody Rhodes are amongst the six title holders of the 11 different reigns.
Brodie Lee made the title and upon doing that he help propel Darby Allin with his following reign.
Cody Rhodes issuing his open challenge of the title introduced Ricky Starks and Eddie Kingston – two of AEW’s most popular figures currently.
The constant defenses from these men increased the prestige of the championship as you needed those wins and loses to established the title.
Sammy Guevara & Scorpio Sky Have Benefitted The Most
Guevara and Sky have had almost completely full character flips around the TNT championships.
The excellent title matches pitting the two against each other have upped the ante each time and the constant back and fourth with the championship has shown just how highly matched both men are.
Both have had big wins in pivotal moments, Guevara in a ladder match with Cody, Sky in a ladder match with Guevara.
Each wrestler chipping at the other’s heels has made for a number of unpredictable title matches and has us always wondering what’s next.
Both wrestlers have been associated with the championship in some capacity since its inception.
The Legacy Of The Championship Plays Deep In The History Of AEW
The six men who have held the championship are so important to the history of AEW.
Miro’s time in AEW is surrounding the championship and his reign really helped the title.
Brodie Lee being so closely associated with the championship around the time of his untimely death represents such an important part to its legacy to so many in and around AEW.
What the championship will continue to do while being defended so often is introduce new wrestlers to love while adding stakes to the program and enhancing some already loved wrestlers in the company.
Fans will soon come to find that having the added stakes, the great matches, and continuing to give wrestlers who have earned it moments, will show the true point of the TNT Championship.
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