AEW Championship Debut Plans Were ‘Thrown Together Last Minute’

An AEW star has recalled plans for the introduction of the FTW Championship being “thrown together last minute” back in 2020, after the company’s original creative idea was put on hold.

At AEW Double or Nothing 2020, Brian Cage made his debut in the company and immediately earned a shot at Jon Moxley’s AEW World Title after winning a Casino Ladder Match.

This had set Cage up to challenge Moxley two months later at Night Two of AEW Fyter Fest, however, Moxley was forced to pull out due to his wife Renee Paquette contracting COVID-19.

Instead of facing Moxley on the night, Cage instead was given the FTW Championship by his manager Taz, with the title proceeding to become a fixture of AEW programming for years after that point.

Speaking with Nick Club Wrestling Happy Hour, Cage was asked what discussions were had prior to the belt’s introduction on AEW TV.

Cage said:

“There was no discussions (about the FTW Title’s introduction). I was actually supposed to work (Jon) Moxley for the World Title and Renee (Paquette) got sick with COVID so he couldn’t come, and then the next set of tapings he still wasn’t cleared to come.

“We were like we’ve got to do something and then that was bestowed upon me, they were like ‘Ok, well we’re just going to give you the FTW Title and bring that back, and have you do something for now until Moxley can come back and you can wrestle him for the World Title’.

“So it was kind of thrown together last minute, there was no initial plans or idea for that to happen and that was just kind of a wild card, and it’s unfortunate we didn’t get to do more to it.”

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Ricky Starks, HOOK, Jack Perry and Chris Jericho would go on to hold the FTW Title in the years after it’s introduction, before HOOK retired the gold and gave it back to his father Taz at AEW Grand Slam on September 25, 2024.

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