First AEW National Champion Crowned

The first ever AEW National Champion has been crowned at tonight’s November 2022 AEW Full Gear 2025 pay-per-view event.

A few weeks ago, AEW CEO Tony Khan announced the introduction of the promotion’s new National Championship, a nod to the NWA National Championship in the past.

Despite some controversy regarding the NWA still having its own National Title and some words from current champion Mike Mondo, the inaugural champion for the AEW version was crowned today at Full Gear.

A Casino Gauntlet match took place at tonight’s pay-per-view to determine the first ever titleholder.

The entrants in the gauntlet, in order, were Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Ricochet, Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Kevin Knight, Roderick Strong, Mark Davis, Speedball Mike Bailey and Matt Menard.

Early on in the match, Lashley and Benjamin were taken out of proceedings by the Gates of Agony who interfered to help Ricochet, but they returned by the end.

Eventually, it was Ricochet who scored the win to become the first ever AEW National Champion by pinning Kevin Knight.

This marks Ricochet’s first championship win in AEW since his debut in August 2024.

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