AEW TNT Championship

Inaugural and record two-time champion, Cody Rhodes

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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3] The tournament began on the April 8 episode of Dynamite with the final scheduled for Double or Nothing on May 23.[4] On the April 29 episode, Cody and Lance Archer won their respective semifinals matches, setting up the inaugural championship match.[5] At Double or Nothing, Cody defeated Archer to become the inaugural champion. Former professional boxer Mike Tyson presented the championship to Cody.[6] 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. In November during Cody's second reign as TNT Champion, his ring name was lengthened to Cody Rhodes following a legal battle with WWE over the trademark for the name.[7]

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."[8]

During the Jon Huber Memorial Show, which was the December 30, 2020 episode of 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 TNT Champion, who unexpectedly passed away on December 26; Lee's final match was on the October 7 episode of 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 CEO Tony Khan. AEW commentator Tony Schiavone clarified that only the belt design was retired, not the championship itself;[9][10] 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 Dynamite on January 6, 2021.[11]

The original red strap version of the TNT Championship belt; in honor of the late Mr. Brodie Lee (Jon Huber), the championship's second title holder, this red strap version of the title belt was retired on December 30, 2020 and given to Lee's son Brodie Lee Jr. (Brodie Huber), who was named honorary "TNT Champion for life"

The TNT Championship belt has six plates, which were originally 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 "Tara on Techwood", 1050 Techwood Drive in Atlanta, the building that was the original home of TNT. The two outer side plates feature AEW's logo, while a third smaller side plate on the far right side also features the promotion's logo. When the belt was initially unveiled at Double or Nothing on May 23, it was on a red leather strap but had no plating as production of the belt had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic; it was also revealed that the final version would have gold plating and be unveiled at a later date.[6][17][18] The belt was produced by Ron Edwardsen 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".[19] The completed version of the belt was shown on AEW's Twitter just a few hours before the August 12 episode of Dynamite where the finished design was debuted for Cody's match against Scorpio Sky, where Cody retained.[20][21]

Following the unexpected death of the championship's second title holder Mr. Brodie Lee in December 2020, AEW retired the red strap version of the championship belt that had been used up to that point to honor Lee (similar to how sports teams retire a number).[9] During Night 1 of the special New Year's Smash episode of Dynamite on January 6, 2021, a new belt was unveiled by Darby Allin, featuring the same overall design as the previous belt but on a black leather strap as opposed to red.[22]

Current champion Darby Allin

As of February 6, 2021, there have been four reigns between three champions. Cody Rhodes, then known simply as Cody, was the inaugural champion. He also has the most reigns at two and his second reign is the shortest at 31 days. Mr. Brodie Lee was the oldest champion, winning the title at the age of 40, while Darby Allin is the youngest at the age of 27. Darby Allin’s current reign is the longest reign so far.

Darby Allin is the current champion in his first reign. He won the title by defeating Cody Rhodes on November 7, 2020 at Full Gear in Jacksonville, Florida.

As of February 6, 2021.

• Official AEW TNT Championship Title History