source: https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/aew- ... l-8-307711


A new championship title is coming to AEW.

AEW announced today that they're introducing the TNT Championship. An eight-man, single-elimination tournament to crown the first champion will begin on the Wednesday, April 8 episode of Dynamite. AEW's press release said the finals of the tournament are scheduled for Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on Saturday, May 23.

Half of the bracket for the tournament will be revealed on AEW Dark tomorrow, while the other half will be revealed on Wednesday's Dynamite. AEW hyped that the tournament will feature "the biggest names in AEW all vying for the inaugural TNT CHAMPIONSHIP belt."

“It’s been a privilege working with Kevin Reilly and TNT to bring fans the best live wrestling show week after week on AEW: DYNAMITE, especially during these tumultuous times,” AEW president and CEO Tony Khan said.

“I’m glad we’re now able to announce the TNT CHAMPIONSHIP. The first ever titleholder will be determined by an unforgettable tournament that fans will not want to miss, and that our wrestlers will be desperate to win. I’m excited for the announcement of the full bracket live on Dynamite this week. And, 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.”

The introduction of the TNT title was also announced on today's Road to Dynamite episode:

Not quite what "US" champion means...

A brilliant move for several reasons:
1. A tournament is an easy to plan in advance, so you can figure out exactly who you'll need when.
2. It's easy to follow, week-to-week programming
3. It buys you time to plan out how you're going to proceed with everything else
4. Or, if you want to rush the tournament, it allows you to do a TV show with a bare-bones number of wrestlers.
5. Not related to COVID-19... it's something Cody can chase.

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Mar 31st, '20, 17:57 3. It buys you time to plan out how you're going to proceed with everything else
4. Or, if you want to rush the tournament, it allows you to do a TV show with a bare-bones number of wrestlers.

it also allows you to tape a bunch of matches on one long day and not worry about flying in some guys anymore or even not having stuff for future shows.

cero2k wrote: ↑Mar 31st, '20, 19:10

Big Red Machine wrote: ↑Mar 31st, '20, 17:57 3. It buys you time to plan out how you're going to proceed with everything else
4. Or, if you want to rush the tournament, it allows you to do a TV show with a bare-bones number of wrestlers.

it also allows you to tape a bunch of matches on one long day and not worry about flying in some guys anymore or even not having stuff for future shows.

I mean... it's only seven matches total. It will only take you so long to get through them (five weeks at most), unless you've got some other stuff going on.

Bad name, but that's not everything.

But it's the right time to introduce this. You've got a good few guys who would make a good inaugural champ (Cody, MJF, Dustin, Guevara, Hardy, Jericho, Omega etc.)

XIV wrote: ↑Apr 1st, '20, 04:13 Bad name, but that's not everything.

But it's the right time to introduce this. You've got a good few guys who would make a good inaugural champ (Cody, MJF, Dustin, Guevara, Hardy, Jericho, Omega etc.)

It doesn't make any less sense than the old "TV Championship" song and dance.

NWK2000 wrote: ↑Apr 1st, '20, 19:35

XIV wrote: ↑Apr 1st, '20, 04:13 Bad name, but that's not everything.

But it's the right time to introduce this. You've got a good few guys who would make a good inaugural champ (Cody, MJF, Dustin, Guevara, Hardy, Jericho, Omega etc.)

It doesn't make any less sense than the old "TV Championship" song and dance.

But it’s a title that you know you’re likely to have to rename one day because of network changes. A title doesn’t build prestige if it changes name.

I get that there is limited names left for titles that haven’t been done. (Hence the Universal title schtick) but there had to be something.

XIV wrote: ↑Apr 2nd, '20, 02:12
But it’s a title that you know you’re likely to have to rename one day because of network changes. A title doesn’t build prestige if it changes name.

I get that there is limited names left for titles that haven’t been done. (Hence the Universal title schtick) but there had to be something.

not necessarily, TNT, Dynamite.

I'd also say that going in and already planning that your deals will do sour is a pretty bad way to live a life.

cero2k wrote: ↑Apr 2nd, '20, 07:07

XIV wrote: ↑Apr 2nd, '20, 02:12
But it’s a title that you know you’re likely to have to rename one day because of network changes. A title doesn’t build prestige if it changes name.

I get that there is limited names left for titles that haven’t been done. (Hence the Universal title schtick) but there had to be something.

I'd also say that going in and already planning that your deals will do sour is a pretty bad way to live a life.

Plan for the worst
Hope for the best