{{short description|Men's professional wrestling championship}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2025}} {{Infobox pro wrestling championship |name = AEW National Championship |image = AEW National Title.png |caption = The AEW National Championship belt |currentholder = [[Mark Davis (wrestler)|Mark Davis]] |won = May 9, 2026 |created = November 5, 2025 |promotion = [[All Elite Wrestling]] |mostreigns = |firstchamp = [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]] |longestreign = [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]]<br>(113 days) |shortestreign = [[Jack Perry]]<br>(55 days) |oldest = [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]]<br>({{age in years and days|October 11, 1988|November 22, 2025}}) |youngest = [[Jack Perry]]<br>({{age in years and days|June 16, 1997|March 15, 2026}}) |heaviest = [[Mark Davis (wrestler)|Mark Davis]]<br>({{convert|240|lb|kg|abbr=on}}) |lightest = [[Jack Perry]]<br>({{convert|167|lb|kg|abbr=on}}) }} The '''AEW National Championship''' is a men's [[professional wrestling]] [[Professional wrestling championship#Location-specific championships|championship]] created and promoted by the [[United States|American]] [[professional wrestling promotion|promotion]] [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW). Established on November 5, 2025, the championship is not exclusive to AEW, as it can also be defended in other promotions across the United States, such as [[Ring of Honor]] and [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]]'s (NJPW) American branch, [[NJPW Strong]]. The inaugural champion was [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]]. The current champion is [[Mark Davis (wrestler)|Mark Davis]], who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating [[Jack Perry]] at [[List of AEW Collision special episodes|''Collision'': Fairway to Hell]] on May 9, 2026.
== History == [[File:Ricochet ALL IN 2024 08 25 127 (headshot).jpg|thumb|left|200px|Inaugural champion [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]]]] The [[professional wrestling championship]] was established by the American promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) on November 5, 2025. Prior to that night's episode of AEW's weekly television program ''[[AEW Dynamite|Dynamite]]'' on [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]], the company's president [[Tony Khan]] and commentator [[Tony Schiavone]] went live on [[X (social network)|X]] to announce the creation of the AEW National Championship. Similar to the [[AEW International Championship]], it was revealed that it could be defended in other promotions.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Jeremy|last=Lambert|title=AEW National Title Introduced, First Champion To Be Crowned At AEW Full Gear|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-national-title-introduced-first-champion-to-be-crowned-at-aew-full-gear/|date=November 5, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025|work=Fightful}}</ref> To determine the inaugural AEW National Champion, a [[Casino Gauntlet match]] was scheduled for AEW's [[Full Gear (2025)|Full Gear]] [[pay-per-view]] event on November 22, 2025.<ref name="NationalTitleAnnounced">{{Cite web|first=Rick|last=Ucchino|title=Tony Khan Announces New National Champion Will Be Crowned At AEW Full Gear|url=https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/aew/tony-khan-announces-new-national-champion-will-be-crowned-at-aew-full-gear|work=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=November 6, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025}}</ref> The 12-man match was won by [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]], who pinned [[Kevin Knight]] to win.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://411mania.com/wrestling/ricochet-national-championship-aew-full-gear-2025/|title=Ricochet Victorious in Casino Gauntlet, Becomes Inaugural National Champion at AEW Full Gear 2025|date=November 22, 2025|last=Harris|first=Jeffrey|work=411Mania|access-date=November 22, 2025}}</ref>
The championship was inspired by the [[NWA National Heavyweight Championship]], which originally served as the top title of [[Georgia Championship Wrestling]] under the [[National Wrestling Alliance]] (NWA). The NWA National Heavyweight Championship last appeared on TBS in 1986, when it was unified with the [[Jim Crockett Promotions|Mid-Atlantic version]] of the [[NWA United States Heavyweight Championship]]—that title subsequently became a [[World Championship Wrestling]] title in 1991 before becoming the [[WWE United States Championship]] in 2003. [[Wahoo McDaniel]] was recognized as the final NWA National Heavyweight Champion until the title was reactivated in 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Matthew|last=Couden|title=AEW Announces New Championship Details for Full Gear 2025|url=https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/aew-announces-new-championship-details-for-full-gear-2025-11000840|work=Newsweek|date=November 5, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|first=Felix|last=Upton|title=Tony Khan Announces New Championship to Debut at AEW Full Gear|url=https://www.ringsidenews.com/tony-khan-announces-new-championship-debut-aew-full-gear/|date=November 5, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025|work=Ringside News}}</ref>
==Belt design== The AEW National Championship belt has a nearly identical design to the 1984–2013 version of the NWA National Heavyweight Championship belt. On the center plate, like with the old NWA belt, there is an eagle at the top, an outline of the United States at the bottom (including Alaska and Hawaii), two lions facing inwards on the sides, a blue globe at the center between the first and second banners, and [[filigree]] in the space on the bottom left and right of the center plate. The notable differences with AEW's belt is that above the eagle has AEW's logo on a red background and the three banners, which are also red, say "National", "Wrestling", "Champion" in gold, respectively (with three gold stars on either side of the word "Wrestling"), instead of the second banner saying "Heavyweight Wrestling" like on the NWA's older belt. Additionally, the two inner side plates have AEW's logo on a red background with a gold star in each corner of the plate, instead of showing wrestlers grappling. The two outer side plates are identical to the NWA's old design with a wrestler holding up a title belt with an outline of the contingent United States behind them.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/399108/get-a-closer-look-at-new-aew-national-championship-title-belt|title=Get a closer look at new AEW National Championship title belt|date=November 23, 2025|first=Manolo Has|last=Pizzazz|work=Cageside Seats|access-date=November 24, 2025}}</ref>
== Reception == The championship's unveiling drew criticism from figures associated with the NWA,<ref>{{cite web|last=Powell|first=John|title=AEW Faces Backlash After Announcing New National Championship|url=https://slamwrestling.net/news/aew-faces-backlash-after-announcing-new-national-championship/|date=November 6, 2025|work=SLAM! Wrestling|access-date=November 11, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260511150050/https://slamwrestling.net/news/aew-faces-backlash-after-announcing-new-national-championship/|archive-date=May 11, 2026|url-status=live}}</ref> including then-NWA National Heavyweight Champion [[Mike Mondo]] and the title's inaugural holder, [[Austin Idol]]. The dispute centered on AEW's promotional claim that the National Championship had been defunct since 1986, which omitted the NWA's reintroduction of the title in 1997. Critics also questioned AEW's assertion that its title would continue the NWA championship's legacy despite a lack of formal affiliation between the two promotions.<ref>{{Cite web|first=Skylar|last=Russell|title=NWA National Champion Mike Mondo Reacts To AEW Introducing Their Own National Championship|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nwa-national-champion-mike-mondo-reacts-to-aew-introducing-their-own-national-championship/|work=Fightful|date=November 6, 2025|access-date=November 7, 2025}}</ref> In response, AEW President [[Tony Khan]] consulted with NWA President [[Billy Corgan]]. While Khan did not retract the initial promotional statements, he officially acknowledged the existence of the NWA's championship and clarified that AEW's would be a separate lineage. Khan also publicly commended Corgan's efforts in maintaining NWA traditions.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson|first1=Mike|title=TONY KHAN SAYS HE SPOKE WITH NWA PRESIDENT BILLY CORGAN OVER REACTION TO AEW NATIONAL TITLE, ANNOUNCES NEW COLLISION BOUTS|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article.php?id=202316|website=[[PWInsider]]|date=November 14, 2025|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref>
== Reigns == [[File:Mark Davis (52829149200) (cropped).jpg|thumb|200px|Current champion [[Mark Davis (wrestler)|Mark Davis]]{{Efn|Davis is shown wearing both the [[IWGP Tag Team Championship]] (top) and [[Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship]] (bottom).}}]] As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}, there have been three reigns between three champions. Ricochet was the inaugural champion, who has the longest reign at 113 days. [[Jack Perry]] has the shortest reign at 55 days. Ricochet is the oldest champion at 37 years old, while Perry is the youngest at 28.
[[Mark Davis (wrestler)|Mark Davis]] is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Jack Perry at [[List of AEW Collision special episodes|''Collision'': Fairway to Hell ]] in [[Palm Beach Gardens, Florida]] on May 9, 2026.<ref name="Davis"/>
{{Professional wrestling title history top|active=yes}} {{PWtitlereign |number = 1 |champion = {{sortname||Ricochet|dab=wrestler}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|November 22, 2025}} |days = {{age in days nts|November 22, 2025|March 15, 2026}} |location = [[Newark, NJ]] |event = [[Full Gear (2025)|Full Gear]] |notes = Pinned [[Kevin Knight]] to win a 12-man [[Casino Gauntlet match]] to become the inaugural champion. |ref = <ref name="InauguralChamp">{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|title=Ricochet Becomes First-Ever AEW National Champion At Full Gear PPV|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ricochet-becomes-first-ever-aew-national-champion-at-full-gear-ppv/|website=Fightful|date=November 22, 2025|access-date=November 22, 2025}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 2 |champion = {{sortname|Jack|Perry}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|March 15, 2026}} |days = {{age in days nts|March 15, 2026|May 9, 2026}} |location = [[Los Angeles, CA]] |event = [[AEW Revolution (2026)|Revolution]] |notes = This was a 21-man [[Battle Royal (professional wrestling)|Blackjack Battle Royal]] that Perry won by last eliminating [[Ricochet (wrestler)|Ricochet]]. The match began during the ''Zero Hour'' pre-show but concluded after the start of the [[pay-per-view]]. |ref = <ref name="Perry">{{cite web|last=Thompson|first=Andrew|title=Jack Perry Wins Blackjack Battle Royal To Become AEW National Champion At Revolution PPV|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/jack-perry-wins-blackjack-battle-royal-to-become-aew-national-champion-at-revolution-ppv/|website=Fightful|date=March 15, 2026|access-date=March 16, 2026}}</ref> }}{{PWtitlereign |number = 3 |champion = {{sortname|Mark|Davis|dab=wrestler}} |reign = 1 |date = {{dts|May 9, 2026}} |days = {{age in days nts|May 9, 2026}}+ |location = [[Palm Beach Gardens, FL]] |event = [[List of AEW Collision special episodes|''Collision'': Fairway to Hell]] |notes = |ref = <ref name="Davis">{{cite web|last=Sharma|first=Ishaan|title=Mark Davis Wins AEW National Championship On 5/9 AEW Fairway To Hell|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mark-davis-wins-aew-national-championship-on-5-9-aew-collision/|website=Fightful|date=May 9, 2026|access-date=May 11, 2026}}</ref> }} {{BundleEnd}} <!-- == Combined reigns == As of {{CURRENTMONTHNAME}} {{CURRENTDAY}}, {{CURRENTYEAR}}. {|class="wikitable" |- |bgcolor=#ffe6bd|† |Indicates the current champion |} {{row hover highlight}} {|class="wikitable mw-datatable sortable" style="text-align:center" !Rank !width=200px | Wrestler !No. of reigns !Combined days |- !1 |{{sortname||Ricochet|dab=wrestler}} || 1 || 113 |- !2 |{{sortname|Jack|Perry}} || 1 || 55 |- !3 |bgcolor=#ffe6bd|{{sortname|Mark|Davis|dab=wrestler}} † || 1 || {{age in days|May 9, 2026}}+ |} --> == Notes == {{Notelist}}
==See also== *[[List of current champions in All Elite Wrestling]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
== External links == *[https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-national-championship-history Official AEW National Championship History]
{{AEW National Championship}} {{All Elite Wrestling}}
[[Category:All Elite Wrestling championships]] [[Category:National professional wrestling championships]] [[Category:2025 introductions]]