# AEW National Championship

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Men's professional wrestling championship

AEW National Championship The AEW National Championship belt Details Promotion All Elite Wrestling Date established November 5, 2025 Current champion Mark Davis Date won May 9, 2026 Statistics First champion Ricochet Longest reign Ricochet (113 days) Shortest reign Jack Perry (55 days) Oldest champion Ricochet (37 years, 42 days) Youngest champion Jack Perry (28 years, 272 days) Heaviest champion Mark Davis (240 lb (110 kg)) Lightest champion Jack Perry (167 lb (76 kg))

The **AEW National Championship** is a men's [professional wrestling](/source/Professional_wrestling) [championship](/source/Professional_wrestling_championship#Location-specific_championships) created and promoted by the [American](/source/United_States) [promotion](/source/Professional_wrestling_promotion) [All Elite Wrestling](/source/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](/source/Ring_of_Honor) and [New Japan Pro-Wrestling](/source/New_Japan_Pro-Wrestling)'s (NJPW) American branch, [NJPW Strong](/source/NJPW_Strong). The inaugural champion was [Ricochet](/source/Ricochet_(wrestler)). The current champion is [Mark Davis](/source/Mark_Davis_(wrestler)), who is in his first reign. He won the title by defeating [Jack Perry](/source/Jack_Perry) at [*Collision*: Fairway to Hell](/source/List_of_AEW_Collision_special_episodes) on May 9, 2026.

## History

Inaugural champion [Ricochet](/source/Ricochet_(wrestler))

The [professional wrestling championship](/source/Professional_wrestling_championship) was established by the American promotion [All Elite Wrestling](/source/All_Elite_Wrestling) (AEW) on November 5, 2025. Prior to that night's episode of AEW's weekly television program *[Dynamite](/source/AEW_Dynamite)* on [TBS](/source/TBS_(American_TV_channel)), the company's president [Tony Khan](/source/Tony_Khan) and commentator [Tony Schiavone](/source/Tony_Schiavone) went live on [X](/source/X_(social_network)) to announce the creation of the AEW National Championship. Similar to the [AEW International Championship](/source/AEW_International_Championship), it was revealed that it could be defended in other promotions.[1] To determine the inaugural AEW National Champion, a [Casino Gauntlet match](/source/Casino_Gauntlet_match) was scheduled for AEW's [Full Gear](/source/Full_Gear_(2025)) [pay-per-view](/source/Pay-per-view) event on November 22, 2025.[2] The 12-man match was won by [Ricochet](/source/Ricochet_(wrestler)), who pinned [Kevin Knight](/source/Kevin_Knight) to win.[3]

The championship was inspired by the [NWA National Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_National_Heavyweight_Championship), which originally served as the top title of [Georgia Championship Wrestling](/source/Georgia_Championship_Wrestling) under the [National Wrestling Alliance](/source/National_Wrestling_Alliance) (NWA). The NWA National Heavyweight Championship last appeared on TBS in 1986, when it was unified with the [Mid-Atlantic version](/source/Jim_Crockett_Promotions) of the [NWA United States Heavyweight Championship](/source/NWA_United_States_Heavyweight_Championship)—that title subsequently became a [World Championship Wrestling](/source/World_Championship_Wrestling) title in 1991 before becoming the [WWE United States Championship](/source/WWE_United_States_Championship) in 2003. [Wahoo McDaniel](/source/Wahoo_McDaniel) was recognized as the final NWA National Heavyweight Champion until the title was reactivated in 1997.[4][5]

## 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](/source/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.[6]

## Reception

The championship's unveiling drew criticism from figures associated with the NWA,[7] including then-NWA National Heavyweight Champion [Mike Mondo](/source/Mike_Mondo) and the title's inaugural holder, [Austin Idol](/source/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.[8] In response, AEW President [Tony Khan](/source/Tony_Khan) consulted with NWA President [Billy Corgan](/source/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.[9]

## Reigns

Current champion [Mark Davis](/source/Mark_Davis_(wrestler))[a]

As of July 3, 2026, there have been three reigns between three champions. Ricochet was the inaugural champion, who has the longest reign at 113 days. [Jack Perry](/source/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](/source/Mark_Davis_(wrestler)) is the current champion in his first reign. He defeated Jack Perry at [*Collision*: Fairway to Hell](/source/List_of_AEW_Collision_special_episodes) in [Palm Beach Gardens, Florida](/source/Palm_Beach_Gardens%2C_Florida) on May 9, 2026.[10]

Key No. Overall reign number Reign Reign number for the specific champion Days Number of days held + Current reign is changing daily

No. Champion Championship change Reign statistics Notes Ref. Date Event Location Reign Days 1 Ricochet November 22, 2025 Full Gear Newark, NJ 1 113 Pinned Kevin Knight to win a 12-man Casino Gauntlet match to become the inaugural champion. [11] 2 Jack Perry March 15, 2026 Revolution Los Angeles, CA 1 55 This was a 21-man Blackjack Battle Royal that Perry won by last eliminating Ricochet. The match began during the Zero Hour pre-show but concluded after the start of the pay-per-view. [12] 3 Mark Davis May 9, 2026 Collision: Fairway to Hell Palm Beach Gardens, FL 1 55+ [10]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Davis is shown wearing both the [IWGP Tag Team Championship](/source/IWGP_Tag_Team_Championship) (top) and [Strong Openweight Tag Team Championship](/source/Strong_Openweight_Tag_Team_Championship) (bottom).

## See also

- [List of current champions in All Elite Wrestling](/source/List_of_current_champions_in_All_Elite_Wrestling)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Lambert, Jeremy (November 5, 2025). ["AEW National Title Introduced, First Champion To Be Crowned At AEW Full Gear"](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-national-title-introduced-first-champion-to-be-crowned-at-aew-full-gear/). *Fightful*. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NationalTitleAnnounced_2-0)** Ucchino, Rick (November 6, 2025). ["Tony Khan Announces New National Champion Will Be Crowned At AEW Full Gear"](https://www.si.com/fannation/wrestling/aew/tony-khan-announces-new-national-champion-will-be-crowned-at-aew-full-gear). *[Sports Illustrated](/source/Sports_Illustrated)*. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Harris, Jeffrey (November 22, 2025). ["Ricochet Victorious in Casino Gauntlet, Becomes Inaugural National Champion at AEW Full Gear 2025"](https://411mania.com/wrestling/ricochet-national-championship-aew-full-gear-2025/). *411Mania*. Retrieved November 22, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Couden, Matthew (November 5, 2025). ["AEW Announces New Championship Details for Full Gear 2025"](https://www.newsweek.com/sports/wrestling/aew-announces-new-championship-details-for-full-gear-2025-11000840). *Newsweek*. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Upton, Felix (November 5, 2025). ["Tony Khan Announces New Championship to Debut at AEW Full Gear"](https://www.ringsidenews.com/tony-khan-announces-new-championship-debut-aew-full-gear/). *Ringside News*. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Pizzazz, Manolo Has (November 23, 2025). ["Get a closer look at new AEW National Championship title belt"](https://www.cagesideseats.com/aew/399108/get-a-closer-look-at-new-aew-national-championship-title-belt). *Cageside Seats*. Retrieved November 24, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Powell, John (November 6, 2025). ["AEW Faces Backlash After Announcing New National Championship"](https://slamwrestling.net/news/aew-faces-backlash-after-announcing-new-national-championship/). *SLAM! Wrestling*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20260511150050/https://slamwrestling.net/news/aew-faces-backlash-after-announcing-new-national-championship/) from the original on May 11, 2026. Retrieved November 11, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Russell, Skylar (November 6, 2025). ["NWA National Champion Mike Mondo Reacts To AEW Introducing Their Own National Championship"](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/nwa-national-champion-mike-mondo-reacts-to-aew-introducing-their-own-national-championship/). *Fightful*. Retrieved November 7, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** Johnson, Mike (November 14, 2025). ["TONY KHAN SAYS HE SPOKE WITH NWA PRESIDENT BILLY CORGAN OVER REACTION TO AEW NATIONAL TITLE, ANNOUNCES NEW COLLISION BOUTS"](https://www.pwinsider.com/article.php?id=202316). *[PWInsider](/source/PWInsider)*. Retrieved November 15, 2025.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Davis_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Davis_11-1) Sharma, Ishaan (May 9, 2026). ["Mark Davis Wins AEW National Championship On 5/9 AEW Fairway To Hell"](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/mark-davis-wins-aew-national-championship-on-5-9-aew-collision/). *Fightful*. Retrieved May 11, 2026.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-InauguralChamp_12-0)** Thompson, Andrew (November 22, 2025). ["Ricochet Becomes First-Ever AEW National Champion At Full Gear PPV"](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/ricochet-becomes-first-ever-aew-national-champion-at-full-gear-ppv/). *Fightful*. Retrieved November 22, 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Perry_13-0)** Thompson, Andrew (March 15, 2026). ["Jack Perry Wins Blackjack Battle Royal To Become AEW National Champion At Revolution PPV"](https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/jack-perry-wins-blackjack-battle-royal-to-become-aew-national-champion-at-revolution-ppv/). *Fightful*. Retrieved March 16, 2026.

## External links

- [Official AEW National Championship History](https://www.allelitewrestling.com/aew-national-championship-history)

v t e AEW National Champions Ricochet Jack Perry Mark Davis (current)

v t e All Elite Wrestling Programming Pay-per-view events Wrestle Dynasty Revolution Dynasty Double or Nothing Forbidden Door Redemption All In All Out WrestleDream Full Gear Worlds End Television Dynamite episodes specials Collision episodes Television specials Former All Access Battle of the Belts Dark episodes Dark: Elevation episodes Rampage episodes Championships Men's World (reigns) International (reigns) Continental National TNT (reigns) World Tag Team (reigns) World Trios (reigns) Women's Women's World (reigns) TBS Women's World Tag Team Former FTW Unified Accomplishments Awards Casino matches Dynamite Diamond Ring Tournaments Owen Hart Cup Continental Classic Personnel Tony Khan Shahid Khan The Elite Kenny Omega The Young Bucks Alumni Affiliates/partnerships Sister promotion Ring of Honor roster alumni Current partners 1 Fall Wrestling Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre CyberFight DDT Pro-Wrestling Pro Wrestling Noah Tokyo Joshi Pro-Wrestling New Japan Pro-Wrestling Revolution Pro Wrestling Produce by Orange Crush World Wonder Ring Stardom Wrestling Revolver Former partners Impact Wrestling Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide National Wrestling Alliance Oriental Wrestling Entertainment Pro Wrestling Wave Streaming platforms AEW Plus MyAEW See also All In (2018) Fight Forever Nightmare Factory Universal Studios Sounstage 21 Daily's Place Starrcast Wednesday Night Wars Category:All Elite Wrestling

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [AEW National Championship](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEW_National_Championship) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AEW_National_Championship?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.