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Despite starting off as one of the most prestigious championships in AEW, the TNT Title doesn't feel all that special anymore.
Created in 2020 at the start of the pandemic, the title was instantly portrayed as an important one, with a tournament held to crown the first ever champion. With stars like Cody Rhodes and Lance Archer involved, the belt felt prestigious, and after the American Nightmare emerged with the title, its prestige only increased.
From there, the championship's history has seen it continuously looked upon as one of the most sought after belts in pro wrestling, but recently a lot of the prestige surrounding it has slowly dissipated, and it no longer feels as special as it once did. Whether it's from disappointing runs with the title, or short reigns, recently it hasn't been treated as the major championship it once was.
Lack Of Feuds
While the initial open challenge stipulation for the title worked wonders in making it feels highly sought after in its infancy, it has recently become a bit of a crutch for it. The open challenge can be fun for the variety of different match possibilities it can lead to, and the mystery surrounding who may challenge for the title next, but it also leads to very little storylines involving the belt.
In recent months, there has been very few feuds or storylines between a champion and a challenger. Too often has the champion fought an opponent, before quickly moving on to the next one. There's no major build to any of the TNT Title's championship matches, and it's certainly hurt the prestige surrounding the belt.
The long-term storyline focusing on Hangman Adam Page's hunt for the AEW World Championship was one of the biggest in wrestling, and his eventual dethroning of champion Kenny Omega felt like a huge deal, and really demonstrated just how important the title is. The TNT Title could use something similar to re-establish just how important it is.
It Has Become An Afterthought
One major issue with the TNT Title in recent months, is how much of an afterthought is has become. Starting with Sammy Guevara's run with the belt, the title was largely treated like nothing but a prop as the Spanish God pushed it to a side during the Inner Circle's feud with the American Top Team and the Men of the Year.
Too often, the title is just a prop to further other storylines recently, with Wardlow's title match nothing but a means to raising the stakes in his rivalry with MJF. Even going further back, during Darby Allin's reign with the belt - a very good reign by the way - the title was even treated like an afterthought at times back then. It was pushed to the side as Allin feuded with Team Taz, a rivalry he was too preoccupied with the even defend the championship at Revolution 2021.
That's not the first time the title has been inexcusably left off of pay-per-view though. In fact, it hasn't been defended on either of the last two AEW pay-per-views, with Guevara too busy with the Inner Circle vs. American Top Team battle mentioned previously at Full Gear, while the 28-year-old was also involved in another tag team match at Revolution, this time teaming with Darby Allin and Sting against Andrade El Idolo, Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy.
Not having the title defended on pay-per-view really paints it as lesser than the championships that are showcased on the shows, and as a result the TNT Title no longer feels as special as it once did.
It's Not Always Been Like This
As mentioned earlier, the TNT Title hasn't always been treated like an afterthought though, and it was once considered one of the most important championships in AEW.
Starting with Cody's title reign, followed by Brodie Lee's short, but excellent run with the belt, and then Allin's and Miro's tenures with it really added a lot of prestige to the championship, and it felt like a major title.
Miro in particular really treated the championship like the most important thing in pro wrestling, and his feud with Eddie Kingston over the belt was an incredible showcase for how much it meant to both men. Unfortunately, AEW haven't quite gotten it right following the former Rusev's run with the strap, and it's suffered several disappointing runs since.
Guevara's two reigns were major disappointments, and the short, forgettable run Cody had in-between also didn't do much to elevate its stature. Hopefully Scorpio Sky's reign with the championship will help elevate it back to the prestigious levels it once reached, but as it seems he is about to be sidelined in a storyline with Paige VanZant vs. Guevara and Tay Conti, don't hold your breath.