AEW made headlines at Full Gear 2025 when Ricochet walked out as the inaugural AEW National Champion, but now AEW President Tony Khan is finally revealing the real reason behind the pick — and it’s all about global appeal.
Speaking on the Battleground podcast, Khan gave a detailed update on what went into the decision, and why Ricochet was the right choice to launch the new title.
“We’ve got a new National Champion, Ricochet, who will be defending that title all over the world. And he’s somebody that not only AEW fans respect—I believe he’s a great, great wrestler—but also someone who is a huge name in wrestling and a great person to represent AEW, not just here on our TV shows, but also when traveling to other promotions in America.”
Khan revealed that Ricochet’s growing demand internationally was also a big part of the decision. The title was designed with flexibility and cross-promotional presence in mind — and Ricochet fits that vision perfectly.
“Companies like Ring of Honor, New Japan Strong, and even in Mexico with CMLL—lots of other promotions want to bring in Ricochet. He’s a hot booking right now as the National Champion.”
Khan went on to say that Ricochet isn’t just wearing the gold — he’s actively putting it to work overseas.
“Ricochet’s gone and represented AEW in New Japan. He’s represented AEW in CMLL. And he’s also a great TV star on our shows.”
For Khan, Ricochet isn’t just a champion — he’s the blueprint for what AEW wants in this new title’s legacy.
“He’s somebody that I would love to have in any kind of championship match in AEW at any time. So, I think he’s a great winner for that first National Championship.”
With AEW expanding its global presence and talent exchanges becoming more common, Ricochet’s high-flying, international-ready style makes him a strategic pick to carry the National Title into new territories.
As AEW builds out its next era of champions, Ricochet may just set the bar for what it means to carry a title beyond the company walls.
Do you think Tony Khan made the right call by choosing Ricochet to launch the National Championship? Will this title become AEW’s gateway to the global wrestling scene? Sound off in the comments — we want your take!
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