In September 2019, a month before All Elite Wrestling launched their weekly television program, AEW Executive Vice President and wrestler Cody teased that the promotion would eventually debut a television championship, but their focus at that time was on their other recently established titles. In February 2020, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer directly asked Cody on the possibility of the promotion adding a secondary championship. Although he did not confirm or deny it, Cody did not rule out the possibility of a secondary or "mid-card" title debuting that year. The following month on March 30 on AEW's YouTube series Road to Dynamite, a secondary championship was officially announced. AEW play-by-play commentator and senior producerTony Schiavone revealed that there would be an eight-man, single-elimination tournament to crown the first-ever AEW TNT Champion. The tournament began on the April 8 episode of Dynamite with the final scheduled for Double or Nothing on May 23. On the April 29 episode, Cody and Lance Archer won their respective semifinals matches, setting up the inaugural championship match. At Double or Nothing, Cody defeated Archer to become the inaugural champion. Former professional boxerMike Tyson presented the championship to Cody. The championship is named after the TNT television network, which airs AEW's flagship program, Dynamite. In the press release about the TNT Championship, AEW President and CEOTony Khan stated:
Inaugural tournament
The first half of the TNT Championship Tournament bracket was announced on the March 31 episode of Dark, with the second half revealed on the following night's Dynamite. The tournament began on the April 8 episode of Dynamite and concluded at Double or Nothing on May 23.
Belt design
The championship belt features six plates on a red leather strap. The center plate prominently features the TNT network logo at the center. Above the TNT logo is AEW's logo, while below the TNT logo is a red banner that says "CHAMPION". The two inner side plates feature the "Tara on Techwood" building that is currently the central point of AT&T's Techwood campus that was the original home of CNN, TBS, and TNT, next to McCamish Pavilion. The two outer side plates feature AEW's logo, while a third smaller side plate on the far right side also features AEW's logo. When the belt was unveiled at Double or Nothing on May 23, it had silver plating, but commentator Tony Schiavone stated that production of the belt had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the final version would have gold plating and be unveiled at a later date. The belt was produced by Ron Edwardson of Red Leather, who also made the AEW World Tag Team Championship belts. He further said that there would also be nickel plating in addition to gold on the final version of the TNT Championship as well as a "relief TNT logo". In response to a question on Twitter, Cody stated that the final version of the belt would be unveiled on August 12, 2020.
Reigns
The current champion is Cody, who won the title by defeating Lance Archer in a tournament final to become inaugural champion at Double or Nothing in Jacksonville, Florida on May 23, 2020.
