Ricochet Crowned First-Ever AEW National Champion at Full Gear – AEW officially ushered in a new era at Full Gear PPV in Newark, New Jersey, where the company crowned its inaugural AEW National Champion. The title was introduced earlier this fall, and its first holder was determined in a Casino Gauntlet match featuring a stacked lineup of competitors.
The match began with Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin entering at numbers one and two, briefly reuniting their long-standing rivalry. Ricochet entered third, but chaos immediately took over. The Demand—Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona—hit the ring alongside him, blindsiding Lashley and Benjamin while Ricochet went straight for MVP. The attack left MVP needing assistance to the back, and The Demand were ultimately ejected for interfering.
As the match continued, the field grew more unpredictable. One standout moment came when Matt Menard hit the ring while Daniel Garcia was already in the match. The former allies exploded into a brawl that couldn’t be contained, spilling into the crowd as their rivalry reignited.
The closing sequence came down to Ricochet and Kevin Knight. After surviving the chaos of the earlier onslaught and multiple near-eliminations, Ricochet connected with the Spirit Gun to put Knight away. That final strike secured Ricochet’s victory and etched his name in the history books as the first-ever AEW National Champion.
Casino Gauntlet Entrants
- Bobby Lashley
- Shelton Benjamin
- Ricochet
- Claudio Castagnoli
- Daniel Garcia
- Orange Cassidy
- Wheeler Yuta
- Kevin Knight
- Roderick Strong
- Mark Davis
- Speedball Mike Bailey
- Daddy Magic Matt Menard
Ricochet Crowned First-Ever AEW National Champion at Full Gear
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