Why a television network's branding defines the secondary championship of women's professional wrestling
In short: When AEW moved its flagship program to TBS in 2022, the promotion opted to create a new women's title rather than rename its existing men's championship. The resulting TBS Championship serves as a secondary title, mirroring the design of its male counterpart while establishing its own unique lineage and history.
The AEW TBS Championship was officially unveiled on October 6, 2021, during the second anniversary episode of the program Dynamite. Its creation followed a strategic shift in the promotion's broadcasting schedule. While the men's TNT Championship had been established in March 2020, the move of Dynamite from the TNT network to its sister channel, TBS, in January 2022 prompted discussions about potential rebranding. However, executives confirmed that the TNT title would retain its name, leading to the decision to introduce a separate, secondary championship specifically for the women's division.
The inaugural champion was determined through a 12-woman single-elimination tournament, which commenced on October 23, 2021, and concluded on January 5, 2022—the same date Dynamite made its debut broadcast on the TBS network. Jade Cargill emerged as the first titleholder after defeating Ruby Soho in the tournament final. Since its inception, the title has seen eight distinct reigns across seven different champions, with one period of vacancy recorded as of October 9, 2026.
The belt's physical design is intentionally linked to the men's TNT Championship, sharing a similar structure of six plates on a black leather strap. Both belts were commissioned by AEW and designed by Red Leather, with construction handled by Rey Rey Championship Belts. A notable homage to television history is found on the inner side plates, which feature the address 1050 Techwood Drive in Atlanta, the original home of both the TNT and TBS networks. While the design is largely consistent with the men's title, the TBS version distinguishes itself with a blue 'CHAMPION' banner, contrasting with the red banner found on the TNT belt.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: AEW TBS Championship
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