At AEW in Texas 2025, a new champion was crowned following the announcement that the title was vacant. Just about 90 minutes before the event kicked off, it was revealed that the TNT title match between Adam Cole and Kyle Fletcher would not proceed due to Cole’s medical inability to compete.
As a result, Cole vacated the title, prompting a four-way match to decide the new champion. The contenders were Kyle Fletcher, Daniel Garcia, Dustin Rhodes, and Sammy Guevara. Before the match began, Cole made an emotional appearance and gave a heartfelt speech in the ring.
The four-way bout concluded with Dustin Rhodes pinning Daniel Garcia via a roll-up to claim the victory. This marks Rhodes’ first official AEW Championship win, although he currently holds the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Guevara and the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championships alongside Ross and Marshall Von Erich.
Rhodes has a significant history with AEW, having participated in its inaugural Double or Nothing event in 2019, and is well-known for his compelling matches against his brother Cody Rhodes, considered some of the promotion’s best.
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Fan Take: This crowning of Dustin Rhodes as AEW Champion is a pivotal moment, underscoring the depth of talent and unpredictable excitement AEW brings to wrestling fans. It promises to create fresh storylines and invigorate the championship scene, keeping AEW dynamic and compelling for its audience.
