AEW Dynamite Crowns New TBS Champion Amidst Thrilling Title Tournament

Published: 2 hours ago by Liam | Last Updated: 2 hours ago by Liam

Liam has reported and analyzed wrestling news for more than eight years and currently serves as Managing Editor at WrestleTalk.com. With 18 years of immersion in the industry, he has authored over 11,000 articles and oversees the site’s comprehensive coverage.

AEW

A new champion was crowned during the July 1 edition of AEW Dynamite, which took place in San Diego, California.

Weeks earlier, Willow Nightingale announced that she would vacate the TBS Championship and withdraw from the Owen Hart Foundation tournament because of an injury.

Mercedes Mone stepped in as Nightingale’s replacement and captured the tournament final this past weekend at AEW Forbidden Door, defeating Maya World.

Consequently, qualifying matches have been held, culminating in a Survival of the Fittest match tonight to determine the new champion, featuring a six‑way elimination format.

The competitors in tonight’s tournament were Maika, Harley Cameron, Hikaru Shida, Persephone, Kris Statlander, and Queen Aminata.

The bout ultimately narrowed to a showdown between Statlander and Shida, with Shida securing the victory and claim of the TBS Title.

She adds her name to the lineage of TBS Champions that includes Jade Cargill, Kris Statlander, Julia Hart, Willow Nightingale, Mercedes Moné, and now Shida.

Shida, a three‑time AEW Women’s World Champion, further enriches her impressive résumé with this additional title.

Shida’s victory was secured when she capitalized on an attack by Persephone on Statlander, following Statlander’s elimination of Persephone.

Assessing AEW’s Championship Landscape

Critics have long argued that AEW carries an excessive number of championships, yet the company continues to introduce additional titles despite these concerns.

For the women’s division, the championships include the World Championship, the TBS Championship, and the Women’s World Tag Team Championship.

While adding further titles may seem excessive, the current trio appears appropriate given the growing depth of the women’s roster.

The men’s division holds the World Championship, World Tag Team Championship, World Trios Championship, TNT Championship, Continental Championship, International Championship, and National Championship.

There is a strong case that AEW has over‑extended its midcard offerings; the TNT, Continental, International, and National titles lack distinct identity beyond minor rule variations, making their proliferation unnecessary.

Moreover, AEW frequently showcases ROH titles on Dynamite, such as Bandido’s ROH World Title and Lio Rush’s TV Title, in addition to various non‑AEW championships held by its talent.

While the women’s title structure appears balanced, the men’s multitude of championships risks diluting the significance of the midcard belts.

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