The tension between AEW and the NWA is boiling over—and NWA promoter Bryan Idol claims Tony Khan’s latest move is nothing short of retaliation.
Just after AEW President Tony Khan announced the new AEW National Championship, Idol fired back online, accusing AEW of ripping off NWA’s historic National Championship name and using it to get revenge for a previous legal dispute between the two promotions.
“This is the lamest thing in the history of wrestling,” Idol said when speaking to Ringside News directly. “AEW and Tony Khan are trying to use the NWA National Championship as one of their belts and pretending as if we don’t currently have the originator and original champion Austin Idol and the current National Champion Mike Mondo on the active NWA roster!”
Idol went even further, alleging that this new title reveal was a deliberate response to a lawsuit the NWA filed against AEW—one that forced AEW to abandon plans for their rumored FOX project, AEW: Shockwave.
“The use of the word ‘Shockwave’ in programming as a name of a program was originally owned rights by N.W.A. That’s why it never came out for AEW when they announced that it would—because they got hit with a lawsuit,” Idol explained.
According to Idol, the newly created AEW National Championship is a direct shot back at the NWA—a company AEW once worked alongside during its early years. Idol believes Khan’s ego and resources are now being used to “buy” the perception of legitimacy rather than earning it.
“This is retaliation for AEW already currently losing a lawsuit to NWA over the use of intellectual property, so now they are trying to stir the pot by having Tony Khan’s Richie Rich announce this tonight. Khan, it’s bad enough you are clearly a money mark who bought his way into the business, but even worse that you would blatantly try to steal the legacy of another existing company because you perceive it to be something you can buy your way out of in court! Pathetic!”
As previously notd, he took a jab at Khan and AEW’s creative direction, taking aim at what he called their “indie vanity project” aesthetic.
“Tony, this is beneath you. Stick to what made you famous. Small weird hands-in-the-pocket wrestlers and other local VFW guys that you put in main events… stop being petty, bro.”
He also reminded fans that the real NWA National Championship still exists—and its legacy belongs to them.
“Austin Idol is the first ever National Champion and basically the creator of it all and he is still active in the NWA!”
With Idol’s accusations now public, the wrestling industry is watching closely to see if AEW or Tony Khan will respond to the controversy. This whole situation is starting to feel less like a championship announcement and more like a behind-the-scenes grudge match.
November 5, 2025 10:24 pm