AEW Battle of the Belts

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AEW Battle of the Belts
AEW Battle of the Belts logo.png
AEW Battle of the Belts logo
GenreProfessional wrestling
Created byTony Khan
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodes1
Production
ProducerTony Khan
Running time60 minutes
Production companyAll Elite Wrestling
Release
Original networkTNT
Original releaseJanuary 8, 2022 (2022-01-08)
Chronology
Related showsAEW Dynamite
AEW Rampage
AEW Dark
AEW Dark: Elevation

AEW Battle of the Belts is a series of professional wrestling television specials produced by All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The specials air on TNT in the United States with a total of four planned episodes to air quarterly throughout 2022. The inaugural event took place live on January 8 with the second scheduled to be taped on April 15. As its name implies, all matches on the specials are championship matches.

History[]

In May 2021, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) renegotiated its broadcasting deal with WarnerMedia which saw AEW's flagship television program, Dynamite, move from TNT to TBS in January 2022, while its other core program, Rampage, remained on TNT.[1][2] Also as part of the deal, AEW agreed to produce four quarterly television specials on TNT that would take place on Saturdays.[1][3] AEW executive and wrestler Cody Rhodes said that these specials would be similar to Jim Crockett Promotions/World Championship Wrestling's Clash of the Champions and WWE's Saturday Night's Main Event shows, calling them super events.[4] Wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer reported that the quarterly specials would be one-hour shows, but said they were originally planned to be longer, and also that they would feature pay-per-view caliber cards.[5]

On November 24, 2021, the television special was announced to be titled Battle of the Belts with the inaugural event scheduled to be held live on January 8, 2022, at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The tagline was confirmed as "Saturday Fight Night".[6][7] The name "Battle of the Belts" comes from a National Wrestling Alliance event held from 1985 to 1987 by the promotion's Florida territory that was operated by Eddie Graham.[6]

AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that due to the show's one-hour length, not all of AEW's championships would be defended on the specials, but their goal was to put on great championship matches.[8] On the day of the inaugural event, Khan revealed that matches for the January 11 episode of their YouTube show, Dark, were scheduled to be taped before the Battle of the Belts I live broadcast, with all other AEW champions participating in these Dark matches.[9]

On February 15, 2022, AEW announced that Battle of the Belts II would be taped on April 15 at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas. The air date for the second event, however, was not revealed.[10]

Events[]

Event Date City Venue Main Event Ref
Battle of the Belts I January 8, 2022 Charlotte, North Carolina Bojangles Coliseum Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (c) vs. Riho in a singles match for the AEW Women's World Championship [11]
Battle of the Belts II April 15, 2022
(air date TBA) 		Garland, Texas Curtis Culwell Center TBA [10]
Battle of the Belts III TBA TBA TBA TBA [1]
Battle of the Belts IV TBA TBA TBA TBA [1]

Results[]

Battle of the Belts I[]

Battle of the Belts I
AEW BOTB I POSTER.webp
PromotionAll Elite Wrestling
DateJanuary 8, 2022
CityCharlotte, North Carolina
VenueBojangles Coliseum
Tagline(s)Saturday Fight Night
Battle of the Belts chronology
← Previous
First 		Next →
II

Battle of the Belts I took place on January 8, 2022, at the Bojangles Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina. The event aired live on TNT at 8pm Eastern Time (ET). In the main event of the one-hour special, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. defeated Riho to retain the AEW Women's World Championship. On the undercard, Ricky Starks defeated Matt Sydal to retain the FTW Championship and Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes to become the interim AEW TNT Champion; Guevara was originally scheduled to face lineal champion Cody Rhodes for the title, however, Cody was pulled due to COVID-19-related issues.[11]

No. Results Stipulations Times[11]
1 Sammy Guevara defeated Dustin Rhodes (with Arn Anderson) by pinfall Singles match to determine the interim AEW TNT Champion[12] 16:15
2 Ricky Starks (c) (with Powerhouse Hobbs) defeated Matt Sydal by pinfall Singles match for the FTW Championship[13] 9:00
3 Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D (c) (with Rebel and Jamie Hayter) defeated Riho by submission Singles match for the AEW Women's World Championship[14] 12:47
  • (c) – refers to the champion(s) heading into the match

Battle of the Belts II[]

Battle of the Belts II
AEW Battle of the Belts 2.jpg
PromotionAll Elite Wrestling
DateApril 15, 2022
(aired April 16, 2022)
CityGarland, Texas
VenueCurtis Culwell Center
Battle of the Belts chronology
← Previous
I 		Next →
—


Battle of the Belts II is scheduled to be taped on April 15, 2022, at the Curtis Culwell Center in Garland, Texas.[10]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Lambert, Jeremy (May 20, 2021). "Tony Khan Turned Down Third Hour Of AEW Dynamite, Got 'Fair Financial Considerations' For TBS Move". Fightful. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  2. ^ Joe Otterson (September 23, 2021). "'AEW: Dynamite' Sets January Date for TBS Move, 'Rampage' to Remain on TNT". Variety.com. Retrieved September 23, 2021.
  3. ^ Heydorn, Zack (November 24, 2021). "AEW officially announces Battle of the Belts special". PWTorch. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  4. ^ Casey, Connor (November 1, 2021). "Latest Report on AEW's First TNT Special Event in 2022". Comicbook.com. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  5. ^ Ounpraseuth, Jason (November 2, 2021). "Backstage News On Plans For AEW's Battle Of The Belts". Wrestling Inc. Retrieved December 17, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Guzzo, Gisberto (November 24, 2021). "Date Revealed For First-Ever AEW Battle Of The Belts". Fightful. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  7. ^ "AEW Battle of the Belts". All Elite Wrestling. Retrieved December 16, 2021.
  8. ^ Lambert, Jeremy (December 20, 2021). "Tony Khan Confirms AEW Battle Of The Belts Will Be A One Hour Special". Fightful. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  9. ^ Lee, Joseph (January 8, 2022). "AEW To Tape House Show Before Battle of the Belts Tonight, Matches Will Air On Dark". 411mania. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  10. ^ a b c Johnson, Mike (February 15, 2022). "AEW ANNOUNCES BATTLE OF THE BELTS II". PWInsider. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
  11. ^ a b c McGuire, Colin (January 8, 2022). "1/8 AEW Battle of the Belts results: McGuire's review of Britt Baker vs. Riho for the AEW Women's Championship, Dustin Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara for the Interim TNT Championship, Ricky Starks vs. Matt Sydal for the FTW Championship". Pro Wrestling Dot Net. Retrieved January 8, 2022.
  12. ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEWonTV] (January 7, 2022). "BREAKING: @DustinRhodes will now face @SammyGuevara for the INTERIM TNT Title tomorrow night at #BattleOfTheBelts! #AEWRampage" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Twitter.
  13. ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (January 7, 2022). "Another incredible match has been added to #AEW's #BattleOfTheBelts! It's #RickyStarks vs. @MattSydal for the FTW Title TOMORROW LIVE at 8/7c on @TNTDrama!" (Tweet). Retrieved January 7, 2022 – via Twitter.
  14. ^ All Elite Wrestling [@AEW] (December 17, 2021). "It's official: @RealBrittBaker will defend her #AEW Women's World Title against top contender and former champion @riho_gtmv at AEW #BattleOfTheBelts on Saturday, Jan. 8 LIVE at 8/7c on TNT from Charlotte, NC!" (Tweet). Retrieved December 17, 2021 – via Twitter.

External links[]

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