At AEW Grand Slam: Dynamite, HOOK defended the FTW Championship against Roderick Strong, proving his skills against the veteran wrestler. Little did fans know going into this match that this would be the final FTW Championship match in the title’s illustrious history.
After the match, HOOK shared an embrace with Strong before joining Tony Schiavone at ringside to make a stunning announcement: he was retiring the FTW Championship. HOOK handed the title to his father Taz, declaring “This is yours” in a moment that brought tears to the eyes of the Human Suplex Machine/commentator.
On Twitter, Tony Khan shared his appreciation for Taz, the rightful owner of the FTW Championship.
The FTW Title In AEW
While first introduced in ECW by Taz in 1998, it wouldn’t be until 2020 that the gold debuted in AEW. Five men held the title during its All-Elite run, with Ricky Starks boasting the longest reign at 378 days. HOOK holds the record for the most combined days, as his three reigns saw him hold the gold for a total of 627 days.
With the FTW Championship now officially retired, HOOK’s emotional tribute to his father marks the end of an era. It also raises the question as to what’s next for HOOK and whether he is ready to set his sights on AEW’s sanctioned titles. Stay tuned to SEScoops for all the latest on HOOK as he starts a new chapter in his career, one without the FTW Championship around his waist.
