Dustin Rhodes Reflects On Emotional AEW Title Victory

Dustin Rhodes is the new TNT Champion.

In a result that no one could have predicted in the days leading up to All In, Dustin Rhodes walked out of the event as the TNT Champion.

The remarkable victory was set into motion by Adam Cole vacating the championship before announcing that his glittering career could be over. With Cole out, a Four-Way Match was set up between Kyle Fletcher, Daniel Garcia, Sammy Guevara, and Rhodes.

In the closing stages, Garcia trapped Rhodes in the Dragon Tamer, but he countered into an inside cradle to grab a shock win. Rhodes immediately collapsed in floods of tears before being joined in the ring by his nephews and the Von Erichs to celebrate.

Dustin Rhodes Reflects On Special Victory

During the AEW All In 2025 Post Show Media Scrum, Rhodes was asked about his victory, and he admitted that he was still trying to process it. He added that to be back working on TNT and TBS so many years after leaving WCW was something special.

“It means a great deal to me to be TNT Champion. Some of the funnest times I’ve had in my career were in WCW. I was killing it and I was right on the cusp of getting there, maybe entering the world title picture. Things went a different way and I ended up going to the other company.

To be back working on TNT and TBS, it’s very special. They’ve already put it on their homepage that I’m the face of the company now. That means the world to me. Still shocked, but I love this company to death. I love this. I’m going to treat this like it’s pure 18 karat gold and do the best that I can do.

Continue to stay on the path to ‘Keep Steppin,’ as my dad used to say, and defend this thing. I want to be a defending champion. I want to work hard, like I always have. Now, it’s time for me to step up. It means the world. It’s a very special and honest moment that is hard to put into the correct words. I’m very proud of myself. I finally did it.”

Ahead of the event, it was confirmed that Dustin Rhodes signed a six-year contract with AEW in late 2024. The Natural is looking to wrestle for around another three years before taking up a permanent role as a coach and producer, something he already does part-time.

Should Rhodes see out that contract, he’ll have spent six decades in the wrestling industry.

H/t to Fightful