Tony Khan Changes Major Rule For AEW Casino Gauntlet Cash-Ins
Tony Khan has made a major change in the AEW Casino Gauntlet cash-in rule.
The AEW Casino Gauntlet is a multi-competitor gauntlet match introduced on April 24, 2024. Inspired by casino themes, it features staggered, random entries and rewards the winner with a world title contract in their division. Winners have leverage to “cash in” their contract for a title match at any time, similar to WWE’s Money in the Bank. But not anymore.
Tony Khan Says No More Surprise Cash-Ins
At the AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door post-event media scrum on August 23, 2025, Tony Khan confirmed a major change to the Casino Gauntlet cash-in rule. Previously, Gauntlet winners could cash in at any time, even during a match, for surprise title opportunities.
Khan announced that moving forward, all cash-ins will require at least one week’s notice before the title match. He explained the adjustment was made to protect championship integrity and allow for proper promotion, distancing the AEW system from the “impromptu” style popularized elsewhere.
“I want AEW to be different and I’ve been listening to the feedback and the voice of the fans and I think people want the championships in the sport of pro wrestling to have integrity.”
“I don’t want to have a big ticket championship match that we are unable to advertise and also I don’t really want to necessarily utilize a stipulation here that’s being utilized other places.”
“That’s why going forward, I want to set the tone that from now on I think the right thing to do is all contract executions should be on at least a week’s notice so we can properly promote the matches, so that we can properly give the fans notice and have the integrity of a championship match.” [H/T Wrestling Observer]
In 2025, MJF won the Men’s Casino Gauntlet at AEW All In: Texas on July 12, earning the right to challenge for the AEW World Championship. Athena captured victory in the Women’s Casino Gauntlet at the same event, securing her shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship.
Athena executed her cash-in ahead of time for a pre-announced bout against Toni Storm at Forbidden Door but was unsuccessful in capturing the title. MJF still holds his contract and has not yet cashed in, leaving fans eagerly awaiting when and against whom he’ll make his challenge known under the new one-week notice rule.
AEW Returns To Australia
Ahead of Forbidden Door 2025, Tony Khan announced AEW’s return to Australia, building off the company’s successful first show in the country, Grand Slam Australia, held at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on February 15, 2025. The event drew over 10,000 passionate fans.
In the main event, “Timeless” Toni Storm delighted her hometown crowd by defeating Mariah May to become the first-ever four-time AEW Women’s World Champion. Tony Khan’s new announcement brings Grand Slam Sydney to Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, 2026, followed by a house show live event in Brisbane just 24 hours later.