Who is the (almost) linear AEW World Champion?
I think its pretty well known that Drew McIntyre is the lineal AEW World champion. Although somewhat interesting that the lineal champion is in WWE, the overall history of the lineal AEW World Championship is kinda boring, with it pretty much following the official title history, save for brief reigns by Christian Cage and Ricky Starks.
So with All In being this weekend, I decided to see what would happen if we instead start at when Punk was stripped of the title following Brawl Out and Jon Moxley was crowned the new champion. Like most linear titles, this "almost linear" world title can only be won by pinfall or submission.
September 21, 2022: Moxley defeats Bryan Danielson to become the Almost Linear World Champion
October 8, 2022: Nick Gage defeats Jon Moxley in a title vs career match at GCW Fight Club 2022, winning the GCW World Championship, as well as the almost-linear AEW World Championship
March 17, 2023: Masha Slamovich defeats Nick Gage at GCW Eye For Eye
March 29, 2023: Johnny Hollywood (John Hennigan/John Morrison/Johnny TV) defeats Masha Slamovich at Pandemonium Pro Wrestling’s Best Damn Things event in a match in which Johnny Hollywood also defended the Pandemonium TV title
April 6, 2023: Jacob Fatu defeats John Hennigan on MLW Fusion to win the MLW National Openweight championship, as well as the ALmost-Linear AEW World Championship
May 19, 2023: Matt Cardona defeats Jacob Fatu at House Of Glory’s Beware The Fury 2023 event, in a match in which he also defended the HOG Heavyweight Championship
May 21, 2023: Cole Radrick defeats Matt Cardona at GCW I Cant Save You
May 26, 2023: Rina Yamashita defeats Cole Radrick at GCW Lifestyle in a match in which she also defended the GCW Ultraviolent Championship
June 4, 2023: Blake Christian defeats Rina Yamashita and Masha Slamovich at GCW Cage of Survival 2 event in a 3 way Cage of Survival match that was also for Masha’s GCW World Championship
October 21, 2023: Gravity defeats Blake Christian, Gringo Loco, and Slim J in a 4 Corner Survival match on Ring Of Honor.
October 22, 2023: Gringo Loco defeats Gravity at Mystery Wrestling #4
October 28, 2023: Angelico defeats Gringo Loco, Metalik, and Slim J in a 4 Corner Survival match on Ring of Honor
November 4, 2023: Eddie Kingston defeats Angelico on Ring Of Honor in match also for the ROH World Championship
November 25, 2023: Brody King defeats Eddie Kingston on Collision in the first round of the Continental Classic Blue Leauge
December 12, 2023: Andrade El Idolo defeats Brody King in a Continental Classic Blue League match at AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming Part 1
December 16, 2023: Claudio Castagnoli defeats Andrade El Idolo in a Continental Classic Blue League match at AEW Collision: Winter Is Coming Part 3
January 10, 2024: Hangman Adam Page defeats Claudio Castagnoli on Dynamite
March 3, 2024: Samoa Joe defeats Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland in a 3 way match at Revolution 2024, finally re-unifying the Almost-linear AEW World Championship with the officially recognized title
April 21, 2024: Swerve Strickland defeats Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty