Tony Khan changes the rules of AEW’s Casino Gauntlet

Tony Khan, President of All Elite Wrestling, has announced an important change in the way the company will manage contracts obtained by winning a match with the Casino Gauntlet stipulation. Up to now, those contracts worked similarly to WWE's Money in the Bank, allowing for unexpected use. However, the company's president has decided to modify that rule.

During the press conference following AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, Khan explained that from now on it will be mandatory to give at least one week's notice before executing a Casino Gauntlet contract.

I want AEW to be different and I have been listening to fan feedback. I believe people want wrestling championships to have integrity. I don't want a big title match that we can't promote, or to use stipulations that are already being used elsewhere. Therefore, from now on all cash-ins must be announced with at least one week's notice, to inform the fans and maintain the integrity of a title match.

With this move, All Elite Wrestling distances itself from WWE and seeks to strengthen its own identity. The decision also aims to improve the promotion of matches, ensuring that fans know in advance when the most important fights will take place.

Currently, MJF holds the male Casino Gauntlet contract, although he did not need to cash it in for his recent match against Adam Page at Forbidden Door. As for the women's division, Athena earned her opportunity at All In: Texas and decided to cash it in against Toni Storm at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

The Casino Gauntlet concept was first introduced by AEW in 2020 as a high-stakes battle that rewarded its winner with a contract guaranteeing a future World Championship opportunity. Much like WWE’s Money in the Bank, the element of unpredictability gave the stipulation extra buzz, as fans never knew when the winner might cash in. Over the years, the contract has played a pivotal role in AEW storylines, elevating stars such as Christian Cage and MJF, who used their victories to propel themselves into the main event scene. While the new rule will remove the surprise factor, it also aims to add prestige and promotional value to future championship matches.