QT Marshall Introduces 1FW’s Breakout Title: A New Path to the Spotlight
At 1FW Summer Stage, a new championship is born—not for the stars of today, but the stars of tomorrow.
By Mark O’Brien | @WrestleMobs
QT Marshall has a new championship. But it’s not for MJF. Not for The Gunns. Not for AEW’s rising stars.
It’s for the ones who haven’t broken out yet—the ones who still grind every Monday night in Georgia breweries, hoping for their shot.
“We created this title called the Breakout Title,” QT tells The Irish Wrestling Podcast.
“The idea behind it is, whoever wins becomes the first ever Breakout Champion. It’s a spotlight. It’s our stamp of approval.”
On Friday, July 26th at 1FW Summer Stage, that title becomes real.
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 1FWLive.com
Full interview: YouTube.com/@BodyslamNet
Why a Casino Gauntlet Match?
The Breakout Title will be decided in a Casino Gauntlet Match, a format inspired by AEW’s Casino Battle Royale but retooled for controlled chaos—and maximum visibility.
“We didn’t want to just do a generic battle royal,” QT explains.
“With the Casino Gauntlet, we can structure it in a way where everyone gets something. They’re in the ring longer. They get their moment.”
Unlike the pre-show battle royal, which will give every student a chance to appear, the gauntlet match will be selective, elevated, and story-driven.
“It’s not just, ‘Hey, go out there and hit some moves.’ We’re putting thought into who goes in, when, and what it means.”
Why AEW Talent Is Off Limits
QT made a deliberate choice: No AEW stars in the Breakout Title match. Not even under masks. Not even for buzz.
“I had other ideas to use other people. Like, maybe I could bring in a surprise from AEW,” he says.
“But if I do that… they’re not going to win. Because they’ve already broken out. That’s not what this is for.”
The title is meant to be a stepping stone—not a trophy.
“It’s for the ones who haven’t gotten their break. It’s to help them get that recognition. Hopefully, it brings light to their careers and helps them get to the next level.”
From Power Factory to Platform
QT has built a proven system—first through the Power Factory, then the Nightmare Factory, and now 1FW. Names like Lee Johnson, Anna Jay, Alan Angels, and others all came through his orbit. But for QT, this is about the next batch.
“We’ve never really touted it, but the lineage is there,” he says.
“I want the talent to brag about us—not the other way around.”
The Breakout Title is 1FW’s first real “franchise belt.” And QT wants it to matter.
What Happens Next?
Will the title be defended monthly? Will it be streamed? Could it headline future 1FW events?
QT’s thinking long-term—but he’s not rushing it.
“I’ve been very hesitant to stream 1FW. I want people at the live shows,” he explains.
“But we are taping Summer Stage. And we are talking about TV, syndication, all of it.”
The Breakout Champion, whoever it may be, will become the face of those conversations.
Final Word: Why This Title Matters
“It’s not about just putting a belt on someone,” QT says.
“It’s about telling the audience, ‘Watch this one. We believe in them before the rest of the world does.’”
This Friday, one name will be the first.
EVENT DETAILS
Friday, July 26, 2024
Center Stage Theater – Atlanta, GA
Tickets: Ticketmaster | 1FWLive.com
Full Interview: YouTube.com/@BodyslamNet
Follow: @WrestleMobs | Instagram
