So we threw out Aatrox' lore?

Why not both?

It's always been speculated that "Aatrox" is in fact that weapon and the demonic entity holding it is nothing else but a corrupted wielder.

are you retarded? if you actually read the lore, you would know that the darkin is a race.

Aatrox, iirc, was one of the last champions released before the Institute of War was retconned out of existence and his reveal involved Ezreal 'discovering' him.

So yes.

His lore's gonna need rewriting.