How a London wrestling spectacle shattered records and sparked a high-profile backstage fallout
In short: All In 2023 marked All Elite Wrestling's first foray into the United Kingdom, transforming Wembley Stadium into a global stage for professional wrestling. While the event achieved a historic live gate, it also became the site of a volatile backstage altercation that led to the termination of a star performer.
Held on August 27, 2023, All In: London represented a significant milestone for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was the promotion's first pay-per-view event outside North America and the first professional wrestling show at the current Wembley Stadium in over three decades. The event drew massive commercial interest, with ticket sales reaching 70,400 by late July and a final live gate exceeding US$9 million. This figure stands as the largest for a wrestling show not promoted by WWE, NJPW, or WCW.
The event's attendance figures became a point of contention. While AEW initially announced a total of 81,035, local government data indicated a turnstile count of 72,265. It was later clarified that 81,035 tickets had been distributed as of August 18, with total tickets—including complimentary ones—reaching the 84,000 to 85,000 range. Despite these discrepancies, the scale of the production underscored AEW's rapid growth since its 2019 formation, which followed the success of an independent 2018 event also titled All In.
Beyond the spectacle, the event was marred by a backstage incident involving CM Punk and Jack Perry. The conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the use of real glass in a television segment. During the Zero Hour pre-show, Perry referenced the dispute on-camera, leading to a physical confrontation with Punk backstage. Following an investigation by AEW’s disciplinary committee and outside legal counsel, Punk’s contract was terminated for cause on September 2, 2023. This marked the end of Punk's tenure in the company, occurring exactly one year after his involvement in a separate post-event altercation at the 2022 All Out show.
The main event saw MJF retain the AEW World Championship against Adam Cole in a match that featured a dramatic conclusion involving Roderick Strong. Other notable bouts included a Stadium Stampede match and a four-way contest for the AEW Women's World Championship. The event was broadcast globally, cementing its status as a major cultural moment in modern professional wrestling.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All In (2023)
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