How a single wrestling bet changed the industry forever
In short: In 2017, a journalist claimed a major wrestling promotion could never sell 10,000 tickets again. Cody Rhodes took that doubt as a personal challenge, eventually launching a self-funded event that rewrote the rules of professional wrestling.
The 201<0xC2>8 event, titled All In, was born from a specific moment of professional skepticism. When Wrestling Observer Newsletter journalist Dave Meltzer suggested in May 2017 that Ring of Honor (ROH) would not be able to sell 10,000 tickets "any time soon," Cody Rhodes responded with a direct challenge. What started as a disagreement regarding ticket sales transformed into a massive, independently financed production led by The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) and Rhodes.
Held on September 1, 2018, at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, the event proved the skeptics wrong. Since 1993, no American wrestling show outside of WCW or WWE had achieved 10,000 ticket sales until this event. Even though just one bout had been revealed when sales began, the high interest caused the event to sell out within 30 minutes.
The success of All In acted as a catalyst for a new era in the industry. The creation of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in January 2019 was prompted by this success, with Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and The Elite taking on leadership roles. The event's legacy continues through AEW's annual summer programming, which has since expanded to include the event as a marquee fixture in their lineup.
The event's scale was reflected in its diverse roster, featuring talent from NJPW, Impact Wrestling, Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide, and the NWA. Beyond the ring, the production utilized various digital platforms, including FITE TV and the Honor Club, and even featured a pre-show, Zero Hour, which aired on WGN America.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All In (2018)
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