A spiritual sequel born from a legal loophole
In short: When All Elite Wrestling (AEW) planned its first major pay-per-view, they faced a branding wall. They couldn't use the name of their spiritual predecessor because it was owned by another company. The resulting event, All Out, became a masterclass in navigating intellectual property while building a new wrestling empire.
The 2019 All Out event served as the inaugural professional wrestling pay-per-view for AEW. Although intended as a spiritual successor to the self-produced 'All In' show from September 2018, organisers faced a major branding obstacle because Ring of Honor (ROH) held the rights to that title. To avoid potential litigation, AEW president Tony Khan chose the name 'All Out.' This strategic naming choice highlights how intellectual property rights can dictate the visual and commercial identity of major entertainment launches.
On August 31, 2019, the show occurred at Hoffman Estates, Illinois' Sears Centre Arena, mirroring its previous location. Despite the name change, the promotion aimed to replicate the atmosphere of the original independent show. The scale was significant; tickets sold out within just 15 minutes, and the event drew a sold-out attendance of 10,500 people. Observers remarked that this swift sell-out surpassed the speed of any other North American professional wrestling show during that period.
Beyond branding, All Out established the hierarchy of the new promotion. It featured ten matches, including the crowning of Chris Jericho as the inaugural AEW World Champion and the unveiling of the AEW Women's World Championship. While it garnered fewer traditional American television pay-per-view buys than its predecessor 'Double or Nothing,' it saw higher engagement on international platforms like B/R Live and ITV in the United Kingdom. These metrics suggest a shift in how modern wrestling audiences consume content, moving toward diverse, global digital outlets.
The event also showcased complex narrative weaving, with storylines produced across various YouTube series like 'Being The Elite' and 'The Road to All Out.' This multi-platform approach allowed for nuanced character development—such as the rivalry between Cody Rhodes and Shawn Spears or the debut of Pac—to reach fans before they ever stepped into the ring.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All Out (2019)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/design-all-out-2019.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Design tools & materials · More in Design · Latest · A–Z · All topics
