How an independent wrestling show sparked a global promotion and filled Wembley Stadium
In short: In 2018, a group of wrestlers took a massive gamble by self-producing an independent event that sold 10,000 tickets. That singular success paved the way for All Elite Wrestling. Today, the event has evolved into a marquee international spectacle, drawing tens of thousands to iconic venues across the globe.
The story of All In began in September 2018, when wrestlers Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks—Matt and Nick Jackson—organized an independent pay-per-view in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. Operating under the banner of their stable, The Elite, and in partnership with Ring of Honor, they achieved a milestone not seen since 1993: a non-WWE or World Championship Wrestling event in the United States selling 10,000 tickets. This proof of concept was the catalyst for the formation of All Elite Wrestling in January 2019, with the founders becoming executive vice presidents alongside Kenny Omega.
For years, the rights to the All In name remained with Ring of Honor, leading AEW president Tony Khan to launch a spiritual successor, All Out, to avoid legal conflict. This changed in March 2022 when Khan purchased Ring of Honor, finally securing the rights to the All In brand. By April 2023, AEW announced the revival of the event, shifting its scale from independent arenas to the global stage of Wembley Stadium in London. The 2023 debut in the United Kingdom was a massive success, logging a paid attendance of 72,265, which remains the largest in the company's history.
While Wembley has become the event's traditional home during the United Kingdom's August Bank Holiday weekend, the schedule has seen strategic shifts. In 2025, a scheduling conflict with a Coldplay tour forced a move to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. This marked the first professional wrestling event at the baseball stadium and drew over 27,000 fans, establishing it as AEW's largest North American event. By 2026, the event returned to its customary August Bank Holiday slot at Wembley, cementing its status as one of AEW's "Big Five" marquee shows alongside Double or Nothing, All Out, Full Gear, and Revolution.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: All In (professional wrestling)
- Also: Wikidata — All In · CC0
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