What if I told you that the biggest wrestling event ever took place in Wembley Stadium last weekend…and it wasn’t a WWE show?
It did happen. It was, in fact, a promotion by AEW, the four-year-old company owned by Tony Khan, whose family also own Fulham and the Jacksonville Jaguars. AEW All In was first stadium show to a packed crowd of over 80,000 and featured such names as Chris Jericho, Sting, Christian and CM Punk, amongst others.
Here are 10 of the best moments from the biggest wrestling show of all time (in terms of tickets sold), from someone who witnessed it with his own two eyes.
Chris Jericho singing his way to the ring
To diehard and casual wrestling fans alike, Chris Jericho is a household name. For AEW’S first ever stadium show and first show in the UK, he decided he would sing his theme music en route to the ring, (Chris is also the frontman of rock band FOZZY), Chris walked to the ring singing his band’s hit song ‘Judas’ as 80k wrestling fans joined in. It wasn't quite Live Aid, but it was quite epic all the same.
Over 80,000 people sang "Judas" with @IamJericho and @FOZZYROCK in Wembley Stadium before Jericho's match with IWGP United States Champion @WillOspreay at #AEWAllIn!
Did you miss the #AEWAllIn PPV? Order it right now!
🇺🇸: https://t.co/mUn4tim61a
🌐: https://t.co/p1Cr3Sb7zg pic.twitter.com/RJMy9lCoM3— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 28, 2023
The madness of Stadium Stampede
This has to be seen to be believed, and it is not for the faint of heart! Ten wrestlers fighting their way across Wembley with brutal and often hilarious results. Dublin's own Session Moth Martina even made an appearance as a barmaid at a back stage VIP bar as the lads tore strips off each other. Matches like these would remind you of the peak WWE Attitude era days, over the top violence and crimson masks a plenty. Imagine how fun a Croke Park Stadium Stampede would be.
@SimonMiller316 y'all spot Simon at stadium stampede?
Amazing show! Golden Up!#ALLIN #AEW pic.twitter.com/XqNz7xkycu— Mr Custard Bags (@lookatitmun) August 28, 2023
Sometimes you gatta do it. https://t.co/taBU7pYltE
— Orange Cassidy (@orangecassidy) August 28, 2023
Sting living his best life
No, not the frontman of the Police. Sting is a legendary wrestler from the heyday of the WCW who still wrestles in the squared circle at the tender age of 64. He has been wrestling since the 1980s and his style and look (inspired by the film The Crow) has become iconic. Sting gives zero focals and is living his best life putting guys half his age through tables in front of packed crowds. Sting and his wild protégé Darby Allin picked up the win in this coffin match vs Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage (aka Christian in WWE) .Check out Sting and Darby’s superb entrance to Metalllica’s ‘Seek and Destroy’.
I was 9 years old again the very second I heard “Seek and Destroy” by Metallica play for Sting and Darby’s entrance at All In. 🙌🏽
pic.twitter.com/LuIYjjjYzH— thewrestlingclassic (@twcworldwide) August 28, 2023
.@Sting and @DarbyAllin went all out during the Casket Match at #AEWAllIn, and Wembley Stadium loved every moment!
Did you miss the #AEWAllIn PPV? Order it now!
🇺🇸 https://t.co/mUn4timDQI
🌐https://t.co/p1Cr3SbFoO pic.twitter.com/QVTSnq5jyM— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) August 29, 2023
The Acclaimed's entrance
Props to the tag team The Acclaimed who have successfully made phrases such as ‘scissor me’ and ‘scissor me daddy ass’ overtly popular with wrestling fans. The Acclaimed are made up of Max Caster and Anthony Bowens…and….I know there are still some DX fans alive and well in our small island…Bad Ass Billy Gunn! (or Daddy Ass as he is affectionately called these days…please don’t type that name into google) For Acclaimed entrances, Max Caster raps to the ring often berating his opponents, on this occasion the cult House Of Black were his victims, the verbal assault contained references to Prince Andrew and Harry Potter!
Acclaimed entrance with Max Casters FANATASTIC freestyle plus "Scissor Me, Daddy" chant!! So glad the Acclaimed won. At least one of my tag teams won their match. 😫😫 pic.twitter.com/wj99ttm76I
— alix | MAXWELL 2 BELTS (@attitudealix) August 28, 2023
CM Punk in the wars
The legendary wrestler who famously returned to the ring in 2021 after a seven-year absence, never seems to be too far away from controversy. Allegedly he was involved in a backstage fight with Jungleboy Jack Perry on Sunday, (son of famous actor Luke Perry) before Punk went out to his match with Samoa Joe. This is not Mr Punk’s first rodeo as there was a massive brawl backstage last year at PPV ‘All Out’ that also involved his good self. Apparently he is now suspended, (along with Jungle Boy) which would be the 2nd time in the last 18 months that's happened. Maybe AEW owner Tony Khan might have to do a Sir Alex Ferguson and send him to Celtic…or WWE.
Samoa Joe putting CM Punk through the announce table. This was QUALITY! pic.twitter.com/P2KnQnNTSo
— Dark Puroresu Flowsion (@PuroresuFlow) August 29, 2023
The crowd brought the atmosphere
There was an absolutely brilliant atmosphere at Wembley. The UK, Irish, and European crowd can be so witty and entertaining with their chants, and an advertisement for Fulham vs Tottenham (AEW owner Tony Khan has affiliations with Fulham and Jacksonville Jaguars) was mercilessly booed. The crowd also got on the back of wrestler Cash Wheeler who was recently allegedly involved in a road rage incident stateside, (“Please Cash don’t shoot me” roared by thousands!)
From 0 to 80,000!! In about 15 seconds pic.twitter.com/gv0AcZTzuS
— Samuel Guevara (@sammyguevara) August 29, 2023
Saraya won the women’s title on home soil
Saraya (who wrestled as Paige in WWE and was portrayed by Florence Pugh in Fighting With My Family) won the women’s title in a fatal four-way match in front of her family and adoring home fans; not a bad nights work! Saraya famously had to retire from wrestling in 2018 due to a serious neck injury, but she made a comeback, was cleared by doctors, and is now a champion. There might have to be a sequel to Fighting With My Family.
What a weekend! Absolute honour to do media in @wembleystadium for AEW All In.
Here I ask @Saraya if there is any chance of a sequel to the movie 'Fighting With My Family', which is based on her life.
On Saraya's left is @TonyKhan owner and CEO of @AEW.@ballsdotie pic.twitter.com/hl8ln7VchI— Seamus Dunne (@Seamiedunne) August 29, 2023
The epic main event
Ali vs Frazier, Hogan vs The Rock, Dublin vs Kerry, Caragh vs Kevins,...and now MJF vs Adam Cole…baybay! Ok that might be slight hyperbole. However, in my opinion, this main event was art, and should be hung in the Louvre. Old fashioned story-telling between two of the best on the scene at the moment. Pure drama that you wouldn’t find in the Queen Vic or Rovers Return. MJF is just 27 years of age and when its all said and done he could go down as one of the best to ever do it. Blasphemy you say? Look up some of his promo work on Youtube. There was also a brilliant moment in this match where both wrestlers referenced the late great Eddie Guerrero, in hilarious fashion, I was well and truly sports entertained…don’t try this at home though.
The #ROH World Tag Team Champions @AdamColePro & @The_MJF battled over the #AEW World Championship at #AEWAllIn at @wembleystadium!
Relive the event that was #AEWAllIn London!
Order it right now!
🇺🇸: https://t.co/XeGSmlbiZJ
🔗 https://t.co/xVGRjnzc3V pic.twitter.com/Lf0DciiVss— ROH - Ring of Honor Wrestling (@ringofhonor) August 28, 2023
The moving tributes to Bray Wyatt
Bray Wyatt was beloved by wrestling fans. He sadly passed away suddenly last week due to heart issues coupled with covid, at just 36 years of age. Bray took on legendary wrestlers such as Undertaker and John Cena over the years and was acclaimed for his creepy cult leader persona, his amazing creativity, and his ability on the microphone, which often had him linked to a Hollywood career post wrestling. Several wrestlers had subtle tributes to Bray during their performances, whether that be a black armband with his name on it, or carrying his famous lantern to the ring. At one stage during the event thousands of people sang ‘he’s got the whole world, in his hands’, a song that Bray would often reference in his promos in WWE. Bray will be truly missed by everybody in the wrestling business, a legend, and the lantern may have gone out, but the fireflys will burn bright forever, making him immortal.
This was the beginning of the the House of Blacks entrance at #AEWAllIn in Wembley. The way the fireflies all appear gradually before they walk out with a lantern was a beautiful tribute to Bray Wyatt@malakaiblxck @Brodyxking @SNM_Buddy @TheJuliaHart pic.twitter.com/rFbRA1OFiJ
— 𝔾𝕒𝕣𝕪 ℍ (@garyh3k) August 30, 2023
It's happening again next year!
Who needs Wrestlemania?! All In will be returning to Wembley next year on the 25th of August. You can sign up to a waiting list at present that will let you know when tickets are on sale. When Tony Khan booked Wembley for AEW, many in the wrestling world mocked him saying they would struggle to sell 40,000 tickets.
Thank you all who watched #AEWAllIn London today, whether you're 1 of 81,035 fans on site, the largest paid crowd in wrestling history, here live at @wembleystadium, or watching on ppv, we appreciate every single one of you!
We're back here for ALL IN in 1 year:
August 25, 2024!— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) August 27, 2023
I had doubts myself that it was the right decision. This, in my opinion, was a pretty epic show. Was it perfect? Absolutely not, but I’ve never seen a Wrestlemania that was perfect either. This was the first stadium show for a company that didn’t exist four years ago, which mind-boggling. 80,000+ tickets were sold and you would imagine they will sell more next year with more potential big names appearing. (Jeff Hardy, Edge, Sasha Banks/Mercedes Moné, etc,) It is great to see wrestling flourishing for both the big companies, and if anybody tells you its fake….tell them you have 2 words for them…..SCISSOR ME! (maybe don’t say that loud in public)
#AEWAllIn went all in.
What a night that was 🤩 pic.twitter.com/3WdxNzOOh8— Wembley Stadium (@wembleystadium) August 28, 2023
