AEW All In 2026: The non-fans guide to the massive wrestling event.

AEW All In 2026: The non-fans guide to the massive wrestling event.

AEW wrestlers in a collage image.

While not as established as its contemporary, All Elite Wrestling, or AEW, is perhaps the best showcase of professional wrestling in the United States and the wider world. It’s why AEW is “Where the best wrestle.”

For that simple reason, it’s a no-brainer that AEW’s biggest event of the year, All In, is must-watch TV. The fourth annual event is the culmination of years and years worth of television on the company’s weekly shows, AEW Dynamite and Collison and the showcase of the company’s future pillars. The big issue, though, is that unlike the WWE, which has decades of insular storytelling to rely on, making it easy for fans to follow rivalries and feuds, AEW does not have that. In fact, its roster comprises wrestlers with decades of experience and ties elsewhere in the independent scene, to the point that these ties bleed into the storylines told in AEW.

That makes it hard to get into some storylines, because, if you weren’t watching CHIKARA in the late 2010s, you’d have no idea why Eddie Kingston really, really hates Claudio Castagnoli (fka Cesaro in WWE). For the most part, as the company is now 7 years old, that problem is mostly faded away, but for those who don’t watch pro wrestling as much or are used to the mainstays and tropes of WWE, getting to know and care about AEW’s cast of athletes and genetic freaks can be a challenge.

That’s what this guide is for. I’ve done lapsed fan guides for WrestleMania in the past; however, given the WWE’s moral and financial proclivities over the past few years, those guides are buried for the time being.

If you’ve found yourself curious to watch the new blood or are being forced to by your friend, below you’ll find out everything you need to know about this weekend’s proceedings on Aug. 30 at 1 p.m. EST, live on PPV on HBO Max, Prime Video, and more.

What is All Elite Wrestling?

All Elite Wrestling is the second-largest pro wrestling company in the world, formed in 2019 by Tony Khan and wrestlers Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes (yes, that one), and Nick and Matt Jackson (The Young Bucks). The group was wrestling on the independent scene, most notably in Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling as part of a subgroup called The Elite within the larger Bullet Club faction.

The genesis of the company was a 2017 tweet from wrestling historian Dave Meltzer claiming that ROH (one of the bigger wrestling promotions pre-AEW) couldn’t sell a 10,000-seat show in the US — something no non-WWE company had done before. The response to that was 2018’s All In, an independent wrestling event promoted by Rhodes and the Bucks in collaboration with ROH. The final gate of the show was a sell-out, with 11,263, plus a 50,000 buy rate, proving there was an appetite in the US for non-WWE wrestling.

The success of All In impressed TV execs, and eventually The Elite partnered with longtime wrestling fan Tony Khan, who was the son of billionaire and Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan. That led to the formation of All Elite Wrestling and the company’s first PPV, Double or Nothing, in May 2019. Then came the TV deal with WarnerMedia, marking Warner’s first foray into wrestling since the closing of WCW in 2001.

It’s been 7 years since then, and AEW has become one of the biggest companies in the world. Early on, because the initial All In event was a collab with ROH, the parent company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, owned the trademark for the name. That changed in 2021, when Khan bought ROH from Sinclair, thus grabbing the All In trademark for AEW and using ROH as a developmental company for the promotion. 2023 marked the second-ever All In event, and it is the company’s biggest show on the calendar.

AEW presents a different style and philosophy compared to WWE. One of the biggest differences is the pacing and intensity of the wrestling itself, which are more individualized and vary from wrestler to wrestler (e.g., brawlers, strong-style, PWG, lucha libre, etc.). It’s a big buffet of wrestling, serving as the ultimate melting pot of styles and traditions.

That’s compared to WWE, which uses a slower style that combines all forms of pro wrestling and emphasizes big moments while protecting the workers due to the company’s grueling travel schedule.

Additionally, AEW’s roster places a great deal of focus on promoting its factions and stables. Almost every wrestler in the company is in some large group that’s then split between the various divisions. There are about 21 factions and stables in AEW, with the most notable ones being The Don Callis Family, The Death Riders, Bullet Club Gold, and The Conglomeration. These groups serve as the main vehicle for setting up rivalries and feuds throughout the year, as one person’s beef will suddenly become everyone else’s before too long.

Within the Men’s division, AEW has 5 singles titles: the AEW Men’s World Championship, International, Continental, National, and TNT. There’s also the World Trios Championship (defended in a group of three) and the Men’s World Tag-Team Championship. Within the Women’s division, there’s the Women’s World Championship, TBS, and the Women’s World Tag-Team Championship.

How to watch AEW All In 2026?

AEW’s biggest show of the year, All In: London, takes place Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, from Wembley Stadium in London. The card gets underway at 6 p.m. BST / 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT.

For US viewers, the event streams on HBO Max for $39.99. It’s also available for $49.99 through Prime Video (US, Canada, and select international markets including France, Germany, and the UK), DAZN (available in over 180 countries), PPV.com, and YouTube.

Fans in Canada and other international markets can also order the show through MyAEW.com for $49.99.

Traditional cable and satellite subscribers in the US and Canada can order the pay-per-view through their provider, and it’s also available via DIRECTV, Sling TV, and DISH Network for viewers in the US, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. US fans can also catch the show live at any Dave & Buster’s location nationwide.

No matter which platform you choose, the Buy-In preshow airs free ahead of the main card.

The story so far…

Main event: Kenny Omega (c) vs Will Ospreay

The AEW Men’s World Championship, the ultimate grand prize in AEW, is on the line as Will Ospreay challenges Kenny Omega in a fight that’s more about pride than the title. Casual and non-wrestling fans may best know Ospreay from this viral video with fellow AEW wrestler Ricochet at the 2016 Best of the Super Juniors.

When the two first clashed in 2023 at NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom 17 event for the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship, the match was framed as a homecoming for Omega, who had left New Japan to start AEW. Mainly, Omega, once the top foreigner in New Japan, believed that Ospreay was an insufficient replacement for that spot. His coming back served as a correction to this injustice. Ospreay, obviously insulted by this, argued that he was the one who stayed and that he didn’t need Omega’s respect, but instead wanted his spot and to surpass his legacy. Omega would win that first match overwhelmingly, proving to himself at least that Ospreay wasn’t ready.

Fast forward to later that year, Ospreay got his revenge at Forbidden Door, AEW’s cross-promotional event with New Japan. Ospreay would regain his US title, but with the help of Don Callis, who had (in story) replaced Omega with Ospreay within the Callis family. Despite the win, it only proved to Omega that Ospreay still wasn’t ready and couldn’t beat him on his own.

Now, years later, Ospreay had a falling out with Callis, then suffered a major neck injury, and then embarked on a journey of self-discovery as he didn’t feel he could meet the moment placed upon him. Omega, now the AEW champion, is older and on his last legs, but the allure of the championship is all intoxicating. He’s not letting it go without a fight, least of all to Ospreay, who has spent years trying to prove himself better than Omega.

And that’s the main crux of this year’s long feud. Can Ospreay, who’s lost several big matches in the past, overcome and have his moment, especially in his home nation? If it’s up to Omega, the answer is never.

Willow Nightingale (c) vs Mercedes Moné

The co-main event will feature a fated clash for the AEW Women’s World Championship as Willow Nightingale defends against Mercedes Moné (fka Sasha Banks in WWE).

Compared to Moné, Willow is a bit of a newcomer on the scene, having debuted as a wrestler in 2015 (Moné debuted in 2010). Willow, the world’s happiest nihilist, has finally become World Champion, years after scrapping for a spot on AEW: Dark Elevation, a YouTube preshow spinoff that showcased indie talent during the pandemic. Willow transformed that brief appearance into multiple titles and tournament wins, including becoming the inaugural AEW Women’s Tag Team champion w/ Harley Cameron and the company’s first Woman and third-ever Triple Crown winner (wrestlers who have won three different titles within a single promotion).

However, that’s all chump change to Moné, who trailblazed through WWE and then the world afterward, at one point holding 13 championship belts across various promotions. Moné would then lose all those belts and disappear for a bit after an understandable crash-out following the loss of her championships.

Upon return, she won the Owen Hart Cup for the second time in a row, earning herself a championship main event at All In against Willow. For Moné, not only has she desired the grand prize of AEW, the Women’s World Championship, ever since joining the company, but she also feels that Willow has been in the way of every major accolade she’s pursued.

Willow and Moné first faced off in the main event of NJPW Resurgence in 2023 in the tournament final for the inaugural NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Out of kayfabe, Moné was booked to win, but an in-match injury forced an audible, with Willow winning. While not the plan, that win would propel Willow’s career, leading to her winning the Owen Hart Cup in 2023.

Moné believes that without her, there would be no Willow. Within AEW, they’re tied 1-1 with each other, with All In being the rubber match to prove just how legit Willow is compared to Moné.

AEW International Championship Triple Threat

You can tell that AEW really loves a young future star versus certified legend storyline.

For starters, all three men involved, Kyle Fletcher (c), Kazuchika Okada, and Konosuke Takeshita, were all at one point involved in the Don Callis Family. While Fletcher was the up-and-coming star within the faction, Takeshita was, for a time, the bona fide stud within the family. That was until Okada was added to the family, a far more successful wrestler, especially in Japan, compared to Takeshita. And not to undersell Okada in that sentence, as “The Rainmaker” is considered one of the greatest wrestlers of all-time.

This created a years-long animosity between the two as Takeshita hated the lack of respect Okada showed him, while Okada perhaps feared that “The Alpha” would take his spot as the top Japanese wrestler back home. Caught in the middle was Flecther, who was both a good friend and tag-partner to Takeshita and fiercely loyal to the Callis Family. At this year’s Double or Nothing PPV, Takeshita would finally get a win over Okada to win the International title. Unfortunately, Fletcher would choose the family as he felt Takeshita was going into business for himself. Even though Fletcher himself isn’t Okada’s biggest fan, he felt that he was still being a good soldier for the group.

Fletcher would then beat Takeshita for the title at AEW Dynamite: Beach Break, with the latter going back to Japan after his loss to compete in New Japan’s G1 Climax tournament. Meanwhile, Okada began disrespecting Fletcher in much the same ways he had with Takeshita, leading to even more animosity within the group.

This will now culminate in a three-way for the title at All In as Don Callis has arranged for Okada to join the match, much to the chagrin of Fletcher. In Callis’ eyes, two faction members in the match will stack the odds in favor of the family to retain the title. So Fletcher now has a big choice at All In: Do what’s best for the family or bet on himself.

For Takeshita, this is an opportunity to regain the International title while getting some just desserts and bragging rights over his former faction-mates.

Best of the Rest

The co-main events are stacked with years’ worth of story, but the rest of the card is just as thrilling.

To start, “The Jet” Kevin Knight will defend his TNT title against Darby Allin in a Falls Count Anywhere match. For Allin, he mostly wants revenge after being attacked by Knight at Double or Nothing after losing the Men’s World Championship to MJF. That match was the culmination of a 39-day reign where Allin defended the title 7 times, week after week, including a match against Knight. Apparently, Knight took that loss personally, which led to his attack on Allin and his subsequent joining the Callis Family.

Knight thinks that by doing so, he’ll gain the “darker edge” necessary for him to rise to the top. Allin just wants to humble the young upstart after his show of disrespect.

Next is a dream match for the Men’s World Tag Team Championships, as Christian Cage and Adam Copeland defend against The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson). Cage and Cope are considered tag team legends, having established themselves in WWE in the ’90s and 2000s as Edge and Christian. Like most tag teams, they’d eventually split, creating their own legacies, Copeland in WWE and Christian in TNA, and elsewhere. They’d eventually reunite in AEW, years after returning to wrestling after being told they couldn’t do so again. It took a bit of soul-searching on Christian’s part, as he’d always felt overshadowed by Copeland, but the two would win the World Tag Team titles and have held them since May.

Now they defend those titles against The Young Bucks, an accomplished tag team in their own right, who believe that by beating Cage and Cope, they’ll further solidify their legacies as one of the best teams of all-time.

Big events like these are more than just feud enders, but they’re also feud starters. Case in point is the Men’s Casino Gauntlet match. It’s one of several “Casino” themed matches, including the Casino Ladder and Casino Battle Royale. They’re named that way since AEW was the “ultimate gamble” in the pro wrestling industry. That’s why their first official event was called Double or Nothing — the company’s next big gamble following the success of All In.

Anyways, the Casino Gauntlet is a 21-man match where participants enter the ring one by one until the ring is full or someone pins. So, theoretically, the match could be over before all participants enter the ring, making the spot you choose extremely important. It’s also a way to surprise fans with returns and debuts. The winner of the match will gain a future title opportunity at a time of their choosing (within one week’s notice). At All In, AEW National Champion Andrade El Ídolo and 3x Men’s World Champion MJF will enter from the #1 and #2 spots, respectively.

In addition to the Casino Gauntlet, there will be the final of the Continental Cup Challenge (C3). This is a new 16-man single-elimination tournament from AEW, with the winner gaining the Continental Championship. According to AEW, the C3 is the company’s version of the FA Cup, a prestigious mid-season soccer tournament in England. It also serves as another tournament for the Continental Championship to be defended, with the grand prize of the Continental Classic (a round-robin tournament AEW runs in November-December). So it’s technically a tournament belt, but it gets defended outside the C2. It was also at one point combined with the International Championship to create the Unified Championship. It’s a mess, to be quite honest.

Anyways, after the go-home show of Dynamite, Death Riders leader and current Continental Champion Jon Moxley (fka Dean Ambrose in WWE) and Nigel McGuinness won their respective semi-finals’ matchups and will face off at Wembley. For Mox, winning would just be more proof that many in AEW’s midcard are not at his level or the company’s level. For McGuiness, it would be the ultimate triumph, considering he spent a lot of time retired due to injury and now works mostly as a ringside commentator for AEW and previously with WWE.

Finally, there’s the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship between champions Divine Dominion (Lena Kross & Megan Bayne) and The Brawling Birds (Alex Windsor & Jaime Hayter).

The build to this match has kind of taken the back seat to everything else, a sad but common occurrence for the women’s division in AEW (and WWE, too). Basically, though, Divine Dominion continues to dominate the women’s tag division and wants to embarrass the Birds on their home turf. For their part, the Brawling Birds also just want to beat up Divine Dominion.

AEW All In: London takes place Sunday, Aug. 30, 2026, at Wembley Stadium in London.

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