AEW All Out
2026 Predictions
All Out returns to the Chicago area for Labor Day weekend 2026 — AEW's most emotionally charged event on the calendar. The home crowd brings a passion that no other city can match. Here is our full predicted match card and the storylines that will define September.
AEW All Out: A Chicago Tradition
AEW All Out 2019 was the first true showcase of what AEW could be — Chris Jericho vs Hangman Adam Page for the newly created AEW World Championship. A night that confirmed AEW's arrival as a genuine major promotion.
All Out 2022 is one of the most controversial nights in wrestling history — CM Punk vs Jon Moxley for the AEW Championship backstage fallout overshadowed what was a genuinely superb card. The event cemented All Out as a landmark on the wrestling calendar.
All Out 2023 was headlined by the MJF era at its peak — a demonstration of AEW's booking and character work capability. Swerve Strickland's continued rise and the women's division growing in credibility made it a well-rounded event.
All Out 2026 marks a new chapter — with AEW's roster depth at its peak and the Chicago crowd more invested than ever, this edition has all the ingredients to be the best All Out event in the promotion's history.
Predicted Match Card — AEW All Out 2026
Our best predictions for every match at AEW All Out 2026 — Labor Day weekend in Chicago.
WORLD
Jon Moxley (c) vs Swerve Strickland
The AEW World Championship main event at All Out 2026 is the culmination of everything that has been building across AEW Dynamite and Collision through the summer months. Jon Moxley as champion — the most brutal, battle-hardened figure in AEW — against Swerve Strickland's relentless, high-flying aggression is the perfect stylistic contrast. Chicago loves a fight with genuine stakes, and the AEW World title always delivers that. Expect a physical war with no shortage of creative match-ups and genuine crowd drama.
PUNK
CM Punk Special Appearance / Match
All Out in Chicago without a CM Punk moment would be like a WrestleMania without a pyrotechnics display. Whether Punk is currently signed to WWE or working as a free agent, the Chicago crowd will respond to anything involving his name at All Out. The "Best in the World" from Chicago was born for this moment — and AEW has always kept the door open for a Punk appearance when the timing is right. A surprise appearance, a scheduled match, or a retirement angle — any scenario involving Punk at All Out Chicago generates the most passionate crowd reaction in wrestling.
BELT
TNT Champion vs Top Contender
The TNT Championship has historically been the workhorse belt of AEW — the title carried by wrestlers doing the best work week-to-week on Dynamite. At All Out, it gets a proper showcase slot and the Chicago crowd's full attention. Past TNT title matches at All Out have been some of the event's most physically impressive bouts — expect a hard-hitting contest that goes 15–20 minutes and potentially steals the first half of the card. Chicago demands quality, and the TNT match has never failed to deliver on that mandate.
W
Women's Champion vs Top Contender
AEW's women's division has grown significantly in depth and quality since the early days. By 2026, the Women's Championship match at All Out carries genuine prestige — the division has enough talent to produce a legitimately great contest rather than simply a title match filling a slot. The Chicago crowd, which has developed one of the more vocal and appreciative women's wrestling fan bases in the industry, will give this match the atmosphere it deserves. Expect the women's title bout to be in the upper half of the card by 2026.
BELT
International Champion vs Contender
The AEW International Championship has carved a niche as the title associated with technically excellent, pure wrestling matches. At All Out, in front of a crowd that genuinely appreciates workrate, the International Championship match is often where the in-ring quality peaks. Past holders — from Orange Cassidy's beloved reign through to harder-edged fighters — have used this title to prove their worth on a major PPV stage. The Chicago crowd's appreciation of pure wrestling makes All Out the ideal setting.
TEAM
Tag Champions vs Contenders — Ladder Match
AEW produces some of the best tag team wrestling in the industry, and All Out in Chicago is where the tag division goes all out. Literally. The history of All Out tag matches — from FTR's classic bouts to the Young Bucks' death-defying spots — has set a high bar. By 2026, expect a ladder match or a three-way tag bout that pushes the physical limits of the performers. Chicago crowds are vocally appreciative of tag team wrestling done at a high level, and this match will have a live crowd completely invested from start to finish.
The CM Punk Chicago Homecoming Angle
Chicago's Wrestling God
CM Punk's relationship with Chicago wrestling crowds is unlike anything else in the sport. From his years in Ring of Honor through to his career-defining runs in WWE and AEW, Punk has always been welcomed home to Chicago with a religious fervour that no other city produces for any other performer. "Best in the World" signs, "CM Punk" chants that start before the card even begins, and a crowd that holds up its end of the bargain every single time — Chicago is Punk's city, and All Out is his event.
The Unfinished Business
CM Punk's career has always been defined by chapters with unresolved threads. His first AEW run ended dramatically; his WWE return generated enormous television interest before injuries and controversy intervened. The concept of Punk "coming home" to Chicago at All Out — regardless of which promotion signs him — taps into a narrative that his entire fanbase has wanted to see resolved. All Out 2026 is as natural a setting for a Punk chapter as wrestling can provide.
The Crowd Reaction
The last time CM Punk walked out at an AEW event in the Chicago area, the crowd decibel level was measured as one of the loudest ever recorded at a wrestling event. His return to AEW in 2021 at United Center — after a seven-year absence from professional wrestling — is still one of the most emotionally overwhelming moments in the modern era. A Chicago All Out crowd in 2026, primed by months of anticipation, would be capable of something equally seismic.
The Storytelling Possibilities
Punk at All Out 2026 opens multiple narrative doors: a surprise appearance confronting the AEW World Champion, a contract signing for a future match, a retirement announcement that triggers an emotional farewell, or simply an in-ring match against a handpicked opponent in front of his home crowd. Each scenario generates different storytelling possibilities. The Chicago crowd doesn't need a clean resolution — it just needs the presence, the microphone, and the moment. Punk will take care of the rest.
Jon Moxley, Swerve Strickland & the AEW Title Picture
Jon Moxley: The Permanent Fixture at the Top
Jon Moxley has occupied the main event scene of AEW for longer than any other performer since the promotion's founding. His multiple world title reigns, his Blackpool Combat Club leadership, and his genuine willingness to have brutal, unpredictable matches in any context — from regular TV to PPV main events — make him the north star of AEW's title picture. At All Out 2026, Moxley in his natural environment (hostile crowd, big stage, no guardrails on the match stipulation) is the most reliably exciting main event proposition in AEW. Chicago crowds respect fighters, and Moxley is the archetypical fighter.
Swerve Strickland: The Next Generation of AEW Royalty
Swerve Strickland's coronation as AEW World Champion in 2024 was one of the most genuinely moving championship victories in AEW history — the crowd's reaction to his title win reflected years of investment in his journey. By 2026, whether Swerve has gone on a second title run or is chasing the belt, he represents the next generation of AEW's main event class. His combination of athleticism, character work, and genuine emotional connection with the AEW fanbase makes him the ideal opponent for any world title match at All Out. The Swerve vs Moxley dynamic — new generation vs grizzled veteran — writes itself.
The Labor Day Weekend Atmosphere
All Out on Labor Day weekend is a Chicago institution that AEW has built over five years. The audience that travels to Chicago for All Out weekend is the most dedicated fanbase in wrestling — hardcore attendees who come from across the country specifically for this event. Zero Hour pre-shows, weekend fan events, and the electricity of Labor Day Saturday in the Sears Centre area creates an atmosphere that AEW performers have consistently cited as their favourite to work in. All Out 2026 will be sold out months in advance, and the energy inside the building will be unmatched anywhere in wrestling that weekend.
AEW Highlights & Clips
AEW All Out 2026 News & Analysis
Jacob Fatu Reveals How Jail Time and Watching The Usos Changed His Life
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Sgt. Slaughter Says He Was The Only Wrestler At Iron Sheik’s Funeral: “I Thought That Was Pretty Horrendous”
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AMERICAN GLADIATORS, FEATURING A NUMBER OF PRO WRESTLERS, WILL RETURN ON....
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FREE PODCAST 3/17 – WKPWP WWE Raw Post-Show – 5 Yrs Ago: (3-15-2021) Shane slimes Strowman, final hype for Fastlane, Drew declared as challenger to Lashley at WM, Lashley-Sheamus, tag team title match, more (136 min.)
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FREE PODCAST 3/17 – WKPWP Flagship: Keller & Fann on Ronda Rousey-AEW and social media reaction, Orton’s turn, Ospreay’s return, Reigns-Punk, Ricochet apology, Oba-Brock, more (120 min.)
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Why AEW All Out Is Different to Every Other PPV
The Chicago Crowd Factor
AEW's core audience is concentrated in major metropolitan markets, and Chicago is the deepest well of all. The crowd at All Out doesn't just watch wrestling — they participate. Hot takes, loud opinions, surprising reactions to mid-card matches, and genuine volcanic eruptions for main event moments. No other crowd in wrestling responds to nuance the way Chicago does. A slow-burn heel reveal that might get polite applause elsewhere will get a roof-raising reaction in a Chicago building that has been primed all week.
Labor Day Zero Hour Tradition
All Out's Zero Hour pre-show has evolved into one of wrestling's best pre-show traditions. Featuring genuinely meaningful matches rather than throwaway bouts, it warms the crowd up perfectly for the main card. The Zero Hour crowd at All Out is already at a 9 out of 10 intensity level by the time the main card begins — creating an atmosphere that peaks with the first gong or entrance music on the main card and stays elevated throughout.
The Stipulation Culture
All Out has a tradition of meaningful match stipulations — matches that feel earned rather than arbitrarily added. Cage matches, street fights, ladder matches, and unsanctioned bouts have all appeared at All Out with storyline justification that makes the violence feel consequential. The Chicago crowd responds to a match with real stakes, and AEW's booking team understands that All Out is the one event where they can push the envelope on brutality and drama because the audience is equipped to receive it.
The AEW Summer Storyline Payoff
Double or Nothing in May plants storyline seeds; Forbidden Door in June adds international dimension; All Out in September is the harvest. By Labor Day, AEW has spent four months building feuds, revealing character motivations, and escalating stakes across Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage. All Out is where those accumulated narrative threads either resolve or reach their most dramatic point. The event benefits from months of consistent weekly storytelling, making its emotional peaks feel genuinely earned rather than manufactured.