The Chicago Homecoming and a Scheduling Problem

Why Hoffman Estates Matters

The Chicago wrestling faithful are getting their tradition back. As the F4WOnline report confirmed, AEW All Out 2026 is returning to its spiritual home at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, on Saturday, September 26. After a detour to Toronto in 2025, Tony Khan is bringing the pay-per-view back to the venue that hosted the inaugural event in 2019. It is a necessary reset for a show that built the company's identity, especially as the brand seeks to solidify its core audience.

But this homecoming comes with a major caveat in pacing. In previous years, the scramble from Wembley to Chicago on Labor Day weekend left the product feeling hurried and under-cooked. Khan addressed this schedule conflict directly on Q101 Radio, noting the need to protect the creative builds of both major events.

“I want to make sure that the fans get the best possible experience at All Out,” Khan said. “So that means giving four weeks between these pay-per-views to fully build up and have about a month between AEW All In and AEW All Out. So we’re going to have a huge All Out. It’s one of our biggest events of the year, and the fans who have been to the All Out shows around Chicago know this pay-per-view has an incredible track record of delivering great results.”

According to PWInsider's confirmation, the promotion is leaning hard into the local market. The ticket pre-sales are structured to capture immediate attention, with the VIP pre-sale opening on Tuesday, July 7, followed by the regular pre-sale on Thursday, July 9, and the general public sale on Monday, July 13. Details on the ticket schedule are available on PWInsider's ticket update, but while the logistics are set, the booking raises immediate concerns.

Tonight's Rating Grab in Clearwater

Historical Precedent

Tonight at Beach Break in Clearwater, Florida, Kenny Omega challenges MJF for the AEW World Championship with massive stakes. If Omega loses, he is permanently barred from challenging for the world title again. But putting this match on a free television special rather than a pay-per-view is a classic case of short-term booking. A match of this magnitude deserves a grander stage than a hot summer night on TBS.

The history between these two is brief but significant. MJF currently holds a 2-0 advantage in their singles series. The first match on Collision on October 28, 2023, was a television masterpiece that clocked in at exactly 30 minutes and 2 seconds. The second encounter took place at AEW Dynasty on April 12, 2026, in Vancouver where MJF kicked out of the One Winged Angel.

Tonight, the pattern will repeat. Omega has struggled with injuries and physical wear, while MJF represents the current focal point of the promotion's future. The champion will target Omega's neck, using the middle-rope Heatseeker to slow down the pace.

The champion is also in a position where he does not need to wrestle a clean match to prove his point. MJF's psychological game is already in Omega's head. By threatening to bar Omega from the title picture forever, MJF has forced his opponent to take unnecessary physical risks. Expect a desperate Omega to miss a high-risk V-Trigger into the guardrail, allowing the champion to dissect him in front of the Clearwater crowd.

The physical venue tonight also presents unique tactical challenges. The BayCare Sound is an outdoor amphitheater where the July humidity will sap the energy of both men quickly. In this environment, the sweat will make rope-walks and springboard maneuvers highly risky.

The Wembley Clash and the New Champion

Stamina vs. Speed

A victory tonight sets MJF on a direct collision course with Will Ospreay. Ospreay earned this shot by winning the Owen Hart Cup at Forbidden Door on June 28, 2026. In that final, Ospreay defeated Swerve Strickland in a grueling, physical encounter at the SAP Center. The win guarantees him a shot at the AEW World Championship on Sunday, August 30, at Wembley Stadium in London.

This match is where the title changes hands. Ospreay will have over fifty thousand English fans chanting his name in London. MJF has had a spectacular run, but Ospreay is the premier performer in the industry right now.

The tactical match will be a study in contrast. MJF will try to ground the match with headlocks and eye rakes, while Ospreay will look to push the tempo with Hidden Blades and Oscutters. Ospreay will hit the Storm Driver for the pinfall victory to become the new champion.

Ospreay's popularity in the United Kingdom is unmatched. The crowd in London expects a crowning moment, and Khan cannot afford to disappoint them. A win here is the only logical conclusion to a tournament run that began with Ospreay's dominant showing in the Owen Hart Cup.

To understand Ospreay's current trajectory, we must look at the closing sequence of his match with Swerve Strickland. In that 35-minute epic, Ospreay executed a Hidden Blade, a Buckshot Hidden Blade, a double-underhook DDT, a Death Rider, and a Tiger Driver. This is a wrestler who is throwing everything in his arsenal to secure victory.

Predicting the All Out Main Event

Avenging the Continental Clash

With Ospreay holding the title, the logical challenger for All Out on September 26 is Jon Moxley. Moxley defeated Ospreay at Dynasty on April 12, 2026, to retain the AEW Continental Championship. That loss remains a major blemish on Ospreay's stellar 2026 record. Moxley has the physical style to disrupt Ospreay's aerial offense, making him the ultimate foil for the new champion's first major defense.

The matchup at the NOW Arena will be a physical brawl. Moxley will look to cut Ospreay open early, dragging him into the crowd and using the ring post to neutralize his speed. Ospreay will have to rely on his striking and resilience rather than his high-flying arsenal.

We predict Will Ospreay will defeat Jon Moxley in a 25-minute war. He will hit a series of Hidden Blades to finally pin Moxley and avenge his Dynasty loss. This victory will establish Ospreay as the undisputed centerpiece of AEW.

This result is critical for AEW's future. The company has spent years building stars but often hesitates to fully commit to them at the absolute peak of their drawing power. By having Ospreay defeat both MJF and Moxley in back-to-back months, Khan will establish a new focal point for the product.