| All Out | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_promotional_poster.jpg) Promotional poster featuring various AEW wrestlers | |||
| Promotion | All Elite Wrestling | ||
| Date | September 7, 2024 | ||
| City | Hoffman Estates, Illinois | ||
| Venue | Now Arena | ||
| Attendance | 8,660[1] | ||
| Buy rate | 105,000[2] | ||
| Pay-per-view chronology | |||
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| All Out chronology | |||
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The 2024All Out was aprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event produced byAll Elite Wrestling (AEW). It was the sixth annualAll Out event and took place on September 7, 2024, at theNow Arena in theChicago suburb ofHoffman Estates, Illinois. This marked the event's fourth edition at the venue, after2019,2021, and2022. It also returned the event to Saturday for the first time since2020. All Out was previously held duringLabor Day weekend, and although the 2024 event had originally been scheduled for the holiday on Sunday, September 1, AEW decided to push the event back by a week due to fan concerns of it taking place only one week afterAll In, which had occurred the prior year.
Twelve matches were contested at the event, including four on the Zero Hour pre-show. In the main event,"Hangman" Adam Page defeatedSwerve Strickland in aLights OutSteel Cage match. In other prominent matches,Bryan Danielson defeatedJack Perry to retain theAEW World Championship,Will Ospreay defeatedPac to retain theAEW International Championship, and in the opening bout,MJF defeatedDaniel Garcia.
The event received generally positive reviews, with the International Championship match and the Lights Out Steel Cage match being singled out for particular praise. However, the latter received some notable criticism from reviewers and industry professionals alike for its perceived overuse of dangerous violence.
All Out is an annualprofessional wrestlingpay-per-view (PPV)event held byAll Elite Wrestling (AEW) since 2019. It was originally held duringLabor Day weekend and is one of AEW's "Big Four" PPVs, which also includesDouble or Nothing,Full Gear, andRevolution, their four biggest domestic shows produced quarterly.[3]
On April 11, 2024, AEW announced that the sixth All Out event would take place on Sunday, September 1, 2024, at theNow Arena in theChicago suburb ofHoffman Estates, Illinois.[4][5] However, on May 21, 2024, AEW announced that All Out would instead take place a week later on Saturday, September 7, 2024, marking the first All Out to not be held during Labor Day weekend. This change came in response to fan concerns of the event being held only one week afterAll In, which had occurred the prior year. This subsequently returned the event to Saturday for the first time since2020 as well as to the Now Arena, being the fourth overall at the venue, after2019,2021, and2022. Due to the event being held on Saturday,Collision andRampage were heldlive back-to-back on Friday, September 6 in the Chicago area.[6]
All Out featuredprofessional wrestling matches that were the result of pre-existing feuds andstorylines, with results being predetermined by AEW's writers. Storylines were produced on AEW's weekly television programs,Dynamite,Collision, andRampage.[7]
On the July 10 episode ofDynamite,Pac defeatedClaudio Castagnoli,Kyle Fletcher, andTomohiro Ishii in aGlobal Glory Four-Way match to earn anAEW International Championship match at All Out.[8] The following week, reigning championWill Ospreay lost the title toMJF,[9] who unofficially rebranded the title as the American Championship.[10] Ospreay then regained the title at All In, restoring it as the International Championship and subsequently confirming that Ospreay would be the defending champion against Pac at All Out.[11]
In late 2023,Willow Nightingale formed a tag team withKris Statlander and they were managed byStokely Hathaway. On May 26 atDouble or Nothing, Statlander attacked Nightingale after the latter lost her match, thus ending their team with Hathaway siding with Statlander.[12] They would continue to feud throughout the summer and during the All InZero Hour pre-show on August 25, the team of Nightingale and Tomohiro Ishii defeated the team of Statlander and Hathaway in amixed tag team match, thus allowing Nightingale and Ishii to choose the stipulation of a match between Nightingale and Statlander at All Out.[13] They subsequently chose aChicago Street Fight.[14]
The feud between"Hangman" Adam Page andSwerve Strickland dates back toWrestleDream in October 2023. The two had faced each other at the event, which Strickland won.[15] It became personal after Strickland broke into Page's house, including going into his sleeping kid's room. A rematch occurred atFull Gear in November as aTexas Death match, which Strickland also won.[16] Both were then in athree-way match for theAEW World Championship atRevolution in March 2024, whereSamoa Joe retained by submitting Page.[17] Page subsequently disappeared from television while Strickland won the championship from Joe atDynasty in April. Page then returned in July and entered the men'sOwen Hart Foundation Tournament as the winner also earned a match for the AEW World Championship at All In, which meant a possible rematch with Strickland; however, Page was unsuccessful in the tournament. Strickland lost his title at All In, which Page observed,[11] and on the subsequentDynamite, Strickland confronted Page and the two agreed to aSteel Cage match at All Out.[14] On the September 4 episode, a contract signing was to take place. While Strickland arrived to sign the contract, Page did not as he was shown at Strickland's childhood house, which Strickland had just recently purchased. Page proceeded to burn down the house as Strickland watched in horror. AEW presidentTony Khan then decided that their Steel Cage match would also be an unsanctionedLights Out match.[18]
After MJF made his return from injury in May, he became friends withDaniel Garcia. However, after Garcia lost an AEW International Championship match to Will Ospreay atDynamite: Beach Break, where MJF attempted to help Garcia cheat to win, MJF subsequently turned on Garcia, brutalizing him and taking him out for the next several weeks.[19] MJF then faced and defeated Ospreay on the July 17 episode to win the title,[20] which he unofficially rebranded as the American Championship.[10] During MJF's defense against Ospreay at All In, a masked man attacked MJF, revealing himself as Garcia and subsequently allowing Ospreay to defeat MJF and win the title.[11] On the followingDynamite, Garcia confronted MJF and they agreed to a match at All Out.[14]
At All In,Bryan Danielson defeated Swerve Strickland in aTitle vs. Career match to win the AEW World Championship.[11] On the following episode ofDynamite, Danielson addressed his in-ring future, stating that he would remain as a full-time wrestler until he lost the championship. He also said he would take on any and all challengers.Jack Perry then interrupted, noting his pinfall victory over Danielson in theAnarchy in the Arena match at Double or Nothing in May, and subsequently challenged Danielson for the title at All Out, which was made official.[14]
On the August 31 episode ofCollision,Hikaru Shida defeatedQueen Aminata,Thunder Rosa, andSerena Deeb in a four-way match to earn anAEW TBS Championship match againstMercedes Moné at All Out.[21] During the September 4 episode ofDynamite, interim AEW Executive Vice PresidentChristopher Daniels ruled that Moné's associateKamille was banned from ringside.[18]
| Role | Name |
|---|---|
| Commentators | Excalibur(Pre-show and PPV) |
| Tony Schiavone(Pre-show and PPV) | |
| Taz(PPV) | |
| Nigel McGuinness(PPV matches 5 through 7) | |
| Jim Ross(last 2 matches) | |
| Matt Menard(Pre-show and MJF vs. Garcia) | |
| Don Callis(Continental Title match) | |
| Spanish Commentators | Alvaro Riojas |
| Carlos Cabrera | |
| Ariel Levy | |
| Ring announcers | Justin Roberts(PPV) |
| Arkady Aura(Pre-show) | |
| Referees | Aubrey Edwards |
| Bryce Remsburg | |
| Mike Posey | |
| Paul Turner | |
| Rick Knox | |
| Stephon Smith | |
| Pre-show hosts | Renee Paquette |
| RJ City | |
| Jeff Jarrett | |
| Madison Rayne |
The opening match on the Zero Hour show was contested betweenThe Acclaimed andThe Iron Savages, who were accompanied by their managerJacked Jameson. In the end, Bowens hit the Acclaimed on Boulder and Caster hit the Mic Drop for the three count.[22]
Next,Hologram,Sammy Guevara, andDustin Rhodes took on The Premier Athletes (Tony Nese,Ari Daivari, andJosh Woods), accompanied by"Smart" Mark Sterling. In the end, Rhodes hit Woods with the Cross Rhodes and Sterling jumped on the apron only for Hologram and Guevara to drag him in the ring before Rhodes hit Sterling with the Cross Rhodes. With Sterling and Neese incapacitated, Rhodes hit the Final Reckoning on Woods for the victory.[22]
After that,Bang Bang Gang (Austin Gunn,Colten Gunn, andJuice Robinson) faced off againstThe Dark Order (Evil Uno,Alex Reynolds, andJohn Silver). In the end, Robinson hit Uno with the Juice is loose for the win.[22]
In the final match on the Zero Hour show it was a three-way tag team match betweenThe Undisputed Kingdom (Matt Taven,Mike BennettRoderick Strong) facing the team ofThe Beast Mortos and Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane TaylorLee Moriarty) versusAction Andretti and Top Flight (Dante Martin andDarius Martin), who were accompanied byLeila Grey. In the end, Strong hit Andretti with a knee strike to pick up the win. After the match, Strong screamed into the camera, asking ifHook could see what he did.[22]
In the opening match of the main show it was MJF facingDaniel Garcia. MJF made his entrance but Garcia ambushed him from the crowd. In the end, MJF delivered a low blow to Garcia and rolled him up for the win. After the match, MJF extended his hand to Garcia but MJF went for another low blow but Garcia countered it and low blowed MJF instead. Garcia positioned MJF on the top rope and delivered a piledriver off the top rope before going into the stands to celebrate.[23]
After that, theAEW World Tag Team ChampionsThe Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson andNicholas Jackson) defended their titles againstBlackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli andWheeler Yuta). In the end, Claudio and Yuta attempted the Fast Ball Special but Matthew got his knees up and rolled Yuta up for the three count and retained the tag team championships in the process.[23]
Next was the AEW International Championship match which saw Will Ospreay defend the title against Pac. In the end, Ospreay hit the Os-Cutter, followed by a Styles Clash and then a Hidden Blade for the victory.[23]
Up next was theChicago Street Fight between Kris Statlander, who was accompanied by Stokely Hathaway, against Willow Nightingale. In the end, Statlander hit Nightingale with a tombstone piledriver and wrapped a chain around Nightingale's face causing her to submit.[23]
NextRenee Paquette interviewedRicochet backstage but Will Ospreay interrupted but Ricochet told Ospreay he would see him soon.[23]
After that it was theAEW Continental ChampionshipFour-way match betweenKazuchika Okada,Mark Briscoe,Orange Cassidy, andKonosuke Takeshita, who was accompanied byDon Callis. In the end, Okada hit Cassidy with the Rainmaker for the victory with him retaining his title in the process.[23]
Up next was the AEW TBS Championship match between Mercedes Moné and Hikaru Shida with Kamille banned from ringside. In the end, Moné hit the Moné Maker for the victory and, in the process, retaining her title. After the match, Kamille came out to celebrate with Moné.[23]
In the penultimate match it was the AEW World Championship match where Bryan Danielson facedAEW TNT Champion Jack Perry, although the TNT Championship was not on the line. In the end, Danielson hit the running knee strike on Perry for the win and retained his title.[23]
After the match,Christian Cage along with hisPatriarchy members came to ringside and Danielson's fellowBlackpool Combat Club memberJon Moxley appeared and confronted Cage and The Patriarchy and Castagnoli, Pac and Yuta soon came through the crowd to back Moxley up and defend Danielson. The Patriarchy then left ringside. In the ring, the Blackpool Combat Club embraced Danielson before Castagnoli performed an uppercut on Danielson. Moxley then retrieved aplastic bag and suffocated Danielson with it. A visibly upset Wheeler Yuta attempted to intervene, but Pac held him back while Moxley continued to suffocate Danielson andMarina Shafir appeared and held back referees, security and doctors from getting into the ring. After a while, the group left Danielson in the ring while Yuta checked on Danielson. Danielson was then stretchered out of the arena by medical personnel.[23]
In the main event, "Hangman" Adam Page took on Swerve Strickland in a Lights Out Steel Cage match. Before the cage lowered, they got into a fight on the outside and Swerve's managerPrince Nana threw weapons in the ring and a toolbox. As they entered the ring to begin the match, the two grappled on the ring apron to try to catch the other in the descending cage; Nana pushed the two into the ring to avoid this. Page pulled a staple gun out of the toolbox and stapled Swerve. Swerve laughed and took the staple gun from Page and stapled him. He then took the staples out of his chest and stapled a picture to Page's face. Page then pulled a cinder block out of the toolbox and Swerve slammed him onto it. Page then got a burnt spike and tried to stab Swerve with it, but Swerve got it and stabbed Page in the face with it five times. Page then powerbombed Swerve onto the cinder block. In the end, Page hit Strickland with a steel chair then Page pulled thegrill out of Strickland's mouth and shoved ahypodermic needle through Strickland's mouth which penetrated his cheek and then Page hit Strickland with a steel chair to the head, with so much force the seat broke, causing the referee to end the match and declare Page the winner by knockout. After the match, Page hesitated on which exit to leave by, eventually leaving by theheel exit.[23]
The event received positive reviews. Reviewing the event forTJR Wrestling, John Canton gave the show an overall score of 8.25. He called it overall "an excellent show", thought noted there was a lack of drama in several matches as "you know the champions are going to retain", specifically referring to the wins of Okada, Mone, The Young Bucks and Danielson. However, he praised the opening match between MJF and Daniel Garcia, and praised the post-match segment of the Danielson/Perry match, calling Moxley's heel turn "shocking."[24] Writing for411MANIA, Kevin Pantoja praised the event, giving it a 9.5 out of 10. He described the event overall as "a stellar night of wrestling", heaping praise on the Lights Out match, calling it "madness."[25]
The match between PAC and Will Ospreay for the AEW International Championship received widespread acclaim, with some calling it one of the best matches of the year. Pantoja called it an "outstanding match", praising Ospreay for his consistency in PPV matches in 2024.[25] Canton specifically called it one of the best matches of the year, praising Ospreay as "amazing" and calling PAC's work "incredible".[24]Dave Meltzer, reviewing the show for theWrestling Observer Newsletter, gave thematch 5.5 stars, making it one of his highest rated matches of the year.[26]
Names such asJonathan Coachman,Ricky Morton,Dave Meltzer, andPWInsider criticized the main event for its violence in moments such as an unprotected chair shot to the head and the use of ahypodermic needle.[27][28][29][30] On the other side,Nic Nemeth andThunder Rosa supported the use of violence during the match.[31]
From people who I've talked to in AEW, they think it'll end up around what All Out was and All Out was probably about 105,000.