All Elite Wrestling is returning to Chicago for an prolonged keep in July. The wrestling promotion will carry out its first multi-week residency on the Byline Financial institution Aragon Ballroom from July 16 to July 31.
“It’s a dream come true to have the ability to do weeks of AEW tv on the Aragon Ballroom,” AEW CEO, normal supervisor and head of artistic Tony Khan advised the Solar-Occasions on Monday.
Khan was born in Urbana and attended the College of Illinois, so the Chicagoland space is critical to him. However the Chicagoland space can be necessary to the historical past of AEW, the twice-a-week wrestling promotion co-owned by Khan and his father, Shad, who additionally owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
The genesis of the corporate started in 2018 when wrestlers Cody Rhodes, and Matt and Nick Jackson offered out the NOW enviornment, which is situated in Hoffman Estates. Their efforts drew the eye of Khan, a diehard wrestling fan. The excitement generated from 2018’s “All In” pay-per-view led to the formation of AEW.
In 2021, AEW held the primary version of “Rampage,” one in all its weekly reveals (that has since been canceled) in 2024, on the United Middle.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has risen to turn into the second-largest wrestling promotion in america behind WWE. AEW has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery since 2019 to air its weekly reveals which embody “AEW Dynamite” and “AEW Collision” on TNT and TBS.
“I’m so excited for what’s to come back,” Khan stated. “We’ve received nice followers, nice help and this has been one of the best yr of AEW tv from the beginning of the yr up till now.
“I’d by no means do that in a metropolis the place we didn’t have essentially the most help; that’s why Chicago is an ideal place to do this. It’ll be the primary residency we’ve achieved in 2025, and I feel it’s going to be one thing that we will actually deliver to Chicago.”
AEW’s Chicago residency consists of three tapings of “Dynamite,” its flagship present that airs on Wednesdays, and three editions of “Collision,” which airs on Saturdays, with particular dwell tapings sprinkled in.
Chicago has a fervent wrestling fan base. It’s one of many hotbeds for the promotion and Khan needed to capitalize on that adoration. AEW held a residency in Arlington, Texas, in 2024, and introduced that it’s going to maintain a residency in Philadelphia from Aug. 27-Sept. 11.
“Chicago is unquestionably on the Mount Rushmore of wrestling cities,” Khan stated. “Chicago, undoubtedly, is among the very prime wrestling cities, not solely in America, not solely in North America, however in all the world. Chicago stands atop professional wrestling.”
Followers play a particular function in wrestling. Their reactions — from the jeers to the cheers — are an enormous a part of the present. Followers add the magnitude of a second, and a scorching crowd can flip a superb second into an excellent second and an excellent second into an iconic second.
Khan stated the significance of doing this residency is as a result of he needed to maintain up “this superior momentum going as a result of 2025 has been particular.”
He listed off the names of established wrestlers comparable to MJF, Mercedes Moné, Toni Storm, “Hangman” Adam Web page and others as why AEW has been in a position to reach 2025 after the promotion noticed its rankings and attendance numbers decline in 2024.
“They’ve all helped us get into such a powerful place that we’re in proper now to the place I feel AEW is doing our best work this second,” Khan stated.
In 2024, Selection reported AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery prolonged their partnership on a multi-year contract.
Max is constructing a library of previous AEW reveals and pay-per-views that followers can watch at their leisure. A part of the association additionally included Max providing AEW pay-per-view occasions at a reduced charge.
This week, the NOW Area in Hoffman Estates hosts “AEW Seashore Break,” one in all their premier occasions. Wednesday’s essential occasion is Samoa Joe dealing with off towards AEW world champion Jon Moxley for the AEW world championship in a metal cage match.
“Now we have lots of people that love wrestling a lot, working collectively for a standard aim,” Khan stated. “It’s a contest. Persons are striving for the highest, however all of us need to see AEW succeed, though it’s a aggressive area. That’s what makes AEW a particular place … all of us imagine and know that AEW is the place one of the best wrestle.”
