EW Steps Up to Make History in London’s Iconic Venue
AEW is gearing up to create a historic moment with “All In London” at Wembley Stadium, a move that comes after WWE reportedly turned down the chance to host an event at the same venue. Instead, WWE chose Cardiff, Wales for their “Clash at the Castle” show. The UK has always been a significant market for professional wrestling, and last year, WWE’s “Clash at the Castle” in Cardiff drew an impressive crowd of 62,296 fans. This event marked WWE’s largest gate in Europe and saw record merchandise sales, second only to WrestleMania.
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE initially planned to use Wembley Stadium. However, they shifted to the Principality Stadium after being presented with a more enticing deal. WWE’s strategy has been leaning towards paid shows, especially for events outside the US. They’ve previously secured substantial amounts from Saudi Arabia for their shows and even received a six-figure sum from Puerto Rico’s tourism board.
While WWE’s “Money in the Bank” event was a sellout, London’s O2 Arena, where it was held, has a smaller seating capacity compared to Wembley or the Principality Stadium. As WWE continues to host major international events, the choice of venue size will undoubtedly be a point of discussion.
Meanwhile, all eyes are on AEW’s “All In London” scheduled for August 27th, which promises to be a significant event in the wrestling calendar.
