On August 24, 2025, Tony Khan, president of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), made a landmark announcement at the O2 Arena in London during the Forbidden Door pay-per-view event co-hosted with New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). Khan revealed that the event had broken the all-time professional wrestling attendance record at the London venue, surpassing the previous mark held by <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE.
This milestone was achieved during the ‘Zero Hour’ pre-show, when Khan took the stage alongside Owen Hart’s widow, Dr. Martha Hart, and their son, Oje Hart. The announcement celebrated the historic attendance, marking AEW’s growing prominence on the global wrestling stage.
Breaking Down the Historic Attendance Numbers
Prior to the event, AEW reported distributing 17,573 tickets out of a total venue capacity arranged for 17,748 seats. Only 175 tickets remained available, and a late walk-up purchase eventually pushed the total attendance over WWE’s previous record of 17,617 set at Money In The Bank 2023 at the same location.
By showtime at 1 p.m. ET / 12 p.m. local time, the crowd officially exceeded WWE’s best, with the total climbing to over 18,000 fans, making it the largest-ever crowd hosted by AEW at any venue. This attendance surpasses the WWE record for the O2 Arena and highlights the rapid growth and fan engagement AEW has achieved.
Emotional Appearance From the Hart Family
Following Tony Khan’s remarks, Dr. Martha Hart addressed the audience, expressing her enthusiasm for attending Forbidden Door and lending her support to Hangman Adam Page, who was featured in the AEW World Championship main event against MJF. Her presence alongside Khan and her son added a meaningful element to the announcement, honoring the legacy of Owen Hart and linking past wrestling history with this new record-setting moment.
AEW President and CEO @TonyKhan was joined by the head of the @Owen_Foundation, Dr. Martha Hart and Oje Hart for a big announcement! —All Elite Wrestling
Comparison with WWE’s Previous Record
The prior highest attendance at the O2 Arena was recorded during WWE’s Money In The Bank event on July 1, 2023, which sold out with 17,617 tickets distributed. AEW’s Forbidden Door eclipsed this with ease, establishing a new benchmark for the venue and signaling heightened competition in the professional wrestling industry. The surpassing of this figure within hours of the event’s start underscored the substantial interest and excitement generated by AEW and NJPW’s collaboration.
WWE Money In The Bank 2023SAT 01 JUL, 2023 – 18:00The O2 arena, London Tickets Distributed = 17,617 SOLD OUT. —WrestleTix
Significance of the Record for AEW and Professional Wrestling
This achievement represents a major milestone for AEW under Tony Khan’s leadership, reflecting the promotion’s ability to attract significant crowds internationally and compete with WWE’s longstanding dominance in professional wrestling attendance records. With over 18,000 fans present, the event not only set a venue record but also became AEW’s largest crowd ever, further solidifying its position as a major player in the wrestling world.
The record establishes momentum for AEW’s future events, including upcoming major shows like AEW Grand Slam 2026 and the AEW House Rules specials announced for Australia, demonstrating ongoing expansion and fan engagement worldwide.
Over 18,000 FANS!🎉 AEW #ForbiddenDoor has officially broken WWE’s record (17,671) for biggest crowd ever at the O2 Arena in London! This is also AEW’s largest arena attendance EVER. —AIR
