AEW CEO Tony Khan announced a change in the start time for the upcoming All Out pay-per-view event, originally scheduled for the evening of September 20. This adjustment came after WWE revealed its Wrestlepalooza show would air on the same night. In response, Khan chose to move All Out to an earlier afternoon slot to better serve AEW fans and compete in the crowded wrestling market.
The timing shift reflects Khan’s strategic decision to maintain strong viewership and avoid direct competition with WWE programming while preserving the quality of the wrestling experience.
Khan Shares Reasons Behind the Earlier Start Time
During a media call held before All Out, Tony Khan explained his rationale for the revamped schedule and discussed its potential impact. He highlighted AEW’s recent success with afternoon start times on major pay-per-view events as proof that this approach works well for both fans and business outcomes.
Khan stated,
“I am very excited for the opportunity to have this show this Saturday afternoon. I thought it was the best decision for our fans.”
He pointed to previous AEW pay-per-views like Forbidden Door and All In that benefited from early time slots in the U.S., which contributed to record attendance and pay-per-view buys.
He continued,
“We’ve had great success with the last few AEW pay-per-views, AEW Forbidden Door with the early start time that came from us starting at prime time in London and delivering the pay-per-view early in the US – that show did very well for Forbidden Door.”
On the All In event, Khan noted its status as AEW’s most purchased pay-per-view on Amazon and its record-setting North American live audience, accomplishments partially attributed to the afternoon kickoff.
“And then we had some of our best pay-per-view numbers ever for AEW All In which set some great business milestones for us, it was our most bought pay-per-view ever on Amazon, and it was a huge success and our biggest live crowd ever in North America for AEW All In Texas, again with that afternoon start time,”
he said.
Optimizing Viewer Experience and Business Outcomes
Khan expressed confidence that the upcoming All Out will continue this trend of successful afternoon events, saying,
“So I think we can make it three great shows and three very successful shows in a row, and I can already tell you this show’s gonna be a very successful business venture, and I think it’s also gonna be a great wrestling show and keep this run of great AEW pay-per-views going this Saturday afternoon.”
He emphasized that the decision was made with fans’ experience as a priority, adding,
“I think it was the right decision for the fans to put the time here, and also for us, to be in the pay-per-view business and to continue this run of great shows, and making these adjustments based on the wrestling landscape and also based on our metrics – we thought this would be our best chance to deliver the best numbers while still delivering the great show to the fans.”
Khan reinforced the positive outcomes AEW has seen from such scheduling shifts:
“Clearly it’s worked very well for us, and I think it’s gonna work very well for us this Saturday afternoon for AEW All Out.”
(Pre-All Out media call)
Significance of the Time Change in Wrestling Competition
This rescheduling represents AEW’s strategic response to WWE’s aggressive event planning, specifically the launch of Wrestlepalooza on the same date. By moving All Out to an earlier time, Tony Khan aims to maximize AEW’s viewership without forcing fans to choose between the two shows.
The shift also highlights AEW’s adaptability in a competitive entertainment market and its commitment to delivering high-quality wrestling content under changing circumstances. This decision could strengthen AEW’s position in North America and influence future scheduling amid ongoing rivalry with WWE.
With AEW’s continued momentum from previous successful pay-per-views, the All Out event on September 20 is poised to attract significant attention and maintain the promotion’s upward trajectory.
