AEW made a bold statement with its inaugural U.S. stadium pay-per-view, AEW All In Texas, held at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The massive event drew a crowd of approximately 26,000 passionate fans, eager to witness one of the biggest wrestling spectacles of the year. However, the night began with a sudden jolt when AEW President Tony Khan announced just hours before the show that Adam Cole had been pulled from the TNT Title match due to injury. This unexpected setback could have derailed the evening, but instead, it set the stage for one of the most emotionally charged and memorable nights in AEW history.
The gravity of Cole’s absence was felt immediately. In a poignant segment aired live during the pay-per-view, a teary-eyed Adam Cole addressed the crowd, saying, “If this is the end, I just want you to know I gave it my all out there, and I love you all.” The arena fell silent before erupting into chants of “Thank you, Adam!” This brief but powerful moment became the emotional heartbeat of the night, grounding the fans and performers alike in a shared sense of respect and admiration.
Despite the early blow, AEW’s production team and match layout rose to the occasion, expertly managing the show’s pacing to maintain energy and momentum over a grueling five-hour runtime. The event’s flow was carefully crafted to allow the audience to absorb the shock of Cole’s injury without losing enthusiasm. The emotional high of Dustin Rhodes’ victory in a four-way replacement match was a key turning point, serving as a cathartic release for the crowd.
Following Rhodes’ win, the atmosphere surged back to life with a thrilling tag team clash between The Young Bucks and the duo of Swerve Strickland & Will Ospreay. This match was a masterclass in tag wrestling, blending Ospreay’s aerial precision with Swerve’s hard-hitting style, while The Young Bucks delivered a grounded, story-driven performance. The body language of the Bucks during the match symbolized a passing of the torch, highlighting AEW’s commitment to evolving its roster and storytelling.
The event opened with a high-stakes AEW Trios Title match where The OPPS—Katsuyori Shibata, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Samoa Joe—successfully defended their championship against The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta) and Gabe Kidd. This opener set the tone for the evening, building tension and excitement for what was to come.
The Men’s Casino Gauntlet match, while showcasing AEW’s deep mid-card talent, felt less dynamic compared to the previous year’s edition. Mistico’s strong entrance was a highlight, but the match lacked the urgency and fluidity fans had hoped for. Ultimately, MJF emerged victorious, a decision that aligned with the company’s long-term storytelling plans.
In the AEW Title match, Dustin Rhodes stepped in to face Daniel Garcia, Kyle Fletcher, and Sammy Guevara. Rhodes’ triumph in front of a Texas crowd was a career-defining moment, especially poignant given the circumstances surrounding Cole’s injury. The “Son of Plumber” delivered a performance that resonated deeply with fans and added a layer of emotional depth to the night.
The Women’s Casino Gauntlet match was a fast-paced, diverse showcase that culminated in Athena’s victory, elevating the women’s division and hinting at future storylines. Meanwhile, the AEW World Tag Team Titles were contested in a three-way match featuring The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, accompanied by MJF and MVP), Jet Speed (Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey), and The Patriarchy (Christian Cage and Nick Wayne). The Hurt Syndicate dominated the bout and captured the titles, with the post-match return of Copeland to clear the ring sparking significant buzz among fans.
The AEW Women’s Title match between Toni Storm and Mercedes Moné was a hard-fought, mat-based battle that showcased the technical prowess of both athletes. Moné’s precise counters initially gave her control, but Storm’s series of suplexes and a top-rope Storm Zero finisher turned the tide. Both competitors earned standing ovations, underscoring the match’s quality and intensity.
One of the night’s most anticipated encounters was the unification match for the newly created AEW Unified Title, pitting Kazuchika Okada against Kenny Omega. This bout drew heavily on their storied New Japan Pro Wrestling trilogy, delivering a patient, deliberate build-up before erupting into chaos in the final moments. Okada’s thunderous Rainmaker counter to Omega’s One-Winged Angel secured the victory, marking a new era in AEW’s singles division with Okada holding both the International and Continental Titles.
The main event was a brutal, narrative-driven AEW World Title match between Adam Page and Jon Moxley. The contest featured extreme elements such as barbed wire chairs, thumbtack moonsaults, and even fork stabs. Beyond the violence, it was a story of redemption for Page, who overcame a tumultuous year to reclaim the championship. The climax saw Page choke out Moxley with a steel chain, aided by Swerve Strickland. The chilling image of Moxley bleeding and possibly unconscious as Page passed out from exhaustion was a powerful visual metaphor for the end of one era and the dawn of another in AEW.
While AEW All In Texas was a supershow in scale, it was also a triumph of adaptability and storytelling. The adversity of Adam Cole’s injury transformed into an emotional catalyst that elevated the entire event. From Dustin Rhodes’ heartfelt victory to Athena’s hometown triumph and Page’s crowning moment, the show delivered top-tier in-ring action combined with compelling narratives.
In a related development during the All In weekend, Bryan Danielson revealed details of a conversation he had with WWE. Amid the head-to-head competition between AEW’s Arlington event and WWE’s trio of shows in Atlanta, Danielson disclosed that WWE contacted him the day before AEW All In regarding restrictions on his use of the iconic “Yes!” chant. Speaking at a special Starrcast Texas stage show hosted by Tony Schiavone, Danielson said, “I think it’s odd, I just got a text message yesterday. I wouldn’t say threatening legal action. But, like, ‘Hey, you know if you…’ I’m not somebody who tends to criticize people. Everybody has their different values, and they have their own values. They’re just different from mine and that’s fine.”
Danielson further explained the impracticality of enforcing such restrictions once he was in AEW, noting, “And it’s also something like, am I not allowed to raise my fingers in the air? When I do it, nobody notices but I never say ‘yes!’ when I do it. I always just do this (raises fingers in the air) and the people — so am I not allowed to do that? I don’t know. This is getting really into the weeds of stuff that is not super interesting or fun to talk about for me, and I also don’t wanna get myself or anybody else in trouble.”
Danielson, who left WWE in May 2021 and debuted in AEW at All Out in September 2021, retired as a full-time wrestler at AEW WrestleDream in October 2024 after losing the title to Moxley. His candid remarks added an intriguing subplot to an already dramatic weekend in professional wrestling.
As AEW continues to build momentum with events like All In Texas, the promotion is clearly carving out its own identity and narrative space in the wrestling world. The night’s blend of emotional storytelling, high-caliber matches, and behind-the-scenes intrigue showcased AEW’s evolution and set the stage for what promises to be an exciting future.
