AEW will dedicate its September 9 episode of Dynamite to Tanea Brooks, the AEW original known to fans as Rebel, in a televised special built around raising money and awareness for ALS research.
AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite airs live from Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia on Wednesday, September 9, on TBS with a simulcast on HBO Max. The promotion announced the show Monday alongside nonprofits I AM ALS and Team Gleason, both of which will receive a donation from the event.
Rebel is scheduled to appear in person that night, and fans in attendance will receive a limited-edition Rebel trading card sheet from Upper Deck while supplies last.
“We look forward to honoring Rebel while also raising awareness and donations for two incredible organizations that are on the front lines of finding a cure for ALS and improving life for people affected by this terrible disease,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan.
Months In The Making
Khan raised the idea at an AEW press conference earlier this year, saying he wanted the company’s Fight for the Fallen charity programming to support ALS causes. The Athens booking also puts the show in the home community of the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center, which researches ALS therapies.
Rebel has been driving the effort herself. She signed on as an ambassador for I AM ALS in June, and took the revived ALS Ice Bucket Challenge after being nominated by Steve Gleason, the former New Orleans Saints safety whose Team Gleason foundation is the show’s other beneficiary.
From there it moved through the locker room. Shawn Dean carried the challenge into wrestling, Britt Baker filmed her entry with Rebel and Gail Kim on July 17, and Adam Cole took his turn on July 26. Baker’s reunion with her former on-screen assistant has fans openly campaigning for her to turn up in Athens.
Tickets And What Else Is Confirmed
Tickets go on sale Friday, July 31 at 10 AM ET through AEWTix.com, with early presale access for registered AEW Insiders. The promotional poster features AEW World Champion Kenny Omega, Mercedes Moné, Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland. No matches have been announced yet.
Rebel Heart shirts and bracelets are on sale now at ShopAEW.com with 100 percent of profits going to I AM ALS and Team Gleason. AEW says further details are coming, and donations are being taken at AEWTogether.org/RebelHeart.
Brooks joined AEW in 2019 as a hair and makeup artist before moving on camera as Britt Baker’s put-upon assistant, Reba. The former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and Impact Wrestling veteran last worked an AEW ring in a 2022 dark match. AEW’s release states she was diagnosed with ALS in March, and she shared the terminal diagnosis publicly on May 1.
