WWE booked Worlds Collide with AEW All Out squarely in its sights.
Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reports that WWE ran the show to directly impact All Out ticket sales. Both events take place on Saturday, September 26, in the Chicago area. Worlds Collide is at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, while All Out is at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates.
WWE sources admitted to Sapp that they did not expect AEW to sell as well as it did. They were still happy with their own sales.
According to the report, the decision not to broadcast Worlds Collide live was meant to encourage fans in the Chicago area to attend in person. In theory, that would pull ticket buyers away from All Out. Sources said WWE made that call by early August.
WWE announced Worlds Collide on July 16, and the expectation at the time was that it would stream live. The company confirmed on the September 25 SmackDown that the show will stream on YouTube on Wednesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. ET. That puts it up against part of AEW Dynamite.
All Out has sold out the NOW Arena. Worlds Collide is headlined by CM Punk, Rey Mysterio and El Grande Americano against Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh and Omos.
Fightful Select has more on WWE’s Worlds Collide strategy for subscribers. Subscribe to Fightful Select on Patreon for the full story.
