ALL IN

Changing the wrestling landscape.

After seventeen long years of WWE domination, independent wrestling takes a giant step from the shadows. ALL IN is set to take place at the Sears Center in Chicago Illinois this weekend. On September 1, the entire landscape of wrestling in North America will change.

When it comes to independent wrestling events Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks have dipped their toes into uncharted waters. The catalyst to this was a Ring of Honor (ROH) Twitter question to Wrestling Observer’s Dave Meltzer. A fan asked if ROH would be able to sell 10k tickets to an event. “Not any time soon” came the response. This flippant reply awoke a fire in Cody Rhodes. “I’ll take that bet” came his response. Just like that, ALL IN was a thing.

The risk of putting on a large arena show was not necessarily appealing to ROH. It was then that the planted seed would grow into something else, something bigger. The show would become a self-funded event promoted by Cody, Nick and Matt Jackson with the cooperation of ROH, NJPW and the NWA.

Promotion for the event would begin in earnest on the Being the Elite youtube channel. Rhodes and The Bucks would continue to tease different venues for the event. Finally announcing the show would take place at the Sears Centre.

Tickets for the show were put on sale in May and sold out in less than 30 minutes. At the time only one match for the show had been announced. The main event, which would pit NWA World Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis against Cody Rhodes.

Over the coming months, further big names were added to the lineup, Kota Ibushi, Kazuchika Okada, Christopher Daniels and Rey Mysterio joined Kenny Omega and others. Additionally, it was announced that the Starrcast fan convention would take place as part of the weekend’s festivities. All this began to win ALL IN, more publicity, as it would be discussed and featured on several popular podcasts and websites. The first part of the gamble had paid off.

The second part of the gamble also paid off when Fite TV agreed to broadcast the event live on pay-per-view. Knowing this would secure further revenue allowed Cody and The Bucks to plough further cash into the production values of the show. Whilst this event has a DIY punk aesthetic to it. The trio know that the show needs to look great. This can not be just another indie show.

There have also been teases of big surprises in store. Neville recently getting his freedom papers from WWE suggests he may be available. Neville restarting his career as PAC at ALL IN would be huge. A certain headline grabber. Another less likely candidate for a cameo is Chicago native CM Punk. Punk must find the prospect interesting. Although his latest legal issues with Colt Cabana may deter such a bold move.

Some people have questioned the main event. Asking how over the tarnished NWA Championship is with today’s audience? The answer to this lies in the distant past.

Cody’s late father ‘The American Dream’ Dusty Rhodes had a special connection with wrestling fans. It is that connection and the association he had with the NWA Championship that makes this match so special. For Cody the title is symbolic of his families non-WWE legacy. A legacy that Vince’s behemoth company has attempted to own. At ALL IN Cody can win back a piece of himself. In the world of pro wrestling that’s as real as it gets.

To reestablish the 10 pounds of gold that his father so proudly held may well be Cody’s gift to wrestling.

ALL IN is a message to the world that one man cannot own an entire way of life. It’s wrestling, not sports entertainment, and I’m All In.

Thanks for reading.

Ian ~ Puroresu Gaijin.