The Wembley Gamble
AEW needs to stop treating All In like a standard pay-per-view. Wembley Stadium demands spectacle, yet the 2024 iteration felt like a collection of matches rather than a historic event. If AEW intends to return to London in 2026, they cannot rely on the same tropes that fueled the 2023 debut.
The promotion is currently stuck in a booking loop. We see the same faces in the main event picture, while the mid-card suffers from a lack of long-term narrative direction. If All In 2026 is meant to be the monumental card that separates AEW from the pack, the company must commit to a true, year-long build for a marquee showdown.
The Case for a generational clash
The obvious play for 2026 is a definitive clash between Will Ospreay and a fully realized MJF. We have seen them wrestle before, but a true main event at Wembley requires a higher stakes environment. The storytelling needs to move beyond simple jealousy or petty insults.
Imagine a scenario where the International Championship is abandoned in favor of the top title, with the loser forced to vacate their spot in the company. The 2025 calendar year should be used to build this animosity through subtle interference and broken alliances. If they play their cards right, this could be the closest thing we have to the 80,000 fans screaming for Hogan and Rock at WrestleMania 18.
The Tag Team Problem
AEW has arguably the deepest tag team division in the world, yet they often treat it as an afterthought. A dream match for 2026 would be The Young Bucks finally putting their ego aside to face a team like the Motor City Machine Guns in a high-stakes ladder match. The lack of emphasis on tag team wrestling in the last eighteen months is a major flaw in the current booking.
We need to see a return to the technical precision that defined the division in 2021. If the tag titles are relegated to the pre-show or early card slots again, it will be a missed opportunity. The crowd in London wants high-octane action, not filler matches that could happen on any random Saturday night.
A Critical Look at the Booking
The biggest issue with AEW right now is the reliance on surprise debuts. Bringing in a name from WWE or Japan can pop a rating for one week, but it does nothing for the long-term health of the roster. All In 2026 should be built entirely on the backs of wrestlers who have been developed in-house over the last three years.
If Tony Khan continues to use his roster as a revolving door, the audience will eventually tune out. The product needs to feel like a cohesive unit, not a collection of independent contractors looking for a payday. A lackluster event in 2026 would be a massive blow to the company's reputation abroad, especially as Fightful Select recently noted concerns regarding international tour sustainability.
Ultimately, AEW has the talent to deliver the greatest show of the decade. They just need the discipline to execute a vision that lasts longer than a three-week program. The shift toward long-term storytelling is not just a preference; it is a necessity for survival in a market where fans are becoming increasingly cynical about short-term fixes.
