AEW is adding an afternoon of fan-focused festivities to its All Out weekend plans in Chicago. The company has announced a free All Out Block Party ahead of the September 26 pay-per-view at NOW Arena, giving fans an opportunity to take part in live entertainment, meet-and-greet style activities and charitable fundraising before the night’s major wrestling card begins.
The Block Party is scheduled to run from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT. AEW has advertised live music, question-and-answer sessions involving AEW talent, photo booths and giveaways among the attractions. The event will also include a dunk booth in support of Rebel Heart, making the gathering more than simply a pre-show celebration.
All Out follows shortly after AEW’s trip to Wembley Stadium for All In, with the promotion moving quickly into one of its most important annual Chicago events. The September 26 show will take place at NOW Arena, and several notable matches have already been established as the card continues to take shape.
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A free pre-show celebration for All Out weekend
The announcement positions the Block Party as an accessible start to a full day of AEW programming and wrestling activity in the Chicago area. By making it free, AEW is opening the event to fans whether or not they already have tickets for All Out, while also creating a destination for those arriving early for the pay-per-view.
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Live music and photo opportunities are customary features for a large-scale fan event, but the talent Q&As could provide one of the more memorable elements of the afternoon. Those sessions give attendees a chance to hear directly from wrestlers and personalities connected to the company as All Out approaches. AEW has not detailed which talent members will be participating in the Q&As.
The dunk booth supporting Rebel Heart adds a fundraising dimension to the festivities. While specific participants for that attraction have not been announced, the event’s inclusion gives fans a way to contribute while taking part in the Block Party atmosphere.
The 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT schedule leaves a substantial gap before AEW’s evening broadcast plans, which begin with Zero Hour at 6 p.m. local time. All Out is set to follow at 7 p.m. CT. That timetable gives fans attending both the daytime event and the pay-per-view an opportunity to move from the Block Party into the evening portion of the show day.
All Out card already features championship stakes
The headline match announced for All Out will see Will Ospreay defend the AEW Men’s World Championship against Jon Moxley. Ospreay and Moxley are two of the promotion’s most prominent singles competitors, and the championship bout gives the Chicago pay-per-view a major main-event attraction.
Ospreay enters the event as champion, while Moxley represents a formidable challenger with extensive big-match experience. Their meeting carries obvious significance for the direction of AEW’s men’s world title picture after All In, particularly with the champion now facing one of the company’s most physical and accomplished opponents.
The tag team championship scene will also be heavily featured. Cope and Cage are set to defend their tag titles in a three-way ladder match against The Young Bucks and FTR. The stipulation ensures a high-risk championship contest and places three decorated pairings in the same match, with the titles obtainable through the unique chaos that comes with a ladder match.
The Young Bucks and FTR have long been among the central teams in AEW’s tag team landscape, while Cope and Cage carry the championships into the event. With ladders involved, the bout is built around more than a conventional decision; endurance, timing and the ability to navigate a multi-team environment will be critical in determining which team leaves Chicago with the belts.
Elsewhere on the announced card, Brawling Birds will defend their tag titles in a Chicago Street Fight. A Street Fight in Chicago naturally gives the bout a distinctly local All Out flavor, with the stipulation allowing the champions and their challengers to take the match beyond standard rules. The pairing of title stakes and an environment where the usual restrictions are removed should make it one of the more unpredictable contests on the show.
AEW has historically treated All Out as a major fixture on its calendar, and this year’s announced matches reflect that approach. The world championship match, a three-way ladder title defense and a tag title Street Fight offer contrasting match formats while putting championships at the center of the event.
A busy night in the Chicago market
All Out will take place amid an unusual same-day situation for wrestling fans in the region. WWE previously announced in July that AAA x NXT Worlds Collide will be held on September 26 as well, with that event scheduled for Allstate Arena in Chicago.
The two venues are approximately 20 minutes apart, meaning fans will have two major wrestling events in the same metropolitan area on the same night. The timing also creates direct overlap between the programs. AEW Zero Hour starts at 6 p.m. local time, followed by All Out at 7 p.m. CT, while Worlds Collide is slated to begin at 7:30 p.m. CT.
The Worlds Collide lineup has an added Chicago connection through CM Punk. The former AEW Men’s World Champion, who is currently WWE Undisputed Champion, has been announced for the event in his hometown. Punk’s involvement brings a significant hometown draw to WWE and AAA’s show while AEW presents one of its biggest annual pay-per-views nearby.
For fans, the overlap means September 26 will be a particularly crowded wrestling day. The AEW Block Party’s early-afternoon timing provides a clear opportunity to engage with All Out activities before the evening collision of live events and broadcasts. It also gives AEW a chance to establish its presence hours before Zero Hour and the pay-per-view get underway.
Chicago remains central to AEW’s identity
Chicago has repeatedly played an important role in AEW history, serving as a market associated with major matches, consequential moments and passionate crowds. Returning to the area for All Out keeps that relationship in focus, even as the company comes off the scale and international setting of Wembley Stadium.
The Block Party is designed to extend the All Out experience beyond the arena itself. Rather than limiting the day to the evening card, AEW is creating a multi-hour window for supporters to gather, participate in activities and celebrate the event before the first bell of Zero Hour. The combination of fan interaction, music, giveaways and the Rebel Heart fundraiser gives the afternoon a broader community-event feel.
It also offers a practical addition for attendees traveling into the area for the pay-per-view. Fans can begin their All Out plans early, then have time to prepare for the televised portion of the night. With the Block Party ending at 4:30 p.m. CT and Zero Hour beginning at 6 p.m., the schedule is structured to move naturally toward the arena program.
AEW has yet to announce every detail surrounding the Block Party’s talent participation and individual activities, but the core plan is now clear: All Out weekend in Chicago will begin well before the pay-per-view itself. The free event will provide an afternoon destination on September 26, with the company’s title matches and major stipulations waiting later that evening at NOW Arena.
As the All Out card continues to fill out, the central attractions already promise a consequential night. Will Ospreay will put the AEW Men’s World Championship on the line against Jon Moxley, Cope and Cage will face The Young Bucks and FTR in a ladder match for the tag titles, and Brawling Birds will defend their championships in a Chicago Street Fight. Before those matches unfold, AEW fans in the area will have the chance to kick off the day at the All Out Block Party from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.