Direct Wrestling Counterprogramming Clash
WWE Schedules Worlds Collide Event Directly Against AEW All Out in Chicago
Anonymous
WWE’s Worlds Collide, featuring talent from WWE, NXT and AAA, is scheduled for Sept. 26, 2026, in the Chicago area on the same day as AEW All Out, creating a direct scheduling clash between the rival promotions. CM Punk is advertised for Worlds Collide, which Jim Ross said would help WWE draw a strong Chicago crowd. Ross criticized the decision on his podcast, arguing that the matching date, location and timing appeared deliberately designed to counterprogram AEW rather than simply serve wrestling fans. He said the industry would benefit from cooperation and growth instead of actions motivated by rivalry. By contrast, reports citing conversations with WWE talent described the backstage reaction as largely indifferent, with wrestlers viewing the clash as routine business rather than a major development in the wrestling industry.
Key Points
1
The events are scheduled at different Chicago-area venues with overlapping start times: Worlds Collide is listed for Allstate Arena at 8 p.m. ET, while AEW All Out is set for NOW Arena at 7 p.m. ET on Sept. 26.
2
The scheduling clash follows earlier instances of each promotion counterprogramming the other, including AEW All In 2026 at Wembley Stadium and WWE-affiliated NXT: Heatwave and AAA Ola de Calor events in Texas on the same day.
3
WWE’s crossover event reflects its expanded relationship with AAA; reports say WWE acquired the Lucha Libre AAA promotion the previous year.
4
It remains unclear how Worlds Collide will be distributed: the event may not be livestreamed immediately and could instead be added to WWE’s Club WWE platform, whose strategy and intended use have not been publicly defined.
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