On Saturday night, WWE and AEW both hosted events just miles apart, prompting a strong response from AEW World Champion Will Ospreay. AEW’s All Out took place at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, while WWE, alongside Lucha Libre AAA, held Worlds Collide at the Allstate Arena in nearby Rosemont. Ospreay concluded All Out by successfully defending his AEW World Championship against Jon Moxley, countering Moxley’s final Paradigm Shift move and pinning him with his signature Hidden Blade.
During the post-event press conference, Ospreay expressed how significant the night was for him, especially given the local competition. “Tonight was incredibly special as it was my first pay-per-view main event defending the title, and the entire venue sold out based on three key matches. The sold-out matches included myself vs. Jon Moxley, the Brawling Birds vs. Divine Dominion, and the ladder match,” he said. “I am immensely proud because fans had options and chose the right promotion.”
Ospreay did not hold back when addressing challengers ready to compete with AEW. “We offer the top pay-per-views and the finest wrestling. Anyone who tries to compete with us will be knocked down several levels. We are the best wrestling promotion worldwide—don’t ever try to step to us again,” he asserted.
This event marked Ospreay’s first title defense since winning the AEW World Championship from Kenny Omega on August 30 during All In at Wembley Stadium in London. He secured the championship after a 34-minute battle, finishing Omega with the Hidden Blade and earned the opportunity by winning the Owen Hart Cup.
The three highlighted matches were major attractions at All Out. The Brawling Birds, Alex Windsor and Jamie Hayter, successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship against Megan Bayne and Lena Kross’s Divine Dominion in a brutal Chicago Street Fight that ended with 2 Birds 1 Stone through a barbed-wire board. Additionally, The Young Bucks captured the AEW World Tag Team Championship for a record fourth time in a three-way ladder match against reigning champions Christian Cage and Adam Copeland, along with FTR.
Meanwhile, WWE’s Worlds Collide event also took place that night, headlined by CM Punk, Rey Mysterio, and El Grande Americano defeating Dominik Mysterio, JD McDonagh, and Omos. WWE commentator Jim Ross recently suggested on his podcast “Grilling JR” that WWE’s decision to run Worlds Collide simultaneously and so close to All Out seemed deliberately antagonistic. Before the event, AAA commentator John “Bradshaw” Layfield confirmed he would not be attending, noting that announcers weren’t being brought in.
Unlike All Out, Worlds Collide was not broadcast live. Instead, the show is set to air on a tape delay on September 30 via WWE’s and AAA’s YouTube channels. Notably, CM Punk made an appearance in his Straight Edge Society mask, and post-match, Oba Femi delivered a clothesline to Omos over the top rope.
Fan Take: This showdown between AEW and WWE on the same night exemplifies the growing rivalry and competitive spirit fueling professional wrestling’s resurgence. For fans, it promises more thrilling matchups, better storytelling, and a reinvigorated industry where promotions constantly push each other to new heights.
Source: wrestlingnews.co
