By comparison, AEW All In: London currently has around 37,000 tickets distributed, with several weeks still remaining before the August 30th event. Dave Meltzer of F4WOnline.com noted the following about WWE not revealing the numbers for SummerSlam…

“This is the first time I can ever recall a WWE stadium show where neither night they announced an attendance. If they were happy, we would have heard an announcement. The fact that we did not hear an announcement tells you that they are very much downplaying it. But it looked good. I mean, they shot it well.”

But this was in the 30s and it’s SummerSlam, and they didn’t. There’s a lot of moves that were made. They weren’t thrilled with the WrestleMania, but they turned out—that one turned out okay. This turned out, I guess, less than okay, because WrestleMania at least they announced a number.”

The post Speculation about why WWE didn’t announce the attendance for SummerSlam 2026 appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Meanwhile, AEW All-In, which is AEW’s top event, has sold 33,000 tickets at Wembley Stadium.

But let’s compare WWE’s 2nd or 3rd event in SummerSlam versus All-In on reasonable terms.

All-In tickets are priced, after conversion, as low as $31 and at maximum, just under $2,000 for the floor.

WWE SummerSlam had it’s cheapest price around $70 (though discounted at the event drew near), but the close floor seats were over $3,000 but the “Elite” level seat ticket packages were selling at $25,000 for both nights ($12,500 per night).

Oh, and WWE SummerSlam sold for 2 nights in Minnesota… AEW All In is at Wembley Stadium, in a British market that is hungry for a big wrestling event and have been begging WWE for Wrestlemania to appear there. Wrestlemania would get Live Aid crowds is it there in England, but until then, English wrestling fans are settling for attending AEW All In.

But we’ve seen a downward spiral of AEW’s #1 event, haven’t we?

– AEW All In 2023 (1st year in Wembley): 72,265 per turnstile, but AEW claims 81,035 tickets were actually sold

– AEW All In 2024 (2nd straight year in Wembley): 46,476 turnstile, but AEW claims 53,385 tickets were actually sold

– AEW All In 2025 (Global Life Field where the Texas Rangers play): 21,973 turnstile, but AEW claims 27,245 tickets were distributed… WAY DOWN here in the United States as the top AEW event!

And now All In 2026, back at Wembley, just over 33,000, still declining each year AEW tries to host events in that massive stadium.

Ehhhhh, and you have the nerve to ridicule WWE SummerSlam’s attendance, despite its HIGHER prices being the main culprit to cause lower WWE attendance?

FACT is that AEW has lower ticket prices, yet being a cheaper option to attend a live wrestling show is NOT drawing fans. When you go beyond AEW All In, there’s a steep drop-off for its next Pay Per Views. For example, AEW Redemption on July 24th only drew 7,107 fans. At best, AEW Pay Per Views could draw up to 15,000 for usual staple events like Double or Nothing but again, this is at lower ticket prices.

AEW fans mocked Wrestlemania 42 for its 50,000 and 55,000 nights, but that’s with absurdly HIGH ticket prices charged by TKO and the stupid high prices to attend anything in Las Vegas. Yet, if you look at WWE’s numbers, they consistently draw 15,000 or more for EVERY PLE while obtaining around 10,000 or more for every RAW show.

WWE outdraws AEW on ticket sales by a WIDE MARGIN despite the absurdly high prices AND the supposed “better quality” of matches that AEW has, according to the heavily biased Wrestling Observer’s joke of a star system.

Seriously, this is a valid question to ask… If AEW has such great matches, why aren’t they drawing larger audiences to events?

Because they don’t have better matches than WWE. No-selling 450 splashes DOES NOT make a great match! Yeah, I saw that utter garbage from the Young Bucks, as one completely no-sold getting hit with a 450 splash from the top rope in order to immediately hit a superkick on someone else. THAT is what Dave Meltzer rates 5-6 stars in his toilet paper of a newsletter!

Let’s go through the numbers to prove a point that AEW is in DISTANT second place right now with the WWE. This isn’t even a competition at this point based on how LOW AEW is drawing on attendance and viewership.

AEW Attendance Numbers – Data courtesy of Wrestlenomics.com’s WrestleTix

AEW Dynamite Average Attendance per quarter:

2021 Q3 6.9K
2021 Q4 5.6K
2022 Q1 5.0K
2022 Q2 6.3K
2022 Q3 5.7K
2022 Q4 4.3K
2023 Q1 5.6K
2023 Q2 5.1K
2023 Q3 4.9K
2023 Q4 4.5K
2024 Q1 4.1K
2024 Q2 3.6K
2024 Q3 3.9K
2024 Q4 3.1K
2025 Q1 2.7K
2025 Q2 3.9K
2025 Q3 2.5K
2025 Q4 3.3K
2026 Q1 3.1K
2026 Q2 3.2K

AEW Collision Average Attendance per quarter:

2023 Q2 6.5K
2023 Q3 4.3K
2023 Q4 3.4K
2024 Q1 3.0K
2024 Q2 3.1K
2024 Q3 2.0K
2024 Q4 2.1K
2025 Q1 3.5K
2025 Q2 2.2K
2025 Q3 1.5K
2025 Q4 2.0K
2026 Q1 2.8K
2026 Q2 2.0K

During 2021 through 2023, could someone tell me what individual was with AEW back then? You know, a massive free agent signing that they convinced to come out of retirement? Oh yeah, CM Punk! The second they kicked him full out of AEW, attendance CRATERED.

AEW Dynamite went from consistently drawing 5,000 or more fans per show (often above 6,000) to now drawing below 3,300 fans per show. Holy cow!

AEW Collision is a complete joke on attendance. Drew when CM Punk was around initially at above 6,000 during 2023 to a terrible 2,000 through the 2nd quarter 2026.

Meanwhile, WWE RAW is drawing strongly since their Netflix deal at about 11,000 or more in attendance while Smackdown fluctuates between 8,000 and 11,000 in recent times. That’s a BIG GAP between what WWE attends on their television shows versus what AEW does on theirs.

Just as there is a BIG GAP on what WWE draws on their PLEs versus and AEW’s Pay Per Views. Go ahead and compare All-In to SummerSlam. Be my guest to compare AEW’s #1 show in a foreign land with pent-up demand versus WWE’s arguable #2 or #3 show in Minnesota (no offense to Minnesota, as it’s a nice place but not a wrestling hot bed). Again, All-In has 33,000 tickets sold versus Wrestlemania pulling in 50,000 one night and 55,000 for the next.

And AGAIN, the difference in ticket prices. WWE sells MORE tickets at HIGHER prices than AEW does with their LOWER prices.

If fewer are attending AEW events, then fewer are buying AEW merchandise, too. AEW doesn’t have a strong online merchant presence, either. WWE blows them out of the water with merchandise sales.

Next, let’s discuss AEW Dynamite VIEWERSHIP, with data courtesy of Gerweck.net who has been compiling reported viewership and ratings data for years from official sources.

4Q-2019 898,333
1Q-2020 883,000
2Q-2020 708,462
3Q-2020 832,929
4Q-2020 817,077
1Q-2021 775,154
2Q-2021 792,769
3Q-2021 1,103,538
4Q-2021 895,769
1Q-2022 1,000,154
2Q-2022 916,231
3Q-2022 998,615
4Q-2022 907,846
1Q-2023 906,538
2Q-2023 855,231
3Q-2023 884,615
4Q-2023 810,692
1Q-2024 810,462
2Q-2024 711,923
3Q-2024 694,615
4Q-2024 588,538
1Q-2025 618,077
2Q-2025 626,923
3Q-2025 610,769
4Q-2025 482,846
1Q-2026 628,250
2Q-2026 635,385

Another reality check, AEW fans. Since 2023, you’ve ben consistently under 800,000 viewers… Heck, since the midway point of 2024, you’ve been UNDER 700,000 average viewers.

And I know what you’ll tell me, “Cable/Satellite subscriptions are down”, blah blah blah blah blah.

True, they are down… But AEW’s attendance is significantly down, too.

They go hand in hand, folks… AEW’s inflection point is that very AEW All In 2023 first event at Wembley. THAT is their peak and consequently, the final show of CM Punk before Tony Khan terminated him.

Viewership, merchandise, and attendance are all DOWN since 2023. Statistical FACT!

And that’s despite signing free agents like Adam Copeland (Edge), Will Ospreay, Mercedes Moné, Kazuchika Okada, Bobby Lashley, & Ricochet since late 2023, while also giving the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega extensions as Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs).

Despite those signings and re-signings, all AEW numbers have declined and remain low.

Despite all of the high star-ratings that AEW mark newsletters give literally every AEW match, it’s not drawing in more viewers nor is it packing buildings. Only the Pay Per View shows draw decent live audiences, at best.

And I love the argument of “AEW is still on Pay Per View”. Really? AEW’s biggest show, AEW All In, draws around 180,000 buys while the rest of the shows draw between 100,000 and 140,000 buys. Like, does everyone realize that 180,000 buys used to be considered a BAD NIGHT for the WWE anytime it happened? We’re talking about those late 2000s ECW brand shows, too… Most of WWE’s shows sold over 200,000, even when they over-saturated the market or when quality began to drop during the 2010s.

At 180,000 buys or less, the Cable or Satellite companies are eating more than half of that.

AEW is currently receiving around $185 million per year for all of their shows airing on Warner Bros. Discovery and the deal runs through the end of 2027, with an option to add on another year to extend it through 2028. However, AEW obtained that deal from a declining Warner Bros. Discovery that has been getting killed by streaming services and was in dire need of live sporting content (well, besides the NBA). Now, AEW faces a real dilemma of the Ellisons buying Warner Bros. to shove into their Skydance/Paramount Global corporation and I wouldn’t be shocked that they shred Tony’s deal and call it a “merger & acquisition” expense to write off for tax relief.

Plus, I theorize that they want RAW on Paramount+ (or what remains when I’m guessing HBO Max merges with it) once Netflix opts out of the RAW deal by the 5th year through 2029 as Netflix wants that afternoon NFL deal that CBS currently has. With the Ellisons paying off these recent mergers, they might have to let the NFL go but could afford signing WWE instead and letting Netflix overpay for the NFL to harm that streaming service.

LOW AEW Dynamite viewership, plus how poorly AEW Collision draws, could ultimately cause AEW to receive the boot off of TBS/TNT and HBO Max especially once this merger completes (and it will, the justice department will enable it).

So yeah, LAUGH IT UP about WWE SummerSlam 2026… There’s a bigger iceberg heading your way, AEW fans. That, and your ship is led by a trust fund baby (though he’s a nice guy) named Tony Khan and completely incompetent fools with the Young Bucks as Executive Vice Presidents no-selling 450 splashes to hit more choreographed superkicks.

As greedy as TKO is and as much meddling as TKO performs, their guys at least have experience in business or wrestling. TKO executives Ari Emanuel and Mark Shapiro have years of experience running businesses or serving as agents to drum up business. Nick Khan managed so many deals for his client and is an experienced executive that has made WWE grow ten-fold since the late 2010s. Yes, Triple H married into the McMahon family, but he’s been with the WWE since 1995 but has been an executive of WWE since the early 2010s.

AEW is STILL the weaker promotion, by a wide margin, and with zero capability to ever chase the WWE… Unless the WWE comes crashing down to their lower level.

Thus, WWE made more on each night of WWE SummerSlam 2026 than AEW will with their flagship All In event in Wembley despite similar attendance.

FACT is that if WWE slashed their ticket prices at ALL venues, those arenas would be packed because the WWE’s product is desired right now. Put AEW’s prices on WWE events they’d sellout everywhere because demand is still STRONG for the WWE product but things like incomes, strained by high inflation everywhere, are causing fans to second guess attending WWE events at their higher prices.

So, there you go… Your ignorant taunting of tarps at WWE SummerSlam 2026 caused me to write an actual AEW column. Go ahead and attempt to refute my facts.

AEW is in second place and its fans have ZERO credibility to taunt the MUCH LARGER WWE for any reason whatsoever. AEW wishes that it could host a 2-night event that could draw over 30,000, as they struggle to do that with their very top show right now with lower ticket prices.

WWE > AEW by a mile.

And Triple H > Tony Khan on Creative, any day of the week.

WWE Roster > AEW Roster

WWE’s Matches > AEW’s Matches

But WWE can’t draw fans in Minnesota with absurdly high ticket prices. Yeah, you got the WWE right there.

In fact, I DARE AEW to take WWE’s pricing model and see how many fans would actually attend. Let’s see how dedicated AEW’s fans are with stupid high prices to attend events. Let’s see how you really measure-up to the WWE, AEW!

AEW is forever the juvenile promotion that had CM Punk drawing higher attendance and over 1 million viewers to AEW Dynamite, but decided to internally and externally attack him instead of hoisting Punk on their shoulders. WWE has Punk and is thriving with him.

AEW is the inferior wrestling promotion, period, compared to the WWE.

Mr. Tito Column Archive @ NoDQ

The post MR. TITO: For the AEW Fans Laughing at WWE SummerSlam 2026’s Attendance… Why Do You Ignore AEW’s Poor Numbers Since 2023? appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Oba Femi started strong, but Brock Lesnar quickly took him to Suplex City. Oba popped back up and clotheslined Lesnar out of the ring before continuing his offense with a suplex on the floor. Oba then set up a table against the cage and sent Lesnar crashing through it.

Oba Femi just BOUNCED UP after Brock Lesnar took him to Suplex City pic.twitter.com/N44DH5spHF

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Back in the ring, Lesnar regained control by repeatedly hitting Oba with the steel steps. After taking Oba to Suplex City again, Lesnar went for the F5, but Oba countered.

NO WORDS #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/HEhkQ68bCu

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Oba hit Lesnar with a chokeslam and a toss before connecting with the Fall From Grace, but Lesnar kicked out. Lesnar recovered and hit three F5s, but Oba somehow managed to kick out.

THESE TWO ARE NOT HUMAN pic.twitter.com/8inl739Nd7

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Lesnar ripped apart the ring canvas, exposing the wooden boards underneath. He hit Oba with a Tombstone Piledriver on the exposed boards, but Oba still kicked out. Oba then knocked a chair out of Lesnar’s hand and hit another Fall From Grace to score the pinfall victory.

TOMBSTONE PILEDRIVER ON THE BOARDS AND OBA KICKED OUT!!!!

THIS IS CRAZY!!!! pic.twitter.com/wnX1OjZxRm

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

After the match, Lesnar got into the ring. Lesnar gave Oba a hug and raised his hand. Lesnar got on the mic and called Oba the future of WWE.

THE PAST THE PRESENT THE FUTURE@BrockLesnar | @Obaofwwe pic.twitter.com/YLmd6tDWg5

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

The post Results of Brock Lesnar vs. Oba Femi at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Cody had a Street Fighter-themed entrance, while Punk’s ring jacket showcased the number “20” to celebrate 20 years since his WWE debut. After an intense staredown, the two went back and forth in a feeling-out process during the opening moments.

An entrance fit for a FIGHTER! @CodyRhodes | @Street_Fighter | #SummerSlam pic.twitter.com/s7x0UJjagg

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Cody gained the advantage by targeting Punk’s knee. Punk was able to counter the Disaster Kick but struggled to move around. Punk did connect with the Randy Savage Elbow, but Cody kicked out. Cody avoided the GTS and hit a Cody Cutter, but Punk kicked out. Cody followed up with a Super Cody Cutter, but Punk kicked out again. Cody applied the Figure-Four Leglock, but Punk was able to reverse the hold.

CODY CUTTER pic.twitter.com/FrKXCRKTOu

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Punk came back with the Anaconda Vice, but Cody got his foot on the rope. Cody came back with the Cross Rhodes, but Punk kicked out. Punk busted out a moonsault but couldn’t finish off Cody. Punk hit the GTS but couldn’t make the cover right away, and Cody kicked out again. Punk hit another GTS, but Cody was able to grab the bottom rope.

These two are giving it EVERYTHING at #SummerSlam! @CodyRhodes | @CMPunk pic.twitter.com/nCQpvY4Ziu

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Punk laid Cody on the announce desk and went for the flying elbow, but Cody moved out of the way, causing Punk to crash through it. Cody got Punk back in the ring and went for the Super Cutter, but accidentally hit the referee.

OH MY GOD pic.twitter.com/VL7kNdb4I3

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

Punk hit a GTS and attempted another one, but Cody countered with a Cross Rhodes while the referee was down. At this point, Randy Orton appeared out of nowhere and hit Cody with an RKO. Punk got back into the ring, hit another GTS, and pinned Cody once the referee recovered.

RANDY ORTON IS BACK

RKO TO CODY RHODES!!!! pic.twitter.com/3IK4QrUHSL

— WWE (@WWE) August 2, 2026

The post Results of CM Punk vs. Cody Rhodes at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE (Randy Orton returns) appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Brie gained the early advantage on Fallon with the Yes Kicks. Nikki and Paige worked over the other two on the outside, but Jacy knocked Brie off the top rope. After Lainey stomped Brie’s head into the steel steps, Jacy delivered a cannonball to Brie against the steps.

Nikki was eventually able to tag in and build up momentum for her team. Nikki hit the Rack Attack 2.0 on Lainey, but Jacy broke up the pin attempt. Things broke down as Lainey and Fallon double-teamed Nikki, but Paige saved the match. After Paige tagged in, Jacy hit the Rolling Encore on her and scored the win.

Fatal Influence pick up the WIN!

What a #SummerSlam debut for this group! pic.twitter.com/UfVttksopR

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Afterward, The Bellas turned against Paige. Nikki laid out Paige with the Rack Attack 2.0. Nikk said, “Lesson learned, never take my spot!”

OH MY GOD @NikkiAndBrie have TURNED on Paige! pic.twitter.com/DXKlQlrRHL

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

The post Results of Fatal Influence vs. The Bella Twins & Paige at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Nick Aldis came out to “Morning Glory” by Oasis. Aldis held his own in the opening moments, and Gunther retreated to the outside to regroup. Back in the ring, Aldis continued to build up momentum until Gunther chopped him out of the ring. Gunther worked over Aldis as Aldis’ wife, Mickie James, watched from ringside.

What a MOMENT @RealNickAldis is ready for his FIRST match in WWE! pic.twitter.com/Q0lK2BlDFA

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

After returning to the ring, Gunther applied a sleeper hold on Aldis, but Aldis was able to escape. Aldis caught Gunther on the top rope and delivered a superplex. The crowd chanted, “You still got it,” at Aldis as he continued to fight back against Gunther. Aldis delivered the British Bulldog powerslam, but Gunther kicked out. Gunther connected with two top-rope elbow drops and then applied the Cloverleaf submission, but Aldis was able to reach the ropes.

"YOU STILL GOT IT" @RealNickAldis pic.twitter.com/Qx2pVbte0g

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Aldis countered Gunther’s sleeper with one of his own, but Gunther escaped and hit Aldis with a powerbomb. Gunther applied the sleeper again, and while Aldis almost escaped, he collapsed and tapped out.

"The Career Killer" strikes AGAIN @Gunther_AUT has defeated Nick Aldis at #SummerSlam. pic.twitter.com/ZakxhlhWQZ

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Afterwards, Aldis received a standing ovation from WWE fans while standing in the ring with Mickie and their son.

What a PERFORMANCE by @RealNickAldis at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/2EMNG1aq2Y

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

The post Results of Gunther vs. Nick Aldis at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

Everyone started brawling right when the bell rang. After getting the upper hand on Jey, Solo “ran it back” and Jey’s music played. Solo posed for the fans, which allowed Fatu to take advantage. The Bloodline worked over Solo until Royce made the tag.

Not Solo Sikoa running it back

This is CLASSIC! pic.twitter.com/FqA1XO5Jjx

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Royce built up some momentum, which included an avalanche powerslam to Jimmy. After this, Knight tagged in and went after Jey. Jey countered a BFT with a spear, but Knight kicked out. Knight came back with a superplex to Jey, but Jimmy hit an Uso Splash. Outside the ring, Royce powerslammed Fatu over the barricade.

.@RealRoyceKeys you are a MAD MAN pic.twitter.com/KgEKff6NA7

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Back in the ring, Jey hit another spear on Knight, and Jimmy connected with an Uso Splash, but Knight kicked out. After Solo got rid of Jimmy with the Samoan Spike, Knight pinned Jey with the BFT. After the match, Knight gave Solo a hug.

The post Results of The Bloodline vs. Royce Keys, LA Knight, and Solo Sikoa at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

After Iyo gained the early advantage, Liv had to retreat to the outside, where she gained the upper hand by sending Iyo into the barricade. Back in the ring, Liv targeted Iyo’s ribs. Liv delivered offense to Iyo that included the Three Amigos. Iyo was eventually able to make a comeback with her signature moves, such as the missile dropkick and Bullet Train attack. Iyo followed it up with a sunset flip powerbomb on the floor.

A #SummerSlam Three Amigos from @YaOnlyLivvOnce #SummerSlam is streaming RIGHT NOW on the @espn App with ESPN Unlimited! pic.twitter.com/lLUujUTMdS

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

After they got back into the ring, Roxanne Perez and Raquel Rodriguez interfered, but Liv couldn’t finish off Iyo. Iyo wiped out Roxanne and Raquel with a moonsault to the outside, but that allowed Liv to take advantage.

IYO SKY CAN FLY pic.twitter.com/RtkM94oshe

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

Sky was able to build up momentum again with a top-rope Spanish Fly. Iyo hit Liv with Liv’s own Oblivion, but Liv kicked out. Liv was able to avoid the moonsault and connect with a Codebreaker. Iyo gave Liv a German suplex on the apron, followed by a Bullet Train attack into the ring post. Iyo, who was selling her leg, went for the moonsault, but Liv got her feet up. Iyo blocked the first Oblivion attempt, but Liv then hit another Codebreaker followed by an Oblivion to retain her title.

WOW @YaOnlyLivvOnce retains the Women's World Title after a BATTLE at #SummerSlam! pic.twitter.com/CmfvGHEYcs

— WWE (@WWE) August 1, 2026

The post Results of Liv Morgan vs. Iyo Sky at WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

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The post Video: Aaron Rift’s recap of WWE SummerSlam Saturday 2026 PLE appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.

According to WrestleVotes Radio, several people within WWE creative are feeling increased pressure following RAW, which carried added importance with several Netflix executives in attendance at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles. With network officials watching, the show’s issues reportedly created additional scrutiny.

It’s believed that the opening segment was viewed internally as a “bad look” because of the microphone issues and Oba Femi’s botched Fall from Grace finisher. The Danhausen and Joe Hendry concert segment also reportedly failed to meet expectations, while some within WWE felt Ryan Garcia’s appearance was unnecessary given his recent controversies.

.@WrestleVotes Radio on @FightfulSelect has learned several people within WWE creative are feeling increased pressure following WWE Raw this week.

Sources say the show carried extra weight internally with Netflix executives in attendance.

More details are now up for Select… pic.twitter.com/jZXxnkofnF

— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) July 30, 2026

The post Report: Several people within WWE creative feeling increased pressure ahead of SummerSlam 2026 appeared first on NoDQ.com: WWE and AEW Coverage.