All Elite Wrestling is returning to Chicago for an extended stay in July. The wrestling promotion will perform its first multi-week residency at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom from July 16 to July 31.
“It’s a dream come true to be able to do weeks of AEW television at the Aragon Ballroom,” AEW CEO, general manager and head of creative Tony Khan told the Sun-Times on Monday.
Khan was born in Urbana and attended the University of Illinois, so the Chicagoland area is significant to him. But the Chicagoland area is also important to the history of AEW, the twice-a-week wrestling promotion co-owned by Khan and his father, Shad, who also owns the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars.
The genesis of the company began in 2018 when wrestlers Cody Rhodes, and Matt and Nick Jackson sold out the NOW arena, which is located in Hoffman Estates. Their efforts drew the attention of Khan, a diehard wrestling fan. The buzz generated from 2018’s “All In” pay-per-view led to the formation of AEW.
In 2021, AEW held the first edition of “Rampage,” one of its weekly shows that was canceled in 2024, at the United Center.
Since launching in 2019, AEW has risen to become the second-largest wrestling promotion in the United States behind WWE. AEW has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery since 2019 to air its weekly shows which include “AEW Dynamite” and “AEW Collision” on TNT and TBS.
“I’m so excited for what’s to come,” Khan said. “We’ve got great fans, great support and this has been the best year of AEW television from the start of the year up until now.
“I would never try this in a city where we didn’t have the most support; that’s why Chicago is a perfect place to try this. It’ll be the first residency we’ve done in 2025, and I think it’s going to be something that we can really bring to Chicago.”
AEW’s Chicago residency includes three tapings of “Dynamite,” its flagship show that airs on Wednesdays, and three editions of “Collision,” which airs on Saturdays, with special live tapings sprinkled in.
Chicago has a fervent wrestling fan base. It’s one of the hotbeds for the promotion and Khan wanted to capitalize on that adoration. AEW held a residency in Arlington, Texas, in 2024, and announced that it will hold a residency in Philadelphia from Aug. 27-Sept. 11.
“Chicago is definitely on the Mount Rushmore of wrestling cities,” Khan said. “Chicago, without a doubt, is one of the very top wrestling cities, not only in America, not only in North America, but in the entire world. Chicago stands atop pro wrestling.”
Fans play a special role in wrestling. Their reactions — from the jeers to the cheers — are a huge part of the show. Fans add the magnitude of a moment, and a hot crowd can turn a good moment into a great moment and a great moment into an iconic moment.
Khan said the importance of doing this residency is because he wanted to keep up “this awesome momentum going because 2025 has been special.”
He listed off the names of established wrestlers such as MJF, Mercedes Moné, Toni Storm, “Hangman” Adam Page and others as why AEW has been able to succeed in 2025 after the promotion saw its ratings and attendance numbers decline in 2024.
“They’ve all helped us get into such a strong position that we’re in right now to where I think AEW is doing our very best work this moment,” Khan said.
In 2024, Variety reported AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery extended their partnership on a multi-year contract.
Max is building a library of past AEW shows and pay-per-views that fans can watch at their leisure. Part of the arrangement also included Max offering AEW pay-per-view events at a discounted rate.
This week, the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates hosts “AEW Beach Break,” one of their premier events. Wednesday’s main event is Samoa Joe facing off against AEW world champion Jon Moxley for the AEW world championship in a steel cage match.
“We have a lot of people that love wrestling so much, working together for a common goal,” Khan said. “It’s a competition. People are striving for the top, but we all want to see AEW succeed, even though it’s a competitive space. That’s what makes AEW a special place … we all believe and know that AEW is where the best wrestle.”