Posted in: AEW, Sports, TV | Tagged: wrestling

AEW Expands Global Footprint with O2 London and Glasgow Events

AEW secures The O2 for Forbidden Door and OVO Hydro for its Scotland debut, cementing its status as a global wrestling powerhouse.

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has announced significant developments in its international expansion strategy, securing two prestigious venues for what promises to be landmark events in the promotion's ongoing European initiative.

According to a press release issued by the organization, The O2 in London will host the annual AEW x New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) collaborative event, Forbidden Door, on Sunday, August 24, 2025. This announcement represents a momentous occasion for the Jacksonville-based wrestling promotion, as it will mark AEW's inaugural appearance at the iconic London venue, which has long been considered one of the premier entertainment destinations in the United Kingdom.

In conjunction with this announcement, AEW revealed plans to make its Scottish debut at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The Glasgow event will feature a dual taping of the promotion's flagship programs—AEW Dynamite and AEW Collision—providing Scottish fans their first opportunity to witness AEW's distinctive brand of professional wrestling in person.

Ticket sales for both events are scheduled to commence on Friday, May 2, at 10 AM local time. Prospective attendees can purchase tickets via AEWTix.com and livenation.co.uk. The organization has also established a presale registration system, allowing enthusiastic fans to secure early access to tickets through a dedicated Ticketmaster portal.

This expansion into new European territories aligns with AEW's broader international strategy, which has seen the promotion gradually establishing footholds in markets traditionally dominated by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). The announcement comes at a particularly auspicious moment for AEW, as the company recently achieved a significant milestone when Dynamite surpassed WWE Nitro's tenure on Turner networks, becoming the longest-running professional wrestling program in the history of the broadcasting conglomerate.

The European events are part of an increasingly global outlook for the five-year-old promotion. AEW has also confirmed that its popular Grand Slam special will take place at Arena Mexico this summer, representing a collaborative effort with Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), Mexico's oldest and most prestigious wrestling organization. This partnership further demonstrates AEW's commitment to fostering relationships with established international wrestling entities.

These strategic moves position AEW to strengthen its status as the preeminent alternative in the global professional wrestling landscape. By establishing regular touring patterns in international markets, the company appears to be implementing a calculated approach to audience expansion while simultaneously offering its devoted fanbase unique spectacles that distinguish AEW from its competitors.

The selection of The O2 as the venue for Forbidden Door is particularly noteworthy, as the arena has a capacity exceeding 20,000 spectators, allowing AEW to continue to demonstrate the ability to draw large crowds for its operations inside and outside North America. Previous iterations of Forbidden Door have showcased the extraordinary in-ring talents of both AEW and NJPW performers, creating memorable encounters that have garnered critical acclaim throughout the wrestling community.

Similarly, the OVO Hydro in Glasgow represents an ambitious venue choice for AEW's Scottish debut. With a capacity of approximately 14,300, the arena typically hosts major musical performances and sporting competitions, underscoring the promotion's confidence in its ability to attract substantial audiences in previously untapped markets.

AEW President Tony Khan has consistently emphasized the importance of international expansion in the company's long-term strategic planning. These forthcoming events in the United Kingdom and Scotland appear to exemplify this philosophy, providing tangible evidence of the organization's commitment to establishing a truly global footprint.

As AEW continues to mature as an entity within the professional wrestling ecosystem, these international endeavors may prove instrumental in the company's efforts to cultivate new audience segments while simultaneously reinforcing its positioning as an innovative and forward-thinking organization within the industry.

Additional information regarding both events is expected to be disseminated in the coming weeks, with speculation already mounting regarding potential match cards and special appearances.

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