AEW All Out 2026 kicked off with a loaded Tailgate Brawl pre-show at NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, and the night’s biggest moment came after the opening match had already ended. Jack Perry defeated Katsuyori Shibata in the first bout of the pre-show, then used the aftermath to renew his call-out of Samoa Joe.
Perry remained in the ring following his win, questioning where Joe was, which drew out HOOK, Anthony Bowens, and Action Andretti to the ramp. According to Fightful, the trio stood on the ramp before Joe’s music finally hit, marking his return to AEW. Ringside News reported that Joe was answering a challenge Perry had issued on the September 16, 2026 episode of AEW Dynamite. Perry offered Joe a handshake, but Joe responded with a headbutt instead, according to Ringside News.
Bang Bang Gang and Sisters of Sin Also Score Wins
The Tailgate Brawl featured two additional matches beyond the Perry-Shibata opener. Julia Hart and Skye Blue of the Sisters of Sin defeated Queen Aminata and Mina Shirakawa in tag team action, with eWrestlingNews reporting that the finish came when Shirakawa attempted to tag in Aminata, only for Hart to pull her off the ring apron.
The Bang Bang Gang also picked up a win on the pre-show. WrestleZone reported that the group stood tall after a chaotic brawl involving the Dogs and the Death Riders, closing out the three-match pre-show before AEW All Out 2026 proper got underway. Wrestling Inc and eWrestlingNews both noted that Andrade also factored into the pre-show’s string of victories.
