WrestleDream (2025) - Wikipedia - Recent changes [en]

On October 1, 2022 (September 30 in [[Eastern Time]]), [[Antonio Inoki]], the founder of the Japanese [[professional wrestling]] promotion [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW), died.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/antonio-inoki-passes-away-age-79|title=Antonio Inoki Passes Away At Age 79|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=October 1, 2022|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001013224/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/antonio-inoki-passes-away-age-79|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to his death, the American promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) began a working partnership with NJPW in early 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/aew-new-japan-pro-wrestling-establish-working-relationship-332261|title=AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling Established Working Relationship|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|first=Josh|last=Nason|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204143003/https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/aew-new-japan-pro-wrestling-establish-working-relationship-332261|archive-date=February 4, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in the annual co-promoted event, [[AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door]], which was first held in June 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/04/21/aew-njpw-joint-pay-per-view-tony-khan|title=Tony Khan Announces First-Ever AEW, NJPW Joint Pay-Per View Event|first=Justin|last=Barrasso|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=April 20, 2022|access-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421005905/https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/04/21/aew-njpw-joint-pay-per-view-tony-khan|archive-date=April 21, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

On October 1, 2022 (September 30 in [[Eastern Time]]), [[Antonio Inoki]], the founder of the Japanese [[professional wrestling]] promotion [[New Japan Pro-Wrestling]] (NJPW), died.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/antonio-inoki-passes-away-age-79|title=Antonio Inoki Passes Away At Age 79|last=Defelice|first=Robert|work=Fightful|date=September 30, 2022|access-date=October 1, 2022|archive-date=October 1, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221001013224/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/antonio-inoki-passes-away-age-79|url-status=live}}</ref> Prior to his death, the American promotion [[All Elite Wrestling]] (AEW) began a working partnership with NJPW in early 2021.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/aew-new-japan-pro-wrestling-establish-working-relationship-332261|title=AEW, New Japan Pro Wrestling Established Working Relationship|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|first=Josh|last=Nason|date=February 4, 2021|access-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204143003/https://www.f4wonline.com/aew-news/aew-new-japan-pro-wrestling-establish-working-relationship-332261|archive-date=February 4, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in the annual co-promoted event, [[AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door]], which was first held in June 2022.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/04/21/aew-njpw-joint-pay-per-view-tony-khan|title=Tony Khan Announces First-Ever AEW, NJPW Joint Pay-Per View Event|first=Justin|last=Barrasso|magazine=[[Sports Illustrated]]|date=April 20, 2022|access-date=April 22, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220421005905/https://www.si.com/wrestling/2022/04/21/aew-njpw-joint-pay-per-view-tony-khan|archive-date=April 21, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref>

The inaugural [[WrestleDream (2023)|WrestleDream]] event took place on October 1, 2023—the one-year anniversary of Inoki's death—at [[Climate Pledge Arena]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], marking AEW's first PPV to be held in the state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=AEW WrestleDream Announced For October 1, AEW Full Gear To Take Place On November 18|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-wrestledream-announced-october-1-aew-full-gear-take-place-november-18|work=Fightful|date=August 27, 2023|access-date=August 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828045934/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-wrestledream-announced-october-1-aew-full-gear-take-place-november-18|archive-date=August 28, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> The name of the event was a reference to Inoki, who AEW promoter [[Tony Khan]] called "wrestling's greatest dreamer".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/tony-khan-announces-aew-wrestledream-ppv-full-gear-date-location|title=Tony Khan announces AEW WrestleDream PPV, Full Gear date & location|date=August 27, 2023|last=Carey|first=Ian|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829040612/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/tony-khan-announces-aew-wrestledream-ppv-full-gear-date-location|archive-date=August 29, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 21, 2025, AEW announced that the third WrestleDream would take place on October 18, 2025, at the [[Chaifetz Arena]] in [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]]. This will be the promotion's second PPV event to take place at the venue, following [[AEW Dynasty (2024)|Dynasty]] in April 2024. Tickets for WrestleDream will go on sale July 28.<ref>{{cite web|URL=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/chaifetz-arena-in-st-louis-to-host-aew-wrestledream|title=Chaifetz Arena To Host AEW WrestleDream on October 18|work=AllEliteWrestling.com|date=July 21, 2025|access-date=July 21, 2025}}</ref>

The inaugural [[WrestleDream (2023)|WrestleDream]] event took place on October 1, 2023—the one-year anniversary of Inoki's death—at [[Climate Pledge Arena]] in [[Seattle, Washington]], marking AEW's first PPV to be held in the state of [[Washington (state)|Washington]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lambert|first=Jeremy|title=AEW WrestleDream Announced For October 1, AEW Full Gear To Take Place On November 18|url=https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-wrestledream-announced-october-1-aew-full-gear-take-place-november-18|work=Fightful|date=August 27, 2023|access-date=August 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828045934/https://www.fightful.com/wrestling/aew-wrestledream-announced-october-1-aew-full-gear-take-place-november-18|archive-date=August 28, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> The name of the event was a reference to Inoki, who AEW promoter [[Tony Khan]] called "wrestling's greatest dreamer".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/tony-khan-announces-aew-wrestledream-ppv-full-gear-date-location|title=Tony Khan announces AEW WrestleDream PPV, Full Gear date & location|date=August 27, 2023|last=Carey|first=Ian|work=[[Wrestling Observer Figure Four Online]]|access-date=August 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230829040612/https://www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/tony-khan-announces-aew-wrestledream-ppv-full-gear-date-location|archive-date=August 29, 2023|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 21, 2025, AEW announced that the third WrestleDream would take place on October 18, 2025, at the [[Chaifetz Arena]] in [[St. Louis|St. Louis, Missouri]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/news/2025/07/21/aew-wrestling-event-st-louis-chaifetz-event.html|title=Pro wrestling event coming to St. Louis|work=[[St. Louis Business Journal]]|first=Nathan|last=Rubbelke|date=July 21, 2025|access-date=July 21, 2025}}</ref> This will be the promotion's second PPV event to take place at the venue, following [[AEW Dynasty (2024)|Dynasty]] in April 2024. Tickets for WrestleDream will go on sale July 28.<ref>{{cite web|URL=https://www.allelitewrestling.com/post/chaifetz-arena-in-st-louis-to-host-aew-wrestledream|title=Chaifetz Arena To Host AEW WrestleDream on October 18|work=AllEliteWrestling.com|date=July 21, 2025|access-date=July 21, 2025}}</ref>

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