Eric Bischoff talks WWE counter-programming AEW with AAA Worlds Collide
Former WCW President Eric Bischoff recently discussed WWE “counter-programming” AEW with AAA World’s Collide on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. AEW All Out will be taking place on the same day from NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, so not a million miles away from the Allstate.
Bischoff would actually give AEW the edge when it comes to attendance in the building, due to All Elite’s footprint in the Chicago area over the last 6 years or so:
“I’m also thinking about the live attendance. I would think that AEW would have an advantage in their footprint here, in the relationship with the market and so forth. It started here, we all know that and we all recognize that Chicago is a big market for AEW. That said, there’s a significant Hispanic population, there’s a significant Hispanic population in all major cities, but Chicago might be one of the, on a per capita basis, might be more dense than anywhere.
“I don’t follow YouTube analytics closely enough to have any feel for it whatsoever, but I would imagine ticket sales are going to be pretty exciting for that event. They should hold up well for AEW, because they do have an established base there [in the Chicago area].”
Eric Bischoff on AEW vs AAA/WWE
For reference, Chicago’s Hispanic and Latino population accounts for nearly 30% of the city’s 2.7 million residents (via Google), with approximately 800,000 to 820,000 individuals residing within the city limits.
It is not currently known if the two shows will be going head-to-head at the same time or whether one will change start time to avoid a clash. What this could affect, more likely than anything, is the live attendance sales of both events.
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