AEW's Phoenix Debut
AEW's Full Gear 2026 Pay-Per-View Officially Announced for Phoenix in November
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Key Points
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Full Gear is set to be the eighth consecutive edition of AEW's flagship pay-per-view, continuing the event's lineage since AEW's 2019 inception.
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Double or Nothing 2025 was voted the best wrestling show of the year worldwide by Sports Illustrated, a distinction Tony Khan cited in discussing Full Gear's Arizona return.
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Phoenix's market strength for AEW is underscored by past attendance at the market: Dynamite at the Mortgage Matchup Center drew about 5,200 in 2024, with more recent Phoenix trips pulling roughly 3,200.
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The Mortgage Matchup Center seats 17,000 for events and has a history of hosting AEW in Phoenix under different venue names (PHX Arena, Footprint Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena), signaling continuity in the market's importance.
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AZCentral was the initial outlet to report the Full Gear date and location before AEW's confirmation, per coverage that credibly framed the announcement.
AEW has officially announced that Full Gear 2026 will take place on Saturday, November 14 at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, Arizona, according to Sports Illustrated. This marks Phoenix's first-ever AEW pay-per-view event. The 17,000-seat arena gives AEW one of its biggest stages of the year.
Early access tickets go on sale July 20, with general public sales opening July 27, per Wrestling Inc. AEW has not announced any matches yet. The promotion plans to use the months ahead to build storylines leading into the November event.
Phoenix Gets Its First AEW Pay-Per-View
Full Gear 2026 will be the eighth straight year AEW has held the event, according to Sports Illustrated. Phoenix has hosted AEW TV tapings before, but this is the first time the city lands a full pay-per-view. AEW boss Tony Khan called Phoenix a top sports town in announcing the event.
411mania noted that the last time a pay-per-view took place in the Phoenix area was years ago. The Mortgage Matchup Center has gone by several names — including PHX Arena, Footprint Center, and Talking Stick Resort Arena — but it remains the market's top venue. Its 17,000-seat capacity makes it one of AEW's largest pay-per-view settings.
Tony Khan Cites Double or Nothing's Award-Winning Year
In explaining his choice of Phoenix, Khan pointed to Double or Nothing 2025 as proof of AEW's current momentum. Sports Illustrated voted Double or Nothing 2025 the best wrestling show of the year worldwide. Khan used that recognition to frame Full Gear 2026 as a continuation of that high standard.
Wrestling Headlines reported Khan's comments directly connecting the award to his confidence in the Phoenix market. AEW has been building its pay-per-view calendar carefully. Full Gear follows All Out, which was separately announced as returning to Chicago in September, per Wrestling Inc.
AEW's Phoenix Attendance History Shows a Mixed Picture
AEW has visited Phoenix multiple times for TV tapings. A Dynamite taping at the Mortgage Matchup Center in 2024 drew around 5,200 fans. More recent Phoenix visits pulled roughly 3,200. Those numbers sit well below the arena's 17,000-seat capacity, which raises the stakes for filling the building in November.
Still, Khan and AEW clearly see Phoenix as a priority market. eWrestling News reported that AZCentral was first to break the Full Gear date and location before AEW made it official. That early local media interest signals Phoenix's appetite for a major wrestling event.
No Matches Set Yet, But Ticket Sales Begin Soon
AEW has not announced a single match for Full Gear 2026. Wrestling Inc confirmed the promotion is in early planning stages. The four-month runway gives AEW time to build feuds across its weekly TV shows before revealing a card.
Fans who want early access to premium seats can get them starting July 20. General public tickets open July 27. With a 17,000-seat arena and no card yet, how well AEW sells Phoenix will be one of the key stories to watch heading into the fall.
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