Backstage News on Why AEW All In: Texas Ran for Six Hours – AEW made history this past Saturday as All In: Texas became the longest wrestling pay-per-view event of all time, clocking in at an astonishing six hours. The show shattered the previous record held by WrestleMania 35, which ran five hours and twenty minutes.
While the event was initially expected to feature a condensed card and shorter runtime, AEW’s decision to extend the show was reportedly intentional. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, the move was part of a calculated response to WWE’s counter-programming tactics during a stacked weekend of wrestling.
On the same night as All In: Texas—July 12—WWE aired both NXT: Great American Bash and Saturday Night’s Main Event, followed by WWE Evolution 2 the next evening. AEW, aware of the head-to-head competition, reportedly chose to lengthen All In to ensure their main event would overlap with WWE’s prime-time NBC broadcast.
Meltzer noted that AEW’s approach was not just about match timing, but about making a broader statement: the promotion did not want to be “bullied” by WWE’s aggressive weekend scheduling. As a result, AEW allowed matches to run longer than originally planned, with minimal time cuts and a slower pacing that emphasized major moments throughout the show.
The decision appears to have paid off in terms of buzz and historical significance. Not only did All In: Texas make headlines for its runtime, but the event also featured multiple title changes, surprise appearances, and a raucous live crowd at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
This latest chapter in the ongoing AEW vs. WWE rivalry highlights how both companies are increasingly adjusting strategies in real time to outmaneuver each other on big weekends. With WWE continuing to load its summer calendar and AEW determined to compete at the highest level, fans may see even more marathon events and strategic overlap in the months ahead.
Backstage News on Why AEW All In: Texas Ran for Six Hours
