AEW All Out: Toronto Delivers Afternoon Knockout, Posts Second-Biggest Buyrate of 2025
AEW’s All Out: Toronto proved once again that afternoon wrestling isn’t scaring fans away from opening their wallets. Despite kicking off at 3 p.m. Eastern, the pay-per-view drew an impressive 135,000–140,000 worldwide buys, according to early estimates from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
That figure puts All Out in rare company, landing as AEW’s second-highest PPV of 2025, trailing only July’s All In. It continues a remarkable run for Tony Khan’s company, which has leaned on international-friendly start times while keeping its domestic fanbase engaged.
Streaming Expansion Pays Off
This event also marked AEW’s first pay-per-view on HBO Max, available to subscribers at a $10 discount from the standard rate. While fans still had the option to purchase through Amazon Prime, YouTube, and PPV.com domestically, as well as Triller and other international platforms, the HBO Max integration signals a major step in AEW’s evolving distribution strategy.
The timing couldn’t have been more significant: for one hour, All Out: Toronto went head-to-head with WWE’s WrestlePalooza, which debuted on ESPN in the U.S. While WWE has yet to release viewership data, AEW’s early buy numbers suggest they held their ground in a crowded weekend.
Afternoon Trend Coming to an End?
All Out: Toronto was AEW’s third straight afternoon pay-per-view, following All In (3 p.m. start) and Forbidden Door (1 p.m.). While the company proved fans will show up no matter the clock, the schedule is shifting back to tradition.
As we previously reported on Wrestling.news, Tony Khan noted during the AEW All Out Media Scrum that he’s open to experimenting with earlier start times. For now, nothing is set in stone.
Upcoming cards — WrestleDream, Full Gear, and Worlds End — are currently listed for 8 p.m. Eastern, signaling a likely return to the prime-time PPV model heading into the end of the year.
Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
AEW has done something few thought possible — turning afternoon pay-per-views into blockbuster events. Toronto’s buy numbers prove that the company’s international vision is paying off, while HBO Max gives them a powerful new platform to reach casual fans at a friendlier price point.
Still, returning to evening start times is the smart move domestically. Wrestling fans crave routine, and AEW has shown it can succeed in both formats. What matters most is momentum — and right now, AEW has plenty of it.
