Backstage Update on Reason for Smaller Ring Used by AEW for Grand Slam Australia Show

Saturday’s AEW Grand Slam Australia show at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia was notable for AEW using a smaller ring than usual for their show. This led to online speculation and rumors of AEW had forgotten to bring their ring with them when they traveled to Australia and had borrowed one at the last minute.

Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp reported that his sources denied the rumors of AEW had forgot to bring a ring for their travel to Australia for their show.

Sapp reported that those spoken to stated that AEW using a smaller ring was something that was always planned to be done for the event and not them forgetting to bring a ring or any other logistical-related issues.

The ring used reportedly was an 18×18 sized ring that is an industry-standard size used by many current and past promotions including TNA, ROH, ECW, and WCW. Sapp reported that many AEW wrestlers have experience working in an 18×18 ring.

Sapp reported that despite some claims being spread online, the ring was never 16×16 for its size.

In regards to the reason why AEW did not bring their usual ring with them, Sapp reported that unlike WWE, AEW does not maintain rings in overseas locations and instead rented the ring from Pro Wrestling Australia around three months ago. AEW officials reportedly also knew the ring they were renting would be smaller than their usual ring.

Sapp reported that AEW has used a smaller ring in the United States in the past including their March 16, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite that featured an AEW Women’s World Championship Steel Cage match of Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker (c).