21 Biggest Wrestling Stories Of 2018
7. September - All Packed In
Cody cashed in the winnings of his publicity-fuelling 'bet' with Wrestling Observer doyen Dave Meltzer in September, as 11,263 fervent fans packed into Hoffman Estates' Sears Center for the hugely anticipated All In show.
The journalist had quipped the previous May that Ring Of Honor wouldn't be selling out a 10,000+ venue "any time soon", which Cody - probably in cahoots - took as a challenge. He subsequently announced 'All In' for September, and in the spirit of defiance, eager punters snapped up all the tickets within 30 minutes - with only a single match on the card announced.
All In's significance as a wrestling show went beyond the ring. In terms of action, it wasn't even in the year's top ten. But the message it sent to the industry was profound: there is room for an alternative. WWE suddenly had to think twice about their complacency.