Surprises We Could See At AEW All In’s Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match

For the third year in a row, fans are in store for a men’s Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In: London 2026, with AEW’s enjoyable and unpredictable match type being used to determine brand new contenders for world champions. This match type is also the perfect one to offer up some surprise appearances, featuring the classic pro wrestling countdown that fans can chant along with, before music hits.

Thus far, AEW’s Casino Gauntlet match has featured surprises such as Ricochet, Nigel McGuinness, Zack Sabre Jr., Syuri, and others – so who could All In: London 2026 offer up in the announced men’s match? Whether it be surprise returns or debuts, certain names stand out as being possible entrants.

7

Dustin Rhodes

• Rhodes has been out of action for over a year.
• He won the TNT Championship at All In 2025.
• Rhodes is eyeing one final run before retirement.

He may be 57 years of age, but the seemingly ageless Dustin Rhodes wants one final run before hanging up the boots for good. At All In 2025, Rhodes won the TNT Championship in a crowd-pleasing moment, but shortly after dropped the gold to Kyle Fletcher due to requiring surgery.

With it being over a year since he was last on AEW programming, a return at All In: London 2026 could be on the cards for the legend, which would provide him with a very nice moment and one last chance to compete at a very famous venue.

6

Leon Slater

• Leon Slater is one of the hottest young prospects in wrestling.
• His contract is reported to be up in 2026.
• AEW and WWE will be in a bidding war for his signature.

Leon Slater may still be under TNA contract by the time AEW All In: London 2026 rolls around, but with reports of his contract being up sometime in 2026, there is a chance that the young Brit is a free agent for AEW’s Wembley Stadium show, which would the perfect place to debut him in the company.

WWE has not used Leon Slater for some time, suggesting that they may know something everyone else doesn’t know about his future post-TNA.

5

Hologram

• Hologram has been injured for nearly a year.
• All In would be a big way to reintroduce Hologram to AEW.
• Hologram teased a comeback earlier this year.

Through just his in-ring work alone, Hologram managed to craft a good connection to the AEW fans prior to his long-term injury, with him being ruled out of action since September of last year.

Earlier this year, Hologram did tease that he was in the process of coming back, but he has yet to resurface on TV. AEW All In: London 2026 would be a very strong setting for Hologram to make his return and make a strong impression while doing so.

4

Buddy Matthews

• Matthews is a former champion in AEW.
• He last wrestled in AEW in February of 2025.
• Matthews has been on the injury shelf for a year and a half.

It has been a mighty long time since Buddy Matthews was seen in an AEW ring, last competing at AEW Grand Slam: Australia in 2025, losing out to Kazuchika Okada. Taking to Instagram over the last week, Matthews made the announcement that he was officially cleared to compete.

AEW may wait on an official in-ring return, opting to bring him back at AEW All In: London 2026 for a nice surprise appearance in the Casino Gauntlet match. Without the House Of Black, it will be intriguing to see what path Matthews’ AEW career takes.

3

Santos Escobar

• Escobar was released by WWE this year.
• AEW were previously rumored to have interest in him.
• Escobar would be a notable surprise at All In.

Santos Escobar was one of many stars let go by WWE earlier this year, and he recently became a free agent. He announced that he would now be wrestling as Romeo Malverde in the professional wrestling world, though his next steps and home are currently unclear.

When he was previously rumored to exit WWE, there were talks of AEW holding interest in signing him, only for him to then re-sign with WWE (and proceed to hardly be used). AEW could still be interested in bringing him in, and it would make a statement if he were to show up in a surprise capacity in the Casino Gauntlet match at AEW All In: London 2026.

2

Wardlow

• Wardlow’s return last year was disastrous.
• He was injured at Forbidden Door 2025.
• Wardlow should be set for an AEW return soon.

After being away from AEW for a lengthy period, Wardlow made a shocking return at Forbidden Door 2025… only to get injured immediately. Wardlow has been off AEW programming for a year, but it may soon be time for yet another comeback.

His time in AEW over recent years has been full of both bad luck and bad booking, but a fresh start, dominant performance, and surprise return at AEW All In: London 2026 could turn his fortunes around.

1

Steve Maclin

• Maclin recently left TNA.
• He is wrestling Adam Copeland in MLP.
• Maclin is a former world champion in TNA.

Steve Maclin recently became one of the more prominent free agents on the market after parting ways with TNA in recent months, with many debating over where he will end up next. AEW is a very likely destination for the former IMPACT World Champion, and Wembley Stadium may host a surprise debut.

Maclin is set to face AEW’s Adam Copeland in the near future in Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, which could be a sign of things to come for him if he were to put pen to paper on an AEW deal.