QT Marshall Defends AEW’s Use of a Smaller Ring at Grand Slam: Australia

AEW’s Grand Slam: Australia gave fans plenty to talk about, but one unexpected controversy centered around the size of the ring. Instead of using their standard setup, AEW opted for a smaller 18-foot ring, a decision that left fans scratching their heads—and QT Marshall isn’t having the complaints.

The discussion kicked off when Steven Muehlhausen questioned why AEW wouldn’t bring in their own ring, tweeting, “Why wouldn’t you have your own ring? Hmm.” Another user, Masked J, speculated that the cost of shipping AEW’s ring was just too high, saying, “The cost of shipping their ring was more than just getting one loaned I assume.”

While that seemed like a reasonable guess, Muehlhausen wasn’t convinced, firing back with, “While I can understand that to a point, why did they get a smaller ring then?” That’s when QT Marshall stepped in to set the record straight.

Marshall took to Twitter to defend AEW’s decision, explaining that AEW’s 20-foot ring is a unique design, and most promotions don’t have rings that size readily available. He also pointed out that the 18-foot ring AEW used is standard for companies like TNA and older ROH, questioning why fans were making such a big deal about it.

“The AEW ring is a design that only AEW has. It’s very rare that an independent company (or a major company) has a 20ft ring. This ring is an 18ft ring. TNA has been using for years and older ROH as well. Why is this a talking point? It’s not our first time using an 18ft ring.”

While AEW has used an 18-foot ring before, Ringside News previously reported that the company borrowed the ring instead of shipping their own, which impacted the overall presentation of the show. Fans noticed the excessive empty space around the ring, and on TV, the setup just didn’t look right.

Some argue that a smaller ring affects match quality, while others believe talented wrestlers can adjust with no issue. AEW still delivered a strong show in Australia, but it’s clear that the borrowed ring was a distraction for some fans who expected a more polished setup.