Beth Phoenix’s AEW All Out Appearance Wasn’t a Last-Minute Surprise

AEW All Out 2025 opened in wild fashion with Adam Copeland and Christian Cage reuniting to battle FTR in Toronto. But it was Beth Phoenix’s unexpected return that stole the conversation. Now we know her involvement wasn’t random at all.

According to Fightful Select, Beth Phoenix’s appearance has been in the AEW pipeline for a while.

“The Beth Phoenix return is something that has been thrown around and discussed for quite some time.”

The WWE Hall of Famer shocked the crowd when she ran in to take out Stokely Hathaway mid-match, leading to a thunderous ovation. While it seemed like a brief cameo, things escalated quickly. After the match — which ended with Copeland spearing his way to victory — FTR got the last word by delivering a brutal double tombstone to Phoenix while her husband was handcuffed to the ropes.

This wasn’t just a nostalgic pop. It was a storyline move that’s clearly setting up a deeper angle. And based on the new update, AEW has had this twist in their back pocket for some time, waiting for the right moment to unleash it.

Beth’s return came during a match already packed with nostalgia and drama. The reunion of Copeland and Cage alone was historic, marking their first televised tag match since March 28, 2011. With FTR pushing them to the limit, and the Trailer Park Boys’ Green Bastard even making an appearance, All Out started with a statement.

Beth Phoenix’s appearance made it personal — and the post-match attack all but confirms this story is far from over.