Fans Call Out AEW Over Sold-Out Titles and Limited Merch at Grand Slam Australia

AEW’s merch problems in Australia didn’t end in Brisbane — and if anything, Sydney just proved last year wasn’t a one-off.

After the February 2025 Brisbane Entertainment Centre chaos — where the “Cope” shirt, Kenny Omega’s tee, Toni Storm’s event-exclusive figure, replica AEW Championship belts, and the official event shirt sold out within an hour — many assumed AEW would be better prepared this year. That doesn’t appear to be the case.

Just before AEW Grand Slam Australia kicked off at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, multiple fans took to Twitter to complain about long lines, weak inventory, and items already gone. One frustrated fan took to Twitter and said:

“#AEWGrandSlam actually got the worst merch stand ive ever seen holy Was waiting in line for like 15 mins then realised they dont have anything decent so i left lmao”

Another fan pointed out the déjà vu from Brisbane: “Merch situation at @AEW seems to be the same as last year.. things already sold out (world title and AEW it’s for the sickos shirts) you would’ve thought they would have learnt from Brisbane last year… ffs man #AEWGrandSlam” The frustration only escalated when VIP access affected availability. One fan directed their disappointment straight at AEW President Tony Khan:

“Hey @TonyKhan, This is the second year in a row we’ve shown up excited, ready to support, and left disappointed. Missing out on the merch again was tough — but finding out the AEW Title we had our hearts set on was gone to VIPs before we even had a chance really hurt.”

Another attendee called the entire setup underwhelming compared to 2025: “AEW Grand Slam merch is a huge let-down this year. Really average stuff and limited options compared to Brisbane. Also, we no longer get a $50 merch voucher.. but a bucket hat instead 😊”

Then came one of the most explosive reactions of the night — and it centered on talent representation. With Brody King competing in the main event, one fan was shocked that there was no merchandise for him available:

"how the f*** is there no brody king merch HE IS IN YOUR MAIN EVENT F*** ME DEAD. The “australia” merch they got is f***** gross piss yellow and green fishing shirt with the shape of australia with the aew logo in the middle."

With AEW continuing to expand internationally, live event merchandise is a major revenue driver — and a huge part of the in-arena experience. But if fans are leaving lines early or walking out disappointed two years in a row, the company may need to reassess its planning strategy for Australian events.

Do you think AEW needs to seriously rethink its international merch rollout, or is this just proof that demand is stronger than expected? Drop your thoughts below and let us know.