AEW, I AM ALS, and Team Gleason announced Monday that AEW will dedicate a full episode of Dynamite to Rebel, the original AEW roster member who was diagnosed with ALS in March. AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite airs Wednesday, September 9, live from Akins Ford Arena in Athens, Georgia, and it’s one of the more genuinely moving things the company has put its name on.
Who Rebel Is
Fans know her as Rebel, the deadpan valet and one half of one of AEW’s earliest tag pairings, but she’s also Tanea Brooks, one of the promotion’s original roster members dating back to 2019. Her ALS diagnosis, revealed in March, sidelined her from television, and Monday’s announcement marks AEW’s first major public response.
What’s Actually Happening September 9
AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite airs live on TBS and streams on HBO Max. Rebel is scheduled to make a special in-person appearance, and fans in attendance at Akins Ford Arena will receive a limited-edition Rebel trading card sheet from Upper Deck while supplies last. Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 31, at 10 a.m. ET via AEWTix.com, with early access available to anyone who signs up as an AEW Insider.
A portion of proceeds from the show will benefit I AM ALS, the patient-and-caregiver-led movement pushing for federal funding and better treatment access, and Team Gleason, the organization former NFL player Steve Gleason founded to provide equipment, technology, and support to people living with ALS. AEW also pointed out that Athens is home to the University of Georgia’s Regenerative Bioscience Center, which is actively working on new ALS therapies, so the location isn’t incidental.
Tony Khan’s Statement
“On behalf of everyone at All Elite Wrestling, we are proud to present AEW Rebel Heart Dynamite on September 9 at Akins Ford Arena in Athens, GA,” said AEW CEO, GM, and Head of Creative Tony Khan. “We look forward to honoring Rebel while also raising awareness and donations for two incredible organizations that are on the front lines of finding a cure for ALS and improving life for people affected by this terrible disease.”
How to Help
Official Rebel Heart shirts and bracelets are already available at ShopAEW.com, with 100 percent of the profits going to I AM ALS and Team Gleason. Fans who want to donate directly, or just learn more about Rebel’s story, can visit AEWTogether.org/RebelHeart. AEW says more details on the show itself are coming in the weeks ahead.
It’s a rare moment where a wrestling company’s marketing muscle gets pointed entirely at something bigger than a storyline, and September 9 in Athens is shaping up to be one of the year’s most meaningful nights of TV.
