AEW: Rebel Heart Dynamite at Akins Ford Arena

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information contact: 
Ivy Ramage, Ivy@ClassicCenter.com
706.357.4414

AEW: Rebel Heart Dynamite will honor one of the original members of the AEW roster, Tanea 
Brooks, known to fans around the world as Rebel, who was diagnosed with ALS in March 2026. 
As part of the event, Rebel is scheduled to make a special appearance that evening and fans in 
attendance will receive a special limited-edition Rebel trading card sheet from Upper Deck, 
while supplies last.

A donation will be made from AEW: Rebel Heart Dynamite to benefit I AM ALS, the leading 
community movement dedicated to ending ALS by empowering patients and caregivers to 
secure billions in federal funding, improve care, treatment access, and drive research, and 
Team Gleason, an organization founded by former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason 
that provides adventure, technology, equipment and care services to people living with ALS and 
countless others through advocacy, research, support and the goal of ultimately bringing an 
end to the disease. In addition, the event at Akins Ford Arena takes place in the home 
community of the University of Georgia's Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC), where 
groundbreaking research and the training of future scientific leaders are helping drive the 
development of new therapies for ALS.

“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.”

Tickets for AEW: Rebel Heart Dynamite are available at AkinsFordArena.com. 

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About AEW

Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, All Elite Wrestling is a red-hot 
professional wrestling promotion that presents more than 100 live events a year around the 
world and features a world-class roster that injects new spirit, freshness and energy into the 
industry. AEW Dynamite airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS and simulcasts on 
HBO Max, AEW Collision airs every Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT and simulcasts on HBO 
Max. For more info, check out X.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; 
Facebook.com/AEW. 

About I AM ALS:

I AM ALS is a nonprofit organization leading what STAT News called the most successful patient 
advocacy campaign this century. I AM ALS built a community movement to harness collective 
power and find treatments and a cure for ALS faster, while also creating lasting, systemic 
change. Their focus is on three areas:
● Advocating for federal policy change to drive research, support, and treatments for ALS.
● Improving quality of life by providing volunteer and support opportunities to advocates 
and people living with ALS.
● Mobilizing and empowering advocates to raise awareness about ALS and other 
neurodegenerative diseases, and increase visibility of the ALS experience.
Learn more at www.iamals.org. 

About Team Gleason:

Team Gleason was founded by former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason following his 
ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) diagnosis in 2011. Team Gleason's mission is to improve life 
for people living with ALS by delivering innovative technology and equipment and empowering 
improved life experiences. As one of the largest providers of assistive technology and 
equipment to the ALS community in the country, Team Gleason works to ensure that people 
living with ALS have the resources and opportunities to live productive, purposeful, and 
meaningful lives. For more information, visit TeamGleason.org. 

About the RBC: 

The Regenerative Bioscience Center (RBC) at the University of Georgia was founded on a simple 
idea—the biggest scientific breakthroughs happen when disciplines converge. Since 2004, the 
center has united researchers across engineering, veterinary medicine, agriculture, and the life 
sciences to develop regenerative therapies for stroke, traumatic brain injury, ALS, 
cardiovascular disease, and other complex disorders. That same spirit of innovation inspired the 
creation of the world's first undergraduate degree in Regenerative Bioscience (RBIO), preparing 
students to help shape the next generation of regenerative medicine. Visit, 
https://rbc.uga.edu/

About Akins Ford Arena

Located in Athens, Georgia, Akins Ford Arena enhances the economic, entertainment, and 
cultural well-being of Athens by providing an exceptional venue for both local and visiting 
guests. We host a wide range of events, including conventions, concerts, family shows, and 
sports tournaments, accommodating over 8,000 fans. Part of The Classic Center Authority, Akins 
Ford Arena is driven by entertainment and is dedicated to providing top-tier entertainment and 
unparalleled experience for all