Brackets Revealed for Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments
All Elite Wrestling has officially unveiled the full brackets for the 2026 Owen Hart Foundation Men’s and Women’s Tournaments. During the 13 May 2026 broadcast of Dynamite, the promotion confirmed a stacked field of sixteen competitors, with the opening round set to kick off at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view on 24 May in Las Vegas.
The stakes for this year’s tournament are the highest in the event’s history. The winners of both the men's and women's brackets will secure a guaranteed world championship match at All In at Wembley Stadium later this August. The tournament finals are scheduled to take place at Forbidden Door on 28 June in San Jose, California.
The men's field features a mix of powerhouse athletes and high-flyers, ensuring a first-time winner as no previous "Owen" champions are in the bracket. The left side of the bracket is headlined by a massive first-round collision between Samoa Joe and Will Ospreay at Double or Nothing. Ospreay, recently returned from neck surgery, and Joe, returning from a concussion, are both looking to use the tournament to jump back into the world title picture.
On the other side of the bracket, Swerve Strickland faces off against ROH World Champion Bandido in another high-profile Double or Nothing match. The remainder of the opening round includes a grudge match between National Champion Mark Davis and "Jungle" Jack Perry, as well as a clash of titans between Claudio Castagnoli and Brody King.
Men’s Participants:
- Samoa Joe vs. Will Ospreay (Double or Nothing)
- Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido (Double or Nothing)
- Mark Davis vs. "Jungle" Jack Perry
- Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King
The women’s tournament is highlighted by the return of 2023 winner Willow Nightingale, who has the opportunity to become the first two-time recipient of the Owen Cup. Her journey begins at Double or Nothing against Alex Windsor. Nightingale enters as a heavy favorite, currently enjoying a dominant run as the TBS Champion.
The bracket also showcases AEW's strengthening international partnerships, featuring Stardom standout Mina Shirakawa facing off against the record-setting ROH Women’s World Champion Athena. The field is rounded out by Persephone taking on Hazuki, and a meeting between the rising Skye Blue and Japanese veteran Sareee.
Women’s Participants:
- Willow Nightingale vs. Alex Windsor (Double or Nothing)
- Mina Shirakawa vs. Athena
- Persephone vs. Hazuki
- Skye Blue vs. Sareee
With the finals taking place in San Jose next month, the road to Wembley officially begins now. Fans and analysts alike are keeping a close watch on the brackets, as the eventual winners will essentially hold the "Golden Ticket" to the main event of AEW's biggest show of the year.