Celebrities and professional wrestling have long shared a complicated but intriguing relationship—whether it’s Hollywood stars showing up ringside or musicians gracing WWE events. Yet even for seasoned wrestling professionals like Cody Rhodes, witnessing a famous figure casually attending an independent wrestling event can come as a surprise. Cody recently opened up about his initial disbelief when Grammy-winning musician John Mayer expressed a desire to attend the groundbreaking 2018 All In show, the event that paved the way for AEW’s launch.
The Birth of All In and an Unexpected Celebrity Guest
All In, held in 2018, is widely regarded as a watershed moment in pro wrestling history. Orchestrated by Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, the event demonstrated that independently produced wrestling shows could compete on a grand scale, selling out arenas and drawing enormous fan interest. However, amidst the packed crowd and electric atmosphere, one attendee stood out: John Mayer.
According to Rhodes, the story behind Mayer’s attendance began with an unusual late-night email. “I get an email at 3 a.m. from John Mayer’s manager,” Cody recalled on his podcast What Do You Wanna Talk About? “They said there was a bachelor party and they wanted to attend All In — the original All In — which had been very, very sold out, like fire code sold out.” Initially, Rhodes suspected this message was a prank—a classic wrestling rib—rather than a genuine request[1][2].
From Skepticism to Reality: Seating John Mayer
Cody’s skepticism quickly gave way to reality as, by morning, his hotel room was met with someone asking the surprising question, “Hey, did you deny John Mayer tickets?” Rhodes responded that he hadn’t, but the reality was settling in that Mayer and his bachelor party were genuinely coming to the show.
Handling a last-minute celebrity request at a sold-out event presented logistical challenges. To accommodate Mayer and his party while maintaining event flow, Rhodes arranged for them to be seated in the “middle of the aisle,” giving Mayer some privacy amidst fans. Interestingly, this created a minor bottleneck, as no one could walk past Mayer during matches due to his central aisle seat. Cody joked about this small hazard, noting it would have been a “bad situation” had there been a fire[2].
While wrestling at the event, Rhodes even noticed Mayer in that middle seat, a moment he cherished. “That was a really fun get,” Cody said. “Took some photos afterwards.” This made Mayer’s presence a memorable highlight of the night, adding to the show’s unique lore[1][3].
John Mayer’s Celebrity Impact on Wrestling Events
John Mayer is best known for his contributions to soft rock and blues, as well as his high-profile relationships and influence in popular music culture. His presence at All In was notable not only for the celebrity glamour but because it marked a moment when an independent wrestling event truly broke into mainstream cultural consciousness.
WWE has had numerous celebrity involvements—from Logan Paul’s appearances to music stars like Travis Scott and Jelly Roll engaging with wrestling—but All In attracted a distinct type of mainstream celebrity who genuinely wanted to experience the indie wrestling scene firsthand[1].
Behind the Scenes: How Celebrity Attendance Shapes Wrestling Culture
Sources close to Cody Rhodes have shared that the John Mayer incident was just one example of how the wrestling industry’s boundaries blurred during the build toward AEW’s creation. “When stars from outside wrestling show genuine interest, it signals that wrestling is growing beyond niche markets,” a WWE insider commented. “It’s a validation of the product and the culture being built.” This also helped All In—and later AEW—gain traction with audiences who may not have been traditional wrestling fans[1].
Brandi Rhodes also reflected on the surprise factor a decade later, remarking on Mayer’s presence with disbelief and humor in the same podcast episode. The couple’s candid recollections underscore how far pro wrestling’s cultural cachet has grown, moving from skepticism to star-studded spectacle in a relatively short time[1].
Why Did John Mayer Attend All In?
Aside from the bachelor party connection, John Mayer’s attendance seemed motivated by personal interest rather than publicity. His appreciation for live entertainment and cultural moments likely drew him to All In as a show that represented something fresh and buzzy in entertainment—a grassroots wrestling production with a major buzz[2].
This guest appearance contributed to the narrative that independent wrestling was no longer just a back-alley curiosity but a legitimate, exciting entertainment force drawing diverse crowds, including musical superstars.
The Legacy of All In and Celebrity Influence on Wrestling’s Future
The original All In was the spark that ignited AEW’s formation a year later, forever changing the wrestling landscape by providing a competitive alternative to WWE’s global dominance. Celebrity attendance by figures like John Mayer, alongside industry heavyweights and dedicated fans, helped give All In an aura of significance beyond the wrestling world.
Whether sitting in the middle aisle creating a minor logistical challenge or taking photos post-show, Mayer’s presence at All In remains a fascinating backstage story that illustrates wrestling’s evolving relationship with celebrity culture.
As Cody Rhodes reflected, “It was a moment when wrestling started to feel like it could break through in new ways. Getting John Mayer in the building wasn’t just cool—it was a sign of things to come.” According to a WWE insider, “Events like these are more than shows — they’re cultural moments blending entertainment worlds”[1][5].
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