Fans at an All Elite Wrestling match on Wednesday night in Las Vegas broke out into an anti-Immigration and Customs Enforcement chant that actually paused the main event before the opening bell even rang, as reported by NBC News. The AEW World Championship Eliminator Match was being broadcast live on TBS and HBO Max. Suddenly, a loud and sustained cry of “F— ICE” reverberated through the massive audience, completely halting the action.
The two combatants, reigning champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman, also known as MJF, and challenger Brody King, had starkly different reactions to the sudden political outburst. MJF looked genuinely shocked. He stared wide-eyed into the camera before nervously scanning the massive crowd. Brody King, standing in the opposite corner, looked out at the audience and gave a clear nod of acknowledgment.
Brody King’s reaction wasn’t surprising if you’ve been following his career. He has been incredibly outspoken against ICE in the weeks and months leading up to this Championship Eliminator Match, which included the fatal killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. King, who also happens to be the lead vocalist of the hardcore band God’s Hate, has used his platform in wrestling to raise significant funds for immigrant communities.
This is one of those moments that shows just how much overlap there is between sports, entertainment, and current events
This activism isn’t new for King. Last year, he made a major statement against the agency by wearing an “Abolish ICE” shirt during AEW’s Grand Slam Mexico event. That choice of wrestling attire drew huge attention and support, prompting King to release a T-shirt benefiting a California nonprofit organization.
More recently, King launched a collaboration with other artists and a printing company to release a new line of T-shirts. The design featured a photo of King wearing a ski mask and a shirt that once again stated “Abolish ICE,” which NYC mayor Zohran Mamdani also came out in support of. This effort was a massive success. The campaign raised nearly $59,000, which went directly to support the Minnesota Rights Action Committee, aiding Latino and Somali immigrant communities.
After the fundraising campaign concluded, King took to X to thank the fans who had made a purchase, concluding his post with the defiant statement, “F— ICE.” When you see that level of dedication, it makes perfect sense why the Las Vegas crowd was so keen to support him.
It’s definitely worth noting that the event was held in Las Vegas, which is a major destination for immigration. Almost 35% of the population there is Hispanic or Latino. AEW has done a great job in recent years of attracting a larger Latino fan base by embracing Mexican luchadores and celebrating Latino wrestling traditions, so this kind of response felt particularly resonant in that arena.
Despite the brief delay caused by the chant, the match eventually got underway. King quickly defeated MJF at Wednesday night’s event. This victory gives King a chance to steal the championship from MJF at the upcoming Grand Slam Australia event scheduled for February 14.
Published: Feb 6, 2026 01:00 pm