AEW reportedly considered a match concept similar to WWE’s Elimination Chamber before introducing Clockwork Carnage for WrestleDream.

According to Ibou of the Self Made Sessions Podcast, an earlier idea involved six wrestlers competing under rules and inside a structure comparable to WWE’s Chamber match. Questions surrounding the structure and layout reportedly led AEW to put that proposal on hold.

Ibou also credited Will Ospreay with the idea for AEW’s newly announced Clockwork Carnage match. He was reportedly told that a successful debut could lead to the contest becoming an annual WrestleDream attraction.

The inaugural eight-man match is scheduled for October 17 in Orlando, with the winner earning an AEW World Championship opportunity against Ospreay.

The Clockwork Carnage format was recently used at a Pro Wrestling EVE show on MyAEW. It combines an opening elimination stage with a timed race to collect the most falls.

The rules are as follows:

• Eight wrestlers compete across two stages, with one overall winner.

• Two randomly selected competitors start the match.

• Another randomly selected wrestler enters every two minutes.

• Before all eight have entered, anyone pinned or forced to submit is eliminated.

• Once the final wrestler enters, the remaining competitors begin a 15-minute scoring period.

• Each pinfall or submission during that period earns one fall.

• The wrestler with the most falls when time expires wins.

The reported Chamber-style proposal remains unconfirmed, while Clockwork Carnage is set to give WrestleDream a new route to an AEW World Championship opportunity.

Would you like to see AEW revisit the Chamber-style idea, or does Clockwork Carnage sound more exciting? Share your thoughts in the comments.