Before AEW WrestleDream 2026 aired on pay-per-view, the Tailgate Brawl pre-show took place on TNT and HBO MAX where after originally being set to miss nearly two months of action, "Switchblade" Jay White returned to AEW.White teamed with The Gunns and The Conglomeration for a 12-man tag team match against The Dogs and the Death Riders. The action was non-stop throughout as Claudio Castagnoli gave Orange Cassidy the Giant Swing for nearly 40 revolutions, Marina Shafir and Willow Nightingale both got involved, and The Gunns thought they had the match won with a 3:10 to Yuma. However, Castagnoli returned to help Wheeler Yuta hit the Fastball Special to get the win, though the brawling continued well after the bell had rung.In the night's opening contest, Divine Dominion picked up a hard-fought win over The Sisters of Sin. Megan Bayne and Lena Kross worked over Skye Blue for the majority of the match heading into the commercial break, even though Skye would try to use her speed to take Bayne and Kross off their game. Once she got the tag to Julia Hart, the tide turned in the match, with Hart taking out Bayne and Blue spiking Kross with a Head Scissors while she was caught up in the ropes. Bayne used her strength to German Suplex both The Sisters of Sin at once, and eventually took out Blue to leave Hart isolated. They hit the Heaven and Hell on Hart to finish the job and get the win.On top of these bouts was a quick night at the office for Josh Alexander, Jake Doyle, and Wardlow of The Don Callis Family, who made light work of Alex Breeze, Rhys Maddox, and Papi D. The underdogs didn't stand a chance once Wardlow conducted his Powerbomb Symphony on all three opponents, which earned the win for his team.
