AEW’s highly anticipated Grand Slam Australia is just around the corner, bringing a stacked card to fans Down Under on February 15. With Toni Storm defending the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mariah May and the dream team of Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay facing Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita, the event promises to be a major milestone for the promotion. However, there has been some confusion regarding when the show will actually air in the United States.
According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Grand Slam Australia will air on a 20-hour tape delay in the U.S., a decision made by TNT to maximize viewership. Instead of airing live in the early morning hours, the event will be slotted immediately after the NBA All-Star Saturday Night festivities, which typically draw massive ratings. While the AEW broadcast is scheduled for 10:30 PM ET, Meltzer noted that the unpredictable nature of NBA events means the show could start closer to 11:05 PM ET if the All-Star coverage runs long.
This strategic scheduling could be a huge win for AEW, as it ensures a strong lead-in audience from NBA All-Star Weekend, which consistently ranks among the most-watched sports broadcasts of the year. Additionally, since the event will air live on the West Coast, Grand Slam Australia will be in primetime for viewers in California and surrounding regions—potentially giving AEW its biggest Saturday night audience in months.
Meltzer also suggested that AEW should capitalize on the moment by kicking off with a major match or angle to hook the new audience. With Revolution set for March 9 in Los Angeles, it wouldn’t be surprising to see a major storyline development in Australia that sets the stage for the pay-per-view.
AEW’s international expansion has been a major talking point in recent months, and if this event pulls in strong ratings, it could open the door for more global shows in the future. Will the decision to delay the broadcast pay off? Fans won’t have to wait much longer to find out.
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