AEW presents the AEW Collision Playoff Palooza show tonight. Tonight’s show will air immediately following the NBA Playoffs on TNT.
AEW Collision ‘Spring Break Thru’ airs live tonight on TBS and Max from the MGM Music Hall at Fenway in Boston, Massachusetts.
AEW Collision live tonight on TNT and Max from the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA.
AEW Collision tonight on TBS and Max taped Wednesday night from the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, Illinois.
AEW CEO Tony Khan has addressed speculation surrounding AEW Collision possibly moving to a different night in the future. While Khan remains confident in the show’s performance on Saturdays, he acknowledged that any potential change would depend on AEW’s network partner, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD).
Speaking about Collision, Khan expressed pride in how the Saturday night program has developed its audience.
“I think we have a great thing on Saturdays,” Khan said. “We’ve consistently been one of the top shows in our time slot, and we’ve been building a great audience. ‘Collision’ is having a great year.”
He also pointed out how the show has performed well relative to other cable programs and believes it has built strong momentum heading into 2025.
Despite his satisfaction with Collision’s current schedule, Khan made it clear that he’s open to change if WBD suggests it.
“I would be open to basically anything within reason the network asked me to do. I am really very proud of the run we’re having,” Khan explained.
This flexibility could come into play once WBD’s current deal with the NBA expires, as the network will likely reassess its programming strategy. AEW has benefited from sports lead-ins in the past, and Khan acknowledged that these have helped boost Collision’s success.
For now, Khan is focused on maintaining Collision’s momentum and ensuring its long-term success, much like Dynamite, which has been a major player for WBD since 2019. While nothing is set in stone regarding a potential schedule change, the AEW boss remains committed to working with the network to make the best decision for the company’s future.
With AEW’s media rights negotiations on the horizon, the placement of Collision could become a key discussion point. Whether it stays on Saturdays or moves to another night, it’s clear that Khan and AEW are ready to adapt.
AEW Collision live tonight on TNT at 8/7c from the The UW–Milwaukee Panther Arena in Milwaukee, WI.
AEW’s partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) is locked in through 2028, but potential changes could be on the horizon for the company’s Saturday night show, Collision. According to a new report, WBD is interested in acquiring UFC broadcast rights, which could have a direct impact on AEW’s programming schedule.
Per Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer, if WBD successfully secures a deal with UFC, the promotion’s events would likely air on TNT—the same network where Collision currently resides. This raises questions about AEW’s Saturday night time slot. If UFC takes priority, Collision could be moved out of primetime or potentially shifted over to TBS, where Dynamite airs on Wednesdays.
AEW has already seen one major network switch in its history when Dynamite moved from TNT to TBS in 2022. While shifting Collision to TBS could provide brand consistency, Meltzer warns that constantly changing time slots could be detrimental to the show’s viewership. However, there is also a scenario where Collision remains on TNT but airs after UFC events. If that happens, AEW might actually benefit from a strong lead-in audience.
UFC’s current media rights deal with ESPN expires at the end of 2024, making it a prime target for networks looking to boost their sports programming. It’s also worth noting that UFC’s parent company, TKO Group, also owns WWE, adding another layer of intrigue to WBD’s interest in the MMA promotion.
Meanwhile, AEW’s own media landscape has evolved. At the beginning of the year AEW programming became available for streaming on MAX, and its pay-per-views can now be purchased on Amazon Prime Video—marking a notable expansion of their distribution reach.
For now, AEW remains a key player in WBD’s programming lineup, but if UFC enters the equation, Collision’s Saturday night home could be in for a shake-up.
AEW kicks off a special weekend of AEW Collision on back-to-back nights this weekend. AEW Collision Slam Dunk Saturday tonight and AEW Collision Slam Dunk Sunday tomorrow night.
The show’s will start on TNT immediately following the NCAA tournament coast-to-cast and will also stream on Max.
Slam Dunk Saturday:
Slam Dunk Sunday:
AEW Collision tonight live on TNT and Max from the The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas in Las Vegas, Nevada
AEW is shaking up its schedule later this month, as Collision will be divided into two separate one-hour episodes instead of its usual two-hour Saturday night slot. This adjustment is being made to accommodate TNT’s coverage of the NCAA March Madness tournament.
Instead of airing in its usual Saturday primetime slot on March 23, Collision will air in two parts:
Both episodes will air after NCAA tournament games, giving AEW the potential benefit of a strong lead-in audience.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer explained the reasoning behind AEW’s decision. Given how important March Madness is to TNT, the network could have opted to preempt Collision entirely. Instead, AEW is testing out a split schedule, taping both episodes in advance on March 20 in Omaha.
Meltzer noted that the plan allows AEW to avoid a late-night second hour on Saturday, which could see a drop in viewership. By spreading the content across two nights, the company hopes to maximize its audience—at least for the Saturday episode. However, Sunday presents more uncertainty since AEW has struggled with non-traditional time slots in the past.
AEW has faced challenges when shifting Collision’s time slot, as seen with previous preemptions. However, with the NCAA tournament drawing in millions of viewers, the post-game placement could give AEW a much-needed ratings boost. Whether this experiment succeeds remains to be seen, but it will be an interesting test for Collision’s viewership outside of its usual schedule.
What do you think of this strategy? Will AEW benefit from the NCAA tournament lead-in, or will the Sunday slot struggle? Let us know in the comments!
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