Tag: AEW

AEW Struggling To Sell Tickets For Collision

AEW Collision will premiere on June 17 on TNT as a two-hour program. AEW President Tony Khan will announce the location of the first episode this Wednesday on Dynamite. 

It was believed to be in Chicago at the United Center, but if they don’t work things out with CM Punk for him to return on the show, they will go to Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, FL. 

Dave Meltzer noted on Wrestling Observer Radio that AEW is off to a rough start with selling tickets to the Collision shows as none of them have sold out and is in a challenging situation with these being the first events of a show that is about to launch. 

Here is AEW’s updated touring schedule: 

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: May 24 – MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

AEW Double or Nothing: May 28 – T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: May 31 – Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA

AEW House Rules: Friday, June 2 – Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi 

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: May 24 – MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

AEW Double or Nothing: May 28 – T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: May 31 – Viejas Arena in San Diego, CA

AEW House Rules: Friday, June 2 – Cadence Bank Arena in Tupelo, Mississippi 

AEW House Rules: Saturday, June 3 – Von Braun Center Propst Arena in Huntsville, Alabama 

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, June 7 – Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs, CO

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, June 14 -Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C.

AEW Collision: Saturday, June 17 – TBD

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, June 21 – Wintrust Arena in Chicago, IL

AEW Collision: Saturday, June 24 – Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

AEW Forbidden Door: Sunday, June 25 – Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, June 28 – FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario

AEW Collision: Thursday, June 29 – FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, July 5 – Rogers Place in Edmonton, Alberta

AEW Collision: Saturday, July 8 – Brandt Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

AEW Dynamite: Wednesday, July 12 – SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

AEW Collision: Saturday, July 15 – Saddledome in Calgary, Alberta, Canada

AEW Dynamite/Rampage: Wednesday, July 19 – TD Garden in Boston, MA

AEW Collision: Saturday, July 22 – Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey

AEW All In PPV: Sunday, August 27 – London, England at the Wembley Stadium

Source: eWn

AEW Fight Forever Set For June 27 Release, Official Announcement Expected Next Week

After more than a few delays, the long wait for AEW’s first console video game — AEW Fight Forever — is nearing its end. According to Fightful Select, the game is set for a June 27 release date — two days after the cross-promotional Forbidden Door pay-per-view with NJPW; the official announcement is expected in the next week. 

This morning, GameRanx had flagged that French retailer Just For Games had switched the release day to June 27, and now it looks like that was not in error. It had become clear earlier in the week that the release was imminent when the Xbox store started listing the game’s achievement trophies and allowed players to start the pre-installation process. Now we know why.

AEW announced the formation of AEW Games and the console game project in November 2020. Additionally, the key details offered then were that longtime wrestling game developer Yuke’s would be involved, something along the lines of 2000’s WWF No Mercy game was the target, and No Mercy director Hideyuki “Geta” Iwashita was on-board in some capacity.

A preview version of the game was available to play at industry trade shows like GamesCom last summer and retailers started taking pre-orders for the game, but no release date was ever claimed on the calendar. 

Source: Wrestling Inc.

The First AEW Collision Taping Location Will Depend On CM Punk’s Status

AEW Collision will be premiering on June 17 on the TNT Network.

While AEW President Tony Khan announced five upcoming TV taping locations for the new show on last week’s episode of Dynamite, he failed to mention the venue and location for the debut episode on June 17th. That announcement will be coming next week instead.

While the original plan was to hold the taping at the United Center in Chicago, IL, it’s all going to depend on whether the company can agree to terms with CM Punk on a return. If a deal can’t be reached, there is talk of having the first episode of the show airing elsewhere. The company would likely run a smaller venue and it may not be in the Chicago market. This is due to some concern that the fans would “hijack” the show as they’d expect CM Punk to show up whether he’s advertised or not.

For those wondering, Punk and AEW have both been in contact since he was pulled from the Collision announcement. Those talks are ongoing and the hope is that something will be worked out soon.

Source: eWn

AEW Rampage 5/19/2023

AEW Rampage tonight with a special start time of 6:30 PM ET. on TNT.

  • Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. Best Amigos (Bandido, Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
  • TBS Champion Jade Cargill title defense open challenge
  • The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Billy Gunn vs. Varsity Athletes (Tony Nese, Josh Woods & Ari Daivari)
  • Dustin Rhodes vs. Bishop Kaun
  • Jeff & Matt Hardy promo

Backstage News On How AEW Will Run TV Tapings Following Collision Debut

All Elite Wrestling announced that the new weekly Collision show will debut on June 17 and air on TNT.

Pwinsider has provided an update on how AEW will run its TV tapings moving forward.

AEW will continue running Dynamite live on Wednesdays and then tape Rampage for Friday nights on TNT. The current plan is to hold Collision live on Saturday nights, followed by TV tapings for Ring of Honor, which will then stream on HonorClub on Thursdays.

With the recent elimination of Dark and Dark: Elevation, many within AEW have found the shows and TV tapings easier to work with.

The absence of additional Dark tapings has also made the live audience hotter and producing the shows less of a weekly chore, allowing more focus for Dynamite and Rampage.

Talents and officials had tremendous fun working the recent House Rules live events in Kentucky and Virginia. The fun can be attributed to the fact that House Rules have a different vibe than televised shows and a “lack of the same type of pressure” that talents normally have for TV tapings.

Source: eWrestlingNews

Big Issues Holding Up CM Punk’s AEW Return? Warner Bros. Discovery Hopeful AEW & Punk Can Work Things Out

CM Punk is at odds with AEW, leading to the two sides having another fallout. 

On Wednesday, the official announcement was made that AEW Collision will be coming to the TNT Network on Saturday nights beginning on June 17th. In the official press release, CM Punk was not mentioned. But in the original email sent out by Warner Media, Punk’s name was mentioned but it was later redacted.

Some of you may recall that Ace Steel, who is very good friends with CM Punk, was involved in the All Out 2022 brawl. He was later fired from the company.

According to a report from Fightful Select, Chris Jericho brought up Ace Steel’s name during his recent meeting with CM Punk, with the belief being that everyone working together could relieve some of the tensions between the two sides involved in the fight. While it was talked about, nothing was set in stone.

There was another meeting held between AEW and CM Punk this week, where Punk was directly told that Steel would be able to return and work directly with him. With that being said, it was made very clear that Steel would not be allowed to attend any of the TV tapings.

This reportedly didn’t go over well with Punk, and he disagreed with the decision. It should be noted that there’s no word on how specifically Punk reacted other than the notion that he wasn’t flattered with the idea that his friend wouldn’t be able to attend the TV tapings with him.

As of this writing, there is no word on whether this is the reason CM Punk wasn’t included in the AEW Collision announcement. Additionally, it’s unknown why Warner Bros. Discovery issued a statement noting that Punk is not “affiliated with TNT’s AEW Collision.” CM Punk reportedly didn’t want his return to AEW to be announced ahead of time.

Additionally, it was said that there were plans for an AEW crew to film content at Punk’s home on Wednesday. As of this writing, there is no word on whether that took place or not.

And finally, sources in Impact Wrestling stated that they had some interest in bringing Steel in for a tryout, but they passed on that several weeks ago as they were under the impression that he was headed to AEW or WWE.

The bottom line here is that there are still some issues that need to be resolved and it’s far from confirmed that CM Punk will be featured on the debut episode of AEW Collision.

Punk was slated to make his return to AEW on the June 17 premiere episode of AEW Collision after not being seen since All Out. Punk was originally listed in the press release and promotional materials for the announcement of AEW Collision before he was removed. 

Dave Meltzer confirmed on the most recent Wrestling Observer Radio that Warner Bros Discover was hopeful that the two sides would be able to reconcile and there would be an attempt to work it out. It’s said that it’s not a dead deal yet.

Source: eWrestlingNews

AEW All Access Moving From TBS To Max Streaming Service On June 9th

It was confirmed today at Warner Bros. Discovery Upfront that All Elite Wrestling will be launching “AEW Collision” on June 17. The new two-hour show is set to air every Saturday night at 8 pm EST. Furthermore, it has now been revealed that “AEW All Access” will be switching to streaming platform Max from June 9 — HBO Max is set to be rebranded as Max later this month. The reality series premiered on March 29 and airs on TBS. The show takes a look at what goes on behind at the curtain at AEW. 

The revamped Max streaming service will see a wide range of programs be featured, including HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, and the DC Universe. Max will launch on May 23 and will be continuously updated with fresh content. Along with “All Access,” HGTV’s “Battle on the Beach” and TLC’s “90 Day Fiancé: Before the 90 Days” will also be switching to the streaming platform. It’s said that many current HBO subscribers will have their apps automatically updated, while others will be instructed to install the new app.  

Six episodes of “All Access” have aired since the show was launched in March. When the program was first announced, it was revealed that it would “showcase AEW’s stars as they navigate the week-to-week challenges to remain at the top and will track the rivalries between talent as they vie for fans’ attention.” The inaugural series has highlighted various aspects behind the scenes, including the personal lives of real-life couple Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Adam Cole.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

AEW Dynamite Preview 5/17/2023

AEW Dynamite will air live tonight on TBS and emanate from the Moody Center ATX in Austin, Texas.

  • Falls Count Anywhere: Chris Jericho vs. Roderick Strong
  • Jay White vs. Ricky Starks
  • The Outcasts (Saraya, Toni Storm, & Ruby Soho) vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD, Jamie Hayter, & Hikaru Shida
  • RUSH vs. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry
  • Don Callis speaks
  • Sammy Guevara in action
  • There will be the highly-anticipated follow-up to the promised “important announcement” by AEW and ROH President Tony Khan. AEW Saturday Collision was announced at the Warner Bros. Discovery Up-fronts in New York City, New York on Wednesday morning.

Warner Bros. Discovery Officially Announces Launch Of AEW Collision, Brand Split News

AEW issued the following regarding the launch of AEW Collision:

TNT LAUNCHES A SECOND NIGHT OF WRESTLING WITH “AEW: COLLISION” FEATURING HEADLINERS THUNDER ROSA, MIRO, SAMOA JOE, POWERHOUSE HOBBS AND ANDRADE EL IDOLO ON SATURDAY, JUNE 17

NEW YORK (May 17, 2023) – TNT launches a second night of professional wrestling with a new tentpole series, “AEW: Collision” on Saturday, June 17, it was announced today by Kathleen Finch, Chairman and Chief Content Officer, US Networks Group, Warner Bros. Discovery, during the company’s 2023 Upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden in New York City. This live, two-hour, in-ring show will air every Saturday night from 8-10 p.m. ET and feature more wrestlers, more stories and more action to super-serve fans. “AEW: Collision” will feature headliners including Miro, Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade El Idolo.

In only four years following the launch of “AEW: Dynamite,” AEW’s footprint has more than doubled across TNT and TBS. Along with “AEW: Dynamite,” Friday night’s “AEW: Rampage,” the recent follow-doc “AEW: All Access,” and now “AEW: Collision,” TNT and TBS deliver the best matches and most entertaining moments in professional wrestling today. AEW has reached 23M total viewers so far this year across all of its shows on TBS and TNT.*

“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with ‘AEW: Collision,’ which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, President, Turner Networks, ID and HLN, linear & streaming. “AEW’s roster of talent has expanded so quickly that we felt it needed another night to bring our audience the epic rivalries, unforgettable matches and stars they love to watch. Adding ‘Collision’ to our programming mix on TNT will allow us to satisfy the massive demand we’ve felt from our hardcore fanbase and be the ultimate complement to ‘AEW: Dynamite’ on TBS.”

“With the addition of ‘AEW: Collision’ on TNT, I’m extremely proud that a Turner network will be the home of Saturday night wrestling for the first time in more than two decades,” said Tony Khan, CEO, GM and Head of Creative of AEW. “The debut of ‘Collision’ is significant across numerous sectors including television, wrestling, entertainment and sports, and reinforces AEW as the bold property we envisioned when we launched in 2019. ‘Collision’ will deliver live every Saturday night more of what fans and viewers tell us they want – athleticism, big personalities, exciting storylines and hard-hitting wrestling action, all of which have become synonymous with AEW.”

About TNT

TNT, a Warner Bros. Discovery brand, is Cable’s #1 entertainment network, known for big, lean-forward television that takes viewers on a thrill ride of electrifying stories, dynamic characters and premium events. TNT is home to some of television’s most popular sports franchises and unscripted and scripted originals including “AEW: Rampage,” “AEW: Collision,” “Rich & Shameless,” and “The Lazarus Project”. TNT also presents primetime specials and sports coverage, including the NHL, NBA and NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championships. Website: www.tntdrama.com

About AEW

Founded by CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan in 2019, AEW is offering an alternative to mainstream wrestling, with a roster of world-class talent that is injecting new spirit, freshness and energy into the industry. “AEW: Dynamite” airs every Wednesday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TBS and attracts the youngest wrestling audience on television. The fight-forward “AEW: Rampage” airs every Friday from 10-11 p.m. ET on TNT, and the new “AEW: Collision” airs every Saturday from 8-10 p.m. ET on TNT. AEW’s multi-platform content also includes “Being the Elite,” a weekly behind-the-scenes YouTube series, and “AEW Unrestricted,” a weekly podcast series. For more info, check out Twitter.com/AEW; Instagram.com/AEW; YouTube.com/AEW; Facebook.com/AEW

New Report Casts Doubt On AEW Instituting Hard WWE-Style Brand Split With Collision

Despite an earlier report stating that some talent in AEW were under the belief that the company would be instituting a “firm” brand split in the near future, Mike Johnson of PWInsider Elite is reporting that’s not the case. Instead, some talent are said to be exclusive to the newly-announced “AEW Collision” on Saturday nights while others stay on “AEW Dynamite,” and many will float between both shows based on storyline needs. A hard brand split between “Dynamite” and “Collision” was reportedly never even under consideration.

Sources: eWrestlingNews and Wrestling Inc.

Legal Issues Reportedly Still Ongoing Between CM Punk And Some AEW Talent

CM Punk is reportedly close to returning to All Elite Wrestling. Rumors have been swirling that the former AEW World Champion is penciled in for the debut of the promotion’s new speculated weekly “AEW Collision” show, which is supposedly going to start airing next month. However, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Punk still has outstanding issues with certain individuals behind the curtain, which are not close to being resolved. It’s said that several legal issues are still ongoing and that nobody is allowed to discuss the matter or contact either party about the situation. The report does not specify which AEW talents are involved. 

Punk was allegedly involved in a backstage skirmish with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks following the All Out post-show media scrum last year, which was his most recent AEW appearance. Following that alleged fracas at the Now Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, which occurred after Punk had sounded off about Omega and The Bucks during the All Out post-event press conference, Punk and The Elite disappeared from television, with AEW CEO Tony Khan announcing that the four wrestlers had been stripped of their respective titles on the following episode of “AEW Dynamite.” Punk had just captured the AEW World Championship for the second time from Jon Moxley at All Out, while The Elite had become the inaugural AEW World Trios Champions after defeating “Hangman” Adam Page and The Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds and Jon Silver. 

Omega and The Young Bucks returned to AEW at Full Gear two months later. Punk, on the other hand, remained absent, as it was reported that he had suffered a torn triceps at All Out and had to undergo surgery. During his absence, Punk shared an Instagram story that targeted AEW’s Chris Jericho, Moxley, and wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer.

Source: Wrestling Inc.