As PWMania.com previously reported, AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery were reportedly close to signing a deal to add a third AEW show, similar to Rampage, which indicated a one-hour series and hinted it might air on Saturday nights, according to Andrew Zarian of the Mat Men Podcast.
The rumored name of the new show, “AEW Collision,” was recently trademarked by All Elite Wrestling with the USPTO for entertainment services.
Later, it was said that the show might air by July. Recently, AEW canceled a Rampage event scheduled for Friday, July 14, and added a “TV event” from Regina, Saskatchewan, on Saturday, July 8.
This week, news of CM Punk’s return to the promotion surfaced. It is speculated that this will take place on the Chicago edition of AEW Dynamite on June 21.
As was previously mentioned, AEW may have an idea to ease the tension between those who dislike Punk and those who like him by placing him on the Saturday show and dividing the roster into the two shows based on ratings.
On today’s episode of the Mat Men Podcast, Andrew Zarian said that he had learned that the Saturday show will debut in June as a two-hour program from 8 to 10 p.m. EST. Mid-May is when the announcement is expected to be made.
Zarian said, “Here is what I understand. This show looks to be starting on June 17 in Chicago…A Saturday night show. I’m hearing it’s a two-hour show from 8-10 [pm EST] on Saturdays.”
He added, “They may be preempted somedays I don’t know. That’s me interjecting based on how these things work. I also believe this is going to be on TNT. Multiple people I spoke to said probably on TNT. So that makes it even harder.”
Zarian pointed out that the program’s official title is Collison. It was noted that no AEW show has been scheduled for June 17th as of yet. Once the show is officially announced, that will probably change.
“Maybe I’m wrong on that date, then. Don’t hold me to. I believe I heard it was June. What are you going to do a Saturday show in the same building and then go back on Dynamite? Maybe I’m wrong here. Now, I’m very confused by this because I had something different in my notes. I’ll check on it. Either way, I heard it’s June. I heard the announcement is coming in mid-May,” Zarian said.
A month prior to the expected premiere of Collision, all television networks will announce their new programming at the upfronts.
Regarding CM Punk, Zarian said, “I think Punk is being very humble. I know that he really wants to make this work. From what I have been told, I think he realizes what an absurd moment this was for them…At the end of the day, he knows the importance of the wrestling business and the success of AEW and how important this is for the entire industry.”
You can watch the complete podcast below:
(h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription)
