All Elite Wrestling (AWE) now has a new show that will be on Saturday nights. Previously, Saturdays use to be a staple for wrestling fans all over the world. From former WWE shows like “Heat” and “Velocity” where more wrestlers still are able to show off their skills.
AEW General Manager and CEO Tony Khan introduced the topic of the new show as a sort of way to increase productivity. The increase causes wrestlers that don’t perform on “Wednesday Night Dynamite” or “Friday Night Rampage.”
AEW “Collision” brings wrestling back to Saturdays featuring the main event star “The Second City Saint” CM Punk. Punk makes his return following a lengthy absence surrounding last year’s “All Out Media: scandal featuring other wrestlers. Those wrestlers include primarily include The Elite faction members. Adam “Hangman” Page, Kenny Omega, and “The Young Bucks” Nick and Matt Jackson all played a role that led to the fall out causing suspensions and championship title strips as the World and Trios became vacated.
Between wrestlers not being able to go through rotation towards “Dynamite” and “Rampage” some are featured on “Ring Of Honor” shows for exposure. The type of wrestling people normally see involves World Champion Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Tag Champions FTR, FTW Champion Hook, etc.
There are factions that run their own pieces of the company, which makes for even better storylines. These storylines are able to be able to move upon their own version of making friends, enemies, or even, in certain cases, frenemies.
AEW Collision Debuts in Chicago
Chicago has always been a favorite of Tony Khan since his younger days. When CM Punk made his return to professional wrestling, it was labeled as “The First Dance Rampage,” which led to the eventual first crossover event “Forbidden Door.”
The energy that AEW fans have in Chicago brings constant joy to not just the wrestlers but the entire crew and even New Japan Pro Wrestling NJPW.
AEW “Collision” brings back wrestling to Saturdays, with the first episode having high expectations. “The Second Coming” of CM Punk after about a year of being away from the wrestling ring since the “ALL Out” fiasco.
A torn pectoral muscle caused in the Jon Moxley versus CM Punk for the Undisputed AEW World Heavyweight Championship also took 6-8 months off Punk’s career.
“The Second Coming” of CM Punk also gave him his first chance ever to actually have a match inside Chicago’s very own United Center home of the legendary Chicago Bulls.
The crowd has always been towards the best critics when constructing a great wrestling show. Andrade El Idolo made his return after also being away with a torn pectoral muscle and his wedding to WWE superstar 13-time Women’s Champion Charlotte Flair.
This marks his first match in almost a full calendar year since the rivalry with Sammy Guevara. Los Inglobles la factíon is his faction that he started years ago with former two-time “Ring Of Honor” World champion Rush, Dralistico, and new member Preston Vance, formerly known as “10” in Dark Order.
Saturday Night Wrestling may increase viewership in AEW
All Elite Wrestling has been around for almost five years debuting back in 2019 stemming from the independent event labeled “ALL IN.” Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, Bullet Club, Pac, Orange Cassidy, Tony Khan, and more, all participated in the event from different pro wrestling promotions.
Those promotions include NJPW, ROH, Impact Wrestling, AAA, National Wrestling Alliance NWA, MLW, and others. The variety of different promotions managed to generate a lot of attention. Having wrestlers from different promotions gives a sense of multiple different crowds.
The blend of each promotion has multiple wrestlers that can run under different umbrellas. Giving variety is easier for the fans to be able to see their favorite wrestlers.
AEW “Collision” has made its way to the TNT network in order to produce more wrestling content. This goes back to the early days of AEW stemming from 2019 to 2021. They moved to TBS on January 5, 2022, leaving TNT with only one hour of AEW “Rampage” on Friday nights.
Giving the TNT network more hours of wrestling serves a better purpose as it reminds people of when their first show “Dynamite” that airs on Wednesdays. The network of TNT and AEW gives them a chance to give more wrestling to its fans. It’s good to see AEW constantly finding ways to keep producing more wrestling content.
Written By Semetrius Holmes
Sources:
ALL Elite Wrestling: Collision on TNT
ALL Elite Wrestling: Dynamite on TBS
TNT Network: AEW Rampage
Images Courtesy of Semetrius Holmes
