AEW Collision must create opportunity for those who need it most on the roster

AEW Collision is set to premiere on June 17 and a new show should create an opportunity for more on the roster. 

All Elite Wrestling is continuing to grow as the promotion announced news of a new show, AEW Collision, set to launch on Saturday, June 17. The long-rumored news was confirmed by the promotion via a press release on Wednesday, May 17. This is an excellent move by the company as it continues to build its own footprint in the professional wrestling business. It is also good news for individuals on the roster as AEW now has additional television time for what has become a stacked roster.

The press release specifically announced that “headliners” such as Thunder Rosa, Miro, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade will be on the Saturday show. Fightful Select also reported on Wednesday that this show will signal what may be considered a brand split for the promotion. According to the report, the talent is expecting a brand split that will not include the AEW Champions, with additional exceptions. The report did not include information on how the rosters will be split.

This is a great move for many individuals on the roster that were often left on the sidelines. There have been many times fans and media personalities have questioned the utilization of individuals like Andrade, Miro, Ricky Starks, and much of the women’s roster. Even with two shows in AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage, many viewers were unhappy with the talent that was not featured on television, after hopes that AEW would be a promotion that would shine a light on more individuals in the industry.

It will be interesting to see how AEW weaves the champions in and out of Collision. If they are feuding with someone on that show, does that mean they will not appear on AEW Dynamite? Those are the types of questions that fans should watch for but considering that Tony Khan and those around him tend to book with the long-term in mind, fans should not be concerned from the start.

There is the elephant in the room around whether the roster split is also driven by performers not getting along backstage. Fans are aware of the “Brawl Out” situation from 2022 and the ramifications that are still felt today. CM Punk’s return is rumored to occur on AEW Collision, and if the roster is built around him and performers that are “OK” with being on the same show as him, or others not getting along backstage – that sets a precedent that may be hard to come back from.

Still, AEW getting a new show on TNT is a positive step for the entire industry. Growth throughout professional wrestling is good for the business, fans, and talent. This is a step in the right direction and creates opportunities for many.