AEW, WBD, COLLISION News

AEW Collision is set to debut in mid-June, and will feature a huge name in CM Punk, but that's hardly it. We're told there are already major plans and a marquee match tentatively scheduled for the Collision show, with CM Punk pushing for a huge match early on in his return. There has been a Chris Jericho program discussed, but Punk had pushed for another return opponent out of the gate.

AEW Rampage, we're told, will become more resembling what WWF Heat once was. We're told that many indie talent will be more likely to get opportunities on Ring of Honor programming. The last we've heard, AEW content is set to be exclusively hosted on WBD platforms, with ROH seemingly not being a part of that. However, we have not necessarily heard that an entirely new deal has been reached for AEW programming as of yet.

Those that we’ve spoken to say that Collision on WBD in primetime is a part of a new cash infusion for AEW and an extension of the partnership the two sides have held. WBD sources have long spoken glowingly about the relationship with All Elite Wrestling, and the deal is planned for an announcement around the time of Warner Upfronts.

There was a lot of discussion and rumors both online and within WBD and AEW about this deal being a billion dollar deal over a few years and that could be true if all of their deals are extrapolated. However, WBD sources had indicated to us that Collision was the planned upcoming announcement, as opposed to an all-encompassing deal that included Dynamite. AEW and WBD sources have not confirmed a dollar figure.

The long and short of it is what we’ve been able to confirm is a good deal for AEW, an impending announcement of Collision, and CM Punk’s planned return. We’ve not been able to confirm the rumored dollar figure or an all-encompassing deal.

There were rumors last month that WWE and WBD had talks, but reps from both sides hadn’t heard that whatsoever and quickly shot it down.

There are already several Saturday dates set to film AEW Collision, but we’re told that when necessary, the company may book a venue two straight days and film on Thursdays.

We haven’t heard if this has anything to do with keeping Punk and the Elite apart, but sources indicated that both sets of talent would occasionally appear on Dynamite and Collision when it’s called for.

We're told that there are plans to have a fresh roster approach with some significant names. There are several AEW talent who have been sidelined and believe they’ll appear on the show, but haven’t outright been told they are.

This story will come into focus a lot more over the next week with more facts than rumors.