FINALLY NEW TV DEAL W/STREAMING AND PPV at a cost (p138)

[IgnahtaSempria]

Might not have anything to do with this, but a number of per-appearance talents have just been added to the AEW roster page, like Marina Shaffir, Diamante, and Zack Clayton.

Again, could be nothing, but it could be a sign that TK now has a higher signing budget going forward, meaning he can lock down more talents to proper contracts.

[markymark]

Tomorrow could be among the most important days in AEW history, particularly if rumors and speculation is to believed.

What we do know is that at the WBD Upfronts, they are expected to announce the new television show, AEW Collision, believed to be airing 8-10 p.m. on Saturday nights on TNT. The belief is the show debuts on June 17 at the United Center in Chicago, which would also be the return of CM Punk.

At least some, if not all of that, would be announced tomorrow at the upfronts, evidently on TNT based on the hint last week by Tony Khan on Dynamite when he mentioned TNT and not TBS. It will also be announced later that night on Dynamite.

The idea is a brand split of sorts, although the actual make up of what that means is in question and one higher-up in the company said they believe the final format and ideas will change until the debut, and probably will be tweaked after as well. One source at WBD said more than a week ago that the top women would be appearing on both shows because they felt they didn't have enough star power depth to do a split.

As far as the rest of the story, there have been rumored figures of the length and the terms, but a lot of that has been people making predictions or hearing people look at the value and extrapolating a time frame and money figure.

Multiple sources within the company have indicated Khan has been tight-lipped about everything. To us, Khan has not even officially said there is a Collision show, although the top talent in the company is aware of that much. He did point to this week and being able to discuss much more after it comes out, noting legal reasons for being unable to talk on a number of subjects that everyone is questioning.

One key executive noted to us a few times that what they had been told regarding television was far different from rumors, but that at this point they and the top talent past the point of the brand split, the return of Punk, and the Collision show, people have not been told anything.

On the WBD side, those who have inside contacts with the company also confirmed the same things, but had no idea of any terms regarding the new contract.

WBD would have to ink a new deal at least for Collision. The deal for Dynamite and Rampage expires at the end of September, but WBD has the option to renew that deal with a raise in money, although at nowhere near the level speculated, through the end of September 2024.

www.f4wonline.com/news/aew/dave-meltzer-wednesday-could-be-among-the-most-important-days-in-aew-history?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[kingoftheindies]

[markymark]

[polarbearpete]

May 17, 2023 8:19:38 GMT -5 markymark said:

Rumors from the Observer board that they may be going to a hard brand split.

[Kalmia]

A hard brand split because two parties had a fight and haven't made up is the most WCW thing WCW never did.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

A hard-ish brand split only makes sense to me if you consider that traveling to Wednesday and then Saturday for TV is a rough travel schedule. So having someone work both shows in the same week would be hard but you don't need it to be that formal although I can see how it would make planning easier week to week.

[polarbearpete]

Fightful:

As of last week, it was believed that there would be a soft roster split for AEW Dynamite and Collision. This would allow talent that didn’t get along to work shows when necessary without the likelihood of conflict that we saw a lot of backstage in AEW in 2022. However, instead, we’re told that talent are expecting a hard brand split, with the exception of many AEW Champions. We’ve been told that there will be additional exceptions here and there. We have not learned how exactly the split will be determined, if there will be a draft, or how that will work out. However, the working plan as of this week is a firm brand split, with some rare exceptions.

Those we’ve spoken to said that bringing back several previously absent talent was planned out, and they were told it was strategic timing to go along with the new show. In addition to talent that naturally needs more television time, several returning talent look to benefit from this move.

The working plan is to film AEW Rampage with Dynamite tapings, and ROH with Collision tapings. Those that we’ve spoken to say that there looks like some WCW Nitro influence to early graphics tied to Collision

[xxshoyuweeniexx]

Hard, soft, hard, soft, sounds like this brand split could use some BlueChew

[KME]

They have a more than big enough roster for that sort of thing to not be an issue, especially if Champions are working both shows. People are going to sceptical though, myself included, after seeing what brand splits were in WWE, and with the whole Punk thing in the background. It's likely good for the company either way though, and not just in terms of money or whatever, it's going to get people on TV regularly that weren't before and that's absolutely needed. With their roster size I guess a harder split was always more likely, do you really want another 2 hours and then use it mostly for the same guys that were just on Dynamite? Wouldn't be the best use of the time. While I'm not totally sold I can definitely see the logic, hopefully this could end the whole "they don't need him/her, they don't even get the guys they've got on TV!" thing for a while too

[Kalmia]

I want to know how the PPVs are going to work with a hard split. Seems to me that a hard split is just putting off resolving a problem. If you're hell-bent on bringing Punk back, then sort this shit out and get everyone on the same page.

[polarbearpete]

May 17, 2023 9:28:12 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

I want to know how the PPVs are going to work with a hard split. Seems to me that a hard split is just putting off resolving a problem. If you're hell-bent on bringing Punk back, then sort this shit out and get everyone on the same page.

I’m sure the PPVs will just have matches with both rosters on it.

[Kalmia]

May 17, 2023 9:29:55 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

May 17, 2023 9:28:12 GMT -5 Kalmia said:

I want to know how the PPVs are going to work with a hard split. Seems to me that a hard split is just putting off resolving a problem. If you're hell-bent on bringing Punk back, then sort this shit out and get everyone on the same page.

I’m sure the PPVs will just have matches with both rosters on it.

Yeah, I get that. I was talking more about how you keep the two sides that need to be on different rosters away from each other,

[markymark]

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is set to launch its third live show on the TNets, with the company set to debut “AEW: Collision” in June.

The announcement was made as part of the Warner Bros. Discovery upfront presentation at Madison Square Garden on Wednesday.

“Collision” will launch on June 17. The two-hour show will air every Saturday night thereafter and will feature AEW talent like Miro, Samoa Joe, Thunder Rosa, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Andrade El Idolo.

“We’re doubling-down on wrestling with ‘AEW: Collision,’ which gives fans two more hours every week,” said Jason Sarlanis, president of the 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.”

In addition to “Collision,” AEW already has “Dynamite” on TBS on Wednesdays and “Rampage” on TNT on Fridays. The company also has the unscripted series “AEW: All Access,” which airs immediately after “Dynamite.” That means, with the addition of “Collision,” AEW will now be responsible for six hours of weekly programming on TBS and TNT combined, five of which is live. 

“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.”

variety.com/2023/tv/news/aew-saturday-night-tnt-show-collison-premiere-date-1235615531/

[Tiger Millionaire]

AEW: Malcontents

[markymark]

[Renslayer]

It's gonna be comedy if [redacted] and [redacted] accidentally wind up in the same area at the same time

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

It's beautiful:

[HMARK Center]

Andrade's back, eh?

And huge marks for the Collision logo looking all Nitro-y.

[Allie Kitsune]

Welp.

There's our confirmation that Andrade's back.