Currently, there is word that the AEW locker room is experiencing some anxiety when it comes to the brand split. As we know, AEW is debuting a new, two-hour wrestling program on Saturdays called Collision.
The Looming Dynamite-Collision Brand Split is Giving the AEW Locker Room Anxiety Says Matt Hardy
Airing on June 17, 2023, the show is seen as a way for AEW to have lengthier content on the air, organize the roster, and work around the CM Punk-The Elite issue while having Punk on television. Mind you, that really doesn’t solve the PPV issue unless the goal is to end up with the hardcore, OG brand split where there were branded PPV events.
Instead, Khan is going a different route that doesn’t seem as extreme initially. However, Matt Hardy has mentioned that there is some anxiety in the AEW locker room during his Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast.
A major concern Hardy had was about the schedule itself with the new show. As transcribed by Wrestling Inc:
“People want to plan vacations and family time and trips and whatnot and it’s kind of tricky because as of now everybody kind of has to leave everything open. So, I’ll be happy when Collision gets here and they kind of have really a good lock on what roster is on Dynamite and what roster is on Collision, there’ll be some guys that float back and forth. I hope it’s a pretty regular schedule so the guys that are involved can live a regular life.”
As mentioned before, AEW’s schedule as it is happens to be one of the more accommodating schedules for a promotion of this size. However, there was bound to be a time when the company had to hit the road regularly with the size and composition of its roster. From previous reports, the plan is to start off with a “soft” brand split before easing into a more concrete split.
What exactly makes up a “soft” brand split isn’t exactly clear outside of some floaters who aren’t tied to either brand. So far, CM Punk, Samoa Joe, Miro, Andrade El Idolo, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Thunder Rosa have been mentioned as being a part of the Collision brand.
Share your expectations for the debut episode of AEW Collision in the comments as well as your thoughts on the brand split!
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