AEW added its third television broadcast in 2023 with Collision airing every Saturday night on TBS. Unfortunately, sports on Saturday nights and going head-to-head monthly with WWE premium live events has hindered its audience and the show never saw the reach it did in the first episode.
Created specifically for CM Punk to headline, Collision saw its 2023 audience averaging 483,250 and an 18-49 demo of 0.15. Since the show is new, there’s no comparisons from a previous year.
The show crossed the 600,000 viewership mark only three times this year, a far lower average than Dynamite.
The most-watched episode of Collision was its premiere which featured the return of CM Punk. That episode did 816,000 viewers and a 0.33 rating in 18-49, a year high for both numbers. The July 29 broadcast came the closest to that number, with 739,000 viewers and a 0.27 rating while the July 22 show had 618,000 viewers and 0.18 as the third most-watched.
The November 17 episode of the show fared the worst, with only 270,000 viewers tuning in and a 0.08 rating in 180-49. That was the lowest of lows for the show so far. The November 25 show did 317,000 viewers and a 0.09 and the bottom three list is rounded up with the September 30 episode which did 327,000 viewers and another 0.08 in 18-49.
Tonight marks a significant milestone as TNA Wrestling makes its official return, reclaiming its original name for the first time since March 2017.
Following Anthem Sports & Entertainment’s acquisition of the company in early 2017, TNA underwent a rebranding to become Impact Wrestling. This name was utilized for both the company title and its flagship weekly television show.
The decision to revert to the original TNA name was announced by Impact Wrestling after the conclusion of the Bound For Glory 2023 pay-per-view. In a cool video, various stars gathered in a field to discuss their reasons for the change and the necessary steps to move forward.
The Hard To Kill pay-per-view is the first show using the TNA branding. The weekly television show will be called TNA Impact.
Live from the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada, TNA Wrestling presents Hard To Kill 2024 on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
PPV: Alex Shelley vs Moose for the TNA World title; Trinity vs Jordynne Grace for the TNA Knockouts title; Chris Sabin vs El Hijo del Vikingo vs Kushida in a three-way match or the TNA X Division title; Chris Bey and Ace Austin vs Zachary Wentz and Trey Miguel vs Mike Bailey and Trent Seven vs Zack Gibson and James Drake in a four-way tag team match for the TNA World Tag Team titles; Gisele Shaw vs Xia Brookside vs Jody Threat vs Tasha Steelz vs Alisha Edwards vs Dani Luna in a Knockouts Ultimate X match to determine the #1 contender for the TNA Knockouts title; Dirty Dango vs PCO; Josh Alexander vs Alex Hammerstone.
PRE-SHOW: Rich Swann vs Steve Maclin; Eddie Edwards and Brian Myers vs Eric Young and Frankie Kazarian; Tommy Dreamer vs Crazzy Steve in a no disqualification match for the TNA Digital Media title.
The pre-show starts at 7PM ET on TNA’s social media properties and the pay-per-view will kick off at 8PM ET and is available via traditional PPV or online TrillerTV or TNA+.
WWE Hall of Famer Afa The Wild Samoan is currently in hospital getting treated for pneumonia and a heart attack.
His official Facebook page revealed the news saying that Afa was admitted to the hospital yesterday because of the pneumonia but doctors realized that he had a heart attack upon his arrival.
“Today, he had a second small heart attack and was sent for a heart catheterization,” the post reads. “He is doing ok, his spirits are high. He isn’t out of the woods yet, but will be kept in the hospital for a day or two for observation and monitoring.”
The 81-year-old last appeared on WWE television with his brother Sika at the Hell In A Cell premium live event in 2020 to celebrate with Roman Reigns. Sika is Reigns’ father.
The recently-formed stable between Karrion Kross, AOP, Scarlett, and Paul Ellering received its official name: The Last Testament.
A Lashley and Street Profits in-ring promo was interrupted – again – by a video featuring the group where they revealed their name and also mentioning that Lashley, Ford, and Dawkins were on the top of their list.
The faction was introduced to the television audience last week, with AOP attacking The Street Profits from behind and Kross then taking out Lashley. It was AOP’s first time on WWE television since 2020.
The Carmelo Hayes vs Austin Theory match was stopped last night on Smackdown after Theory hit a modified version of the Spanish Fly and both men landed horribly on their head.
Theory got the worst of it, spiking his head on the mat while Hayes landed his head on Theory’s head. The referee immediately checked on both guys looking for hand signals if they’re okay but then called for the bell to end the match.
Thankfully, both Superstars are doing fine after WWE posted a message on X saying, “They both suffered face contusions, and will both be okay.”
Recently another referee stopped another match between Kofi Kingston and Jey Uso vs Imperium after Kingston dropkicked Giovanni Vinci right in the face, knocking him out.
After a recap we go live as Jimmy Uso and Solo Sikoa are beating down Cameron Grimes then officials arrive. Austin Theory and Grayson Waller are in the ring and as Heyman, Uso and Sikoa get in, Theory and Grayson jump out of the ring and Nick Aldis is now out and Heyman begins by verbally attacking Aldis.
Aldis makes his way into the ring. Aldis grabs the microphone off Heyman. Aldis said its two matches now the Bloodline has ruined but they are not going to be ruining tonight’s main event because they are in the main event against AJ Styles, LA Knight and Randy Orton and that means all three members of the Bloodline Jimmy Uso, Solo Sikoa and Roman Reigns.
Heyman tells Aldis that Roman is not in Nebraska tonight and Aldis said again Reigns starts something he can’t finish so Uso and Sikoa can try to find a partner or go with the match as a handicap match.
Angel & Humberto VS. Joaquin Wilde & Cruz Del Toro
Cruz takes Humberto out on the outside of the ring and Santos, who was on commentary stood up and Carlito’s music came on and Carlito takes him out from the crowd. In the ring Angel rolls Wilde up close to the ropes and scores the pinfall.
Winners; Angel & Humberto
Carmelo Hayes is in the back in Nick Aldis’ office and he and Nick are talking, when Grayson Waller and Austin Theory come in and at first Nick was going to make a match with Grayson and Hayes, but Grayson said Theory would be a be a better opponent for Hayes and Aldis makes the match for later tonight.
In the back Heyman tried to get Carlito to team with Uso and Sikoa tonight and Carlito says Heyman is right he wants a fight but the fight he wants is with Santos Escobar. Carlito then takes the apple Heyman was trying to give him.
Logan Paul talks about his match with Kevin Owens and the cast Owen’s has on his arm. Paul says he wants a fair fight.
Butch is shown sitting at a table and Tyler Bate comes in and gives him a coffee. They talk about the future as Butch says the Brawling Brutes are in the past.
Bianca Belair VS. Bayley
Bayley ties Bianca’s hair to the bottom rope and runs from one side to attack Bianca but Bianca moves and Bayley trips of the hair hitting her face on the bottom turnbuckle.
After more back and forth action it was Belair who catches Bayley with a KOD and gets the win.
Winner: Bianca Belair
Kevin Owens talks about Logan Paul and their match at the Royal Rumble. Kevin then invited Paul to be his guest next week on the Kevin Owens Show.
Bayley and Dakota talking in the back and Bayley said what happened and Dakota said the referee was looking right at us what were we supposed to do? Dakota then tells Bayley she needs to win the Royal Rumble on her own.
Bobby Lashley and The Street Profits come out and they are not stopping to pose or anything, just walked straight to the ring. Bobby immediately begins to tell Karrion Kross and AOP that they will settle things face to face; right here and right now because they got themselves into a fight they can’t win.
Karrion Kross is shown on the screen, and we find out the name of their new faction is the Final Testament.
Heyman is shown in the back and Pretty Deadly comes up to him and tells him they would make a great team. When Heyman reminded them, he only needed one and who they were facing Pretty Deadly immediately started making excuses and left.
A video package of Carmelo Hayes is shown.
Heyman stops Lashley and the Street Profits and tries to get Bobby to team with the Bloodline tonight and Bobby says the only time I want to be in the ring with the Bloodline is if I am standing across the ring from Roman Reigns.
Carmelo Hayes VS. Austin Theory
With Hayes on the top rope, Theory went for a Spanish Fly maneuver and both men landed awkwardly and the referee immediately checked on them and called for the bell and medical to come to the ring.
Winner: No Contest
In the back, Jimmy asked Heyman who their partner was and Heyman said he interviewed every member of the roster and none of them are worthy of teaming with them and Solo says I am not worried, and Jimmy says if Solo is not worried neither am I.
As Randy Orton was coming to the ring first. Solo attacked him leaving him lying on the entrance ramp area after a Samoan Spike.
Jimmy Uso & Solo Sikoa VS. LA Knight & AJ Styles
Randy makes his way out to join his team and gets tagged in and hits the RKO on Jimmy to get the win.
Winners: LA Knight, AJ Styles & Randy Orton
After the match Styles, Orton and Knight leave Sikoa and Uso lying and both received RKOs.
Next week the contract signing for the Fatal Four Way Championship match.
The road to the Royal Rumble continues tonight on Friday Night Smackdown. Three matches have so far been confirmed for tonight’s show which takes place from a snow-covered and very cold Lincoln, Nebraska.
The matches are Cameron Grimes vs Grayson Waller, Bianca Belair vs Bayley, and Joaquin Wilde and Cruz Del Toro vs Angel Garza and Humberto Carrillo.
WWE is also promoting appearances from Randy Orton, LA Knight and AJ Styles as they prepare for their Undisputed WWE Universal title match against Roman Reigns. Reigns is not scheduled to appear on the broadcast tonight.
Warner Bros. Discovery issued a press release touting AEW’s “stellar year” across its networks.
The press release points out that AEW programs across TBS and TNT in 2023 ranked in the top 10 of all cable programs among adults under-50 72 times, including 50 times with a top-5 program in that coveted demo.
Viewership of AEW programming on the networks saw increasing momentum as the year culminated, reaching 15.6 million total viewers in Q4 2023, up 3% vs. Q4 2022.
Overall, AEW programming reached nearly four million viewers each week across TNT and TBS.
Dynamite had a huge drop in the quarter hour ratings this week, with the final quarter doing just 636,000 viewers for the main event match between Darby Allin and Sting vs Powerhouse Hobbs and Konosuke Takeshita according to Wrestlenomics.
The show, helped by the Big Bang Theory lead-in, started with 1,001,000 viewers but dropped 106,000 viewers by the time the second quarter started. The only increase registered was between the third and the fourth quarter, going from 795,000 for the eight-man tag team match to 915,000 for the Samoa Joe promo in quarter four. But the fifth quarter dropped 141,000 viewers, wiping out any gain that came along.
The four-minute overrun featuring the return of The Young Bucks did 688,000 viewers, climbing from the 636,000 viewers of the main event.
In total, there were over 360,000 viewers who tuned out of the show from the first quarter to the eighth quarter.
Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Wrestling is reporting that Mickie James has signed on to become OVW’s Creative Director, Head of Female Talent, and Executive Producer.
The former multi-time WWE Women and Impact Knockouts champion finished up her duties with Impact several weeks ago and is free to appear anywhere.
Ohio Valley Wrestling resurfaced in the news over the last several weeks after Netflix released the documentary series titled Wrestlers based on the former WWE developmental territory.
The 44-year-old James, wife of current Smackdown General Manager Nick Aldis, worked for Ohio Valley Wrestling from August 2003 till she made her WWE main roster debut in late 2005.
On the latest episode of the Grilling JR podcast, WWE Hall of Famer Jim Ross noted that his AEW contract will expire on February 14 and had talks with AEW President Tony Khan to join the commentary booth for Sting’s last match.
Sting’s retirement will be part of the Revolution pay-per-view, scheduled for March 3, two weeks after his contract runs out, and it looks like Khan is onboard for having JR on the mic for this special occasion.
“I mentioned that to Tony Khan last night. He agreed. It’s only right. It makes sense,” Ross told his co-host Conrad Thompson. “I think there’s money in Schiavone and I working together. Not just in Greensboro, but going forward, sporadically. And we have great chemistry. We’ve never lost that.”
Ross acknowledged he needs a new deal offered so he can definitely be there come March 3 and wants to finish his career in AEW.
Dynamite Homecoming this week drew 797,000 viewers, down 4,000 viewers from last week’s show. The show did a 0.29 rating in the 18-49 demo, up 0.03 from the prior week and finished #4 in the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
In their first update on the Elimination Chamber live from the Optus Stadium in Perth, Australia, ticket tracking service @WrestleTix has estimated that there are nearly 42,000 tickets sold for the show while the current setup calls for almost 46,000 seats.
The map on Ticketmaster shows a total of 59,000 seats but not all sections of the massive stadium are open, including parts of the upper decks.
With just over 40 days to go for the show, WWE will need to go into overdrive to sell thousands of more tickets to make this close to a sell out. Some prices have already been reduced after initial prices were really, really expensive.
There are rumors that Roman Reigns vs The Rock could be happening on this show and if that is the case, more tickets will undoubtedly be sold for the event. Promotion for this event will start after the Royal Rumble.
This is already the highest-grossing and most-attended Elimination Chamber in history and it will be the second stadium show in a row for WWE when it comes to premium live events this year.
Rampage was clearly the biggest loser among all AEW and WWE television shows in 2023, with its audience and 18-49 demo both plummeting to record lows. The Friday 10PM broadcast seems to be an afterthought for the company and the audience tuned out most weeks.
Rampage drew an average of 377,385 viewers in 2023, down from the 463,519 it did in 2022, a drop of 86,134 viewers. It’s 18-49 demo in 2023 was a 0.11, down 0.04 from the 0.15 it did the prior year.
The show crossed the half a million viewers mark just three times in 2023, down from the 13 times it did in 2022. Rampage did over 600,000 viewers just once, the same from 2022.
The most-watched episode of Rampage last year was the April 14 episode which drew 639,000 viewers and a 0.21 rating in 18-49. That was a year-high for both numbers. The January 6 episode pulled in 551,000 viewers and a 0.15 rating to take second place while the January 13 episode did 513,000 and 0.13 in 18-49 to round up the top three.
On the other end, the November 25 episode was the least-watched of the year with just 265,000 viewers tuning in and a 0.08 rating in 18-49. The November 17 show had 280,000 viewers and a 0.09 rating while the February 17 show had 287,000 viewers but a year-low 0.07 rating in 18-49.
Combo tickets for Backlash France and the Smackdown on the eve of the premium live event went on general sale this morning on Ticketmaster.fr.
The bulk of the tickets were gone during the pre-sale held on Wednesday as thousands of tickets were distributed at a very expensive price range. The first seven tiers of ticket blocks quickly sold out, leaving the even more expensive floor and ringside seats up for grabs.
Ticket prices are €118, €190, €256, €327, €382, €492, €652, €982, €1,312, €1,928, €2,258, and €2,753 for ringside.
Both shows will be held at the brand new LDLC Arena in Lyon, an arena which holds up to 16,000 fans.
AEW debuted a slightly-different AEW World title last night on Dynamite, carried by champion Samoa Joe.
The custom MJF Burberry title is no longer following his loss at Worlds End and Joe paraded around with the new bling at Daily’s Place last night. The title features a slightly different design and what’s most notable, screwable side plates.
The side plates replace the AEW logo and the AEW logo moved instead of the world plates which were above and below the logo. Side plates are common in most of the WWE titles as they display the name or the logo of whoever is the champion at the time.
In an update on her health status, CJ Perry wrote from hospital that she will be undergoing a second surgery next week and doctors are draining the MRSA infection daily.
“Flesh and scabs cut out of my finger again today. Antibiotics again. Possible full-blown second surgery next week but I would risk it all again for my ex-clients, future clients, and current clients,” Perry wrote.
She returned quickly on AEW TV after a five-day hospital stint with a taped up finger which had not healed properly yet. She also posted a pretty gross photo of her purple, inflamed finger which does not look good at all and clearly requires serious medical attention.
Perry got the infection from a splinter she suffered on her finger backstage at Dynamite. The infection traveled from her finger to other parts of her body and was admitted to hospital after that. It was later determined to be MRSA, which could be fatal if left untreated.
This week’s episode of NXT drew 722,000 viewers, down 46,000 viewers from the New Year’s Evil episode of last week. The show drew a 0.21 rating in 18-49, down 0.04 from last time around and placed #6 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: SpoilerTV)
In an effort to drown out any boos that he might have received during his appearance on Dynamite, AEW left Chris Jericho’s theme Judas playing as he came out to save Sammy Guevara.
After Big Bill attacked Guevara following his match with Ricky Starks, Jericho’s theme kicked in and Jericho stormed out to the ring and all four brawled all over Daily’s Place.
While there were some boos, fans sang along to Judas and the song kept playing till they cut to the next segment, something which was never done before.
Jericho and Guevara take on the tag team champions at the Battle of the Belts IX broadcast this Saturday on TNT.
Are we getting a preview of Saturday’s Street Fight at #AEWBOTB9?!
