Tag: collision

AEW Collision ratings down following shift to TBS

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Last night’s episode of AEW Collision, airing on TBS instead of TNT and moving nights to avoid going head to head with WWE’s Saturday Night’s Main Event special, averaged 353,000 viewers. That’s down 11.3% from last week’s Saturday airing and down 7.6% from May 8th, the last time it aired on a Thursday.

Collision finished 12th on the cable charts with a 0.08 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s the same rating the show did last Saturday and down 11.1% from the previous Thursday airing of the show two weeks ago.

The show went head to head with the NBA playoffs on ESPN and the Stanley Cup playoffs on TNT, with those games and programming related to them dominating the top of the charts.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the show aired on it’s regular night, the overall viewership was down 14.9% while the 18-49 rating was down 46.7%. This year’s numbers do not include viewership on the Max streaming service.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership and 18-49 demo ratings for AEW Collision as well as the 10 week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 12.7% in overall viewers and 27.3% in 18-49 as compared to recent averages.

WOL: WrestleMania location update, Collision, Impact, more!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez is back with tons to talk about including what the hell is going on with WrestleMania next year, a look at all the shows this coming weekend, notes on the Dynamite rating from Wednesday, Collision and TNA Impact reviews, all the news and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

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WOR: Maxx Justice, Jim Ross, Sabu, Collision issues, Smackdown

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer returns with tons of news including the death of Maxx Justice, updates on Jim Ross and Sabu, Darby makes it to the top, what happened with Collision, Smackdown recap, ratings, all the latest from Mexico, UFC and more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Maxx Justice passes away, Jim Ross announces colon cancer diagnosis
11:41: Dave Meltzer’s thoughts on Sabu and his last match
16:45: Darby Allin reaches the top of Mt. Everest, AEW Collision issues
21:48: WWE Backlash numbers, LFG winners
27:52: Ratings
33:59: Notes on CMLL/Arena Mexico, AAA Triplemania Regia, AJPW Champion Carnival winner
37:04: UFC notes
42:38: Lineups for the week
49:12: Dave Meltzer’s AEW Collision notes
55:13: WWE SmackDown recap

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B&V: Smackdown, Collision, Relentless Wrestling

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

The Bryan & Vinny & Craig Show is back with tons to talk about including Bryan’s trip to Relentless Pro Wrestling this weekend and interview with Kurt Angle, what everyone saw of the mystery Collision show, and Smackdown with a near tragedy in the main event. A fun show as always so check it out~!

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AEW Collision ratings up for Thursday episode

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

The May 8 episode of AEW Collision, airing live on Thursday night, averaged 382,000 viewers on TBS. That’s up 12 percent from what the show did in its regular time slot the previous Saturday and up 8.2 percent from the last time the show aired on a Thursday on April 17. This is the third-highest audience total for Collision since March 22.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision drew a 0.09 rating. That’s up 50 percent from the previous Saturday and up 12.5 percent from the last Thursday airing. It finished ninth on the primetime cable charts in that category, and this also ties the third highest rating for the show since the March 22 episode.

Collision, aside from being off its regular night, went up against the NBA playoffs on TNT and the Stanley Cup playoffs on ESPN which took the top two spots on the cable charts.

As compared to the same week in 2024, when the show aired in its regular slot, Collision’s overall viewership was up 1.1 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 25 percent. This year’s numbers do not include people watching on Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of overall viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 7.6 percent in overall viewers and 18.2 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WOR: Backlash, McIntyre, Saudi and Punk, UFC results, more

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the WWE Backlash PPV from Saturday, Drew McIntyre health update, John Cena’s last match, the 300th edition of Dynamite, Saudi Arabia and CM Punk, New Japan, Collision and UFC results, and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: Tony Rocco passes away

6:36: WWE Backlash recap

31:29: John Cena’s final match location announced, Dynamite 300 location, Night of Champions announced for Saudi Arabia with CM Punk advertised

38:55: NJPW Resurgence notes

43:35: AEW Collision ratings & recap

58:48: UFC 315 notes

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Daily Update: Je’Von Evans, new AEW Collision matches, Kevin Ku

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Daily Update

Latest News

Latest Audio

Latest Free YouTube Video

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter

  • Lots more on the AAA sale to TKO (and that it’s not actually completed), CMLL’s cryptic response, Grand Slam Mexico, Dorian Roldan talks why he sold and Konnan and Latin Lover talk the future of AAA and in theory how things change in Mexico and the U.S., plus the major business goals.
  • Tam Nakano ends her career, Mayu Iwatani leaves Stardom, Stardom puts on its biggest show with its biggest match in history and a couple of award categories this should do well in.
  • Update on WWE Backlash
  • Update on both major lawsuits against Vince McMahon and WWE. New plaintiffs emerge in the ringboys suit and a new Vice President is implicated, and Janel Grant’s attorneys push for the case to move forward while the defendants want discovery held up.
  • Hulk Hogan and Eric Bischoff promote Real American Freestyle. What they need for success, what mistakes they’ve already made and is Hogan the right person to the face of the company
  • Full coverage of TNA Rebellion
  • Long story on the Hollywood Demons episode on the Von Erichs, how this is different from other stories, more on the deaths, the political situation in Texas and things in the new documentary that aren’t completely accurate, as well as dispelling major myths.
  • The most detailed look at the ratings, including placings, demos, competition and more for all the shows
  • End of the CMLL Universal championship tournament with a super finish
  • MLW vs. CMLL matches this week
  • Champion Carnival update
  • Lots of New Japan big matches coming up
  • Meiko Satomura retires
  • Big indie shows this week
  • Big Progress tournament this week
  • RVD injury update
  • More NXT stars on TNA television
  • AEW expects one of its biggest gates for upcoming show
  • Bryan Danielson talks his career and AEW
  • Advanced ticket sales for upcoming WWE and AEW shows
  • Lots of injury updates
  • PFL involved in a number of messy lawsuits
  • Freak show fight with powerlifters gets major attention
  • SmackDown time slot change
  • Did you know the person behind the movie with Liv Morgan did a movie based on a Hall of Fame 80s and 90s pro wrestling legend
  • Value of WWE’s PLEs on the open market
  • The story of the most powerful man in combat sports that most reporters aren’t touching
  • Lots of notes on the Smashing Machine movie
  • How much Dwayne Johnson has made since joining the TK Board
  • More talk on a WWE all-women’s PPV show

This Week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter Back Issue

Thursday Update

WWE

  • On X/Twitter today, Je’Von Evans referred to AEW’s Tony Khan as a “crackhead” while going back and forth with Ricochet. Evans has since deleted all of his tweets from the exchange. He wrote in two of the posts:
    • You Learned From HBK When I Was 12 And Became A Multiple Time Champion. Now, You’re Wrestling In Front Of 2,000 People, Every Week, For A Crackhead. Talk About An Upgrade Am I Right?? #TheYoungOG
    • Sounds Like Mr. Khan Isn’t Giving You Enough Attention. Sooooooooo, You Had To Come For A Successful Ass Youngin You’re Giving Me The Most Views On My Post And I’m Finally Helping You Get The Most Attention You’ve Ever Had In Your Career All Love
  • WrestleVotes reports that Goldberg’s name has come up in WWE creative recently ahead of his retirement match that’s expected to happen at some point this summer:
    • According to multiple sources, Goldberg’s name has been floated internally within WWE over the past week — the first time since his Bad Blood appearance and his interactions with Gunther. Feels like the inevitable return is nearing.
  • Logan Paul uploaded a new vlog.
  • Bully Ray interviewed ring announcer Alicia Taylor for Busted Open Radio.
  • Bianca Belair was the guest on this week’s episode of What’s Your Story? With Stephanie McMahon.
  • The WWE Vault YouTube channel shared a new video with rare footage from past Backlash events.

Other Wrestling

  • A singles match between Ricochet and Angelico has been added to the card for tonight’s live episode of AEW Collision. Along with that, an eight-man tag bout is set with Bandido, AR Fox & The Outrunners taking on Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta & Lance Archer. There have now been six matches confirmed for the show:
    • Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale
    • “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Dralistico
    • Daniel Garcia vs. a member of FTR (Dax Harwood or Cash Wheeler)
    • Anthony Bowens vs. Lee Johnson
    • Ricochet vs. Angelico
    • Bandido, AR Fox & The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd) vs. Kyle Fletcher, Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta & Lance Archer
  • Harley Cameron, Swerve Strickland, and Satnam Singh visited the Detroit Pistons’ training facility before Dynamite this week.
  • Nyla Rose joined Aubrey Edwards & Will Washington on AEW Unrestricted to discuss their favorite matches and moments from Double or Nothing history.
  • Hologram will compete in the 10-man Cibernetico match at DEAN~! 2 in Glendale, Arizona on Saturday, May 24. Action Wrestling is partnering with AEW to produce the tribute show honoring Dean Rasmussen, a poster from the Death Valley Driver Video Review forum who passed away in 2023.
  • NJPW’s English-language website posted an interview with DDT wrestler MAO, who is competing in the 2025 Best of the Super Juniors. MAO said he wants to set an example for the younger wrestlers in DDT:
    • Everywhere I go, every signing, people have been wishing me luck. I definitely feel the expectation from the people. And I want to show to the young talent in DDT that this is a possibility for them. I go overseas a lot, and it makes me proud that now younger guys in DDT want to give that a shot. Now there’s the possibility for them to go into BOSJ as well, and that’s gonna make everyone in DDT work harder.
  • Joe Hendry spoke to WrestleTalk about how he approaches his responsibilities as TNA World Champion:
    • It’s hugely rewarding. There was a period of time where a lot of colleagues were getting signed and I was kind of wondering if and when things would happen for me.
    • But I was enjoying the process of what I was doing so much and I was so focused on getting the best reactions that I could from the fans, that all the opportunities came as soon as I shifted my focus into just giving the audience the best entertainment that I possibly could.
    • But to now be here as TNA World Champion, it’s an amazing feeling and a responsibility that I enjoy, and my focus is just trying to deliver record business for TNA.
    • I want people to look back and say, ‘Joe Hendry as World Champion, The Hardys as tag champs, that meant big business for TNA.’
    • So I’m excited for the business that the entire locker room is doing for the company and everyone backstage and the fans as well. TNA’s a hot product right now and, yeah, onwards and upwards.
  • On Insight with Chris Van Vliet, Indi Hartwell reflected on the match she had against Becky Lynch for WWE in 2023:
    • My anxiety was through the roof that day. I don’t think I’ve ever been more nervous for a match, but she was amazing to work with. I’m so grateful that she spoke up and asked to work with me and I think Tegan and Xia Li, so she helped us a bunch. That was one of my only singles matches on the main roster, because I was in the tag team. So yeah, I learned a lot from her and I just feel grateful that I got to work with her.
  • USA Today published a story on Mike Santana.
  • MLW announced that it will hold a Lucha Apocalypto event in Cicero, Illinois on Saturday, November 15. The show is taking place at Cicero Stadium and will include wrestlers from CMLL. Tickets are going on sale next Wednesday (May 14) at 10 a.m. Central time.
  • Defy Wrestling mourned the passing of Kevin Diers, a Seattle rock radio host who had worked for Defy since the promotion began: “We are deeply saddened to hear that our brother, Kevin Diers, has passed away. Kevin has worked with DEFY since day one. RIP, my friend…”
  • Former GCW Tag Team Champion Kevin Ku underwent knee surgery yesterday to repair a meniscus injury he was trying to work through: “My knee has not been great for a while but it really gave out the day before Hammerstein and I’ve been working through that ever since. Glad to finally get it fixed [Wednesday] and come back 100% probably”
  • F1RST Wrestling will return to the Mall of America for the fourth straight year with their Saturday Night Nitro event taking place in Bloomington, Minnesota on September 6.
  • The Righteous posted a new social media hype video following their departure from AEW.

AEW Collision ratings down with shift to TBS

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s AEW Collision episode averaged 341,000 viewers on TBS, down 51.8 percent from the previous week when the show aired on its normal home of TNT. This is the lowest audience total for Collision since April 5.

Collision drew a 0.06 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 71.4 percent from last week (which had an NBA lead-in and was one of Collision’s best ratings ever). This ties the lowest rating the show has done in the demo since February 1, when it went head-to-head with WWE Royal Rumble.

There was stronger-than-usual sports competition on the night with TNT and TruTV both airing an NBA playoff game, which was the reason why Collision moved stations, as well as the UFC Fight Night prelims on ESPN. ABC also aired an NHL playoff game opposite Collision.

There is no year-over-year comparison this week as Collision was pre-empted in 2024 due to TNT airing the NBA in its place.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 19.1 percent in overall viewers and 50 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WOR: WWE cuts in detail, weekend TV, news!

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including a long discussion on all of the people cut from WWE this week and their prospects, New Japan this weekend, line-ups for the week, ratings, Collision and Smackdown TV reports, and tons more! A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:

Start: WWE cuts 16 wrestlers, Shotzi’s contract not renewed

39:22: Notes from night one of NJPW Wrestling Dontaku, lineups for the coming week

49:09: TKO Boxing details

54:05: AEW Collision recap

1:08:49: WWE SmackDown recap

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NBA playoff lead-in boosts AEW Collision to best viewership since 2023

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

With help from an NBA playoff lead-in, AEW Collision drew some of its best numbers in show history on Saturday night.

The episode averaged 707,000 viewers on TNT, up 100.3 percent from the previous week’s Spring BreakThru special (that aired on a Thursday). This is the best audience total for Collision since July 29, 2023 and is the third-largest viewership in show history.

Collision drew a 0.21 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 162.5 percent from Spring BreakThru and is the highest rating the show has done in the demo since the special Sunday night one-hour episode on March 23 of this year. It ties the best rating Collision has done on a Saturday since the July 29, 2023 episode.

The Denver Nuggets vs. Los Angeles Clippers NBA game on TNT leading into Collision averaged 3.387 million viewers and drew a 1.12 rating in 18-49 — but Collision has had stronger lead-ins in the past and obviously did not retain this level of audience then.

As compared to the same week in 2024, Collision’s overall viewership was up 13.9 percent while the 18-49 rating was steady. This year’s numbers do not include people streaming the show on Max, though, so realistically the 18-49 number would be higher in 2025.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership numbers and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was up 76.3 percent in viewers and 75 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

WOR: Stardom, TNA PPV, weekend TV and news

Posted on by Bryan Alvarez

Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including the TNA PPV from Sunday, lots of changes to Stardom, the Von Erich piece that just aired, Smackdown, Collision, all the line-ups for the week and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!

Timestamps:
Start: Mayu Iwatani leaves Stardom, other Stardom All-Star Grand Queendom notes, Mistico returns to action
3:00: Hollywood Demons documentary on the Von Erichs
14:43: Lineups for the coming week, New York Times article on Turki Al-Sheikh
21:25: TNA Rebellion recap
32:57: WWE SmackDown recap
43:39: AEW Collision recap

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AEW Collision ratings down for Thursday Spring BreakThru special

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Thursday night’s special Spring BreakThru episode of AEW Collision averaged 353,000 viewers on TNT, down 22.4 percent from when the show aired in its regular Saturday night time slot last week. This is the second-highest audience total for Collision since March 23.

In the 18-49 demo, Collision finished tied for seventh on the prime time cable charts with a 0.08 rating. That’s down 33.3 percent from last week and ties the lowest rating the show has done in that category since March 1.

The show went head-to-head with an NHL game on ESPN that finished second on the cable charts with a 0.17 rating in 18-49, as well as first-run TV episodes on the major networks that did above average numbers for the night.

As compared to the same week in 2024, airing on its regular night, Collision’s overall audience was down 23.4 percent while its 18-49 rating was down 38.5 percent. This year’s numbers do not include people streaming the show on Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 12.7 percent in overall viewers and 33.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

AEW Collision ratings up, viewership rises 35 percent

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s AEW Collision episode averaged 455,000 viewers on TNT, a 35.8 percent increase from the previous week. It’s the best audience total the show has done in its regular time slot or without a big sports lead-in since July 20 of last year.

Collision drew a 0.12 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s up 50 percent from last week and ties the best rating the show has done in its regular time slot since September 28, 2024.

The strong numbers came despite running head-to-head with the UFC prelims on ESPN which topped the cable charts with a 0.38 rating in 18-49 and averaged 1.028 million viewers overall.

As compared to the same week in 2024, Collision’s overall viewership was down 2.8 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 7.7 percent. This year’s numbers do not include viewers streaming the show on Max, so there are almost certainly more people watching overall than at this point last year.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, as well as the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was up 20.2 percent in overall viewers and 9.1 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.

AEW Collision ratings down slightly against March Madness Final Four

Posted on by Paul Fontaine

Saturday night’s episode of AEW Collision averaged 335,000 viewers on TNT, down 1.2 percent from the previous week. It’s the lowest audience total for the show since March 1.

Collision drew a 0.08 rating in the 18-49 demo. That’s down 11.1 percent from last week and is also the lowest rating the show has done in that category since the March 1 episode that aired head-to-head with WWE’s Elimination Chamber PLE.

Saturday’s Collision was taped in advance and was the go-home show for AEW’s Dynasty pay-per-view. The episode faced competition from a UFC Fight Night on ESPN as well as the Final Four games in the NCAA men’s college basketball tournament on CBS.

As compared to the same week in 2024, Collision’s overall viewership was down 27.7 percent while the 18-49 rating was down 46.7 percent. This year’s numbers do not include viewers streaming the show on Max.

Listed below are the last 11 weeks of viewership totals and 18-49 demo ratings for Collision, along with the 10-week average in both categories. This week’s show was down 9.5 percent in overall viewers and 27.3 percent in 18-49 as compared to the recent averages.