Dave Meltzer: Wednesday could be among the most important days in AEW history

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.