AEW: Major Plans for Third Show Debut, Rampage Future Status, More on Roderick Strong Debut

Major Plans for Debut of AEW’s Third TV Show

As noted before, AEW and Warner Bros Discovery are currently working on plans to launch a new third weekly AEW wrestling television show as early as this June. AEW is also currently planning for their upcoming new third weekly television show to be called AEW Collision and to feature a “soft” roster split related to Punk’s upcoming return to the company.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that AEW officials currently have plans for the debut episode of their upcoming new Saturday show to feature both the official return of CM Punk and also either a major debut or the return of a major star talent as well.

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AEW Rampage to Remain on TNT Following Launch of Third TV Show

As noted before, TNT is currently expected to be the home network for AEW’s upcoming new weekly Saturday television show.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that AEW’s Rampage series will remain on TNT and will continue to air as a one hour show on the network following the launch of AEW’s new Saturday show.

Meltzer reported that due to Rampage usually being taped weekly alongside with Dynamite, Rampage very likely will mainly be featuring talent from AEW’s Dynamite roster and not their upcoming Collision roster based on their current plans for a “soft” roster split.

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Backstage WWE Reaction to Roderick Strong’s AEW Debut

As noted before, Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Sunrise, Florida featured former WWE NXT talent Roderick Strong making his official debut for AEW.

Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that the general reaction within WWE over Strong’s surprise debut in AEW was one of shock due to them beveling that he was still under a contract with them. Several people within WWE reportedly had prior knowledge that Strong would not be returning from his injury to the company.

Meltzer reported that Strong’s name was still listed on WWE’s internal roster list on the night of his official debut in AEW. Besides Strong, Naomi’s name reportedly was also still listed on this same roster list.

In regards to Strong’s ankle injury, Meltzer reported that WWE officials had made the decision to not use Strong following his injury and wrote him out with the Damon Kemp storyline. WWE officials reportedly did not have any creative plans for his potential return from injury afterwards.