AEW: Samoa Joe on Upcoming Debut of AEW Collision, Roster Split Plans Update, More News

Samoa Joe Comments on Upcoming Debut of AEW’s New Collision TV Series

A recent episode of The Kick Rocks podcast featured Samoa Joe as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Joe’s thoughts on the upcoming debut of AEW’s new Collision television series and the opportunities it could give for some of AEW’s roster to be featured more on television.

“Obviously it’s exciting to add another show to the lineup for AEW. Doing Saturday night wrestling, I mean, obviously if the TV model was anything like it has been in the past, I would kind of believe some of those comments. But it’s a very different world and a very different environment. I think Saturday nights are a really great night. I’ve always enjoyed events that I’ve seen on Saturday nights. To have the opportunity to kind of give a lot of the AEW roster to kind of give a lot of the AEW roster that maybe doesn’t get enough time throughout the week and showcase a lot of the talent that we’ve had, and I think that’s a valid criticism. When you look at the AEW roster, you see the tremendous, talented athletes, there’s almost not enough time to see them all. I think AEW Collision will be able to definitely expand the fan experience as far as the wrestlers that you get to see …

More shows create more opportunities, absolutely. I think this is definitely an example. I think for years, people have been saying they wanted to see more and different talents on AEW, and some talents have more of a chance to be showcased in a longer format, and I think Collision is gonna definitely offer up those opportunities, as well as bringing your favorite AEW stars to one more night a week.”

In a response to a question by host Evan Mack implying about CM Punk making his official return at AEW’s debut Collision show, Joe stated:

“I know I’m gonna be there. Anybody else in Chicago wants to show up and got an issue, they can be there too, but we’ll find out.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

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AEW Roster Split Plans Status Update

As noted before, AEW officials are currently undecided over their plans for a potential hard or soft roster split for their upcoming new Collision television series.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that talent were informed by AEW officials over this past weekend that the company’s plans for a potential roster split for Collision might start as a soft split that could then later develop into a hard split.

Talent reportedly were not told anything specific regarding AEW’s current plans for a roster split for Dynamite and Collision.

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AEW News & Notes

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that the general backstage atmosphere and mood for this past weekend’s Double or Nothing 2023 event and festivities was a lot more laid back compared to some of the company’s pay-per-view weekends over the last year. It was also reported that several talent were able to get a hands-on play of the upcoming Fight Forever video game during this past weekend.

As noted before, AEW announced this past Wednesday that they had recently signed Aussie Open to official contracts with the company. In a recent interview with Dark Puroresu Flowsion, Kyle Fletcher stated that despite their recent signing to AEW, him and Mark Davis are still members of Will Ospreay’s United Empire group. Fletcher stated “We’re absolutely going to remain in the United Empire. Ospreay & all the boys have done so much for us, it really feels like a brotherhood. If anything it’s just the start of a worldwide expansion of the group.”

As noted before, Fuego Del Sol has been out of action for AEW since this past February due to a foot injury. Del Sol recently provided an update on Twitter stating that he was in attendance backstage at this past Sunday’s Double or Nothing 2023 event in Las Vegas, Nevada. Del Sol stated “I was at my first AEW show since I was injured in February this past weekend. Though the landscape has changed a bit, I’m more motivated than ever. There is so much more I am going to do and this weekend was the refresher of just how much I dare to be great. Soon.“

Jade Cargill recently reflected on Twitter about her special entrance for her TBS Championship match at this past Sunday’s AEW Double or Nothing 2023 event. Cargill stated “My colors and entrance was paid homage to my sorority. I am a PROUD member of AKA. It is the oldest Greek-letter organization established by African American college-educated women. very personal but I wanted to bring Greek life to the wrestling world.“

While responding on social media to a question over who would be better, Kenny Omega or peak Kurt Angle, Omega stated that he would take the loss in a hypothetical match and that he studies Angle when he wants to learn to get better for his career. Omega stated “I don’t study myself when I want to learn, I study Kurt. He’s the best for a reason. I take the L – but it’d be a heck of match.“

In a recent interview with Fightful’s In The Weeds podcast, former WWE wrestler Gangrel provided an update on the status of the future of Paige Van Zant’s wrestling career. Gangrel stated “You haven’t seen her and I haven’t seen her. I think she broke her foot. She did that match, I was there that weekend because I did something with the Young Bucks for AEW. Came home, she said she was going to come review the match, and I didn’t see her. I haven’t seen her. A week ago, she wrote me saying she wanted to come back and start training, but I haven’t heard back from her. I said, ‘I’m here, I’ve been here the whole time.’ She had a lot of potential. She seemed to like it. She picked it up naturally. I don’t know what happened to her. It’s a crazy world, they make so much money on these OnlyFans, they can cash in on that instead of getting out there and grind. I don’t know. She did write me saying she wanted to comeback and train. She had a lot of potential and if she would have trained steady at it, like you do anything in life, she could have been very successful.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with WrestleZone, Jeff Jarrett gave his thoughts about if his wife will be sticking around in AEW for the foreseeable future. Jarrett stated “Just stay tuned. We’re not gonna let you give you… do you think we’re gonna let you in on those kind of trade secrets? I’ll say this, she’s in Las Vegas.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)