The question lingered as to who would compose the AEW Collision announce team for its debut episode. However, All Elite Wrestling CEO Tony Khan has laid the doubt to rest. On Twitter, Tony Khan announced that AEW Collision’s broadcast team will be composed of Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness, and Jim Ross.
#AEWCollision debuts TOMORROW NIGHT on @TNTdrama at 8pm ET/7pm CT at the @UnitedCenter in Chicago!
We're going to have a great announce team on Saturday Nights with your new weekly commentary team @realkevinkelly + @McGuinnessNigel, joined by expert analysis from legend @JRsBBQ!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 16, 2023
Meeting the Team
A very interesting trio for a variety of reasons. Kevin Kelly has a rapport with both men. Kelly of course had a well-known stint in the WWE, from 1998 to 2003, including various stints as a commentator for Raw & SmackDown. Meaning he’s already worked with the likes of JR, Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler, and Michael Cole before his eventual transition to Ring Of Honor in 2010.
In ROH, Kelly worked alongside the likes of Colt Cabana, his most prominent broadcast partner Steve Corino, Ian Riccaboni, Caprice Coleman, and of course his other partner for Collision, Nigel McGuinness.
The most peculiar part of all this, going back to Kevin Kelly, is that he’s, at least as of this moment, not signed to AEW in any capacity. He is still primarily New Japan Pro Wrestling’s primary English personality. Is this some sort of olive branch deal with New Japan? Or is Kevin Kelly planning to work both? Perhaps a full migration to AEW? As of now, both he and NJPW partner Chris Charlton insist Kevin will be on both sides, commentating for both AEW and New Japan, as it seems.
As for Jim Ross, this marks him as the one man to leave a presence on all three of AEW’s televised weekly programs. At first being a regular for AEW Dynamite, before transitioning to AEW Rampage and now coming to Collision. While Nigel McGuinness was signed to AEW on April 5 this year, but was primarily used in Ring Of Honor.
On top of the announcement of AEW Collision’s broadcast team, it was also announced what would be the show’s primary theme. Unlike Dynamite, Rampage, and now defunct AEW Dark: Elevation, which had in-house or independently purchased themes, AEW Collision is getting a licensed song from a very prominent musical composer:
It's official!
Our opening theme for Saturday Night #AEWCollision on TNT is
Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting by Sir Elton John!While @FulhamFC and @WatfordFC will never be best mates on the pitch, you're now a great friend to @AEW, @eltonofficial, and we salute you, Sir!
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 16, 2023
Graced by Greatness
Elton John and pro wrestling. What a mix. Sir Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting,” off of the 1973 album “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” will be the theme for AEW Collision. This is the second song from that album used in some form of pop culture, as the titular song of the album was utilized for Marvel’s “Antman and The Wasp: Quantumania” a few months ago.
There was also what could be considered a hint of sorts toward the announcement on Dynamite this week. As many fans noted, Chris Jericho was sporting some peculiar boots. Shinny lifted boots that seemed straight out of the ’70s rock period. And sure enough, they are quite similar to the boots Sir Elton John sports on the cover of the album. Just not quite as lifted. Or as red. Regardless, AEW has posted a Collision intro video on its social media:
Official theme for #AEWCollision on @TNTDrama is Saturday Night's Alright For Fighting by Sir #EltonJohn!
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 17, 2023
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS and AEW Dark: Elevation (Monday nights) and AEW: Dark (Tuesday nights) at 7 PM ET on YouTube. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night.
