{"id":149478,"date":"2026-01-03T06:05:29","date_gmt":"2026-01-03T11:05:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=149478"},"modified":"2026-01-03T08:48:37","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T13:48:37","slug":"aew-collision-preview-1-3-26-aews-2026-arlington-residency-begins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2026\/01\/03\/aew-collision-preview-1-3-26-aews-2026-arlington-residency-begins\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW Collision Preview (1\/3\/26) – AEW\u2019s 2026 Arlington Residency Begins"},"content":{"rendered":"

This January, AEW Collision returns to Arlington, Texas, for the entire month of action. Previously, AEW held a summer\u2019s worth of events at the same location in 2024. With some potential new feuds set up and others continuing after Worlds End, this week\u2019s edition of Dynamite New Year\u2019s Smash<\/a> didn\u2019t contain everything.<\/p>\n

Plenty has been set up. One thing I speculated on earlier in the week was right. The Last residency at the Esports Stadium hosted the debut of Hologram. We\u2019re getting a contrast with the in-ring debut of El Clone. Known in Mexico as Arez, El Clone was a frequent rival and opponent of Aramis, now Hologram. Their series of matches in MLW in 2021 symbolically mirrored those of Rey Mysterio vs. Psicosis in ECW in 1995.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere, we\u2019re getting a warm-up match for next week\u2019s AEW Dynamite between two of AEW\u2019s most athletic wrestlers in Scorpio Sky vs. Shelton Benjamin. Plus, \u201cTimeless\u201d Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa in action. Plus, one big and potentially interesting development for the Death Riders saga.<\/p>\n

\"\u201cTimeless\u201d
Photo Credit: AEW<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta<\/h2>\n

On New Year\u2019s Smash, we heard from Darby Allin after his victory over the hired gun, Gabe Kid, at Worlds End. Allin has unfinished business with PAC, the only member of the Death Riders he has yet to beat. However, Wheeler Yuta laid down the challenge. Calling himself (*checks notes) the \u201cmost unhinged\u201d member of the Death Riders (definitely not deluded), Wheeler says if Allin wants to get to PAC, he needs to go through him.<\/p>\n

The runt of the litter, Wheeler, always has something to prove. In some respects, Wheeler and Allin are interesting parallels. Both lean, undersized wrestlers with deceptive technical ability and a high tolerance for pain and violence. I mean, Wheeler is used to being whipped, stretched, and distorted like taffy.<\/p>\n

Yet in an opponent like Darby Allin, he meets someone whose tolerance for pain is Everest high. It\u2019s not going to be a fair contest, although this depends on who from the Death Riders is at ringside. And, more importantly, what the Death Riders and PAC might have in store for Allin before or after the match.<\/p>\n

It was interesting that while AEW seems to have saved Jon Moxley through the Continental Classic<\/a>, PAC\u2019s absence from Dynamite suggests usurpation of their leader could still be on the cards.<\/p>\n

Speculation<\/h2>\n

Eddie Kingston has made Collision his primary home since his return. On Zero Hour, we saw Kingston reunited with his friend and former tag partner, Ortiz. Kingston has been battling against The Grizzled Young Vets in singles action, but having an experienced tag partner to finish things might feature on the card.<\/p>\n

Along with the AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR, Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, and Big Stoke may be on hand to boil blood with their bragging. We\u2019ll see if they can contend and speak over the chants about Stokely\u2019s lack of hoes. Done with The Bang Bang Gang, switch team is next to step up and face them?<\/p>\n

Unlike their last trip to Arlington, these shows will be weekly rather than taped. It suggests AEW isn\u2019t going to take January easy or book in bulk. Can AEW overdeliver and help fans over the most depressing month of the year with some Saturday night joy? We\u2019ll soon see.<\/p>\n

\n

#AEWCollision<\/a>
LIVE at 8\/7, TNT + HBO Max
TOMORROW, 1\/3@SheltyB803<\/a> vs Scorpio Sky<\/p>\n

Before facing @JonMoxley<\/a> in a AEW Continental Championship Eliminator on Dynamite, Shelton Benjamin steps into the ring with a former 2 time TNT Champion, Skyflight's Scorpio Sky, TOMORROW NIGHT! pic.twitter.com\/M0cia2Uwwb<\/a><\/p>\n

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) January 2, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n