AEW Collision Preview (1/3/26) – AEW’s 2026 Arlington Residency Begins

Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta

On New Year’s 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 “most unhinged” member of the Death Riders (definitely not deluded), Wheeler says if Allin wants to get to PAC, he needs to go through him.

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.

Yet in an opponent like Darby Allin, he meets someone whose tolerance for pain is Everest high. It’s 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.

It was interesting that while AEW seems to have saved Jon Moxley through the Continental Classic, PAC’s absence from Dynamite suggests usurpation of their leader could still be on the cards.

Speculation

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.

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’ll see if they can contend and speak over the chants about Stokely’s lack of hoes. Done with The Bang Bang Gang, switch team is next to step up and face them?

Unlike their last trip to Arlington, these shows will be weekly rather than taped. It suggests AEW isn’t 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’ll soon see.

AEW Collision (01/03/26) – Matches Announced

• El Clon debuts
• Shelton Benjamin vs. Scorpio Sky
• Timeless Love Bombs vs. Hyan and Maya World
• Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta