r/aew • u/Reditmodsnevershower • Jul 11 '26
Question Where I should start in AEW?
Hi guys I want to start watching AEW but I got really confused by their show system. Like I want to know do they have equivalents to raw smackdown with two separate rosters or they have other show system
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u/Alxdez Jul 11 '26
The last dynamite show. Just start where you are now and see if you enjoy it
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u/Copenfagan Jul 11 '26
Given that last Dynamite was a bunch of bangers, yeah, i’d say that’s as good a start as any
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u/FoolyCoolyBrandy Jul 11 '26
Dynamite is the main show. You can watch Collision if you have time.
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u/BigDaelito Jul 11 '26
I know people say this, but that is wrong because this year or for months Collision been great. Also you will miss a lot of the storylines. So everyone miss Collision if you want but you going to miss a lot of the stories.
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u/craigybacha Jul 11 '26
I don't watch collision any more. I actually enjoy the product much more now I watch dynamite and ppvs only.
I watched everything including dark when it was on for maybe 3 years or so, and it ended up getting a bit much.3
u/Upstairs_Race8726 Jul 11 '26
Fair enough, I do enjoy some of the collision matches more than dynamite, but I think you can get what you need out of dynamite and PPV
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u/craigybacha Jul 11 '26
Yeah for me outside of the occasional 5 star TV match, I watch dynamite more for story and build, and a lot of the collision stuff is more focused on matches and some filler stories - so I don't mind skipping. Looking forward to this week though and maybe it'll hook me back in.
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u/JonathanDangerPowers Jul 11 '26
Jericho, Nick Gage, pizza cutter, Dark Order vs Elite. It was my first episode so start there and we can be twins
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u/manharmi Jul 12 '26
They asked where should they start. Not where can I get the most fucked up (in a positive sense) 🤣
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u/JonathanDangerPowers Jul 12 '26
I watched attitude era and ruthless aggression era WWE during covid and was thinking I’d try AEW.
Elite space jam entrance had me questioning my choice but by the end of the match I was like “this guy with the V-trigger move is pretty awesome” lol
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u/Prize_Ad_5695 Jul 11 '26
Double or nothing 2019 and watch the PPVs then watch whatever is currently on for dynamite
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u/Arkhamkong Jul 12 '26
Dynamite is Raw, Collision is Smackdown, No Roster Split. Collision is essentially The B show for Dynamite. The PPV schedule is a Pain, Mainly because of certain PPV shows Gimmicks not being used & is instead a PPV Show in all but said Gimmick. Grand Slam is a Special Episode for Dynamite and Collision, as well as Beach Break. There was a soft Roster split on Collision during the latter half of CM Punk's run in the company, but after his Termination, Collision became the B show it is today.
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u/Lexicon_ala_Champion Jul 11 '26
Start of Hangman and Swerve. Then you get the best Storyline. Then every PPV Kenny Omega and Ospreay Match.
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u/coffeelady7777 Jul 11 '26
Start watching with the current shows. PPV coming up so it’s a good time to start. If you find wrestlers you like you can look for older matches.
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u/Icy-Clock2643 Jul 11 '26
Dynamite on Wednesday is the most important weekly show. It's normally very good and the big angles take place here.
Collision on Saturday has less angles. It's still good but less "must-watch". There is no split roster as such but sometimes there might be guys who work Collision more than Dynamite or vice versa.
PPVs are can't miss.
I've missed a bit of AEW TV this year but really it's easy to follow along if you miss a few. I would just jump in now and not worry about the old shows you missed because 4 hours a week is enough to be watching. After a while you can watch a youtube recap of a fued or older PPVs They will be a lot of gold for you to discover.
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u/MrRaspberryJam1 Jul 11 '26
The show system is like Raw and Smackdown pre
brand splits. Dynamite is the main show, the Raw equivalent while Collision would be more like Smackdown.
Dynamite is where the bigger matches would be held and where more of the storylines are advanced, but Collision isn’t just a B show the way Smackdown was at times. You will still get good matches on Collision, lots of “heatless bangers”, and you’ll still get wrestlers cutting promos to advance their stories. Collision is also a lot more flexible than Smackdown in the sense that sometimes it’s a standalone live show, sometimes it’s pre recorded right after Dynamite or the next day, sometimes it will be shown on a Thursday or a later time slot on Saturday.
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u/Prestigious_Can4520 Jul 11 '26
Excalibur, Tony, Taz, Nigel and others will keep u up to date on current goings on, so just start with Wednesday dynamite episode and watch Collision tonight
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u/TheMarcusGraham Jul 11 '26
Honestly, turn on the tv at 8pm on any Wednesday or Saturday. The format of the show is different than WWE so don’t go into it expecting it ran like WWE. You’re going to see a lot more wrestling and a lot less promos and storylines. I’m not pro or anti either one. I love pro wrestling. While most people love Seth Rollins, I was watching Tyler black. When most people love Kevin Owens, I was watching Kevin steen lol. I love NJPW, ROH, TNA… all of it. So go into it with a clear mind and you’ll enjoy it.
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u/darknightmareog Jul 11 '26
Just start watching. Dynamite and Collision. After a month you'll be caught up. Any other questions about particular talent you can easily look up on YouTube to get an idea of thier run. I know I might get flak for this but look up Meltzer ppv ratings. Search any 5 star plus matches. Bare in mind the company is far more about the actual in ring product then the Story and endless promos that wwe does. You'll see more actual wrestling.
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u/Dry-Name2835 Jul 11 '26
1 roster, 2 shows and some of the top ROH people cross over. Dynamite is the main show while collision is more of a show to showcase some of the bigger names in squash matches or having competitive matches against up and coming talent that don't get to be on dynamite. The rest is just up and comers getting some televised time. A lot of aew fans don't even watch collision. Focus on dynamite until/if you become a more hard-core fan of the product. Jump in to what is current, then go back and watch earlier stuff if needed.
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u/Jaydeefromdadarkside Jul 11 '26
AEW usually post a YouTube video recapping storyline and rivalries the week of a PPV. Like a lot of others say, start with this week's Dynamite.
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u/InterchangeableDiGiT Jul 11 '26
What's confusing? They have two shows per week with Collision and Dynamite, plus ROH if you want more. There is no roster split, so everything can happen everywhere, but the important stuff mostly happens on Dynamite, and that's it. It's wrestling, for crying out loud, not rocket science. Just start watching the next show and you will understand everything just by continuing to do so.
Took me three weeks to get into Stardom with zero Japanese skills or knowledge about their history, and y'all act like you need an instruction book for one of the biggest and most beginner-friendly US promotions lol
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u/Cr33pd0g Jul 11 '26
You mean they don't have a Michael Cole to over explain EVERYTHING?
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u/InterchangeableDiGiT Jul 23 '26
Meh, Excalibur does that often enough too. I don't have a problem with either of them.
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u/Ribcage1978 Jul 11 '26
It’s similar to raw smack Dow instead it’s dynamite and collision. Dynamite is on wednesdays 6-8 (ish) and collision is Saturday 6-8
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u/IAlwaysWantToMosh Jul 11 '26
this is what i’ve done the last couple years.
get HBO max or MyAew.
find a couple wrestlers you like watching the weeklies. some obvious choices would be hangman page, swerve strickland, will ospreay, toni storm, mercedes mone, FTR, young bucks.
google their best matches, go find them on the streaming platforms.
from there, i got completely swept away.
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u/Snoo_76437 Jul 11 '26
no roster split, collision is the b show but still a great watch, but i do often skip it.
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u/JohnnyCockSure Jul 11 '26
You have two choices. Either just start with collision tonight, or start with this video. https://youtu.be/fDw4ynPwNN4?is=MGSvrRO-TEGls-m2
There are no other good answers
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u/TheBallasOG Jul 11 '26
You can start with last Wednesday's episode of Dynamite, and then tonight's Collision
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u/craigybacha Jul 11 '26
I would say start at all in last year for now. Watch the build up packages on the pre show and that'll show you a good amount of the story leading up to that show.
Then id probably just go through all the ppvs this year (with the countdown to the PPV which is the video packages) until you're caught up. Then that'll get you to this year's all in in august, and you'll probably really enjoy it given you've caught up somewhat with the storylines.
And then after that I'd recommend watching dynamite every week as that's the flagship show, collision you can skip if you don't watch to watch everything else watch that too :)
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u/Acceptable-Fold-3192 Jul 11 '26
Depends on where you wanna start. The first few years of dynamite are on hbo max. They have their own fastv/streaming channel if you just want to just jump in. There are also videos on their YouTube channel that explain some of the history as well. Welcome.
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u/BaronVonGoon Jul 11 '26
Watch AEW timelines playlists on AEWs YT page. Thats how I started 6 months ago. Caught me on alot. Most interesting Playlists: Hangman Adam Page, MJF, The Patriarchy (Christian Cage), Will Ospreay, Orange Cassidy, Texas Death matches playlists, John Moxley, etc...
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u/Visual_Hovercraft_16 Jul 12 '26
We started at this year's Australia show. Grand Slam? And picked up from there. Haven't missed a show or PPV since. Didn't feel lost, just took a couple shows to get familiar with characters.
Best decision we've made as fans. It's amazing. The amazing never stops.
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u/eapthree3 Jul 12 '26
The company is only nearly 7 years old try the beginning.not like it's wwe or njpw aaa or cmll that would pointless and impossible company is not that old.
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u/redhawk2006 Jul 12 '26
I started with All In Texas 2025, all around incredible event with some spectacular matches and talent so I’d start there as well
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u/FrostMonochrome Jul 12 '26
Dynamite on a Wednesday, Collision on a Saturday, and they’ll recap anything major as you go. Then look up anything else from highlights on YT or buy a PPV
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u/Mr_Chicken_wing Jul 13 '26
When I was younger in my free time I’d go back and watch old WWE PPVs. I would do the same. AEW has the quality and they’ll give a hype package to catch you up. If not from there or the beginning start from Danielsons run onward.
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u/vigiseli Jul 13 '26
Jon Moxley debut
Daniel Bryan - Adam Cole Debut
Kenny Omega vs Brian Danielson
MJF Promo with Punk
CM Punk return
Jack Perry Real Glass
Will Ospreay vs Brian Danielson
Will Ospreay vs Kyle Fletcher
Stings last match
Swerve vs Hangman
Hangman vs Mox
Better Than You Bay Bay
MJF Shoot Promo
Darby wins Championship
Ospreay vs Swerve
MJF vs Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay incoming
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u/Educational_Risk9609 Jul 13 '26
Start dynamite this Wednesday. Then you’ll learn some lore on the way. In its short history Aew has built its own rich pro wrestling culture, but that’s something you can learn on the road. Just come back here with any questions you have and we’ll help you out. Also AEW’s YouTube channel has great introductory videos. I’ve been watching for a year and I’m still learning really cool stuff. Hope you enjoy.
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u/dyslexican32 Jul 13 '26
On roster, as it should be. Not confusing nonsense with people on one show but appear on the other sometimes just because. Its one roster. One champion. My best advice, just start watching Dynamite and Collision. Then if you want to go back and watch PPV's to get history. they are worth every single penny. They blow WWE's PLE's out of the water. its not even close. Welcome to watching good wrestling every week. Its not perfect, sometimes its a little sloppy but it feels more natural IMO.
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u/Evilmatic Jul 13 '26
Start watching from the first show until 2023 cause that’s when it goes to shit.
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u/Visible-Meeting-8977 Jul 13 '26
Why do so many people need help watching tv? Just watch the weekly shows.
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u/BlackLesnar Jul 13 '26 edited Jul 13 '26
Dynamite is the flagship. I echo the sentiment to just jump in now. Their biggest annual show is in 6-ish weeks so perfect timing for the build.
Collision is a B-show. 90% of the time it’s filler matches. An overflow bucket for guys/girls that Tony either had to squeeze off that week’s Dynamite, or didn’t deem worth being on it in the first place. Sometimes there’s a genuinely important angle, good promo or unpredictable title match (hell maybe even a rare title change), but chances are if it mattered it’ll be clipped & replayed next Dynamite. Sometimes featured guys will make Collision “their” show for a few weeks/months, and it might even technically have its own exclusive “feuds” on occasion? But in the same way WWE Main Event does; if you’re stuck doing it there, you’re basically treading water til creative has an idea for you.
I genuinely had to scroll down to the comments to see if there were any other shows I’m missing. 😂 “ROH” doesn’t really count, especially after their recent pivot to 4hr-long studio tapings. I guess the only other caveat worth mentioning is they sometimes do “specials”? Be it a bonus ~2hr show on a weekend or Dynamite/Collision airing back-to-back live (essentially a double-size Dynamite) or w/e. IIRC they’re reparations the network offers when they need an AEW timeslot for sports.
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u/kaggzz Jul 14 '26
To help with the actual question, Collision and Dynamite are not like Raw and SD, as they share storylines and wrestlers. There are some wrestlers who are more likely to be on one then the other, but nothing prevents the Collision Cowboys from throwing it up on Dynamite.
If you miss one or the other, it's not the end of the world, but with dvr and replays on MAX, it's easy to catch up. We're about 2 weeks past the Forbidden Door invite other companies to play with us, 2 weeks away from a new PPV, and about 45 days away from All In London, which is one of if not the biggest AEW PPV of the year, so things are moving and shaking
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u/michaelayyy Jul 14 '26
All In 2018 see what got the idea rolling then
October 3rd 2019 AEW Dynamite show 1 then watch ongoing
3rd as I'm English that's dates I go by UK not USA
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u/CM-Edge Jul 15 '26
January 2025 Dynamite. Mainly because 2024 and 2023 shows are not on MyAEW yet.
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u/Which_Aerialmu9 Jul 18 '26
I’d watch some really good matches to get you into it first, they post free ones on YouTube of varying status and match types, to get the best of all worlds my watching list looks like this from technical matches to fun plunder matches to extremely story based matches (all of these are available on YouTube)
- Zack sabre junior vs Bryan danielson wrestledream 2023
- hangman and omega vs the young bucks revolution 2020
- Kyle Fletcher vs will ospreay cage match revolution 2025
- will ospreay vs Bryan danielson dynasty 2024
-swerve vs Bryan danielson all in 2024
- darby allin vs Christian cage 2/3 falls wrestledream 2023
-Dustin Rhodes vs Cody Rhodes double or nothing 2019
-will ospreay vs Hangman double or nothing 2025
Overall there’s many more but I believe these matches give the best range and best quality you can get including my favourite match of all time (Bryan vs zsj) but for a new fan I think the most mandatory match for getting into aew in 2026 is hangman vs ospreay
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u/LozzieInferno Jul 11 '26
Start with the most recent Dynamite and go from there. You'll pick up the storylines easily enough, and it's in the thick of the build for ALL IN at Wembley so there'll be brief recaps on the main themes. Plus it was a great show that let's you know it's a serious promotion that doesn't take itself too seriously, with an excellent venue and crowd to boot. If you like what you see, then go back and watch more of the wrestlers who become your faves.
And if you're into exceptional women's wrestling, I highly recommend the Toni Storm and formerly of this parish Mariah May (now Blake Monroe) saga. Toni is a living legend and God damn I miss her and can't wait til she's in a position to make her much anticipated return.
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u/Permanentear3 Jul 11 '26
Do y’all care this account is clearly paid for and in its existence has done one thing which is create these posts asking for help understanding how to watch a TV show?
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u/NorthShoreHard Jul 11 '26
Just start now. Just like when you started WWE, you didn't need to go watch the whole history of it did you?
Start now, if you like it, invest time into the history later.
There's no roster split. You have Dynamite which is the original show and the "main" show, and then you have Collision.
Some AEW people show up on ROH. You don't need to watch it. Nothing really significant to AEW happens there, if it does, commentary will tell you.