AEW Collision Getting Cut To One Hour Again Due To NCAA Coverage

AEW Collision is once again being forced into a reduced format, as TNT’s coverage of the NCAA tournament will push the show into late-night one-hour editions in March.

According to HBO Max listings, AEW Collision will air special Slam Dunk editions at 11 pm Eastern on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22. Both shows will run just one hour instead of the usual two-hour format, continuing a pattern AEW has dealt with during major sports coverage periods.

These episodes won’t be live either. They are scheduled to be taped in Fresno, California, following the March 18 episode of AEW Dynamite. This allows AEW to produce the shows ahead of time while TNT prioritizes NCAA basketball broadcasts during prime time.

This scheduling adjustment isn’t new territory for AEW. Similar Slam Dunk editions have aired in past years, often airing late at night and in shortened formats due to tournament obligations. While the exposure remains valuable, the reduced runtime and late time slot can impact viewership and momentum.

Additional HBO Max listings also confirmed several other upcoming AEW programming updates. A one-hour Zero Hour pre-show will return ahead of AEW Revolution on March 14, starting at 7 pm Eastern before the pay-per-view begins at 8 pm Eastern. The traditional Revolution countdown special will air after that week’s Collision broadcast.

The streaming platform will also continue expanding AEW’s archive library. Last September’s All Out pay-per-view from Toronto will be added, along with multiple episodes of Dynamite and Rampage from 2023 during MJF’s first AEW World Championship reign. These additions help strengthen AEW’s streaming presence and provide fans with access to key moments from the company’s recent history.

Despite these temporary changes, all other upcoming episodes of AEW Dynamite and Collision are expected to air in their normal time slots moving forward.

Do you think the late-night, one-hour Collision format hurts AEW’s momentum, or does it still give the company enough exposure during NCAA tournament season? Share your thoughts and leave your feedback in the comments.