El Clon’s First Opponent Revealed for January 3 AEW Collision

Just one hour before AEW Collision went live on January 3, 2026, Tony Khan took to Twitter to confirm what fans had been waiting to find out all week—El Clon’s opponent for his long-awaited AEW debut.

The mystery is over, and it turns out El Clon will be facing Angelico in a one-on-one match tonight. Angelico’s technical and unpredictable offense brings an entirely unique challenge for the debuting competitor, adding a layer of intrigue to El Clon’s first night under the lights.

Fans have been speculating about El Clon’s identity and style since the debut was first teased, and pairing him up with a veteran like Angelico could be a deliberate move to test how he adapts in the ring. It’s a big moment for both men, especially with Collision kicking off AEW’s 2026 calendar in front of a hot crowd at the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

The rest of the show features matches like Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta and Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa taking on Maya World & Hyan. But all eyes will be on El Clon’s first impression—and now we know who he has to get through to make it a memorable one.

Be sure to tune in live and follow along with Ringside News for full play-by-play coverage over in our AEW Collision results section.

Who do you think walks out with the win—El Clon or Angelico? Share your thoughts and predictions in the comments below.