The Collision tape-delay is killing the momentum

We are sitting here on June 21, 2026, and AEW is out here serving us Saturday night television that was taped on June 17th. It is like trying to eat a reheated slice of pizza that has been sitting on the dashboard of a sedan for three days. The fan experience relies on the feeling that anything can happen, but when you know the results before the opening bell, the air goes out of the arena.

As recent reports suggest, the reliance on taped footage for Collision has created a disconnect between the hardcore fanbase and the product. You cannot build a pay-per-view like Forbidden Door if the weekly shows feel like an afterthought. If the company wants to act like a major league sports promotion, they have to stop handing out spoilers like party favors at a toddler's birthday.

The main event problem

When you look at the rumored card for Forbidden Door, you see a mismatch of philosophies. NJPW stars are built on a slow-burn narrative, while AEW has spent three years leaning into the high-octane, chaotic style that defined their early run. Putting a G1 Climax winner in the ring with a guy who just climbed a ladder to win the AEW World Title creates a clash of rhythms.

If the promotion keeps booking these matches based on star power alone, they miss the chance to tell an actual story. Look at the recent ROH results as a reference point. Athena is putting the entire women's division on her back precisely because there is a coherent, aggressive, character-driven story. The guys at the top of the Forbidden Door card need to stop trading moves and start trading personality.

Predicting the chaos

Let’s talk about the world title scenario. If the NJPW belt is on the line, the Japanese office usually demands a specific kind of protection for their champion. Expect a dusty finish in the main event. It is the predictable outcome that protects both sides but leaves the audience feeling like they wasted fifty bucks.

The mid-card is where the real intrigue hides, provided the booking agents don't trip over their own feet. If Okada is still in the mix, he needs someone who won't just stand there and take his rainmaker for a spot-fest. We need a technical masterclass, not a choreographic exhibition that we have already seen on ten episodes of Dynamite this year.

The reality check

My biggest fear for this show? Bloat. We are likely looking at a 5-hour runtime that will leave everyone in the crowd nursing a headache by the time the final pinfall is counted. This is the danger zone for these crossover events.

Too many matches leads to lazy pacing, and lazy pacing kills engagement. If they trim the fat and focus on pure, unadulterated competition, this could be the show of the year. If they insist on keeping every mid-card champion on the roster on the screen, prepare for a long night of checking your phone.

Booking is not just a job; it is an art form that seems to be practiced with a dartboard these days. I hope I am wrong. I hope we get a night of clean finishes, intense promos, and zero tape-delay fatigue. But looking at the trajectory of the last month, I’m keeping my expectations firmly in check.