Jim Ross doesn’t think it’s a coincidence that WWE’s next AAA crossover show is landing on the exact same night, in the same city, as AEW’s biggest fall pay-per-view, and he’s calling it exactly what he thinks it is.
WWE x AAA Worlds Collide 2026 and AEW All Out are both set for September 26 in the Chicago area. On Grilling JR, Ross argued the overlap in date, time, and location is too specific to be accidental, saying he’s confident he knows the real motivation behind WWE running its show under those exact conditions.
Ross said he’d have no issue with the scheduling if the goal were simply to put on a great show and draw a big crowd, but he doesn’t believe that’s actually the intent, calling the move spiteful rather than competitive.
He argued the wrestling industry as a whole would benefit from companies co-promoting and growing the business together rather than trying to put each other under, but said too many people within the industry aren’t willing to see it that way.
I don’t like it because I know the motivation, and in my mind’s eye I know the motivation for them running the event in that city, on that day, at that time, which just happens to check all three of those boxes to AEW.”
“I think everyone should co-promote and grow our profession, but it’s never gonna f happen because the wrestling business… too many people in the business are too ignorant to see that. Everyone can help each other. It’s not a matter of, ‘Who’s going out of business?’ ‘I’ll put you out of business,’ ‘Billionaire Ted,’ whatever. No, man, it’s spiteful.
He also pointed out that WWE booking CM Punk on the Worlds Collide card already guarantees strong attendance on its own, making the head-to-head scheduling feel even more like a targeted decision aimed at pulling fans away from AEW’s show rather than simply competing on merit.
If their motivation was to entertain the fans with a big house and put on a great show, then I’d be all for it. But that’s not the motivation. Too many coincidences: that wasn’t the motivation.”
“By putting CM Punk on the show, you already guaranteed a big house. Some fans like both companies. You gotta make a decision.
The comments add another voice to the growing chatter around the scheduling conflict as both companies push toward their competing September 26 shows.
