AEW Collision Preview: July 2, 2026 – Cope & Bang Bang Gang Take on STP in Jay White’s In-Ring Return, Casino Gauntlet Spots Up For Grabs, More

AEW Collision is back in San Diego, California tonight on TNT and HBO Max at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT for a special 2.5-hour edition on a special THURSDAY broadcast. With so much fallout from AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door and plenty of excitement still spilling over from last night’s Dynamite, we’ll need more time for this special Collision.

Jay White made a surprising, electrifying return at Forbidden Door to cost The Dogs against the AEW World Tag Team Champions, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, and he’ll be back in the ring for the first time in well over a year tonight as he teams with Cope and The Gunns to face Shane Taylor Promotions. 

Speaking of big moments at Forbidden Door, Andrade El Ídolo cut ties with the Don Callis Family on Sunday, only for Brian Cage to lead the way in the Family taking out Andrade on last night’s Dynamite. Tonight, they’ll fight one-on-one.

Plus, Dynamite Beach Break will feature a Casino Gauntlet to determine the #1 contender for the AEW Women’s World Championship at AEW Redemption, so tonight, we’ll see spots #1 and #2 in the gauntlet up for grabs. First, ROH Women’s World Champion Athena takes on STARDOM’s Rina for the #1 entry. Then, Maya World faces Julia Hart for the #2 entry.

And Kyle Fletcher will step in the ring against ELP ahead of his AEW International Title shot against Konosuke Takeshita at Dynamite Beach Break next Wednesday.

All that, and so much more on this SPECIAL 2.5-HOUR EDITION of Collision on a SPECIAL THURSDAY NIGHT! 

AEW Collision Card Tonight in San Diego

AEW World Tag Team Champion Adam Copeland & Bang Bang Gang’s Jay White & The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty, Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean)

After 15 agonizing months, Jay White is back, and Bang Bang Gang is finally whole. White owed Copeland a favor, and White had no problem taking out his old friend and bitter rival, David Finlay, at Forbidden Door en route to Cope and Christian Cage's successful championship defense. On Dynamite, White made it clear he’s coming for Finlay and The Dogs. But Shane Taylor Promotions sent out a challenge to White and three of his friends to meet the most dangerous faction in AEW. White’s return to action comes in a big way with this HUGE 8-man tag match tonight in San Diego.

"Speedball" Mike Bailey, ROH World Champion Bandido & ROH World Tag Team Champion Místico vs. The Rascalz (Myron Reed, Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz)

Two high-flying trios collide in what promises to be one of the most action-packed matches you’ll ever see on Collision. Bandido and Místico are two of the most popular luchadores in the world and have become appointment-viewing when they are in action, but to have them together tonight alongside Speedball against the innovative and cohesive Rascalz only makes this match that much more special. You won’t want to miss a second of the action when these six light up San Diego.

For the #1 Spot in the Casino Gauntlet: ROH Women's World Champion Athena vs. Rina

Athena won the Casino Gauntlet at last year’s AEW All In: Texas but was unsuccessful in her subsequent challenge of Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s World Championship. Now, although she didn’t win this year’s Owen Cup, Athena can still get a shot at the AEW Women’s World Title at Redemption by winning this Casino Gauntlet. Keep in mind that the Casino Gauntlet can end in a fall at any time once the first two entrants are in the ring, meaning earning one of the first two spots can offer a significant advantage.

STARDOM's Rina makes her AEW debut tonight, and you couldn’t ask for a tougher challenge with higher stakes than the one she faces tonight. Can Athena reset her path to the AEW Women’s World Championship? Or will Rina shine in her first match in AEW?

For the #2 Spot in the Casino Gauntlet: Maya World vs. Triangle of Madness' Julia Hart

Maya World delivered one of the most memorable performances of Forbidden Door weekend, reaching the Owen Cup Women's Final and putting on an absolute classic with Mercedes Moné.

She’s right back to work, fighting Julia Hart for the #2 spot in the Casino Gauntlet at Beach Break. 

As one-third of Triangle of Madness, Hart is one of the most dangerous women in AEW, and she could be looking for some revenge on World after she upset Skye Blue in the Quarterfinals of the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament. But World knows better than anyone that these opportunities can change your career in an instant, so she will almost certainly be ready.

Kyle Fletcher vs. ELP

The AEW International Championship will be on the line at Dynamite Beach Break next Wednesday, when Fletcher challenges his former friend, Konosuke Takeshita, in what should be a heated affair following a brutal showdown in Death’s Door at Forbidden Door. Before that, Fletcher will take on ELP, who knows Takeshita well. 

It was just last week on Dynamite that ELP gave Will Ospreay all he could handle. How will Fletcher fare against such a stiff challenge less than a week before his highly anticipated showdown with Takeshita?

Andrade El Ídolo vs. "The Machine" Brian Cage of the Don Callis Family

Andrade finally did what he was pushed to do after being ignored for too long: he left the Don Callis Family at Forbidden Door by taking out MJF and revealing his true feelings about Callis and MJF via an artistic shirt. On Dynamite, Andrade said he wanted to focus on beating MJF for the AEW World Title, but Brian Cage and the Callis Family immediately got in his business with a brutal attack. Cage punctuated the beatdown with a Drill Claw and now looks to show Andrade what happens when you turn your back on the Family, while Andrade looks for revenge.

PAC & Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders vs. Unbound Co.'s Drilla Moloney & Shingo Takagi

Drilla Moloney walked out of the Forbidden Door Buy-In with a win over Daniel Garcia, so tonight, PAC and Claudio Castagnoli are making sure that doesn't go unanswered. Regardless, Moloney and Takagi, who was part of the incredible 3-Way Tag Match on the Forbidden Door main card, will be looking to assert their relentless physicality in what should be a hard-hitting tag team affair.

The Demand (Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona) in Action

Coming off Forbidden Door, The Demand have set their sights on a new prize – the AEW World Trios Championship. Tonight in San Diego, Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona will be in trios action to assert their dominance and stake their claim to gold.

Thunder Rosa & Mina Shirakawa in Action

Two fan favorites join forces tonight when Thunder Rosa and Mina Shirakawa team up on this special Thursday Collision. Both have had recent chances to win gold, and now, they’ve come together. This duo is in action tonight!

How to Watch AEW Collision

• Date: SPECIAL NIGHT – Thursday, July 2, 2026

• Start Time: 2.5-HOUR SPECIAL – 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT

• Location: Viejas Arena – San Diego, California

• TV: TNT

• Streaming: HBO Max