AEW Collision Preview: May 16, 2026 – Darby Allin Defends AEW World Title vs. Sammy Guevara, Willow Nightingale vs. Red Velvet for TBS Title, More

After last weekend's one-hour Fairway to Hell special, AEW Collision returns to its regular home TONIGHT LIVE at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT on TNT and streaming on HBO Max from the Wicomico Civic Center in Salisbury, Maryland. With Double or Nothing just eight days away on May 24 in Queens, New York, it would be easy to look ahead, but tonight, we have two massive title bouts and two championship eliminator matches.

The AEW World Championship reign of Darby Allin has been challenging by choice, as Allin has taken a lot of pride in being a fighting champion. Last night, after his win on Supercard of Honor Zero Hour, ROH World Tag Team Champion “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara challenged Allin to face him on Collision. Tonight, two AEW originals will go at it for the richest prize in the game!

After a successful title defense at Supercard of Honor, ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet challenged for Willow Nightingale’s TBS Championship on Collision. Plus, following their save at Supercard of Honor of Dalton Castle and The Outrunners from a beatdown at the hands of Shane Taylor Promotions, The Conglomeration has business to handle when they face STP in an AEW World Trios Titles Eliminator Match!

Anthony Bowens will have his first match as part of The Opps when he teams with Samoa Joe to face The Lethal Twist. And AEW Women's World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion will continue their 5-Minute Championship Eliminator.

It's a huge night of action, and it's all here in your full Collision preview!

AEW Collision Matches, Preview for Salisbury

AEW World Championship Match: Darby Allin (c) vs. ROH World Tag Team Champion “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara

Darby Allin has defended the AEW World Title against “Psycho Killer” Tommaso Ciampa, Brody King, TNT Champion “The Jet” Kevin Knight, PAC and “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita since winning the championship, and he’s survived every challenge. But tonight in Salisbury, another challenge awaits from Guevara.

Following his win over Action Andretti on Supercard of Honor Zero Hour last night, Guevara reminded Allin and everyone else that he's beaten the AEW World Champion multiple times, which includes their last four encounters. Now, Guevara wants more gold, and he’ll have his chance tonight in what might be the biggest match of his career!

Can Allin extend his reign yet again as he battles towards his Hair vs. Title match with MJF at Double or Nothing, or does Guevara prove why he’s “Everyone’s Favorite Pillar” by finally becoming AEW World Champion?

TBS Championship Match: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet

Willow Nightingale has made no secret of the fact that she'll defend her TBS Championship against anyone willing to face her. ROH Women’s World TV Champion Red Velvet demanded just such an opportunity, and she gets it tonight!

Velvet made her feelings known at Supercard of Honor last night following an impressive win over Viva Van. She feels overlooked and pointed to the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament bracket, which she did not make this year. 

Nightingale, meanwhile, is set for the Owen Cup, as she faces Alex Windsor to open the tournament at Double or Nothing. Coincidentally, Velvet beat Nightingale in their only singles match to qualify for the inaugural Owen Cup in 2022. Can Red Velvet do it again to become a double champion? Or does Nightingale walk out with her 10th successful TBS Title defense?

AEW World Trios Championship Eliminator Match: The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe and Kyle O’Reilly) (c) vs Shane Taylor Promotions (ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty, Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo) 

Shane Taylor Promotions did not have the night they wanted at Supercard of Honor, although they’ll have a chance to turn it around tonight. STP’s open challenge for the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Titles was answered by Dalton Castle and the Outrunners, who went on to become the new champions! STP didn’t take the loss well and attacked the new champions after the match until Orange Cassidy and Mark Briscoe arrived to make the save.

STP made it clear they want The Conglomeration’s AEW World Trios Titles, so tonight, they’ll have their opportunity in an eliminator match, although The Conglomeration might get a little boost with Briscoe wrestling in his backyard in Salisbury!

The Opps (Samoa Joe and Anthony Bowens) vs. The Lethal Twist (Jay Lethal and Lee Johnson) 

Lethal and Johnson called out Joe and Bowens last night at Supercard of Honor, claiming that when Lethal takes on a protégé, he makes things happen. He said Joe wasn’t a good mentor for him back in the day, so he doesn’t understand why Bowens would want to be in the same spot as part of The Opps. Lethal and Johnson wanted Joe and Bowens, and tonight, they’ll get their wish! It’s Bowens’ first match as a member of The Opps, but will The Lethal Twist spoil it?

AEW Women's World Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion’s Five-Minute Eliminator Challenge 

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross have stated their message loud and clear: There is no worthy competition for the AEW Women's World Tag Team Champions. At Fairway to Hell, they proved their point by making quick work of their opponents in a Five-Minute Eliminator Challenge. They’ve issued the same challenge tonight – can any pair survive five to earn a title shot?

How to Watch AEW Collision

• Date: Saturday, May 16, 2026

• Start Time: LIVE 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT

• Location: Wicomico Civic Center – Salisbury, Maryland

• TV: TNT

• Streaming: HBO Max