AEW commentator Jim Ross, one of the most important figures in WWE history, criticized WWE’s decision to run Worlds Collide on the same day and in the same area as AEW All Out.
Both shows are set for Saturday, September 26, with All Out at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates and Worlds Collide at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont.
Ross said on a recent episode of Grilling JR that he doesn’t believe WWE’s scheduling was just a coincidence.
“I don’t [like this] because I know the motivation. At least in my mind’s eye, I think I know the motivation for them running an event in that city on that day at that time. Which just happens to check all of those boxes to AEW.”
He also made the case that the major promotions should be working to grow the pro wrestling market, not trying to hurt one another.
“I think everybody should promote growth in our profession. I really do, but it’s never gonna f*cking happen because too many people in the wrestling business are too ignorant to see that everybody can help each other.”
The order of the announcements has fueled the debate even further. AEW confirmed on July 6 that All Out would take place in Chicago, and WWE officially announced Worlds Collide for the same date and area 10 days later, on July 16.
“If their [WWE] motivation was to entertain the fans, have a big house and put on a great show, then I’m all for it,” Ross said. “But that wasn’t the motivation. Too many coincidences. That wasn’t the motivation. And by putting CM Punk on the show, you already guaranteed yourself a big house in Chicago.”
Punk is one of the biggest names scheduled for Worlds Collide. More than 11,000 tickets had been distributed for the Allstate Arena show as of September 21.