Backstage Note on Why Tomorrow’s AEW Dynamite Is Such a Loaded Show

AEW has a jam-packed episode of Dynamite scheduled for tomorrow’s go-home episode before Forbidden Door 2026. During today’s edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer offered some insight regarding why tomorrow’s episode has such a stuffed lineup, with eight scheduled matchups over two hours. Additionally, AEW is taping this week’s edition of Collision tomorrow night.

Meltzer cited the ongoing 2026 World Cup as why Tony Khan is loading up tomorrow’s show. He stated, “I don’t know that this is the answer, but one of the reasons it is so loaded is because Tony Khan is a soccer guy.” Meltzer added, “He’s well aware of the World Cup, and he’s trying to put on a hell of a show going against World Cup soccer, and that is part of it, and again, building this pay-per-view for Sunday.”

Tomorrow’s Dynamite will be going up against a World Cup match featuring Mexico vs. Czechia, which airs on FOX and Telemundo. Meltzer also confirmed that tomorrow’s Dynamite will have an overrun. He stated, “There will be an overrun. I still don’t know — I mean, I actually had it explained to me that, you know, if you remember on Collision, they got seven matches in two hours. The thing is, like, they did, but like, these [the Dynamite lineup are actually better matches on paper than Collision, you know?”

He continued, “And there’s a difference between seven and eight.” He also pointed out how tomorrow’s eight-match lineup has zero squash matchups scheduled, “So we’ll see how they do it.”

AEW Dynamite This Week Features Eight Confirmed Matchups

Tomorrow’s AEW Dynamite is being held at the Rio Rancho Events Center in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. It will air live on TBS starting at 8:00 pm ET, and it will also be simulcast on HBO Max. Here’s the announced lineup:

* AEW International Championship Match: Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Ricochet
* Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match: Queen Aminata vs. Red Velvet
* Survival of the Fittest Qualifying Match: Harley Cameron vs. Marina Shafir
* Jack Perry vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
* Swerve Strickland vs. Daniel Garcia
* Will Ospreay vs. ELP
* Místico & Brodido vs. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta
* The Young Bucks vs. Bad Dude Tito & Mikey Nicholls
* Team MJF to speak
* Team Briscoe to speak

If using any of the above quotes, please credit Wrestling Observer Radio, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.