They promised big news for today, and here it is...
It’s. Going. Down. October 2nd, 2019 #AreYouElite #AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/bhbvZw24QG
— All Elite Wrestling on TNT (@AEWonTNT) July 24, 2019
Oct. 2 is a Wednesday, which confirms the reports the network wanted that day of the week to avoid possible conflicts with basketball on Tuesdays & Thursdays (and also allowing them to not have to go head-to-head with main roster WWE on Monday & Friday).
On their own account, AEW also announced the time and location for the first live broadcast. While they’ve talked about booking smaller venues to ensure packed houses, they’re going big for the premiere. D.C.’s Capital One Arena holds around 20K, and is WWE’s usual home in the nation’s capital:
#AEW debuts on @TNTDrama - Wednesday, October 2nd LIVE from Washington DC’s @CapitalOneArena #AreYouElite @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/W8vg1CcZrw
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) July 24, 2019
An 8PM eastern start time for the two hour show does put whatever All Elite’s show ends up being called (the slick promo in AEW’s tweet seems to indicate it may just be “All Elite Wrestling”) up against the first airing of NXT on WWE Network. At least, if NXT stays as a taped, streaming show. There have been multiple reports about WWE trying to change that as part of their Fox deal.
And speaking of Fox, Oct. 2 is two days before SmackDown makes it debut on that major broadcast channel.
Interesting times...