Grizzled Young Veterans will face Eddie Kingston and Ortiz at AEW Collision: Maximum Carnage

Both teams will face off in the first AEW Collision special of the year

This will be Ortiz’s first televised match in nearly a year

AEW Collision Maximum Carnage
Photo Credit: AEW
Antonio Rubio
Antonio Rubio
Published 01/11/2026

All Elite Wrestling celebrated a new episode of AEW Collision last night, live at the Esports Stadium Arlington in Arlington, Texas. The show featured several matches and segments of interest, highlighting a TNT Championship defense and The Demand's victory over JetSpeed and Anthony Bowens in a chaotic main event.

In addition, the company took the opportunity to announce the first match on the card for next week's show, which will be themed Maximum Carnage. The match will pit Eddie Kingston and Ortiz against Grizzled Young Veterans (James Drake and Zack Gibson), who have been in a rivalry for several weeks.

During a backstage interview, Gibson recalled that he and his partner have been competing for two decades, always following the rules to earn opportunities. However, Kingston keeps breaking the rules and still gets rewarded. "I win matches," Eddie replied. Drake, on his part, promised that next week they will set an example with Kingston, and he can bring Ortiz along if he wishes. Eddie assured the Brits that they will reap what they have sown next week.

This will be Ortiz's first televised match in All Elite Wrestling in almost a year. The New Yorker was absent from television programming due to a pectoral injury that required surgery. Ortiz made his return at Zero Hour of AEW Worlds End to stop an assault by Grizzled Young Veterans on Kingston. Finally, both teams will be able to settle their differences in the ring.

AEW Collision Maximum Carnage will take place on January 17, 2026 at the Arizona Financial Theater in Phoenix, Arizona. Fans can witness this event live from the venue (January 14), or through its delayed broadcast on TNT and Max in the USA, FOX Sports in Mexico, and Triller TV internationally. Below is the announced card so far.

AEW Collision Maximum Carnage Card January 17, 2026

  • Eddie Kingston and Ortiz vs. Grizzled Young Veterans (Zack Gibson and James Drake)