AEW reports strong Mexico gate while WWE plans SmackDown format change

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has seen varied performance across its programming and international events. The AEW Grand Slam in Mexico at Arena México was a significant success, recording a live gate exceeding $600,000 and a near sellout attendance of approximately 13,000 fans.

Television viewership showed mixed results. AEW Collision saw a boost in audience, averaging 418,000 viewers for its August 8 episode, a 15% increase from the previous week as it returned to its regular Saturday night slot. Conversely, AEW Dynamite experienced a slight decline, drawing 658,000 viewers on August 12, down from 694,000 the prior week.

In WWE news, Randy Orton and Alexa Bliss made notable returns during a live event on August 13. Orton competed in a street fight against Cody Rhodes, while Bliss returned to tag team action alongside Charlotte Flair and Tiffany Stratton. Additionally, WWE is reportedly planning to transition SmackDown back to a three-hour format on January 8, 2027.