El Clon Activated: Hologram’s Evil Clone Set for AEW January Debut
AEW just dropped a massive bombshell during tonight’s #AEWWorldsEnd Zero Hour pre-show: El Clon is finally coming to the ring!
After months of cryptic vignettes, glitchy interference, and that unforgettable “corruption detected” moment following Hologram’s matches, the evil clone storyline is kicking into high gear.
The latest teaser — complete with binary code spelling out “EL CLON ACTIVATED” — confirms that Hologram’s darker, faster, meaner doppelgänger will make his in-ring debut on AEW Collision in January 2026.
This is huge for a few reasons:
• Full-circle vibes — Hologram made his explosive AEW debut back in the summer of 2024 during the Collision residency at Esports Stadium in Arlington, TX. Now, El Clon looks set to follow the same path, with Collision running a month-long residency there starting January 3, 2026 (plus shows on Jan 10, 24, and 31). Poetic justice for the “perfect code” getting a corrupted upgrade on the same “server farm” turf.
• Who’s under the mask? — Longtime reports point to Mexican standout Arez (formerly of AAA, MLW, and more) as the man behind El Clon. Arez and Hologram (Aramís) have a storied history as rivals and partners in lucha libre, so expect insane high-flying chemistry when they inevitably clash.
• Why now? — The build has been slow-burn perfection: starting with subtle hacks during Hologram’s undefeated run, escalating to full “clone activated” teases. Fans have been waiting since late August/early September for the payoff, and it sounds like January is when the gloves (and maybe masks?) come off.
Expect El Clon to bring a darker edge — think red lighting, glitched-out entrance, and a mission to prove he’s the superior version. Whether he targets Hologram directly, interferes in matches, or joins a faction remains to be seen, but the potential for bangers is off the charts.
Catch all the action live on AEW Collision every Saturday at 8/7c on TNT (and simulcast on HBO Max). The January residency at Esports Stadium is going to be electric — if you’re in the Dallas/Arlington area, tickets are your best bet for witnessing history.
