Tag: claudio castagnoli

World, TNT & TBS title matches announced for AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Just moments after AEW Dynasty, three new title matches have been announced for AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru.

Earlier in the night, after Kamille made her long-awaited return to AEW and attacked TBS Champion Willow Nightingale, she was announced for a title match. On the upcoming April 15 edition of AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru, Kamille will now face Nightingale for the TBS title.

Also during the PPV, Darby Allin defeated Andrade El Idolo to earn a future AEW World title shot. In the main event, after MJF successfully defended his World title against Kenny Omega, he was announced for an upcoming World title match against Allin. The match was announced after he called his shot, saying he wanted the match on Wednesday, April 15, in Everett, Washington.

Also, brand new TNT Champion Kevin Knight will also be in action defending his TNT title against Death Riders member Claudio Castagnoli on AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru.

On April 16, AEW is also set to host Collision Spring BreakThru; however, no matches have been confirmed for that show.

AEW Dynamite Spring BreakThru updated lineup

  • Kevin Knight vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the TNT Championship
  • Kamille vs. Willow Nightingale for the TBS Championship
  • MJF vs. Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Atlantis Jr. added to CMLL Slamfest in Las Vegas

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

The WWE WrestleMania week is just around the corner, and CMLL has now added a brand new match to its Slamfest event in Las Vegas on April 16, 2026.

During an exclusive interview with WOR, CMLL owner Salvador Lutteroth III announced Claudio Castagnoli vs. Atlantis Jr. for the CMLL Slamfest in Las Vegas.

Shortly after, CMLL shared an official statement on X(formerly known as Twitter) to promote the event and the upcoming matches at the Pearl Concert Theater at the Palms Casino.

“As announced by Mr. Salvador Lutteroth on WOR, Castagnoli and Atlantis Jr. will face off in a Power vs. Legacy clash at CMLL Palms Slam Fest… here is the full lineup for our mega event in Las Vegas!”

CMLL Slamfest lineup | April 16, 2026

  • CMLL Light Heavyweight Champion Mistico vs. CMLL Heavyweight Champion Hechicero
  • CMLL World Women’s Championship: Persephone (c) vs. TBA
  • Claudio Castagnoli vs. Atlantis Jr.
  • Blue Panther vs. Ultimo Guerrero
  • Mascara Dorada & Neon vs. Capitan Suicida & Flip Gordon
  • Chamuel & Tengu vs. Kemalito & Periquito Sacaryas

CMLL champion ‘really’ enjoying dual AEW contract, names dream opponents

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

MJF seems to have another feud lined up for him after Kenny Omega and Nic Nemeth in AEW. 

In an exclusive interview with The Takedown on SI, Hechicero discussed his ambition to take the CMLL World Title to another level. Despite defeating Castagnoli for the CMLL Championship this month, he would still like to face him, MJF and Mark Briscoe in AEW. 

“Well I aspire to the highest level as CMLL World Heavyweight Champion,” Hechicero said. “First of all, MJF is the company’s world champion, it would be really great to face him.”

“Also, Claudio Castagnoli, it would be great to have a rematch against him because he did so well and I had two matches before with him in CMLL and the last time I also face Mark Briscoe, so I really want to face the top of AEW because if we see the AEW roster, there are the greatest wrestlers that I really want to face for the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.”

Hechicero also commented on the hectic travel schedule that comes with his dual contract with AEW and CMLL. While tiring it also provides opportunities for his career, his match with Bryan Danielson in February 2024 on Collision being a noteworthy feud.  

“With this double contract with AEW and CMLL and also since that match with Bryan Danielson, for me has been very fun, tired, constantly traveling long distances in Mexico, United States, but I really enjoy being part of this dual contract with CMLL and AEW. It’s something important for my career.”

Hechicero has been competing on CMLL since 2014 and on ROH in 2016. Nearly a decade later he made his AEW debut to represent CMLL and set up a singles match with Danielson. 

At Homenaje a Dos Leyendas on March 20 he captured the CMLL World Championship from Castagnoli to kickstart his second title reign. 

AEW World Champion MJF is set to defend his title against Omega at Dynasty on April 12. He is also involved in a non-AEW feud with Nemeth. The two will collide in May hosted by Create-a-Pro Wrestling in Melville, New York. 

Hechicero defeats Claudio Castagnoli for CMLL Heavyweight title

Posted on by Vincent Verhei

In a battle between two AEW stars, Hechicero defeated Claudio Castagnoli to win the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship at Arena Mexico on Friday night.

Hechicero kicked out of a neutralizer was able to avoid Castagnoli’s trademark low blow and counter with his own trademark, the headscissors slam. He went to put Castagnoli in something resembling a Rings of Saturn. Castagnoli still refused to submit until Hechicero pressed his boot into the side of the champion’s face, which was enough to finish off the former ROH World Champion. 

It’s the second reign for Hechicero as CMLL World Heavyweight Champion. He won the title from Ultimo Guerrero in October of 2018, then lost it to Gran Guerrero in November of 2022. Gran Guerrero would hold the belt for over three years before losing it to Castagnoli last November. 

Castagnoli successfully defended the title six times over his reign, in both CMLL and AEW. Some of his more notable challengers include Roderick Strong, Josh Alexander, and Ultimo Guerrero (twice). 

The two have also been feuding in AEW, with Hechicero fighting for the Don Callis Family and Castagnoli representing the Death Riders. Most recently, Castagnoli teamed with Jon Moxley to defeat Hechicero & Konosuke Takeshita on the March 11 episode of Dynamite. 

Claudio Castagnoli officially under CMLL & AEW dual contract

Posted on by Josh Nason

Claudio Castagnoli is officially under a dual contract with both AEW and CMLL, announced by CMLL on Wednesday.

In a press release and later discussed on CMLL Informa (seen below), CMLL revealed the news, stating that “This international collaboration scheme strengthens the ties between both promotions and opens up new competitive opportunities for the talent involved.”

Castagnoli won the CMLL Heavyweight title more than 100 days ago with six successful title defenses to his credit and another coming up this Friday against Hechicero in Arena Mexico.

He made his CMLL debut back in March 2024 as part of the then-Blackpool Combat Club. Since then, he’s returned to Mexico nine times while defending the title twice on AEW Collision.

Castagnoli becomes the latest dual signee between the two companies that includes Mistico, Persephone and Mascara Dorada. Mistico’s signing was revealed during this past Sunday’s Revolution after he, Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey won the AEW Trios titles to go with his CMLL Trios title belt (alongside Dorada and Neon).

Hechicero issues challenge for Claudio Castagnoli’s CMLL Heavyweight title

Posted on by Ian Carey

The Don Callis Family and Death Riders rivalry continued on Friday at Arena Mexico.

Claudio Castagnoli successfully defended his CMLL World Heavyweight title against former champion Ultimo Guerrero in the main event.

Following the match, Hechicero, who is under a dual contract with AEW and CMLL, challenged Castagnoli for a title match on next week’s Arena Mexico show on March 20. Castagnoli accepted before attacking Hechicero, leading to a brawl between the two in the ring.

Castagnoli’s win over Guerrero on Friday was his sixth successful defense of the belt, which he won from Gran Guerrero on the November 28, 2025 show at Arena Mexico.

The full results from last night’s Arena Mexico show are below.

CMLL Viernes Espectacular results from March 13, 2026 at Arena Mexico:

  • Shockercito defeated Full Metal in a Lightning match
  • Magia Blanca, Rey Pegasus & Tornado defeated Espanto Jr., Gallero & Raider (La Ola Negra) 2-1
  • La Magnifica, La Jarochita, Lluvia & Tessa Blanchard defeated Keyra, Olympia, Persephone & Zeuxis 2-1
  • Esfinge, Flip Gordon & Xelhua defeated Barbaro Cavernario, Gran Guerrero & Yutani 2-1
  • Atlantis Jr., Templario & Titan defeated Angel de Oro, Vegas & Volador Jr. 2-1
  • Claudio Castagnoli defeated Ultimo Guerrero to retain the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship

Jon Moxley explains inspiration behind Death Riders’ name in AEW

Posted on by Rosanne Raphael

The Death Riders didn’t get their name out of a well-curated plan — it actually stemmed from a surprisingly random discovery linked to Jon Moxley’s hardcore persona. 

Speaking with Renee Paquette on AEW’s Close Up, Moxley revealed the origins and influence of the group’s name. He linked it to his time in New Japan Pro Wrestling in 2019 and recalled how an unexpected find of the phrase ultimately grew into something far bigger than anticipated. 

“I don’t think there’s anything I’ve ever done that I’m more proud of in my career than what we’ve built with the Death Riders,” Moxley said.

“Death Riders means nothing. It’s just words put together. I like it because it’s kind of that wrestling Japanglish, because there was some kind of commercial with a jacket from Goodwill that said ‘Death Riders’ that I think was like the motorcycle guys who ride around inside the big steel ball at the carnival, which I’ve never done. 

“So, I have no idea what it means or where it comes from, but in Japan they started calling me The Death Rider, and started calling – it’s a word that means nothing. But to me, it means something now.”

The former AEW World Champion also touched on how important the other members of the Death Riders have been to the group’s success.

“I don’t think I would be here if not for these people. I don’t know what I would be doing. I might be in jail by this point if not for this group of people,” Moxley said.

“You know, like a couple years ago, I’m looking around and I still look around to this day and I’m like, I’m surrounded by clowns everywhere. And I listen to people talk and I’m like, do you even know what you’re talking about? Are we even talking about wrestling? I don’t think you even know what you’re talking about.”

The Death Riders have been a dominant faction ever since their inception in AEW. Despite the name change from Blackpool Combat Club after a few members’ exits and additions, the group remains strong, now consisting of Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Marina Shafir, Pac, and Daniel Garcia.

Tag Team title match, Takeshita vs. Castagnoli part of updated AEW Collision lineup

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR will defend against The Rascalz as part of this Saturday’s updated AEW Collision lineup.

Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz earned the opportunity in a title eliminator against FTR last week with the winners of the match moving on to defend against The Young Bucks at this month’s Revolution pay-per-view.

At one point earlier on Dynamite, Dax Harwood challenge Tommaso Ciampa to a match on Collision that never came to be.

In a clash between the CMLL Heavyweight Champion and NJPW TV Champion, Claudio Castagnoli and Konosuke Takeshita will go one-on-one. Takeshita will challenge Castagnoli’s Death Riders teammate Jon Moxley at Revolution. It will be their third-ever singles match with their last being a 20-minute time limit draw at this past year’s Continental Classic.

Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will take on Bandido’s brother Gravity after Strickland choked out Brody King Wednesday followed by Bandido coming out for the late save. It’s Gravity’s first AEW match since the much-discussed tag bout featuring he and Komander against Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews from a November 2023 Collision.

The new additions join a previously announced four-way tag team match that will see the AEW return of Rush & Dralistico.

Current AEW Collision lineup | Tucson, AZ | This Saturday

  • AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defend against The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier & Zachary Wentz)
  • Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Gravity
  • place at Tucson Arena in Tucson, Arizona.
  • LFI (Dralistico & Rush) vs. The Swirl (Blake Christian & Lee Johnson) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)

Claudio Castagnoli’s next CMLL World title defense set

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Claudio Castagnoli will have two challengers when he makes his next CMLL World Heavyweight Championship defense.

CMLL has confirmed that Castagnoli will defend his title against Euforia and Akuma in a three-way match at Arena Mexico this Friday night. The match was set up by Euforia and Akuma both answering an open challenge that was issued by Castagnoli.

This will be Castagnoli’s fifth defense since winning the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship from Gran Guerrero in November 2025. So far, the AEW star has successfully retained against Ultimo Guerrero, Roderick Strong, Xelhua, and Josh Alexander during his reign.

“I know I’m the best CMLL World Heavyweight Champion that you’ve ever seen,” Castagnoli said in the promo where he issued this open challenge. “Now I want to know who is going to step up when I come back to Arena Mexico next Friday, February 27 to defend this prestigious title.”

Friday night’s Arena Mexico show is still scheduled despite civil unrest in Mexico forcing CMLL to cancel an event that was supposed to be held in Guadalajara tonight. Along with Castagnoli working the show, AEW’s Johnny TV is set to compete in a hair vs. hair match in the main event against Angel de Oro.

CMLL airs its Friday night shows on YouTube for subscribers at the two highest subscription levels.

John Cena reveals approaching AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli before Logan Paul match

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

John Cena recently opened up about getting in touch with AEW’s Claudio Castagnoli before his match against Logan Paul at Clash in Paris.

Throughout his retirement tour, Cena paid tribute to several of his rivals by using their moves in the ring during matches. Ahead of Clash in Paris, Cena approached Castagnoli to borrow certain moves from his moveset because the veteran believed they would help Paul’s style. Speaking on the No-Contest Wrestling podcast, Cena reflected on the incident.

“With Logan [Paul], he doesn’t have that many matches to go on. A lot of stuff he was doing was viral moments. ‘I need something more than that.’ We never left the ring. I saw Logan, and I’m like, ‘You look and work like Cesaro.’ I called Claudio [Castagnoli], ‘Can I borrow some stuff, please?’ ‘Are you kidding me?’ He’s part of the coffee group. ‘No problem. I can’t be there. It would be an honor.’ I’m like, ‘Logan, watch this guy. These are things I think you can do,'” Cena said.

“I’m sending him modified clips of the super European (uppercut), the giant swing, all things I thought Cesaro did well that I think Logan can do well. ‘This might help you wih you style. Get more stuff.’ Take it from Five Moves of Doom, there is going to come a time where you need more stuff.”

While Cena and Castagnoli (then known as Cesaro) never had a major rivalry in WWE, they had a few matches against each other over the years. The two are good friends and also part of a close coffee group chat with Seth Rollins.

CMLL reveals Claudio Castagnoli World title challenger

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Claudio Castagnoli is heading down to Mexico City for a title defense this Friday — and we now know who his challenger will be.

Last night, CMLL shared a promo with Castagnoli issuing an open challenge for his CMLL World Heavyweight Championship. He wanted “a young luchador who thinks they have what it takes” to step up and answer the call. The 21-year-old Xelhua has now responded and will be facing off against Castagnoli at Arena Mexico on Friday (January 30).

Castagnoli was crowned the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion by defeating Gran Guerrero for the belt on November 28. His two title defenses since then have been split across Mexico and the United States, defeating Ultimo Guerrero and Roderick Strong. The latter of those headlined this past Saturday’s episode of AEW Collision.

Xelhua, an up-and-coming technical star, also recently got an ROH Pure Championship shot but came up short against Lee Moriarty when they faced off in Mexico.

CMLL streams its Friday night shows on YouTube for subscribers at the two highest subscription levels.

Seth Rollins admits he misses AEW star: ‘This is a weird one’

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Recently speaking to CBR in an interview, Seth Rollins opened up and admitted to missing AEW star and current CMLL Heavyweight Champion Claudio Castagnoli.

Before his WWE departure in 2022, Castagnoli, previously known as Cesaro, was involved in a heated feud with Rollins. While depicted as fierce on-screen rivals, Castagnoli and Rollins share a close relationship as the two also bonded with John Cena over their shared interest in coffee.

During his recent interview, Rollins opened up about the people he misses.

“You know who I miss? This is a weird one. I miss Claudio. Well, I haven’t seen Claudio in a long time. I feel like it’s been too long. I don’t know the time,” he said, noting he also misses his daughter, Roux.

Despite not seeing each other for a long time, they text each other frequently.

“I talk to him all the time, but I haven’t been in his presence. So, I miss Claudio. Fellow coffee enthusiast. We keep in touch via the coffee texts with John, but it’s just not the same,” he said.

Even outside of their WWE matches, Rollins and Castagnoli competed against each other multiple times across ROH and several other indie promotions.

Two title matches confirmed for next week’s AEW Collision

Posted on by Shounak Chakrabarti

Next week’s January 24, 2026, edition of Collision is set to feature two brand-new championship matches.

After an eventful Collision Maximum Carnage earlier tonight, All Elite Wrestling has already announced Mark Briscoe and Claudio Castagnoli for two title defense matches. Next week at the Esports arena, Briscoe will defend his TNT Championship against El Clone after calling out the latter to face him one-on-one for the title.

Earlier this weekend, Roderick Strong defeated Hechicero at CMLL to earn a shot at Castagnoli’s CMLL World Heavyweight Championship. Now official, Strong will face Castagnoli for the CMLL World Heavyweight title.

AEW Collision lineup | January, 24, 2026

Next week’s AEW Collision will take place in Arlington, Texas, at the Esports Stadium. With a week still to go before the show, here is the announced lineup:

  • Mark Briscoe vs. El Clon for the TNT Championship
  • Roderick Strong vs. Claudio Castagnoli for the CMLL World Heavyweight Championship

Claudio Castagnoli should lead AEW’s Death Riders | Opinion

Posted on by Corey Michaels

Image: AEW

The Death Riders were built on the act of betraying a mentor figure. In fact, current leader Jon Moxley pulled the trigger on that, leading his fellow Blackpool Combat Club teammates in excommunicating Bryan Danielson.

It’s about time that fellow senior member Claudio Castagnoli takes that mantle, fittingly usurping the purveyor of paradigm shifts.

I write this not as a denigration of Moxley; far from it. It’s possible that such an angle can steer all parties into new territory. Moreover, Claudio, as the leader of the pack, will have a distinct image change of the group.

Observing the past month of AEW programming, the seeds for Castagnoli stealing the reins have already been sown.

Why a Castagnoli-run Death Riders is plausible

Moxley’s had a rough second quarter of 2025. Losing the AEW World title to Hangman Adam Page at All In Texas was the start. Yet, he still maintained his momentum. His bravado hid all traces of diminishing confidence. A few losses here and there, but the Death Riders remained on top.

Then came WrestleDream. Thanks to interference from Sting to offset the heels, Darby Allin defeated Moxley in a memorable I Quit Match. Since then, Moxley has consistently lost on AEW shows with a recurring story of seeing his shield chip thanks to Kyle O’Reilly and his ankle lock. From late-October to late-November, Moxley exercised every means possible to escape O’Reilly’s unforgiving technical prowess.

A disqualification and a double countout later, O’Reilly had Moxley’s number, ultimately submitting him at November’s men’s Blood & Guts match. Moxley rebounded with Castagnoli on the following Dynamite, but then, Full Gear saw Moxley submit to O’Reilly in a no holds barred match. His promo afterward did carry his usual confidence, but that same confidence was not shared in the eyes of his teammates.

Despite a successful start to the Continental Classic in a triumph over CMLL’s Mascara Dorada, Moxley has since lost to Castagnoli himself and Konosuke Takeshita. Conversely, Castagnoli’s 2025 has seen a marked improvement.

Though he spent the early half in frustration, he recovered and eventually became the soul of the Death Riders; Moxley had simply become the lungs. In trios or tag bouts with either Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, and/or PAC, Castagnoli stewarded his team to wins and began to have a silent winning reputation, with a smattering of losses here and there. He even became the CMLL World Heavyweight Champion.

Coincidentally, he went on a brief winning streak, broken only by Mascara Dorada in his third Continental Classic bout followed by a draw with Takeshita.

Death Riders under Castagnoli’s leadership

Castagnoli has worked excellently with PAC and the younger Garcia and Yuta. They even accompany him to his matches. On the surface, he seems like an older brother who knows how to navigate the world. Thus, their eyes, though hardened and serious, appear loyal and curious. Yuta, PAC, and Garcia seem eager to follow, and in doing so, they wrestle more confidently with the reps they get alongside the towering Swiss athlete.

A second glance at Castagnoli gives off militant vibes as though there’s a numb, yet classy, demeanor. Perhaps it’s the way he looks like Agent 47 from the Hitman video game series, or perhaps it’s the use of classical music. Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture” and Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Moonlight Sonata” bolster this aura. He may be stoic, but there’s a deadliness beneath.

Not only is it this visage and his presence that entice me to see Castagnoli as the Death Riders commander, but his history. CHIKARA fans will remember his time in the stable Die Bruderschaft des Kreuzes (The Brotherhood of the Cross) where he became a central figure bent on a hostile takeover of the promotion, teased with the quote “A war (is) coming”. 

Often, he has stood in the shadows, in the background and on AEW programming, fans haven’t seen too much of him. Considering this and everything mentioned above, it’s time he steps into this role.

What of Jon Moxley?

The rest of the Death Riders can thrive Claudio Castagnoli just fine and the same as they did with Moxley and Danielson. But the more that things continue as they have, it would make sense in the storyline to have a seismic shift change the group once more. They don’t even have to change the name.

If his twilight in the stable comes by a betrayal, this can leave Moxley in a state where he understands who he is again. He’d be alone, with several of his bridges burned, the embers flickering out long ago. Or, he could remain in the group if the Death Riders so wish, under the direction of Castagnoli.

Moxley would enter this environment as a captain whose crew mutinied against him. Could he repair the fractured relationships with other wrestlers? Can he make peace with enemies? The character Moxley is, he’d be stubborn and scrappy, likely to catch loss after loss, unable to climb up that hill. He didn’t get this far by giving up. Ultimately, though, he’d have to shed the mentality that spawned the Death Riders from Blackpool Combat Club’s ashes to stand a chance.

What’s important to note is that AEW is swimming in a sea of heels. That’s where Moxley comes in; he can be that underdog, yet badass, babyface to challenge this swarm.

In retrospect, the Blackpool Combat Club and Death Riders accomplished their mission by heightening the AEW roster’s potential. In giving AEW’s wrestlers a threat, everyone worked to their full potential. There’s nothing more Moxley can do, but Castagnoli can take the group to another level. To him, there are no limits to the Death Riders as he said in a recent interview with Wrestling Republic.

The Death Riders need to become stricter, meaner. They don’t have a roster to inspire through rage, spirit, or hate anymore. Now, it’s time to take for themselves, not as a band of outlaws, but as a hostile force, a militia of killers. Through this, a relentless approach is needed. Everything must be seized by force.

I am of the mind that Castagnoli is far better than given credit for, but hasn’t had the same time to shine and has done just enough to get by in a still great spot in the company. Were he given this spot, the Swiss wrestler can transform the Death Riders into something soulless like a fascist military seeking a coup to usurp the status quo. Furthermore, he has shown he cares for his teammates, adding an emotional core that would translate well under his authority.

With that in mind, this reinvention of the Death Riders can keep the title scene interesting with multiple shifts in the card. Wrestlers could come out of this better or worse than they started — sink or swim.

As the Don Callis Family faces their own plot developments from in-fighting to championship pursuits, the Death Riders will need something else. They’ll need to stand out. That’s what professional wrestling as a business does: it evolves and reinvents itself for the next generation.

AEW Collision Winter is Coming live results: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Posted on by Josiah MacDonald

AEW returns to Cardiff, Wales, for today’s Winter is Coming edition of Collision at a special start time of 4:30 PM Eastern.

One of the featured bouts is former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland taking on former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander for the first time ever in a match that will likely have implications on this month’s Worlds End.

The Continental Classic will continue with two matches.

Blue league co-leaders Konosuke Takeshita and Claudio Castagnoli will do battle in a clash of the IWGP World Champion and CMLL Heavyweight Champion.

Coming off his highlight reel match against Kyle Fletcher Wednesday, “Speedball” Mike Bailey will look to grab another three points when he takes on tag team partner Kevin Knight in the Gold league.

TNT Champion Mark Briscoe defends against former champion Daniel Garcia.

AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander teams with former champion Jamie Hayter against The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue).

**********

AEW Collision opened with a recap of Samoa Joe and Eddie Kingston and Hangman Page & Swerve Strickland vs. Shibata & Will Hobbs, with Hangman making his intentions clear – he wants Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End.

Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Josh Alexander (w/ Don Callis)

The crowd was immediately red hot, cheering for Swerve and singing for him. Alexander tried to hit a shoulder tackle on Swerve, but he just shook it off. Alexander went for a leg pick, but Swerve cartwheeled over it and hit a fireman’s carry into the top turnbuckle before hitting a pump kick that drove Alexander into the corner. Swerve hit a big back breaker on Alexander, leading to Alexander going for a takedown, but Swerve hit a snapmare and a knee drop.

Swerve hit a few rolling neckbreakers, working over the previously injured neck of Josh Alexander. Josh Alexander pulled Swerve from the ring and suplexed him knee first on the announce table. That was brutal. Alexander hit a crossbody that sent Swerve to the floor as they went to the ad break. When they came back, Swerve and Alexander were exchanging forearms. Swerve hit an upkick on Alexander but stumbled when he tried to roll onto his feet. Alexander trapped the knee, hit a knee crusher, and then hit a back suplex. Swerve countered Alexander trying to pick him up into a powerbomb into a powerslam before collapsing to the mat selling his knee.

Swerve hit an uppercut off the middle rope. Swerve missed a kick and Alexander pulled his leg over the rope, and then hit a world strongest slam on the apron. Swerve went for the JML Driver, but Alexander rolled him up for a nearfall. Alexander went for a sliding lariat which Swerve countered into a crucifix pin for a 2-count. Alexander went right back after the knee and did a single leg crab that forced Swerve to the ropes. Alexander missed a knee drop off the top rope and Swerve rolled up to his feet and hit a flatliner and hit the House Call that knocked the headgear of Alexander before hitting a JML Driver for the pinfall.

Result: Swerve Strickland defeated Josh Alexander

–Swerve Strickland grabbed the mic and said that he did not come back to face the Don Callis Family. He came back for the AEW World Championship, and Hangman Page was not the only guy after Joe. Swerve wanted his title back.

–Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa said they were going to join the toast to celebrate the new AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions.

Kris Statlander & Jamie Hayter vs. The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue) (w/ Thekla)

Hayter immediately slammed Blue and tagged out to Statlander who slammed Hayter on Blue, and then Hayter slammed Statlander on Blue. Statlander and Hayter tried to show each other up by slamming Blue, who unfortunately had to face hitting the mat repeatedly. Hart tagged in and did a rope walk into a hurricanrana on Statlander and Hayter tagged in, hitting an exploder and then a snap suplex for a two count on Hart.

Hart hit a standing moonsault on Hayter as they went to the break. When they came back Hayer knocked Hart from the apron and hit a running knee on Sky Blue. Statlander went for Staturday Night Fever, but Blue cradled Statlander for a 2-count before tagging out to Hart, who hit a double front suplex and double superkick for a 2-count. Blue hit a Code Blue for a 2-count, and Hayter made the save. Julia Hart hit a lung blower of sorts on Hayter and everyone was laid out.

Blue hit a thrust kick on Hayter and tagged out to Hart to went for a rope walk again, dropping Hayter’s arm across the ropes and then holding her arms. Blue charged, but Hayter dodged and Blue knocked Hart off the apron while Hayter hit a back breaker and then a Hayterade for the pinfall.

Result: Jamie Hayter & Kris Statlander defeated The Sisters of Sin

–Jamie Hayter, once backstage, challenged Kris Statlander to a title match at AEW World’s End, and Statlander accepted before they started arguing.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Konosuke Takeshita – C2 Blue League Match

Both guys started with some grappling, feeling each other out, with both exchanging holds building to a forearm and uppercut battle until Castagnoli raked the eyes and hit a lariat. Takeshita tried to hit a running knee off the apron but Castagnoli caught him with a European Uppercut that sent Takeshita crashing to the floor. Takeshita blocked a suplex attempt on the ramp and turned it into a DDT. Castagnoli countered a knee charge into a backbreaker as they went to an ad break.

Takeshita fought out of a sleeper hold and hit a hurricarana that sent Castagnoli to the floor. Takeshita hit a tope gon giro and then a blue thunder bomb in the ring, but Castagnoli kicked out and did the giant swing before locking in the sharpshooter. Castagnoli transitioned into a crossface, but Takeshita got out of it. Castagnoli was frustrated and started lightly kicking Takeshita to taunt him. Takeshita and Castagnoli started exchanging forearms and uppercuts.

Takeshita hit an inverted piledriver and then a hidden blade for a 2-count. Castagnoli hit a pop up uppercut and then a springboard uppercut. Castagnoli went for the Neutralizer, but Takeshita countered and went for a back body drop, but Castagnoli landed on his feet and both hit lariats and collapsed. Takeshtia hit a series of forearms on the apron, and Castagnoli hit a series of his own. Takeshita hit a big boot to block a European uppercut, and then Takeshita charged but Claudio got a big boot. Then both men hit big boots and collapsed to the floor. Both men started exchanging strikes on the floor until Castagnoli hit a big boot that sent Takeshita crashing to the mat before he also collapsed. Takeshita hit a hard forearm that kept Castagnoli from getting in the ring. Castagnoli barely made it back into the ring, and then both men exchanged finishers but couldn’t finish each other until the time limit was up.

Result: Claudio Castagnoli & Konosuke Takeshita went to a draw

This match was awesome. What a tremendous match, and it protected both guys where the CMLL Heavyweight Champ and IWGP World Championship didn’t take loss.

–Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight were backstage talking about how they are going to give it their all when they face each other later.

–Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron came down to the ring to celebrate the world tag team title reign. Toni Storm & Mina Shirakawa came down to the ring to celebrate with them, but said that they gave the audience a fight to remember. Mercedes Mone came to the ramp and said that they couldn’t have a championship celebration without her. Mina Shirakawa told her to shut up, and Toni Storm challenged her to a match. Harley Cameron noted that Mercedes had no friends, but Mercedes challenged the four women to a tag match next week on Dynamite.

–Ricochet was backstage with his AEW National Championship, and he said he was going to win the AEW Diamond Battle Royale next week and take the title shot he would get out of it to become Ricky Two Belts.

–A promo video aired for the AEW Diamond Battle Royale, with everyone talking about why they wanted to win. This was good.

Kevin Knight vs. Mike Bailey – C2 Gold League Match

As expected, both guys started very fast here exchanging strike attempts and countering each other at every move. Knight did an armdrag that sent Bailey to the floor, but Bailey dodged a plancha and then hit a triangle moonsault as they went to an ad break. Knight clotheslined Bailey to the floor as they came back from the ad break and hit a spring board clothesline to the floor. Knight hit a jumping hurricanrana on Bailey who was on the top rope and then a DDT for a 2-count.

Bailey hit a kick on Knight when he was on the top rope and sent Knight crashing into a camera man. Bailey hit a moonsault into double knees on the apron. Bailey shoved Knight off the ropes, but Knight ran back and vertically leaped onto the top rope into a suplerplex for a 2-count. Bailey hit a Spanish Fly on Knight before hitting a rolling forearm, but Knight hit a dropkick. Knight went for a springboard lariat again and Bailey hit a spinning kick that dropped Knight and both men were down.

Both men went to the opposite sides of the ring and tried to hit coast to coast strikes, but took each other out with lariats. Knight hit a coast to coast dropkick, but Bailey blocked the UFO splash. Bailey and Knight exchanged pinfall attempts rapidly until Bailey hit a spinning kick and then hit the Rubix Cube for the pinfall.

Result: Mike Bailey defeated Kevin Knight

This was a tremendous match, with Bailey and Knight putting on a fantastic performance.

–Kyle Fletcher was backstage and he cut a promo about how angry he was about losing to Bailey on Dynamite, but he was going to take PAC on and get his momentum back in Manchester on Dynamite.

–PAC answered him, saying that while he thought Fletcher was brilliant wrestler, nothing brilliant was going to happen in Manchester.

Mark Briscoe vs. Daniel Garcia (w/ Marina Shafir) for the TNT Championship

Garcia tried to out wrestle Garcia in the match, but Briscoe hit a forearm that sent Garcia to the floor before hitting a dropkick. Briscoe hit a flipping dive through the ropes onto Garcia. When they came back from the ad break with Garcia in control. Briscoe hit an exploder suplex for a 2-count. Briscoe went for the Jay Driller, but Garcia hit a back suplex. When Garcia grabbed the referee Shafir tripped Briscoe, and he crashed into the top turnbuckle. The referee missed it, but teased tossing her out.

Garcia hit a superplex on Briscoe and then floated over into another suplex, but put Briscoe on the top rope for another superplex. Garcia did another one, but Briscoe fired up and hit a brainbuster, which baffled Garcia while also leaving him in pain. Briscoe and Garcia exchanged some forearms in the middle of the ring, and Briscoe kept asking for more, firing up. After some chops, Briscoe hit a lariat and then called for the Jay Driller.

Garcia blocked the Jay Driller and Briscoe kept going for it, but Shafir grabbed the ankle of Briscoe and get sent backstage. As Shafir was leaving Wheeler Yuta ran in and hit a low blow on Briscoe, allowing Garcia to hit a piledriver for a 2-count. Briscoe rolled him up for a 2-count, and then hit the Jay Driller after countering a move for the pinfall.

Result: Mark Briscoe defeated Daniel Garcia to retain the TNT Championship

Excellent main event on a very good AEW Collision. The C2 always brings out the best in AEW, and it really makes the booking so focused.

AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash – December 17, 2025

  • The Elite vs. Don Callis Family
  • Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale
  • Mercedes Mone, Athena, Megan Bayne, Marina Shafir vs. Babes of Wrath & Timeless Love Bombs
  • Mascara Dorada vs. Orange Cassidy
  • Jon Moxley vs. Roderick Strong
  • Kyle Fletcher vs. PAC
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR vs. Bang Bang Gang
  • AEW World Championship Contract Signing with Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland, & Samoa Joe