Two new matches are set for the Saturday, February 24 AEW Collision show.
After going to a time limit draw with Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli on Dynamite, FTR will be back in action on Saturday’s Collision in a tag team bout against Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty.
AEW also revealed in a backstage promo segment on Dynamite that Jay White, Billy Gunn, and Austin Gunn of the Bang Bang Scissor Gang will have a six-man tag team match on this Saturday’s Collision. Opponents for the trio were not announced.
The Bang Bang Scissor Gang made their in-ring debut as a group on last Friday’s Rampage episode defeating the team of Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Evil Uno in a 12-man tag.
Already set for Saturday’s Collision is a one-on-one contest between two Wrestling Observer Newsletter Hall of Fame inductees, with Bryan Danielson taking on Jun Akiyama.
The Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, Missouri will host the Saturday, February 24 Collision.
The current lineup for Saturday:
Bryan Danielson vs. Jun Akiyama
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty
Serena Deeb in action
Thunder Rosa in action
Jay White, Billy Gunn & Austin Gunn of the Bang Bang Scissor Gang in trios action
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli will take on FTR in a tag team match on next week’s AEW Dynamite.
The match was announced in the aftermath of a singles contest on this week’s Dynamite where Moxley defeated FTR’s Dax Harwood in singles competition.
A six-man tag team bout with Revolution implications is also set for next week’s show.
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe will team with one of his Revolution challengers in Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage in facing his other Revolution challenger Hangman Page, who teams with Hook and Rob Van Dam. Joe vs. Strickland vs. Page for the AEW World title is set for next month’s Revolution pay-per-view.
The BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma will host next week’s Dynamite. Here is the announced card for the show:
Blackpool Combat Club’s Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe, Swerve Strickland & Brian Cage vs. Hangman Page, Hook & Rob Van Dam
FTR & Daniel Garcia look to end their feud with the House of Black on Saturday’s Collision.
The six men will be trapped inside a steel cage, where escape the cage elimination rules will be in play. FTR has spent most of 2023 feuding with House of Black, with Daniel Garcia joining the feud after he scored a win over Brody King in a Continental Classic match last month.
Other action will see Eddie Kingston take on Willie Mack in a non-title match. Bryan Danielson will also be in action, taking on Yuji Nagata of NJPW. His Blackpool Combat Club associates Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli will take on Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty. Orange Cassidy will defend the International title against Komander after he won a four-way on AEW Rampage.
For the first time since 2022, Serena Deeb will return to in-ring competition. Mariah May will also be in action, taking on Lady Frost.
Join us for live coverage starting at 8 pm ET.
*****
Sir Elton John was on assignment this week, as instead, Wild Thing brought the Blackpool Combat Club to the ring for our opening match.
Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty)
These two teams matched up well style-wise, making for a hard-hitting battle to open the show.
During the BCC entrance, we saw Taylor and Moriarty’s attack on Moxley last night on Rampage. All four men brawled to start, with Moxley diving onto Taylor on the floor. After a few minutes of brawling, Taylor took Moxley down with a punch. Taylor clubbered on Moxley until Moxley avoided a corner charge to tag in Castagnoli.
After a staredown, Castagnoli backed Taylor into the corner with European uppercuts. Castagnoli teased the Giant Swing, but Moriarty ran distraction and allowed Taylor to hit a big knee to Castagnoli. Moxley took Moriarty to the floor, but Taylor sent Moxley into the stairs. Castagnoli got sent over the barricade as STP took control. Taylor dropped a big leg on Castagnoli on the apron as STP isolated Castagnoli in their corner.
Castagnoli heaved Taylor up with a vertical suplex before getting the tag to Moxley. Moriarty tagged in, but Moxley ran wild, taking down Moriarty with an X-Plex. Moriarty tried to take advantage of a momentary Taylor distraction, but Castagnoli took him down and spun him with a Giant Swing. Taylor and Castagnoli traded clotheslines before Castagnoli sent Taylor to the floor.
Moriarty reversed a choke into a European Clutch for a close nearfall, but Moxley kicked out and hit a cutter. Moxley went for the Death Rider, but Moriarty torqued his bad arm and tagged out to Taylor. Taylor went for his big right hand, but Castagnoli stopped him and helped Moxley hit a Hart Attack for a nearfall. Moxley locked on a Rear Naked Choke, and despite Taylor falling to his back, Moxley held on to get the submission win.
Roderick Strong, The Kingdom, & Komander were backstage with Lexy Nair. Strong offered the idea of a five-week International Title reign for Komander – as Strong would win the title at Revolution – and offered his and the Kingdom’s help tonight. Strong forcibly shook Komander’s hand as Komander looked confused.
A good lucha-style match here that got the crowd more invested as time went on. The story here is that Strong is trying to get the title off of Cassidy for an easier title match at Revolution, but his interference backfired here.
These two started the match off with handshakes before trading quick pin attempts. The two traded Gory Specials, with Cassidy escaping by putting his hands in his pockets. Cassidy took Komander to the floor with a headscissors, but Komander beat Cassidy back into the ring. Cassidy hit a Stundog Millionaire and a tornado DDT to send Komander to the floor before Roderick Strong & The Kingdom made their way to ringside.
After a commercial, Komander hit a reverse springboard crossbody for a nearfall. Kevin Kelly brought up the wrestling history of Shreveport, the area where Collision is tonight, referencing Cowboy Bill Watts and Junkyard Dog. Komander hit a tornado DDT, but Cassidy sent Komander into the corner with a thrust kick. Cassidy fired up with kicks as the announcers wondered if Strong was hoping for Cassidy to lose to avoid having to wrestle him.
Komander feigned a reverse crossbody, then hit a Canadian Destroyer. Komander hit a splash for a nearfall. Komander locked on a standing submission, then hit a pair of running boots when Cassidy fought out. Komander went for another Destroyer, but Cassidy dropped Komander with a Beach Break for a nearfall. Cassidy went to the top rope, but Komander cut him off. The announcers promoted Komander’s ropewalking proficiency, just in time for Komander to hit a step-up hurricanrana off the top rope for a nearfall.
Komander went to the top rope, but Cassidy rolled to the floor. Strong distracted the referee as Komander went for his ropewalk splash, but Komander landed on the Kingdom instead. Komander rolled back into the ring, where Cassidy hit the Orange Punch to retain the title. After the match, Strong held the International Title up to Cassidy but dropped it at his feet instead of handing it to him.
We cut to the back, where Matt Menard called for help for Daniel Garcia, who was writhing on the ground.
In a video from after Wednesday’s Dynamite, Timeless Toni Storm was upset at Deonna Purrazzo’s attack on her butler. Mariah May asked Storm to watch her match on Collision. Storm agreed until she found out that Collision was in Bossier City. Apparently, Storm had some issues with racehorses that left her with a bad reputation.
Mariah May defeated Lady Frost
Both women were impressive here. Frost’s athleticism jumps off the screen, while May has an impact to her work that stands out in this division.
May mocked Frost’s height, leading to the two trading forearms and chops. Frost caught May with a neckbreaker for a nearfall but May took Frost down by the hair before landing a shotgun dropkick. After a commercial, the two traded high-angle German suplexes. Is this Bossier City or the Budokan? Frost cartwheeled into an Air Raid Crash – named the Killer Chill – for a nearfall.
May necked Frost on the ropes before hitting a missile dropkick. Frost avoided a corner charge, landing a kick before cartwheeling into a cannonball. Frost went to the top rope for Frostbite, but May pulled Frost down and hit May Day to score the win.
Swerve Strickland was backstage in a pre-tape. Strickland made his decision for Hangman Page’s opponent for Dynamite, picking his Mogul Embassy teammate Toa Liona. Strickland hyped that Liona had never been pinned in his run in AEW, which I can confirm having watched every ROH episode to date.
After a commercial, Hangman Page was ready for Toa Liona on Wednesday. He didn’t tell Swerve who he would be facing, saying that he would have to wait “the whole f’n show” to find out. Hmm, isn’t that Rob Van Dam’s nickname?
Proving Ground Match – Eddie Kingston defeated Willie Mack
Mack flew at Kingston with a Yakuza Kick at the bell, getting a nearfall with a brainbuster. Mack sent Kingston into the corner before landing a cannonball and a standing moonsault for a nearfall. Mack went for a stunner, but Kingston clawed his way out and laid in strikes to a sitting Mack. Mack came back with a leaping Shining Wizard but favored his knee.
Mack went for a standing Shooting Star Press but didn’t get over at all, landing head-first on Kingston. Everyone was ok, as Kingston avoided a cannonball and landed a suplex for a nearfall. Kingston went for a backdrop driver, but Mack reversed it into a powerbomb for a nearfall. The two traded chops, with Mack cutting it off with a punch. Mack hit an enzuigiri, but Kingston got his knees up on the Six Star Frog Splash. Kingston hit the Uraken backfist for the win.
Bryan Danielson defeated Yuji Nagata
An excellent piece of business here, with a great match that advanced the Danielson/Kingston storyline. Danielson scored a win over a former All Japan Triple Crown Champion and shakes his hand, while simultaneously disrespecting American Triple Crown winner Kingston. It’s another chapter in Kingston’s eternal battle for respect against the Blackpool Combat Club. Kingston was excellent at commentary here, selling his feud with Danielson while giving great color commentary. The match was excellent, as Nagata can still go at the highest of levels.
Danielson made his entrance as Kingston was leaving and made a point to not look at him while walking down the ramp. Kingston joined the commentary desk, calling Danielson’s move “cute.” The crowd was hyped during the opening exchanges. McGuinness put over Nagata’s MMA training while noting that the closest Danielson’s ever been to MMA fighting is getting his hair braided. The two men traded strikes in the corner before Danielson scored a nearfall with a suplex.
Nagata blocked an armbar before rolling to the ropes to break the hold. The crowd chanted for both men as they entered a Greco-Roman Knuckle Lock. Nagata drove Danielson to the ropes before wrenching Danielson’s arm as we went to commercial. Danielson dropped Nagata with a low dropkick before peppering his legs with kicks in the corner. On commentary, Kingston noted that Danielson was just trying to get him angry with his antics these past two weeks.
Danielson pulled Nagata to the ringpost and drove his knee into the post. Danielson went to the top rope and hit a shotgun dropkick for a nearfall. Danielson hit the hammer-and-anvil elbows, but Nagata caught the arm and hit an Exploder Suplex. The two men traded uppercuts until Nagata caught Danielson in the Nagata Lock. Danielson reached for Nagata’s leg and locked on a kneebar. Nagata kicked his way free before hitting a Justice Boot in the corner.
Nagata took Danielson to the top rope and fought through Danielson headbutts to hit a superplex for a nearfall. Nagata locked on the Nagata Lock, then transitioned to a Fujiwara armbar. Nagata rolled his eyes to the back of his head, but Danielson got to the ropes. Danielson fought out of the backdrop driver and hit a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. The two men traded kicks until Danielson feigned low and went high. Danielson led the YES chants before hitting the Busaiku Knee for the win.
After the match, Danielson shook Nagata’s hand as the announcers noted that Danielson beat a former All Japan Triple Crown Champion. When he got to the top of the ramp, Danielson flipped Kingston the bird to laughter from the Continental Crown Champion.
FTR was at the trainer’s room with Lexy Nair. They didn’t have any update on Daniel Garcia‘s status but would fight at a handicap if necessary. Mark Briscoe walked up and offered his partnership if Garcia couldn’t go. FTR left the decision up to the doctors and Garcia, but let Briscoe know that he was in if Garcia was out.
Brian Cage was backstage with Renee Paquette. Cage was upset at losing both of his Trios Title matches and was annoyed at everyone talking about the FTW Champion Hook. Cage said that he put the FTW Title on the map and said that Hook was the size of his smaller leg. Hook entered the scene and offered Cage a title shot whenever he wanted.
Serena Deeb defeated Robyn Renegade
Deeb showed no signs of rust here, as the video packages did a successful job of re-introducing her to the AEW audience.
The crowd chanted Welcome Back to Deeb as the two locked up. Deeb took Renegade down to the mat and locked on a single-leg crab that forced Renegade to the ropes. Renegade got a Full Nelson on, but Deeb escaped and tagged Renegade with a slap. Deeb hit a neckbreaker in the ropes, then followed with one in the ring. Deeb hit the Detox before locking on the Serenity Lock for the win.
After the match, Deeb got on the mic and said that it felt damn good to be back in the ring. She came back to elevate the division, put the wrestling back in All Elite Wrestling, and to become a champion. She put the locker room on notice that The Professor was back.
We got a video package hyping CMLL stars Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada, & Hechicero, as they would be in action next Friday on Rampage.
FTR made their entrance for the main event. Mark Briscoe came out to be their partner, but the lights cut out. When they came up, the House of Black was attacking Briscoe. King threw Briscoe off the stage into a table. FTR charged up the ramp and brawled with the House of Black as the bell rang.
Escape The Cage Elimination Match – Daniel Garcia & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)
A fantastic main event. The drama and tension built throughout the match, as the babyface team fought together and rallied to get the win. The story throughout this feud was FTR and Garcia winning when the odds were even, but always left lying when the full House of Black was in tow. The odds were made even here, as the interference of Hart was offset by Mark Briscoe coming back in the nick of time. The escape the cage element made me scratch my head when it was announced, but it allowed Daniel Garcia to be the one to clinch the win in a great touch. A stellar episode of Collision.
All five men brawled on the outside, with weapons coming out and referees getting knocked down. Both Wheeler and Harwood got sent into the cage, with King crushing Wheeler against the barricade. Black was going to hit Harwood with a chair, but Daniel Garcia came out with a chair. Garcia laid into all three men with a chair, but Black back body dropped Garcia on the ramp. The House brought Garcia and Harwood into the ring and stomped on both men, but Wheeler dove off the cage into the ring onto the House as we went to a commercial.
After the match, all six men brawled in the ring. Harwood hit Black with a main event spinebuster. Wheeler ran into a Black Hole Slam from King. Matthews and Black sent Garcia into the cage before sending him into a forearm from King. They did the same thing to Harwood before rising up the cage. Garcia and FTR pulled them back down.
They pinballed all three members into the cage. FTR went to leave, but Garcia said that they weren’t done with them yet. Garcia locked Matthews in the Dragon Slayer as FTR hit Black with the Shatter Machine. King took both men down with a double clothesline before FTR repeatedly sent him into the cage. We got a move train that ended with Harwood hitting a brainbuster on Black. Harwood went to make the climb, but King fought up. King went to climb, but Harwood took him down with a modified back suplex. Harwood went to leave through the door as the announcers noted that leaving the cage meant that you could not re-enter the ring. King speared the door into Harwood before both men fell to the floor. The match continued, as it is the first team with all three men out of the cage that wins the match.
After a commercial, we got a Powerplex from Garcia and Wheeler on Black. Matthews hit a Meteora on Garcia that sent him into the other two. Matthews and Wheeler climbed to the top rope, where Matthews dropped Wheeler crotch-first onto the ropes. Matthews climbed up, but Wheeler followed. Both men climbed to the outside, where Matthews drove Wheeler’s head into the cage until Wheeler fell through a table at ringside.
Black told Matthews to climb back into the ring to leave Garcia for dead, but Garcia sent Black into the cage, which sent Matthews to the floor through another table. Black and Garcia were the last men in the ring, and after stopping each other from escaping, Garcia locked Black in an ankle lock. Black sent Garcia into the cage with a boot, but Garcia came back with a lariat. Garcia climbed up, but Julia Hart climbed the cage and spat the mist in Garcia’s face.
Black nonchalantly went to leave, but Garcia told Black to finish the job. Black kicked the chair away from Garcia and went to hit the Black Mass, but Garcia ducked it and hit a piledriver on the chair. Garcia went to climb out as Black crawled to the door. Black was almost out of the door when Mark Briscoe slammed the door in his face. Garcia made it to the floor to score the win for his team.
A tag team match has been announced for the Saturday, January 6 AEW Collision episode.
After months of mind games played by The House of Black against FTR, the two teams will lock horns in the ring on Collision as Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews team against Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler.
A feud between the two teams was teased throughout the summer on Collision, and one trios match with FTR & CM Punk vs. House of Black took place on the August 12 episode, but a two-on-two match between the sides never transpired as FTR was mired in a feud with Bullet Club Gold, and later The Young Bucks over the AEW Tag Team titles.
Both FTR & House of Black’s Brody King & Malakai Black also took part in a four-way tag team ladder match at Full Gear last month.
FTR dropped the Tag titles to Ricky Starks & Big Bill on the October 7 Collision, but have not dropped a match via pinfall since.
The tag match is the only item announced to this point for the Saturday, January 6 episode.
The following is an opinion-based preview and reflects the views of the author.
AEW desperately needed to put together a well-conceived pay-per-view with Saturday’s Full Gear (8 PM Eastern) with a steady, reliable build. Friends, I have good news! They have largely accomplished that.
Almost everything on this card makes sense in storyline and most matches were given enough screen time to get the audience to care. At times, the booking can seem like Tony Khan playing a song that only he can hear. But Full Gear is a step in the right direction: a solid show to stabilize AEW moving into Worlds End in December and the start of a new year.
No AEW preview would be complete without checking in on an increasingly worrisome trend: the growing reliance on stars from the past. Popping a rating is good and high numbers of buys for PPVs are necessary. Both are vital in keeping a company financially healthy. But at some point, all eyes need to look toward the future and not six or eight weeks down the road (though AEW would be wise to do more of that as well) but months and years).
The question the big decision-makers should be trying to answer is, “What does this company look like in three years?” Succession planning is challenging in any industry, especially one like pro wrestling. The pool of talent is so small. Within this confined space, the quest for true game-changers, the elusive outliers, the singular HIMs and HERs of the world is a perpetual chase. In a sport rife with unpredictability, identifying who is next, and getting them there, is paramount.
AEW will deliver on Saturday as they always do. It’s good to be excited about the stories behind matches coming in. Time for some previews and predictions for all the matches announced as of Friday morning.
The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. The Golden Jets (Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega)
Here’s the stipulation: If the Jets win, they get the Bucks’ future AEW Tag Team Championship opportunity. If the Bucks win, the Jets must disband as a team.
The Bucks are terrible friends, giving off some of the worst “guys being dudes” energy of all time. Whenever their friends are doing something that is not in service of whatever their weird agenda happens to be, they act like the toddler who was denied another piece of candy. Swerve Strickland breaks into Adam Page’s house? Sorry pal, can’t help you because we need you laser-focused on meaningless Trios titles. Kenny Omega engages in a brief and somewhat understandable dalliance with Chris Jericho? Apologies, my friend but you simply must defeat us in a tag team match or break up forever.
Omega and Jericho have had exactly five matches together as a team. Was their partnership elegantly constructed? Dear readers, it was not. But there are at least some understandable motivations behind it. Both are extremely Canadian and both hate Don Callis. Successful marriages are built on less. Yet, the Bucks are acting like Omega committed high treason.
This is the reason they, in canon, have no friends. Rather than support their friends in their endeavors, be it Omega now or Page in his entire AEW history, they whine and do whatever they can to take the shine away from their so-called friends. Notice only two people listed there? Curious!
The Bucks should always be terrible. They are so good at it.
Prediction: The Golden Jets
Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland (with, sigh, Ric Flair) vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
Is Flair going to get a full entrance on a PPV in 2023? Has it come to this? Usually, AEW’s decisions are, at best, met with fanfare and, at worst, with an eye roll. This is the first time that a “major announcement” — and I’m letting the word “major” carry a lot of water — was met with scorn and disgust by a large portion of AEW fans. The people are upset, and they have a right to be.
Spare me the excuses about Sting and Flair’s history. Bringing the man in for a one-off is one thing. Signing him to a long-term deal that includes a partnership with his terrible energy drink is another altogether. Flair has long since run out of goodwill. He remains a detestable relic that has lost whatever shreds of redeeming charm he had years ago. He deserves no place on our televisions.
The Flair signing is so laughable that I gave it space in #mycolumn before talking about Copeland’s PPV debut. I am trying to remain cautiously optimistic about what the now 50-year-old Copeland — a name I’m still having a hard time typing — can do in AEW on a full-time schedule. We’ve seen first-hand the trouble Bryan Danielson has had with staying healthy and working nearly a full schedule and he’s eight years younger.
Since his return in 2020, Copeland has already had two significant injuries, that being a torn triceps and a sprained MCL. The human body does not get better with age. Our mortal vessels have an expiration date, and we get closer to them every day. This is especially true for older wrestlers. Aging gracefully is rarely a thing in this industry.
Copeland being used like Christian would be the ideal way to get as much out of him as possible. Will he be as captivating as everyone’s favorite patriarch? Doubtful, considering Christian is a top-three act in all of wrestling right now and he’s not third on that list. Cautious in-ring time combined with interesting creative would give Copeland everything he needs to cap off his legendary career.
Prediction: Sting, Allin & Copeland
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland in a Texas Death Match
Swerve is an audacious, velvety performer: moving with a grace that still surprises even though he’s been on our screens for years. His current run in AEW has seen him fully realize all of his gifts. He knows who he is every second he’s on screen and it shows in his presentation. From the detail on his ring gear to the subtle eye and facial movements, everything is calculated and everything works. By any reasonable measure, this is an all-caps STAR with no qualifier needed. Frankly, I am tired of wondering when his rocket will launch. It’s been ready for a long time; someone just needs to hit the ignition switch.
Where Strickland is smooth and cool, Page is emotional and fiery. Far more than his never-ending on again/off again pals in The Elite, Page is the heart and soul of AEW. He is the heartbeat that can sustain the entire company. At his peak, there was no one the crowd got behind more. They desperately cared about him and his success. He is the best pure babyface in the company and should never be far from the main event.
The build to this is as good as anything AEW has done this year. A fired-up Hangman promo remains one of the best things in all of wrestling; it can sell a match by itself. If this rivalry is destined for a rubber match, maybe a last man standing match at Worlds End, so Page needs the win Saturday.
Prediction: Page
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill defend against LFI (Rush & Dralístico), FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood), and Kings of The Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) in a four-way ladder match
One of AEW’s trademarks is the multi-person sprint that over-performs and over-delivers. I think of it as their forever love letter to Pro Wrestling Guerilla. Every team in this match brings something unique and special. Ricky and Big Bill bring charisma, LFI bring chaotic unpredictability, and FTR is FTR with no exposition required. The Kings of The Black Throne bring their own very specific brand of strikes and presence. Throw all these things together and you have the makings of something fast and a whole bunch of fun.
This feels like the perfect show opening match. Let these guys go on first, light up the crowd, and leave it up to the rest of the roster to follow it up.
Prediction: Starks and Big Bill retain
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart and Skye Blue in a three-way
One of the longest-running women’s programs at AEW gets a chance to shine on a big stage. Blue’s black mist-initiated transformation has been an interesting, slow burn. It’s brought a welcome change in her character, taking it from someone who smiles and sticks out their tongue to someone with actual intrigue. Is she affected by the mist? Is she pretending to be affected by the mist? Has she actually been a spooky grump the whole time? Who knows, but those are all questions that can be answered in this match.
Hart as this weird agent of chaotic change in AEW is a fun development. Establishing the black mist as something that can corrupt someone’s heart (pun extremely intended) and change their alignment is a plot device that, if used judiciously and creatively, allows for some interesting storylines in the future. That future is bright. She gets more comfortable with her character each week and the growth in the ring isn’t far behind.
As interesting as this is, it still isn’t time for a title change. Statlander, somehow, gets third billing in this program. She’s still looking for the signature moment in her title reign, and the match or program that we can point to as the defining moment of her reign. Until she gets that, she shouldn’t drop the title.
Prediction: Statlander retains
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
Their first match forever legitimized Cassidy, not that he needed it. Even though he lost, it put the stamp on what was the best championship reign in AEW history — one that saw him throw all of his opponents into his Jansport and carry them to a great match with no skips at all. It established Cassidy as someone who can step into the main event and carry a show. It was a bloody, desperate affair that fundamentally changed him.
His evolution has been incredible. His fixation on beating Moxley and desire to keep the International championship added significant depth to his ever-growing character. For the first time, he cares about something. He’s on my short-list for wrestler of the year — an unfathomable statement to consider even two years ago — and another classic on Saturday could put him near the top of that list.
This sequel has a lot to live up to, but both of these guys always deliver. They are the two most reliable performers in AEW. Moxley gets injured? Better call Orange. Need an emergency World champion? Dial 1-800-Moxley. They might not always be there when you call, but they’re always on time. Like Swerve vs. Page, this is billed as a sequel and most sequels wind up being a trilogy. Moxley needs to win to get us there.
Prediction: Moxley wins the title
AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
Shida, neither pinned nor submitted in 2023, is the true north of the AEW women’s division. She is the ‘home’ button on your GPS. No matter where the company might be or how lost they are, she’s always going to get you right where you need to be. In a division that seems to be in constant need of a stabilizing force at the top, Shida continues to be that. Consistently great between the ropes, she has a knack for building to the big moments on the biggest shows. This is what a true Ace looks like.
I was teetering on the verge of being out on this Storm gimmick (and I still might be) until a few weeks ago when she explained how she ended up this way. Not coming out on top at Wembley Stadium broke her and sent her on a slow descent into madness. A small amount of exposition backstory made her less of a gimmick designed to get catchphrases over and more of an actual character. Granted, something like this has a definitive shelf life and I’m curious if they know how they are going pay this off as they have no idea how to land this plane.
It seems like Storm’s next program will involve the freshly signed Mariah May in an All About Eve-type program. Does she cost her the title here? Or help her win it? I hope it’s the former. Shida deserves a long reign at the top, and the women’s division could use more than one story at a time.
Prediction: Shida retains
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
The build to this has seen the best and worst of MJF. Proven time again to be a top-tier mic worker, MJF often falls into bad habits. Top among them is using his unique connection with the audience to attempt to get anything over, no matter how bad it is. One example specifically: calling Jay White tofu and getting the crowd to chant it.
On the one hand, it speaks to his talent that he can get a crowd to chant “tofu” just by mentioning it and holding up a microphone. On the other hand, it’s getting a crowd to chant “tofu.” It detracts from the moment at hand and serves absolutely nothing. Thankfully, they have moved away from the cringeworthy mic moments over the past month or so and toward a program that asks the existential question: can a person exist without any friends?
MJF has always been a man on an island. Even when part of The Pinnacle, it was Max and everyone else. His relationship with Wardlow was a marriage of convenience. Both of these associations were means to an end for MJF, either to push him up the card or to further establish him there. To him, though, they were real relationships. Of course they were — this is what he thought friendships were supposed to be. They’re supposed to be transactional. What good is someone if they can’t do something to benefit you?
That all changed when he met Adam Cole and got to experience an actual friendship — a reciprocal friendship where someone genuinely cared about him and his success. And now that Cole is gone, Max can identify for the first time what the emptiness in his life was. He wanders around backstage and is reminded of what isn’t there. He is, in many ways, the encapsulation of the loneliness epidemic in America where so many people have no close relationships. Even though he has a friend for the first time, he has never felt more alone.
I’m in total agreement with my colleague, the king Josh Nason, regarding White. He hasn’t been presented like a top guy. If a new fan turns on AEW, would they have any idea he’s a big deal? White is a big deal. He’s a former NJPW Grand Slam champion but isn’t presented that way. Bullet Club Gold is a wildly entertaining group, but nothing about them, or White, sadly, screams World champion. Except White is a world champion. He has been a world champion before and will be one again. It just won’t happen this weekend. Nothing about the build to this signals a title change.
Following Saturday’s edition of Collision, two multi-person title matches are now official for next Saturday’s AEW Full Gear.
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill will put their titles on the line in a four-way match featuring former champions FTR in addition to House of Black’s Malakai Black & Brody King, and LFI’s Rush & Preston Vance.
This will be FTR’s first shot at the titles since losing them to Starks and Bill recently. Both the House of Black and LFI will be looking for their first AEW Tag Team titles.
The other title match will see TBS Champion Kris Statlander against past title challenger Julia Hart and the winner of this Wednesday’s Dynamite match between Red Velvet and Skye Blue.
Hart defeated Willow Nightingale on Collision to earn her slot in the newly-announced title bout. Statlander will be looking for the 15th defense of the gold she won at May’s Double or Nothing. Hart, Velvet and Blue are all still looking for their first AEW title of any kind.
Here’s the current card for next Saturday’s pay-per-view from The Forum in Los Angeles, California:
AEW World Champion MJF defends against Jay White
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Toni Storm
AEW International Champion Orange Cassidy defends against Jon Moxley
AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill defend against FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler), House of Black (Malakai Black & Brody King) and LFI (Rush & Dralistico)
TBS Champion Kris Statlander defends against Julia Hart and Wednesday’s winner of Skye Blue vs. Red Velvet in a three-way
Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland in a Texas Death Match
Sting, Darby Allin & Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage, Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne
The Golden Jets (Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho) vs. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) — Winner gets an AEW Tag Team title shot, Golden Jets disband if they lose
Zero Hour pre-show: ROH Tag Team Champions MJF & mystery partner defend against The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn)
AEW Rampage airs live tonight from Oakland, California with a tag team match set to headline.
FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler will face AAA Mega Champion El Hijo del Vikingo & AAA Cruiserweight Champion Komander in tag team action on tonight’s episode.
Komander & Vikingo wrestled on last week’s Rampage in a Lucha del Dia de los Muertos triple threat match won by Penta El Zero Miedo.
Harwood & Wheeler are coming off a victory in an eight-man tag match on last week’s Collision where they teamed with Preston Vance & Rush of La Faccion Ingobernable against the AEW World Tag Team Champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks, and Mogul Embassy’s Gates of Agony Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun.
FTR is aiming to get back into the Tag Team title picture after dropping the belts to Starks & Big Bill on the October 7 Collision episode and ending their second reign as AEW Tag Team Champions.
**********
Rampage is live for the first time in forever from Oakland, California, with Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on commentary.
Ricky Starks (w/ Big Bill) defeated Preston Vance (w/ Jose the Assistant) (7:13)
Big Bill joined the commentary team. Vance battered Starks in the corner to start. Starks made a brief comeback, but Vance knocked him for a loop with a pump kick. The fight went to the floor, where Vance whipped Starks into the ring barricades. Starks sent Vance into the ringpost head first, then stopped to do commentary on his own match. The fight continued on the floor, with Starks suplexing Vance on the entrance ramp.
Starks continued his dominance through the break, and got a near fall after a legdrop on the ring apron. Vance hit a back elbow, a shoulder block off the middle rope and a series of clotheslines. Vance hit his spinebuster (which is his second best move) to no reaction. Starks reversed a discus lariat into a spinning DDT for a near fall. Vance hit a sit-out death valley driver for another near fall. Vance was getting better reactions during the empty-arena Dark tapings in 2021.
Vance went for a full nelson, but Starks dropped out and into a cradle for two. Vance hit another sit-out death valley driver. Vance was setting up another attempt at the discus lariat, but Bill left commentary and nailed Vance from behind. Starks hit Vance with a spear for a pinfall.
After the match, the tag chaps took some cheap shots on Vance, but Rush and Drulistico came out to make the save.
– Chris Jericho cut a promo with Rene Paquette for his match on Sunday in DDT with Takeshita. After the promo, Schiavone said the match was taking place in the Tokyo Dome, but that can’t be right.
– Lexy Nair wasin the back with Don Callis and Prince Nana, who looked to be negotiating. Callis announced that Brian Cage will be the fourth man in the “Like a Dragon” Street Fight on Wednesday (replacing the presumed to be particiaping Sammy Guevara, who is still out with an injury).
– Lexi Nair interviewed Jeff Jarrett’s crew in the locker room as the parade of interviews continued. Jay Lethal’s promo was interrupted by Ortiz. Lethal and Karen Jarrett warned Ortiz to walk away before he got “jumped,” but Ortiz started swinging anyway and wound up chokeslammed on a production crate.
Red Velvet defeated Ruby Soho (9:04)
Saraya briefly came out with Soho, but went to the back and left Soho to fight alone. Velvet caught Soho with a leg lariat, then worked her over with jabs in the corner. Velvet went for a casadora, but Soho sent her into the ropes, knocking the wind out of Red Velvet.
After a long commercial, Velvet made her comeback. She hit the casadora and a standing moonsault for a near fall. Soho hit pair of backdrop suplexes. Soho sent Velvet headfirst into the middle turnbuckle. Then a production assistant delivered flowers to Soho in the middle of the match. “Apparently she’s got a secret admirer.” Apparently Schivone isn’t watching the TV shows either if he doesn’t’ know who Soho’s admirer is. Velvet got a cradle off the distraction from the flowers, then hit a spinning kick to get the upset victory.
During this match, Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart was announced for Collision.
“No neck November is in full effect, baby!” Roderick Strong dedicated the next match to his best friend, Adam Cole.
The Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) defeated Danny Rose & Ricky Gee (0:48)
Bennett and Taven finished off Rose with the “neck check” which is a jumping neckbreaker out of a power bomb. After the match, Strong sprung from his wheelchair to hit Rose with a backstabber and immediately jumped back into his wheelchair.
– Danny Garcia –with Matt Menard and Angelo Parker– challenged Andrade El Idolo for Collision. Saraya and Ruby Soho interrupted the interview to confront Parker about the mid-match flower delivery. Well, Saraya was more confrontational than Soho, who seemed enamored with the flowers and Parker. Saraya and Menard sent the love birds away in opposite directions, then agreed they “had a problem.” What do they have against love?
Garcia v. Andrade was made official for Collision later in the show.
– In the back, Darius Martin & Action Andretti confronted Roderick Strong & the Kingdom. Strong decided that “DARIUS!” would be his first victim.
FTR defeated Komander & El Hijo Del Vikingo (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (11:42)
Dax Harwood and Komander started the match, and after a brief feeling out period they were off to the races. Komader got a one cout after a dropkick. Komader tagged in Vikingo, and the crowd was solidly behind Vikingo. Vikingo caught Cash Wheeler with a hook kick and an enziguri, then hit a springboard inverted rana. Vikingo went for a high speed plancha, but Wheeler moved and he went headfirst right into the commentary table. The show almost instantly went to a split screen break.
The ring doctor checked on Vikingo during the break, but soon the match was back in the ring. Vikingo did a few spots during the split screen break, and eventually got the tag to Komander. Vikingo and Komander hit a pair of crazy dives coming out of the break.
Harwood rolled through on a top rope crossbody for a near fall. Vikingo hit a top rope dropkick on Harwood, who fell into a cradle from Komader for another near fall. Harwood crotched VIkingo on the top rope. FTR went for the Powerplex, but the Luchadors countered (Komader caught Wheeler with a rana on the top rope, while Vikingo shifted his weight when Harwood went for the superplex into a crossbody). Komader and VIkingo then hit stereo 450s on FTR for another near fall.
Komader did a handspring into a Gory special from Wheeler. Vikingo almost broke his neck again on a Lionsault, but Harwood caught him and hit a tombstone for a near fall. Vikingo countered the slingshot powerbomb into a sunset flip for a near fall, then countered a second attempt at the slingshot powerbomb into a rana and cradle for a near fall.
Harwood hit the slingshot powerbomb on Vikingo on the third try, but Komader had gotten the tag. He cradled Harwood for a near fall. Komander ducked a charg from Harwood, who hit the turnbuckle headfirst. Komader walked the ropes for a shooting star press, but Harwood got out of the way. Komader landed on his feet, but FTR caught him with the Big Rig/Shatter Machine. Wheeler got the pinfall on Komander.
Both teams showed each other respect after the match. This match was absolutely insane. Even though the outcome was never in doubt. it was still the best thing on the show by a country mile.
Just as Schiavone was closing the show, the lights went out, and The House of Black appeared on screen to applaud FTR.
Final Thoughts:
I’m going to be shocked if Vikingo doesn’t wind up out for a bit with a concussion. This show was all about setting up Collision, but check out that main event if you can.
A tag team match has been announced for the Friday, November 10 edition of AEW Rampage.
As revealed during Wednesday’s Dynamite, FTR’s Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler will team against El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander on Friday’s Rampage.
FTR is coming off a victory in an eight-man tag on last Saturday’s Collision show where they teamed with La Faccion Ingobernable’s Rush & Preston Vance in a winning effort against AEW Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill & Gates of Agony’s Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona.
Both Vikingo & Komander were in action on last week’s Rampage in a triple threat match featuring Penta El Zero Miedo where Penta came away with the win. That match was Vikingo’s first on AEW TV since the September 1 Rampage episode where Vikingo & Nick Wayne defeated Kip Sabian & Gringo Loco.
This is the first match announced for this week’s live Rampage episode in Oakland, California airing at 10 p.m. Eastern time.
This Saturday’s Collision show will also be taped Friday in Oakland.
New details have emerged regarding FTR dropping the AEW Tag Team Championships to Ricky Starks & Big Bill.
FTR lost the titles on the October 7 episode of Collision in a match that went under five minutes. Cash Wheeler was chokeslammed through an announce table by Bill in the early going and did not return to the match after. It was originally thought this was done to cover for Wheeler being injured, as people in the company were told he was dealing with broken ribs.
In an update to this story from the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer writes that while Wheeler is banged up, that was not the reason for FTR dropping the titles or the quick match on Collision.
“This was an angle pitched by Dax Harwood. There were those in the company told Cash Wheeler was injured with broken ribs and that was the reason for it,” Meltzer wrote. “We’re told he is banged up, enough to where he was X-rayed but we were told the X-rays showed no broken ribs and he doesn’t need time off and could have done a full match.”
“The idea of the pitch is to do a match where Wheeler was injured and Harwood had to face both men and got blown out without getting much offense in. The idea of dropping the titles and doing it in such a one-sided way to put over Bill & Starks strong and to do something significant to try and help the Collision show,” Meltzer continued.
Prior to title change, AEW had seemingly set up up the next Young Bucks vs. FTR match, as the Bucks won a number one contender’s match at WrestleDream. The original plan was for that match to take place either at Full Gear in Los Angeles or the tapings from Ontario, California the week before.
Starks and Bill said in a post-match promo that FTR will not get a rematch for the belts. However, Meltzer writes that a rematch will likely take place on either the October 28 or November 4 shows.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including an apology from Bryan, a look at WWE Fastlane and Collision from this weekend, both with tag title changes, AEW vs. NXT, tons of news and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
I am back with another episode of Wrestling Observer Live, talking about the latest in professional wrestling.
This week, I discuss the AEW debut of Adam Copeland at last weekend’s WrestleDream and the pending rumor that CM Punk is reportedly negotiating with WWE for a return.
Saturday night, WWE had Fastlane and I run down the card and the best matches. Notably, Cody Rhodes and Jey Uso won the WWE Tag Team titles from the Judgment Day and we saw an excellent Last Man Standing match where Shinsuke Nakamura looked to be back to form against Seth Rollins.
Also, AEW Collision saw a random title change as FTR dropped the Tag Team titles to Big Bill and Ricky Starks. Was this the plan or did something change?
Plus, the Tuesday Night Wars are back as NXT stacked this week’s show to go head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, which is airing on Tuesday due to the baseball playoffs.
Wheeler and Dax Harwood dropped the AEW Tag Team Championships to Ricky Starks and Big Bill to open up Saturday’s episode of Collision. The match went under five minutes.
Wheeler was taken out of the match early when Bill chokeslammed him through the announce table. Bill then gave Harwood several chokeslams before Starks delivered a spear and got the pin.
Wheeler’s status was addressed by our own Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.
“Cash is injured,” Alvarez said.
“That’s what it sure appeared to be,” Meltzer said.
“Well, he is injured, that’s the story,” Alvarez continued. “The story they told on television was it was at the pay-per-view when Aussie Open ran them together, they sold it like he’d injured his rib there.”
FTR cut a promo in the opening moments of Collision about how they were beaten up and hurt going into the match. Wheeler sold his rib in the early going as well.
“(I) don’t know how long FTR is going to be out of action,” Alvarez added.
FTR dropping the tag titles comes after a fourth match against The Young Bucks had seemingly been set up. The Young Bucks won a four-way match at WrestleDream to earn a shot at the belts.
Alvarez also noted that he heard Luchasaurus may have suffered a broken finger on Saturday’s show as well.
Ricky Starks and Big Bill are the new AEW Tag Team Champions.
Starks and Bill defeated FTR in the open of Saturday’s Collision. The story of the match had Big Bill chokeslam Cash Wheeler through a table, putting him out of the match. That allowed Starks to tag in and spear Dax Harwood to win the titles for the first time.
After replays were shown, Wheeler was shown being helped to the back, still recovering from the table spot.
FTR had held the titles for over 180 days, defeating The Gunns back on the April 5 edition of Dynamite. They had recently successfully defended the Tag Team titles against The Young Bucks at All In back in August, and more recently at AEW WrestleDream last weekend, defeating Aussie Open.
On the Saturday before WrestleDream, Starks won an all-star eight man tag team match, pinning FTR. A match for the Tag Team titles was then set for this week’s show. Along with the win on Saturday, Starks also picked up a win at WrestleDream, defeating Wheeler Yuta.
A match for the AEW Tag Team titles has been added to Collision.
It was announced on Wednesday’s Dynamite that FTR will defend the titles against Big Bill and Ricky Starks this Saturday. It was Starks who picked up the win over FTR in an all-star eight man tag on last week’s Collision. FTR are coming off of a successful title defense, defeating Aussie Open at WrestleDream this past Sunday. Starks also won on Sunday, defeating Wheeler Yuta.
Toni Storm will also be in action, taking on Kiera Hogan. Storm officially debuted her new persona, ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm, on Wednesday, defeating Sky Blue. Storm in recent weeks has been airing vignettes showcasing her with a somewhat unstable look as a 1940s star. Hogan most recently lost to Julia Hart on an edition of Collision.
This Saturday’s Collision will have a special start time, airing at 7 pm ET. Here is the updated lineup:
AEW Tag Team titles: FTR defends against Ricky Starks & Big Bill
AEW WrestleDream weekend officially kicks off with tonight’s Collision from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington.
Bryan Danielson will be in eight-man tag team action, teaming with Wheeler Yuta & AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) against Ricky Starks, Big Bill & Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis). Sabre Jr. will join commentary for the match.
Kenny Omega & Chris Jericho will join forces for the first time ever as they face the Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona). The match comes in advance of Omega, Jericho & Kota Ibushi clashing with Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara & Will Ospreay on Sunday.
After Andrade El Idolo recently lost to Jay White on Collision, he will take on another Bullet Club Gold member in Juice Robinson who cost him the match.
Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) will face The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett).
Our cold open promos featured comments from the men in the all-star eight-man tag team match. Elton John played us into Collision from the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington, where WrestleDream will take place tomorrow night. Kevin Kelly & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
Andrade El Idolo defeated Juice Robinson (w/ The Gunns)
This was such a simple, effective, fun opener with two world-class talents. Robinson’s charisma has gotten him over with AEW crowds, and Andrade has been a cornerstone of Collision since its inception. A great start to the show.
No shenanigans from Robinson or the Gunns tonight, upset about the attack on Bullet Club Gold leader Jay White from Wednesday’s Dynamite. No collar and elbow tie-up, as Andrade quickly went for the Figure Four before Robinson escaped the ring. Robinson tried baiting Andrade, but Andrade avoided the attack and remained on offense. Andrade hit a high crossbody, then followed it up with the Three Amigos for a nearfall.
Robinson rolled out of the way of a frog splash attempt, but Andrade adjusted his positioning on the top rope and hit a moonsault to all three Bullet Club Gold members on the floor. Robinson took the attention of the referee, allowing the Gunns to rip Andrade off of the apron and lay the boots into him. Robinson dropped Andrade on the apron before cracking him with an elbow strike. Back in the ring, a neckbreaker scored Robinson a nearfall.
Robinson scored with a senton for a nearfall. Andrade reversed an Irish Whip, then went for the ten punches in the corner. After the ninth punch, Robinson pulled Andrade out of the corner and dumped him face-first on the turnbuckle. Robinson hit a cannonball in the corner as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Andrade fought out of a headlock as we came back from the break, but Robinson dropped Andrade with a side suplex. Andrade fought back with a big chop before ripping at Robinson’s leg with a pair of Dragon Screw leg whips. The Hot and Flexible CJ was seen watching this match, scouting for talent. Robinson got the knees up on Andrade’s double jump moonsault before landing a leg lariat for a nearfall. Andrade fought out of Robinson’s finishing facebuster, sending Robinson into the corner.
Robinson pulled the referee in the way of Andrade’s double knees, before poking Andrade in the eyes. Robinson hit a big layout powerbomb for a nearfall. Robinson went to the top rope for a high crossbody, but Andrade reversed it into a Figure Four attempt. Robinson caught a small package for a nearfall. Andrade hip tossed Robinson into the corner before hitting the double knees. The Gunns tried to stop the Figure Eight, but the referee caught their interference and ejected them from ringside.
Robinson went for a rollup, but Andrade kicked out and hit the spinning back elbow. Andrade hit the hammerlock DDT for the pin and a score of revenge against Bullet Club Gold.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega. Jericho put over the history between them, noting that AEW’s history was built on the rivalry between them. They wanted to figure out how they would co-exist tonight before getting in the ring with their mutual enemy in the Don Callis Family on Sunday. Omega and Jericho agreed that they didn’t like each other, but would have each other’s backs tonight and at WrestleDream.
We got part two of Toni Storm: Portrait of a Star. Storm said that she was peaking now, despite her title loss at Grand Slam. She missed the old days, where all she had to do was put on a backward hat and throw a pie in someone’s face to be loved. But now, you have to bleed and cry to be at the top of the charts. She’s going to remind everyone what a star in this business looks like.
The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) defeated Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
The Kingdom have been very cartoony with the Strong story, but they’re still a great team. This match outperformed my expectations for a mid-show tag team match.
This match came after The Kingdom jumped the Best Friends after a four-way tag match at Rampage: Grand Slam, blaming them for losing the match. The Kingdom came out with suitcases, with McGuinness musing that the men came straight from the airport after tending to Roderick Strong. The Kingdom got a jump start on the match but had to bail after the Best Friends went for dual piledrivers.
Best Friends had control on Bennett, but Taven got a tag in and dropped Beretta with a dropkick. Bennett and Taven took Taylor to the floor with a baseball slide. Bennett avoided a spear from Beretta before hitting a drop toe hold onto Taylor into a chair as we went to a commercial break.
Taylor dropped Bennett with a jumping knee as we came back. Beretta got a tag in and ran wild, catching Taven on a dive and hitting a half-and-half suplex. Beretta hit a double dropkick on both Kingdom members before Taven cut him off with an enzuigiri. Taylor hit Taven with Sole Food on the apron before Beretta hit a tornado DDT for a nearfall. The Kingdom hit a double team on Beretta before taking out Taylor on the floor.
Bennett set up Beretta for a piledriver on the steps, but Beretta reversed it into a Death Valley Driver on the steps. Best Friends hit a Doomsday Knee before giving the people what they wanted with a big hug. They hit the dual piledrivers, but legal man Bennett got his foot on the ropes at two. Some misdirection allowed Bennett to punch both Beretta and Taylor in the wiener before the Kingdom hit the Hail Mary on Taylor for the win.
After the match, Taven took the mic and told Bennett that they had to catch their red-eye flight to get back to Roderick Strong. Taven had a message for Adam Cole. He said that Cole delayed his surgery to have meetings with doctors, but if their friendship ever meant anything to them, he would meet them all at Strong’s home. Or, he could go get surgery like the “selfish prick” he was.
Alex Marvez was backstage looking for Prince Nana. He found him with Don Callis. Callis left without a word. Nana said that after the Gates of Agony were done with Omega & Jericho, they would be in the money.
We got a short video package on the Julia Hart/Kris Statlander TBS Title match for WrestleDream.
Julia Hart (w/ Brody King) defeated Vertvixen
We got chants for Defy, the promotion Vertvixen is a regular in around the Seattle area. Hart dropped Vertvixen with a clothesline before ragdolling her on the mat. Hart clubbered on Vertvixen for a while before Vertvixen dodged a corner charge and hit a pair of forearms in the corner. Hart dropped a charging Vertvixen with boots before hitting a moonsault for the win.
After the match, Hart took the mic and called out Kris Statlander. Statlander came out but brought the Best Friends with her to neutralize Brody King. Both women sent their men to the floor, but Hart bailed before things got physical. Statlander called herself the “defeater of the undefeated” and said that Hart’s time was up tomorrow night. A nice piece of business.
We got a video package from Claudio Castagnoli. He said that he didn’t need a belt to act like a champion and wanted to make a challenge for WrestleDream. That challenge was answered by Josh Barnett, and the match was signed for the WrestleDream Zero Hour.
Chris Jericho & Kenny Omega defeated Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona)
Jericho and Omega worked very well toppling the power team in their first match as a team. It was a different dynamic than I was used to seeing them work, as underdogs against more physically imposing opponents.
Liona started with Jericho, not budging on any of Jericho’s chops before dropping him with a headbutt. The Gates double-teamed Jericho, with Jericho trying and failing to fight out of the corner. Jericho booted Liona on a back body drop attempt before tagging Omega. Liona wasn’t phased by the turnbuckles, so Omega necked him on the ropes before landing a high crossbody. Omega and Jericho worked together to drop Liona with a double suplex before fist-bumping each other.
Liona tried fighting back, but Omega and Jericho dropped him with a double shoulder block. Nana hooked Omega’s leg, allowing Liona to shoulder block Omega into Jericho and knock Jericho off the apron. Kaun tagged in and hit a trio of suplexes for a nearfall. They tied Omega up in the ropes, with Kaun hitting a backstabber and Liona hitting a senton onto the pile.
After a commercial, Omega fought out of the corner and hit a hurricanrana on Kaun. Jericho got the tag in and ran wild, dropping Kaun with a double axe handle before landing the Lionsault. Jericho went for the Walls of Jericho, but Kaun fought to his feet. Jericho went for the Judas Effect but ran into a discus lariat from Liona. Liona went for a corner charge on Omega but missed and got dropkicked off the apron. Jericho hit the Codebreaker on Kaun, with Omega following with a V-Trigger. Omega hit a dive onto Liona, allowing Jericho to score the win with the Walls of Jericho.
After the match, Jericho took to the mic and said that tonight proved that the two of them could work together. Omega said that this was bigger than the both of them and that this was about Don Callis. Callis had Omega brainwashed, but Omega is awake now. Omega said that Callis spent $30,000 on flights for both himself and Takeshita to try and take out Kota Ibushi. It wasn’t enough, and the original Alpha would spell the end for Don Callis. Jericho called Sammy Guevara a real Judas. Jericho said that he would be the villain at WrestleDream and ruin Guevara’s life.
We got a video of The Righteous. They said that no one could hurt the two of them as badly as they could hurt themselves. They said they would tear the bond between Cole and MJF by taking the ROH World Tag Team Titles.
We got a video package for the Darby Allin/Christian Cage TNT Title match at WrestleDream. Allin said that he’s waited a long time to main event a PPV and that the TNT Title is the only thing that gives him validation. Cage said that he asked for this best-of-three falls match to expose Allin in his hometown.
The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) defeated Travis Williams & Judas Icarus
Vincent came out on crutches before throwing them away. Another Defy chant for the locals, who got a quick advantage on Vincent. Vincent dropped Icarus with a back elbow before tagging in Dutch, who fought through Icarus’ strikes to drop him with a chop. Dutch and Vincent worked together to clobber the two men before hitting the Autumn Sunshine on Icarus for the win.
After the match, Vincent took to the microphone and told Dutch to look at the paper people in the crowd. They say that MJF is the devil, who pulls the strings on that liar Adam Cole. They’re going to win the titles and leave the Devil with one hoof, just like Cole. Dutch pulled out a wooden board and a chair. Vincent stuck the board between Icarus’ feet and smashed his foot with a chair before leaving. I see that they’re big fans of Kathy Bates.
We got a video package for the WrestleDream match between Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata for both the ROH World & NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship.
We got a rundown of the WrestleDream card. A mixed eight-person tag was added to Zero Hour, as the team of Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Mercedes Martinez, & Diamante will take on Keith Lee, Satoshi Kojima, Athena, & Billie Starkz. Alrighty then.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with TMDK (Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, & Bad Dude Tito). The Acclaimed quickly interrupted them to remind them that everyone loves The Acclaimed. Haste gave his own freestyle, which went as well as you would expect.
Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis), Big Bill & Ricky Starks defeated Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Wheeler Yuta) & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)
The traditional Collision multi-man main event was a lively affair. The finish seemed mistimed, but they got the crowd back in time for the important staredown with Sabre and Danielson. This was an excellent go-home show for WrestleDream, as the Seattle crowd brought the energy and kicked off the big weekend with a bang.
Zack Sabre Jr. joined commentary, alongside Jim Ross. Starks started with Wheeler, although Starks quickly bailed out when Yuta tagged in. Fletcher came in and got outpaced by Yuta. Harwood came in but got forced into the opposite corner where Davis tagged in. The two men traded chops as Sabre made jokes about Danielson phoning it in. Davis sent Harwood to the floor where we got a standoff as we went to commercial.
Harwood hit Fletcher with a back suplex as we came back from commercial. Harwood fought for a tag, but Fletcher cut him off with a clothesline to the back of the neck. Harwood split the uprights on Fletcher and got a tag to Wheeler, who ran wild on Aussie Open. Wheeler sent Big Bill to the floor, which allowed Fletcher to hit a big bodyslam.
Yuta got a blind tag, which saw him run wild on Fletcher. Starks tried to interfere, but Yuta trapped him and hit the hammer and anvil elbows. He fought off both Starks and Bill until Starks baited him into a big boot from Bill. Yuta got worked on by the opposing team, with Aussie Open hitting a cool back suplex throw into a powerbomb for a nearfall.
After another commercial, Yuta took down Starks as Danielson riled the crowd up for a tag. Danielson got the tag and ran wild on Starks. Danielson sidestepped a spear and hit a dive to Starks on the floor. Danielson hit a missile dropkick before hitting the running dropkicks in the corner. Starks cut him off with a clothesline before setting up the Rochambeau. Danielson slipped away, but Starks got the tornado DDT and got the tag to Big Bill.
Bill went for a chokeslam, but Danielson transitioned it into the LeBell Lock. Fletcher broke up the hold, leading to a Pier Six brawl. Danielson’s team all hit the big kicks on their respective opponents. Harwood hit a diving headbutt on Bill before Fletcher broke the pin. Harwood and Bill were left in the ring. Bill missed a corner charge but kicked off a Sharpshooter attempt. Bill and Starks then hit a spear and chokeslam combination for the win. It looked like someone missed a cue, as it didn’t look like anyone was ready for that to be the finish.
After the match, Danielson dropped Bill with a running knee before everyone brawled to the back. Danielson turned his attention to Sabre, who came into the ring. Sabre shoved Danielson a couple of times before Danielson slapped him in the face. Danielson went for the LeBell Lock, but Sabre escaped. They stared each other down as the show went to black.
