AEW has booked a couple of new matches for this weekend’s event in Texas.
With Collision taking place in the Houston area this Saturday, AEW sent out a Spanish-language announcement today advertising two ROH taping matches for that night. ROH Television Champion Komander is putting his title on the line against Lee Johnson. Plus, there will be a trios match involving five CMLL stars. It will be Sammy Guevara, Fuego & Dark Panther vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr.
Komander has been ROH TV Champion since winning the belt at Final Battle in December 2024. Johnson earned this title shot by going to a 10-minute time limit draw against Komander in a Proving Ground match on ROH TV last week.
Fort Bend County Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas is the venue for Saturday’s event. Here is everything that has been announced:
AEW Collision (Saturday, February 8) —
Harley Cameron concert
Bandido vs. Bryan Keith
Kyle Fletcher vs. Mark Briscoe
Thunder Rosa vs. Penelope Ford
Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. Shane Taylor & The Infantry (Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean) vs. Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker
ROH taping —
ROH TV Champion Komander defends against Lee Johnson
Sammy Guevara, Fuego & Dark Panther vs. Hechicero, Barbaro Cavernario & Soberano Jr.
There were also three ROH matches taped at AEW Dynamite last night. Spoilers can be found here.
New matches have been confirmed for next month’s Battle in the Valley.
NJPW confirmed that Zack Sabre Jr. will meet CMLL’s Hechicero for their event on January 11 in San Jose. This will be the rubber match, with Hechicero first picking up a win in Mexico, while Sabre picked up his win in London.
Sume Sakai’s retirement match is also set. After Hiromu Takahashi picked Mayu Iwatani and Yuka Sakazaki as his partners, Sumie Sakai revealed she will be teaming with House of Torture’s EVIL and SHO, two people that she helped during their time on excursion in the United States.
A match for the New Japan Strong Tag Team titles will also be on the line, with YOH and Rocky Romero teaming together to challenge new champions Jorel Nelson & Royce Issacs. The World Class Wrecking Crew destroyed Rocky Romero after he issued the challenge at Strong Style Evolved following their title win.
Another tag team will see Matt Vandagriff & Fred Rosser set to take on TMDK’s Shane Haste and Bad Dude Tito.
Here is the updated card for NJPW Battle in the Valley:
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Hechicero
NJPW Strong Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Tomohiro Ishii
Sumie Sakai retirement match: Hiromu Takahashi, Yuka Sakazaki, and Mayu Iwatani vs. Sumie Sakai, EVIL, and SHO
New Japan Strong Tag Team titles: Jorel Nelson & Royce Issacs defend against Rocky Romero & YOH
Fred Rosser & Matt Vandagriff vs. TMDK (Shane Haste & Bad Dude Tito)
Various CMLL stars are on their way back to AEW Dynamite.
Announced during Saturday’s episode of Collision, Hechicero, Atlantis Jr. and Mascara Dorada will be part of this Wednesday’s Dynamite from Reading, Pennsylvania.
The following Wednesday on the Thanksgiving Eve edition of Dynamite from Chicago, Mistico will return to the AEW ring.
Opponents for the four men were not announced.
It will be Hechicero’s first AEW appearance since this past June’s Forbidden Door when he was defeated by MJF. Atlantis Jr. last appeared in October in a Collision loss to Kyle Fletcher while Dorada’s last appearance was this past February as part of a trios match.
Mistico hasn’t been in AEW since an August Collision tag team match when he teamed up with Hologram.
After a fake graphic made its way to social media last month, AEW officials said they indeed were interested in making a match between Konosuke Takeshita and Dorada but it remains to be seen whether that happens Wednesday.
A CMLL duo has issued a challenge to two members of TMDK for NJPW Capital Collision.
CMLL’s Hechicero & Virus have challenged TMDK’s Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls to a tag team match for the Friday, August 30 Capital Collision event in Washington, DC in a new video posted to X Friday:
Already announced for the show are NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone in action, Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defending against Lio Rush, plus three more bouts. Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Tomohiro Ishii are among the other NJPW stars featured in advertising for the event.
Capital Collision will stream on NJPW World pay-per-view on Friday, August 30 from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in DC.
The lineup to this point:
NJPW Strong Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone in action
NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Gabe Kidd defends against Lio Rush
Zack Sabre Jr. vs. Titan
Tom Lawlor & Fred Rosser vs. Jorel Nelson & Royce Isaacs
Trish Adora vs. HANAKO
Hechicero & Virus vs. TMDK’s Shane Haste & Mikey Nicholls
With just 24 hours to go before Forbidden Door, AEW Collision airs tonight from Buffalo, New York.
One of the key matches will see Deonna Purrazzo vs. Hikaru Shida in a women’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament match. Shida is making her return to AEW after an absence while Purrazzo has momentum following a recent victory over Thunder Rosa in a no DQ match.
Saturday’s show will also see many of the stars competing at Forbidden Door in action. Hechicero will face Kevin Blackwood while Stephanie Vaquer will take on Lady Frost. Orange Cassidy & Tomohiro Ishii will team up to take on TMDK’s Robbie Eagles & Shane Haste, while El Phantasmo, Jack Perry & Konosuke Takeshita will face Mark Briscoe, Lio Rush & Dante Martin before all six square off in a ladder match to determine a new TNT Champion.
Daniel Garcia, who will face Will Ospreay for the International title on next week’s Dynamite, faces The Butcher while Serena Deeb will also be in action.
Haste demanded to know what was in Cassidy’s pockets before the match, but I don’t think he ever got an answer. Cassidy and Eagles had a good sequence where they exchanged arm drags back and forth. Cassidy booted Haste off the apron and sent Eagles headfirst into the buckles. Haste dropped Cassidy back-first on the ring apron, and Eagles followed out with a tope con hilo to regain control.
Cassidy took a beating during a split-screen break, then made the tag to Ishii. Ishii ran through Eagles, then dropped Haste with a Saito-style back suplex for a near fall. Haste was double teamed in the babyface corner. A suplex from Ishii set up Haste for a top rope elbow from Cassidy for a near fall.
Haste countered an Orange Punch attempt from Cassidy with a falcon arrow. Eagles got the tag and got a Slumdog Millionaire from Cassidy. Eagles dodged the Orange Punch and caught Cassidy with a rollup. Cassidy caught Eagles with the Beach Break out of nowhere and got the pinfall.
House of Black v. Private Party v. Roderick Strong & Gabe Kidd v. Tomohiro Ishii & Kyle O’Reilly was announced for the Zero Hour pre-show during this match.
– A teaser video aired for the return of Hangman Adam Page. He’s apparently been drinking in his kid’s room since he’s been suspended. Don’t worry, he moved the kid out first. And it looks like he’s still after Swerve Strickland.
– Chris Jericho and the Learning Tree gave advice to the trainer about how to tape a wrist. Did you know that every time you visit the trainer, if you take a roll of tape with you, you won’t have to pay for it later? Follow the Learning Tree for more money saving tips!
Stephanie Vaquer defeated Lady Frost (7:08 aired)
Vaquer holds the CMLL World Women’s Championship and the New Japan Strong Women’s Championship. Mercedes Mone came down to ringside to watch the match
Vaquer took Frost down with a body scissor, then locked in a STF. Vaquer locked eyes with Mone while Frost crawled to the ropes. Frot sent Vaquer to the floor with a kick, and Frost and Vaquer fought right in front of Mone. Frost looked pretty good until she tried a handstand on the apron, and Vaquer hit her with a superkick and it looked like her face collapsed.
After the break, Frost escaped a package piledriver and hit a flying clothesline. Frost hit a gamigiri in the corner, then followed up with a cartwheel cannonball. The crowd was chanting for Frost, who hit a tornio for a near fall. Frost came back with a superkick and a spinning DDT for a near fall. Vanquer hit a series of headbutts in the corner and a dragon screw leg whip. Vaquer used a package piledriver into a backbreaker to finish off Frost. Lady Frost continues to impress in these losses.
After the match, Mone took the ring and held up her belt. Vaquer left, but Zeuxis ran in and attacked Mone. Zeuxis and Vaqueer laid Mone out.
– Lexi Nair interviewed The Lucha Bros. Himormu Takahashi & Titan showed up to challenge the Lucha Bros to the six man, Los Ingobernables v. Death Triangle. PAC is focused on the Owen Hart tournament, so Parka counters with Luncha Bros & Mistico. It felt like they shot an angle for a match we’ve known about for a few days now.
Serena Deeb defeated Kelly Madan (1:14)
Deeb won with the Deebtox.
After the match, Deeb got on the mic and demanded an opponent more on her level. Riho came from the back dressed in street clothes to accept the challenge. Crowd was happy to see Riho back, who must have had lifts in her shoes to stand eye to eye with Deeb.
– More in the back with the Learning Tree, who made sure everyone washes their hands after using the bathroom. “Germs spread really easily this time of year!”
–Chris Jericho wanted to double-check with the Zamboni crew to make sure it was properly maintained, but found Samoa Joe’s crew in the back instead. The fight spilled into the arena (Bryan Keith was holding up pretty well even though his arm was in a sling). Eventually they got to the ring, and Jeff Cobb ran in to help the heels. Cobb and Joe had a huge stand-off in the ring, and Cobb planted Joe with a spinebuster. Jeff Cobb is officially Jericho and Bill’s partner for Forbidden Door.
– A video package hyped up Zach Sabre, Jr. for his match with Orange Cassidy. Afterwards, Lexi Nair interviewed Cassidy about the match, this was interrupted by Sable, who told Cassidy he knew all of his tricks and would beat him Sunday.
Hechicero defeated Kevin Blackwood (2:21)
Blackwood had a cheering section in the crowd, being a local of Buffalo. It didn’t help. Hechicero mauled Blackwood from the opening bell. Hechicero flattened him with a flapjack, then took him down with a spinning hammerlock into a backbreaker. Hechicero tied up Blackwood’s arms and got the tap out.
– Lexi Nair interviewed the Patriarchy. The Bang Bang Gang interrupted and talked a lot of trash about Christian Cage and his group. Oddly, Cage offered no response.
Daniel Garcia vs. The Butcher in the Battle of Buffalo (8:59)
The fight went to the floor early. Garica propped Butcher up in a chair and hit him with a shotgun dropkick. Garcia tried a second time, but Butcher caught him and dropped him back first on the steel barricade.
After a long split-screen break, Butcher hit a backbreaker and a clothesline for a near fall. Garcia came back with a series of boots. Garcia countered a suplex attempt with a Twist and Shout neckbreaker. Garcia resorted to biting in the corner. Garcia tried for a pair of clotheslines that barely moved the big man. Garica caught him running with a third clothesline that knocked the Butcher down. Garcia then dropped Butcher with a piledriver and got the pinfall.
This looked good, but most of the match happened during the split screen commercials.
After the match, Garica held up Butcher’s hand in a sign of respect and the Buffalo natives walked to the back together.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Will Ospreay, and they were interrupted by the Don Callis family. Ospreay again reiterated that he wanted to win the World Title on his own, but did ask Kyle Fletcher to come out with him for the weigh-in later tonight. After Fletcher and Ospreay left, Rush entered the picture to talk to Callis.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Jack Perry about tonight’s six man tag featuring all the opponents from the ladder match. Perry never agreed to the match. Christopher Daniels interrupted to make sure that Perry knew if he skipped out on the six man tag, he was also out of the ladder match at Forbidden Door.
Hikaru Shida defeated Deonna Purrazzo in a Quarterfinal Match in the Owen Hart Women’s Tournament (8:08)
Shida dropped Purrazzo with an enziguri. Shida tossed Purrazzo to the floor, then came off the middle rope with a crossbody to the floor. Purrazzo caught Shida with a stomp to the arm and a pump kick to take control.
After another long split-screen break, Shida was in control. Shida hit a pair of knee strikes for a near fall. Purrazzo countered a falcon arrow attempt with a leg sweep. Shida swung wildly and Purrazzo caught her with an armbar. Shida escaped by getting to the bottom rope. Shida came off the top with a kick and hit a Falcon Arrow. She went for a cover, but Purrazzo countered with a cradle. Shida reversed the cradle for her own near fall, then hit Purrazzo with a Katana kick for the pinfall.
Purrazzo jumped Shida after the match ended, but was saved from a beating with the kendo stick from Thunder Rosa.
– Another heartfelt Jeff Jarrett promo about the Owen Hart tournament, this time with words of encouragement from the rest of his crew.
Jack Perry, El Phantasmo & Konsuke Takeshita defeated Mark Briscoe, Dante Martin & Lio Rush
It looked like Perry would start out, but immediately tagged out to Takeshita. Lio Rush caught Takeshita with a cradle, and then ate a huge boot that put him down. Takeshita aggressively tagged in Phantasmo, who caught a dropkick from Rush. Tags were made on the babyface side, and they all hit Phantasmo with avalanche clotheslines. Phantasmo got triple teamed in the babyface corner.
Phantasmo took a beating from the babyfaces.. They did a great job cutting him off from his corner, not that it really mattered since neither of his partners were really waiting for a tag. When he finally did get to his corner to get a tag from Perry, Perry dropped to the floor. Marik Briscoe dove at Perry and caught him with a dropkick on the floor.
The heels were having a hard time working together, and Dante Martin took both Phantasmo and Takeshita down with a hurricanrana. Briscoe got the tag and took it to Takeshita and ELP. Birscoe knocked ELP out of the ring with an enziguri. Briscoe hit a fisherman’s buster for a near fall, broken up by Jack Perry.
Briscoe set up ELP for the Jay Driller, but Phantasmo escaped and hit a superkick. Lio Rush got the tag and took Takeshita out with a dive to the floor. Phantasmo took Rush out with a dive, and Dante Martin took Phantasmo out with a dive.
Back in the ring, Rush and Martin hit Phantasmo with frog splashes for a near fall, again broken up by Perry. Brischo went for a cannonball on Perry, who ducked. Takeshita suplexed Rush over his head. He tried the same with Dante Martin, who landed on his feet. Marin tried for a top rope rana, and got it after Takeshita initially blocked the move. Martin went to the top, but Perry pushed him down. Martin took Perry out with a kick, but Takeshita hit Martin with a blue thunder bomb and a running knee to get the pinfall.
After the match, Perry ran in and hit Takeshita with the TNT belt. Phantasmo hit Perry with a superkick, and Rush hit Phantasmo with a stunner. Rush and Martin engaged in a brief tug of war with the TNT belt. Brischo leveled his own partners with a ladder, then took everyone out with a sommersault dive off the top of the ladder to the floor.
World Championship Weigh-In for the Forbidden Door Main Event.
Prince Nana welcomed us to the weigh-in, brought to us by Prince Nana Coffee, which is a real thing. Ospreay came out first with Fletcher. Ospreay’s official weight is 220 pounds. Swerve then came out with five guys, including “Buffallo hip-hop royalty” Westside Gun. You could tell how important this is because Nana doesn’t dance when Swerve’s music played. Swerve weighed in a 230 pounds. Nana directs both guys to stand off for the official fight photos for tomorrow night, and of course they get in each other’s face and start jawing. Then, they pose for photographs. Ospreay tells Swerve he’s got 24 hours before he knocks the grill out of his mouth. Strickland responded that he’s a businessman, and suggested he’d offer his wife a contract. That’s all it took for Ospreay to shove Strickland. Both crews were able to keep them separated for a bit, but the Ospreay killed Strickland with a Hidden Blade out of nowhere. Strickland sold the move like a million bucks.
This was a great show-closing angle and a tremendous hard sell for the main event tomorrow night.
Overall the show-closing angle and the Adam Page teaser made for a pretty noteworthy Collision.
In a trios bout, The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Nick Wayne & Killswitch) will take on the Iron Savages (Bronson, Boulder & Jacked Jameson) as Cage’s team continues their hopeful march toward an AEW Trios title shot.
After last week’s backstage attack by The Patriarchy on Buddy Matthews, the House of Black will attempt to soldier on as Malakai Black & Brody King face two indie wrestlers in LSG & MSG.
Ahead of her title defense against Mina Shirakawa at Forbidden Door, AEW World Women’s Champion Toni Storm will team with Shirakawa ally and her own friend Mariah May against Leyla Hirsch & Lady Frost.
CMLL star Hechicero will prepare for his Forbidden Door bout against former AEW World Champion MJF as he battles Matt Menard.
The additions join the previously announced Will Ospreay vs. Brian Cage International title match and Kazuchika Okada vs. Ultimo Guerrero in a Continental title eliminator match.
Here’s the card:
Kazuchika Okada vs. Ultimo Guerrero in an AEW Continental title eliminator
AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Brian Cage
Samoa Joe, Hook & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Premier Athletes (Tony Nese, Ari Daivari & Josh Woods)
Chris Jericho & Big Bill vs. Private Party
Hechicero vs. Matt Menard
Toni Storm & Mariah May vs. Leyla Hirsch & Lady Frost
Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black & Brody King) in action
The Patriarchy (Christian Cage, Killswitch & Nick Wayne) vs. The Iron Savages (Bronson, Boulder & Jacked Jameson)
Two new matches have been added to Forbidden Door on June 30.
Bryan Danielson and Shingo Takagiwill face off in a Owen Hart Foundation tournament quarterfinal. That match was announced during Wednesday’s Dynamite main event, which Danielson was doing commentary for. He said he couldn’t wait for Dragon vs. Dragon and loved the idea of facing Takagi in the first round.
This will be the second time the two have met in a singles match. Their previous encounter took place at a Dragon Gate USA event back in 2010, which Danielson won.
After MJF defeated Rush in the open on Wednesday’s Dynamite, The Cage of Agony appeared on the screen. Brian Cage told MJF that Nicholas and Matthew Jackson had made a match beteween MJF and Hechicero for Forbidden Door. However, Tony Schiavone said only Tony Khan or Christopher Daniels could make that match, and by the end of the show it was not confirmed.
Tony Khan ended up making the match official hours after Dynamite had ended:
CMLL’s Hechicero vs. Dalton Castle has been added to the lineup for AEW Collision’s first anniversary show.
The new match for the Saturday, June 15 Collision was announced during Friday’s AEW Rampage episode.
Hechicero made his AEW debut in a winning effort in a trios match on the February 2 Rampage, and has since dropped three straight matches in AEW. His most recent AEW appearance came in the casino gauntlet match on the May 29 Dynamite.
The updated lineup for the Saturday, June 15 AEW Collision 1st anniversary episode:
Forbidden Door TNT title ladder match qualifier: Dante Martin vs. Lee Moriarty
No DQ: Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazzo
Christian Cage’s Father’s Day special
Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Wheeler Yuta & Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rocky Romero, Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls & Lio Rush
Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn vs. Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews
The legal games involving the Janel Grant lawsuit against Vince McMahon. The arguments for arbitration, McMahon’s side goes after Janel Grant’s character, why Vince can’t produce the text messages, and WWE and McMahon file new arguments.
AEW going to tape Collisions & ROH leading up to All In, all in Arlington, TX. We look at the good and the bad as well as the significance to this move
The crazy competition the first AEW show in the building wll face
Update on King and Queen of the Ring as well as AEW Double or Nothing. What to look for on both shows.
Full detailed rundown of New Japan Resurgence
The death of inDemand, a company that was a huge part of the wrestling and boxing business for decades
Huge historical feature on the life of Bob Bruggers, as well as the 1972 Verne Gagne training camp that produced five Hall of Fame candidates of its six trainees and background of Ken Patera, Ric Flair, Greg Gagne, Jim Brunzell and Iron Sheik
The most detailed look at the ratings of all the pro wrestling and MMA TV shows this past week
The biggest trouble spot AEW faces
The weekly rankings for wrestling, quarter hours, competition for the shows and more
Arena Mexico big show update
AAA doing a feuding authority figure angle
NWA deal with All Japan
Behind the new executive who will be in charge of three different pro wrestling companies at the same time
New Japan Super Juniors coverage
One of the biggest drawing cards of the last 40 years to announce his retirement details this week
Another of the biggest stars of the last 40 years enters sports Hall of Fame
Billy Corgan talks TV deal for NWA
Homicide talks injuries
Death of wrestler and horror stories about warring with Eddie Graham
MLW breaks records and gets its most mainstream media ever
New AEW licensing deals
Konosuke Takeshita talks frustrations in AEW
Advance ticket sales for AEW & WWE shows
More on Dwayne Johnson’s next movie
Details of the most expensive sports ticket I’ve ever heard of
Dana White talks WWE PPVs on Sundays and update
What Las Vegas is expecting as far as tourism for WrestleMania
More behind the departures of two more WWE executives
Lots of injury updates
Streaming numbers and international TV numbers
Sami Zayn’s first comedy show looked at
WWE arena notes and weekend business
This week’s Wresting Observer Newsletter back issue:
WWE has uploaded the Jey Uso vs. Gunther semifinal King of the Ring tournament match from Monday’s Raw.
Tickets for NXT Battleground at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas go on sale this Friday at 10 am PT on AXS.com.
The company’s Instagram showed IYO SKY reacting backstage following her Queen of the Ring semifinal loss.
After the latest QR code tease on Raw had coordinates to Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey, they wrote on X: “@WWE are you planning to visit campus??”
Following the announcement of WWE heading to Japan later this year, NJPW’s Gabe Kidd posted a message to Cody Rhodes: “STAY OUT OF MY TERRITORY BEFORE I SLAP YOU UP AND TAKE YOUR BELT AGAIN.”
Alba Fyre posted on Instagram that her mother passed away, writing: “The world won’t be the same without you, love you mum.”
AEW/Other Wrestling
Tony Khan announced that this week’s episode of Dynamite will have an overrun: “This week is @AEW’s 5 year anniversary! Thank you all who watch AEW! We’re celebrating Sunday where it all began 5 years ago: #AEWDoN ppv @MGMGrand! But before DON, an exciting go-home Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite tomorrow! Thanks to @TBSNetwork, we’ll have an overrun TOMORROW!”
Bryan Danielson on X wrote about his upcoming match against Satnam Singh: “The Elite put a price on my head, and now tomorrow night I’ll go 1 on 1 with @hellosatnam on #AEWDynamite at @MechanicsBArena in Bakersfield, CA. Is Satnam the biggest man I’ve ever wrestled?!!! I LOVE these types of challenges @AEW”
Several luchadors from CMLL could receive US work visas in the coming weeks.
In February, it was reported that several CMLL stars were not going to be able to work in the United States following a breakdown in communication between CMLL and a Texas-based independent promotion, Full Blown Pro Wrestling, who had been sponsoring their visa applications.
Our own Dave Meltzer provided an update on the situation in yesterday’s Daily Update.
“We are told the situation with several CMLL wrestlers and their visas is sorting itself out, and for some, it could be as early as this coming week to be sorted out,” Meltzer wrote. “The key names this impacts are Soberano Jr., Templario, Blue Panther (who Bryan Danielson wanted to wrestle), Dulce Gardenia, Sagrado, Capitan Suicida, Espiritu Negro, Euforia, Fugaz, Robin, Sangre Imperial, and Los Gemelo Diablos.”
Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez addressed the situation on the most recent edition of Wrestling Observer Radio, noting that CMLL stars who had appeared on AEW programming, such as Mistico, Hechicero, Volador Jr, and Mascara Dorada, already have their visas.
“Everyone who has appeared in AEW has nothing to do with this, they already have their visas. What happened was an independent promotion got visas for a lot of the CMLL guys long before AEW was using them,” Meltzer said on the show.
“Rush is back as you saw on Saturday night. He had been having a visa issue as well. Dralistico I’m presuming should be back, although he hasn’t been back yet,” he continued.
For the first time ever, Bryan Danielson will take on CMLL star Hechicero as part of tonight’s AEW Collision from Edinburg, Texas.
The CMLL foursome of Hechicero, Volador Jr., Mistico and Mascara Dorada made their AEW presence felt this week, attacking Danielson’s Blackpool Combat Club partner Jon Moxley on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
After last week’s victory over the House of Black in an Escape the Cage match, FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) will again team with Daniel Garcia as they face TNT Champion Christian Cage and The Patriarchy (Killswitch & Nick Wayne).
AEW Continental Crown Champion Eddie Kingston will be in non-title action as he takes on Bryan Keith.
Serena Deeb will look to get a win streak going following her recent return to AEW after a lengthy absence as she faces Queen Aminata who is still in search of her first-ever AEW victory.
Mark Briscoe will also be heard from on the show.
**********
After a week off, Sir Elton John welcomed us to Collision. Tony Schiavone, Kevin Kelly, & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
Proving Ground Match – AEW Continental Champion Eddie Kingston defeated Bryan Keith
This was an excellent back-and-forth fight, as these two battered each other for the better part of fifteen minutes. The match really picked up after the commercial, and the nearfalls got more believable for both men as time went on. Keith getting the official graphic after this match was well-earned, as he has had several good showings since coming onto AEW’s radar.
After a lockup, Keith tagged Kingston with a palm strike. Kingston blocked another palm strike before knocking Keith down with a chop. Kingston chopped Keith a couple times before dumping him with an overhead suplex. Keith came back, trading headbutts with Kingston before Kingston caught him with more chops.
Keith refused to fall to more chops, firing back at Kingston with elbows before dropping him with a low dropkick and a running boot. Keith hit a crescent kick, but Keith only got a one count. Keith hit a jumping knee that sent Kingston to the floor, then sent Kingston into the barricade with an Irish whip. Keith laid in elbow strikes but ran into a belly-to-belly suplex as we went to commercial.
After a commercial, Kingston fought off a charging Keith in the corner. He went to the top rope, but Keith hit a headbutt that sent Kingston to the floor. Kingston tried to fight back into the ring, but Keith booted him to the floor and hit a cannonball to the floor. Keith hit a Yakuza kick and hit a Northern Lights Bomb for a nearfall. Keith couldn’t hook up the Tiger Driver, instead getting hit with an Exploder suplex. Keith came back with an Exploder of his own before hitting the Tiger Driver for a big nearfall.
Kingston reversed an Irish Whip with a backfist. Keith caught Kingston with a rising knee, but Kingston hit a Saito suplex for a nearfall. Kingston hit the machine gun chops in the corner, but Keith exploded out with an enzuigiri. Kingston caught Keith in a sleeper hold, then drilled Keith with a DDT for a nearfall. Keith came back with palm strikes, but Kingston put him down with a second backfist to score the win.
After the match, Tony Schiavone got in the ring and complimented Kingston on his match. Kingston put over Schiavone’s wife Lois, then told him to talk to Keith. Schiavone announced that Keith was officially All Elite, with the graphic appearing on the big screen. His home state cheered him as Kingston congratulated him, but Bryan Danielson’s music hit. Danielson, whose match was next, brushed past Kingston to raise Keith’s hand. Kingston was annoyed and left.
We got a recap of the CMLL luchadores attacking Jon Moxley on Dynamite. We cut to a video of Moxley from after Dynamite, where he said that the fight reminded him of a night in the drunk tank in Laredo. He said that the BCC had no reason to disrespect the CMLL wrestlers, but they came into his house and disrespected him. If the CMLL wrestlers thought they were lazy American wrestlers like “the guys on the other channel,” they were wrong. Moxley said that they better hope the BCC don’t show up to their house.
Bryan Danielson defeated Hechicero
An incredible showing from Hechicero, as his transitions and submission holds were dazzling. The announcers hyped him up as one of Mexico’s greatest technical wrestlers, and he lived up to the billing here. Despite this being a clean win for him, it felt like Danielson stole away with this win. The CMLL vs. BCC feud is a winner so far.
The announcers put over Hechicero’s technical ability, calling him the best technical wrestler out of Mexico in the last 20 years. The two got into matching leg locks before Hechicero caught Danielson in a pin for a nearfall. Danielson locked on a Romero Special, but Hechicero quickly escaped and locked one on before rolling through several times. The crowd chanted for Hechicero as McGuinness praised him. Danielson turned to strikes, clubbering Hechicero in the corner with kicks. Danielson went for a top rope Frankensteiner, but Hechicero turned it into a sunset flip for a nearfall. Hechicero hit a wild guillotine legdrop tijeras before spinning Danielson into a choke that forced Danielson to the ropes.
After a commercial, Hechicero forced Danielson into the corner with strikes. The announcers put over how Hechicero was out-wrestling Danielson. Danielson vaulted over Hechicero to start his comeback, but Hechicero caught him with a step-up dropkick and a rising knee. Hechicero went to the top rope with Danielson, but Danielson knocked him down with a headbutt. Danielson went for the diving headbutt, but Hechicero caught him in an armbar that he transitioned into a pin for a nearfall.
Hechicero caught Danielson with a choke over the ropes before sending Danielson to the floor. Hechicero followed Danielson to the floor with a Superman dive. Hechicero went for a springboard dive into the ring, but Danielson caught him with a double underhook transition into the LeBell Lock. Hechicero got out of the hold and transitioned into a wild submission that tied Danielson up like a pretzel.
Danielson got to the ropes, then took Hechicero down with kicks. Danielson hit the middle kicks, but Hechicero caught the head kick and turned it into a spinning hammerlock backbreaker. Danielson ducked the rising knee and took Hechicero down with a Dragon Screw. Danielson went for the Busaiku Knee, but Hechicero reversed it into a pin for a nearfall. Hechicero locked on a submission, but Danielson turned it into a pin cover to score the win.
After the match, Hechicero jumped Danielson and laid in the boots, but Claudio Castagnoli ran him off.
FTR & Daniel Garcia were backstage with Lexy Nair, who asked if this trio would continue after their cage match win last week. Garcia said that no one saw this coming, but the best things in life are things you don’t see coming. FTR said that while they didn’t make the rankings as a tag team, they did make it as a trio with Garcia. They closed a chapter last week against the House of Black and planned on starting a new one against Christian Cage & The Patriarchy tonight.
Hook defeated The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
During the last match, the announcers said that Hook had arrived and asked for a fight, which was granted. During Hook’s entrance, they show his and Brian Cage’s involvement in the street fight main event from Dynamite. Hook sent Floyd flying with throws to start. The Outrunners used the numbers advantage for a while, but Hook popped up after a double suplex and ran wild with suplexes. Hook caught Floyd with Redrum and scored the submission win.
Tony Schiavone welcomed Mark Briscoe to the ring. Briscoe said he and his brother used to watch Schiavone interview the best talkers in the business, so it felt good to be there now. Briscoe talked about how he came to help FTR last week, but the House of Black took him out before he could get into the fight. He came back to help, and it was his team that got the win. He talked about how hard this past year has been for him, but he would always keep fighting. The lights went down, and the House of Black appeared on the screen. Malachi Black talked about liking magic tricks where the magician made someone disappear. They would make Briscoe disappear all the same. The lights went out again, but it was a ruse, as Black said that they were already in Briscoe’s head.
We got a video package highlighting Adam Copeland and his wins in the Cope Open. We’ll hear from Copeland next week on Collision.
Serena Deeb defeated Queen Aminata
Deeb showcased her expertise early on, locking on a grounded surfboard stretch before getting a nearfall with the Gedo Clutch. Deeb took a shoulder block, but quickly locked on a half crab that Aminata escaped. Aminata sent Deeb into the turnbuckle before hitting a vertical suplex for a nearfall.
After a commercial, Deeb hit a series of strikes and a rolling forearm before baiting Aminata into a neckbreaker over the ropes. Deeb hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall. Aminata reversed out of the Detox, but Deeb spun Aminata around before getting a nearfall with a crucifix. Aminata came back with a headbutt and a hip attack, but Deeb avoided a facewash and locked on a Figure Four around the ring post. Aminata fought out of the Detox again, but Deeb hit another neckbreaker before locking on the Serenity Lock for the win.
After a commercial, Tony Schiavone welcomed out #1 ranked Swerve Strickland & Prince Nana. Schiavone asked about Strickland’s match against #2 ranked Hangman Page this Wednesday, with an AEW Title match at Revolution against Samoa Joe. Swerve talked about it being Black History Month and the people who paved the way for him like Ron Simmons, and friends who have made it possible for him like Kofi Kingston & ROH Women’s World Champion Athena. Swerve said he would add his name to that list of World Champions. He has done some terrible things but doesn’t apologize for any of them.
When asked about Hangman’s claim that he can’t beat him without the Mogul Embassy, Strickland moved Nana to the side to remind everyone that he’s beaten Page twice. He said he would move on from Page and become Black History by winning the AEW World Title. Nana said that they would be at Strickland’s side, but Strickland made it clear that he wanted no interference to make sure Hangman didn’t have any more excuses.
We cut to a video from after Dynamite with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, Mariah May, and Luther. Storm blew off May’s match from last week’s Collision before threatening to eat Deonna Purrazzo again. Storm told Luther to get her a public workout to show everyone how technical she could be. Storm is booked to wrestle Red Velvet on Dynamite.
Red Velvet defeated Vertvixen
Velvet caught Vertvixen with a leg lariat for a nearfall. Velvet hit a wheelbarrow bulldog before laying in the punches in the corner. Vertvixen caught another wheelbarrow and hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Vertvixen hit a running boot into the corner, but Velvet shifted her weight on a bodyslam to score a nearfall. Velvet hit running knees to the back before hitting In The Mix to score the win.
FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) & Daniel Garcia defeated The Patriarchy (TNT Champion Christian Cage, Killswitch, Nick Wayne) (w/ Shayna Wayne)
FTR and Garcia deciding to make a go of it as a trio is fine by me, considering they continue to have fun Collision main events. The closing stretch between Garcia and Wayne is a sneak peek at AEW’s future, as they are two of several bright stars in AEW under the age of 30. Garcia and Christian staring each other down in the post-match is an interesting path to go down for a future title match.
Matt Menard joined commentary in support of Garcia. Wayne and Harwood started, with Harwood chopping Wayne into his corner. Cage tagged in, but Harwood caught him with a trio of quick pins for a trio on nearfalls. Wayne tagged back in and slapped Harwood, but Harwood chose to tag Garcia, who took him down with shoulder blocks. Wayne and Garcia had a fast-paced back-and-forth in a look at two of AEW’s future stars. Garcia sent Wayne and Cage to the floor before FTR made sure Killswitch didn’t jump him from behind.
After a commercial, The Patriarchy isolated Garcia in their corner. Cage cut off a charge to the corner, but Garcia moved out of the way of a diving headbutt. Wayne and Wheeler tagged in, with Wheeler running wild. The announcers noted how Killswitch hadn’t been tagged in at any point, as Wheeler pinballed Wayne around. FTR went for a spike piledriver, but Killswitch interfered. They took down Killswitch with a high-low combo, but Wayne came back with a sunset flip and a Code Red for nearfalls.
Harwood cut off Wayne on the top rope and hit a super back suplex for a nearfall that Killswitch broke up. Christian hooked Harwood’s neck to set up a Killswitch chokeslam for a nearfall. After a commercial, Harwood sent Christian up and over with a back body drop. Wayne tagged in and got Harwood back in their corner, scoring a nearfall with a vertical suplex. Harwood came back with a back suplex, but Cage sent Harwood to the floor. Harwood ducked a charge from Luchasaurus on the floor before bumping heads with Christian.
Harwood got the tag out to Garcia and ran wild on Wayne. Wheeler cut off an interfering Christian before hitting dual ten punches. Garcia shot Wheeler off into a suicide dive onto Killswitch, then hit a brainbuster on Wayne for a nearfall. Wayne raked Garcia’s eyes before hitting a Perfect-Plex for a nearfall. Wayne taunted Garcia, who caught him with an inside cradle for a nearfall. Garcia hit a swinging neckbreaker for a nearfall.
Cage cut off Garcia on the top rope, but Harwood took Cage down with punches. Garcia went to the top rope, but Cage shoved him off the top into a cutter from Wayne for a nearfall. We got a move train that included a spear to Garcia and Wayne’s World to Harwood. Garcia side-stepped a spear and Wayne’s World before catching Wayne with a jackknife pin to score the win. After the match, Garcia stared daggers at Christian Cage and the TNT Title.
The debut of several CMLL stars in addition to a tag team rematch are official for this Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage.
Initially announced on Friday’s Rampage and expanded upon during Saturday’s Collision via a video package, Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero will be involved but the actual match was not announced.
The bout(s) are a further extension of the CMLL/AEW partnership that began last October when Mistico made his AEW debut in a match against Rocky Romero.
¡La próxima semana 4 súper estrellas del CMLL participarán en #AEWRampage!
A rematch between Private Party and Top Flight was also confirmed after a backstage confrontation on Friday’s Rampage.
The two teams did battle earlier this month in Private Party’s first match since Marq Quen returned from injury. The manner in which he and Isiah Kassidy won the match didn’t sit right with Dante & Darius Martin, setting up their second meeting.
Here’s the current Rampage lineup that will be taped after Dynamite this Wednesday in New Orleans:
Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin)
Volador Jr, Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Hechicero in action
The lineup for ROH’s Summer Supercard event is starting to take shape.
Alex Shelley will be challenging for the ROH World Championship at the show. Matt Taven is the current champion and is defending his title against Jay Lethal at ROH’s Manhattan Mayhem television tapings on July 20.
After taking a hiatus from pro wrestling in July 2018, Shelley returned at June’s post-Best in the World tapings and set up that he’d be challenging the winner of Taven vs. Lethal. Shelley, Lethal & Jonathan Gresham vs. The Kingdom (Taven, Vinny Marseglia & TK O’Ryan) is set for ROH’s Mass Hysteria show on July 21.
A CMLL trios match has also been announced for Summer Supercard. Caristico, Soberano Jr. & Stuka Jr. will team against Barbaro Cavernario, Hechicero & Templario. Cavernario and Templario will be making their ROH debuts in the match.
Summer Supercard is being held at the Mattamy Athletic Centre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on Friday, August 9, which is during SummerSlam weekend in the city. Summer Supercard will feature wrestlers from ROH, NJPW, CMLL, and the NWA. The show will air live on HonorClub.
Since NJPW’s G1 Climax will still be going on, none of the participants in the tournament will be wrestling at Summer Supercard.
NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion Nick Aldis will defend his title against a member of Villain Enterprises (Marty Scurll, PCO, Brody King, or Flip Gordon) at Summer Supercard. In storyline, Scurll gets to choose which of the four Villain Enterprises members will get the title shot.
