A new match has been added to the card for the Saturday, April 13 AEW Collision.
As revealed during Friday’s Rampage show, House of Black’s Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews will face Dante Martin, Action Andretti & Matt Sydal in six-man tag team action on Saturday’s show.
Sydal was also featured on Friday’s Rampage in a losing effort against Jay White.
The House of Black retained gold on Friday’s Rampage as well, with Julia Hart successfully defending her TBS Championship against “Legit” Leyla Hirsch.
The updated card for Saturday’s Collision show, which is immediately followed by Battle of the Belts X on TNT:
Collision —
AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm vs. AZM in a title eliminator match
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 steel cage elimination match is set for next week’s AEW Collision.
After the two trios teams brawled yet again on Saturday, Dax Harwood on behalf of Cash Harwood and Daniel Garcia challenged The House of Black to a steel cage elimination match for next week’s show, saying he wanted to finish this once and for all.
This week’s Collision saw Garcia defeat the House of Black’s Buddy Matthews. However, the rest of the House of Black immediately entered the ring after the match and went on the attack. FTR, who were at ringside to watch Garcia’s back, entered the ring as the two teams fought.
FTR has spent much of 2023 feuding with The House of Black, with their rivalry picking up steam in recent weeks. After Garcia pinned Brody King to score his one win in the Continental Classic, he too became part of The House of Black’s and FTR’s feud. While FTR scored a win over Matthews & Malakai Black two weeks ago on Collision, The House of Black defeated FTR & Daniel Garcia the following week.
The lineup for next week’s AEW Collision:
Steel cage elimination match: FTR & Daniel Garcia vs. House of Black
After their recent tag team clash failed to quell their rivalry, FTR will team with Daniel Garcia against the House of Black on Saturday’s AEW Collision.
On last Saturday’s show, FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) took on Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews in the evening’s main event with FTR picking up a win. Garcia came out to aid FTR and even the odds after HOB member Brody King made his presence felt.
The House of Black laid out FTR and Garcia after the match with HOB member and TBS Champion Julia Hart even giving them a ten-bell salute.
The new addition joins the previously announced Adam Copeland open challenge, Deonna Purrazzo’s in-ring debut as an AEW contracted talent, a Hangman Page appearance, and an ROH Six-Man Tag Team title match.
Here’s the current card for Norfolk, Virginia:
Adam Copeland open challenge
Deonna Purrazzo vs. Red Velvet
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) and Daniel Garcia vs. House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews)
ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) defend against Lance Archer & The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent)
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)
Malakai Black provided an injury update on social media recently.
The 38-year-old hasn’t wrestled since AEW All In last month when The House of Black dropped the Trios titles to The Acclaimed.
Black gave an update on Instagram Stories early Wednesday morning and revealed he has been dealing with a slight calf tear and a hyperextended knee. He debunked rumors that he is once again dealing with a back injury.
“About a year ago, I made a video about rehabbing a back injury that I had. The video shows the process, and I talk about overcoming that injury, strengthening my back,” Black said. “After the video was posted, people started running with this idea that ‘Oh, he has a bad back and therefore A, B, or C,’ which is not the case at all. And for some reason that has found its way back and again the narrative is ‘Well, he’s not had singles matches etc. because he has a bad back, he nearly retired because of it,’ and none of these things are true.”
“Why am I not having singles matches? I don’t know. I think it’s because they really wanted us, House of Black, to do six-mans. I was also not in six-mans to hide said non-existing injury.”
“Again, rest assured I do not have a bad back and the reason why I am at home right now is due to a minor injury, which is I had a slight calf tear and hyperextension in my knee, which is almost nursed back and almost ready to go back on the road etc. Again, I appreciate the concern, but the reality is I’m fine and you will see me sooner rather than later, but again, I appreciate the concern.”
Black posted a video in August 2022 detailing a back injury he suffered which he was worried would be career-threatening, saying “Till about 3 months ago I was dealing with a back injury I was convinced was going to force me into retirement.” The following month, Black posted a statement revealing that he requested his release from AEW due to “promises in my professional field that were not upheld.”
Black debuted for AEW in July 2021 after having previously been with WWE since 2016. His House of Black team with Buddy Matthews and Brody King won the AEW World Trios titles at Revolution earlier this year by defeating The Elite. They held the titles until dropping them to the Acclaimed last month.
For the first time in nearly a decade, Billy Gunn can call himself a champion.
Gunn and former AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed defeated the House of Black Sunday at All In at London’s Wembley Stadium to win the Trios titles for the first time.
The end came when Gunn hit a second Fameasser on Brody King followed by a second Anthony Bowens’ Arrival and a second Max Caster Mic Drop with all three of them on top of King for the pin and win.
The match was held under no holds barred rules per the challengers’ request as part of the House of Black’s “House Rules.”
Gunn, who teased retirement after the trio initially lost to the House of Black at a July Collision event, now has his first major championship since he and Road Dogg held the WWE Tag Team titles in early-2014.
It’s the first titles for Bowens and Caster since they lost the AEW Tag Team titles this past February.
The reign ends the 175-day run for the House of Black (King, Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews) which saw them defend the titles eight times.
CM Punk and AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will unite once more to attempt to win the AEW Trios titles in the main event of tonight’s AEW Collision.
Punk, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler will attempt to wrest the titles from the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) for the first time. The House of Black will be looking for the eighth defense of the titles they won at March’s Revolution.
Recent Punk antagonist Ricky Starks will be on the show to share his thoughts after losing to Punk last Saturday.
TBS Champion Kris Statlander will team with Willow Nightingale against Mercedes Martinez & Diamante. Statlander defeated Martinez last Saturday and was attacked by the heels before Nightingale made the save.
After Billy Gunn appeared to retire several weeks ago in a loss to the House of Black, The Acclaimed will return to tag team action.
Powerhouse Hobbs will also be on hand to share some thoughts as he is split from QTV.
**********
The Collision cold open saw words from the Acclaimed, Christian Cage and TNT Champion Luchasaurus, and the challengers for the Trios Titles, CM Punk & FTR. Ian Riccaboni & Nigel McGuinness welcomed us to the show, running down tonight’s card and the All In card before recapping Ricky Starks’ attack on Ricky Steamboat last week.
Ricky Starks Speaks
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomed Ricky Starks. Starks came out to boos, with the belt he used to whip Steamboat in his hands. Schiavone announced that Starks had been suspended from wrestling for 30 days. Starks said that he did what he had to do to Steamboat because there are consequences to everyone’s actions. Starks said that he figured that AEW would suspend him, so he got a manager’s license to make sure he stays on his show.
Starks told CM Punk since he brought Ricky Steamboat into proceedings, that the blood was on his hands. He turned Punk’s words against him, asking Punk if he could live with his win. He said that starting next week, he would start a war and bring it to Punk’s front door. Starks left to raucous cheers. Another great promo from Starks and an interesting direction for this feud with Punk, as it will have to be resolved after the upcoming pay-per-views.
We got a video package highlighting the two matches between FTR & The Young Bucks as a preview of their rubber match at All In.
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) defeated The Iron Savages (Boulder & Bronson) (w/ Jacked Jameson)
The Acclaimed came out with Billy Gunn’s boots, with Bowens quickly realizing he had to cut off his introduction. The Acclaimed double-teamed Bronson before Boulder tagged in. The bigger Boulder survived their offense and dropped them both with a Samoan Drop/fallaway slam combination as we went to the commercial.
Caster avoided a big splash from Bronson as we came back from the commercial. Bowens made the hot tag and ran wild until Boulder sent him flying with a flapjack. The Savages hit a dual Main Event Spinebuster on Bowens for a nearfall that was broken up by Caster. They went for their big Tower Splash, but Caster dropkicked Bronson off of Boulder’s shoulders. Caster hit a Death Valley Driver on Boulder before the Acclaimed hit Scissor Me Timbers on an interfering Jameson. The Acclaimed hit dual Fameassers on the Savages, with Caster scoring the pin and the win.
After the match, Caster grabbed the mic and announced that they’ll be wrestling on Dynamite this Wednesday. They have the spirit of Billy Gunn with them, and that will keep them moving back to the top. Bowens says the crowd never got a chance to say goodbye to Gunn, so he has them all throw up the scissors in tribute.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Bullet Club Gold. They brag about their recent accomplishments, with White saying that they are the “most elite” version of Bullet Club yet. White says that while there are some guys who call themselves elite, they don’t have that right. The Young Bucks don’t have the right to call themselves the best brother tag team in wrestling either, as that claim goes to the Gunns. The Gunns will be coming to Dynamite this Wednesday to prove it.
We got a video package recapping the history between MJF & Adam Cole to hype the Wembley main event.
Statlander and Diamante started off, with Diamante keeping Statlander off of her feet until Statlander caught her on a crossbody. Nightingale tagged in and hit a low crossbody for a nearfall. Martinez held onto Diamante to thwart a Pounce attempt, with Diamante hitting a basement dropkick to take control. Martinez locked Nightingale in a Paradise Lock and hit a pose with Diamante. They double-dropkicked Nightingale out of the hold as we went to the commercial.
Nightingale fought off a two-on-one attack as we came back from break. Nightingale hit a main event spinebuster on Diamante onto Martinez before tagging in the TBS Champion. Statlander ran wild, with Nightingale joining her to hit stereo sentons. Martinez sent Statlander into Nightingale, sending Nightingale off of the apron. After sending Statlander to the floor, Martinez tossed Diamante onto her opponents on the floor.
The match devolved into a Pier Four brawl. Eventually, Martinez caught Nightingale in a pin and scored the win with Diamante helping with leverage.
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with Toni Storm. Storm said she was depressed after losing the title, but she felt better now that she and Saraya are in the Women’s Title match at All In. Storm insulted the other women in the locker room, calling them “backstabbing, insecure, toxic little girls.” Nair reminded Storm that Hikaru Shida had earned a spot in the match, which infuriated Storm. She walked off, throwing a shoe at Nair as she sent us back ringside.
ROH Television Champion Samoa Joe defeated Andrew Everett
Riccaboni informed us that Joe was two weeks away from reaching 500 days as TV Champion in this reign. Everett showcased his agility, but Joe quickly dispatched him with the Coquina Clutch.
After the match, Joe took to the mic and reminded everyone of his challenge to CM Punk last week. He was met with the deafening silence of a coward. He gave Punk the courtesy of asking for the match, but now he will have to convince him.
The TNT Champion Speaks
After the announcers ran down the current card for All In, TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage made their way to the ring. They recapped Luchasaurus’ attack on Darby Allin last night on Rampage, an attack that made a little girl in the crowd cry. Christian insulted the crowd, noting that they were the second best at a lot of things. Michael Jordan was the second-best basketball player of all time to LeBron James – which is correct – while Ric Flair was second best compared to Christian.
He turned his attention to Darby Allin, noting that he’ll never be the TNT Champion as long as Christian has it. Christian said that Allin paints half of his face because he’s half dead inside. Christian said that if Allin kept coming after him, he’d make sure to give him the other 50% and finish the job.
Arn & Brock Anderson came out, noting that this was Horsemen Country. Arn reminded Luchasaurus that he was the TNT Champion before Christian cut him off. Christian reminded everyone that he and Luchasaurus took the Andersons out a few months ago, with Arn saying that they never forgot. Brock then charged the ring and the bell rang.
TNT Championship – Luchasaurus (c) defeated Brock Anderson
Riccaboni announced on commentary that Tony Khan sanctioned this as a TNT Title match, due to Christian saying that he would accept an open challenge from Anderson tonight. Luchasaurus dominated Anderson before we went to a commercial. Back from the break, Anderson mounted a slight comeback before Luchasaurus dropped him with a chokeslam. Luchasaurus hit a rabbit lariat to retain the title.
After the match, Darby Allin jumped Christian and Luchasaurus with a skateboard. Allin hit a skateboard-assisted double stomp to Luchasaurus’ back, sending him out of the ring. Allin challenged Christian to a singles match next week, which Christian accepted.
Powerhouse Hobbs Speaks
In the ring, Tony Schiavone welcomed Powerhouse Hobbs. Hobbs said that last week, an opportunity presented itself for a big match at All Out in Chicago. Hobbs said that he had been distracted lately, so he went back home to read from the Book of Hobbs. The next chapter of the Book of Hobbs is entitled Redemption. He says in order to redeem himself after losing the TNT Title and losing out in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, he has to call out The Redeemer. Hobbs called out Miro for a fight.
Miro came out, but he was attacked by Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo, associates of QT Marshall. Miro dealt with them but walked into a main event spinebuster from Hobbs. Hobbs laid the Book of Hobbs on Miro’s prone body before leaving the scene.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card for this Wednesday, featuring Orange Cassidy vs. Wheeler Yuta for the AEW International Championship and the match between The Gunns and The Young Bucks made official. Next week on Collision, we will see Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage, as well as Diamante vs. Willow Nightingale.
AEW World Trios Title Match – The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) (w/Julia Hart) (c) defeated CMFTR (Cash Wheeler, CM Punk & Dax Harwood)
A fine main event, although this continues the trend of Punk matches going a commercial break too long. Samoa Joe made good on his promise, and Punk’s direction for Wembley looks clear.
Jim Ross joined commentary for this main event. Punk came out to his typical mixed reaction. Punk and FTR got the advantage on Matthews early on with quick offense, but King held onto Matthews on an Irish Whip and tagged in. The crowd barked for King as he took the fight to Harwood, but Harwood went low on King with a dropkick. The challengers all went after King, with FTR eventually double dropkicking him out of the ring.
Malachi Black tagged in to face off against Punk, with the crowd reacting strongly to their faceoff. Black knocked FTR off the apron but walked into a Go To Sleep attempt. Black escaped it and went for Black Mass, but Punk ducked it and sat down cross-legged. Black sat with him before the other men got in the ring and kicked off a Pier Six brawl that took us to the commercial.
Matthews dropped Harwood with a rope-assisted DDT as we came back from the commercial. The House of Black kept Harwood isolated before Harwood dropped Black with a DDT. Punk tagged in and ran wild on Matthews, hitting the rising knee before hitting both Black and Matthews with high kicks. Punk hit a Rainmaker on Matthews before going up for an elbow drop. Julia Hart took the referee’s attention so that Black could crotch Punk on the top rope. King tagged in and hit a cannonball before we went to another commercial.
The House of Black isolated Punk as we came back from the break. Punk caught Matthews with a surprise GTS before making the tag out to Wheeler. Wheeler took the fight to King and Black, with Harwood helping to send all three champions to the floor. Wheeler hit a massive dive to the floor before hitting a top-rope bulldog on King for a nearfall. King overpowered FTR and hit a double suplex.
Harwood cut King off as he went to the top rope. FTR hit a double superplex, with Punk following with an elbow drop for a nearfall. They hit a trios Shatter Machine on King before Matthews and Black came in. After a multi-person brawl, everyone was down. Punk hit a dive to Matthews on the floor, but Samoa Joe dragged him into the crowd and choked him out. Hart ran a distraction, allowing King to hit a discus lariat on Harwood for the win.
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR & CM Punk will attempt to win the Trios titles as they challenge House of Black on next Saturday’s AEW Collision.
The match was announced after Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King successfully defended their titles against Action Andretti, Lee Johnson & Darius Martin on Saturday’s show.
Earlier in the night, FTR successfully defended their AEW Tag Team titles against Big Bill & Brian Cage while Punk beat Ricky Starks to keep his “Real World title” to end the show.
After Kris Statlander successfully defended her TBS title against former Ring of Honor Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez on Saturday’s Collision, she will team with Willow Nightingale to take on Martinez & Diamante.
Martinez attacked Statlander after the loss which brought out Diamante who then joined Martinez in the attack. Nightingale then ran out to even the odds and run off the heels. Statlander and Nightingale have been aligned in recent weeks in watching out for each other.
After coming to grips with the fact Billy Gunn has retired, The Acclaimed will return to tag team action against opponents to be named.
Here’s the current lineup for Greensboro, North Carolina:
AEW Trios Champions House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) defend against CMFTR (CM Punk, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler)
Andrade El Idolo is not finished with the House of Black.
The 33-year-old regained his previously stolen mask on Saturday’s AEW Collision by defeating Buddy Matthews in a ladder match. However, it appears Andrade still has a score to settle with the faction. He took to Twitter on Monday to call out Malakai Black for AEW All In.
I want the next one!!! I would like to see you face to face at All In London because you are European and it is with your people. Mexico vs Netherlands. @AEW #ALLIN #AEW #London
I want the next one!!! I would like to see you face to face at All In London because you are European and it is with your people. 🇲🇽 Mexico 💀vs 🇳🇱 Netherlands 🕋. @AEW#ALLIN#AEW#London
— Andrade “El Idolo” The Real Latino Man! (@AndradeElIdolo) July 31, 2023
Andrade’s program with House of Black has been a featured part of AEW Collision since the debut show in June. He defeated Matthews on the first episode and Brody King via DQ the following week. After his victory on Saturday, Andrade is now 3-0 since making his return.
Andrade and Black’s rivalry dates back to 2017 in NXT. Black defeated Andrade at NXT TakeOver: Orlando on April 1, 2017, and then took the NXT Championship from him a year later at NXT TakeOver: New Orleans on April 7, 2018. Black then defeated Andrade for a third straight time 10 months later on SmackDown in the same building as their title match the previous year.
Andrade and Black also teamed together at Full Gear 2021 in a loss to Cody Rhodes and PAC.
After last week’s Owen Hart Foundation tournament finals, Ricky Starks will celebrate his victory over CM Punk on tonight’s AEW Collision from Newark, New Jersey.
However, Punk will be on tonight’s show as well and is “looking for a fight.” Whether that is with Starks or someone else remains to be seen.
The AEW Trios titles will be on the line as the House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) defend against The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn from May’s Double or Nothing. They will be looking for the sixth defense of the titles.
Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) will look to rebound from last week’s loss to AEW Tag Team Champions FTR as they take on Darius Martin & Action Andretti.
FTR will also be on the program in a promo.
Taya Valkyrie is also looking to rebound from last week as she lost to AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm. Valkyrie faces Skye Blue tonight.
**********
Collision returned to the United States, in the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Ian Riccaboni and Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
In our pre-show hype videos, we got words from The Acclaimed, Andretti & Martin, Bullet Club Gold, and Ricky Starks.
After the introduction package, Tony Schiavone welcomed out Owen Hart Cup winner Ricky Starks. Starks got a comical amount of pyro, reminiscent of Kevin Nash on that one episode of Nitro. Schiavone asked Starks about his use of the ropes to win the tournament as the crowd told Starks that he deserved it. After showing off his Louis Vuitton bag, he says that it doesn’t matter how he did it, all that matter is that it was done and that he was the winner.
After blowing off a question about Jushin Thunder Liger, he says that while he appreciates the sentiment from the fans, he doesn’t want to be a pillar. The Pillars never won the Owen Hart Cup, he did. Out walked CM Punk to a mixed reaction that leaned negative. Punk says he’s not mad at Starks, he’s actually a bit proud of him. Punk won’t act like he’s never cheated. He can live with the loss but asks Starks if he can live with the fact that he couldn’t beat Punk without cheating.
Punk goes to leave, but Starks says that his Vuitton bag is as empty as the red bag Punk’s been carrying around. Punk comes back and gets in Starks’ face. He says that Starks is just like MJF in that they just don’t want Punk to have it. Punk calls himself the Real World Champion before TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage enter the scene. Cage says that they don’t want to be in New Jersey longer than they have to be, so he’ll ask one question. What kind of man carries around a title that he didn’t win?
Cage goes to leave, but Darby Allin – Royal Rampage winner – comes out. He addresses Starks and Punk before telling Luchasaurus that he’s going to win the TNT Title at All Out in Chicago. Allin suggests a tag team match, with Allin and Punk teaming against Starks and Cage. Schiavone says that Khan has made it official.
Riccaboni and McGuinness threw to video of Andrade El Idolo being removed from the building to make sure he wouldn’t interfere with the Trios Title match tonight.
Jay White & Juice Robinson (w/ The Gunns) defeated Action Andretti & Darius Martin
White and Martin started, with the announcers putting over his cardio after wrestling in the hour-long match last week against FTR. Martin fought off a double-team and tagged in Andretti, who hit Robinson with a corkscrew moonsault. Andretti and Martin ran wild on Robinson until Robinson cut off Andretti with a side kick. White tagged in and clubbered on Andretti in the corner before Robinson dropped Andretti with a neckbreaker off the apron. As the crowd chanted Daddy Doesn’t Love You to the Gunns, Bullet Club posed as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Andretti fought for the tag to Martin as we came back from break. Martin made the tag and ran wild, dropping White and Robinson with a combination DDT/Death Drop. Martin hit a top rope crossbody to White for a nearfall. Martin sent Robinson and White to the floor, setting up Andretti to hit an Arabian Press moonsault on both of them. Andretti booted White into a German suplex for a nearfall.
Andretti went for the split-legged moonsault, but Robinson cut him off, hanging him in the Tree of Woe. Robinson hit cannonballs on both men before hitting his pendulum DDT on Andretti. White hit the Blade Runner to score the win. The Gunns tossed Andretti and Martin out of the ring before celebrating with White and Robinson.
The announcers highlighted Willow Nightingale’s week, with her Owen Hart Cup win last week on Collision and her standout performance in the ROH Death Before Dishonor main event against Athena. I reviewed Death Before Dishonor for this site, and I cannot recommend that match enough. Go out of your way to see it.
Miro defeated Nick Comoroto
This crowd was into Miro. It’s time to do something with him that isn’t a squash.
Comoroto attacked Miro during his entrance. Comoroto controlled Miro early on, hitting corner splashes. Miro dodged one and hit a German suplex. Miro hit the big side kick and ripped his shirt off. He called for the Game Over and locked it on for the quick win.
We got a highlight package for FTR, highlighting their numerous title wins over the course of their AEW careers. We will hear from them later tonight.
AEW World Trios Title Match – The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black) (w/Julia Hart) (c) defeated The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, & Billy Gunn)
This was a surprisingly quick win, but the story here is the post-match.
Caster’s rap included jabs at Matthews, who charged Caster on the ramp to start the match. A Pier Six brawl broke out at ringside as Matthews and Caster started in the ring. King crushed Gunn and Bowens into the barricade with splashes. The champions isolated Caster as his partners crawled to the corner. Caster fought his way to the corner as the crowd taunted Matthews with Dirty Dom chants, as Mysterio is paired up with Matthews’ girlfriend Rhea Ripley.
King tried taking out Bowens and Gunn again, but Gunn took him down with punches. Caster made the tag to Gunn, who ran wild on the House before taking a massive lariat from King. Black hit the Black Mass on Gunn to score the emphatic victory. As Gunn recovered, Black whispered something to Gunn before leaving.
Back in the ring, Gunn began unlacing his boots as the crowd begged him not to. They chanted You Still Got It at him, making Gunn tear up. But Gunn took his boots off and left them in the ring, pushing his way past the Acclaimed to leave.
We got a recap of the Royal Rampage, where Darby Allin won a TNT Title shot at All Out.
Tony Schiavone welcomed FTR to the ring. Wheeler talked about unfinished business with several teams – Aussie Open, The Acclaimed, the Young Bucks – but they must focus on MJF and Adam Cole first. He tells Adam Cole not to trust MJF, as they know from first-hand experience. Harwood tells a story about his dad making him get a job when he was a teenager. He was made fun of by well-off kids who had money handed to them. He thinks Cole and MJF see the tag team titles as a joke, with the comedy skits and the dance breaks. He’s sacrificed his body to make FTR the best tag team in the world, and next week, there will be no comedy. He’s going to do to Cole and MJF what he should have done to those kids when he was a teenager and kick their asses. Top guys out. Solid promo.
We got a highlight package of Blood and Guts from Wednesday.
Taya Valkyrie defeated Skye Blue
Valkyrie patted Blue on the head before shoving her down. She shrugged off a waist lock before chopping Blue in the corner. Blue fired up with chops before getting knocked down with a shoulder block. Blue avoided a charge and hit a rising knee but got knocked off the apron and speared on the floor by Valkyrie. Valkyrie hit a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall as we went to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Valkyrie knocked Blue down with a lariat as we returned to full-screen action. Blue won a strike exchange before firing up, hitting a rising knee and a low kick. Blue hit a high crossbody for a nearfall. She set up Skyfall, but Valkyrie tied Blue up in the ropes to hit a sliding German suplex. Blue hit a pair of kicks but ran right into a lariat. Valkyrie tied up Blue’s legs and hit a curb stomp to score the win.
Valkyrie grabbed the microphone and bragged about winning. She noted that Britt Baker won her match on Dynamite this week, albeit against an extra. She challenged Baker to a match this Wednesday on Dynamite.
We got a video package highlighting AR Fox’s win on the Death Before Dishonor Zero Hour over Shane Taylor, leading into his International Championship match this Wednesday on Dynamite.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card, featuring:
– AR Fox vs. Orange Cassidy for the International Championship
– Darby Allin vs. Swerve Strickland
– Britt Baker vs. Taya Valkyrie
– PAC vs. Gravity
– Castagnoli & Moxley vs. The Lucha Brothers vs. Best Friends
– We hear from Adam Cole & MJF.
We got our Collision card for next Saturday:
– FTR vs. Adam Cole & MJF for the AEW World Tag Team Titles
– El Hijo del Vikingo, Action Andretti & Darius Martin vs. Juice Robinson & The Gunns
– Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo in a rematch from the debut edition of Collision
Ricky Starks & Christian Cage defeated CM Punk & Darby Allin
A fine main event. Starks winning with the ropes for a second time is setting up a payoff, either with the referee catching him or his opponent kicking out anyway. Starks had a vocal fanbase here, a week after cheating to win a prestigious tournament. The situation with Punk being a divisive babyface makes everything energetic, but it muddies up a lot of the face/heel division surrounding him.
Cage came out wearing the TNT Title. Starks and Cage both got on the apron, assuming the other would start the match. The referee counted them up to nine before Starks got in the ring. Punk immediately rolled him up and teased a Go To Sleep before Starks tagged Cage, who got pinballed around by Punk. Punk and Allin controlled Cage’s arm as Punk mocked Starks. Starks avoided a tag until Christian got Punk in control. Punk and Allin hit dives to Starks and Cage as we went to commercial, with the announcers teasing big breaking news for next week’s Collision on the other side of the break.
Back from commercial, and the breaking news is that next week’s match between Buddy Matthews and Andrade El Idolo will be a ladder match, with Andrade’s mask as the prize above the ring and the House of Black banned from ringside. A bit wacky, but still a compelling match. Speaking of matches, Cage and Starks worked over Punk. Starks went Old School on Punk before tagging Cage back in. We got a glimpse of Scorpio Sky in a Scorpio Sky-Box watching this match. I will not apologize for the pun there.
Punk made the hot tag to Allin, who ran wild on Starks and Cage. Allin hit a dive into Starks but ran into Luchasaurus on a dive attempt to Cage. Cage threw Allin into the announce desk before tagging in Starks to beat down Allin. Starks hit Snake Eyes on Allin before flooring him with a lariat for a nearfall as we go to another picture-in-picture break.
Allin beat a countout as we came back to full screen. More clubbering on Allin before Allin moved out of the way of a diving headbutt. Starks ripped Punk off the apron, leaving Allin with no one to tag when he broke free from Cage. Allin fought his way free and made the tag to Punk, who ran wild with rising knees. Punk did a random cartwheel in the middle of his comeback, with Riccaboni calling it a tribute to New Jersey native Bam Bam Bigelow.
Punk hit the Pepsi Twist on Cage for a nearfall. Punk hit a high crossbody, but Christian rolled through for a sneaky nearfall. Punk knocked Christian off the top rope, then went up and hit an elbow drop for a nearfall. Cage tagged in Starks, who ran right into a GTS attempt. Starks turned it into a rollup for a nearfall. They traded strikes before Punk floored Starks with a high kick. Punk tagged in Allin, who avoided a spear upon entry. Starks then speared Allin out of the air before hitting a Rochambeau for a nearfall.
Starks took Allin up for a superplex, but Allin turned it into a Death Drop from the top rope for a nearfall that Cage broke up. Punk got involved, taking Cage to the floor and hitting a GTS. Allin set up a Coffin Drop, but Luchasaurus crotched him on the top rope. Starks set up a second Rochambeau, but Allin reversed it into a rollup. Starks reversed that rollup, grabbing the ropes to win again.
His House of Black stable has been featured on AEW’s Saturday night show since it debuted last month. Black said during an appearance on Bobby Fish’s podcast recently that he asked AEW to make him exclusive to Collision.
I requested to be strictly on Collision. Because I don’t want people to get the pick, it’s like, no, Saturday night I get to see The House of Black, that’s what I wanted. Because if I give you the option for Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, you’re going to go, ‘It doesn’t really matter,'” Black said to Fish.
Black also spoke to Fish about the atmosphere at the first episode of Collision.
“That first Collision, everything felt great. The atmosphere was great. Everybody was excited, motivated, and it was just a good experience overall. It was a very, very fun day,” Black said.
House of Black has been involved in a storyline with Andrade El Idolo on the show. Buddy Matthews was defeated by Andrade on the first edition of Collision three weeks ago. Brody King lost via DQ to Andrade the following week but House of Black then stole Andrade’s mask after the match. The trio then taunted Andrade with his mask during a backstage segment on the 7/1 edition of the show.
Malakai Black hasn’t wrestled since Double or Nothing on 5/27 when the House of Black retained the AEW Trios titles against The Acclaimed.
The AEW Trios titles will be on the line at Sunday’s Double or Nothing.
Announced during Friday’s Rampage, House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King) will defend the titles in an open challenge under their unique “house rules.”
The likely challengers will be former AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn who picked up a win over Rush, Dralistico & Preston Vance on Rampage. Anthony Bowens intimated after their win that they were coming for the champions Sunday.
In a new development for Sunday, FTW Champion Hook will replace Brother Zay and join Matt & Jeff Hardy against Ethan Page and The Gunns on The Buy In pre-show.
Page and the Gunns injured Zay’s neck last Friday when the match was initially made, “Pillmanizing” Zay’s neck with a chair. This week, Zay and the Hardys came out after Page and the Gunns picked up a win, revealing Zay was unable to compete but found a replacement in their recent ally, Hook.
If the Hardys and Hook win, Matt Hardy will take over Page’s contract.
Here’s the full pay-per-view card, set for Sunday at 8 PM Eastern from Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena:
Four-way match: AEW World Champion MJF defends against Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, and Jungle Boy” Jack Perry
AEW Women’s World Champion Jamie Hayter defends against Toni Storm
21-man Blackjack Battle Royale for the AEW International Championship
Ladder match: TNT Champion Wardlow defends against Christian Cage
TBS Champion Jade Cargill defends against Taya Valkyrie
AEW Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) defend against Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal (Mark Briscoe will be the special guest referee)
AEW Trios Champions House of Black (Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King) defend in an open challenge
Unsanctioned match: Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho (Sabu will be the special enforcer)
Anarchy in the Arena match: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta) vs. The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks & Hangman Page)
Buy-In pre-show: Ethan Page, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn vs. Matt Hardy, Jeff Hardy & Hook (if the Hardys team wins, Matt Hardy will own the rights to Ethan Page’s contract)
