A mini-tournament to determine a three-way Unified title match at next Saturday’s AEW All Out begins on tonight’s Collision from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia.
Reigning Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada will defend against Michael Oku who is making his AEW TV debut. Okada must win in order to move on to All Out.
Fellow Don Callis Family member Konosuke Takeshita will take on Anthony Bowens in another qualifier.
Mark Briscoe will be on the show to issue his stipulations to MJF for their All Out clash. MJF will also be in attendance to respond.
After Daniel Garcia appeared to join the Death Riders, he and Jon Moxley will take on Paragon’s Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong.
In another $500,000 ten-person tag team match, Jamie Hayter, Tay Melo, Anna Jay, Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander will take on Skye Blue, Megan Bayne, Penelope Ford, Thekla and Julia Hart.
FTR will battle Tommy Billington and Adam Priest in a rematch from last Saturday.
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Ian Riccaboni was in the ring, and introduced MJF. MJF said that since Briscoe cost him his world title at Forbidden Door, MJF cost Briscoe his title shot last week on Collision. MJF claimed that he was born superior to Briscoe, who was mediocre from birth, and that was why he had no trouble letting Briscoe pick the stipulation, because no matter how hard it works, it won’t change anything, and the white-collar MJF will beat the blue-collar Mark Briscoe.
Briscoe responded on the screen, thanking MJF, because Briscoe was just as excited as he was waiting for Santa as a kid, because he got to pick the stipulations for their match. Briscoe said he wanted tables and thumbtacks in their match, a TNT match, at All Out. Briscoe said he had a wedding present for MJF, and told him to turn around, and Briscoe attacked from behind as it was a pretaped promo. Briscoe poured thumbtacks in the middle of the ring and went for the Jay Driller, but MJF escaped. Briscoe blew his nose on MJF’s scarf as the segment ended.
I think there was a missed chance to have the contract for a world title shot on the line in this match, since MJF offered him a stipulation of his choosing. Maybe they will add that later, but I would prefer this match have some stakes rather than just a grudge match, and MJF can afford to lose that title shot.
–A recap video aired of Daniel Garcia joining the Death Riders on Dynamite.
–Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Hologram were conglomerating backstage, and O’Reilly commented that he got a call from Adam Cole, and Cole said that he was disgusted that he ever called Garcia a friend. Strong seemed upset that O’Reilly got a call from Cole, but said since Garcia made his best friend angry, he was going to beat Garcia up, and beat Moxley up for fun.
Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis) vs. Anthony Bowens
Bowens hit some chops, but Takeshita raked the eyes and hit a flying European uppercut. Bowens responded with a unique neckbreaker that looked really cool. Bowens hit a dragon screw in the ropes, forcing Takeshita to the apron. Takeshita got sent into the ring post by Bowens, and he flew to the floor. Bowens hit a flying crossbody off the top ropes to the floor on Takeshita.
Bowens hit some strikes as they came back from the break, but Takeshita hit a poisonrana and Bowens popped up and hit a fameasser for a 2-count. Bowens went to the top rope and Takeshita cut him off, but Bowens slipped out, kicked the legs out from under Takeshita and hit a swinging DDT from the middle ropes on Takeshita for a 2-count.
Takeshita hit a uranage, but Bowens got up, superkicked the arms, and hit a slam of his own, followed by a Mollywhop that sent Takeshita to the ground. As Bowens brought Takeshita back into the ring, Takeshita hit a blue thunder bomb, a running knee, and the Raging Fire for the pinfall.
Result: Konosuke Takeshita
Excellent opening match tonight between these two. One of the best matches of Bowens career, at least when it comes to singles matches.
–Mascara Dorada had a promo video where he talked about how he was going to be the one that represents CMLL and lucha libre at AEW All Out when he beats the Beast Mortos and advances to face Takeshita and the winner of Kazuchika Okada and Michael Oku.
–A hype video for Riho and Mercedes Mone aired, with Mone doing the voice over for the video, saying that while Riho was the first ever AEW Women’s World Champion, she would not be the next TBS Champion.
–While the entrances were happening for the babyfaces, Tay Melo and Anna Jay said they did not trust Statlander because they wanted nothing to do with the Death Riders. Statlander insisted that she was not a member of the Death Riders, and Hayter claimed that she was there to fight tonight, but at AEW All Out she was talking the AEW Women’s World Championship from Toni Storm.
The Triangle of Madness (Julia Hart, Skye Blue, & Thekla) & Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford vs. TayJay (Tay Melo & Anna Jay), Kris Statlander (w/ Wheeler Yuta), Harley Cameron, & Jamie Hayter
Yuta was visibly in the corner of Statlander in this match, but Statlander did not seem happy about it, trying to get him to leave. Toni Storm was on commentary, bobbing her head to Jamie Hatyer’s theme, which is a fair response. Harley Cameron hit a head scissors on Megan Bayne that sent Bayne back into her corner, and she tagged out to Ford. Anna Jay tagged in and hit a kick on Ford, and it broke down into all the babyfaces hitting ten punches on each corner on all the heels, but then the heels pulled them all from the corner and started stomping a mudhole, as Steve Austin would say.
Toni Storm sent them to break, and Nigel McGuinness said that Toni looked absolutely fabulous, but it helped that she was sitting next to a Toad. Toady Schiavone. Nigel couldn’t even finish saying it and he and Toni were both cackling, so someone finally succeeded in getting Toni Storm to break. They then cut to a break on the international feed as well.
When they came back, Jamie Hatyer was hitting a spinebuster on Skye Blue. Bayne attacked Hayter from behind, and Ford came in and hit a stunner on Statlander, who did make the save for Hayter. Blue and hart hit a front suplex on Tay Melo. Harley Cameron and Statlander hit a double team move that sent Hart crashing face first to the mat. Every woma ngot in there and hit a series of big moves ending with Anna Jay hitting a flatliner on Julia Hart. Jamie Hayter and Megan Bayne started brawling, ending with a double lariat. Thekla ducked under a lariat from Anna Jay and hit a spear for the win.
Result: The Triangle of Madness, Megan Bayne, and Penelope Ford
–The heels started beating on the babyfaces and Mina Shirakawa and Queen Aminata ran out with some BBQing instruments. Shirakawa started hitting people with a cooler, and Aminata started hitting people with a metal spatula. I cannot say I expected that. Toni Storm stood up and told everyone to brawl, and dived onto a group of people. Hayter and Statlander hit double crossbodies on each other, and then Thekla went for a spear but Storm hit a Storm Zero as she went for it.
Toni Storm standing tall doesn’t exactly make me think she is losing the title at All Out, but they have another week to add some legitimacy to the other contenders. It seems the build up they did of Thekla holding the AEW Women’s World title was undone here though, so that is not how I would have booked this angle.
Max Caster vs. Big Bill (w/ Bryan Keith)
Max Caster was very upset when he found out who his opponent was for this match. Bill crushed Caster in the corner while screaming that he wanted Eddie Kingston. Bill looked directly in the camera and continued to call out Kingston, while the announcers showed Kingston’s response on social media saying he signed the contract, and all he needed was a location. Caster dodged a corner charge and hit the ropes, but Bill turned immediately around and hit a black hole slam for the pinfall.
Result: Big Bill
–Bill grabbed a mic and said that at least Max Caster had the guts to show up. The fans chanted loudly for Kingston as Bill said that the fans didn’t believe he was worthy of facing Kingston, but Kingston was only liked by the people because he looked like they did, and Bill, however, looked like a star, something Kingston would never understand. Bill named All Out as the location, and said he would face Kingston Toronto. Bill said Kingston was a loud mouth fraud, and he was going to beat him at All Out.
–Lexy Nair was with Jerry Lynn and Anthony Bowens, and Lynn said that he should have been clearer last week, saying that he needed to look in the mirror and ask “who’s missing” rather than what is missing. Just as he said this, Max Caster came through the curtain and shoved Bowens into Lynn. Bowens responded by attacking Caster and beating him around ringside. Caster responded with a lariat in the ring and the fans exploded with cheers. Bowens turned it around and started beating on Caster.
Jerry Lynn came into the ring and pulled them apart, and reminded Caster and Bowens that he was in the office when Tony Khan said that they had something as a tag team. Lynn said that Caster has not won a match since they broke up, and Bowens was floundering in the midcard. Bowens walked away, and Lynn said that Bowens couldn’t take the heat.
Blake Christian and Lee Johnson came out and Christian said that Jerry Lynn was wasting his time trying to get those two back together, but since he was missing their clear talent, they were going to show him now. Christian and Johnson started beating on Jerry Lynn, and Max Caster stepped into try and defend him. Bowens struggled with what to do, but ultimately ran in and made the save, letting Lynn hit a lariat on Johnson, and then Caster and Bowens hit a double clothesline to send Johnson to the floor. The fans erupted as Lynn raised the hands of both men, and Bowens and Caster rolled out of the ring, not willing to accept they were better as a team.
–Mistico was with Lexy Nair and she asked him about his match with MJF at an upcoming CMLL show. MJF walked up with a man in a top hat and tuxedo, who translated what MJF said. MJF promised to take the mask from Mistico and retire him, and then promised he would destroy Mark Briscoe in Winnipeg, which is the wrong Canadian city. Mistico slapped the translator and promised to see MJF at Arena Mexico.
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (w/ Stokley Hathaway) vs. Tommy Billington & Adam Priest
Billington and Priest were given another shot at FTR, given the quality of the match last week. Wheeler and Billington started the match exchanging holds, and Wheeler tagged out at the first sign of Billington out wrestling him to Harwood, who came in and started chopping. Jinder Mahal would be proud. Priest tagged in and hit some hard European uppercuts, and ducked a chop on the floor as Harwood chopped the post. Nigel McGuinness noted that Priest was a lot like James Gibson, so I feel very validated in thinking that last week.
Billington tagged in and Harwood hit a massive top rope back superplex as they went to break. When they came back from break, Adam Priest was hitting forearms and hit a German suplex on Dax Harwood before hitting some hard European uppercuts. Wheeler low bridged Priest and he crashed to the floor. Wheeler drove Priest into the apron and tagged out to Harwood, who hung Priest over the middle ropes and started beating on them. Harwood hit a picture perfect Tully Blanchard sling shot suplex for a two count.
Wheeler spit gum into the face of Billington, who remained surprisingly composed. Wheeler yelled that Priest was a nobody, and shoved him back into the corner, but Priest kept fighting, and hit a back suplex on Wheeler. Harwood tried to stop the tag, but Billington hit a strike. Harwood hit a back body drop on Billington on the apron. Priest hit a forearm to the leg of Wheeler and locked on a half crab, but Harwood punched Priest right in the face to break it. Priest sent Harwood into the ring post, tagged out, and Billington hit a dropkick that sent Harwood into the post again. Billington hit an elbow drop on Harwood’s hurt hand from earlier and went to the top rope.
Harwood cut him off and hit a hard chop, but Billington hit a several headbutts and chops that sent Harwood to the mat. Priest sent Harwood to the floor and after as series of dives to the floor, Priest and Billington came very close to winning. There were so many near falls here, and it was excellent. The match ended when FTR managed to finally hit a spike piledriver on Billington after giving them absolutely everything to put them over before beating them.
Result: FTR
This match was awesome. An incredible tag team match that put over Priest and Billington a lot in losing, even more so than last week. Priest and Billington got something as a team, and I’d like to see AEW start to elevate them.
–A hype video aired for the 4-way ladder match at AEW All Out for the #1 Contendership to the AEW World Tag Team Championship, featuring The Young Bucks, Josh Alexander & Hechicero, The Bang Bang Gang, and The Matriarchy.
Michael Oku (w/ Amira Blair) vs. Kazuchika Okada (w/ Don Callis) for the AEW Unified Championship
Okada mocked Oku early on, but Oku was not the kind of wrestler that would take that, and he slapped Okada after the mocking break. Oku hit a hurricanrana and sent Okada to the apron. Oku hit a dropkick that sent Okada to the floor. Oku seems to be trying to make the most of his appearance here and hit a great Fosbury Flop on Okada. Oku went to the top rope and got dropkicked by Okada, sending Oku flying off the ropes and crashing into the barricade back first on the floor. The crowd screamed in horror, as it was a brutal looking spot.
Okada draped Oku on the guardrail and hit a DDT on the floor. Okada hit some forearms in the ring, as Callis claimed on commentary that he made Hechicero was so handsome without the mask that they made him wear one so no one would get distracted. Okada slammed Oku and hit an elbow off the top rope. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Oku blocked it and hit a Pele kick. Oku ducked another attempt at the Rainmaker and hit a superkick. Oku went for a half crab on Okada, but Okada fought it off, and Oku hit a PK and a lionsault for a 2-count.
Oku called for another half crab and locked it in this time. Okada made it to the ropes quickly to break the submission. Okada dodged a corner charge, but Oku hit a series of kicks, ending with another superkick. Oku went for a flying crossbody and Okad astood up and hit a dropkick that sent Oku to the mat. Okada went for the Rainmaker, but Oku cradled him for a 2-count. Oku missed another corner charge, and Okada went for the Rainmaker again, but Oku tried to cradle him again, and Okada blocked it, pulled him up into a tombstone, and then hit a Rainmaker for the pinfall. This match was awesome.
Result: Kazuchika Okada
Two things really helped make this match great, and it was Michael Oku trying to steal the show and make a name for himself, and Okada giving him every opportunity to do so. Oku could be a top guy in AEW with the way he wrestles, and its only a matter of time before AEW signs him full time.
–Takeshita came out and pointed at Okada and his title, indicating he wanted to take it from his teammate in the Don Callis family.
–An excellent video aired for Hangman Adam Page and Kyle Fletcher.
The Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Daniel Garcia) (w/ Marina Shafir) vs. The Paragon (Roderick Strong & Kyle O’Reilly)
Garcia and Kyle O’Reilly started the match, exchanging some great mat wrestling. Strong tagged in and he decided he wanted to beat on the young man, hitting some hard strikes and chops before he and O’Reilly hit chops and kicks together. Moxley tried to make the save, and O’Reilly ran across the apron and hit a flying knee on Moxley before resuming his assault on Garcia. O’Reilly hit a beautiful brainbuster before transitioning into an armbar that Moxley broke up.
Strong tried to hit a Sick Kick from the ring to the floor on Moxley, but Shafir pulled Moxley out of the way and Moxley laid Strong out on the floor. O’Reilly tried to help Strong, but Garcia hit a chop block on O’Reilly and did a figure four around the ring post, before getting helped up by Shafir. Moxley and Garcia continued the assault of O’Reilly. Daddy Magic on commentary was clearly upset about this turn of Garcia, and Garcia himself seemed indecisive, but Moxley quickly took him aside and directed him to continue attacking the knee of O’Reilly.
Moxley chopped O’Reilly and kicked his leg out of his leg. Moxley tagged out to Garcia and Garcia tried to elbow the knee, but O’Reilly caught him and went for an armbar. Moxley nailed O’Reilly to break it up and Garcia forearmed Strong from the apron. O’Reilly and Garcia exchanged forearms in the middle of the ring until O’Reilly hit a PK with his bad leg, but he limped over and tagged out to Strong, who hit a back breaker on Garcia and an Olympic slam on Moxley. Strong hit a gutbuster on Garcia and a series of running elbows on Moxley before hitting a Tiger Driver for a 2-count. Moxley finally countered strong and locked on a D’Arce Choke, but O’Reilly broke it up. O’Reilly ate a lariat from Moxley, and Strong hit a Sick Kick on Moxley and everyone was down.
Moxley pulled Strong into a bulldog choke and Garcia locked a kneebar on O’Reilly, who started kicking Moxley in the face while in the submission to try and save Strong. Strong hit a flying knee on Moxley, and Garcia flew in for the save. O’Reilly tagged in, limped to the apron, and hit a running dropkick off the apron onto Moxley. O’Reilly hit a flying armbar on Garcia back in the ring, but Moxley ran in and hit a curb stomp on O’Reilly breaking it up. Garcia put the Dragon Tamer on O’Reilly to get the submission win.
Result: The Death Riders
I loved this match so much. Garcia looked refreshed, and Moxley was great, as always. Garcia is a perfect fit for this group and it has revitalized his energy already.
–Daddy Magic got in the face of Garcia, asking what he was doing, and Garcia ignored him and walked away with Moxley to end the show.
Final Thoughts
While the early part of the show had a few questionable booking moments (I am thinking of Toni Storm laying out Thekla), overall this was a tremendous episode of Collision, especially with the FTR vs. Priest & Billington match, Okada/Oku, and the main event. Garcia has already been elevated by joining the Death Riders, and I’m very excited to see what Moxley can bring out of him, as he has a knack for making everyone around him better, in kayfabe and in reality.
