A TNT title match is set for AEW Collision.
Saturday will see Kyle O’Reilly challenge Adam Copeland for the TNT title. After Copeland successfully defended the title against Brody King on Dynamite, all of House of Black attacked Copeland. O’Reilly, who previously promised he’d have Copeland’s back, came out for the save. Backstage, O’Reilly made it known to Copeland that he wanted a title match in his hometown of Edmonton, which Copeland agreed to.
Bryan Danielson will also return to the ring following his loss at AEW Dynasty, where he’ll team with Claudio Castagnoli against Top Flight. Danielson has been selling the effects of a Tiger Driver 91 that was taken during his Dynasty match against Will Ospreay.
Ospreay will also be in action on Saturday, taking on Lee Moriarty. Tommy Billington, the nephew of the Dynamite Kid, will make his AEW debut against Dax Harwood. Thunder Rosa will also take on Robyn Renegade, and the team of Brian Cage & The Gates of Agony will be in action.
Live coverage of Collision will begin at 8 pm ET on TBS. Rampage will air immediately after Collision at 10 pm ET.
We’re on the Superstation TBS, as the Blackpool Combat Club make their way to the ring to kick off another three-hour block of AEW television. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli defeated Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin)
A solid opener with a red-hot crowd. Danielson made his motivations for being in Anarchy in the Arena clear after the match, even if they were a bit generic.
The crowd in Vancouver was red hot in AEW’s debut in the market. The two teams traded offense until Castagnoli sent Darius into the ring post as we went to commercial. After the break, Darius drilled Danielson with a rope-walk Pele kick. Schiavone noted that this was the first time live pro wrestling had been on TBS on a Saturday since 2000.
Dante got the tag and ran wild on Castagnoli, hitting a frog splash for a nearfall. Castagnoli snatched Dante up into a giant swing. Castagnoli locked on the Sharpshooter before Darius broke it up with an outside-in facebuster. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl, ending with Dante hitting the Nose Dive for a nearfall. Danielson caught Dante with the Busaiku Knee before kicking Darius into a Sudden Death uppercut from Claudio. Claudio pinned Darius for the win.
Danielson took the mic and gave kudos to Top Flight. He noted that the first Anarchy in the Arena match almost ended his career, but he would fight in it again because he loved AEW. He said The Elite started AEW but doesn’t represent what AEW stands for anymore. The Young Bucks wanted to run the company like Tony Khan did, but they weren’t even here like Tony Khan would be. Danielson said that he loved AEW, and would do anything to protect it.
We got a recap of The Embassy turning on Swerve Strickland from Dynamite, seemingly at the behest of Christian Cage.
Will Ospreay defeated Lee Moriarty (w/Shane Taylor)
Ospreay continues to be one of the most consistently great wrestlers I’ve ever seen. He brings a top-star energy to AEW that not many others can bring. He gave Moriarty some convincing nearfalls before ultimately putting him away with the Stormbreaker, another finisher in his arsenal. The post-match attack from Taylor could set up another television match before the PPV.
International Champion Roderick Strong joined commentary, with The Kingdom joining him. Moriarty and Ospreay traded monkey flips until Ospreay sent Moriarty to the floor with a headscissors. Ospreay followed Moriarty to the floor with a house show dive as we went to break.
After the break, Moriarty caught Ospreay with a neck crank. Ospreay came back with a handspring kick that Strong had to admit was impressive. Ospreay hit a springboard forearm and teased the Tiger Driver but couldn’t go through with it. That hesitation allowed Moriarty to hit a Falcon Arrow for a nearfall. Ospreay caught Moriarty with a Cheeky Nandos kick before pulling him out of the corner into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall.
Shane Taylor got in the way of an Oscutter and ate a superkick for his troubles. Ospreay went for another Oscutter but Moriarty caught him in an armbar. Ospreay rolled his way free before knocking Moriarty out with the Hidden Blade. Ospreay stared down Strong on commentary as he hit the Stormbreaker to score the win. This was the first time Ospreay has used the Stormbreaker since coming to AEW full-time.
After the match, Ospreay stared down Strong before Taylor jumped Ospreay from behind. Taylor knocked Ospreay out with the right hand, allowing Strong to stand tall over Ospreay.
Tony Schiavone announced that Willow Nightingale would be defending the TBS Championship against STARDOM’s Tam Nakano at STARDOM Flashing Champions next Saturday, ahead of the Double or Nothing match against Mercedes Mone. We cut to footage of Mone throwing out the first pitch at the Red Sox game earlier today. The Sox beat the Nationals 4-2, no doubt inspired by Mone’s stellar first pitch. Nightingale and Mone will have a contract signing on Dynamite.
Brian Cage & Gates Of Agony (Bishop Kaun & Toa Liona) defeated Evan Rivers & The Voros Twins
Swerve looked like a boss here, getting his heat back from Dynamite by destroying both of the Gates of Agony.
These poor geeks got murdered by the former Embassy members, with Rivers getting pinned after the pendulum powerbomb. After the bodies were scraped out of the ring, Tony Schiavone asked Brian Cage why they jumped Swerve Strickland. Cage said that Swerve and Nana used them to get to the top, then left them hanging until they were needed. Cage said that they needed better leadership, leadership that the Young Bucks could give.
Swerve’s music hit, leading Cage to meet him on the ramp. But Swerve came out of the crowd with a chain and took out the Gates of Agony. Swerve took Cage out with a suplex before hitting the Swerve Stomp on both of the Gates. Swerve went to hang Kaun with the chain before Liona hit Swerve with a Pounce. Liona went for another Pounce, but Swerve caught him in the gut with a cinderblock. Swerve laid Liona across the ring stairs and hit a Con-Chair-To while staring down Cage on the ramp.
Swerve Strickland was in the back after the commercial. He tried to be the champion that he thought the company needed, but after being taken advantage of by Christian Cage, the EVPs, and the Mogul Embassy, he’s done being nice. He challenged Brian Cage to a singles match on Dynamite in his home state of Washington.
Daniel Garcia defeated KM
I like Garcia getting highlight wins, even if he’s not in a featured program at the moment.
Matt Menard joined commentary, as per usual with Garcia’s matches. KM overpowered Garcia to start and mocked Garcia’s dancing. Garcia quickly came back with strikes before powering KM up with a back suplex. Garcia got the quick submission win with a Dragon Sleeper.
We got a recap of the brawl to end Dynamite with The Elite and Team AEW after the announcement of Anarchy in the Arena.
Dax Harwood (w/ Cash Wheeler) defeated Tommy Billington
“Dynamite Kid” Tommy Billington came out to Rule, Brittania. He is the nephew of the original Dynamite Kid, Tom Billington. Harwood held serve early on, surviving some headbutts from Billington to keep control on the mat. After several shoulder block attempts, Billington finally took Harwood down with a shoulder block to send Harwood to the floor. Harwood dropped Billington with a back elbow after another exchange. Billington came back with a crossbody that sent both himself and Harwood crashing to the floor as the match went to a commercial.
After the break, Billington came off of the top rope with a crossbody to Harwood on the floor. Billington hit a missile dropkick as the crowd chanted Dynamite. No guys, this is Collision. Billington ran wild, hitting a top rope elbow for a nearfall. Harwood sent Billington to the top rope and hit a superplex. The two traded German suplexes before Harwood caught him with a Dragon suplex to shut him down.
Billington went for a pair of Owen Hart rollups, but Harwood caught him with a slingshot powerbomb to get the win. After the match, Harwood and Wheeler gave Billington props as the crowd gave him an ovation.
Tony Schiavone announced IWGP World Champion Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson vs. Kyle Fletcher & Jeff Cobb for Dynamite, with Don Callis bringing the NJPW World TV Champion Cobb in to get revenge for Moxley injuring Powerhouse Hobbs on Dynamite a few weeks back.
In footage from after Dynamite, The Elite was backstage. Kazuchika Okada challenged Dax Harwood to a singles match and stormed off. Jack Perry noted that he was one of four Pillars of AEW last year, and he was miserable. He never felt more alive than he did now before promising that Team AEW was dead at Double or Nothing. The Young Bucks were getting started when Christopher Daniels passed by. Matthew got in his face for getting in their business during the brawl, telling him how he hired Daniels and how he should be thankful to him. Daniels got back in Matthew’s face, telling him that he earned this job and put his career to the side to help AEW grow. He threatened “Matt” to stay out of his face.
Christopher Daniels was backstage here, telling the Young Bucks that they forgot where they came from. Daniels was there on day one alongside the Bucks, Kenny Omega, and Tony Khan. Daniels didn’t appreciate being treated like a lackey and didn’t appreciate being punished by being put in the ring against the Young Bucks on Dynamite. Daniels chose Matt Sydal as his partner against the Bucks, noting that the punishment the Bucks wanted wasn’t the one they would get. It will be Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal vs. The Young Bucks on Dynamite.
After a commercial, FTR was backstage. Harwood noted that he had never been in a match as dangerous as Anarchy in the Arena was, but he was set for it. Harwood warned Kazuchika Okada that he had never wrestled anyone as dangerous as him. Harwood vs. Okada is official for Dynamite.
Thunder Rosa defeated Robyn Renegade
Commentary noted that this was the three-year anniversary of Renegade’s debut in AEW, also coming against Thunder Rosa. Renegade got some offense in, but Rosa got the submission win with a sitting Cobra Clutch.
Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie were backstage with Lexy Nair. After razzing the Canucks, Johnny challenged PAC to a match on tonight’s Rampage. Johnny and Taya made out to end the interview.
We got a video from Hook. Hook had his hesitations about Chris Jericho. Jericho’s actions have pissed him off, but they haven’t surprised him. Hook warned Jericho that he didn’t know what Hook could be, but Hook would be happy to show him.
The announcers ran down the Dynamite card, announcing that Kazuchika Okada would be defending the Continental Championship against Dax Harwood. It was also announced that Will Ospreay would go one-on-one with Shane Taylor on next week’s Collision, which will be back on TNT.
AEW TNT Title Match – Adam Copeland defeated Kyle O’Reilly to retain
Copeland is having the run of his lengthy career here in AEW. This match was an excellent main event to Collision, with the Vancouver crowd getting behind O’Reilly as the match progressed. They got me with the guillotine counter to the spear deep into the match, but Copeland ended up retaining. I will say that I’m not a fan of the story with the House of Black potentially making Copeland too violent, as these are professional fighters paid to fight. Be as violent as you need to be, this is your job.
Tony Schiavone noted that this would be the 100th TNT Title defense in the championship’s history. We got a pop at the bell from the Vancouver crowd for the two Canadians, with O’Reilly being from Vancouver as well. O’Reilly worked on Copeland’s arm to start before Copeland sent him into the post Bret Hart-style. Copeland worked on O’Reilly’s midsection with a gutbuster, setting him up for the spear. O’Reilly caught Copeland with a guillotine choke off of the ropes, but Copeland lifted him onto the ropes before shoving him off the apron to the floor.
After a commercial, Copeland knocked O’Reilly off the top rope. Copeland went for an elbow drop, but O’Reilly caught him in an armbar to a huge reaction. Copeland reversed the hold into the Grindhouse before O’Reilly got to the ropes. Copeland caught O’Reilly with a gutbuster, but O’Reilly hit a McGuinness-style pendulum lariat to take him down as well.
O’Reilly hit a flurry of strikes before transitioning a back suplex into a leg bar. There was a great camera shot here of Copeland straining for the ropes before eventually getting the bottom rope to break the hold. The two men fought to the apron where O’Reilly dropped Copeland shoulder-first. O’Reilly hit a King Kong Knee Drop for a nearfall before locking on a Fujiwara armbar. Copeland stood up and hit a reverse DDT.
The two traded shots, with O’Reilly jumping out of the way of a spear before rolling Copeland up for a nearfall. Copeland kept O’Reilly close so he could lock on a Bully Choke, but O’Reilly countered into a cross-arm breaker. Copeland stacked O’Reilly up to get out of it before hitting another gutbuster. Copeland brought O’Reilly to the top rope, but O’Reilly brought him down with an armbreaker.
Copeland booted his way free, with O’Reilly going down hard from it. Copeland loaded up the spear, but O’Reilly caught him in a guillotine. Copeland stood up, laid in a liver punch, and dropped O’Reilly with an Impaler DDT. Copeland finally scored with the spear to get the win and retain the TNT Title. After the cut to Rampage, Copeland and O’Reilly shook hands to a standing ovation. Copeland held on a little too long, causing O’Reilly to stare him down. The announcers wondered if everything was ok with Copeland, and whether his schedule or the run-ins with the House of Black were weighing on him.
