Tag: Rush

AEW Collision live results: Bandido, JetSpeed & Mascara Dorada team up

Posted on by Josiah MacDonald

Saturday’s All In aftermath edition of AEW Collision from Chicago will feature Bandido in the night’s featured bout.

The current ROH World Champion will team with CMLL’s Mascara Dorada and JetSpeed (Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight) against Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, Rocky Romero and Hechicero of the Don Callis Family.

With no interference, Megan Bayne will go one-on-one with Tay Melo in her first singles match since December 2022.

In a four-way $200,000 tag team match, it will be The Gunns vs. Gates of Agony vs. CRU vs. Big Bill & Bryan Keith.

New TNT Dustin Rhodes will be on hand to celebrate his title win as will Max Caster who will hold another Best Wrestler Alive challenge.

Ricochet will face AR Fox, and Rush will take on Katsuyori Shibata in a highly-anticipated match.

Following her re-debut of sorts at All In, Alex Windsor will return to AEW TV against Taya Valkyrie.

**********

Dustin Rhodes opened AEW Collision, saying that he wished his day was with him right now as he celebrated his win of the TNT Championship. Rhodes talked about how his dad always told him to keep stepping, getting up every time he is knocked down. It is hope that things can and will get better as you keep get back up. Rhodes said that he spent 37 years in the wrestling business, reaching the highest of heights, and hitting rock bottom, and he experienced a lot of failure. He said he was waiting to say this for 30 years: “I am now the face of TNT.” Rhodes promised that he would give his all week in and week out because he wanted to be a fighting champion, and that he will keep fighting into the future.

Don Callis came out with Kyle Fletcher, and Fletcher said that Rhodes’ story was crap, and the celebration that they were having tonight was supposed to be his. Fletcher was angry that his one-on-one title shot was ruined by Cole getting injured, and that Rhodes was lucky to win the title in a four way match. Fletcher said that he was going to take everything from Rhodes, and take his title.

Rhodes put Fletcher over as a great wrestler, and talked about his own times falling short at winning the title, from Lance Archer, to Sammy Guevara, to Christian Cage, and Brodie Lee, but Rhodes wrestled 3 times in 24-hours, and all Fletcher does is make excuses, while Rhodes pulled it off and Fletcher didn’t.

Don Callis calmed Fletcher down, and said that Rhodes was a legend, and that he has known him since 1997, going on the road together. He wanted Rhodes to think about what will happen when he loses the TNT Championship, and offered him a place in the Don Callis Family, as that was a better than being a 3rd wheel in the Rhodes family. At this, Rhodes attacked Callis. Fletcher attacked Rhodes, but Rhodes fought back and sent Fletcher to the floor, fleeing the ring. This segment was great, especially Dustin Rhodes.

–Mark Briscoe was narrating the recent actions of the Conglomeration, with Ishii, Willow Nightingale and her feud with Kris Statlander, and Briscoe, Hangman, and Hobbs standing tall over the Death Riders on Wednesday, with Briscoe leaving the last word for MJF, saying he was coming for him.

–A recap of Ricochet and AR Fox’s issues aired, with the announcers reminding us that Ricochet turned on Fox in their tag match, and how he recruited the Gates of Agony. This was a small story playing out on TV, which I like when wrestlers don’t necessarily have a PPV level feud in the works at the moment. It gives both of them something to do that is mildly interesting, and keeps them both on TV until something else comes.

Ricochet vs. AR Fox

Ricochet tried to bait Fox into fighting at ringside, but Fox refused to do so, dodging and countered Ricochet at every turn, hitting a tope con giro to the floor and going to ringside on his terms. The Gates of Agony came down at this point, stalking Fox. Ricochet distracted the referee letting Liona slam Fox on the apron as they went to ad break. When the came back from break, Fox managed to dodge a shoulder thrust from Ricochet and hit a top con giro, and a senton bomb for a 2-count.

Ricochet and Fox went into a series of near falls, ending with Ricochet powering into a Death Valley Driver, which popped the crowd. Fox kicking out led to Ricochet going for the Spirit Gun, but Fox dodged it, and Ricochet ended up draped on the middle rope near the turnbuckle. Fox used the ropes and launched himself into a Canadian Destroyer on Ricochet, pulling him from the middle ropes. That was incredible. Ricochet dodged a 450 Splash and Ricochet hit a Spirit Gun for the pinfall.

Result: Ricochet

This was a great match, but it would be nice for AR Fox to get some credibility by beating some lower card guys in the future. He is really good, and the fans clearly like him, so it is time for him to start winning.

–A recap of Hangman Page and Jon Moxley aired, and as Colt Cabana, Nigel McGuinness, and Tony Schiavone were discussing what happened, Marina Shafir emerged from the audience behind Cabana and started choking him unconscious. Moxley came out of nowhere and started punching Cabana in the face with a chain, busting him open. Yuta joined Moxley in the beat down. Moxley claimed he was only giving the fans what they wanted, and he choked Cabana with the chain, screaming that Cabana should tap out, and he threw Cabana over the ropes choking him out. Cabana tapped out, just like Moxley did at AEW All In, and then Moxley let go, and left through the crowd as the fans chanted “You tapped out!” at Moxley. Tony Schiavone noted that Cabana was very good friends with Hangman Page, and this couldn’t be interpreted as anything else but a message to him. This angle was awesome.

–Kris Statlander was with Lexy Nair, and she was talking about what happened at All In and her loss in the Casino Gauntlet. As she was talking, the Death Riders walked by, and Yuta, covered in Cabana’s blood, and said “Champions always make a comeback” before Marina Shafir pulled him away, and Statlander said that he was right. I loved this angle too. The Death Riders came across as very dangerous, yet very scummy, heels. Great storytelling in giving us a villain to boo.

Megan Bayne vs. Tay Melo

Everyone was banned at ringside for this, hopefully eliminating the Penelope Ford factor for Bayne in this match. Bayne dominated the opening portion of the match, but Melo countered a spear into a Fujiwara armbar, and transitioned into a triangle choke, but Bayne did a Rampage Jackson slam to counter out. Melo and Bayle shuffled for position at the ropes and Melo pulled Bayne to the floor with a head scissors. Bayne caught Melo as she jumped from the apron with a cross body and hit a fallaway slam on the floor.

As they came back from break, Melo hit a kick in the corner and several boot scrapes across the face of Bayne. Bayne stood up annoyed by it, hitting a belly-to-belly suplex. As Bayne did this, Tony Schiavone announced a match for Dynamite – Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta because of what they did to Colt Cabana for Shark Week Dynamite. Poor Yuta is going to die. Melo locked on a guillotine choke, but Bayne fought out. Bayne went for Fate’s Descent, but Melo rolled out hit a running knee, and a Canadian Destroyer for a 2-count. Bayne responded with a flying lariat in the middle of the ring and hit a running Liger bomb for the finish.

Result: Megan Bayne

Nigel McGuinness had the call of the night that Melo was now a Marsh-melo.

–Don Callis walked up to Sky Flight, offering Scorpio Sky a place in the Don Callis Family. Christopher Daniels said that they were well represented, but they were looking for a fight, and if Callis was up for it, he could give the Callis Family a fight. Don Callis said he would think about it, which seems sinister.

–Alex Windsor cut a promo before the match, talking about taking Athena to the limit at Grand Slam Australia.

Alex Windsor vs. Taya Valkyrie (w/ mXm Collection & Johnny TV)

There wasn’t a lot to this match as they only got a few minutes, but it saw Windsor going for a sharpshooter, and Valkyrie reversing into a STF. Windsor hit a blue thunder bomb, a lariat, and then locked the sharpshooter on for Valkyrie for the win.

Result: Alex Windsor

–Athena appeared in the balcony that Toni Storm was in on Dynamite, and she mocked Toni Storm, and also dismissed Windsor, saying that her match with Windsor ended like all the others, with Athena winning. As Athena was making fun of Storm, Storm came out and said that no one was allowed to be in the balcony but her, and she dared Athena to fight her.

Athena refused, saying that she would fight her on her terms, as Storm had to face Billie Starks on Wednesday. Storm then said it was true that she was facing Starks, and that if Starks won, she would be granted a shot at Storm, which Athena did not like. Storm then ran into the crowd and ran up to the balcony, going after Athena, who ran away.

–Anthony Bowens was backstage with Lexy Nair, and he was talking about how he did not have success at All In. Billy Gunn walked up, and Bowens was confused, as Gunn said he would be there for him, but wasn’t at All In. Gunn said that Bowens has been confusing, saying he wanted him there, but didn’t want him there, and that they needed to get on the same page, and that Bowens needs to stop obsessing with Max Caster. At least they tried to fix that plot hole. Gunn said he had a match for Bowens next week, and all he needed to do was trust him.

Big Bill & Bryan Keith vs. Cru (Action Andretti & Lio Rush) vs. The Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) vs. The Gunns (Austin & Colton Gunn) (w/ Juice Robinson) in a $200,000 Tag Match

Austin Gunn started the match with Andretti, and was quickly forced to tag out to Colton Gunn, as they were so much faster. Colton hit a double clothesline, forcing Cru to leave the ring, letting the Gates of Agony to come in. Bishop Kaun ate a dropkick and fell backwards into the corner and was blind tagged by Bryan Keith. Keith and Colton started an exchange, but Keith quickly tagged out to Bill, who got a huge reaction from the Chicago audience.

It didn’t take long for the match to break down into all 4 teams brawling as they went to the ad break. Colton Gunn was isolated in this by Cru, and they came back from the break with Lio Rush doing handsprings into people causing them to fall from the apron. Rush tried to knock Bill off the apron, but Bill shrugged off his chop and Rush shook his head, indicating it was a mistake. Colton Gunn tagged out to Bill out of desperation, who ran wild, destroying everyone in the ring and hitting a black hole slam on Rush.

Colton Gunn tagged in, interrupting Bill’s rampage, but Bill launched him into the air and hit a punch. Colton Gunn went down holding his knee, which did not look good. I think this is where his injury happened. Bill ran around ringside dropping everyone, but as he was running in front of the announce table, Toa Liona came out of nowhere and hit a pounce that sent Bill flying through the air and over the announce table, causing Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone to run away. Ricochet came out and grabbed the leg of Austin Gunn, allowing the Gates of Agony to destroy Andretti for the win.

Result: The Gates of Agony

While Ricochet still hasn’t won one of these money matches, his crew finally did, with his help.

–A recap of the Patriarchy turning on Christian Cage aired, with Adam Copeland clarifying that he was not saving Christian, but getting revenge on FTR, and Nick Wayne giving his reasons for the turn, saying that Christian never stuck with the plan.

Kyle O’Reilly (w/ Roderick Strong) vs. Max Caster

Kyle O’Reilly answered Caster’s challenge this week. Caster claimed that O’Reilly could not win the match if he couldn’t catch him, so Caster ran around the ring on the outside. Well, O’Reilly could win by allowing a count out, but that did not occur to either of them, and Strong tripped Caster, allowing O’Reilly to catch him. Caster tried to hit O’Reilly with his trademark for the Best Wrestler Alive gimmick, but O’Reilly kicked it away. Caster raked the eyes of O’Reilly, but O’Reilly turned a sunset flip into an armbar and Caster immediately tapped out.

Result: Kyle O’Reilly

–We were shown Tomohiro Ishii and Hologram watching backstage, and they were looking at the TV like normal human beings! A positive.

–Juice Robinson was backstage and he talked about Ricochet, wanting revenge for what he did in the 4-way tag match. Big Bill walked in, and said that Robinson was getting in his business during the match, and they started fighting, with Robinson driving Bill into the lockers behind him, almost knocking them over, before a bunch of referees and agents separated them.

Rush (w/Dralistico, & The Beast Mortos) vs. Kaysuyori Shibata

Shibata and Rush started the match exchanging hard strikes with very hard chops that delighted the fans. This continued for the first 2 or 3 minutes, as they kept returning to chops until Rush finally hit a punch that dropped Shibata and they went to the floor. As Rush sent Shibata back into the ring, Shibata stood up and hit a running kick that sent Rush to the floor. Shibata grabbed Rush by the hair and rain around the ringside area, driving Rush into the guardrails repeatedly.

Shibata locked a figure four leglock on Rush back in the ring. Shibata hit a dropkick in the corner on Rush as they came back from break, getting a two-count. Shibata went for a vertical suplex, but Rush countered into his own, hitting two suplexes, and then Shibata countering and hitting one. Both men went back and forth on the suplexes until Shibata hit the last one, and they were both down. Rush kicked out at one, but ate a German suplex. Rush stood back up and hit one on Shibata, and they started exchanging German suplexes like the vertical.

Rush hit a headbutt on Shibata, but Shibata hit a hard chop and locked on a sleeper hold in the middle of the ring, but Dralistico & Mortos ran in, but Shibata dispatched them. The referee did not end the match for some reason, as Nigel McGuinness claimed that LFI must have paid off the referee. Rush hit the Horns in the corner on Shibata for the win.

Result: Rush

Listen, I know people will say that the reason Rush wasn’t DQ’d was because they didn’t actually touch Shibata, but it was still right in front of the referee. This was no good. It does not make sense. The match itself was quiet great, but that finish was a mess.

–LFI attacked after the bell, indicating that they wanted the Trios titles. Powerhouse Hobbs ran down to make the save. It seems we’re setting up a match for later once Joe returns.

The Don Callis Family (Hechicero, Rocky Romero, Josh Alexander, & Lance Archer) vs. JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & Mike Bailey), Mascara Dorada, Bandido

Bandido and Hechicero started the match, with Bandido eager to get revenge for his loss as Hechicero eyes the ROH World Championship. Bandido rolled to the floor and Dorada hit a headscissors after a tilt-a-whirl from Hechicero. Dorada tried to hit a handspring, but Lance Archer was the one who was on the other end of it, and this quickly stopped that. The speed of the babyfaces still had an advantage, with it taking a triple dropkick from Dorada, Bailey, and Knight to drop Archer. Dorada, Bailey, and Knight all hit planchas to the floor on the heels as the party match continued.

Josh Alexander hit a reverse suplex on Mike Bailey as they went to the final ad break. Hechicero came in and locked on a series of violent submissions on Bailey, as they continued to isolate him for the heat. Tony Schiavone announced that there was good news though, as Don Callis was not at ringside. His hatred for the heels makes up for the occasional missed call. I love Tony Schiavone. As they came back from break, Bandido tagged in and hit a gorilla press on Alexander.

Rocky Romero hit a knee to the back of Bandido, allowing Alexander to tag out and Hechicero came in and swarmed Bandido immediately, hitting a flying knee in the corner and a went for a running powerbomb, but Bandido countered into a sunset flip bomb to tag out to Dorada. Dorada countered a chokeslam from Archer, who worked as a wonderful base for Dorada’s offence.

Archer went for the Black Out, but the Callis Family broke it up. Rockey Romero was launched off the shoulders of Archer onto Dorada which set of a series of big moves from everyone until Archer took out Bailey, Bandido, and Knight all at the same time. Archer clotheslined Knight into the ring from the apron, but Knight landed on his feet and hit a dropkick and Knight hit an assisted Asai Moonsault to Archer that finally dropped him. Romero almost finished Dorada with a sliced bread, but the the babyfaces made the save, and as Bailey and Knight hit dives onto everyone on the floor, Bandido hit the 21-plex on Romero allowing Dorada to hit the shooting star press on Romero for the win.

Result: Bandido, Mascara Dorada, & JetSpeed

Final Thoughts

I really like how Collision has been advancing the midcard stories on Collision lately. It is clear the show is not the A show, but having the midcard stories built on this show and given time makes them feel more important, and that also gives Collision a distinct purpose – it doesn’t always advance the A-show stories, but it will always advance the stories of several of the midcard wrestlers. The angle with the Death Riders and Cabana was tremendous though, and definitely plays into one of the A level stories with Hangman and Moxley.

AEW Dynamite – July 23, 2025

Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta

AEW Collision – July 26, 2025

Athena vs. Alex Windsor

Shibata vs. Rush, Dustin Rhodes promo part of AEW Collision lineup

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Saturday’s AEW Collision lineup includes Katsuyori Shibata vs. Rush, plus a promo from the new TNT Champion.

As announced during Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite, Shibata and Rush will go one-on-one on the Saturday, July 19 Collision in a first-time-ever singles matchup.

Also set for Saturday’s show, TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes will address the audience after his emotional All In title win.

The recent issues between TayJay and the Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford duo will be settled on the show as well, as Tay Melo faces Bayne in a singles match with everyone banned from ringside.

Alex Windsor will make her Collision debut on Saturday’s episode facing Taya Valkyrie in a one-on-one match.

Ricochet will square off with AR Fox in another singles match announced for the card.

In an eight-man tag, The Don Callis Family’s Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, Josh Alexander, and HEchicero will face Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey, Bandido, and Mascara Dorada.

Saturday’s Collision will be taped Thursday night, July 17 in Chicago as part of AEW’s three-week residency at the Aragon Ballroom. The card:

AEW Collision airing Saturday, July 19 —

  • Katsuyori Shibata vs. Rush
  • TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes speaks
  • Megan Bayne vs. Tay Melo — Everyone banned from ringside
  • Alex Windsor vs. Taya Valkyrie
  • Ricochet vs. AR Fox
  • Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey, Bandido & Mascara Dorada vs. Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero, Hechicero & Josh Alexander

Rush returns on AEW Collision after two-month absence

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

Former Ring of Honor World Champion Rush made his return to AEW on Thursday’s Collision after a lengthy absence.

The 36-year-old teamed with Dralistico and The Beast Mortos in a squash trios win over KM, LSG and Rosario Grillo with Rush picking up the pin and win after hitting the Bull’s Horns.

It was Rush’s first match anywhere since a February 8th Collision win for the LFI threesome and just his third overall in 2025. He was suspended in storyline for striking a referee which was announced on TV that same month.

It’s unclear what the non-storyline reason was for his absence this time. According to a Fightful report, he and Dralistico got some heat for an incident during a mid-November Rampage bout where they attacked Richard Holliday as he was legitimately being checked on by a doctor. They were supposed to win a four-way number one contenders’ bout, but did not due to the incident. The duo then disappeared for just over two months.

AEW Collision live results: Mid-South street fight, TNT title defense

Posted on by Suit Williams

Tonight’s AEW Collision from Huntsville, Alabama, will feature a Mid-South street fight, a three-way TNT title defense, and more.

Former AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will take on AEW World Champion Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta in a Mid-South street fight.

After the events of the last few weeks, TNT Champion Daniel Garcia will defend his title against Kyle O’Reilly and ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty in a three-way.

The AEW women’s division will be represented as Megan Bayne will compete in an AEW singles match for the first time since February 2022 while Harley Cameron goes one-on-one with Taya Valkyrie.

Former AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm will be on hand to share some thoughts about reigning titleholder Mariah May.

In a pair of tag matches, Samoa Joe & Hook will face Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian while Chris Jericho & Bryan Keith will face The Outrunners.

The card is rounded out by the first Max Caster open challenge and The Beast Mortos in action.

**********

Collision comes to us live (to tape!) from Huntsville, Alabama. Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on the call.

Hook & Samoa Joe defeated The Patriarchy (Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne) (w/Christian Cage)

A lifeless, paint-by-numbers opener here. Joe injected some life into this Christian/Hook feud when he returned, but it’s time to get off the pot and get the trios match or the Christian/Hook blowoff.

Hook and Wayne started off, with Hook catching Wayne with a crotch-lift suplex. Tags on both sides led to Joe walking away from a Sabian dive. After interference from Wayne on the floor, Hook was your Street Tough-In-Peril. After a few minutes, Hook caught Wayne with a T-Bone suplex and got the hot tag to Joe.

Joe ran wild on Sabian and hit the Muscle Buster for the win. After the bell, Christian attacked Joe and Hook with his non-union equivalent Money In The Bank briefcase and left them laying.

Cope was backstage. He wondered if Jon Moxley even knew what his goal was, as nobody else seemed to know what it was. Cope called Moxley a malcontent, unaware that he may be the problem with AEW. Cope said that even when he was a young gun, he respected the veterans that made it better for his generations. He paid it back by helping make the business better for people in Moxley’s generation, but Moxley was entitled and didn’t respect that. He hated how Moxley hid the AEW World Championship away and was going to beat Moxley up to take it. The challenge was made for Revolution: Cope vs. Mox for the AEW World Championship.

(This was the big promo to set up the Revolution World Title match, and much like the Cope/Mox feud, it was very unfocused. Instead of the feud being about having pride in AEW or getting revenge for the weeks of attacks up and down the roster, Cope made it about respecting your elders? A messy set-up for the PPV match.)

The Beast Mortos defeated Adam Priest

Mortos killed Priest quickly, finishing with Chuck Taylor’s Awful Waffle – now renamed the Destination Hellhole.

Max Caster came to the ring to interrupt Mortos’ celebration. He congratulated Mortos but said that he wouldn’t stand a chance against the Best Wrestler Alive. Caster kicked off the first of his Open Challenge Series.

Max Caster Open Challenge Match – Rush (w/Dralistico & The Beast Mortos) defeated Max Caster

Rush killed Caster quickly, finishing with The Bull’s Horns for the win. After the match, Rush took the microphone and reminded Mortos that LFI was a family.

(Rush is back, and he’s good as usual. We’ll see how long it lasts.)

The Outrunners were backstage with Lexy Nair, and they cut their promo on The Learning Tree.

The Learning Tree (Bryan Keith & Chris Jericho) (w/Big Bill) defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)

(I was ready to complain about another heel beatdown on AEW TV this week, but Bandido came back to make the save and get some shine here. I think the world of Bandido, as I think he has high-level star potential for AEW. I’m glad to see him back here.)

Jericho & Magnum started, and the Outrunners soon ran wild with atomic drops. They dumped Jericho & Keith to the floor, but a Big Boot from Big Bill took Magnum down on the floor.

After a commercial break, Floyd tagged in and ran wild with bodyslams. Keith cut off the Predator handshake, and Jericho got Floyd in the Walls of Jericho. Floyd got out of the hold and we got a Pier Six brawl, ending with the Predator elbow drop. Big Bill interfered again to break up Total Recall, and Keith got a small package to win the match. After the match, Big Bill laid out both Outrunners as Keith pulled out a table.

Big Bill had a double chokeslam set up when Bandido came out to make the save. Bandido ran wild on the Learning Tree, putting Keith through the table with a press slam to a big pop.

Kyle Fletcher & Mark Briscoe cut promos on each other ahead of their Continental Classic rematch next week on Collision. Fletcher was upset that Briscoe spoiled his perfect record in the tournament and wanted to get his win back before Grand Slam Australia, while Briscoe said he was going to prove his win wasn’t a fluke.

(Fletcher/Briscoe was on the short-list of the best matches of the tournament, and I’m glad we’re getting the rematch.)

Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada was backstage with Lexy Nair and was immediately interrupted by Buddy Matthews laughing at him. Matthews laughed at Okada calling himself a champion, and Okada laughed off another Matthews challenge. Matthews called Okada a b*tch and left.

Harley Cameron defeated Taya Valkyrie

Cameron was the most over babyface on the show to this point, and she finally got her first win in AEW. I was wondering if they would save it for Grand Slam Australia, but it looks like she may be Mercedes Mone’s opponent for the show.

Valkyrie jumped Cameron at the bell and landed double knees in the corner for a nearfall. After a commercial break, Cameron hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. The crowd chanted Feel The Wrath as Cameron brought Valkyrie to the top rope, but Valkyrie took Cameron out of the corner with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Cameron came back with a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall.

Cameron went for a senton off the top rope, but Valkyrie moved and hit a spear. Cameron kicked out at two, then rolled up Valkyrie with a crucifix pin to score the pin and her first win in AEW. Deonna Purrazzo was shown upset at her partner dropping the fall here.

During this match, Hounds of Hell vs. Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher & Will Ospreay vs. A Mystery Member of the Don Callis Family was announced for Dynamite.

Ricochet Sit-Down Interview

A damn good piece of business to build the Dynamite match between Ricochet and Swerve Strickland. Strickland found a way to cut Ricochet’s early work down without cutting Ricochet himself down, and Ricochet found a way to hit a nerve on Swerve by bringing up Hangman Page.

Ricochet had a sit-down interview with Renee Paquette backstage. He listened to the fans that told him he belonged in AEW, and watched from afar as his peers did amazing things in AEW. But when he got there, the fans turned their backs on him and showered him with toilet paper. Swerve Strickland joined in with the mockery, and when Ricochet stabbed Strickland in the head with the scissors, he was doing it to curse at the fans as well.

Swerve Strickland entered the scene calmly, choosing to save the fight for the people in Atlanta. He shooed Paquette away and sat with Ricochet to talk. He talked about how they never saw eye-to-eye in their encounters, and how he didn’t want Ricochet in AEW to begin with. Ricochet pretended to be a superhero, and the fans rejected him for it. Meanwhile, Strickland accepted his role as the villain, and he got all the respect in the world for it. Strickland promised to show Ricochet that there was levels to this, and that Ricochet wasn’t on his.

Ricochet agreed that he wasn’t good at pretending and admitted that he never cared about the people. Ricochet said that ever since Hangman Page punked Strickland out, he hasn’t felt threatened by Strickland at all. Strickland responded by snatching the scissors out of Ricochet’s suit pocket and holding them to his throat. Strickland said that he would see Ricochet on Dynamite and left without incident.

Timeless Toni Storm Town Hall

A good promo from Toni here. I’ve…not been the target audience for this feud, but the crowd does seem to be into it, and the Grand Slam Australia match feels hot.

Timeless Toni Storm appeared on stage, announcing that she had spent the last six weeks playing the role of Toni Storm. She knows no one caught on because she was a good actress, but everyone bore witness to her metamorphosis. She didn’t do it for the fans, she did it for herself. She was embarrassed and ashamed when Mariah May stabbed her in the back and ran away from herself. She rebuilt herself from the ground up to look May in the eye, and she saw everything she needed to see. She cursed May and said that it doesn’t get realer than her. She promised that May’s time was over.

Harley Cameron was backstage with Renee Paquette outside of Mercedes Mone’s locker room. Paquette noted that Mone wasn’t there, but Cameron corrected her as Mercedes Mone entered the frame. She looked like a puppet and was connected to Cameron’s hand, but that may have just been the picture quality on my TV. Mone agreed to wrestle Cameron in Australia, and Cameron shook her hand to make it official.

Wait a minute, Mercedes Mone then walked into frame? Two Mercedes Mones? Is this a Dave Hebner situation? Saturday Night’s Main Event is back, after all. The actual Mone called Cameron a loser and said that losers don’t ride the Mone Train.

We got promos from all three competitors in the TNT Title match.

AEW TNT Title Match – Daniel Garcia (c) (w/Matt Menard) defeated Kyle O’Reilly, Lee Moriarty (w/Shane Taylor)

A solid TV defense here for Garcia, as they kept up the energy and didn’t fall into typical three-way issues. They worked hard to make sure everyone felt involved, and the result was a good match.

All three men locked up to start and broke up each other’s submissions with other submissions. O’Reilly caught Moriarty with a knee lift to send him out of the ring. Moriarty sent O’Reilly and Garcia to the floor before hitting a tope to both men as we went to a commercial.

After the break, Moriarty caught Garcia with a crossbody for a nearfall, then transitioned to a double wristlock. Moriarty hit a facebuster on O’Reilly while hitting an Eat Defeat on Garcia for a nearfall on both men. O’Reilly and Garcia teamed up to hammer Moriarty with strikes before turning on each other when Moriarty fell out of the ring.

Moriarty got back in the ring and all three men traded strikes before taking each other down with boots. Garcia took both men down with ten punches in the corner and a double clothesline. Moriarty hit a neckbreaker on Garcia for a nearfall. Garcia locked Moriarty in the Dragon Tamer, but O’Reilly caught Garcia in an armbar. O’Reilly transitioned to a triangle choke and caught Moriarty in an ankle lock.

Moriarty knocked O’Reilly loose and sent him out of the ring. Moriarty sent O’Reilly to the floor, then sent Garcia into the ropes for Taylor to punch. Moriarty locked Garcia in the Border City Stretch as Taylor held O’Reilly back. Garcia turned the hold into a jackknife pin for the win as O’Reilly was dealing with Taylor.

After the match, The Infantry came out to surround O’Reilly and Garcia. Angelo Parker joined Matt Menard to even up the numbers, and Adam Cole & Roderick Strong came out to make sure Shane Taylor Promotions left the scene. It was announced here that a three-way trios match was booked for next week’s Collision, as it would be Shane Taylor Promotions vs. The Undisputed Kingdom vs. Daniel Garcia & 2.0.

We got a video package for Penelope Ford vs. Thunder Rosa next week.

We got a video of Hologram walking the streets in street clothes. He had lightning in his fingers.

Megan Bayne defeated Hyena Hera

Bayne got a quick showcase win here with an F5.

Lio Rush & Action Andretti were outside earlier today. They weren’t in the building last week, and they weren’t there this week, so Top Flight would have to wait. Rush said that when they came back, he might take up Darius Martin on his challenge for a match.

We got a video package for Queen Aminata vs. Toni Storm on Dynamite, with Mariah May on commentary.

Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale were backstage with Lexy Nair. Statlander asked for this interview to apologize to Nightingale, but Nightingale wasn’t interested. Statlander pulled out her friendship bracelet and said that she never broke it.

(After the CM Punk/Drew McIntyre feud, I don’t want to ever see a friendship bracelet on a wrestling show again.)

Mid-South Street Fight – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta)

This was a very good main event, as the babyfaces finally got their act together and stood together to take a chunk out of the Death Riders. The crowd was at their hottest here as well, making for a fun close to Collision.

FTR jumped the Death Riders as they came out. We got plunder and crowd brawling with ladders and trash cans. Moxley got the first nearfall on the floor by booting Harwood out of a chair. Harwood got beaten down in the ring with a chair, but Wheeler came back with a high cross and ran wild. Marina Shafir came out to send Wheeler into the post, and we went to the commercial break with Moxley clawing at Harwood’s nose with pliers. That’ll clear your sinuses.

After the commercial, Moxley laid out thumbtacks. Unfortunately, the Rule of Abyss came to be here as Moxley went into the weapon he set up. Wheeler powerbombed Moxley into the tacks and took Yuta out with a dive, but Moxley came back with a Death Rider on the floor. Harwood was by himself and fought hard, taking Yuta out with a brainbuster.

Moxley re-emerged with a giant hook – I guess he had a run-in with Captain Hook – but Harwood took it from him and crotched him with it. Shafir hit Harwood with a low blow and tried to choke him out, but Harwood backed her through a table. Harwood hit a piledriver on Moxley for a nearfall and locked on a Sharpshooter, but Claudio Castagnoli came out to cut him off. Harwood sent Castagnoli to the floor, but Moxley caught him with a cutter and hit a curb stomp onto a chair for a nearfall.

It was 3-on-2 on FTR before Jay White & Cope came out to help FTR. The fight spilled to the outside, and FTR hit Yuta with a spike piledriver through the announce table to get the win. The fight continued, with White hitting Castagnoli with the Blade Runner. Moxley was surrounded by the babyfaces and got hit with a Shatter Machine and a Spear. The babyfaces set up Moxley for a Con-Chair-To, but Castagnoli dragged Moxley to safety.

Rush makes in-ring return at AEW Collision taping

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

The following contains spoilers for this Saturday’s AEW Collision.

After being away for a few months, former Ring of Honor World Champion Rush made his return to AEW Wednesday in Huntsville, Alabama, flanked by his brother, Dralistico.

In a match taped for this Saturday’s Collision, Rush became Max Caster’s first entry for his open challenge series. It was his first singles bout since last August and he picked up the victory convincingly. Afterward, he argued with LFI member The Beast Mortos.

The 36-year-old was last seen competing in a tag team match on the November 14th Collision as he and Mortos lost to Caster & Anthony Bowens in a Full Gear Tag Team title qualifying match. Fightful Select reported earlier this month that Rush and Mortos were originally supposed to win, but there was heat on them after Rush got physical with Richard Holliday on Rampage that same week as Holliday was being tended to by medical personnel.

Dralistico hasn’t competed in AEW since the October 30th Rampage where he, Rush and Mortos were victorious in a trios match. His in-ring return date is still unknown.

AEW mentioned the brothers in passing in early-December, saying they were home “dealing with family matters.”

AEW provides status update on Rush & Dralistico

Posted on by Matt Boone

AEW gave an update on the whereabouts of Rush and Dralistico during this week’s episode of AEW Collision.

Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness explained the recent absences of the two LFI members, saying that they have been absent due to being “at home with family matters.” No other specifics were provided during the broadcast.

Rush last appeared on AEW Collision on November 14th, teaming with fellow LFI member The Beast Mortos in a losing effort against The Acclaimed. In the case of Dralistico, he appeared at the Rampage taping on October 30th, teaming with Rush and Mortos in a winning effort against Beef, JD Drake & The Butcher. He did, however, turn up at the Arena Del Valle Lucha Libre show on December 1st.

Mortos worked this week’s Collision, earning a squash victory over Aaron Solo. It was announced afterward that he will be competing against AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada in the ongoing Continental Classic tournament at next week’s Winter is Coming edition of AEW Collision.

All star 10-man tag team match signed for AEW Collision

Posted on by Josh Nason

The first match for this Saturday’s AEW Collision is official, featuring ten men who are looking to fight each other as soon as possible.

FTW Champion Hook will join with FTR & The Outrunners against the Grizzled Young Veterans, Roderick Strong, The Beast Mortos and the returning Rush.

FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) took on the team of James Drake & Zack Gibson on last Saturday’s Collision, picking up the victory. After the win, GYV immediately attacked FTR and were prevented from doing further damage by The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum).

The other storyline wrinkle for Saturday is that Strong will challenge Hook for his ceremonial title on part of next Wednesday’s Grand Slam event from Queens, New York.

This will be Rush’s first AEW action since a mid-August tag team win alongside Kyle Fletcher.

This Saturday’s Collision emanates from Springfield, Massachussetts, and will be followed by a taping of Rampage for the following Friday.

Swerve Strickland World title eliminator one of several additions to AEW Collision

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland will prepare for his non-title match against Wheeler Yuta on Wednesday’s Dynamite with a title eliminator match on Saturday’s AEW Collision.

The news was revealed during Friday’s Rampage and the match is of the open challenge variety with an opponent yet to be named.

After stepping in for Mark Briscoe and Tomohiro Ishii on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, former AEW Tag Team Champions FTR will take on The Outrunners. FTR and The Acclaimed came face-to-face on Wednesday as both try to position themselves for a shot at current champions The Young Bucks.

In an unusual pairing, Darby Allin will team with Hologram to take on The Varsity Athletes’ Josh Woods & Tony Nese. The Athletes were unable to defeat Hologram & Mistico last week.

In a battle of former LFI stablemates, Rush will go one-on-one with Preston Vance. It’s Vance’s first match anywhere since January.

Former AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida will be in action.

Here’s the current card for Saturday’s live show in Arlington, Texas:

  • AEW World title eliminator: Swerve Strickland vs. TBA
  • FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
  • Darby Allin & Hologram vs. Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese)
  • AEW Trios title eliminator: House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson & The Gunns) with Christian Cage as special guest referee
  • Hikaru Shida vs. TBA
  • Rush vs. Preston Vance
  • Deonna Purrazzo vs. Thunder Rose in a Texas bullrope match

Rush joins Don Callis Family on AEW Rampage

Posted on by Josh Nason

After a few weeks of flirtation, Rush is now a member of the Don Callis Family.

On Friday’s AEW Rampage, Rush defeated Komander in the show opener while Callis was on commentary at ringside. Afterward, Rush dropped his prone opponent at Callis’ feet just as two of Callis’ other charges — Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher — came out for their tag team match.

Later, Callis gleefully revealed some footage from earlier this week where he and Rush made their deal with Callis using his past working with the likes of Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay and Chris Jericho as part of his rationale for joining:

Rush now joins Takeshita, Fletcher and Trent Beretta in the growing faction who lost Ospreay this past Wednesday when he requested his departure from the group which Callis accepted.

Since returning from an extended leave, Rush is 5-1 in AEW with his sole loss coming to MJF.

MJF vs. Rush commercial-free to kick off next AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Ethan Renner

MJF will return to the ring for the first time in nearly six months in a commercial-free match to kick off next week’s AEW Dynamite.

AEW revealed during this week’s Dynamite that MJF will face Rush on next week’s show, that the match will kick off the telecast, and that the bout will air commercial-free.

The match with Rush will be the first for MJF since dropping the AEW World title to Samoa Joe at the Worlds End pay-per-view on December 30, 2023.

An AEW Tag Team title eliminator bout is also scheduled for next week’s Dynamite.

Tag Team Champions Matthew & Nicholas Jackson of The Young Bucks will face Max Caster & Anthony Bowens of The Acclaimed in a Tag title eliminator bout on next week’s show as announced during Wednesday’s Dynamite.

The announced card for the Wednesday, June 19 AEW Dynamite:

  • MJF vs. Rush kicks off the show commercial-free
  • AEW Tag Team title eliminator: The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)

Rush set for in-ring action on AEW Dynamite

Posted on by Josh Nason

After his pull-apart brawl with former AEW World Champion MJF on this past Wednesday’s edition of Dynamite, Rush has been announced for in-ring action on this Wednesday’s episode.

His opponent has yet to be named.

The Mexican star recently returned from a long absence and has gone on a three-match winning streak since returning in April. He recently called out MJF during a backstage promo and then came out to interrupt a promo this past Wednesday. The two traded verbal jabs before trading physical ones as security and other officials had to separate them after several minutes.

Their eventual bout will be the first-ever between them and also likely MJF’s first since returning from his own lengthy absence due to injury.

The addition joins a slowly-developing card for Des Moines, Iowa, as the road to this month’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view continues:

  • AEW International Champion Will Ospreay defends against Rey Fenix
  • TBS Champion Mercedes Mone defends against Zeuxis
  • Chris Jericho’s TV Time with guests Private Party
  • Rush in action

Rush makes return on AEW Collision

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Rush is back in AEW.

During Saturday’s Collision, it was announced that Rush would be making his return later in the night. He went on to defeat Martin Stone after hitting his running dropkick in the corner. After the match, he continued to attack Stone, giving him his finish once again.

In a backstage interview that aired on social media, Rush said his attack was a message for everyone in AEW, reminding people that if they mess with the bull, they get the horns.

Rush had not been seen in AEW since the end of last year, tearing his hamstring while taking part in the Continental Classic tournament that was ultimately won by Eddie Kingston. In February, he announced on X that he was ready to return to AEW. He’s wrestled several times in Mexico since announcing he was ready to come back.

Rey Fenix, who has also been sidelined, returned from injury on Collision, defeating The Beast Mortos.

AEW’s Rush says he’s ready to return from injury

Posted on by Ian Carey

Rush says he’s ready to return. 

The 35-year-old hasn’t wrestled since suffering a torn hamstring during the Continental Classic in December. His last match took place on December 30 at the Worlds End pay-per-view. 

Rush took to social media over the weekend to announce he’s ready to get back in the ring. 

 “EL TORO BLANCO IS READY TO RETURN,” he wrote on X. 

Rush worked most of the Continental Classic with the torn hamstring. He suffered the injury during his second round-robin match in the tournament, a win over Mark Briscoe. 

“In the #AEWContinentalClassic I tore my hamstring in the second match I had,” Rush wrote shortly after the tournament’s conclusion. “I will recover and return ready and hungrier than ever for a fight.”

Rush went 2-3 in the tournament with wins over Briscoe and Jay Lethal and losses to Swerve Strickland, Jon Moxley, and Jay White. He finished fourth in the Gold League. 

Rush suffered torn hamstring during AEW Continental Classic

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Rush worked through the majority of AEW’s Continental Classic tournament while dealing with an injury.

In a social media post on Thursday, Rush revealed that he suffered a torn hamstring during his second Continental Classic match. He worked three tournament matches after that and also competed in an eight-man tag bout at Worlds End.

Rush didn’t disclose the degree of his hamstring tear or state how long he’ll be out of action. He promised to recover and return hungrier than ever.

“In the #AEWContinentalClassic I tore my hamstring in the second match I had,” Rush wrote. “I will recover and return ready and hungrier than ever for a fight.”

Rush’s second match in the Continental Classic was a victory over Mark Briscoe.

Rush had a 2-3 record in the Gold League, defeating Briscoe and Jay Lethal while losing to Jay White, Jon Moxley, and Swerve Strickland.

At the Worlds End pay-per-view, Rush teamed with Lethal, White & Brody King in a loss to Briscoe, Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli & Daniel Garcia.

All star eight-man tag team match set for AEW Worlds End

Posted on by Josh Nason

A new eight-man tag team match featuring competitors from the Continental Classic has been announced for Saturday’s AEW Worlds End pay-per-view.

Bryan Danielson will team with Blackpool Combat Club member Claudio Castagnoli, Mark Briscoe and Daniel Garcia against Jay White, Rush, Jay Lethal and Brody King on the main card.

Danielson lost to Eddie Kingston and White lost to Jon Moxley as part of a three-way Wednesday, eliminating them both from the tournament. Moxley will face Kingston Saturday to determine the Classic winner and first “modern” AEW Triple Crown Champion.

Here’s the current card for Saturday (8 PM Eastern) from Long Island, New York’s Nassau Coliseum:

  • AEW World Championship: MJF defends against Samoa Joe
  • AEW Women’s Championship: Toni Storm defends against Riho
  • TNT Championship, no DQ: Christian Cage defends against Adam Copeland
  • AEW Continental Classic finals: Eddie Kingston vs. Jon Moxley
  • TBS Championship: Julia Hart defends against Abadon
  • Swerve Strickland vs. Keith Lee
  • Andrade El Idolo vs. Miro
  • Bryan Danielson, Claudio Castagnoli, Mark Briscoe & Daniel Garcia vs. Jay White, Rush, Jay Lethal & Brody King
  • Sting, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara & Chris Jericho vs. Big Bill, Ricky Starks, Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher
  • Zero Hour: FTW rules for FTW Championship: Hook defends against Wheeler Yuta
  • Zero Hour: 20 man battle royale for a TNT title match anywhere, anytime