‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Jul 1st 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW’s latest television show, Collision, which brings wrestling back to Saturday nights! We’ve got a brand new commentary team, Nigel McGuiness and Kevin Kelly, calling the action so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: MJF def. Kip Morst
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
MJF spiked Kip with the heat seeker. MJF covered his opponent but then stood up. MJF applied the LeBell Lock and Morst tapped out.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: AEW World Championship Match – MJF def. Ethan Page
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ethan Page stomped a mudhole into MJF! He was looking for the Ego’s Edge, but MJF escaped. MJF went to work on Page’s leg. MJF applied a single leg Boston Crab on Ethan Page. Page was able to crawl to the ropes, but the toll was taken from MJF. Page rallied back with a cutter! Page connected with two lariats and then a hurracanrana. Ethan Page rocked the champ with an Iconoclasm and then a snap powerslam. Page shocked MJF with a Twist of Fate. Page climbed to the top rope, but MJF hit the ropes, knocking Page off his balance. They battled on the top turnbuckle until Page got the upper hand and powerslammed MJF from the second turnbuckle. Page was clutching his knee, definitely injured by the champ earlier in the match. Page tried for the Ego’s Edge, but his leg gave out and he collapsed. MJF hit a dragon screw leg whip and then the heat seeker. He pinned Ethan Page.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Men’s Quarter-Final Match – Powerhouse Hobbs def. Dustin Rhodes
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hobbs clobbered Dustin with stiff strikes in the corner. Dustin Rhodes fired back. Hobbs reversed an Irish whip but ate a big boot from Dustin. Hobbs steamrolled Rhodes after QT grabbed Rhodes’ ankle from outside the ring. As Hobbs distracted the ref, QT ran Dustin headfirst into the steel ring post. Dustin Rhodes was busted wide open. Rhodes put Hobbs down with a lariat. Hobbs was stunned. Rhodes nailed Hobbs with the CrossRhodes and then a piledriver for a near fall. Hobbs rammed his shoulder into Dustin’s midsection. Rhodes spiked Hobbs with a Code Red for a two-count. Hobbs planted Rhodes with a spinebuster. Rhodes kicked out at the one-count! Rhodes somehow found the strength to powerslam Hobbs. Rhodes was about to put on the figure four but as the ref was distracted, QT smacked Rhodes with a cheap shot. Hobbs caught Dustin with the spinebuster by surprise and pinned him!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Miro def. Anthony Henry
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Miro clobbered Henry with strikes and stomps in the corner. Miro threw Henry overhead with a suplex. Miro hurled Henry again with another suplex. Miro blistered Henry with overhand, clubbing blows to Henry’s chest. Henry managed to score a double stomp on Miro. Henry followed up with a flurry of MMA-influenced offense. Miro quickly lowered the boom. Miro rocked Henry with a huge thrust kick. Miro locked on the Game Over camel clutch and right away, Anthony Henry submitted!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Men’s Quarter-Final Match – Ricky Starks def. Juice Robinson
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Juice grounded and pounded Starks after tripping him with a dropdown. Juice worked over Starks’ leg. Starks mounted some offense. Juice caught Starks, slamming him against the ropes. Juice whiplashed Starks’ legs against the ropes again with another slam. Juice smashed Starks with a cannonball in the corner for a near fall. Starks backdropped Robinson. Starks was moving and grooving with right hands to Juice. Starks hit a DDT on Juice. He spiked Juice with a second DDT for a near fall. Juice caught Starks off-guard with a kick. Juice applied a Texas Cloverleaf to Ricky Starks. It was sunk in deep. With grit and determination, Starks crawled to the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Starks scooped up Juice and slammed him. Juice headbutted Starks. Juice propped up Starks on the top turnbuckle. Starks countered a hurracanrana attempt by Juice. Starks speared Juice! Starks countered a roll-up from Juice, cradling Juice and pinning him!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: TBS Championship Match – Kris Statlander def. Lady Frost
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Lady Frost tried a side headlock takeover but Statlander outpowered the challenger and suplexed her. Kris shoulder blocked Lady Frost. The champ followed up with a back breaker. Lady Frost hit a sidestep German Suplex on Statlander. Frost nailed the champ with a DDT and a swift kick for a near fall. Statlander cracked Lady Frost with a discus lariat and then pinned her after the Saturday Night Fever!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Men’s Quarter-Final Match – Samoa Joe def. Roderick Strong
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Roddy lit up Joe’s chest with chops. Strong connected with boots through the ropes to Joe on the arena floor. They traded strikes on the arena floor. Samoa Joe rocked Roderick with a back elbow. Joe jabbed Roddy in the corner. Roderick cracked Joe with an elevated knee. Samoa Joe came back with a senton for a near fall. Joe tried for a second senton, but Roderick dodged it. Roderick used a jawbreaker on Joe. Roderick Strong lifted up Joe and used the backbreaker. He followed up with the Sick Kick for a near fall on Samoa Joe. Strong shocked Joe with an Olympic Slam. Strong cracked Joe with a jumping knee. Samoa Joe applied a submission chokehold out of nowhere and the referee stopped the match.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
After the shambolic squash match to open the show, things picked up for this week’s AEW: Collision with Ethan Page challenging MJF to a title match… And good god did Page give MJF a run for his money and proves that he’s wasted in these comedy skits with the Hardy’s etc. But hey, at least he got to headline an episode of TV this week. I say headline because, despite some good WRESTLING on this week’s show, the rest of this episode was dull outside of this exciting, interesting, opening match! I know, it seems like an impossibility, to have good matches but a dull show but that’s how Collision went down this week. Unfortunately.
