‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Aug 19th 2023)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW’s latest television show, Collision, which brings wrestling back to Saturday nights! We’ve got the commentary team of Nigel McGuiness and Kevin Kelly calling the action, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Samoa Joe vs. The Golden Vampire
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Golden Vampire went right after Joe and rocked him with a rising knee strike. He hit the GTS on Samoa Joe and unmasked — it was CM Punk!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #2: Jay White def. Dalton Castle
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Dalton grappled Jay White to the mat, showing off his high level amateur wrestling background. Jay White chopped Dalton Castle to the mat and then tossed him out of the ring. The Boys helped Dalton back into the ring and he took down White. Dalton charged Jay with a running knee, but Jay White moved out of the way and Dalton flopped out of the ring. Jay White planted Dalton on the edge of the ring. “Switchblade” Jay White and Dalton Castle traded chops in the center of the ring until Jay White hit a low dropkick to Castle’s leg. Dalton fired right back with one of his trademark suplexes. Dalton attempted a running bulldog, but Jay White pushed him away. Dalton hurled Jay White overhead with two suplexes. Dalton followed up with a deadlift German Suplex for a near fall on White. Dalton charged at Jay White but White pulled the ropes down and Dalton’s momentum carried him out and to the arena floor. Dalton connected with a rana on Jay White. Bullet Club Gold surrounded Dalton Castle, but the Boys left the nest, flying over the top rope and wiping out Bullet Club Gold. Jay White nailed Castle with a sleeper suplex. Jay White smashed Dalton with the Blade Runner and pinned him!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Juice Robinson and The Gunns def. The Iron Savages (Bronson, Boulder and Jacked Jameson)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Iron Savages used quick tags and triple offense on Austin, until Austin was finally able to tag out to Colten. Juice tagged in then and stomped a mudhole into Bronson. Boulder tagged in and cleaned house on Bullet Club Gold! Juice jumped off the top rope, but Boulder caught him midflight and slammed him onto the Gunns. Boulder splashed them for a near fall. Colten rocked Boulder with the Fame Asser! They hit Bronson with the 3:10 to Yuma. Juice nailed Jameson with a leg lariat and then pinned him after planting him with the facebuster!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Big Bill def. Derek Neal
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Big Bill splashed Neal in the corner! Big Bill clocked Neal with a massive boot! Big Bill chokeslammed Derek Neal, stood on top of him and pinned him. Ricky whipped Derek Neal with a leather belt after the match.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #5: Willow Nightingale def. Diamante
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow hit a beautiful vertical suplex on Diamante. Willow charged at Diamante, but Diamante dodged her. Diamante hammered Willow with shots to the back. She clubbed Willow with forearms. Willow caught Diamante and planted her hard on the mat. Willow clotheslined Diamante on the apron. Mercedes Martinez walked out and down to the ring. Willow bodyslammed Diamante but Diamante clipped Willow. She followed up with a buzzsaw kick to Willow. Willow hit a spinebuster on Diamante for a two-count. Diamante rallied back with double knees on Willow. She followed up with Sliced Bread. Willow blasted Diamante with a thrust kick. Willow rammed Diamante into the turnbuckles. Willow took down Diamante with a missile dropkick. Kris Statlander rushed to the ring and suplexed Martinez on the ramp! Willow pounced Diamante right into the barricade! Willow finished off Diamante with the doctor bomb and pinned her!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: Powerhouse Hobbs def. Kevin Ku
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Powerhouse powered Ku to the mat. Ku attempted to crossbody Hobbs, but Hobbs stuffed him! Hobbs splashed Kevin Ku in the turnbuckles. Hobbs suplexed Ku off the turnbuckles. Hobbs nearly decapitated Ku with a vicious clothesline. Hobbs smashed Ku with a spinebuster and pinned him! After the match, Hobbs locked Ku in Miro’s own clutch finisher.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #7: Darby Allin def. Christian Cage
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jim Ross joined the broadcast team for the main event. Christian Cage wore the TNT Championship belt to the ring. Christian worked over Darby’s arm. Christian whipped Darby into the turnbuckles. AR Fox and Swerve Strickland were watching the match backstage on a monitor. Christian nailed Darby with a single arm DDT. Darby cradled Christian for a near fall. Christian walloped Darby with a right hand. Darby tried a backslide on Christian for another near fall. Christian Cage continued to focus on Darby’s injured left shoulder. Christian went for the spear, but Darby countered it. Darby rocked Christian with the Code Red. Darby and Christian collided into one another, their heads butting off one another’s. Darby splashed Christian in the corner twice and then hit a shotgun dropkick! Darby went for a Coffin Drop to Luchasaurus who was on the outside, but Luchasaurus caught Darby and shrugged him off. Christian Cage snuck around the ring and took down Darby with a lariat. Christian Cage whipped Darby into the guardrail. Chrisitan charged at Darby, but Darby used a drop toe hold and slammed Christian’s head into a steel chair. Darby soared off the top rope with a John Woo style dropkick to Christian who was still sitting on the steel chair that had been propped up on the arena floor. Darby tried for the Coffin Drop on Christian who was on the apron, but Luchasaurus pulled Christian away. Darby ricocheted off the apron. The ref ejected Luchasaurus from ringside! While the ref was distracted by Luchasaurus, Christian Cage smashed the TNT Championship belt into Darby’s skull! Christian went for the pin, but Darby got his foot on the bottom rope, stopping the count. Christian Cage went for the spear, but Darby dodged it. Darby nailed Christian with a shotgun dropkick. Christian rocked Darby with a sunset powerbomb and then speared Darby! Christian went for the pin, but Darby was able to kick out somehow! Darby jumped over Christian with a jackknife and pinned Christian!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
What a weird episode of Collision this was! Three squash matches on one two-hour show, what was Tony Khan thinking? Especially that WCW-era goofball “disguise” that CM Punk wore to the ring. I know TK loved WCW but come on… This was a real step too far into the BAD aspects of that era of wrestling. Luckily we got three great matches to offset the squashes – ROH regular Dalton Castle really was a breath of fresh air for Collision and Jay White was a great foil for him. Then we got the great women’s match between Diamante and Willow Nightingale and whilst I always LOVE seeing Willow in action it was particularly great to see Diamante in such a high-profile match and the two put on a stop showing – better than some of the others women’s matches we saw in the same week! As for the main event, well Christian Cage showed any doubters out there that he’s certainly still got it, go toe to toe with Darby in a match that was a real crowd-pleaser and made for a fantastic end to this week’s show.
