‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Oct 14th 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 McGuinness and Ian Riccaboni calling the action, with JR commentating on the main event as well this week, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Ring Of Honor World TV Championship Match – Samoa Joe def. Willie Mack
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willie tried a shoulder block on Samoa Joe and Joe didn’t budge. Samoa Joe rammed into Willie Mack and knocked him off his feet! Samoa Joa jabbed at Willie Mack in the corner turnbuckles. Willie Mack fired off the ropes with a leg lariat. He connected with a plancha on Samoa Joe. Willie crushed Samoa Joe with a cannonball in the corner! Samoa Joe booted Willie and then splashed him with a running senton for a near fall. Samoa Joe powerslammed Willie Mack for a two-count. Willie nailed Joe with a cutter in the center of the ring for a near fall. Willie climbed to the top for the 6-star frog splash, but Samoa Joe countered with a muscle buster! Samoa Joe covered Willie and pinned him!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Juice Robinson def. Christopher Daniels
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Daniels took down Juice with an arm drag. CD applied the pressure on Juice. Juice rocketed Daniels into the ropes, throat first. Juice charged at Daniels with a stiff elbow shot. Juice jabbed at the Fallen Angel. Juice followed up with a standing senton for a near fall. Christopher Daniels suplexed Juice and hit Juice with an STO. Daniels smashed Juice with a high angle Death Valley Driver. Daniels tried for the Angels Wings, but Juice shoved Daniels into the turnbuckles. Juice crushed CD with a running cannonball. Juice planted Daniels and pinned him.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher def. Iron Savages’ Boulder
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Boulder shoved Fletcher to the mat. Fletcher applied a side headlock. Fletcher clubbed Boulder with forearms. Boulder press slammed Kyle Fletcher. Fletcher rocked Boulder with a leg lariat, knocking Boulder to the arena floor. Fletcher flew over the top rope with a dive onto Boulder. Kyle Fletcher powerbombed Boulder from the top rope. Fletcher locked on the dragon sleeper and made Boulder tap out!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: TBS Championship Match – Kris Statlander def. Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye Blue’s demeanor has changed since Julia Hart blew mist in her eyes. Blue grabbed a handful of Kris’ hair. Skye Blue cracked Kris with a back elbow. Skye Blue nailed Kris with a neck breaker across the ropes. Kris fired back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Blue planted Kris with a satellite DDT for a two-count. Blue hit an avalanche powerbomb. Blue jumped off the top rope with a crossbody, but Statlander countered with a powerslam. Blue rocked Kris with thrust kicks. Statlander caught Blue with Saturday Night Fever and pinned Skye Blue!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Keith Lee def. Turbo Floyd
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Keith Lee threw Floyd over his head! Lee pounced on Turbo Floyd! Keith Lee powerbombed Floyd and pinned him!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #6: TNT Championship Match – Christian Cage def. Bryan Danielson
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth to provide main event analysis. Danielson worked over Cage in a bow and arrow submission move. Danielson whipped Christian Cage into the steel barricade. Danielson followed up with a running dropkick. Danielson threw Christian Cage back into the ring and worked on Christian Cage’s knee. Christian Cage charged at Danielson, but Danielson back dropped Cage out of the ring. Danielson sprinted at Christian Cage, looking for a tope suicida, but Christian Cage countered with a massive uppercut. Danielson tried to suplex Christian off the ring apron, but Christian kicked Danielson and shoved him into the ring post. Chrisitan Cage planted Danielson with a hammerlock slam on the apron, right on Danielson’s surgically repaired arm. They jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle. Danielson headbutted Cage, knocking him off the turnbuckles. Bryan rocked Cage with a diving headbutt. Christian Cage was busted wide open. Danielson clobbered Christian Cage with toxic round kicks. Danielson jumped onto Christian with a tope suicida. Christian Cage poked Danielson in the eye. Christian followed up with a frog splash for a near fall! Christian was looking for the Kill Switch, but Danielson countered with kicks to Cage’s sternum. Danielson missed a round kick and Christian planted him on his face! Christian Cage charged at Danielson, looking for the spear, but Danielson countered with a knee! Danielson blasted Christian with a stiff kick for a near fall! Danielson captured Christian’s wrists and stomped on his head. Danielson ran towards Christian, ready to hit with his knee strike, but Christian Cage countered with a spear! Christian planted Bryan with the Kill Switch but somehow Bryan kicked out at two. Christian ran at Danielson with another spear, but Danielson dodged it! Danielson hit the running knee on Christian Cage! Danielson covered Cage but Cage kicked out! Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock! Christian reached the ropes with his boots. Danielson pulled Christian back to the center of the ring and tried for the Le Bell Lock again, but his damaged arm wouldn’t allow him to complete the hold and lock it in. Big Bill came to the ring and distracted the ref! Ricky Starks jumped into the ring and blasted Danielson in the head with his tag team title belt! Christian covered Danielson and pinned him!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s Collision opened with a “meat’ match between Samoa Joe and Willie Mack and I for one was more than happy to see Mack in action on the show – of course, he was NEVER going to get the win but seeing him get the opportunity was a huge plus for this episode. The same goes for Christopher Daniels – I always appreciate his appearances on AEW programming and this week he really got to go all in against the younger Juice Robinson. Kyle Fletcher’s singles run continues this episode, with a quasi-squash against another personal fave and one-half of the former Bear Country, Boulder. Good on AEW for not letting Fletcher sit on the sidelines while his tag partner recovers from injury… I’m looking forward to Fletcher getting his singles match against Omega! Skye Blue’s new mist-made mean streak was in full effect in her match against TBS Champ Kris Statlander and it made for a really good women’s match this episode! Unfortunately, Keith Lee was relegated to a mere squash match this week but hey, at least that meant we got to the main event quicker… Speaking of which, going in you knew this was either going to be a new champ or Christian would win with some interference/shenanigans and the latter was the case. It didn’t take away from the action whatsoever and, frankly, I’m digging the entire feud this match, and the intro to this week’s episode, is building.
