‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Jun 27th 2023)
Welcome to this, the very first review of AEW’s new weekly television show Collision – which also brings wrestling back to Saturday nights! We’ve got a brand new commentary team, Nigel McGuiness and Kevin Kelly, with Jim Ross calling the highly anticipated main event. Speaking of which, let’s get into the review!
Match #1: TNT Championship Match – Luchasaurus def. Wardlow
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Wardlow and Luchasaurus tied up in the center of the ring. They traded shoulder blocks until Wardlow dropkicked Luchasaurus. Christian Cage whispered in Luchasaurus’ ear outside the ring. Wardlow followed in pursuit but Christian crawled under the ring, trying to find a place to hide. Christian provided just enough of a distraction to allow for Luchasaurus to blast Wardlow with a big boot. Wardlow hoisted up Luchasaurus on his shoulders and then planted him backwards. Wardlow steamrolled Luchasaurus with a lariat. Wardlow walloped Luchasaurus with a spinebuster. Wardlow climbed to the top rope, but Luchasaurus knocked him down and followed up with a one-arm chokeslam. Wardlow headbutted Luchasaurus but the challenger answered with a headbutt of his own. Wardlow set up the Symphony of Destruction and powerbombed Luchasaurus. Christian Cage bought a little time outside the ring, distracting Wardlow, and Luchasaurus was able to chokeslam Luchasaurus. Wardlow powerslammed Luchasaurus and then nailed him with a swanton! Christian Cage climbed up the ring steps, distracting Wardlow again. Christian Cage smashed one of the ringside photographer’s cameras in the face of Wardlow and then Luchasaurus stole the pin!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Andrade El Idolo def. House of Black’s Buddy Matthews
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Andrade dodged a charge from Buddy, sending Buddy crashing to the arena floor. Andrade cartwheeled on the apron and then moonsaulted onto Buddy Matthews. Andrade jumped off the guardrail and hit a hurracanrana on Buddy, launching Buddy into the timekeeper’s table. Buddy shoved Andrade off the apron, with Andrade’s shoulder colliding into the barricade. Buddy followed up with a meteora. Andrade targeted the left knee of Buddy with a dragon screw leg whip. Andrade connected with a double moonsault for a near fall. Andrade attempted a spear through the ropes, but Buddy countered with a DDT for a two-count. Buddy attempted a sunset powerbomb off the ropes, but his knee gave out. Andrade capitalized with a spinning back elbow. Buddy rallied back with a massive kick to a charging Andrade. Andrade countered a submission attempt by Buddy. Andrade locked in the figure four submission, then transitioned to the figure eight, and Buddy tapped out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Miro def. Tony Nese
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Miro clubbed at Nese in the corner, then stomped the proverbial mudhole in him. Miro followed up with a massive clothesline. Miro bludgeoned Nese with overhand forearms. Nese tried to turn things back in his favor by jumping off the turnbuckles, but Miro caught him and tossed Nese away. Miro plastered Nese with a thrust kick. Miro locked on the “Game Over” and forced Tony Nese to submit.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue def. The Outcasts’ Ruby Soho & Toni Storm
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Toni and Ruby ambushed Skye and Willow. Willow pounced Ruby right into the guardrail. Ruby tripped Willow, then grounded and pounded her. Willow rallied back with a clothesline. Skye and Toni tagged in. Skye cracked Toni with a running knee and a high kick. Skye connected with a cross body press, but Ruby broke up the pin attempt. Toni locked on the Cloverleaf on Skye Blue. Skye was able to reach the ropes, forcing the ref to break the hold. Willow tagged in but as the ref was distracted, Ruby hit Willow with a kick. Skye grabbed a tag, but Toni clobbered her with the running hip attack. Ruby held Skye while Toni was about to spray paint Skye in the face. Willow grabbed Toni and Toni inadvertently sprayed Ruby in the eyes, blinding her. Skye hit the Code Blue on Ruby Soho and pinned her!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: CM Punk & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) def. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) & Samoa Joe
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The legend himself Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth for the main event. Dax and Jay White tied up, with Dax backing up White into the turnbuckles. Jay White chopped at Dax Harwood’s chest. Dax backdropped Jay White. “Rock Hard” Juice Robinson tagged in. Dax tagged to Cash and Cash dropkicked Juice. Cash used a backslide for a near fall on Juice. CM Punk tagged in. He tried to put the match away early with the GTS, but Juice escaped and tagged out to Samoa Joe. The ROH World TV champ lit up CM Punk with heavy handed chops. CM Punk applied a headlock to Samoa Joe. Dax tagged in and Samoa Joe worked him over in the corner. Juice connected with a double ax handle from the top rope. Dax fought back with a German Suplex. Cash grabbed the tag and cleaned house on Juice Robinson. Cash scoop slammed Juice for a two-count. Juice splashed Cash with a senton. Samoa Joe tagged in and rocked Cash with a back heel kick. Jay White came in and chop blocked Cash. Juice tagged in and it was clear they were isolating Cash. CM Punk got a tag and body slammed Juice and Jay. Punk planted Jay with a neck breaker. He connected with a bulldog lariat combination on Juice and Jay. Punk lifted Jay White for the GTS, but Jay gouged at Punk’s eyes. Punk rocked Jay with a roundhouse kick. Punk climbed to the top rope, but Juice swept out his leg. Punk countered the Blade Runner from White with a lariat. Dax tagged in and superplexed Jay. Cash splashed Jay and then CM Punk hit a diving elbow for a near fall, broken up by Juice. Samoa Joe tagged in, and he and Punk exchanged strikes. Jay White blindsided Punk and then things broke down, with all six men brawling. CM Punk tried to hoist up Samoa Joe, but Joe countered with a sleeper. Dax broke it up with a diving shoulder to Samoa Joe. FTR hit the Big Rig on Juice. CM Punk followed up with the Go-To-Sleep and pinned Juice Robinson!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
An OK start for Collision, aka the CM Punk show if this episode is anything to go by! I get opening with a promo from Punk, it’s his first appearance in an AEW ring since THAT incident and this was Chicago too but – honestly – I’d have much preferred a good match to open the show strong. In terms of matches, the first one on this card was something of a dud and I have zero idea why anyone thought it would be good to take the TNT title off Wardlow so soon after him winning it – that belt needs a long-term champ to give it back the kudos it once had (in the era of Cody Rhodes and Miro’s title reigns). It was, however great to see Andrade back in action in what felt like a really hard-hitting match between him and Buddy Matthews, in a match-up that felt like more of a fight than the rest of the card. The Miro/Nese thing was little more than a squash; whilst the women’s tag match was a fun team-up that had the right winners. It will be interesting to see if AEW remain high on Skye Blue going forward, given that she’s had some high-profile matches AND picked up some big wins. Then we got to the main event… It was great seeing CM Punk and Samoa Joe in the same ring again, though if I’m honest I’d have preferred a singles match between the two given their in-ring history. Still, it was a great end to the new show, even more so given that the Chicago crowd were eating it up!
