‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Sept 2nd 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 Kevin Kelly calling the action this week, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: AEW World Trios Championship Match – The Acclaimed def. Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ang & Daniel Garcia
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Angelo Parker ate some right hands from Anthony Bowens. Garcia tagged in, as did Daddy Ass. Garcia cracked Billy Gunn with a chop across the chest. Billy Gunn and Bowens dropped double elbows on Garcia. Garcia put the Dragon Tamer on Bowens after some help from Parker and Menard. Billy Gunn broke up the hold. Max Caster tagged in and cleaned house on the opposition. Caster connected with a cross body press on Garcia for a near fall. Garcia fired back with a uranage. Menard grabbed a tag and collided with Caster. Billy Gunn tagged in and smacked Menard with the Fame Asser. Caster soared down with the Mic Drop and pinned Menard!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) def. Nick Wayne & Komander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Davis charged at Nick Wayne. Davis whipped Wayne into the turnbuckles. Fletcher tagged in but Wayne knocked Kyle down with a European Uppercut. Komander and Nick Wayne hit Kyle with a double dropkick. Mark Davis tagged in, but Komander stretched him in the Octopus submission. Davis escaped and tagged Fletcher. Aussie Open used their tandem offense on Komander to take control of the match. Nick Wayne frog splashed Fletcher for a near fall. Fletcher nailed Wayne with a half and half suplex. Davis spiked Komander with a piledriver. Aussie Open crushed Wayne with the Coriolis and pinned him!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: The Outcasts (Saraya, Ruby Soho & Toni Storm) def. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Statlander shoved Toni Storm to the mat. Kris caught Toni and slammed her. Britt Baker tagged in and walloped Toni with a sling blade. Shida tagged in, as did Ruby. Saraya and Ruby double teamed Shida. Statlander tagged in and cleaned house on the Outcasts. Statlander nailed Saraya with a running knee strike. Statlander powerslammed Saraya. Britt and Ruby exchanged strikes in the center of the ring. Britt blasted Ruby with a neck breaker. As the ref was distracted, Saraya sprayed Baker in the eyes with paint and Ruby pinned Baker.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Powerhouse Hobbs def. GPA
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hobbs nailed GPA with a spinebuster and then pinned him
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #5: Dax Harwood def. Jay White
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jim Ross joined the broadcast booth for the main event. Jay White had Dax in a headlock. Dax escaped and chopped away at Switchblade. White retreated to the floor when Dax was looking for a submission. Switchblade suplexed Dax into the turnbuckles. Jay White stomped a mudhole into Dax. Switchblade DDT’ed Dax for a near fall. Harwood knocked down Jay White with a short arm clothesline. Dax superplexed Jay White. Dax went for the diving headbutt, but Jay White dodged it. Dax followed up with a German Suplex and then a brainbuster for a two-count. Jay used a dragon screw leg whip on Dax. He followed up with a suplex to Dax. Jay rocked Dax with a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Dax stuffed Jay with a piledriver for a near fall! Jay planted Dax with a uranage. Jay followed up with a sleeper suplex. Jay went for the Blade Runner, but Dax countered with a slingshot powerbomb for a near fall. Dax put Jay White in the Sharpshooter, but Jay White grabbed the ropes. Bullet Club Gold pulled Jay out of the ring, realizing he was in trouble. Dax got out of the ring and Jay White shocked him with a Sling Blade on the arena floor! Back in the ring, Jay White clocked Dax with a Blade Runner and pinned him.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
A decent episode of Collision that not only had to contend with the firing of CM Punk but also a vocal [and somewhat angry] Chicago crowd AND the build to All Out the very next night! But let’s be honest, this episode didn’t suffer because of lack of Punk did it? I’m guessing going forward Tony Khan will find another AEW star to build the show around (rumour has it that Bryan Danielson is stepping up to the plate) and having THREE shows you can now feature ALL your talent on – because we’ve all heard Punk refused to let some folk on Collision and some stayed away out of animosity – could make for a better end product. Time will tell.
