‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Sept 16th 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, with JR commentating on the main event as well this week, so let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Ricky Starks & Big Bill def. Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ricky Starks was playing mind games with Danielson and immediately tagged out to Big Bill before any contact was made. Big Bill shoved Bryan into the corner and chopped away at him. Danielson dropkicked Big Bill’s knee. Big Bill was thrown backwards into the corner. Claudio tagged in and Big Bill challenged him to a test of strength. Big Bill kicked Claudio in the midsection. Claudio clocked Big Bill with a European uppercut. Big Bill hit Claudio and Danielson with a double clothesline and tagged out to Starks. Danielson walloped Starks with round kicks. Danielson unleashed a flurry of offense in the corner. Starks distracted Danielson long enough for Big Bill to sneak in a massive boot to Danielson’s head. Claudio and Big Bill tagged in for their respective teams. Claudio served up multiple European uppercuts, staggering Big Bill. Claudio hoisted up Big Bill and then drove him down onto the mat for a near fall. Claudio was looking for the Big Swing, but Big Bill escaped and choke slammed Claudio for a two-count. Ricky Starks tagged in, but Claudio grabbed him and twirled him around the ring like helicopter blades with the Big Swing! Danielson hit a tope suicida on Big Bill. Meanwhile, Starks transitioned into a DDT on Claudio for a near fall. Starks charged at Claudio, but Claudio countered with a devastating uppercut for a near fall. Danielson tagged in and dished out his trademark kicks to Starks. Danielson applied the Le Bell Lock, but Starks escaped and speared Danielson. Claudio jumped in to break up the pin attempt. Danielson went for a belly to back suplex from the top rope, but Starks shifted his momentum midflight. Starks connected with a low blow when the ref was distracted. Starks rocked Danielson with the roshambo and pinned Danielson!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: AEW World Tag Team Championship Match – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) def. Iron Savages (Bronson & Boulder)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
FTR quickly hit the Shatter Machine on Jakked Jameson, who taunted Dax before the match began. Bronson and Boulder drilled Cash with splashes, but Dax jumped in to break up the pin attempt. The Iron Savages rocked Cash with a back breaker and then a powerbomb for a near fall. Dax Harwood tagged in, but Boulder knocked him down with a shoulder tackle. Boulder went for a moonsault, but Dax dodged it. FTR rocked Bronson with the Shatter Machine. FTR finished off Boulder with the Power and Glory combo, with Cash scoring the pin!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: John Silver def. Anthony Bowens
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Silver attacked Bowens from behind. Bowens countered with strikes to Silver in the corner. Bowens body slammed Silver. Bowens took down Silver with a leg lariat. Bowens and Silver exchanged forearms. Bowens blasted Silver with a clothesline. Silver fired back with explosive offense including a German suplex. Bowens clocked Silver with a knee strike. Silver rolled out of the ring. Evil Uno climbed out from beneath the ring and blindsided Bowens! Silver took advantage of this, cracked Bowens and pinned him!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) def. Pretty Boy Smooth & Wes Barkley
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The United Empire’s Aussie Open made quick work of their opponents and pinned Barkley after the pendulum spinebuster!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #5: Andrade El Idolo def. Scorpio Sky
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Andrade offered to shake Scorpio Sky’s hand, but Sky declined. Andrade El Idolo worked over Sky’s arm. Sky tripped up Andrade and they chain wrestled. Andrade El Idolo punished Sky with a dragon screw leg whip. Andrade climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Andrade shoved him off, with Andrade’s back crashing onto the edge of the ring. Back in the ring, Andrade pummeled Sky with a series of dragon screw leg whips. Sky rallied back with a flip over the top rope, crashing onto Andrade El Idolo. Sky got up, clutching his knee. Back in the ring, Andrade rocked Sky with a vicious back elbow. Andrade locked on the Figure Eight and Scorpio Sky tapped out!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) def. The Hardys (Matt & Jeff)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Vincent grounded and pounded Matt Hardy. Matt got up and rammed Vincent’s head onto the turnbuckles. Jeff tagged in and connected with a jawbreaker on Vincent. Dutch got a blind tag and planted Matt with the Black Out slam. Matt rallied back with a Side Effect to Vincent. Jeff tagged in and cleaned house on the Righteous. Matt and Jeff knocked Dutch over the top rope with a double clothesline. Jeff was looking for the Swanton bomb, but Dutch knocked him down. Vincent rocked Jeff and pinned him!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: TBS Championship Match – Kris Statlander def. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jim Ross joined the broadcast team to provide his main event analysis. Statlander had the strength advantage and body slammed Baker. Britt fired back with a forearm. Things broke down and they traded strikes with one another. After dodging a sling blade attempt, Statlander powerslammed Baker for a near fall. Statlander took down the champ with two sling blades! Kris rallied back with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Kris planted her with another Bomb for a two-count. Baker curb stomped Kris. Baker applied her surgical glove. Baker was looking for the Lock Jaw, but Kris blocked it. They got to their feet and traded shots again. Kris clocked Baker with a high kick, but Baker fired back with a thrust kick of her own. Statlander reared back and walloped Baker with a lariat. Baker went for the Pittsburgh Sunrise, but Statlander blocked it. Kris went for a powerbomb, but Baker escaped. Baker planted Kris with the Angel’s Wings and followed up with a curb stomp for a near fall. Baker managed to apply the Lock Jaw, but Statlander cradled her and pinned Baker!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Much like Rampage, the main event – also featuring Kris Statlander – was the highlight of the show; swiftly followed by a fantastic match between two underused AEW stars, Andrade and Scorpio Sky. I don’t get the use of ROH stars on Collision (even though I appreciate seeing ex-Bear Country in action anytime!) given that AEW already has plenty of wrestlers that haven’t been on TV recently. And is anyone else wondering why Tony Khan is booking Aussie Open in a series of squash matches when they can CLEARLY hold their own with any tag team on the AEW roster? You have to wonder what’s next for Kris Statlander… She’s beaten two of AEW’s biggest stars decisively, maybe it’s time she gave some of the younger talent a shot? Looks like that might be the case with Julia Hart pictured watching from the cheap seats as Collision ended…