‘AEW: Collision’ Review (Dec 13th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Collision, which this week was filmed in Cardiff, Wales – and it was great to see such a great show delivered for an overseas audience! Also, AEW’s official recaps are getting rather long, so we’ll be abbreviating them where we can to save your eyes! With that, let’s get into the review…
Match #1: Swerve Strickland def. Josh Alexander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
With the crowd already chanting “Whose House?!”, Swerve Strickland emerged first alongside Prince Nana, chain around his neck, followed by Josh Alexander with Don Callis. The two felt each other out early, trading positioning and slaps, before Swerve picked up the pace—dumping Alexander into the turnbuckle and flooring him with a pump kick. Swerve stayed on the attack with backbreakers and neckbreakers, even snapping Alexander across the ropes as Nana jawed with Callis. Alexander turned the tide by catching Swerve on the apron and dropping him stomach-first onto the announce table, then wiped him out with a flying crossbody to end the opening stretch. After the break, Alexander focused on Swerve’s knee, slamming it repeatedly and nearly landing a powerbomb before Swerve countered with a powerslam. Momentum swung back and forth, highlighted by Swerve hitting a huge avalanche overhead suplex for two. Alexander answered with a single-leg Boston crab, but Swerve survived. A missed double-knee from the top allowed Swerve to connect with House Call, then immediately follow with Big Pressure to secure the win.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Kris Statlander and Jamie Hayter def. Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander made her entrance first, belt raised high, followed by Jamie Hayter. The Sisters of Sin initially played games, with Thekla appearing on the ramp before Julia Hart and Skye Blue ambushed from behind. The surprise didn’t last long, as Statlander and Hayter quickly took control, flattening Blue with a series of emphatic double-team slams. Blue managed to tag in Hart, who used speed and distraction to swing momentum, catching Statlander with a top-rope walk hurricanrana. Hayter answered back with stiff forearms, but interference from Blue helped Hart land a standing moonsault for two as the match went to break. After the break, Statlander and the Sisters of Sin traded control. Stat planted Blue with a Blue Thunder Bomb, but blind tags and teamwork from Hart and Blue kept the champs on the defensive, capped by Blue drilling Stat with a Canadian Destroyer. Hayter broke up the pin, only for all four women to be left down after a wild exchange. The closing stretch saw chaos break loose again until Hayter tagged in, muscling through the double-team. She German suplexed Blue, crushed Hart with a backbreaker, then finished her off with Hayterade to secure the win for herself and Statlander.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Continental Classic Blue League – Konosuke Takeshita vs. Claudio Castagnoli (Time-Limit Draw)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Claudio Castagnoli entered through the crowd in another ominous Death Riders walk, followed by Konosuke Takeshita, with Don Callis once again taking his seat at the desk. With Takeshita still chasing an undefeated Continental Classic run, the stakes were clear from the opening bell. The two locked up and spent the early moments feeling each other out, trading holds, shoulder blocks, and strikes, neither willing to give ground. Takeshita stunned Claudio with a boot and flying forearm, only for Castagnoli to answer with a thudding European uppercut that sparked a fierce forearm exchange. Claudio’s power came into play as he muscled Takeshita around the ring, but every advantage was quickly answered, spilling the fight to the floor with brutal uppercuts, a ramp DDT from Takeshita, and heavy damage on both sides. After the break, momentum swung back and forth. Takeshita connected with a top-rope hurricanrana and a diving attack outside, then scored a near fall with the Blue Thunder Bomb. Claudio responded by trapping Takeshita in the Giant Swing and Sharpshooter, transitioning to a crossface, only for Takeshita to escape into a pinning counter. The closing minutes were pure violence. They traded uppercuts and forearms as the crowd chanted “Fight Forever,” with Takeshita landing a German suplex and Hidden Blade for two. Both men battered each other on the apron and floor as the clock ticked down. Castagnoli survived a Power Drive Knee Strike, finally hit the Neutralizer, but Takeshita kicked out and the time limit expired, ending the war in a hard-fought draw.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #4: Continental Classic Gold League – “Speedball” Mike Bailey def. “The Jet” Kevin Knight
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Before they even locked up, “LET’S GO JETSPEED!” echoed through Cardiff as Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight hyped the crowd. A respectful handshake kicked off a lightning-fast opening, with both men countering each other’s offense and trading slick sequences. Knight took early control with throws and wrist control, but Bailey answered with sharp strikes, capped by a moonsault to the floor to take out his JetSpeed partner. The pace stayed frantic through the break, with Speedball peppering Knight with kicks and near falls. Knight swung momentum back with a clothesline over the top and a springboard forearm on the floor, before the action escalated into top-rope exchanges, hurricanranas, DDTs, and a brutal Ultima Weapon on the apron. Near falls piled up as both men emptied the tank, trading springboard attacks, kicks, and counters that left them flat on the mat. Knight came close with a coast-to-cast and nearly hit the UFO Splash, but Bailey survived, responding with vicious kicks. After a rapid-fire exchange of cradles, Speedball finally connected with a heel kick and sealed the win with the Rubik’s Cube. A handshake and embrace closed a thrilling, high-speed classic.
My Score: 4.5 out of 5
Match #5: TNT Championship – Mark Briscoe def. Daniel Garcia
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Daniel Garcia entered first with Marina Shafir, followed by the TNT Champion Mark Briscoe. The two exploded at the bell, with Briscoe taking early control, battering Garcia in the corner and knocking him outside with a dropkick. His showboating proved costly, though, as Garcia turned the tables, smashing the champion into the barricade and taking over with stomps and chops. Interference from Shafir during the break helped Garcia stay firmly in control. Briscoe showed flashes of his trademark resilience after the break, fighting back with a crossbody and “redneck kung fu,” but Garcia repeatedly cut him off. A series of brutal superplexes nearly ended it, only for Briscoe to roll through the last one and suplex Garcia in return, leaving both men down. The closing stretch was chaotic. Shafir was ejected after blatant interference, but Wheeler Yuta slid in to low-blow Briscoe, allowing Garcia to score a near fall with the Jay Driller. Garcia pressed on, but Briscoe escaped the Dragon Tamer, ducked a clothesline, and finally planted Garcia with a Jay Driller of his own to retain the TNT Championship.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
AEW Collision’s stop in Cardiff felt like one of those episodes where the location genuinely mattered. The Welsh crowd brought an energy and enthusiasm that immediately elevated the show, reacting to everything with the kind of volume and passion that makes even straightforward matches feel bigger. From the opening bell, Collision leaned into its strengths: giving wrestlers time, letting physicality breathe, and trusting the audience to stay engaged without overloading the show with angles and distractions. The in-ring action was consistently strong across the card, with matches allowed to build rather than rush toward the finish. Nothing felt wasted, and even the quieter moments benefited from the crowd’s constant investment. The main event delivered exactly what it needed to, closing the night with intensity and purpose, while the rest of the card provided a solid mix of styles that kept the show flowing smoothly. This week’s show was Collision operating at a high, confident level. A great showcase for AEW on international soil and a reminder of how effective this show can be when everything clicks.
