‘AEW: Collision – Holiday Bash (Dec 20th 2025)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Collision, which this week was pre-taped in Manchester, England – not far from Nerdly HQ! 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: Continental Classic Gold League – “Jungle” Jack Perry def. “Speedball” Mike Bailey
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The second half of AEW Collision: Holiday Bash opened with a first-time Continental Classic clash between Speedball Mike Bailey and Jack Perry. Bailey’s speed immediately exposed Perry’s injured ankle, peppering him with kicks and a slick rope-walk moonsault to take early control. Perry slowed things down outside, chopping Bailey before dumping him back-first onto the steel steps to regain momentum heading into the break. Bailey fired back with a kick combo and standing shooting star for a near-fall, but missed from the top soon after. A brutal apron exchange followed, with Perry landing a running destroyer that worsened his own ankle injury. Back inside, Perry couldn’t fully capitalise, allowing Bailey to survive a bridging German and counter a Snare Trap attempt. The closing stretch saw Bailey push for the backflip knees and Ultima Weapon, but Perry blocked both, bit Bailey’s foot to stop the aerial attack, and finished with a back-drop suplex to score the pin and his first three points in the Continental Classic.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Eddie Kingston def. Nathan Cruz
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
“The Professional” Nathan Cruz was in the ring alongside the Grizzled Young Veterans as we heard the music of Eddie Kingston, much to the delight of the raucous crowd in attendance! Kingston walked right through Zack Gibson and James Drake on the outside, so they pulled him off the apron and attacked behind the referee’s back. They threw Kingston in, and Cruz tried to go on the attack, but Kingston nailed a chop, and the bell rang, so we were underway! Cruz came back with a rebound suplex, and Kingston was in early trouble. Cruz crashed onto Kingston as he was draped across the middle rope, and Gibson got another shot in with the referee distracted. Cruz tried it again, but Kingston moved, so Cruz got the second rope between the Christmas jewels! Kingston worked Cruz into the corner and lit him up with machine gun chops! Kingston hit a reverse neckbreaker, but GYV got on the apron to stop a pin attempt. Cruz rolled up Kingston for a two-count, but Kingston came back with an exploder suplex and a DDT to get the win!
My Score: 5 out of 5 (because it’s Eddie!)
Match #3: Rev Pro Undisputed British Women’s Championship Open Challenge – Alex Windsor def. Mercedes Moné
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Alex Windsor answered Mercedes Moné’s open challenge on home soil, bringing major credibility with her record 769-day reign as Rev Pro Undisputed British Women’s Champion and prior TBS Title battles with Moné. Windsor jumped Moné at the bell with a shotgun dropkick, controlled early with heavy offense, and repeatedly threatened the Sharpshooter, including a brutal attempt on the apron. Moné weathered the storm and turned the tide by driving Windsor into the ring post, taking control through the break. Windsor rallied after the restart, countering Three Amigos, landing a draping neckbreaker and DDT, and nearly finishing with an avalanche Blue Thunder Bomb that Moné barely escaped. Moné answered with the Statement Maker and near-falls of her own, but Windsor refused to stay down. In the closing scramble, Moné went for the Moné Maker, only for Windsor to slip free and trap her in a tight pinfall to score the upset. Alex Windsor defeated Mercedes Moné to become the new Rev Pro Undisputed British Women’s Champion.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #4: Continental Classic Gold League – Kevin Knight def. Kazuchika Okada
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Okada and Knight opened with a cautious exchange, trading missed dropkicks before Okada mocked Knight with condescending slaps. Knight fired back by parodying the Rainmaker pose, flipping Okada off in the process. The pace quickened as Knight sent Okada to the floor with a dropkick and followed with a reckless leaping clothesline. Okada baited Knight outside, flooring him with a kick and DDT before slowing the match down back in the ring. Knight fought free with a burst of offense, scoring a near-fall after a corner clothesline, body slam, and standing splash. Okada cut him off by shoving the referee into the ropes to halt a springboard, then dropped Knight with a neckbreaker and his trademark elbow. The closing stretch was frantic. Knight countered a Rainmaker into a powerbomb and narrowly survived after missing a UFO Splash. Okada stayed relentless, landing a dropkick and hunting the Rainmaker again, but Knight refused to go quietly. After a failed coast-to-coast attempt was cut off, Okada transitioned into a wheelbarrow suplex, only for Knight to catch him in a sudden cradle to steal the three-count.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This week’s Collision balanced tournament stakes, personal upset victories, and a genuine title change – and that’s exactly the kind of compact storytelling suited to a one-hour holiday special. What kept this from cracking a higher score was that none of the matches were must-see classics; they were solid and meaningful with plenty to like, just nothing that truly blew the doors off. Still, the title change and Knight’s surprise win gave this episode an edge that elevates it above average.
