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Join 411’s Live AEW Collision Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Howdy Team 411! How are we all doing on this fine Saturday night? We are one week removed from WrestleDream and now the focus shifts to Full Gear, with eyes also looking towards Blood & Guts in a little over two weeks. It’s a cracking season for AEW ahead of us, with the Continental Classic likely returning towards the end of next month/beginning of December. Stoked!
As for tonight, our good man Tony Khan is kindly giving us a bit of a dream match as BIG TOM ISHII goes one on one with Pac. Boy oh boy that could get stiff as heck. We’ll also see Thekla vs Mina Shirakawa which could give it a run for its money in the intensity stakes. Plus, the All-Star tags return, with FTR & The Young Bucks teaming up to take on Jurassic Express and JetSpeed. Should be a neat show.
Fair warning, I’m battling some kind of grim virus and doped up on the ol’ painkillers, so I’m either going to be highly critical or just absolutely love everything, no in between! LET’S FIND OUT.
Location: San Antonio, TX
Venue: Boeing Center
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*We are LIVE to tape with Elton John credits this week, and we’re kicking off with our Men’s World Heavyweight Champion, as Hangman Adam Page makes his way down to the ring.
Hangman takes the mic as he reaches the ring and is greeted by Cowboy Shit chants. Page says you either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain. Hobbs, Shibata & Joe…they fought the Death Riders for nearly a year and they may have beaten them, but they never killed them. Hangman owed Joe for his World title win, so he gave him the only thing he could, a shot at the Men’s World championship. He looked Joe in the eye and told him what was going to happen. At WrestleDream, he knocked Joe on his ass and he beat him. Joe felt something other than anger, he was embarrassed. In his frustration and embarrassment, the three of them stabbed Hangman in the back. Page says The Opps have become the thing they fought against. They should have known better than to think Joe would beat him for the title. They should have known better to jump him, and known better than to make an enemy out of him. Joe says he was hunting Page, but Page wants to correct his dumbass; Page is hunting Joe. Hangman is the champion of the entire world, and he will fight him at the exact moment he decides to. When he finds him, he will do far worse than just embarrass him. Page says when he finds Samoa Joe, he will ruin his entire life.
Hangman drops the mic and exits. Fiery stuff from the champ, love it.
*Pac in an undisclosed location earlier tonight says discipline maketh the man. This is a war, not a battle, a marathon, not a sprint. He will play his part tonight. Tomohiro Ishii, the Stone Pitbull. Well listen you mutt, he will smoke him in the ring. The Death Riders still dominate this place, whether you like it or not.
*Pac makes his way to the ring accompanied by the Death Riders, and our opening contest is set to be a banger.
Tomohiro Ishii vs Pac (w/ Daniel Garcia, Wheeler Yuta & Marina Shafir)
Longboy pants are back for Pac! Pac begins with some forearms, neither man go down on a shoulder block, and they start trading forearms back and forth. Quick exchange, enziguri misses from Ishii, rollup attempt by Pac, and they come to a stalemate. More shoulder block attempts, Ishii finally takes Pac down and follows up with a vertical suplex. To the outside, Garcia gets in the face of Ishii, allowing Pac to club him from behind, and Garcia follows up with an attack while the ref is distracted.
Cravate hold from Pac, Ishii to his feet to break free. Pump kick from Pac, running back elbow in the corner, and Pac heads up top. Shotgun dropkick! Pac keeps the pace slow, not following up with a cover, keeping things deliberate. They head to the floor again, where Pac slams Ishii into the barriers. Ishii fires back until Pac kicks the knee. Short legdrop back in the ring gets a 2 count. Pac chops Ishii, and the Stone Pitbull shakes it off, chopping Pac back in return. Big tackle out of the corner as Ishii turns the tables. He sits Pac on the top rope, looks for a superplex, nice delay and he gets it! 1 2, no. Lariat blocked, spin kick from Pac, misses an enziguri. Headbutt from Ishii, powerbomb! 1, 2, no. Ishii’s right arm appears to be bothering him. Pac hangs him up on the top rope, tries for a German, Ishii runs into a pump kick and Ishii comes back with a lariat. GERMAN from ishii! Sliding lariat misses, Pac gets a German this time! Suplex avoided, Ishii with a big lariat but he can’t capitalize. Both men down as Bryce Remsburg begins the 10 count.
They get to their feet at 7, and Pac delivers elbows. Ishii runs the ropes, Shafir trips him. Pac with a tombstone piledriver to Ishii! GERMAN WITH A BRIDGE! 1, 2, NO! Pac hits the ropes a few times but Ishii cuts him off with a lariat! Ishii looks for something but Pac is the one to nail a brainbuster. 1, 2, NO, Ishii kicks out. Ishii tossed to the outside, Yuta hits the Busaiku Knee! Back in the ring, Pac hits a running lariat. Cover, 1, 2, 3!
Winner: Pac
Time: 15:15
Rating: ***1/4 – Surprising finish but I like Pac being a lot more physical in this run. Right call for Pac to win as he’s still the fresher face since his return. These guys were always going to put on a good show and they certainly delivered in the opener spot.
*Back from commercial, we get a promo for Blood & Guts on November 12th.
Thekla vs Mina Shirakawa
These women are 2-2 tied in competition from their time in Stardom so this is somewhat of a rubber match. Kick to the midsection from Mina, misses a shot in the corner and Thekla kicks her while hoisted in the ropes. Kick springboarding off the ropes from Mina, and she looks for a surfboard stretch, locks it in! Mina stomps on the hands of Thekla and then drives the left knee into the canvas. Thekla sweeps the leg, covers, and Mina shimmies out of it. Hair biel, Thekla stomps away in the corner and twists the hair for another biel. To the apron, drive-by kick from Thekla gets a 2 count. Mina reverses a strike into a DDT and goes back to the left knee, slamming it on the mat. We see the Sister of Sin watching on the stage. Mina catches sight of them as they head to the ring, and Thekla pounces while Mina is distracted. Thekla gets the attention of the ref while Julia Hart and Skye Blue attack Mina on the floor, before tossing her back inside the ring. Thekla sits on the buckles preparing for soooomething and Triller goes to commercial, boooo!
We’re back as Thekla locks in a crossface, hooking the mouth of Mina. Hart and Blue again get involved, pulling the hair of Mina. Big forearm from Thekla, and Mina comes back with a Slingblade, lariat and dropkick combination. Mina to the apron, slingshot tornillo! 1, 2, no. Cloverleaf backbreaker connects! Mina rains down rights on Thekla, Thekla rolls her over and does the same. Backfist misses, SECOND ONE DIDN’T! 1, 2, NO! Shirakawa to the top rope, Thekla catches her up there and heads up there, both women sitting on the buckles. Big slap from Mina knocks Thekla into a tree of woe but she sits up and nails the Spider superplex! Thekla sits back up and rolls over into the spider pose…spear attempt, NO, Mina with a running knee! Backfist, enziguri, BACKFIST AGAIN! 1, 2, NO. Mina to the top, slingblade from the top, doesn’t connect as much as she wants but it’s enough for a cover, 1, 2, no. Mina signals for the Glamorous driver…Thekla escapes. Blue to the apron, misses a shot, Mina knocks Hart off too! But Thekla is poised, SPEAR! She locks in the Death Trap submission, Mina furiously taps!
Winner: Thekla
Time: 13:55
Rating: ***1/4 – Thekla’s in-ring intensity is so engaging, she’s going to go far. That Death Trap submission is looking vicious!
*Lexy Nair is with TayJay backstage, and they are so excited to be in the Women’s Tag Team Tournament. They’ve been trying to build this for 5 years. The Miranda Alizethe Lucha Baddie and Nixon Newell show up and they say they’re two of the best wrestlers on the independent circuit. Maybe they should come to AEW, where the best wrestle. Tay says they like a good challenge. If they want a good fight, they got one.
*MxM TV make their way to the ring for their latext MxM TV Casting Call.
Mansoor says MxM TV kindly asks the gelatinous goblinoids to SHYYYADDDUP. They are hosting their latest world famous Casting Call. Any combination of MxM TV versus any combination in the back. Mansoor talks about the fans gaining weight, and then says ‘speaking of gaining weight’ before turning to Arkady Aura…he says she looks like God told a joke. Arkady announces that this week’s casting call is a singles contest…and the opponent is Olympia!
Olympia vs Taya Valkyrie
Olympia gets Taya in the corner and runs on her chest, before hitting a slingshot bronco buster. Taya gets the boot up in the corner, steps on the apron and MxM are below her. She gets pushed off the apron and MxM Collection catch her, but Olympia heads to the top rope and hits a diving crossbody to take everyone down. Back in the ring, Olympia does squats with Taya on her back, and hits a TKO-like move for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Olympia
Time: 2:22
Rating: N/R – Harmless fun, and Olympia looked impressive.
*Breaking news for Fright Night Dynamite this Wednesday. Four-way Fight is signed: Bobby Lashley vs Ricochet vs HOOK vs Samoa Joe, number one contender for a championship shot at Full Gear. Interesting. Joe/Hangman rematch, presumably?
‘Bounty Hunter’ Bryan Keith vs Ace Austin
Keith starts talking trash at Ace as the bell rings, and they grapple. Clean break in the ropes. Keith catches Austin in the side of the head with a back elbow, Austin comes back and sweeps the legs, mahistral cradle gets a 2 count. Dropkick connects. Ace with a springboard crossbody, just a 1 count though. Keith heads to the floor, Austin folllows and they chop each other. Austin blocks a chop and returns him to the ring, but Keith rolls through on the other side. Austin handsprings to avoid a leg sweep on the apron and kicks Keith down. Springboard attempt back in the ring but Keith grabs the ref so Austin puts the brakes on. And Keith just DUMPS Austin over the top rope to the floor, hard bump right there! Big boot to follow and Keith rakes the eye. He sends Austin into the barrier and brings the action back into the ring.
Back elbow takes Austin down. Exploder attempt but Austin counters and gets a pin attempt, only a 2 count though. Armdrag takedown, lariat from Austin! Knee and a Russian legsweep followed by a standing legdrop. Cravate hold slam into a head-trap stomp, cover, 1, 2, no. RISING HEADBUTT from Keith, good Lord! Backdrop driver with a bridge, 1, 2, NO. Roundhouse from Ace misses, Keith misses a shot in the corner, and an enziguri connects for Ace. The Fold connects! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Ace Austin
Time: 11:39
Rating: ***1/4 – I always like it when Collision gives time to some lower/midcard guys who don’t often get a ton of screen time, esecially in singles matches, and this was the case here, with both guys making great use of the time. More of this please!
*To the back, and Lexy Nair is with Don Callis. Addressing the elephant in the room, what is going on between Okada and Takeshita. Callis says she’s like a high school gossip. Callis says it’s just like a sibling rivalry, you still do all the family stuff together. Families have disagreements. They want to pull and push each other a bit, it’s all normal behavior. Callis is an expert of the inner workings of his family. Okada and Takeshita take direction from him, and what pleases him is unity, and belts. This Wednesday on Dynamite it will be the Don Callis Family Summit. He thinks he’ll probably get a Nobel peace prize for this.
*Back from break, Lexy Nair is with the Outrunners and Dalton Castle, who are undefeated since they aligned. Turbo says the secret to their sauce is…Castle is about to tell us but we overhear the former Acclaimed arguing. Max Caster says Anthony Bowens was clearly being too loud. They walk off in separate directions and Castle goes back to Lexy and says let’s do it over. She reminds him that we’re live, pal. Tremendous!
HOOK (w/ Eddie Kingston) vs Griff Garrison (w/ The Frat House)
Garrison with a go-behind, HOOK takes him down though. Exploder connects and Griff slides to the outside. Back in, drop toe hold, HOOK wails away with clubbing right hands. HOOK takes a swing at the Frat House, allowing Garrison to take control. Running splash in the corner, big boot. Roaring elbow misses and HOOK hits a series of lariats. Running doouble axe handle, another Exploder suplex, and HOOK locks in the Redrum and immediately Garrison taps.
Winner: HOOK
Time: 2:09
Rating: N/R – Sure, easy night for HOOK.
*Kingston joins HOOK in the ring with a steel chair to ensure no further antics occur.
*Olympia addresses Mercedes Mone and says that she wants the CMLL championship. She’ll see her next week on Collision! Nice.
*Jamie Hayter talks about her team with Queen Aminata, and they both have each other’s back. They are in it to win it (shout out to Nigel McGuinness?). The Sisters of Sin say they come for the win. If it weren’t for them, there wouldn’t even be tag titles to fight for. Hayter says this won’t be a cake walk, and they will walk away with the win. The first Quarter-Final between them takes place this Wednesday on Fright Night Dynamite.
*Mercedes Mone vs Olympia is made official for Collision next week, for the CMLL Women’s World Heavyweight Championship.
*Main event time, with FTR out first…and the Bucks have to come out to FTR’s music, not even getting their own entrance.
[400K 8-man All-Star Tag] FTR & The Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express & JetSpeed
A beach ball is tossed towards the ring, Cash grabs it and destroys it with a steel chair in one fell swoop. Amazing. Knight and Nick start us off with some quick footwork. Elevated dropkick from the Young Bucks as Matt tags in, Bailey comes in for a double hip toss. Thumb to the eye from Matt as Cash tags in, rapid fire kicks from Bailey, and Jack Perry tags in. Rollup for 2, and Cash takes his head off with a running lariat. Dax in, suplex countered, and here comes Luchasaurus. Dax is cautious, shoves Perry to the floor and that allows the heels to pile on Luchasaurus. Dax springs off the middle rope but Luchasaurus catches him. Cash in too, Luchasaurus takes them both down. Body slams to FTR, Bucks dropkick him down. Perry reverses some Bucks double teaming with a tijeras. Bailey with a missile dropkick to Matt. FTR receive a double dropkick from Knight! Bailey in the corner….TRIPLE MOONSAULTS from Bailey, Knight and Perry to the outside! And Luchasaurus hits a standing moonsault in the ring! Scoop slam on Dax, Perry hits a senton for 2. Perry and Dax fight on the floor now, and Knight takes over with chops of his own. Whip reversed, Perry sent into the steel steps. Cash suplexes Perry back into the ring as we head to commercial.
We’re back, as Perry counters a back suplex with a crossbody. FTR and The Bucks take everyone off the apron. Nick goes for the dive, but Cash stops him…and Cash nails the TOPE CON HILO! Damn! Bailey ducks and Dax capitalizes with a DDT. Nick uses Dax as a springboard to hit a sliced bread, and now Dax locks in the Sharpshooter! WTF Nick springs in to hit the X-factor on Perry while Perry is already in the sharpshooter! FTR and the Young Bucks know each other so well, smart stuff here. Knight tags in, leaping lariat. Scoop slam and the UFO splash connects, 1, 2, FTR break it up. Knight leaps over a lariat attempt, double dropkicks from JetSpeed. Matt sent to the floor, and JetSpeed hit stereo slingshot crossbodies. Knight back to the top rope, goes for another UFO but lands on his feet as Matt moves. Tijeras into the powerbomb by JetSpeed! 1, 2, NO.
Triangle moonsault to the floor from Bailey. Stokely throws powder in the eyes of Knight! Superkick by Matt, 1, 2, NOOOO. Nick tags in, rising knee, running knee to follow but it just gets 2. Nick grounds Knight with a front facelock, Knight works out of it. Spinning wheelkick from Nick. Dax in, stomp to the arm. European uppercut delivered. Dax bites the forehead of Knight, then delivers more chops and uppercuts. Knight comes back with a one-armed Sky High! Dax cuts off the tag, big left-handed lariat. Dropkick to the face, both men down. Knight makes the tag! Luchasaurus in, taking everyone down. He positions the Bucks in one corner, FTR in the other and goes between them with back elbows, before hitting ‘double double clotheslines’ to take all four men down. Double chokeslam attempt, Stokely distracts the ref and FTR hit a low blow. Luchasaurus is seated on the top rope…POWER AND THE GLORY! The Bucks are poised, elbow drop from Matt, 450 from Nick! 1, 2, NOOO!
DOUBLE SHATTER MACHINES!! FTR hit one, the Bucks hit the other, nice. Cash and Nick hold Luchasaurus for a quadruple BTE Trigger but Luchasaurus avoids it and they all bash knees. Chokeslams galore! Jurassic Express hit the Countdown to Extinction. Luchasaurus with a moonsault to the outside! Tornado Kick, Cutter from Knight! Knight up top, UFO from the top! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Jurassic Express & JetSpeed
Time: 20:34
Rating: **** – WELL THAT WAS FRICKIN FUN! Cash was a man possessed in that one, and the others were no slouch either. Loved the Bucks and FTR complementing each other’s offense, completing each other’s moves and showing decent synergy. Organized chaos in the best possible way.
*Jurassic Express and JetSpeed celebrate their victory as they check the cash in their bags…and Jack Perry again gives one dollar to Nick Jackson as a consolation prize.
*And we get a last second announcement for Fright Night this Wednesday – another Fright Night Four Way Fight, this time for the tag division with all four teams we’ve just seen. Jurassic Express vs JetSpeed vs Young Bucks vs FTR.
And with that, we’re done for the night! Fun episode tonight, that was a blast. Catch you next week, folks!
