wrestling / Csonka Reviews
Sambus’ AEW Collision Review 01.03.26
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...Hey team! Welcome to the first live coverage of AEW Collision in 2026! A very happy new year to you all – I hope you had a fun-filled celebration to ring in the occasion.
Before we kick off the action tonight, let’s talk about hopes and dreams for AEW in 2026. What’s on your cards? This past year I’ve been super impressed with Thekla in every showing, so I’m hoping she gets a Women’s World title run at some point, or at least a high profile feud…which judging by Dynamite this past week could be coming sooner rather than later.
I’m also digging the Swerve/Hangman uneasy partnership, and if they come to some kind of mutual understanding, a run as ‘official’ tag partners would work for me. Hangman & Swerve vs FTR? Yes please. I also want a dominant stint from Claudio Castagnoli who is potentially the one who has been least utilized to the best of his abilities in the Death Riders – if Claudio has plans to usurp Moxley and lead a mutiny, I am fully on board. I’ll steer clear of any further fantasy booking, but those are a few things on my mind as we launch into 2026.
Tonight we begin this year’s Collision residency in Arlington as AEW presents New Year Smash part 2. In marquee match-ups, it’s Darby Allin taking on Wheeler Yuta, as well as Dante Martin (subbing in for the not-medically-cleared Scorpio Sky) going up against the Hurt Syndicate’s Shelton Benjamin prior to Benjamin’s eliminator match against Moxley next week. We’ve also finally got the in-ring debut of El Clon (who was sidelined with injury upon his initial appearance), who will be taking on Angelico. Yes, an actual pre-announced Angelico sighting! We’ll also see the Timeless Love Bombs against newest signees Hyan and Maya World in tag team action.
As a side note, I’ll be back here on 411 later tonight/super early tomorrow to host live coverage of NJPW Wrestle Kingdom. For you night owls and early risers, come join us as Hiroshi Tanahashi prepares to lace up his boots one final time in his retirement match against Kazuchika Okada. Starts at 2am ET – hope to see you there!
Location: Arlington, TX
Venue: Esports Stadium Arlington
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*We are LIVE for Collision: New Year Smash and we have ~COLD OPEN PROMOS! Storm & Shirakawa say there are three things connected tonight; their hearts, their hips and Hyan & Maya’s heads! Dante knows what Shelton is capable of, but Martin says he’s inhuman, and Benjamin will find that out tonight. It’s not just the new year, it’s also the fiscal year for the Hurt Syndicate. Darby will go through Yuta to get to Pac and he’ll start 2026 by breaking Yuta’s face.
*We head to ringside and El Clon makes his way out for our opening contest.
El Clon vs Angelico w/ Serpentico
Angelico looks for wrist control but Clon rolls out of it and reverses. Clon flips to his feet so Angelico dances a little, and Clon kicks him in the back. Nice lariat from Clon, series of strikes in the corner, step up moonsault, springboarding with one foot to the top rope! Tornado DDT springing off the bottom rope, Clon is on fire. Big right hand chop. Angelico fires back, looks for a leg trip but Clon jumps over it. Pele kick from Clon! Tilt-a-whirl double knee backbreaker. El Clon with the Portal Bomb!! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: El Clon
Time: 3:29
Rating: N/R – Just eeking under the time limit I’d rate for, but this was an awesome squash and Clon looked phenomenal. I like that he’s not just a lucha high-flyer – his strikes are pretty stiff so he should be able to carve a nice role for himself in the midcard.
*El Clon attacks Serpentico after the match as Serpentico checks on Angelico. Portal Bomb attempt on Serpentico, but Komander is here to make the save! El Clon exits the ring as Komander helps Angelico to his feet.
*Komander vs Hechicero tonight! DAMN! Winner gets a TNT title shot.
*Jon Moxley speaks backstage. What do you get when you take a dozen of the hungriest wrestlers, stick them in a blender for a month in the Continental Classic…what do you think comes out of that? Pressure creates diamonds. Broken bones, disappointment, the thrill of the win…this is like nothing else in pro wrestling. This is something with a very high price tag. When Moxley stands in the ring with Benjamin, he’s top of the list of baddest dudes he’s ever stepped in the ring with. Benjamin will have to do a whole lot more than just hurt him.
Timeless Love Bombs vs Hyan & Maya World
Maya and Shirakawa get us started in this one. Maya wears an ‘IT GIRL’ t-shirt. Oh yikes, bit of a botch as Maya goes to dodge a senton but Mina lands flush on her, squashing her, and yet Maya shrugs it off and flips to her feet. Tag out for both teams, Toni and Hyan go at it. Snap suplex from Storm, tag to Mina. Mina with a snap suplex now, tag to Storm again. Storm lifts Mina up into a tornillo and Storm covers for a 2 count. Hyan and Maya in, double dropkick from Storm, and she hits a hip attack on the apron to send them to the floor. Storm assists Mina for a crossbody to the outside as we head to commercial.
Hyan and Maya build some steam during commercial, with Hyan hitting a legdrop and covering for 2. Maya hits a hip attack in the corner. Double team with Hyan catapulting Mina onto the knees of Maya. Mina and Hyan go blow for blow now, Mina misses a kick but hits a backfist. Tag to Storm! Storm chops both women down. DDT to Maya! 1, 2, no.Back body drop from Maya, tag to Hyan, who hits a gourdbuster to Storm. Bulldog and a shotgun dropkick from Hyan and Maya, and that gets a 2 count. Double team blockbuster/Russian leg sweep! 1, 2, NO. Mina in for a double shotgun dropkick and Mina is calling for something…Storm whips her into a double hip attack. Storm gives herself a wedgie and hits one of her own. Slingblade from the top from Mina! STORM ZERO! Tornillo to the outside from Mina to keep Hyan down. Storm covers, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Timeless Love Bombs
Time: 9:05
Rating: *** – Ugly botch in the opening moments aside, I enjoyed seeing Hyan and Maya lean into more of a heelish vibe, and their double team offense is pretty cool. Mina and Storm are of course a joy to watch, so this worked well. Lovely finishing stretch too.
*Mina and Storm are still leaving up the ramp when they are cut-off by the Death Riders theme music, and Marina Shafir makes her way out for the next tag match.
MegaProblems (Megan Bayne & Marina Shafir w/ Penelope Ford) vs Rache Chanel & Londyn Dior
Chanel & Dior? Haha fantastic. Dior and Marina start the match, but Shafir boots Chanel off the apron early on. Tag to the Megasus who delivers a series of shoulder blocks in the corner. Belly to belly release suplex and Bayne is pleased with herself. Splash in the corner…misses another, tag to Chanel, but here comes the Problem. Fate’s Descent into the Mother’s Milk! Immediate tap.
Winners: MegaProblems
Time: 1:26
Rating: N/R – Oh I LOVE that finish! Fate’s Descent right into the Mother’s Milk with Shafir waiting on the canvas looks amazing.
*We cut backstage, and Josh Alexander hypes up Takeshita retaining his title at Wrestle Kingdom later on, and we see Lance Archer and Hechicero beating up jobbers in the background. Alexander tells Hechicero to go out there now and beat Komander so he can go on to meet Mark Briscoe for that TNT title opportunity. Archer launches a guy through the ceiling and reminds us that everybody dies!
[Winner gets a TNT title shot] Komander vs Hechicero
Hechicero levels Komander with a shoulder tackle, and they trade quick pinfall attempts. Feeling out process. Hechicero goes for the leg and hooks the ankle behind him, perhaps a Stretch Muffler, but Komander sits up, tijeras to escape! Oooof that was delightful. Hechicero spills to the floor. Komander tries to jump over Hechicero, Hechicero grabs the leg to cut that off, and smashes the knee into the canvas. Komander up, hops the ropes a little and hits a hurracanrana. Hechicero ties Komander up on the mat now, working over the arm. Komander kicks out of it, flips into an impressive arm drag, good Lord! Springboard into a tijeras but NO Hechicero puts the brakes on and POWERBOMBS him into the guard rail!!
Hechicerosits Komander on a chair at ringside and boots him into the railing. They work back into the ring, where Hechicero goes for the mask, you absolute VILLAIN. The influence of Don Callis! Hechicero does the shtick where he whips Komander into the body scissors, but this time it’s a Cobra Clutch with the body scissors applied too! Komander fights back, Hechicero dodges a superkick. DDT attempt, Komander wheels himself round and nails it. Komander LEAPS TO THE SHOULDERS of Hechicero! Stands up, rebounds off the ropes but Hechicero tries to block, arm drag! Hechicero ties the legs up, whipping Komander against the ropes and back into a bow and arrow stretch. Guys, this is some beautiful lucha here. Hechicero transitions to an armbar now with the leg still trapped. And Komander gets the left leg on the ropes to break the hold. Hechicero misses a shoulder thrust in the corner, Komander jumps to the apron and hits a dropkick to the side of the head. Komander with the rope walk salute dive!! Komander has him back in the ring, Hechicero rolls back out but Komander is prepared and dives onto him anyway with a moonsault!
Back inside, big sunset flip bomb connects for 2. Komander tries a satellite DDT again, hammerlock swing into the backbreaker from Hechicero! Dropkick to the knee from Komander. Poisonrana! He goes up top as Hechicero is face down on the mat. But El Clon is here to shove Komander off the top rope! Ref didn’t see it. Rising knees from Hechicero, and he rolls Komander into a tight cradle for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Hechicero
Time: 13:36
Rating: ***3/4 – Hell YES this ruled! It had that feeling of ‘what on earth are they going to pull out next?’ Tremendous display of lucha prowess with unique offense from both guys, and while it wasn’t a clean finish, I’m all for seeing a Komander/Clon feud so this works all round.
*Briscoe vs Hechicero for the TNT title is signed for next week here on Collision.
*We catch up with Max Caster and Antony Bowens over the last few weeks. Caster is adamant that he’s not gay but Bowens says he’s been such a good ally so when he thinks of the word gay he thinks of Caster. They do a scavenger hunt together in NY as a team building exercise. Caster keeps using hand sanitizer. Caster says they’re not partners and Bowens screams that it’s not happening! OK that was pretty damn funny.
*Tony Schiavone is in the middle of the ring and he brings Eddie Kingston out for a chat. Eddie comes out with Ortiz! Eddie has fun messing with the crowd and he’s happy as his boy is back. Eddie says he’s quit this company about 8 times since he came back as he hasn’t had his boy by his side, but now Ortiz is here. Kingston doesn’t want to put him over too much but he hands the mic over to him. Ortiz says he was born with the gift of putting his foot up people’s asses. Ortiz says they’re coming for GYV. Eddie says they will end the Grizzled Young Vets.
*Lexy Nair is backstage with Big Bill and Bryan Keith, and Bill wants to mock Kingston for saying he finally found someone he can trust. Bill says he knows a guy who says that JetSpeed has a bounty out on them. Keith says it’s time to pay up.
JetSpeed vs Big Bill & Bryan Keith
Speedball and Keith start this as the legal men, with Bailey getting the upper hand, kicking Keith down to the mat. Big boot in return from Keith. Both men trade forearms, and Bill grabs Bailey from behind, yanking him by the hair. Bill tags in for a big chop. Double dropkick from Knight, and now JetSpeed take it to Bill, low bridging him to the outside. Stereo crossbodies connect! Back inside, double armdrag from JetSpeed connects, and Knight hits a splash for a 2 count. Body slam connects, Knight goes up top but Bill shoves him to the apron and Keith forearms him to the floor. Bailey in, big Bossman slam from Bill! Keith rakes the eye of Bailey on the outside as we head to commercial.
Bill and Keith work over Kevin Knight during the break. Knight nails a leaping clothesline to create some space…but Bill is in to knock off Speedball before he can tag out. Bill misses an elbow drop and Knight low bridges him to the floor again. Bill misses a splash in the corner and walks into a dropkick from Knight. Bailey is back to the apron and makes the tag. Missile dropkick from Bailey. Kicks to Keith, running shooting star connects but Bill is in to pick him up and toss him away. Exploder from Keith, big boots from both Keith and Bill, 1, 2, NO. Knight takes it to Bill, gets tossed away, Knight dropkicks him to the floor. Enziguri to Keith. Springboard lariat to Keith while Bailey hits a moonsault to the outside on Bill! Bailey back up top, Keith tries to cut it off, rising headbutt! Exploder off the second rope! Misses a knee though, stereo kicks from both guys. Keith covers, 1, 2, no.
Bill stalks Knight on the ramp. Keith hooks the arms but Bailey counters into a pin attempt, reversed, 1, 2, no. Ultima Weapon! Kick to Bill on the apron, triange moonsault connects. Knight up top, UFO Splash connects! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: JetSpeed
Time: 12:06
Rating: *** – It’s another in a long line of losses for Bill & Keith, but to their credit they always give it their all. Perfectly good outing here which kept the pace up throughout.
*Big Bill re-enters the ring to try and take JetSpeed out in defeat but Bailey and Knight avoid it and head to the floor.
*Grizzled Young Veterans are backstage talking about Ortiz running with his best friend Eddie Kingston. GYV see through both of them. They are two down and dirty NY street rats. They are not done with them by a longshot. GYV will make their names in AEW at Eddie and Ortiz’s expense. Drake says when they target that surgically repaired leg, how much of a hero is Kingston really? How much of a good Samaritan is Ortiz really? They’ll be seeing them soon.
*We recap the recent events in the Men’s World title scene, with MJF winning the title last week, and the set up for the Lights Out match this coming week on Dynamite.
Shelton Benjamin (w/ MVP) vs Dante Martin (w/ Christopher Daniels)
Dante Martin hasn’t had many singles opportunities in AEW as of late so this is a pretty big deal for him. Benjamin and Martin shake hands as the bell rings. Benjamin tosses Martin with ease early on. Daniels gives some advice to Martin before he re-enters the ring. Clothesline attempt doesn’t work, tijeras does! Dropkick connects, and Martin goes for a dive but Benjamin comes right back in to cut him off with a shoulder tackle. Enziguri from Martin, tries some fancy rope work but Benjamin simply shoves him off the top into the barricade below. Daniels and the medical staff check on Dante as we head to commercial.
MVP grabs a mic and tells Martin to be smart and take the countout. Martin grabs the mic…and he tells Shelton that his momma didn’t raise a bitch..did Shelton’s? Benjamin snaps and launches himself at Martin, bringing him back in the ring, and a back elbow levels Martin. To their feet, Martin tries a crossbody, is caught and Shelton drops him with a rib breaker. We see a replay from commercial with MVP and Dante’s brief mic work. Martin fires back from the corner, tornado DDT connects! He goes up top, hits the big splash, 1, 2, no. Dante to the apron, hits the springboard moonsault for 2, but Shelton grabs a hold of him and goes for a Dominator but Martin transitions into a sleeper! Martin sits higher up but Shelton dumps him from his shoulders to the canvas. Release German suplex! Another! One more. Rising knee in the corner and a superkick catches Martin under the chin for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Shelton Benjamin
Time: 10:13
Rating: *** – I’m not sure how much this worked as a vehicle for reminding us of the talents of Martin, mainly because the crowd were more into Benjamin, and the fact that Benjamin has the Eliminator match with Moxley coming up means this result was never in question.
*MVP takes the mic, and asks for applause for the ‘young lion’ Dante Martin. Martin stepped up tonight. Benjamin goes over and shakes his hand, lifting him to his feet. MVP says it’s time to get down to business. He wants applause for the standard of excellence Shelton Benjamin. The fans oblige. Benjamin doesn’t need talking up, we already know he’s one of the best. MVP wants to talk about what Moxley is and is not. Moxley wants to make a revolution, well they just want to make money. MVP knows Moxley likes pain and likes to bleed but he’s not the apex predator, Shelton is. Moxley will get punched, kicked, tossed around on Wednesday and there’s nothing he can do about it. Shelton is way more dangerous than Mox is. MVP says they don’t have resolutions, there is no ‘new them’. Moxley will get hurt badly this week. MVP says Moxley will lose on Wednesday because they hurt people.
*Sammy Guevara asked for face to face time with Bandido backstage, hosted by Lexy Nair. Sammy is supposed to watch at the sidelines after Bandido took out Rush? Guevara is challenging Bandido next week, and he’s going to do something so heinous that he takes Bandido’s place. Bandido asks why he’s so angry, all he had to do was ask? Bandido says he’s got it, Sammy Guevara vs Bandido next week.
*Stokely Hathaway is apparently injured, and Tony Schiavone reads us the update from Stokely himself. Stokely appreciates the thoughts and prayers, and people who mocked him are dead to him. He’s been so courageous they call him Little Lashley. His medical bills have surpassed over $400K so please find it in your hearts to donate. Ha.
Darby Allin vs Wheeler Yuta (w/ Marina Shafir)
Moxley joins commentary for this one. Shoulder block from Darby takes Yuta down, and an armdrag springing from the top rope follows. Darby goes for a dive but Yuta hides behind Marina so Allin puts the brakes on. Yuta with a right hand on the floor and he shoves Darby hard into the barricade. Suplex attempt, Darby knees out of it and hits a splash for 2. Shotgun dropkick into the corner. Darby goes up top thinking about the Coffin Drop, but Yuta is up and shoves him forward, crotching him. Modified Tower of London on the apron connects, and Yuta brings Darby back into the ring, hitting a monkey flip and a bridging suplex for 2. Basement dropkick as Darby tries to recover on the floor but Yuta keeps up the pressure with an axe handle. They battle to the rampway before Yuta brings him back inside the ring. Joint manipulation from the Death Rider, followed a dropkick.
Gory Special locked in by Yuta , wrenching the arms back, rolls him into a sideways Gory Driver. Darby battles back with a springboard Coffin Splash. Rebound lariat attempt by Yuta, blocked. Code Red by Darby! 1, 2, no. Darby runs the ropes and Marina trips him up, allowing Yuta to capitalize. The ref sees it and ejects Marina from ringside. Marina won’t leave so here comes Toni Storm to take her out from behind! Marina and Storm battle on the ramp, meanwhile Daniel Garcia comes out of nowhere to take out Darby. Yuta slams Darby and pins him for 1, 2, no. Yuta goes back up top, misses a splash. Darby takes out Garcia with a suicide dive! BUSAIKU KNEE FROM YUTA takes Darby out on the apron, and Darby takes a Paul London bump to the floor, nice. Yuta with the cover, 1, 2, NO. Hammer and anvil elbows, Darby may be out. Yuta relents, locks in the Scorpion Deathlock! Allin hooks the ankle though, gets catapulted to the buckles but counters with a double stomp. Back up, he hits 2 COFFIN DROPS! 1, 2, Darby pulls him up! Scorpion Deathlock applied properly, and Yuta taps!
Winner: Darby Allin
Time: 11:45
Rating: ***1/2 – That was a lot of fun actually, especially with Yuta being a total dick trying to win it with the Scorpion Deathlock, and of course it backfired leading to the finish. Interference from both Marina and Garcia was a bit much, but it didn’t outstay its welcome fortunately, and works in the sense of Darby having to go through everyone to get to Pac. I always appreciate it when Darby focuses on the wrestling rather than the ‘car crash’ big stunts as he can properly go, and that showed here.
*Next week it will be Toni Storm vs Marina Shafir on Dynamite! And with that we are done for the night. Good night everyone – see you in a few hours if you’re joining us for Wrestle Kingdom!
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