wrestling / Title History
Ciocco’s AEW Collision Review 10.24.26
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...SICKOS! It’s Saturday Night, which means we are in for a brand new (and LIVE, don’t forget LIVE) edition of Collision! Coming to us from the LJVM Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the obvious headliner for tonight’s show is the second match in the Best-Of-Five series between the Motor City Machine Guns and FTR, a series in which MCMG have a 1-0 lead after defeating FTR on the Tailgate Brawl before WrestleDream last Saturday.
But that’s not the only thing on the docket tonight, as WRATHLANDER will face Divine Dominion, and Swerve Strickland will face Myron Reed. We will also hear from Switchblade Jay White after the Bang Bang Gang turned heel on Dynamite and merged with the Dogs. All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!
So, how is everyone doing on this S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y Night? I’m back to being annoyed by my sports teams, and I don’t think that will change on Monday when the Eagles play the Cowboys. I did go to a show last night in Greensburg, the MJ Illusion Experience. It wasn’t bad, I credit “Michael Jackson” for going above and beyond to learn the original’s voice and his dancing accruement.
But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to Collide!
Tonight, Collision is LIVE from Tarheel Country, as Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and Paul Wight will have the call! “Eric Bischoff is a crybaby” sign spotted behind Nigel in the crowd lol.
Arkady introduces Jay White and the Bang Bang Gang. Are they going with that now that the Dogs are involved? Bang Dog Gang? Dog Bang Gang? White has the mic. GUNS UP FOR THE WINSTON…you shouldn’t be booing. You should be lucky to be rolling with the go-getters, the best in the business. White goes to say the group name, but he wants suggestions from the fans. There has been one name on the tip of his tongue that the fans have wanted. BULLET CLUB F-F-F-FORGET ABOUT IT! You people are stupid and don’t get it, and he says they are the Last Outfit. Look where they find themselves after Wednesday. David and Clark, my old good friends. Jay and David know each other better than anyone. Can he trust David? Probably not. BUT he trusts they won’t be having a reconciliation with Gabe Kidd anytime soon.
Clarkie Boy, he’s always been cool in Jay’s book. White says you should get used to seeing Moxley down on the mat and being checked on by sweet Marina. And Jay has some advice for Marina; first, he wants her to scowl less and smile more. Second, he wants Marina and Roddy to get on with it, so they don’t have to hide it anymore. And the Conglomeration were not going to bring White down anymore. He admits Orange Cassidy is a good wrestler, but he is tired of breaking his back while Cassidy comes out here and tap dances. And Moxley, he is coming for your Title, and the Death Riders do not get a clean slate. The Last Outfit will dismantle and destroy all of their enemies, and White is a cut above the rest. You have to be shooters, because shooters shoot first. And if you’re not done with that…NOPE!
Lexi Nair
catches up to the Conglomeration in the back. Kyle O’Reilly says it is cute that they decided on their team’s name, and he is going to take the knife out of the back of Orange Cassidy and put it right between White’s eyes. Everyone leaves except for Cassidy, who shrugs at Lexi and leaves.
Hype package for Motor City Machine Guns and FTR! Their second match is coming up next!
Best-of-Five series Round Two: Motor City Machine Guns (1) vs. FTR (0)
Wheeler and Shelley to start this one. I was surprised that FTR didn’t get a big hometown pop when they came down the ramp. Wheeler and Shelley wrestle to a standstill, so Chris Sabin is in. Back elbow and a backslide from Wheeler for a two. Schiavone lets us know that Tony Khan has made Kyle O’Reilly and Jay White official for tonight. Harwood and Sabin now. Sabin with the inside cradle for a two. Blind tag by Shelley and they work over Harwood with double team offense. Wheeler wonders into the ring and he too gets double team offense.
Sabin waits in the ring as FTR consult with Big Stoke on the floor. Harwood into the ring and he grabs a side headlock. Harwood wrestles Sabin to the corner and lays in chops. Sabin, much like Tom Petty, won’t back down, as he lands strikes and a back body drop for a two. Blind tag by Wheeler and we get some high/low action from FTR. Wheeler tries to rearrange the eyes of Sabin, but he settles for a side headlock. Sabin to his feet but Stoke is on the apron. This allows Shelley the change to come in and save Sabin from double team offense. FTR are sent to the floor, where MCMG hit stereo baseball slides. Shelley holds the ropes so Sabin can take out both members of FTR with a Tope! That takes us to the break.
Shelley and Harwood are casually hanging out on the top rope when we return. Alex hits a back suplex from top and to the mat. Sabin is ready for the tag, but Wheeler sneaks around and pulls Sabin off the apron. Shelley avoids the Shatter Machine and rolls over to Sabin. Chris bops both members of FTR and hits a Rana to Cash and a tornado DDT to Dax for a two. FTR look for a double suplex, but Alex is in and he saves Chris. Standing switch, Sabin leaps in with the sunset flip on Harwood for a two. The fans cheer in appreciation as the Guns do the Enziguri/Komagiri combination.
Wheeler pulls Sabin out of the ring, FTR look for a stuff piledriver, but Sabin is back and he shoves Wheeler to the floor. Double team offense from MCMG, but Wheeler saves Harwood. Harwood throws Sabin into Wheeler, who hits a German into the bridge for a two. Wheeler takes Sabin to their corner, but Sabin avoids the backslide and kicks Harwood in the face. Sabin sneaks away and Shelley tags himself in. Stoke is on the apron for a second, but Shelley launches Sabin onto Wheeler for a two. Stoke is AGAIN on the apron as MCMG look for Skull and Bones, but it backfires when Wheeler hits both Dax and Stoke! Sabin has Wheeler up, but he escapes, Dax flips Wheeler out of the way, SHATTER MACHINE! The cover, but Shelley BARELY makes the save. Harwood and Sabin now. Spinning discus elbow from Sabin, and both men hit the floor. Shelley heads to the top, but Wheeler holds onto the rope and, with Stoke’s help, he steals it!
WINNERS: FTR (The series is tied at one!)
TIME: 18:30
THOUGHTS: There is something to be said about tag team wrestling in AEW. Teams and matches like this are what the science of tag team wrestling is all about, and we have at LEAST two more matches to go in this series. This match just told the rest of the card, “FOLLOW THAT!”
RATING: ****1/2
Video package hyping up Blood and Guts, coming to us on November 4th!
After the show on Wednesday, we see the good guys in the back. BRUV BOSSMAN says he is surrounded by men who will not give up! The Young Bucks will not submit or surrender, Darby won’t, Steven won’t, Will won’t. He asks Copeland, Will says he needs the man that he grew up watching. Copeland says the Don Callis Family has done it now. Adam swims around in blood and guts, and he is going to make life a living Hell for the DCF!
8-Person mixed action is on the docket, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Inset promo for Shane Taylor Promotions when we come back. The Death Riders arrive in a red truck! Claudio looks like he has a Big Bossman vest on! Daniel Garcia looks like he is freezing!
Shane Taylor Promotions vs. The Death Riders
It’s pandemonium as the bell rings! Taylor and Moxley fight in the ring while everyone else fights around ring side. Officially, the match is Moxley-Garcia-Castagnoli-Shafir against Taylor-Dean-Bravo-Adora. Moxley beats the crap out of Taylor in the corner, while Dean keeps getting introduced to the barricade. STP tries to enforce some order as Bravo enters and chops Moxley. Jon walks it off; Bravo mocks him and promptly pays for it with a back-drop driver. Shafir is in, and Moxley and Shafir knock down Bravo. Adora is in and she gets taken to the mat by Shafir. Bravo walks in and makes the save. He wants to know if the camera is on him, exclaims the initials BBC, and hits the corner, but no one is home. Death Riders take turns with the corner clothesline train, and they remove the other members of STP from the apron. That will take us to the break.
The tables have turned as Garcia finds himself in the STP corner, where Bravo makes sure he gets the BBC. What a nice guy to get Garcia into the British Broadcasting Corporation! Moxley is all like fuck this shit and he attacks Bravo and wipes out Taylor on the floor! Bravo outsmarts Garcia once but not twice as he gets planted with a DDT. Tags are made to Claudio and Shawn Dean. Dean LITERALLY is picked up out of mid-motion and he goes a swinging! Claudio, while still wearing his Raiden mask, goes to swing Bravo, but Taylor attacks. Shane looking suplex, CLAUDIO DEADLIFTS TAYLOR INTO A SUPLEX! Dean and Bravo with dual SUPERKICKS, but Claudio bounces off the ropes with a double lariat! Shafir and Adora now. Shafir gets the Crossarm Breaker on; Garcia catches Dean with the Dragon Tamer. Moxley hits the stomp on Dean’s head, and Shafir turns her submission into the Brutalizer! Adora taps out!
WINNERS: The Death Riders
TIME: 9:40
THOUGHTS: The Death Riders, having gotten caught in the crossfire on Wednesday, weren’t losing here. STP was here to do what they do best; beat the lesser talent, but otherwise be JTTS.
RATING: ***1/4
Post-match, Moxley has the mic. Jay White! He thinks he started a war on Wednesday Night, but they have been at war for a long time with everyone! You made a move, and it was a good move. Jay, now it’s my move! Huh, I’m not used to short Moxley promos lol.
The Walking Weapon is in action, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Josh Alexander w/the DCF C-Team vs. Blade Brown
Josh with a big kick at the bell. Hammer throw and a follow-up lariat. Brown with chops, but Alexander eats them and asks for more. Headbutt from Alexander, who hits the crossbody block to the back of Brown. RPG Vice make fun of Brown’s trunks, which says, “Somebody in Trouble.” Josh chucks Blade into the ring steps before returning him to the ring. Josh with the Piledriver into the Ankle Lock, and Brown taps out.
WINNER: Josh Alexander
TIME: 1:45
THOUGHTS: The Walking Weapon exploded, and poor Blade Brown will never, EVER, be the same, AH-GAIN!
RATING: Headwear Unlimited
Alexander on the mic post-match. First thing is first, praise be to the all-mighty and all-knowing Don Callis for assembling the best team in all of wrestling. For assembling a team that will go to Blood and Guts and destroy the opposition. Callis is a genius for putting Doyle next to Davis who beat the crap out of the Young Bucks and will bring the tag team titles to the Family. And, of course, Alexander can’t forget about his good friend, the International Champion, Kazuchika Okada! But it’s time for Josh to pull his weight, and this Wednesday, he wants the TNT Champion. He isn’t scared of Darby’s face paint, and he wants Darby to FIGHT HIM, FIGHT HIM, FIGHT HIM! Alexander says he would love to fight Adam Copeland if, IF, he is able to recover, and he will even put that TNT Title on the line. He knows Copeland lives right here in North Carolina, but we won’t be seeing him tonight.
The Cope is here in the flesh! Alexander gets out of the way while Copeland takes care of the Callis Comedy Team. Here comes Davis and Doyle, as they lay out Copeland. Josh returns to the ring in order to get some cheap shots in. The best theme song since the RTC hits, and the DCF take their leave.
Highlights from Ilja Dragunov’s debut at WrestleDream and his in-ring debut in the main event on Wednesday!
WHOSE HOUSE?
Swerve Strickland w/Prince Nana vs. Myron Reed
Strickland attacks Reed from behind before the bell. He hits the House Call, as Stephone Smith checks on Reed. The bell rings officially, and Strickland thinking Vertebreaker, but Reed escapes and sends Swerve to the floor. Reed takes off and torpedoes Strickland into the barricade! Back in the ring, Reed hits a corner leg drop but it only gets him a one. Reed wants to trade forearms with Strickland, but that goes about as well as you would expect. Reed punches Strickland in the head but he ends up favoring his hand. Swerve nonchalantly throws Reed out of the ring and hits a PK from the apron. Reed’s face is introduced to the ring post, but Reed escapes the hold of Swerve, who ends up hitting the post shoulder first. Reed backs up, REED CLEARS THE CORNER AND HITS A SENTON! Reed looks to follow up, but Strickland intercepts him with a jumping Flatliner. Gator Roll by Swerve into a Vertical Suplex as we hit the break.
Reed will not back down from Strickland as we return. Strickland takes his shirt off and keeps bouncing Reed off the mat. Reed with a kick, but Swerve does the Gator Roll. Reed intercepts the suplex with a STUNNER! Strickland sends Reed to the floor, but Reed intercepts Strickland and drops him face first on the apron. Strickland gets kicked in the side of the head and he rolls out some strikes and an enziguri. Reed with the Hang-5, but Strickland is out at two. Reed looking Flame On, but Strickland catches him and hits a German on the apron! Swerve rolls Myron back into the ring, but he takes way too long stalking Reed and gets an up kick. Poison Rana from Reed! 450 SPLASH FROM REED, BUT STRICKLAND IS OUT AT 2.8! Reed with a SUPERKICK to Strickland, Swerve misses the House Call, but he gets a rather dodgy looking Vertebreaker instead. The Swerve Stomp finishes it!
WINNER: Swerve Strickland
TIME: 10:55
THOUGHTS: A lot of the time, you hear how good a wrestler looks in a loss, to the point that its cliche and trite. But Reed looked like half a million bucks in this match and got a lot of shine. However, the result was to be expected. Fantastic run, though!
RATING: ***3/4
It’s time for some United Empire Action!
Speedball Mike Bailey and AEW National Champion Andrade El Idolo w/belt and title carrying baddies vs. Steve and Robert Allen
Speedball and the Allen Brother who looks like a taller Wheeler Yuta to start. Speedball ain’t playing with an errant kick, and Bailey gets on the bicycle and kicks Allen into oblivion. The other Allen comes in on his own accord and eats a back body drop. Bailey takes care of Allen on the floor, and Andrade takes off his pants! Man, he really needs to invest in tearaway pants lol. Double knees in the corner to one Allen. The other one runs in and gets thrown to the floor, where Andrade takes him out with a crossbody block. Time and Adventure from Bailey finishes the job!
WINNERS: Speedball Mike Bailey and Andrade El Idolo
TIME: 1:55
THOUGHTS: I think it took longer for Andrade to take his pants off then it took for the ending sequence.
RATING: HOW YOU KNOW SPEEDBALL?
Post-match, Bailey gives encouragement to one of the Allen Brothers, while Andrade goes to find the baddy for a selfie. It’s a trap, as Tomasso Ciampa hits him in the head with the woman’s phone! He attacks Andrade until Speedball comes to and chases Ciampa into the crowd.
The ladies are coming up, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
I am bowing down to Divine Dominion!
Divine Dominion vs. WRATHLANDER
Statlander and Bayne to start. Collision of the big girls in the ring and there is no give! Side headlock from Kris, but Megan shoulders her to the mat. Statlander with a dropkick to Bayne, and Lena attacks from behind. Kross throws Statlander into Cameron, who rolls out of the ring. Statlander tries to clothesline both Kris and Megan, but they stare at her and hit stereo big boots. Statlander tries again and connects with a flying double lariat! Cameron tags in, around and around she goes and Kross gets the head scissor! Cameron screams FEEL THE WRATH at Lena, who gets kicked in the head by Kris. Stereo corner punches from WRATHLANDER! Bayne avoids their corner charge and takes out Statlander while Kross decks Cameron. Kris and Harley get rammed into one another as we hit the break.
Cameron is in trouble as Divine Dominion look to hit the Divine Intervention. Harley breaks her way free, but Divine Dominion won’t allow her to tag out. Discus lariat by Kross into a side German from Bayne. Statlander makes the save, but she gets clotheslined out of the ring by Kross. Bayne picks up Cameron, screams THIS IS FOR YOU, STATDADDY, but she eats a Crucifix Bomb for her trouble. Kross tags in to try and stop the tag, but Harley kicks her away. Kris is in, and she chips away on Kross. Corner butt bump from Kris and a knee so hard it sends Kross to the floor. Crossbody into a cartwheel from Statlander! Back in the ring, Statlander with a missile dropkick to Kross for a two. Bayne attacks Kris from behind, but Harley is back. Leg sweep, basement SUPERKICK, and a back senton from WRATHLANDER to Megan! Harley takes out Megan on the floor, leaving Kris and Lena to smack each other around. Statlander with a corner kick, Kross slams her to the mat. Statlander with a release Powerbomb to Lena! Statlander to the top rope, but here comes The Triangle of Madness, as Thekla shoves Statlander off the top rope and that’s a DQ.
WINNERS: WRATHLANDER via DQ
TIME: 10:40
THOUGHTS: Harley and Kris are getting their tag team title shot at Full Gear, so protecting both the challengers from a flat-out loss and Divine Dominion from taking the pinfall worked out well here. Good stuff from all four women!
RATING: ***1/2
Post-match, The Triangle of Madness attack Harley and Kris. Here comes Willow Nightingale with a chain in hand, and the spooky girls split. It’s a ruse, however, as they manage to disarm Willow and attack her. Cameron and Statlander are back to even the odds, but Bayne and Kross are back, and it becomes a 5-on-3 attack. The Spooky Dominion girls stand tall, but Lena keeps staring down Julia Hart.
Our main event is coming up, next!
BREAK IN PROGRESS!
Lexi has WRATHLANDER and Willow Nightingale in the back. Willow says she had to help her girls out tonight, and they can all agree they hate these spooky bitches. She made a call to two Birds who feel the same way, but Kris says they weren’t even here tonight. Willow says to think of the long-term picture, because they hate them as much as we do.
Kris: Are you thinking what I’m thinking?
Harley: Are you thinking what I’m thinking that everyone is thinking?
Gosh, they are such a fun team!
It’s time for the MAIN EVENT (Thus Spoke Mark Henry). Interesting to note that, even though White said they were going by the name the Last Outfit, there is still Bang Bang Gang on his video wall.
Switchblade Jay White vs. Kyle O’Reilly
White kills some time on the floor and stretches out his hamstrings at the commentary table. White enters the ring, O’Reilly goes into a kicking sequence, and White gets between the ropes. Hand fighting ensues; O’Reilly takes White to the mat. Shortcut from White and he goes on the attack and corners Kyle. O’Reilly isn’t fazed, however, and he goes back to kicking the hamstring of White. O’Reilly tries a standing ankle lock, but White gets to the ropes. He kicks White out of the ring, to the apron he goes, and he hits his running knee strike! White has a seat at ring side, but O’Reilly ends up striking the chair instead of White. White folds the chair up and looks to hit Kyle with it, but he thinks better of it and drops the chair. O’Reilly with a jumping knee strike, he sends White into the ring, but Jay is up and hits a Dragon Screw in the ropes. That takes us to our final break.
White is in control as we return. Jay places Kyle on the top rope and heads to the tippy top. O’Reilly with rapid fire punches, White runs back in, Kyle kicks him away, and O’Reilly with a knee strike from the top! White goes after the bad left wheel with a knee breaker. White admires his handiwork, but he gets slapped by O’Reilly. White kicks out Kyle’s vertical base, but O’Reilly fires back with a flurry of kicks and a back trip. O’Reilly with the front face Guillotine. O’Reilly gives it up and hits a knee strike to the face. O’Reilly sneaks out the back door and hits a Cradle Back Drop for a two. Off the ropes, O’Reilly is intercepted by White, but Kyle with the body scissor guillotine! White fights free and hits another Dragon Screw. White mockingly picks up O’Reilly and waves to him, but Kyle counters the Dragon Screw with an Ankle Lock! White escapes and hits a Flatliner. Dead lift German into the bridge from Jay for a two.
A-E-DUB and THIS IS AWESOME chants, O’Reilly breaks White’s rear naked choke, White with a chop block. O’Reilly fights off White, but Jay is back with another Rear Naked Choke, and he gouges the eyes of Kyle. O’Reilly with a Brainbuster FROM OUTTANOWHERE for a two! O’Reilly looking Ankle Lock, but White gets to the ropes and to the floor. O’Reilly looks for the running apron knee, but he misses, and White hits the Bladerunner on the floor! White picks up and rolls O’Reilly into the ring. White picks up O’Reilly for a second Bladerunner and that’s ball game.
WINNER: Switchblade Jay White
TIME: 14:05
THOUGHTS: I wasn’t so sure that, after seeing the MCMG-FTR opener and the Reed-Strickland match that this match could stack up, but boy did it ever. The build was great, Jay looked much more comfortable as a heel again, and O’Reilly played his role well and was persistent and relentless throughout.
RATING: ***3/4
Post-match, Orange Cassidy and Roddy Strong are here to help Kyle, but all seven members of The Last Outfit are here. Try as they might, but three men won’t get the job done against seven men. Nigel makes the comment that they have no friends, which of course means they get some in the former of the Death Riders! Claudio and Jon come down the ramp with chairs, while Danny and Marina enter from the crowd! Juice Robinson is getting choked out by Marina! Connors and Finlay try to take out Claudio, but Castagnoli has other ideas and he sends both men to the floor. White with a low blow to Claudio, but Moxley is in with a Death Rider to Jay! Moxley has the fork, but the rest of the Last Outfit attack Moxley. Cassidy with an Orange Punch to both Gunn Brothers, but he also accidently punches Moxley! White with the Bladerunner to Moxley and the heels hit the road. And with that, we are done!
