Ciocco’s AEW Collision Fright Night Review 10.31.26

SICKOS! It’s Saturday Night and that can mean only one thing, and that is a brand-new episode of Collision! Tonight’s episode was taped on Wednesday from the Chaifetz Arena during Dynamite Fright Night, and that means tonight is Collision Fright Night!

Tonight’s show will be highlighted by the Triangle of Madness as they defend their Artist of Stardom Titles against the team of Hazuki, Koguma, and Fuwa-Chan. Tonight also marks the Collision debut of Ilja Dragunov, who will face the Beast Mortos, Attorney at RAWR! Meanwhile, the Cut will look to continue their dominance over the roster when they face the Conglomeration.

Elsewhere on the card, Tommaso Ciampa is on a warpath to face Andrade El Idolo for the National Title, but tonight, he will face St. Louis’ own Matt Sydal. Konosuke Takeshita is back and he will face everyone’s favorite Crash Holly in Adam Priest, while both the Hurt Syndicate and Divine Dominion will be in action. All of this and, of course, so much more in store for us tonight!

So how is everyone doing on this Saturday Night? Hopefully no one ate too much Halloween candy and falls asleep during the show! Also, just a friendly reminder that tonight is “Fall Back” for Daylight Savings Time, assuming that you live in a region where that is abided by. So, at 2:00AM, it will become 1:00AM again.

But enough about me and enough about you, let’s get ready to Collide and be spooky while doing it!

Image Credit: CMLL. Mina is one with the dead!

Tonight’s episode of Collison will continue the Fright Night theme, as Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and Paul Wight will call the action!

Tonight, Nigel is playing the part of an even more emo Dracula! Nice!

We kick it to our opening match! Tommaso Ciampa is Kratos! Matt Sydal isn’t dressed up, but the more I see of him, he’s looking more and more like Patton Oswalt.

Tommaso Ciampa vs. Matt Sydal

The bell rings and we get a lock-up. Ciampa wins that and tries to chop Sydal, but Matt avoids it. Ciampa with a shoulder tackle, but Sydal with a dropkick that sends Ciampa to the floor. Tomasso takes his time getting back into the ring, where he wants a test of strength. To the surprise of nobody, this favors Ciampa, who kicks Sydal right in the gut. From corner to corner we go, but Sydal reverses with a standing leg drop for a two. Standing Shooting Star Press follows but again that’s merely a two. Ciamapa again rolls to the outside, but he gets hit by the Meteora from Sydal. Somewhere, Mercedes Mone is threatening a lawsuit. Sydal to the top, but just like Orange Cassidy, Ciampa slowly rolls out of the ring. Sydal follows out, screams he wants Ciampa in the ring, but he gets a big boot to the face for his trouble. That takes us to the break.

Sydal is back on offense as we return. Unfortunately for him, he jumps right into the knee of Ciampa, who gets a two on the following pin. Ciampa keeps Sydal grounded with a headlock. Matt to his feet and he lays in kicks. Ciampa with one punch, but Sydal reverses with a Tiaras. More kicks from Sydal and a big jumping knee gets Matt a two. Sydal to the top, Ciampa rolls to the floor, but Sydal switches course and crashes into him from the top. Sydal returns Ciampa to the ring, but he is cut off on the top rope. Ciampa looking Avalanche Air Raid Crash, but Sydal sneaks out the back into a sunset Bomb for a two. Sydal with an apron DDT, but Ciampa counters with a knee strike. Ciampa falls into the pin, which gets him a two. Sydal is back with kicks to the head, but Ciampa intercepts him with Project Ciampa. Kill Shot Knee Strike from Ciampa, but it’s not enough, as Ciampa lowers the knee pad and takes a second one for good measure. A winner is Tommaso!
WINNER: Tommaso Ciampa
TIME: 11:55
THOUGHTS: Quite a fun opening match. Ciampa is always on his game, but Sydal and his return from injury after two years away is a marvel in its own right.
RATING: ***1/2

Highlight from Dynasty 2024 right here in St. Louis, where Swerve Strickland defeated Samoa Joe for the AEW World Title.

WE HURT PEOPLE! WE HURT PEOPLE!

The Hurt Syndicate w/MVP vs. Soloroto w/WHO THE FUCK IS GRIFF GARRISON

Comarato and Solo attack at the bell. We’ll see how long it takes for them to regret this. Nick takes Bobby from corner to corner with big splashes. Solo holds Lashley in place so Comarato can hit another corner splash. Nick goes to the well one too many times, and Lashley fights his way free. He chucks Solo into Comarato and sends Nick from the ring. Shelton gets the tag and beats up on Solo. Aaron tries some chops, but Benjamin is like bitch please. Back kick from Solo, Aaron wants the 21-Plex, but he ends up on the apron. Benjamin pulls him over the top rope and throws him with a German. A second one follows, as Lashley smashed Comarato on the floor! MVP attacks Garrison with his cane and throws him into the ring. Benjmain chucks Garrison with a German and Lashley with the SPEAR! Lashley off the ropes with a SPEAR to Solo! ONE MORE TIME chants, Bobby smiles, and Shelton tags him in. Thrust kick from Shelton, SPEAR by Bobby, and the fans love it as Bobby poses! Despite all the posing he did, Solo still isn’t able to kick out of the pin lol.
WINNERS: WE HURT PEOPLE! WE HURT PEOPLE!
TIME: 4:10
THOUGHTS: Usually, these types of matches have no hint of comedy value. However, the way that Shelton and Bobby played to the crowd and then fed into what they wanted to see was funny. I mean, for us and not Aaron and Nick obviously.
RATING: ***

The Death Riders are in the back. Gabe Kidd says let’s not beat around the bush; your performance last week was Oscar worthy. You told him he was a Dog 4-Life, but then you turn your back on me. After all that we have been through together. They are down two people now, but that only means that they are going to keep coming after them and they will continue to bite them and Kidd says when it is over. Kidd screams and goes off camera.

Moxley: Goodness Gracious!

Moxley says if you understood the story and you understood where they have come from, then you would understand that saying the Death Riders are outnumbered is never true. Marina says the plan was to be outnumbered so when they prevail it would be that much better. There is no man, no woman, no army that will stop them. Yuta says Claudio or no Claudio, they are going to enter the same way that they always do. Danny says at Full Gear, they are going to kick some ass and enjoy it.

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Back to Wednesday we go, and we see Persephone is beside herself over losing her TBS Title. She tells Aminata that there is one spot left on both teams for Blood and Guts, and she wants to see her in the match! Britt Baker tells the cameraman to show respect and calls him a twit lol.

We have some SuperSTARDOM going on!

Artist of Stardom Titles Match: Triangle of Madness (C) vs. Trinity

FUWA-Chan and Julia to start this one. Hart wants to shake hands at the bell, but Chan is silly and goes to shake hands. Hart slaps her and backs her into the TOM corner. Hart knocks Koguma and Hazuki to the floor. Skye is in with a cartwheel into a clothesline to Chan. Skye has her up, but Chan escapes and hits some kicks. Skye shuts that down, but here comes Koguma and Hazkuki, who triple team Skye. Julia and Thekla are in, but the Champions get tripped into the ropes and triple tea bagged! Back in the ring, and the challengers continue to work over Skye. Pin from Chan gets her a two. Skye to her feet, she shoves Chan to the corner, but she comes back with a reverse flying elbow for another two. Hart and Thekla take care of Koguma and Hazuki, and Thekla with a double stomp to the back of Chan as we hit the break.

The challengers are back in control as we return. Koguma and Hazuki hit double crossbody blocks to the Sisters of Sin on the floor. Back in the ring, Koguma does a Mad Scientist spin to Hart that gets her a two. Hart rips her down by her hair and hits a leg drop for a two. Thekla and Hazuki now, but the Champions apply the Iron Octopus to the challengers! We’re left with Thekla and Hazuki, and Hazuki makes it to the ropes. Thekla with a big knee strike, Hazuki counters with a thrust kick, Thekla with a SPEAR! She takes a minute to go to the pin, she does, and Koguma enters the ring and pulls Thekla out of the pin. Hart is in and she hits Koguma with a cutter. Skye and Chan are in now, Chan with a forearm fury. Iron Octopus from Chan, Skye gets to the corner for the break. Skye kicks FUMA away, but Hazuki is in and she hits a Superplex! Koguma with a German, and Chan with the Shinning Wizard, but Thekla is back. She SPEARS both Hazuki and Koguma before feeding Chan to Skye. Blue looking for Code Blue, but Chan fights her off. Hart mists Chan in the face, Skye and Julia set her up for a sit-out Pendulum Slam and they retain!
WINNERS: The Triangle of Madness (And still!)
TIME: 13:05
THOUGHTS: Pretty fun match. I liked Hazuki the last time she was in AEW/ROH, and I enjoyed seeing Koguma and FUMA-Chan as well. That being said, there was no way the Triangle was losing the AOS belts in AEW.
RATING: ***1/4

The Opps are in the back. Samoa Joe wants to take a minute to address the situation at hand. People used to never approach the Opps out of fear, but now, people are barking at us from everywhere. Maybe that is his fault, or maybe it is the fault of the man he left in charge (long stare at HOOK), but they will remind the roster who they are. Maybe they need to change the Opps, or maybe they need to change the nature of the beast.

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

What happens when the Beast meets the Mad Russian?

Ilja Dragunov vs. The Beast Mortos

The bell rings as the fans are behind Dragunov. Stare down before we get a lock-up. Chops from Ilja, but Mortos eats them and throws Dragunov away. Side-headlock from Dragunov, who takes Mortos to the mat. Back to their feet and a crap ton of strikes are traded. Dragunov takes a run at Mortos, but FRANK comes back with a big shoulder tackle. Mortos sets up the Pop-up Samoan Drop for a two. Dragunov doesn’t die and he fires back with a BIG flying lariat. Ilja to the top and hits Mortos with a Shotgun Dropkick! The Dragon is feeling it as we hit the break!

Dragunov has Mortos sitting on the second turnbuckle when we return. Ilja brings Mortos out of the corner and hits a German! Dragunov tries another one, it’s a little bit of a struggle, but Dragunov hits it! ONE MORE TIME implore the fans, Ilja looks for a third one, but Mortos headbutts his way free. FRANK runs into the jumping stomp from Dragunov, which gets him a two! Ilja to the top and hits the back senton for a two. Dragunov loads up the fist and looks for the D-Bomb, but Mortos kicks him away. FRANK spins him into a backbreaker and a discus lariat for a two. Dragunov looks to fight back, but Mortos stops that. Strikes from Mortos, strikes from Dragunov. Ilja fights back with chops, but he spins right into a headbutt from FRANK! Mortos puts Dragunov on the top rope, but Ilja escapes. Mortos holds on for dear life, but Dragunov Powerbombs him to the mat anyway. Torpedo Moscow followed by the D-Bomb, and Ilja wins it!
WINNER:Ilja Dragunov
TIME: 10:45
THOUGHTS: Mortos was great here, but Dragunov wasn’t losing. Both men left absolutely nothing to chance with their strikes and shots.
RATING: ***1/2

Post-match, Tommaso Ciampa appears on the ramp. He mockingly claps for Dragunov, who yells at him and calls him a Jackass lol.

Back to Dynamite, where we see Nick Wayne got Jericho to apologize after Wayne beat him for a second time. Nick Wayne goes into full-on influencer mode, including telling a bunch of people that he defeated Jericho twice. Somehow, I don’t think some of these people give a shit lol.

Low-key possible BRISCOE incoming!

Darius Martin vs. Speedball Mike Bailey

Show of respect before the bell between both men. Early reversals ensue, Martin with a cravat and a dropkick through the ropes. Darius off the ropes with an arm drag and he grounds Bailey. Speedball back to his feet, cartwheel, leapfrog, and a straight up kick to the chest of Martin. Bailey interpolates chops and kicks in the corner, but Martin stumbles forward and hits a Christian Cage-like uppercut. Martin off the ropes, Bailey avoids and hits a snap Rana. Martin to the floor, and here comes Bailey with a crossbody block. He goes to kick Martin, but he moves and he almost kicks Christopher Daniels. Bailey backs off and sends Martin into the ring. Daniels gets on the apron when Bailey does, which distracts Speedball and allows Martin to hit a dropkick to Bailey. Martin with mounted punches on the floor as CD has to back him off as we hit the break.

Martin and Bailey are trading on the top rope as we return. Mike sends Darius to the mat and hits a missile dropkick. Kicks and a standing Shooting Star Press get Speedball a two. Time and Adventure, no, Martin with strikes. Martin fires off Bailey and hits the Spanish Fly for a two. Submission attempt from Martin, but Speedball sits back into the pin for a two. Bailey sends Martin to the floor, where he hits him with a Triangle Moonsault! Bailey returns Martin to the ring, but he misses his top rope stomp. Martin grabs ahold and rolls up Bailey for a two. Sunset Flip from Speedball into the straitjacket and he wins it!
WINNER: Speedball Mike Bailey
TIME: 9:00
THOUGHTS: This match delivered the goods and also showed a possible heel turn incoming from Darius Martin as he was on the edge of going bad a couple of times. Speedball winning is always a treat.
RATING: ***1/2

Yabba Dabba Do, Megan Bayne!

Divine Dominion vs. Niki XS and Leela Fiest

I became a fan of Niki XS last year at the GCW collective in Las Vegas, but I don’t think there is a chance her and the other girl survive this beating. Megan and Lena beat up their opponents all over the floor to YABBA DABBA DO chants. In the ring, and Kross beats up on Fiest. Bayne with a big boot. Divine Intervention, but Niki saves Leela from getting dropped. She gets knocked out, and Feist eats the Divine Intervention, and this one is in the book.
WINNERS: Flintstones and Hot Goths
TIME: 120 seconds of Divine Domination
THOUGHTS: As if there was a doubt in the World. At least it’s fun to watch Megan and Lena wreck shit!
RATING: Beatings are Divine!

The Good girls are in the back for a promo. Willow says that they are going to kick some ass at Blood and Guts along with the Brawling Birds. Kris says that, again, they aren’t here, but Willow says trust her they will be there. Harley hypes up the team and wants to know if they are ready. Aminata says Blood and Guts will be no time for fun and games because their heads will come off!

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Adam Priest

Takeshita uses his height and reach advantage to take it to Priest early. Big shoulder tackle sends Adam to the floor, where Takeshita hits a slingshot crossbody block. Back in the ring, but Takeshita misses a corner charge. Priest with chops, Takeshita is back with forearms, but Priest with a dropkick that sends Konosuke to the floor. Crash Holly’s distant relative hits the floor and lays in strikes. He sends Takeshita to the barricade, Konosuke throws on the breaks and clotheslines Priest. Takeshita with a DDT on the floor as we hit the break.

Priest with headbutts and a Dragon Screw to Takeshita as we return. Takeshita’s leg is exposed, and Priest hits a dropkick to it. Priest flies from the top with a Tornado DDT for a two. Priest runs into the Blue Thunder Bomb for a two. Takeshita lines up Priest, but Adam with a chop block into a half-crab. Priest goes back to the knee of Takeshita, but Konosuke practices the Cranium Crush to escape. Another jackknife pin from Priest for a two. Strike from Priest, but one from Konosuke floors him. Takeshita misses the rolling elbow strike but connects on the Knee Strike. Discus Lariat proper into the Raging Fire, and Konosuke takes it!
WINNER: Konosuke Takeshita
TIME: 8:20
THOUGHTS: I know we are trying to book Priest as this plucky underdog that will eventually get a big win on Collision but going nearly eight and a half with Takeshita wasn’t it. Konosuke looked good, but this could have been done in roughly half the time.
RATING: ***

All Thekla sees is BITCHES, BITCHES, AND MORE BITCHES! But she also knows who the real ones are. Persephone says you took my title Aminata, but I will get my baby back. Skye says you remember what she did last year, she made women scream in pain. Julia says there will be no way out. Lena says with Megan they are going to wreak havoc. Thekla says you can hold hands all you want to, but it will be two rings, one cage, three words…DIE, BITCHES, DIE! Love it!

BREAK IN PROGRESS!

Video package highlighting Mercedes Mone being challenged by Marina Shafir for her Women’s World Title. I know Shafir gets crap for her in-ring work, but Mone is one of the absolute best in the World, so it should be good.

It’s time for the MAIN EVENT!

The Cut vs. The Conglomeration
Roddy and Juice are in the ring, but everyone else gets in the ring. Bryce is distracted by Cassidy and O’Reilly, which leads to Strong getting ganged up on by the Guns. Turnabout is fair play, as Cassidy and O’Reilly hold Robinson in place for a triple team attack. Robinson gets his head turned into a punching bag by every member of the Conglomeration in the corner. Cassidy looks to remove his elbow pad, but Robinson tags in Colten Gunn. Colten runs in but he runs into the corner and then runs into buzzsaw kicks from O’Reilly. Triple Team Suplex by the guys who conglomerate! Cassidy charges Austin to the corner, O’Reilly in with kicks and he sits Austin in the ropes. Austin is treated like a seesaw by all three guys. Colten is in, but O’Reilly kicks him square in the head. Robinson is in, and he powers O’Reilly to the Cut corner. He stomps out Kyle and screams at the fans we hit our last break.

The Gunns try to keep O’Reilly from tagging out as we return. Austin and Colten roll in front of O’Reilly and they go high-low on O’Reilly for a two. Colten with strikes, but O’Reilly hits a knee lift to drop him. Kyle looking to tag, but Juice and Austin confront Roddy and Cassidy. They fight it out as O’Reilly sees no one in his corner. Cassidy and Strong are back, but this time Austin and Juice pull Strong and Cassidy off the apron. Colten and Austin charge O’Reilly in the corner, but O’Reilly sends them both to the floor. O’Reilly with a leaping kick to Robinson and Cassidy gets the tag. Colten cuts off Cassidy from entering, but Strong goes HAM on everyone. Cassidy rolls up Austin for a two and launches into a Tope onto Colten. Cassidy to the middle rope and he crowns the Cut with a springboard Senton!

Back in the ring, Strong gets the tag, but everyone is fighting in the ring anyway. Strong picks up Cassidy and Gorilla Presses him into Austin. He barricades him into Robinson and throws him into a DDT on Austin. Colten is back, and both Strong and Austin hit stereo lariats. Robinson and O’Reilly are legal now. Jabs from Juice, but O’Reilly picks the ankle and applies the hold. Clark Connors and David Finlay are here, but Strong and Cassidy attack them. Ace Austin is on the apron, and he distracts Bryce while Robinson taps out! O’Reilly lets go and kicks Austin off the apron, which allows Jay White to slide brass knuckles to Juice. Robinson with a brass knuckle sammich to O’Reilly and that’s game.
WINNERS: The Cut
TIME: 12:50
THOUGHTS: I really would have preferred another match in the main event, which apparently wasn’t even the main event during Collision taping. You knew the Conglomeration had no chance of winning this match, and it labored in spots. Not bad, but not that great either.
RATING: ***1/4

Post-match, the seven-on-three beatdown is on while the commentators wonder where the Death Riders are. White tells Cassidy to stay out of their business because he is trying to make this a better place for everyone. The Cut stack up the Conglomeration and pose over them, while Juice pees on them like a dog. And with that, we are done!

7.0

The final score: review Good

The 411

This was a show that, at times, felt less like Collision and more like Rampage, albeit an episode of Rampage on steroids. Some of the matches here gave that Rampage vibe, while other matches were good but never hit the next gear in terms of importance. You won't miss too much if you didn't see this episode, but a rewatch can be a nice experience for the Artist of Stardom Titles match and Dragunov-Mortos.