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Join 411’s Live AEW Collision Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Good evening, folks! We’re in the midst of ‘dark days’ in AEW land, with the new and improved Blackpool Combat Club running rampant all week, ever since that bleak ending to WrestleDream last Saturday. As long as they don’t rush things and let this storyline breathe, we could be looking at a tremendously engaging throughline over the coming months, and I’m totally here for it. The BCC will be in action tonight, defending the World Trios Titles against Top Flight, who have also shown a new lease of life lately with some proper fire and aggression. Elsewhere, Richochet’s Open Challenge has been met by AR Fox who hasn’t been on AEW TV in a minute, and a great-looking tag team contest between the Outrunners and LFI’s RUSH & Mortos. Sounds good to me, let’s get this show on the road!
Location: Stockton, CA
Venue: Adventist Health Arena
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*As Collision goes on the air, we hear from Jon Moxley in a backstage promo. Moxley says nothing has changed since he got here. He says the AEW championship is supposed to mean something, but it’s everything he hates about this sport. Tonight, they give Top Flight a gift. They think they can ride an elevator up to the top of the mountain? The BCC IS the mountain. Moxley says their enemies are weak in spirit. And it will be their public execution tonight.
*Ricochet makes his way to the ring for our opening contest.
Ricochet vs AR Fox
Ricochet sweeps the legs of Fox and gets an early pin attempt, Fox rolls him up for one of his own. Ricochet gets a tijeras, kips up straight into a dropkick, and follows up with a tope suicida as Fox spills to the outside. Back in the ring, springboard forearm and a standing SSP gets 2, with Ricochet firmly in control.
Ricochet misses a splash in the corner, Fox rolls through and hits a spinning Fisherman’s buster. Running dive over the top rope takes out Ricochet on the floor! To the apron, AR Fox nails a rebound step-up moonsault off the ringpost to Ricochet on the floor. They make their way back into the ring, running elbow in the corner from Fox, followed by a running boot. Fox says he’s the best as he goes for the cover and gets 2. Clubbing blows to the back, but Ricochet fights back with some strikes, only to get DDT’d for a 2 count. Fox sits Ricochet on a chair at ringside, takes a run up around the ring but Ricochet cuts him off with a clothesline. Ricochet goes for a run around the ring too, but this time Fox appears from nowhere with a suicide dive to cut him off too.
Both men to the top rope, Ricochet with a spinning neckbreaker off the top! Both men are down as Ricochet is unable to make the cover. Fox nails a gamengiri on the apron, rebound DDT off the middle rope and a package powerbomb for 1, 2, no. Fox tries to get Ricochet on his shoulders, can’t get it. Misses an enziguri too, allowing Ricochet to capitalize and flip into a standing switch in order to deliver a huge German suplex! 1, 2, no. Ricochet positions Fox on the mat, climbs the ropes, SSP misses. Lo Mein Pain, 450 Splash from Fox! 1, 2, NO!
Fox looks for the Darkness buster, Ricochet avoids it. Thrust kick and a half-nelson suplex connects for Ricochet, followed by a rising knee strike and the axe kick to the back of the head. Vertigo! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Ricochet
Time: 12:16
Rating: ***1/4 – Good high-flying action from these two as you would surely expect. It perhaps suffers from the complaint that for someone who is trying to get himself over as the best in the world, should it take 12 minutes against a guy we haven’t seen on AEW TV in quite some time, regardless of his pedigree? Still, they played off of their history well, and the action was fast and fun.
Ricochet takes the mic and says he came here because this is where the best come to wrestle. He has yet to be pinned or submitted in this ring, but there is one man who keeps putting his nose in his business. Takeshita may be champion wherever he goes, but Ricochet will be waiting to kick is ass. No matter who has his back, Ricochet will continue to knock down opponent after opponent until he gets Takeshita in this ring and becomes the new International champion.
*Daniel Garcia is backstage with Private Party, and they will relieve the Young Bucks of their titles. The Bucks are cowards. Zay says AEW changed his life, changed his family’s life, so he will defend it to the end. Quen says first they have business tonight.
Harley Cameron vs Kris Statlander
Statlander gets taken off her feet by Cameron, but works out of a pinning combination. Statlander tries a powerbomb, Cameron rolls through for 2. Tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Statlander who is frustrated now. Scoop slam connects, followed by a stalling vertical suplex. Clothesline in the corner, misses a splash in the opposite corner, and Cameron clubs away at Stat on the apron. Axe kick, spinning DDT gets a 1 count for Cameron. Right forearms by Cameron, kick to the midsection, misses an enziguri and Statlander hits a release German suplex. Running uppercut and a rising knee in the corner, followed by the Staturday Night Fever, discus lariat, and the one-legged tombstone to pick up the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Kris Statlander
Time: 3:57
Rating: N/R – Cameron had a couple of fumbles in the early goings and didn’t look her best here, but Statlander was a powerhouse and steamrolled through her.
Statlander says she is never worried about testing herself. But one woman has been a real pain in her ass, so she’s calling out Kamille! As for Mercedes, she’ll make sure she has a front row seat. Damn, Stat vs Kamille should be awesome.
Daniel Garcia & Private Party vs Premier Athletes
Haha Private Party get Tony Schiavone to flex and dance during their entrance. I’ll say it, Mark Sterling’s ‘Athletes Rule/Suck’ thing has outstayed its welcome already. We get Nese and Zay beginning this one, but Ariya attacks Zay from behind for an early cheap shot. Zay springboards off the middle rope for a quick cutter on Woods, and then hits a diving arm drag/headscissor combo to Nese and Daivari. Quen in for a double stomp on Woods. Private Party double team Nese with some Poetry in Motion. Zay heads up top and Stokely Hathaway appears on the ramp, applauding their efforts. That causes a distraction though, and the Athletes beat down Zay on the floor as we head to PIP.
Woods keeps control of Isaiah in the Premier Athletes’ corner, and delivers a backbreaker across the knee as TrillerTV goes to commercial. The taped shows always have really weird commercial placement on Triller for some reason. When we come back, Zay hits a spin kick on Woods to escape his offense, and he finally makes the tag to Garcia! Garcia takes on all three men, stomping away on Woods, then Nese, and then Daivari in quick succession. German suplex to Daivari, one to Nese, one to Woods, no Woods blocks it…until he gets rebounded off the ropes, and falls backwards into the German. Twist & Shout from Garcia gets a 2. He grabs the legs of Woods, looking for the sharpshooter, but Daivari is in to break it up. Meanwhile, Silly String to Nese, and Private Party take out Daivari and Nese with stereo dives to the outside. Garcia looks for a piledriver, Sterling on the apron to distract though.
John Woo dropkick from Garcia, tag to Quen, who delivers the Gin & Juice for the 1, 2, 3 on Josh Woods.
Winners: Private Party & Daniel Garcia
Time: 9:46
Rating: **3/4 – Perennial job squad the Premier Athletes did their shtick, but this was a vehicle for solidifying the bond between Garcia and Private Party. Fine for what it was.
*Jake Roberts narrates a hype video for LFI. “Rules and bones were made to be broken.” Nice. Rush reminds us that if you mess with the bull, TCHUGETTHEHORNNNNSSSSS.
Orange Cassidy vs Bulk Bronson (w/ Iron Savages)
Jacked Jameson keeps talking trash on the mic as the bell rings, so Cassidy smacks him with the Orange Punch. An Orange Punch connects with Bulk too, followed by the Beach Break… 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Time: 24 seconds
Rating: N/R – An OC squash match! Not sure what the point was, but it got a pop from the crowd.
Jamie Hayter vs Brooke Havoc
Hayter with a shoulder block knocks Havoc down, and she holds onto the ropes to avoid a dropkick. She stomps Havoc down in the corner, then connects with a big boot. Havoc avoids a suplex and hits a thrust kick, but Hayter powers her up into…yikes, I don’t know what that was, Havoc got planted there. Hayteraid connects for the 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Jamie Hayter
Time: 2:00
Rating: N/R – Don’t you just love back to back squashes?
We see Penelope Ford on the screen, who reminds us that she was partners with Hayter for her last TV match. And she was out for 2 years, and not once did Hayter contact her. Too many people have forgotten who Penelope Ford is, but now she’s back, and she will show what 2 years worth of pain and anger really looks like. She will take everything that Hayter cares about.
*Lexy Nair is with Garcia and Private Party, celebrating their win. Orange Cassidy approaches. Garcia says it’s not about being a tough guy. Cassidy has beaten those guys before, and now it’s time to step up. OC says yeah he has been there before, but every time he steps in the ring with BCC, it changes him. He’s no leader, he’s just not that guy. OC walks off, reluctant in receiving this heroism.
Kyle Fletcher vs Atlantis Jr.
Kyle boots Atlantis in the face before the bell even rings, and stomps him down. Fletcher sends Atlantis into the barricade at ringside a couple of times. Fletcher charges again, but Atlantis catches him with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Crossbody connects as they make their way back in the ring, and Atlantis nails a cutter. Tope con hilo on the outside and Atlantis Jr is cooking here. Spoke too soon, Fletcher with a PK on the apron, and he takes his time, soaking up the boos. A fan chants Ospreay right in his ear, and he fakes out punching the guy haha. Fletcher conducts the crowd as they chant ‘asshole’ and he is really leaning into this new heel persona. Atlantis catches him off-guard with a monkey flip out of the corner, but Fletcher comes right back with a Hidden Blade.
Atlantis to his feet, slaps the chest of Kyle, pop up thrust kick and he clotheslines Fletcher to the floor. Suicide dive from Atlantis Jr. Back in the ring, Atlantis’ mask is ripped up. Missile dropkick from the top gets a 2. Another monkey flip attempt is shrugged off, and Kyle hits a half-nelson suplex to create some space. Fletcher thinks about the Tiger Driver, but Atlantis counters. Fletcher catches him on the apron for a hanging DDT. They both head to the apron now, and Fletcher hits a sheer drop brainbuster on the apron! Another brainbuster connects in the middle of the ring, 1, 2, NO! Atlantis reverses a tombstone, and they keep reversing each other, neither man getting the advantage. Strikes exchanged, monkey flip into a Mexican Destroyer from Atlantis, and now he heads up top. Frog splash, and Atlantis heads to the opposite buckles to go again…went to the well one too many times as Kyle got the knees up. Fletcher takes him to the buckles, TURNBUCKLE BRAINBUSTAHHHH! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
Time: 11:47
Rating: ***1/2 – I like this new version of Kyle Fletcher, he’s really taken on board this new persona, changing up his game, slowing things down and messing with the crowd a lot more. We weren’t really given a reason to care about Atlantis, but this was a heck of a match.
Don Callis joins Fletcher in the ring post-match. He passes the mic to Fletcher, who has something to say. Kyle says he’s ready to talk. He won’t waste his breath here though…he’s ready to talk this coming Wednesday, and everyone better listen, especially Ospreay.
*Recap of Brody King vs Darby Allin at WrestleDream.
House of Black vs Alpha Zo, Chris Nastyy & Olumide
Brody King starts, and no one wants to face him. Nastyy is taken down with a shoulder block immediately, and Olumide tags in…but then tags straight out again. Black in, boot to the face on Olumide. Jumping knee! Matthews takes a run up, slides to the floor, all three opponents slide back inside the ring…and are met by King and Black. Olumide is surrounded by all three HoB guys, and eats a knee on the buckles. King up top, biiiig avalanche superplex, Black meets him with a double stomp off the top and an Asai moonsault ti Zo on the floor. Meteora connects from Matthews, and King hits the canonball along with dropkicks from Matthews and Black for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners: House of Black
Time: 2:49
Rating: N/R – It’s always fun watching the House of Black absolutely decimate a trio, but ANOTHER DAMN SQUASH TONIGHT?! Le sigh.
* Lexy Nair is joined by Thunder Rosa, who confirms she had a concussion, but is now cleared. Harley Cameron enters the shot to complain about how unfair everything is. Rosa clocks her, and while knocked on the floor, Cameron says that Rosa will be the next to feel her wrath.
The Outrunners vs Los Faccion Ingobernables (RUSH & The Beast Mortos w/ Dralistico)
Magnum and Mortos lock up as the bell rings, and Mortos slaps his opponent hard in the corner. Magnum draws a line across the canvas and looks to charge with his own horns. Mortos ducks but he leapfrogs and hits a dropkick. Flying headscissors from Magnum, tag to Floyd, who takes a headbutt from Mortos. Rush in, they exchange strikes, trading momentum. Double elbow from the Outrunners, distraction from Dralistico, allowing Mortos to take a cheap shot on Floyd.
Mortos cuts Magnum off from making the tag as we go to PIP. Dropkick from Rush staggers Magnum into the buckles. Snapmare takeover connects, and Rush stretches the arms back. Mortos tags in again for a quick double team. Mortos with the Leg DDT, and Triller goes to commercial. Back from break, Rush hits the tranquilo pose after a dropkick and hits a powerslam on Magnum. Mortos to the top, twisting senton for 2. Magnum gets a boot up in the corner, only to be sent to the outside. Dralistico tries to chop him, but Magnum ducks and Dralistico chops the ringpost! Magnum back in the ring, staggers over to his corner and makes the tag. Floyd takes on both members of LFI with a series of scoop slams, before scooping up Magnum and dumping him on both men. SUNNABITCH ELBOW connects!
Mortos nails a springboard crossbody to the outside on Magnum. Dralistico in the ring while the referee is distracted, but Floyd takes him out. He tries to suplex Rush, but Dralistico sweeps the legs and holds them there, allowing Rush to fall into a cover for the 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Los Faccion Ingobernables
Time: 9:53
Rating: ***1/4 – Good heat segment on Magnum, and I do appreciate their traditional match structure and pacing. I wanted more, and the ‘cheap’ victory for LFI hopefully means we’ll have more to come.
LFI beat down Floyd and Magnum post-match, until FTR rush down to make the save! FTR get into fisticuffs with LFI and almost get outnumbered, but the Outrunners are back up to help out. LFI hightail it out of the ring and retreat up the ramp.
*We get a video package for Sammy Guevara. He wants to realise his destiny by going up against the best. One of the ‘best’ just debuted this past week, and Sammy wants his shot at him. So this Wednesday on Dynamite, it will be Sammy Guevara vs Shelton Benjamin. Cool.
Looking at the time, this one is likely to spill over into Battle of the Belts. No bad thing.
[AEW World Trios Championship] Claudio Castagnoli, PAC & Wheeler Yuta (c) vs Top Flight & Action Andretti
It’s Andretti and Pac starting us out, with Pac overpowering Andretti to the mat and applying a side headlock. Pac backs him into the ropes, clean break. Arm control from Andretti, springs off the ropes with an arm drag and a dropkick. Tag to Yuta, who immediately shows aggression with quick shots to the head. Andretti tags in Darius, roll up for 2. Dropkick meets Yuta, Castagnoli in with a scoop slam and a European uppercut to take Darius off his feet. Axe handle and a suplex attempt, avoided, Dante tags in now. Dante tries a suplex, but gets wiped out with a lariat. Castagnoli gets dropkicked to the apron, rising knee strike takes him to the floor. Andretti with an Arabian press to take out Pac. Castagnoli catches Dante’s dive though and tosses him into the ringpost!
Pac tags in, hammer throws Dante into the buckles. Yuta in, Fisherman’s suplex with a bridge, 1, 2, no. Claudio stomps away at Dante, before Pac comes in and charges into the corner. Dante avoids the attack, but gets dragged back to the BCC corner. Claudio jabs him in the stomach, attempts to drive a shoulder into the midsection, but Dante dodges and Claudio collides with the ringpost.
Darius and Yuta now, atomic drop to Yuta and an enziguri, followed by a flatliner. Pac is legal now, shotgun dropkick and a suplex by Darius, 450 from Action gets 2. Claudio muscles Andretti up for a biiig powerbomb. Busaiku Knee from Yuta on the outside! Dante to the top, gets shoved by Pac and falls hard on the apron, and then gets tossed into the steel steps by Castagnoli. BCC run the train on Andretti back in the ring, and Pac hits a tombstone piledriver for the easy 1, 2, 3.
Winners and STILL AEW World Trios Champions: Claudio Castagnoli, Pac & Wheeler Yuta
Time: 9:26
Rating: ***1/4 – This was getting pretty good, and then BCC turned it up a notch and won out of nowhere with that flurry of offense. Shame, I wanted more!
Moxley’s music hits, and he joins the rest of the BCC in the ring along with Marina Shafir. Moxley lifts Action Andretti up and smacks him in the mouth. Leyla Grey is taken out by Marina Shafir as BCC continue to beat down Top Flight. And that appears to be it for Collision – enjoy the rest of Battle of the Belts everyone! See you next time.
