Join 411’s Live AEW Collision Coverage

 

It’s THURSDAY and you know what that means! It’s a pre-empted episode of Collision! Taped last night after Dynamite in front of the Winnipeg crowd, tonight’s show looks to continue trucking towards Dynasty next weekend.

We’ll see Anthony Bowens compete in an Eliminator match for a shot at Jon Moxley’s Continental Championship, which feels odd on paper as Bowens has been solidly heel since aligning with The Opps, and Moxley has swung back towards being heel after his tweener phase now that he’s targeting Ospreay. That will no doubt create an unusual atmosphere in their encounter, and I’ll be intrigued to see which direction they take it in.

So what else we got? Tommaso Ciampa is lining up his Banger of the Week tonight against Juice Robinson as he looks to plough through another member of the Bang Bang Gang. Willow Nightingale lays out an Open Challenge for her TBS title, and we’ll see both Divine Dominion and FTR in respective tag team action against unannounced opponents. We’ll also see the big clusterf*ck Tornado 8-man Tag pitting Orange Cassidy, Kevin Knight, Roddy Strong & Mistico against Castagnoli, Yuta, and The Dogs’ Connors and Finlay. Lastly, we get an ‘almost’ rematch from Saturday’s Collision, with the Rascalz once again taking on Mark Davis, this time with Andrade El Idolo subbing in for Kyle Fletcher.

That’s a decent bit of Thursday night action, if you ask me. Let’s go!

Location: Winnipeg, MB

Venue: Canada Life Centre

Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Excalibur & Tony Schiavone

 

*We are LIVE-to-tape with Jon Moxley making his way to the ring for the Eliminator match, which will be our opening contest. Renee Paquette is at ringside, mentioning Bowens feeling the pressure for tonight’s match, as there is no bigger fish than Moxley.

[AEW Continental Championship Eliminator Match] Jon Moxley vs Anthony Bowens

Continental rules for this one, so all are banned from ringside and we have a 20 minute time limit. Pie face from Moxley as the bell rings, treating Bowens like a jobber. He flips him off, and Bowens unloads with right hands. Moxley rakes the back of Bowens, floatover DDT by Bowens in response, and Moxley spills to the floor. Back inside, Bowens gets a front chancery, snapmare and a rollup for 2. 10 count mounted punches in the corner, and now they head to the floor where Moxley tosses Bowens over the barricade. Bowens pulls him out into the crowd as we head to PIP.

We are back with Moxley in control, grounding Bowens with a hammerlock. Moxley works over the shoulder (having whipped him into the steel steps during the break), now looking for a Kimura. Combination strikes from Bowens and a superkick, Moxley goes down. More strikes exchanged, another thrust kick, and Bowens heads up top for a superplex. To their feet, Moxley snaps off a cutter. Looks for Death Rider, countered, spinning assisted DDT from the second rope, 1, 2, no! Rear naked choke, transitions to an armbar but Bowens fights it. He gets the boots on the rope and Moxley has to break it. Back to the outside, Moxley looks for a piledriver but Bowens reverses with a back body drop. Bowens grabs a chair, swings it and hits the ringpost with it. Moxley gets him back in the ring, thinking piledriver again, jackknife from Bowens for 2, Mollywhop! ANOTHER, Moxley goes down. Bowens connects with one more, 1, 2, NO, Moxley kicks out right into a bulldog choke! Bowens to his feet but Moxley still has it hooked in. DEATH RIDER! 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Jon Moxley

Time: 15:06

Rating: *** –  If this was supposed to be Bowens’ attempt at impressing HOOK, I think HOOK will be better off finding someone else to join the Opps. He showed good fire though, so props for the effort. Good finish, I liked Moxley grabbing that choke from the pin attempt.

*Will Ospreay slides into the ring after the bell, HIDDEN BLADE! Ospreay stomps him on the back of the head, and he heads out to grab a chair. The Death Riders show up and pull Moxley to safety as Ospreay swings the chair wildly.

Ospreay grabs the mic. He says it’s hard to take it as if this isn’t personal. Moxley appears to be forgetting something…Ospreay holds up the Continental title. Ospreay says usually Claudio does the chair swinging, but back in August it was Moxley who pulled the trigger. YO WE GOT A C BOMB! Ospreay calls Moxley a C***. Ospreay wants to make one change to their match at Dynasty – he wants no one else at ringside, and he knows he can do a lot of damage in 20 minutes. So Moxley, he’ll leave the title belt for him right here, but at Dynasty, put the Continental title on the line. Tony Khan has already made the decision, and we get the graphic confirming it.

*The Don Callis Family are backstage, and Okada gives Mark Davis a pep talk. Okada calls Fletcher his best friend. Kyle’s injured, where’s Takeshita? Okada says Davis has a better partner than Kyle in Andrade. Tonight Andrade fights for Fletcher.

 

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Divine Dominion vs Ava Lawless & Kristara

Bayne dumps Kristara, tags in Kross who hits a pump kick on Lawless. The champs hit stereo fallaway slams. Corner splashes in both corners, and stereo lariats. Back elbow from Kross, running boots, Bayne in for a German suplex. Kristara takes it to both women, eats a boot and another German! And the Divine Intervention connects for the 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Divine Dominion

Time: 2:26

Rating: N/R – SQUUUUASH. Our tag champs have racked up 5 victories and look to assert themselves as dominant champions before we get our next set of challengers.

*Cameras catch up with Jon Moxley backstage. He’s surprised Ospreay challenged him for the Continental title. It’s the purest form of pro wrestling, you don’t wanna go into that when you’re not 100%…unless he thinks he is 100%? Maybe it’s a bluff. Moxley is all about keeping the sport pure. With the Continental title on the line, expect no mercy. The funny thing is, he doesn’t even have to beat Ospreay…Ospreay’s going to beat himself. Ooooh!

 

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*The Hurt Syndicate are backstage! This is an official announcement from them…do not adjust your sets, they are indeed here! And they are all cleared for action. They feel it is time to add somebody to the ranks because business is about to pick up. Lashley says let’s go hurt some people.

 

[AEW TBS Championship – Open Challenge] Willow Nightingale vs ???

And her opponent answering the challenge…HIKARU SHIDA! Holy Shida, she’s back! Willow looks game for the competition. Nearly 500 days since Shida’s last AEW action. Both women trade shoulder blocks, with Willow getting the advantage until Shida finally knocks her down. Corner lariats from Nightingale, Shida comes back with a running knee and a knee to the back of the head. Body scissors applied by the challenger, Willow comes back with a POUNCE! She follows up with a canonball off the apron, saying “That’s TBS stuff, baby” haha. We head to picture-in-picture.

We’re back with both women on the apron, and Shida thinks about a suplex to the floor. Willow tries to get her on her shoulders, can’t, big kick to the side of the head by the challenger. Shida grabs a chair and sets it up, takes a run up and launches off for an elevated knee strike. Back to the ring, Shida climbs the buckles, METEORA! 1, 2, NO. Shida looks for a suplex, can’t get it, takes a run up and Willow hits a spinebuster. Babe with the Powerbomb attempt, shoulder gives out though! They trade pin attempts, 2 counts all round. Death Valley Driver! Willow covers, 1, 2, NOOO. Willow goes up top, moonsault misses! Running knee by Shida, 1, 2, kickout! Another running knee, 1, 2, NO. Kitana misses, Wilow looks for a rebound lariat, Shida catches it, Willow with a backslide, 1, 2, 3!

Winner and STILL AEW TBS Champion: Willow Nightingale

Time: 9:35

Rating: ***1/4 – Great to see Shida back! The landscape is very different than when she was last active here, and she could provide a great feud for Thekla in the coming months if they want to give us something fresh. Willow throwing out open challenges works well for her character and helps re-cement her as a bonafide singles star. 

*After the match, Shida has her Singapore cane and looks to strike Willow from behind, but thinks twice about it.

 

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*FTR make their way out as they will be in tag team action next. Security head out ahead of them, presumably at the behest of Stokely, with Cope & Cage being on the prowl if Dynamite is anything to go by.

 

FTR vs London Lightning & Mo Jabari

Lightning and Dax begin this one, and Dax gives him a playful slap in the corner. Shoulder block, big clothesline takes Lightning down. Lightning with a slingshot shoulder block to take Dax down! Jabari tags in now, as does Cash, and Jabari tries to take on both men. He manages to kick them away, tag to Lightning who spins around ready for FTR but they are somehow out of it? Lightning goes to pin him, but Dax was playing opossum! SHATTER MACHINE! 1, 2, 3.

Winners: FTR

Time: 2:51

Rating: N/R – Ha, I loved FTR playing games with the jobber team there. Nicely done!

*The music of Christian Cage plays and he heads out, closely followed by Adam Copeland. Security try to get involved but to no avail. Cage with a low blow to Dax, and he bites the head of Cash. Impaler DDT from Cope! Cope grabs a chair, passes it to Cage. CONCHAIRTO, NOOOO Stokely grabs the chair, and Cash dives out of harm’s way.

Security start taking it to Cage and Cope! That didn’t last long though, Killswitch and a Spear takes the security out. And one of the goons eats a Conchairto!

*Backstage, Lexi Nair is with the Love Birds, Mina Shirakawa & the Brawling Birds after Dynamite last night. Windsor says when they brawl, they bloody brawl. Jamie is proud of Windsor for winning the NJPW Strong Women’s champion. In Canada, this feels like the place that people love to brawl. Thekla has a big mouth, and Hayter has beaten her once, so she can do it again. Hayter wants Thekla at Dynasty. Mina says don’t beat her…beat the piss out of her!

 

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Tommaso Ciampa vs Juice Robinson

Side Russian legsweep from Juice is followed by the senton. Ciampa comes back with a jawbreaker, atomic drop in response by Juice. Juice repeatedly smacks the head of Ciampa into the turnbuckle padding, then climbs the buckles for the 10 count mounted punches. Ciampa sweeps the legs on the apron and knocks Juice to the floor, then bites the nose. Running lariat in the ring sends Ciampa to the floor, oooh big crossbody to the outside, Juice FLATTENED Ciampa there! Ciampa spits water into Juice’s face, then sends him into the corner of the announcer’s desk as we head to PIP.

We’re back, with Juice rising up and both men trading jabs. Left Hand of God misses, headbutt drops Ciampa though. Big boot to the face from Ciampa, Robinson comes right back with a spinebuster! Jab, chop, jab, chop as Excalibur namedrops Tenryu. Juice is sent to the apron, kneestrike by Ciampa. Ciampa tries to whip Juice into the barricade, reversed! Canonball against the barricade! Back in the ring, another canonball connects, and Juice hits a stalling jackhammer, 1, 2, NO. Juice up top, misses a crossbody, Ciampa pulls down the kneepad but Juice is waiting for him, leg lariat! Ciampa grabs the ref’s shirt, low blow! Willow’s Bell connects, 1, 2, NOOO Juice kicks out! Ciampa sits him on the top turnbuckle, Juice bites the forehead but it’s not enough…Air Raid Crash attempt is countered, POWERBOMB! 1, 2, NOOO. Ciampa kicks out. Low dropkick from Ciampa, misses a knee strike. Chops from both men, wild chops! LEFT HAND OF GOD. Juice is Loose misses, and Ciampa connects with the knee! ONCE MORE! Cover, 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Tommaso Ciampa

Time: 13:55

Rating: ***1/2 – Juice looked better than he has for a while (not that he’s been bad, this was just a step above his recent efforts) and Ciampa is on an absolute roll. Great TV match, back and forth action, both guys getting in their shtick. Delightful!

*Isaiah Kassidy is backstage, saying all he hears is about change. It’s time for them to change. Last weekend, Moxley took out Kassidy’s boy and now he’s all alone. Swimming with sharks, he’s been drowning his whole life. He didn’t come this far to come this far. He’s starving for opportunity. Bit of a 2K-esque “CAW promo” but sure, let’s see what Brother Zay can do on his own.

 

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*Darby Allin says he has to beat Andrade. This is the best Andrade has ever been. Allin knows he can get a World title shot if he can beat him. Jack Perry and Brody King show up to give him a pep talk. King says Allin put him in a coffin. Perry reminds Allin that he set him on fire! But they all hate the Don Callis Family and they can all co-exist for one night. Dynamite? Cool. Perry looks to the camera, still reflecting on Darby setting him on fire.

 

Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis vs The Rascalz

Don Callis joins commentary for this match. Davis and Andrade attack the Rascalz as they pose on the buckles, knocking them to the outside. They head to the floor to continue the pre-match assault, dumping both Rascalz on the barricade and the apron. The Rascalz are rolled into the ring, but they superkick Davis off the apron and hit stereo suicide dives! Peter Rosenberg is LIVID! Davis and Xavier enter the ring and the bell finally rings.

Kick to the back, Wentz in but Davis cartwheels away. Combination strikes from the Rascalz, Xavier back in, rolling upkick, but a body slam and a senton from Davis connects. Andrade in, takes Xavier off the apron. Xavier back in, goes for a dive, and Andrade catches him with a big forearm. Andrade finds a blonde at ringside and kisses her hand before turning back to Xavier as we go to commercial.

We’re back, with Xavier snatching a quick cradle for 2. Don Callis calls Davis and Idolo ‘Vicious and Delicious’ and I kinda hope that sticks. Spin kick from Xavier misses, and Andrade meets him with a big boot. Andrade slaps the thighs, looking for the knees in the corner, but Xavier comes out of the corner in desperation with a thrust kick. Tags to Davis and Wentz, Wentz unloads with kicks and an enziguri. Davis powers him up, no, handspring kick from Wentz. More thrust kicks! Tornillo off the middle rope, 1, 2, Davis kicks out! Callis has taken his headset off now. Davis is looking for his piledriver variation, Wentz counters. Andrade and Xavier in, double stomp by Wentz, and the Rascalz both take it to Davis with dualling superkicks. HOT FIRE FLAME but the knees are up! Spinning Back elbow from Andrade on Xavier. Davis hits the CLOSE YOUR EYES AND COUNT TO 3! Andrade back in to deliver the DM, covers, 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Andrade El Idolo & Mark Davis

Time: 10:46

Rating: ***1/4 – I think we missed some good action during the PIP commercial which was a shame as they were firing on all cylinders from the get-go. Davis is low-key building up a portfolio of cracking matches week in, week out at the moment. Bit of an unsung hero, although people are starting to catch on to how good he is.

*Andrade and Davis head backstage as the coin drops and Kazuchika Okada heads out with RPG Vice. They stomp down the Rascalz, and Okada rolls his sleeves up. He looks for the Rainmaker but here’s Myron Reed to help out. Reed with a cutter to Beretta and he cleans the ring. TOPE CON HILO wipes them all out! All three members of the Rascalz stand tall and I’d say that’ll be a nice trios match this coming Wednesday.

 

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*David Finlay kicks over a member of the production team as the Dogs make their way out for the main event.

 

[8-man Tornado Tag Team Match] Orange Cassidy, Kevin Knight, Roderick Strong, & Mistico vs Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Clark Connors, & David Finlay

The Dogs interrupt Mistico and Knight’s entrance, and they all start brawling on the floor. Castagnoli and Mistico head into the ring, with Claudio diging his fingers into the mask, trying to rip open the eye sockets. Springboard crossbody is caught, Claudio muscles him up but Mistico escapes. Tijeras! Oh we see it’s Willow Nightingale vs the returning Queen Aminata on Dynamite this coming week! Awesome. Plus Chris Jericho talks about his return.

Yuta and Claudio stomp down Mistico, back elbows and a double elbow drop. Knight catches them off-guard with a double crossbody, and Knight elevates Mistico into a big time tijeras. Standing splash from Knight, cover, 1, 2, no. We go to our final PIP break of the night.

We’re back, and the Death Riders/Dogs quartet are ruling the roost. Orange gets squashed in the corner with multiple splashes and clotheslines but he fights back! OC sends Castagnoli into the ringpost but he eats a spear from Connors, 1, 2, no. Finlay gets hit with the Stundog Millionaire, and now Strong uses OC as a battering ram. He tosses him as a lawn dart, and OC nails Finlay with a tornado DDT! Knight is launched into the air but comes down with a dropkick, and Mistico hits another tijeras. Deja Vu tijeras to Castagnoli too. Mistico springs to the top rope, hurracanrana to the floor! Yuta sends Mistico into the ring, eats a tijeras. Superkick! Finlay in, roaring elbow. Strong with a backbreaker. Powerslam to Strong! OC with the Beach Break, no, rolls through. Upeprcut from Claudio. Knight with a crossbody, 1, 2, no. The Dogs stomp Knight down, connect with the floatover Dominator. Spear! Uppercut/sunset flip combo from Castagnoli and Yuta, Roddy makes the save. OC and Strong get stereo Strongholds, Mistico adds one too! Claudio kicks him away, kicks Strong too but Strong holds on. Olympic Slam is countered, Orange Punch allows Strong to get it though! Strong gets caught in the ropes on a dropkick attempt, and we see Finlay and OC brawl to the back. Strong and Connors head backstage too, leaving the Death Riders against Mistico and Knight. Sunset flipbomb from Mistico, 1, 2, no. My feed is dying here! La Mistica countered, Yuta helps muscle him up for Claudio to deliver the Giant Swing. Yuta with the seatbelt, 1, 2, no. Claudio launches Yuta for a splash, Mistico rolls away. La Mistica! Knight with the UFO Splash and Yuta takes the fall, 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Mistico, Kevin Knight, Orange Cassidy & Roderick Strong

Time: Roughly 14mins, feed issues.

Rating: ***1/4 – Chaotic energy from the opening bell, and the spots are a lot of fun but I don’t think we gained much from this one. The Dogs didn’t take the fall but they’re still on the losing side, and they have basically done next to nothing noteworthy since debuting. A little feud with the Conglomeration might work though as they can hopefully pick up some meaningful wins. Claudio/Mistico was the meat of this one, and I can copy & paste my usual comments about Claudio being a beast when paired with a luchador. 

That’s all for tonight’s broadcast folks – I’ll be back this Saturday for 411’s live coverage of NXT Stand & Deliver. See you then!