Join 411’s Live AEW Collision Coverage

 

Welcome, one and all, to 411’s live coverage of AEW Collision! The majority of tonight’s card was setup during last night’s broadcast of ROH Supercard of Honor (and I’m sure we all have some mixed feelings about an ROH PPV being used to setup a random episode of Collision…) with some notable matches on tap.

Shane Taylor Promotions lost their ROH Six-man titles last night to Dalton Castle & The Outrunners, but they’ll be looking to get into contention for the AEW Trios titles tonight, as they take on The Conglomeration in a Trios title Eliminator match.

Red Velvet stepped up to answer Willow Nightingale’s Open Challenge, so we’ll see the ROH Women’s TV champion take on the TBS Champion tonight, with Willow’s title on the line. This is Velvet’s ‘comeback’ to AEW so Willow presumably gets to continue her ‘Comeback Killer’ streak.

Last but not least, Darby Allin’s insane schedule rolls on with ANOTHER World title defense, this time against fellow original ‘four pillar’ of AEW, Sammy Guevara. Sammy has been predominantly in ROH purgatory but he’ll be jumping straight into the title scene here after calling out Allin last night.

With all that and more in store for us, let’s head to ringside as Collision begins shortly!

Location: Salisbury, MD

Venue: Wicomico Civic Center

Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone

 

*Collision is LIVE from the same arena that hosted Supercard of Honor last night, and Tony Schiavone immediately calls it Dynamite.

*Jon Moxley speaks after Dynamite this past week, and says every time he steps in the ring with Kyle O’Reilly, he can’t find a way to win. Kyle has tapped him out, twice. So you might think O’Reilly will be the new Continental Champion. But the Jon Moxley of 6 months ago is not the same Moxley that stands before you today. No doubt, Kyle has his number. But for Moxley, the dragons he wants to slay come right to his door. And he will find a way.

Claudio Castagnoli addresses Brody King, who always brings the bark. If he steps in the ring with Claudio, King better bring the bite,

Pac says nobody gets special treatment. Death Riders against the world.

Marina Shafir – “Bring it, you pussies.”

*Kyle O’Reilly heads out to the ring, closely followed by his Conglomeration compadres.

 

[AEW World Trios Championship Eliminator Match] The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Roderick Strong & Orange Cassidy) vs. Shane Taylor Promotions (Lee Moriarty & The Infantry w/ Shane Taylor)

Bravo takes it to Briscoe as we begin. Throat thrust from Briscoe as we get a lil Redneck Kung Fu. O’Reilly tags in, as does Moriarty to bring a little technical flavor to the proceedings. Sunset flip attempt from Moriarty, O’Reilly counters and looks for an ankle lock but Moriarty gets out of that one. Mounted punches in the corner, Briscoe tags in for more mounted punches. And here’s Orange Cassidy for one single punch. Shawn Dean tags in, demanding OC puts his hands in his pockets. Cassidy obliges, arm drag ensues, no-hands monkey flip, Bravo gets involved and Orange heads up top for a splash but Moriarty crotches him. Right hand by Bravo, sets OC up for a slingshot spear by Dean. Shane Taylor up on the apron to drop an apron leg drop while the referee is distracted, and we head to commercial.

We’re back, with OC down in the corner as Dean comes in with a Bronco Buster. OC comes back with a tornado DDT, Bravo tries to pull him back, Moriarty comes in to take Briscoe off the apron. Abdominal stretch applied to Cassidy, and STP form a chain to apply added pressure until the ref sees it. Cassidy makes the tag to O’Reilly, knee strikes to Moriarty. Arm ringer, cravate and more knee strikes. Penalty kick, cover, 1, 2, no. Arm breaker slapped on, but the Infantry are there to break it up. Reverse 3D from the Infantry! O’Reilly comes back with more knee strikes, and everyone’s down. Tag to Briscoe! Briscoe unloads with jabs on Moriarty, flying forearm! Enziguri to Dean. Jay Driller attempt on Bravo is reversed. Briscoe shoves him to the floor, and he grabs a chair. OC with a suicide dive, and Briscoe follows up with the a tope attempt but no, Taylor up on the apron, Orange Punch though! Briscoe hits the chair assisted tope! Dean is shoved back in the ring, FROGGY BOW! JAY DRILLER! 1, 2, 3!

Winners: The Conglomeration

Time: 13:33

Rating: *** – Simple fun with STP getting to control a little chunk, leading to the big hot tag for Briscoe to get the ‘semi-hometown’ pop and run wild. Crowd seems a lot more switched on than last night so that bodes well.

*Will Ospreay speaks after Dynamite, and he knows it’s going to be tough against Samoa Joe. 6 months of his life got taken away from him, 6 months of frustration and anger. And then at Dynasty, he lost. He’s annoyed he didn’t get revenge on Jon Moxley, but he’s more upset he can’t be the guy AEW put their trust in. There’s nothing he can say that will make people understand that Moxley is the ace. The people that stand opposite him get elevated, so he might as well have him in his corner. No one is stopping Ospreay winning the Owen. The man that took away his old life has given him a second chance at capturing the World championship.

 

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*Lexy Nair speaks to The Conglomeration backstage. O’Reilly says yeah maybe he does have Moxley’s number but he knows it will be a huge test this Wednesday. Briscoe hasn’t heard a word from Ciampa, maybe Ciampa’s scared. OC says maybe Willow should say something. Willow says she’s coming for the Owen, and she might come for the World title too. But first she’s got Red Velvet to get through. Lexy tells her that match is happening right now, so Willow rushes off to the ring.

*Red Velvet backstage says she’s still salty about not being in the Owen Hart Tournament when Willow is. Basically a repeat of Velvet’s promo last night at Supercard of Honor.

[AEW TBS Championship] Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Red Velvet

Velvet trips Willow and drops a leg drop on the outstretched arm, Willow rolls her up for a 2 count though. Willow extends the hand as she appreciates the hustle, Velvet tries to take advantage but Willow with a shoulder block. Leg lariat by Velvet, body blows in the corner. And she chokes the TBS champ out with her boot. Corner clotheslines as Nightingale turns the tables. Senton from Nightingale misses but the Fisherman’s suplex doesn’t, low bridge pin, 1, 2, no. Velvet barely connects with a standing moonsault, and they head out onto the floor. Velvet thinks about a suplex, but it’s Nightingale who muscles her up and delivers the suplex on the floor instead.

Willow mocks the Stir It Up gesture, and performs an airplan spin to really stir it up! Cover, 1, 2, no. Willow applies a body scissors, Velvet rolls through into a quick cover for 2. Snap suplex from Nightingale, 1, 2, no. They head to the apron, Willow possibly looking for a DVD but Velvet counters. Nightingale launches off the apron for a canonball but Velvet dodges and Willow splats on the floor. Back in the ring, kick to the jaw and a cover gets Velvet a 2 count. DDT! Willow is prone on the ropes…Meteora to the back of the head! Cazadora into the bulldog, 1, 2, NO. Velvet runs the ropes but runs right into a spinebuster, 1, 2, NO. Oklahoma Stampede attempt but Velvet counters into another DDT. Velvet looks for Stir It Up but Willow counters. Babe with the Powerbomb is countered by Velvet with a hurracanrana, bit of miscommunication here, another Meteora against the ropes. They trade strikes now, Willow with a lariat and she seems to be favoring her shoulder here. To the middle rope, Velvet goes up with her, cazadora off the middle rope. Spin kick! 1, 2, Willow barely gets the shoulder up. They’re up, POUNCE by Willow! Her arm is not looking good. Babe with the Powerbomb connects, 1, 2, 3!

Winner and STILL AEW TBS Champion: Willow Nightingale

Time: 13:01

Rating: *** – Velvet didn’t seem in danger of winning for much of this, and the nearfalls she had towards the end didn’t quite hit as they had a little bit of awkwardness there. A few decent moments though, and Willow is proving to be a dominant champion. Willow’s shoulder is a concern as she was holding it close to her body by the end of the match, hope it’s nothing serious.

 

*Sammy Guevara tells Lexy Nair to zip it. He’s beaten Darby Allin 4 times before, so he’s going to beat Darby again tonight and stamp his ticket to Double or Nothing, and HE’LL be the one to shave MJF bald. Sammy says he’s the best this planet has, he’s been here since Day One, and there’s only one way this goes. Darby’s time is up, and Sammy’s time is now.

*We get a brief look at Jay Lethal’s early days in ROH as Samoa Joe’s protege. Lethal Twist vs The Opps is up next!

 

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*Lexy Nair asks Darby Allin about facing Sammy Guevara. Allin says he was hoping to see MJF tonight but of course MJF wouldn’t be on Collision, he’s not a company guy. People ask why Allin would put the title on the line against Sammy tonight, and Allin says it’s because he loves this.

*We cut to elsewhere in the back, where Tommaso Ciampa is choking out Mark Briscoe with a pipe! They head out to ringside, and Briscoe turns the tables, whipping Ciampa into the barricade. Briscoe nails a tope con hilo through the ropes, tosses a few chairs in the ring, then whips Ciampa into the steps. In the ring, Briscoe places two chairs on top of each other, signals for the Jay Driller, but Ciampa puts the brakes on and LOW BLOWS Briscoe. Ciampa with a chair shot to the back! He chokes Briscoe out with the edge of the chair, sits him on the top buckle, and he might be looking for that Psycho Driller on the chairs again here. Ciampa sits up two chairs and climbs up alongside Briscoe. But wait, here come the Conglomeration! O’Reilly and Cassidy run Ciampa off into the crowd as Briscoe grabs a mic.

Briscoe says Ciampa ain’t nothing but a punk. So next week on Dynamite, they have to make it Anything Goes, No Disqualification!

*Swerve Strickland returns this Wednesday.

 

Samoa Joe & Anthony Bowens vs. Lethal Twist (Lee Johnson & Jay Lethal w/ Blake Christian)

Reminder for anyone who needs it to go check out Blake Christian vs Bandido from SCOH last night! It’s Lethal and Joe to start out, and Lethal is already strutting. Joe with the jabs drops Lethal, face wash in the corner. Goes for the running face wash but Lethal escapes to the outside. Bowens tags in, as does Johnson. Shoulder block from Bowens, headlock takedown from Johnson. Bowens avoids a moonsault and Johnson flips him off. Bowens starts stomping away at him in the corner and Johnson rolls to the outside for a breather. Bowens heads out after him, Lethal tries to get involved and Bowens repeatedly drives Lethal into the apron. Joe loves it! Back in the ring, Joe tags in, Bowens with a neck vice Russian leg sweep, leaving Johnson lying for a Joe senton. Johnson with a hotshot over the top rope to choke Joe out, and he brings Joe over to the Lethal Twist corner as we get a few quick tags and cheap shots.

Lethal chokes out Joe on the mat and screams in his face that he hates him. Sleeper applied, Johnson tags in but Joe boots him away. Enziguri/dragon screw combo on Joe, and Lee covers for a 2 count. Axe handle from Lethal, jabs get shrugged off, and Joe hits a powerslam to create an opening. Bowens in, taking on both opponents. Neckbreaker, Fameasser to Lethal. Grandslam! Lethal with a suicide dive to Joe on the outside. Bowens with a superkick to Johnson, Johnson rolls him up on an Acclaimed attempt, 1, 2 , no. King’s Elbow by Lethal, 1, 2, no. Boot in the corner from Johnson, Joe blocks another shot. Lethal with a lariat attempt but Joe screams in his face. Figure Four attempt, no Kokina Clutch by Joe! And Bowens locks in an elevated armbar and Johnson taps!

Winners: Samoa Joe & Anthony Bowens

Time: 11:45

Rating: *** – Bowens looked good here and seems to have changed up his game a little. They probably could/should have got it done quicker but the action was decent. The heel/face dynamic was a little odd as the fans wanted to cheer for Joe and by proxy Bowens, but then the post-match promos did not have that flavor.

*Bowens grabs the mic and says for the last year he’s been confused but now he’s found solace that he’s found men that understand everything he does for AEW. He represents ‘you’ the fans, he is the pride of pro wrestling, he is our hero. He deserves a standing ovation. This change of attitude comes from everything he’s learnt from Samoa Joe. If you don’t like the consequences, you choose violence.

Joe grabs the mic and asks if Ospreay understands what he does for his friends. Joe is honored that Ospreay considers facing him a dream match. It’s just unfortunate that it will be nothing but a nightmare for him.

*Video package for Swerve Strickland. There’s nothing more dangerous than a man who desires power. ‘This’ is necessary.

*BRODIDO! Lexy Nair says if they both win their respective matches, they’ll face each other in the Semi-Finals of the Owen. King is furious about what Swerve did last night, but Bandido interrupts to say that this is his fight. Bandido is the Most Wanted, and at Double or Nothing, Swerve won’t be a danger to anyone anymore. I’m so glad we haven’t abandoned Brodido as a concept!

 

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[Divine Challenge – Five Minute AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Match] Divine Dominion vs. Allie Katch and Kaia McKenna

ALLIE! It’s Katch and Bayne to start us off, Bayne with a boot to the jaw, and a series of clubbing blows to the back of the head. Kross with back elbows, and then she takes McKenna off the apron. Spinning side slam on Katch. Bayne tags in, both opponents dive at Divine Dominion and we get stereo fallaway slams. Stereo lariats connect! Divine Intervention, and it’s over, 1, 2, 3.

Winners: Divine Dominion

Time: 1:50

Rating: N/R – I’m fine with DD racking up some quick squash wins to get the Divine Challenge concept over.

 

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*Athena and Mina Shirakawa are with Lexy Nair backstage. Athena reminds us she’s been ROH Women’s champion for over 1200 days, and she kicked Mina’s ass at Death Before Dishonor. Mina dreams of kicking her ass and ending her title reign, but now she won’t dream any more, she’ll live it. It’s about to get physical between them and Lexy has to get in the middle.

*We go to highlights from Supercard of Honor last night, including seeing Action Andretti turning on Lio Rush.

*We go to a ‘special assignment’ promo filmed earlier in the day with Nigel McGuinness tracking down Lio Rush. Lio says Nigel did great last night. Nigel wants to get a response from Lio about Andretti. Lio says it happens. It’s fine, it’s fine! I think someone’s in denial. Rush takes a sip of his drink, but then spits out black oozing liquid, and he takes his shades off to reveal…RED CONTACT LENSES. “It’s fine.”

 

The Dogs & Mark Davis vs The Rascalz

National champion Mark Davis starts out against Dezmond Xavier. Superkick to Davis, and the Rascalz all jump in to take out the big man. They whip him into the ropes, but the Dogs grab him and pull him to safety. Stereo pump kicks, they go for dives but the Dogs cut them off, and Davis chops Xavier down. Davis has a chair and drives it into the throat of Xavier, ref sees it and takes the chair but I guess he’s being lenient! Multiple enziguris from Xavier, Wentz in with kicks, double stomp from Reed. They look for the triple dropkick but Finlay is there to catch Reed. Senton by Finlay, running low lariat, senton from Davis! Davis targets Wentz as we head to PIP break.

Finlay with a release suplex, covers for just a 1 count. Wentz knocks Davis off the apron, kicks Connors away, crawls to make the tag but Connors comes back to knock Reed and Xavier off the apron. Handspring knee from Wentz, tag to Reed! Leg drop, Myron connects with an enziguri. Xavier with a cutter out of the corner! Superkicks to Finlay. Rope-assisted reverse 3D! Wentz gets Finlay on the shoulders of him and Reed as Xavier goes up top, but Davis shoves him off. Finlay with the Irish Curse though! The Dogs get their opponents on their shoulders as Davis climbs the ropes, but stereo poisonranas ensue! Xavier meets Davis for a superplex! And we get dives from all three Rascalz. Triple Dropkicks connect on Davis! Swanton, frog splash, 450!! Reed covers, 1, 2, Finlay makes the save. Finlay drops Xavier over the barricade, and Wentz gets POUNCED on the outside. CUTTERS from Reed! And he goes for the apron cutter on Davis but NO, Davis clotheslines him back inside the ring! Biiiig lariat. Pendulum piledriver, LAST CLIP! 1, 2, 3.

Winners: The Dogs & Mark Davis

Time: 11:33

Rating: ***1/4 – The Rascalz are a great trio, but the Dogs have been struggling to get over – it’s been tough to take them seriously when they’ve been on the losing end so much already. As such, a win like this can go a long way in getting them back on track. Immensely fun closing stretch.

 

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*Lexi Nair catches up with Anna Jay. She may have lost to Willow Nightingale, who may well be the Comeback Killer, but Jay came back and she’s still here. There’s still a lot left for ‘us’ to do. Isn’t that right? Tay Melo comes into the shot, and says they’ve got things they both need to do and they have each other’s backs. TayJay is back!

 

[AEW World Championship – No Count Outs] Darby Allin (c) vs. Sammy Guevara

Guevara has started pulling out tables from under the ring during his entrance. Darby crouches in front of his title…and Sammy takes the opportunity and STOMPS on his head! The bell rings as Guevara takes Darby to the floor, whipping him into the barricade before setting up a table in the aisle. Guevara drags a ladder into place, setting it up by the table. Running knee connects! He lays out Allin on the table and climbs the ladder to the tippy top. SWANTON THROUGH THE TABLE! Good Lord he crushed Darby on that one. He rolls Darby in the ring, 1, 2, nooooo.

Go To Hell attempt, but Darby reverses into a Scorpion Deathlock. But Darby’s body gives out on him and he can’t keep it locked in, dropping to the mat instead. Springboard splash! 1, 2, no. They head up to the top rope, Darby shoves Sammy off…thinks about the Coffin Drop but Guevara sweeps the legs, and Darby takes a GRIM spill to the floor, knocking his head on the apron on the way down. Guevara has a little fun with him on the outside, brings him back in the ring and delivers the Three Amigos. Cover, 1, 2, no. Superkick from Sammy, 1, 2, no. We’re getting a significant overrun tonight it seems as we go to our final commercial break.

Darby and Guevara head out to the apron, suplex attempt from Guevara is thwarted, Darby nails a dropkick to knock Sammy down to the floor. Suicide dive but Guevara moves out of the way and just about nails a cutter! Back to the ring, springboard attack is caught by Darby, rear naked choke! Guevara makes it to the ropes to break the hold. We hear that Ospreay vs Shibata is signed for Dynamite, nice. Plus FTR vs the Conglomeration. Sammy sits Darby on the buckles again, Darby shoves him away but Guevara is right back up there for a Spanish Fly! 1, 2, NO. Guevara rolls his knee pad down, jawbreaker by Darby, walks into a superkick. Coffin Drop from the middle rope. CODE RED! 1, 2, NO.

Darby looks for the Scorpion Death Drop, denied. Guevara with the Go To Hell, connects this time! And he connects with it a second time! Guevara to the top rope, frog splash, 1, 2, NO!!! Allin rolls to the floor, so Guevara follows him out and grabs the remaining table, setting it up near one of the ringposts. He lays Darby on top once again, climbs the buckles…630 SPLASH but Darby moves and Sammy crashes through the table! Coffin Drop! 1, 2, 3!

Winner and STILL AEW World Champion: Darby Allin

Time: 17:04

Rating: ***1/2 – I wasn’t wild about Darby instantly kicking out at 2 after receiving a swanton off a ladder through a table, but the delayed selling was cool with him not being able to keep the Scorpion Deathlock locked in. This followed suit from Darby’s recent defenses with Darby receiving a ton of punishment and barely squeaking by with the flash victory. It’s marginally less effective when Sammy Guevara hasn’t meant much in the AEW landscape in some time, but I can’t deny they match up very well.

*And with that extended overrun, Darby is handed back his title and we are done! No Saturday Collision next week so I’ll see you next Sunday for Double or Nothing. Have a great week, my friends!