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Join 411’s Live AEW Collision Coverage
Image Credit: AEW
Hello my 411 friends, and welcome to tonight’s live coverage of AEW Collision! And this time, it’s ‘LIVE live’ which is always a glorious thing as live Collision just hits different.
On tap for this evening, we have Kevin Knight making his second defense of the week of his TNT championship, taking on The Opps’ HOOK, with Knight riding the high of beating MJF this past Wednesday on Dynamite. The National Championship is also on the line as Jack Perry defends against Mascara Dorada (banger incoming?). Plus the TBS title will be defended, with Willow Nightingale facing challenger Anna Jay, who hasn’t competed since the Women’s tag team tournament quarter-final back in November. Let’s see how she fares after that long layoff.
Outside of title opportunities, we get our next 10-man tag iteration, this time pitting the Death Riders and the Dogs against The Rascalz and Top Flight. And if Top Flight don’t eat the pin, I’ll eat my keyboard. We’ve also got Juice Robinson and Ace Austin from the Bang Bang Gang providing tag team action against the Death Riders’ Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia.
We’ll presumably be setting things up for next week’s Fairway to Hell event, which looks like it should be an interesting and unique show at the SoFi Center in Florida.
With all that in store and a whole lot more, let’s head on down to ringside and brace ourselves for some All Elite action!
Location: Peoria, IL
Venue: Peoria Civic Center
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*We are LIVE, and the Death Riders head out to ringside for our opening 10-man tag team contest.
Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC and The Dogs vs. Top Flight and The Rascalz
The Rascalz and Top Flight dive from the ring to the floor to take it to their opponents before the bell. Claudio tries to take it to Myron Reed with a military press, but Reed counters with an enziguri. Wentz takes it to Connors in the corner with a series of strikes, hits a springboard tornillo for 2. Reed and Xavier double team Finlay, shooting star from Xavier gets 2. Moxley with 10 count punches in the corner on Darius Martin. Dante in with a suplex, Reed tags in and exchanges chops with Moxley. It all breaks down on the floor as everyone comes out of nowhere with big spots, Xavier getting tossed into the ringpost, this is crazy. Reed hits a legdrop on Moxley over the middle rope but walks into an uppercut from Claudio!
Claudio nails a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker on Reed and allows Pac to take over. Finlay delivers a suplex and Connors hits a low crossbody for 2. Snap suplex from Connors, Reed misses an enziguri but tries to make the tag, only for the Dogs and Death Riders to come in to take everyone else off the apron. Reed manages a double cutter and he makes the tag to Xavier. Top Flight with stereo suicide dives! Cutter from Xavier, handspring Pele kick to Connors! 1, 2, NO. Connors is catapulted into a superkick, double stomp connects, 1, 2, NO. Rascalz set up for Hot Fire flame, denied, spear by Connors, 1, 2, NO. Big knee from Wentz. Darius with a backslide on Pac, 1, 2, no. Pac with a rollup for 2. Dante in, high crossbody, 1, 2, no. Superkicks and a flatliner from Top Flight, Claudio breaks up the pin attempt. He blocks a double suplex and suplexes both Martin brothers instead. Giant Swing to Dante, Moxley is there for the dropkick exclamation point. Claudio looks to swing Ree dtoo but Xavier gets on his back, step up enziguri. 5-way kicks to Claudio from the Rascalz/Top Flight team. Finlay shoves the Rascalz into each other, high-low combo. Stereo codebreakers from the Rascalz! Tornado DDT on Moxley from Darius, rollup on Pac for 2. Claudio and Pac with combination strikes in the corner and a HUGE lariat, Pac with the Brutalizer and Darius has to give up.
Winners: The Death Riders & The Dogs
Time: 16:20
Rating: ***1/2 – Wild multi-man opener, with action coming from literally every direction. Hard to keep up! Exhilirating stuff, with Reed taking the majority of the punishment and getting to show his heart, resilience, and willpower. Decent showing from Top Fllight too, showing a bit more fire and passion.
*We see Luchasaurus and Jack Perry riding in the Jurassic Express bus. Perry says the road is long and dangerous, but they ain’t stopping for anybody. Hard cut to Perry and Luchasaurus stopping to pee outside their bus. Jack Perry’s National Tour continues…
[AEW National Championship] Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada
Third National title defense for Perry here. Handshake to begin, a little feeling out process, Perry delivers a dropkick and he kips up. Tijeras in response from Dorada, Perry with a delightful top rope arm drag, and Dorada delivers his own before nailing a tornillo to the outside. Perry with a tiger feint kick around the ringpost but then gets tossed over the barricade. Perry on top of the barricade now, Dorada up there with him…DESTROYER ON THE BARRICADE FROM DORADA! Dorada is talking to the ref, may have damaged his tailbone on that one. He’s back to his feet and rolls Perry back inside the ring, thrust kick to keep Perry on the mat. Both men trade forearms on their knees, big powerslam from Dorada, can’t quite make the cover though. Dorada to the top rope, 450 misses, Perry tries to evade in the corner with a moonsault but almost catches him anyway, thrust kicks all round, poisonrana from Perry, Code Red from Dorada, and both men go down.
Modified Blue Thunder bomb from Perry, 1, 2, no. Dorada looks for a springboard dive but Perry catches him with a right hand to knock him to the floor, and follows up with a biiiiig moonsault to the floor. Back inside, Perry cartwheels over and deadlifts Dorada into a Liger Bomb! 1, 2, NO! Perry delivers the 10 count right hands in the corner, Dorada takes the legs out with a tiger feint kick, nails Perry with an electric chair driver! Dorada back up to the apron, Perry tries to suplex him back in the ring, denied. Dorada to the top rope, 450 hits flush this time, 1, 2, NOOOO!
To the apron, Dorada thinks about another destroyer, Perry shakes him off, knee to Dorada. Tijeras off the apron from Perry, and he shoves him back in the ring quickly, heading up top for a dive but Dorada meets him with a knee! Hangover DDT from Dorada, 1, 2, NOOOOO! Shooting Star from Dorada, Perry catches him though, 1, 2, NO! Both men up top, Dorada shoves him off, but Perry races back up for a hurracanrana, tight cover, 1, 2, 3!
Winner and STILL AEW National Champion: Jack Perry
Time: 14:18
Rating: **** – Perry’s National Tour has been a joy so far, and I’m as surprised to say that as you are to read it. This version of Perry is just working, and he’s been on top form in the ring too. Dorada was doing great things here too, and the nearfalls were sublime. Yes, get this stuff in my veins.
*Renee Paquette attempts to catch up with Statlander & Shida after Dynamite this past week. Shida says she doesn’t blame Statlander, and Stat says of course it wasn’t her fault. Kris was this close to making history, and Shida cost her everything. Shida promises she will make it up to her.
The Conglomeration vs MxM TV
Non-title match for our Trios champs here, and O’Reilly starts off against Mansoor, who gets kicked and quickly tags out to Madden. He doesn’t like the kicks either, so here comes Johnny TV instead. Strong and OC take it in turns tagging in for corner punches, but Johnny kicks the legs of Orange as MxM take out Roddy and Kyle on the outside. Johnny with a tornillo to the outside! MxM pose for flash photography, and Orange Cassidy joins them with a thumbs up. Leg lariat/German combo from MxM, Starship Pain connects on OC! 1, 2, broken up by the Conglomeration. MxM TV call for a Double Doomsday but that gets broken up. Diving knee from O’Reilly, Orange looks for Orange Punch but it’s denied by Madden. Strong with an Olympic Slam! Strong hoists Cassidy up on his shoulders, and he goozles Madden but can’t get the chokeslam. OH, he goozles Mansoor on the ropes and chokeslams him to the outside. OC to the top rope, looks for a dive but Johnny TV is too far away for his liking, so he gets the others to drag him closer. Elbow drop, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: The Conglomeration
Time: 4:27
Rating: *** – That was pure entertainment with a heck of a lot more substance than I would have imagined for a sub 4-and-a-half minute match.
*Before the Conglomeration can properly celebrate, the music of the Psycho Killer hits, and here comes Tommaso Ciampa! He appears to have his sights set on those Trios titles.
*Really classy move as Tony Schiavone mentions Rebel’s health issues as announced on social media the other day, extending heartfelt thoughts. Horrible, horrible news for Rebel with her diagnosis and outlook, so prayers go out to her big time.
*We recap last week’s segment with Jon Moxley bringing Will Ospreay backstage, questioning Ospreay’s future. Moxley says when he makes a commitment, he sees it through to the end. He can turn Ospreay into a weapon like pro wrestling has never seen.
[AEW TBS Championship] Willow Nightingale vs. Anna Jay
Grapple, Willow immediately gets a cover for a 1 count. Anna tries a headlock takeover, can’t get it. Willow demands Jay shows her her fire, so Anna responds with a flurry of forearms. Sunset flip from Anna gets a 2. Clumsy La Mahistral from Anna gets another 2. Willow misses a senton, and Anna hits a Moonlight Drive, then a snapmare out of the corner followed by a dropkick for a 1 count. Nightingale sweeps the legs on the apron, then hits a canonball to the floor.
Side Russian legsweep from Nightingale, leg scissor body submission applied but Anna rolls into a cover for 2. Rollup from Anna for 2, kick to the head, spinebuster from Nightingale, 1, 2, no. Jay with a running heel kick in the corner, rope-assisted bulldog out of the corner gets a 2 count. Willow with a backslide for 2. Anna tries one now, can’t get it. Nightingale brings Anna to the top turnbuckle, superplex connects, and Nightingale rolls through into a Death Valley Driver. 1, 2, NO. Jay connects with another heel kick, hits an X-Factor, 1, 2, no. Queenslayer! Willow backs her into a corner, then hoists her into the Babe with the Powerbomb. 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW TBS Champion: Willow Nightingale
Time: 9:43
Rating: **1/2 – Going through the motions at first but picked up in the final minute. Nothing standout from Anna Jay here, but I dig the Comeback Killer gimmick from Willow so I’m fine with this.
*Renee Paquette is with Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron & Mina Shirakawa. Shida said she would meet it up to Statlander, so she got a match against Cameron and Mina. Mina wants to know from Shida where she was when Toni Storm was attacked. Statlander doesn’t wait around as exits as Harley tries to get a word with her, Renee reiterates that emotions are running high.
Juice Robinson & Ace Austin vs. Wheeler Yuta & Daniel Garcia
Jon Moxley has joined commentary for this encounter. Juice and Yuta start us off, and Juice gets worked over from behind. Double back elbow from the Death Rider contingent. Ace Austin in, kicks to Yuta, Russian legsweep, Click Click Boom leg drop connects. Austin avoids a legsweep on the apron with a handspring but gets dropkicked to the floor. Marina meets him there with some kicks and knees to the midsection. Capture suplex from Yuta gets 2. Body slam from Garcia, Yuta up top for a diving elbow, 1, 2, no. Austin gets worked over some more, and just when it looks like he might get the tag, Garcia and Yuta knock Juice off the apron and deliver stereo dropkicks. Peruvian Necktie from Garcia, which Moxley gets very excited about. Austin tries a sunset flip, can’t follow through with it, gets Garcia on his shoulders and hits a DVD to create an opening. Tag to Juice! Juice brings Garcia in the hard way, then lariats him back out. Senton to Yuta. Crossbody to the outside, and Yuta inadvertently takes out Garcia with a suicide dive. That busted Yuta open, and Juice delivers some jabs. He thinks about the Left Hand of God, but Marina gets on the apron, distraction cover from Yuta, but he gets shoved into Marina.
Austin is tossed to the floor by Garcia and he’s knocked into the steel steps. Piledriver on Juice! Yuta with the fastball special with thanks to Garcia, 1, 2, NOOO! Yuta misses the Busaiku Knee. Damn he’s busted open good. Seatbelt driver from Yuta on Austin. Left Hand of God! Facelock DDT connects, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Juice Robinson & Ace Austin
Time: 12:06
Rating: *** – Garcia and Yuta are the most uninspiring pairing from the Death Riders, but it means they can take the fall in situations like this and it doesn’t harm the aura of the Death Riders.
*Garcia and Yuta attack both men after the bell. GUNNS UP! Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn are both here! The Gunns hit the ring and head straight from Jon Moxley. 3:10 to Yuma is about to hit for Moxley but Marina dives into the ring to save him and shove him to the outside. Yuta takes it instead! “3:10 to Yuta”, thank you Nigel. Colten says the Collision Cowboys are back, and if you’re not down with that, they got two words for ya.
*Lexy Nair is backstage standing by with Divine Dominion. Lena Kross says they just beat two of the best in this company, and they crumbled at their feet. Bayne says the only hope this division has is if the Gods take pity and strike them down.
Skye Blue vs Nixi XS
Blue comes out of the gate with a running big boot. She tosses Nixi to the apron and boots her to the floor before bashing her head into the steps. Twisting neckbreaker draped from the apron. Back in the ring, Blue has a front chancery, then delivers a Cheeky Nandos and a powerbomb out of the corner. Running knee! 1, 2…she lifts Nixi up, and locks in the Descent Into Madness, and Nixi is out.
Winner: Skye Blue
Time: 2:15
Rating: N/R – Skye Blue had been relegated to the job squad for the Triangle of Madness so it’s good to see her get a dominant victory here.
*Mina Shirakawa & Harley Cameron vs Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida is official for Dynamite.
*Jack Perry vs Mark Davis at Fairway to Hell next week.
[AEW TNT Championship] Kevin Knight vs. HOOK (w/ Katsuyori Shibata)
Knight whips off a knee drop to the arm of HOOK. Standing switches and hammerlock exchanges, judo toss from HOOK. Armdrags from the champion, dropkick misses. HOOK with strikes in the corner, dropkick from Knight knocks HOOK to the outside but HOOK dodges a crossbody to the outside, HOOK with an EXPLODER INTO THE CROWD! HOOK runs Knight into the barricade on the opposite side, and then distracts the referee, allowing Shibata to hit a running boot on the outside. Flying forearm from HOOK in the ring, 1, 2, no.
Knight tries a leaping DDT but gets dropped with an overhead suplex instead. Leaping lariat from Knight, he nips up and delivers a scoop slam followed by the standing UFO Splash for 2. Leaping tijeras to HOOK, and Knight readies himself for a Shibata-esque dropkick, connects with it. Shibata shakes the ropes as Knight gets to the top rope, and HOOK meets him up there. Elevated release belly to belly! Cobra suplex from HOOK. HOOK stalks his prey, gets Redrum locked in but Knight rolls through 1, 2, no. Gets shoved off, and Knight takes out Shibata. Knight reverses out of a suplex by landing on his hands, hits a flying DDT, and goes up top. UFO Splash! 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW TNT Champion: Kevin Knight
Time: 12:05
Rating: **3/4 – Knight continues to look good week in, week out. HOOK kept up with him and was fine here, but I don’t think the result was ever in question. Most surprising was the fact that we saw Bowens join the Opps last week… and then there’s no sign of him here or follow-up, and that seems like a missed opportunity.
*We get the reminder that it’s a 1-hour Fairway to Hell special next Saturday, and announced for Wednesday’s Dynamite/Collision 3-hour special is Jon Moxley vs Juice Robinson. And that’s all for this week! See you next time, folks.