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From Roanoke, Virginia (is for lovers), AEW Collision is LIVE for the first time in weeks! Which means I can watch on MyAEW for the first time since I began doing coverage for 411. MyAEW, carrying on baffling Triller traditions of “one hour delay start vs TBS/TNT/MAX when its a taped show, for some reason.”

On tap tonight:

Hangman Page Kicks off Collision!

AEW National Title: Mark Davis (c) vs Speedball Bailey

AEW TBS Title: Hikaru Shida (c) vs Harley Cameron

Ring of Honor Men’s World Title: Bandido (c) vs Katsuyori Shibata

All three announced matches should be excellent, although I don’t expect any title changes. It would be wild for Bandido to drop the ROH World Title on Collision when Death Before Dishonor is coming up in just over a month in Philly. Shida isn’t losing this fast.

Speedball Mike Bailey is the weird one. First, it’s confusing that Bailey just demanded (politely, as a Canadian) a National title shot and got it… but Don Callis is making Andrade El Idolo first wrestle Jake Doyle to earn a shot at Davis. That puts Bailey in the strange position of being a lame duck challenger. One could explain it away that Davis happily accepted THIS challenge, but Callis is going to put the screws to the “ungrateful backstabber” that is THE REAL LATINO MAN (how you know?).

Mainly, though, Speedball has been a complete afterthought since the split with Kevin Knight, and with only a few short weeks to Redemption in Montreal, the most high-profile Francophone wrestler in the company is seemingly directionless. It would be an absolute mistake to not put Bailey in a big match in Quebec. It’s not just a “Canadian show,” it’s a Quebecois show. I don’t know, it’s just bugging me. Frankly, Redemption seems to be a complete afterthought itself – watching this past Wednesday, you could be forgiven for thinking ALL IN is next up because AEW almost entirely ignored any build for Redemption outside of the Women’s Casino Gauntlet. Thekla will defend the AEW Women’s World Title against the returning WILLOW NIGHTINGALE at the Montreal PPV; so far, the only announced match!

WAIT I MEAN TONY KHAN IS A GOD I RIDE HIS DICK FOR LIFE NO CRITICISM EVER #TRIGGERED

(Isn’t it fun inventing imaginary people to get on your high horse about? Ahem.)

The other WILD choice tonight is… the return of HANGMAN ADAM PAGE. You will recall that the last time AEW fans saw the Hangman was at Revolution, when he failed in his quest to regain the AEW World Championship from MJF. Hangman gave his word that if he lost, he would NEVER again challenge for the AEW Men’s World Title. Most have been predicting Hangman returns to screw MJF, or save a friend. Here we are, Hangman announced to return, kicking off Collision, announced yesterday. I don’t think it’s the WRONG choice, but it is a perplexing one. The show is in Hanger’s home state of Virginia, so that makes this a logical place. I’m not going to pre-judge it. If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past number of years, is that Hangman is the king of long-term storytelling. In Hanger We Trust.

What do the 411 SICKOS think?

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Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness welcome us to Collision, and here we go to a video package recapping the MJF/Kenny Omega world title bout from Dynamite: Beach Break!

That kick-out at one was absolutely spellbinding. Nobody does it like Kenny Omega.

Tony is in the ring to introduce… WELCOME BACK, HANGMAN ADAM PAGE!

“Hangman’s Tale” (or “Ghost Town Triumph”) picks up! Here comes the HANGMAN in a blazer, white tee, and black pants. Looking kinda formal!

“Welcome back” chants pick up. Tony asks how does it feel to be back, home in Virginia?

“Y’know, I’m a gardener. I live on an acre and a half in Greensboro now. For a few years, it’s been my hobby to plant things. Mostly native plants. My butterfly weed is incredible. I’ve seen finches, I’ve seen monarchs, that never came to my yard before. I found something beautifully therapeutic about planting a seed. To put a seed into the soil, and to take care of it, and watch, with time, as it becomes something beautiful.”

“In the time I wasn’t in physical therapy, I was planting. And when I knew AEW would be in a place that is very much home to me, in Roanoke; it was important to me to be here tonight. Tonight, I wanted to plant one more seed. To be honest, I have no idea what this is going to blossom into, or if it’s gonna grow at all. But I’ll do that tonight.”

“In March, I was to challenge MJF for the world championship. And I wanted more than anything for that match to be Texas Death, so in order to get it, I put my opportunity to ever challenge for the world championship again at stake. I don’t know if that was desperation, or over-conficence. Maybe I underestimated Max. But I did lose. In my life, I’ve been a lot of things. Things good and things bad, I recognize that. But I’ve always tried to be a man of my word. And that is why it was important to be here tonight. I know the stipulation, it doesn’t live SIGNED IN INK, filed away on a contract, in a filing cabinet somewhere. But it does live in me. I want you to know, I intended to be a man of my word.”

“I will NEVER challenge for the All Elite Wrestling Men’s World Championship again.”

Heavy boos from the crowd, followed by “NO” chants.

“And as Schiavone mentioned, I watched Wednesday night, I watched when KENNY won that world championship, and that was more important to me! And what was more important to me was the words he said after, to never quit. And although I find myself in this strange situation, I look out, and I see MILES and MILES of empty track laid out before me! The TNT Championship! Currently held by someone who is a former partner of mine and current DIPSHIT, Kevin Knight! The National Championship, currently held by Mark Davis, but perhaps by the end of the night, held by another former partner of mine, Speedball Mike Bailey! The Continental Championship! Held by a man I would never turn down another fight with in JON MOXLEY! And the International Championship, held by your newly crowned champion, Kyle Fletcher!”

“For seven years, I have defined myself by the one goal that I held above all others — to chase, to win, and to hold the World Championship. But now, I am faced with the question: Who is Hangman, without the World Championship? And the honest truth, is that I don’t know. But we are DAMNED SURE going to find out, aren’t we? Because tonight, I can hear his words, after all these years, echo back to me. Truer now than ever before.”

“I am going to have to find something else to do. And you bet your ass I will. Thank you.”

Great promo by Hangman. Challenging basically every single other men’s singles champion, which should prevent him from exile into a “Codyverse.” I hope Hangman making it as EXPLICITLY CLEAR AND PLAIN AS HE POSSIBLY COULD that the “never challenge again” stipulation is NOT contractual, it is Hangman’s WORD. Right? People won’t keep fantasy booking terrible storylines where Omega or MJF or someone “lift” the stipulation?

It’s Hangman’s WORD. The only (obvious) way out of it is… for Hangman Adam Page to break his word. 😉

Here’s BOBBY CRUISE to announce the ROH Men’s World title match! Shibata’s music is so good. Bandido is out in black and silver with a sheet fringed jacket and cowboy hat.

ROH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP: Bandido (c) v Katsuyori Shibata

We get some WRESTLING to start! Commentary talks about the friction we’ve seen amongst the Opps. Well, between Hook and Anthony Bowens at any rate, in an angle… maybe Taz cares about?

Action picks up, Shibata nails a big kick in the corner and gets two. Irish whip, Bandido flips over and counters. Up top! Bandido with a frog splash to the STANDING Shibata! Charges, Shibata ducks, ref almost gets nailed by Shibata. With the referee ducking… Shibata nails a low blow! Now he drops Bandido crotch-first on the top rope. BIG BOOT! Bandido spills to the floor and Shibata enjoys the boos.

*Commercial break… for you American suckers*

I won’t keep up with the entire MyAEW in-commercial stuff, but I’ll note any absurd commentary lol.

Bandido is selling the assault on his little Bandidos on the outside. Shibata keeps the offense going, tossing the champ into the guardrail. Charging in – stops! ASSHOLE KICK! Shibata is such a glorious dickhead.

Back from break, on the apron. Bandido looking for offense, but Shibata drops him to the ring apron. On the floor, SUPLEX on the outside! Shibata remains in control and Bandido is struggling. Back in the ring, quick cover from The Wrestler. Kick-out at two.

Chops are exchanged… the two men going back and forth with big knife-edge chops! Shibata off the ropes, into a kick from Bandido! Again — Bandido with the huge gorilla press slam on Shibata! To the top again… SHOOTING STAR PRESS!!! ONE, TWO, SHIBATA KICKS OUT! Beautiful SSP.

Bandido looking for a Torture Rack type of thing? Into a kick, but Shibata catches it. Bandido crumbles into the corner and Shibata nails the Shotgun Dropkick! That gets two. Shibata looks for the soccer kick — ducked! Bandido chops, gets Shibata with the Torture Rack Knee! Looks for the 21-Plex, Shibata blocks, rollup, that gets two! NOW Shibata nails the soccer kick! THUD!

Shibata hits a forearm, but then runs into a lariat by Bandido. They lariat each other! This sends each man to an opposing corner… they charge, Shibata wins the lariat duel! Bandido with a Pele kick! Pickup, reversed, standing switch, again, Shibata with nasty forearms to the back of Bandido’s neck. Looks for another dick punch! Bandido blocks! CRADLE! ONE, TWO, THREE! Bandido retains!

WINNER: (and still ROH World Champion) Bandido
TIME: Forgot to start the clock
RATING: ***3/4
THOUGHTS: Just an excellent match. I don’t think there was any chance of a title change, but hell, they went out and had basically a clinic. I appreciate that it didn’t overstay its welcome. Bandido is extremely popular. I hope, if he drops the ROH title soon, it’s also part of a larger push for him in AEW proper. Of course he’s done well, but he also is the designated “popular guy who loses the REALLY big matches.” IMO Bandido could be AEW World Champion. Thoughts?

Earlier today, Renee caught up with new TBS Champion Hikaru Shida and her challenger tonight, Harley Cameron. Harley tries to congratulate Shida. Shida says she did it all by herself, she didn’t need friends. Harley says she will never stop, what makes Shida think SHE can stop Harley Cameron?

“BECAUSE TBS STANDS FOR: THE BEST! SHIDA!”

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

We come back to Lexi and SPEEDBALL MIKE BAILEY. Bailey says he got distracted by Don Callis, but he’s been picking up wins and is ready to take the National Title from Mark Davis later tonight!

“FEEL THE WRATH!” Harley Cameron is out! The champion makes her entrance next, title around her waist and kendo stick in hand!

TBS CHAMPIONSHIP: Hikaru Shida (c) v Harley Cameron

Shida attacks before the bell, smashing Harley! Referee separates and checks on Harley… there’s the bell. Shida immediately nails a suplex and continues the assault. Spinning maneuver. Irish whip, Harley reverses into an arm-drag, looking for a single leg crap. Harley on the apron. Shida nails her! Shida goes to the apron… Harley slips back in! They do it again, Shida with a smirk. Harley sends her to the floor, then nails a diving kick between the ropes. On the outside, Flatliner-ish move by Cameron to Shida – on the floor!

The women fight up the ramp. Shida goes to the eyes and then suplexes Harley ON the rampway. Harley is dangling off the rampway, in position for the champ to nail a running knee! Damn, Shida.

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Action continues for international viwewers. Shida sends Harley into the guardrail and then heads inside, looking to collect a count-out victory. Crowd is actually split between both women, but the longer it goes on, the more they are fully behind Cameron.

Back from break, Shida whips Harley… countered into a neckbreaker! Harley in the corner. Shida charges, Harley dodges. Kick to the head, Harley climbs! TEN PUNCH COUNTALONG! … no… FISTS OF FURY! FEEL THE WRATH! Harley with a running Shining Wizard, gets two!

Hey, Nigel called the Shining! Yay!

Harley climbs the corner. Shida cuts that off. Both women on top… Harley looking for a SUNSET FLIP BOMB! SHIDA BITING HARLEY! Irish whip, reversed, but Shida rebounds with an enziguri! Kick caught by Harley. HARLEY BITES THE LEG! REVENGE! Big knee from Shida! Suplex — reversed! Harley with something similar to Vertigo for two, and now Harley gets a half-crab.

Nigel: “IF HARLEY CAMERON CAN BE SERIOUS FOR A MOMENT!” *POP!*

STORM 1:08 forever, people.

Shida grabs the ref by the leg, which was the effect of helping Shida get to the ropes to break the crab. Exchange, and then Shida gets the ankle lock (how many people in AEW are using that, yeesh). Harley escapes. She charges but eats a jumping knee from Shida for one, two, thhhhrrr… Shida with a slam, gets two again. Shida is angry! She looks to tie up the Babe of Wrath… has an arm, has a leg, and Cameron has no choice but to submit!

WINNER: (and still TBS Champion) Hikaru Shida
TIME: 9:47
RATING: ***
THOUGHTS: Good TV match with a bit of sloppiness, but both Shida and Harley are prone to that. It was a good battle where, again, the result wasn’t in question, but it felt more important than some of the one-sided title defenses TK likes to put on Collision. Invested crowd, Shida showing more and more heel edge, and likely a setup to the next challenger in Queen Aminata. PUT THE BELT ON AMINATA TK YOU COWARD.

Shida isn’t satisfied and starts raining down blows on the prone Harley Cameron! The bell keeps ringing… QUEEN AMINATA runs out to make the save! Shida scurries as Aminata checks on Cameron.

Lexy is backstage with the Lethal Twist (oh, boy). MATT SYDAL pops in and says joining with the Demand would be a mistake. Which brings in, well, the Demand. Ricochet brings up his history with Sydal and says he’s moved on for the better. Ricochet: “you got anything else you need to get off your chest?” Sydal: “Yeah. You’re BALD!” Sydal bails before they can jump him, six on one, lol.

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Back with the Don Callis Family (Brian Cage, with his hilariously big weightlifting medal, Trent Baretta, Mark Davis, and Jack Doyle) applauding the NEW International Champion, Kyle Fletcher! Fletcher says it feels good to once again be a champion in AEW (first time as International champ, two-time TNT champ, one-time Trios champ). Mark Davis and Jake Doyle are ready to take out Bailey and Andrade. Fletcher talks about his issues with the Rascalz, and tonight, Zachary Wentz is going to take on Brian Cage! Trent? talks smack about Darby Allin “you’re not here, you’re off doing motorcycle tricks. Darby Allin FEARS Trent Baretta!” The Family agrees. Fletcher ends it with: “The Don Callis Family RUNS AEW!”

Back to Tony and Nigel! Here’s a look at the BRAWL IN THE BALLPARK from last night at the Minnesota Twins game! It’s a pretty cool setup! Doesn’t look like it will be released anywhere, but man, I’d love to see Shane Taylor v Bobby Lashley.

Alright, here is the music of… the Conglomeration! The World Trios Champions Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and RODERICK Strong come out, all in street clothes. I mean, Orange is always in “street clothes,” but y’know. I love that all the Conglomeration members now have “yearbook photo” shirts lol. Kyle’s picture is adorkable. We get the POSE! Schiavone is somehow confused by the same entrance pose Roddy and Kyle have done for literally years. Orange gets the mic.

Orange says they’re still trios champions… but there’s still one person in the Conglomeration that wants to be a champion. That cues up the music of WILLOW NIGHTINGALE! Here comes the #1 Contender to the Women’s World champion in a VERY PRETTY DRESS. <3

Willow says you guys don't know how much I missed this. "Two months ago, a shoulder injury forced me to relinquish the TBS championship, and drop out of the Owen. But congratulations to Shida, congratulations to Mercedes. The opportunity was there, and they both stepped up. But… sitting sideline for Double or Nothing broke my heart. But if you think I was sitting at home crying about it, YOU DON'T KNOW WILLOW NIGHTINGALE! I did NOT defend the TBS championship ten times just to give up on myself! I was not going to let my Wembley dreams go up in smoke!"

Willow talks about working on getting stronger, more motivated, more focused. She took the gamble to enter the Casino Gauntlet and now THE BABE WITH THE POWER has one more shot at the world championship. One more shot at… Redemption. But Thekla blindsided her before she could celebrate, and Mercedes left her laying in the ring. You've BOTH made a terrible mistake. Mercedes and Thekla mistook Willow's smile… for a weakness. Redemption means proving that the WORST day of her career doesn't have to define the rest of it.

Strong gives Willow a backpack!

At Redemption, NOTHING is stopping Willow from walking out of Montreal as the WORLD CHAMPION! Crowd chants "Willow."

"And Mercedes… I'm the one you'll be facing at ALL IN."

THOUGHTS: Solid promo from Willow, pushing the PPV in 15 days, with only this single match announced… heh. Feels like Willow winning at Redemption is a lock. She more than deserves it, and Willow v Mone is probably the biggest women’s match AEW can currently put on for ALL IN, but where does that leave Thekla? She’s absolutely crushed it as world champion, undeniably getting more popular by the week. Kinda of a shame for her to miss out at defending at ALL IN, unless they do a triple-threat? We will see.

Alright, we are apparently having an eight-man tag! The Deathriders are backstage and head to the ring through the crowd, as is their wont.

Deathriders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castignoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia) vs Dante Martin, Darius Martin, AR Fox, and Komander

Oh, joy, Top Flight. Good to see Komander! Hopefully this means visa issues for a number of talent have been sorted. This is definitely a “fans paid a ticket, let’s make sure they see some top guys like Moxley.”

Garcia and Darius start things off. I’ll give him credit, looks like Darius remembered gyms exist. Some mat wrestling exchanges… and Darius does the old Garcia dance for mockery! Some more nice mat wrestling, but Garcia grabs the hair. Shoulder tackle sends Darius down. Darius comes back with an uppercut and tags into Dante. Double-team by Top Flight! Dante with a standing moonsault (called as standing SSP by Schiavone) for two. Nicely done. AR Fox in! Nice twisting suplex. Tag into Moxley, and the crowd roars. Gee, some people have told me “nobody cares” about Moxley. Hmm…

Moxley and Fox tangle, but we get a tag to Komander… and a tag to Claudio! Komander does a nice dive off the ropes. Claudio responds with a blunt kick! Backbreaker, Yuta is in. BOOOOOOO. Komander avoids the double-team, evades Claudio, but Wheeler cuts him off.

Why is Wheeler the “junior” member of the Deathriders, but Garcia isn’t?

Komander counters, flying crossbody! Tiltawhirl slam! EVERYBODY RUNS IN AS MIKE POSEY FAILS TO KEEP IT UNDER CONTROL! “Fans, stay with us! WHO’S GONNA WIN this match?

Gee, Schiavone, I donnnnn’t knowwwww.

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Commercial break commentary isn’t the same without Taz or Danielson.

Back from break, action ongoing, and we end up with Darius Martin doing a big dive onto a pile! He celebrates — and eats a boot from Claudio. Castagnoli and Moxley high-five only for KOMANDER TO ROPE WALK AND DIVE ON BOTH MEN!! The way Komander controls his body on that move is incredible! Back in the ring, AR Fox with a dive to both Yuta and Garcia! Corner clothesline, nails Wheeler as well, skins the cat, dropkick, CUTTER, Garcia comes for him, duck, CUTTER, AR FOX! CROWD IS GOING WILD! DIVE TO WHEELER ON THE FLOOR! BACK IN! DIVE TO GARCIA ON THE OTHER SIDE! FOX WITH ANOTHER DIVE TO WHEELER YUTA!!! THIS MAN! UP TO THE TOP TURNBUCKLE!!! SWANTON NAILS GARCIA…

And Claudio grabs the man for the GIANT SWING! We get around ten revolutions before release. Now Top Flight are in and double-team Claudio down! Moxley bites Dante! Hooks both members for a DDT, but Top Flight reverse… and Dante blows whatever he was going for. Moxley rolls outside, Dante with a suicide dive! Nice recovery. Garcia and Wheeler are back in the ring stomping on Dante Martin. Komander is back in, trying to fight both men. He gets some shots off, but caught with a flapjack. AR FOX OFF THE TOP takes down the Deathriders! Fox positions Danny, up top again! 450, Garcia moves, Fox rolls through to his feet… but he’s caught in the corner as the Deathriders run a train on him!

Not that kind of train, sickos.

Garcia wraps up Fox in the Dragon Tamer — MOXLEY ADDS THE CURBSTOMP! Garcia covers for the win.

WINNERS: Deathriders
TIME: 12:29
RATING: ***
THOUGHTS: Slow start but once they came back commercial and started reeling off spots, it was a lot of fun. Top Flight are still talented young men, but it’s hard to take them seriously when they are essentially the same wrestlers they were four years ago, and have been surpassed by others on the roster or newcomers like the Rascalz. Komander still does unique, eye-popping stuff. AR Fox, man. The way he can reel off those rapid, adrenaline-fuelled offense strings. Awesome stuff. A good match to get Moxley and the Deathriders in the building, and an opportunity for Moxley to say a few things on the mic afterward.

Moxley takes the mic, talks about loving to fight on Saturday night, that was too easy. “You flippy asses thought you could beat the Deathriders, who do ya think is gonna beat Ospreay at Wembley, Kenny Omega’s broke ass? It’s us against the world!” Moxley also mentions that Claudio just got back from Mexico, where it was high altitude, but THEY DON’T BELIEVE IN HIGH ALTITUDE, THAT’S FOR SHEEP. What. LOL

Cut to the Women’s Tag Champions backstage, DIVINE DOMINION! Like Mercedes is disgusted by the Women’s World title scene, Lena Kross and Megan Bayne are disgusted by the tag scene. They call the Sisters of Sin “desperate” little things who should just keep carrying Thekla’s bags!

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

THEKLA! “Everybody knows what I do to presidents… so I don’t have to tell you what I do to CEOs.” Thekla mocks Willow. “Maybe the reason you’ve never touched [the world title]… is because you keep on pretending to be a BABY… while I’m a real-life woman. The only thing that’s funnier than a dumb bitch… is a happy one.” Jesus, Thekla!

And now, we cut to a vignette from the Bang Bang Gang!

Jay White has a puppy! They’ve partnered with an adoption center in Roanoke to give two lucky pups a new home. “This is Finlay, and he’s a nepo baby bitch.” “And this is Clark, sure, he’s filthy, and he likes to hump a lot, but he’s a good boy.” Ace: “Look, we like to play games, but this is real. These dogs are up adoption.”

It’s very sweet with sad music and puppies playing… and here’s Juice to be crazy.

Jay: “Please! Give THESE dogs new life. Because… we’re gonna end the other ones.”

That was fucking gold, lol.

Schiavone makes the case for people to reach out and adopt the REAL dogs.

Brian Cage! I’m not sure why he is bandaged around his forehead. The Rascalz music hits, and here comes Zachary Wentz!

Zachary Wentz v Brian Cage

Trent? is at ringside for Cage. Ahhh. Nigel explains Cage’s bandage as from the exploding skateboard from Dynamite. Tony: “How you know?”

Wentz using his speed to avoid Cage… that only works so well. Wentz avoids a slam and sends Cage out to the apron. Kick sends Cage to the floor. Dive is CAUGHT, Wentz gets free, off the apron takes Cage down! Wentz takes too long to celebrate, allowing The Machine to slam Wentz back-first into the ringside. Cage now in control, looking for that outside-in rope suplex. Nails it, then Cage flexes those biceps to send us to commercial.

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Earlier, Fletcher reminded viewers that it was AGAINST the Rascalz where Kyle got injured and was forced to vacate the TNT title.

Back live, Wentz hits a dropkick from the top and both men are down. Crowd is rallying behind Wentz. Running elbows, a back elbow, and a series of kicks! That sequence finally puts Cage onto his hands and knees, double stomp to the back. Spinning knee puts Cage down for two. Both men up. Cage ducks a charge, Wentz gets several kicks. Corkscrew cutter for two!

Wentz looks for a springboard — and gets CLOCKED by a Cage discus lariat. Cage stands on the middle rope, grabbing Wentz from inside-out for a wild German suplex. DRILL CLAW gets three! Brian Cage wins a singles match on TV!

WINNER: “The Machine” Brian Cage
TIME: 7:58
RATING: **3/4
THOUGHTS: Perfectly fine wrestling match. While I dislike when some critics act like every new talent ends up losing on Collision, it isn’t 100% UNtrue. The Rascalz continue to deliver when they get in the ring, and the fans enjoy them, but they’re in the “good match having” territory. Hopefully a push for tag or trios is on tap for after ALL IN. Cage looked great here. Big win for him on TV, but seeming to setup Rascalz as opposition for the Family.

Trent? gets the microphone and again challenges Darby Allin for a match. “Darby isn’t even in the state!” He tells the referee to get in and raise his hand lol. WAIT! DARBY’S MUSIC HITS! DARBY ALLIN IS HERE!!! CROWD GOES CRAZY! SHOTGUN DROPKICK! REF RINGS THE BELL!

Darby Allin v Trent Baretta

The crowd is LOSING it. If people question why Darby is so highly featured in AEW, well, because the people fucking love him. This is officially a match! Darby beating Trent on the outside — Brian Cage is still out there and gets Darby’s attention. Trent from behind! Baretta charges… Darby counters! Trent into the barricade! Rolls Trent in! Darby up looking for a Coffin Drop, but Cage stands on the ring steps for a distraction. Trent sends Darby HARD to the floor. Back in, Darby kicks out at two. “DARBY, DARBY.”

Darby counters Trent and hits some forearms. Off the ropes… Trent with a baaaaack body drop! Running Knee! One, two, kickout! Trent is annoyed. “LET’S GO DARBY!” chants ring out! This is the loudest the crowd has been all night, folks.

Trent sends Darby into the corner, looking for a super-something. Darby blocks, shots to the midsection. Headbutt sends Trent to the canvas. Darby … Coffin Drop TO BRIAN CAGE ON THE OUTSIDE! Darby back in, gets his clock cleaned by Trent! On the apron, Trent looking for the Storm Zero (I can’t remember what Trent calls it) … and gets it! Rolls Darby back in… Darby kicks out!

The action takes them back to the top rope. SUNSET FLIP BOMB ON TRENT! COFFIN DROP! DARBY WINS!

WINNER: Darby Allin
TIME: 5:15
RATING: ***1/2
THOUGHTS: The crowd was HOT for Darby. This was an absolute sprint that made a meal of only having about five minutes. I have a soft spot for Trent? so it was nice to see him get some shine tonight in a losing effort. Darby is a star, folks.

Brian Cage IMMEDIATELY hits the ring. Powerbomb to Darby! A SECOND! Mark Davis is out to help beat up Darby Allin. Here comes Speedball with a chair!! National title match is NEXT!

Cut backstage to Willow. Why wait for All In with Mercedes? Maya World is here! Willow makes a challenge for Maya, Hyan, and herself to take on Mercedes and the Divine Dominion live in Boston on Dynamite, this next Wednesday! Maya says “after you beat Thekla for the world title, how about you give me the first title shot?” Willow is down!

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Andrade vignette. He’s on a boat with a beautiful woman. “How you know? … Tranquilo.”

Back to ringside, Kyle Fletcher has joined commentary. We get special in-ring entrances for this title match! From Montreal, Quebec… gee, is AEW doing anything in Montreal soon? Like in fifteen days? Hey?

AEW NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP: Mark Davis (c) v Speedball Mike Bailey

Tony points out the long tag history of Fletcher and Davis. I love that AEW doesn’t ignore the past and history of wrestlers.

Davis looks to manhandle Bailey, who has to use his speed to get an edge here. Bailey succeeds with some kicks, but runs into Davis just tossing him to the ropes. Slam — Senton by big DUNKZILLA! Oof. Speedball is NOT a large man; Davis IS.

Graphic for the Willow/Maya/Hyan vs Mercedes/Divine Dominion match, official for Wednesday. Yeesh, they are REALLY looking right past Thekla, aren’t they?

Mark Davis looks for … some kind of crab… Oh God, he’s biting Speedball’s toes! Ref calls for the break. Davis stays in control. Looks for another senton. Bailey moves. Bailey stuns Davis with a kick, up top, dropkick from the top sends Davis down! “Speedball” chants pick up! The martial arts educated Bailey with a series of kicks. Davis ends up in the corner and Speedball goes to town with chest kicks! Running kick! Bailey looks for something… Davis knocks him off, grabs the feet. Bailey escapes, pops up! SUPER HURACANRANA!

Fletcher: “Jeepers!”

Davis rolls to the floor, Speedball with the in and out moonsault to the floor! Commentary is tripping over National/International champion lol.

The fight heads to the commentary table! Speedball has Davis on the table. Davis fights back! Fletcher is raging. What’s happening… OH JESUS! DAVIS WITH THE PILEDRIVER ON TOP OF THE TABLE! Bailey is DOWN… and we cut to commercial, because a piledriver to the table is a “cue commercial” transition move. lol.

*COMMERCIAL BREAK*

Oh shit, Bailey is bleeding. Hard to tell but it might be hardway from his head. Ref is counting eight… nine… Bailey gets in! Davis looks for another piledriver in the ring, but Bailey is DEADWEIGHT. Davis muscles Bailey up… another piledriver, this time in the ring. One, two, BAILEY gets a shoulder up!

Fletcher: “How?”

Crowd is definitely behind Speedball!

Fletcher: “Speedball big here in Virginia, apparently!”

Fletcher: “What’d you call it, Nigel?”

“Claret.”

Tony: “It’s one of his words for blood.”

Nigel: “The sanguine, if you will. The red badge of courage. Crimson mask is what I often hear out of your mouth, Tony. Not a mask so much as a swim cap now for Mike Bailey.”

Back from break. Can’t tell if Bailey bladed or it’s hardway blood. Davis continues to pummel “this mammoth man” as Schiavone calls Davis. Davis with a powerbomb – huracanrana! Looks for the moonsault, misses, Davis misses. Speedball with the fake-out superkick, Davis knocks that way, chop to the back, Speedball twists with a huge roundhouse! “AEW” chant rings out as both men are down. Speedball is gasping for air but is first to his feet. Kick to the chest. Another. A third is caught by Davis, who AGAIN bites the toes. Back suplex, Speedball flips out, Davis with a big boot. In the corner – Dunkzilla with forearm burns. Looks for the sliding corner lariat, misses! Moonsault to the back of Davis! BAILEY ON TOP! 630 SPLASH!!!

ONE! TWO! THREE!

… NO! DAVIS GOT THE ROPES! Speedball lining up – Jake Doyle hits the apron! The distraction lets Davis hit a lariat! And now… hoisted up… OH MY FUCK. What the hell was that?? Cross-arm backdrop, Bailey right on his head. That looked AWFUL. Geeeeez. Somehow Bailey isn’t dead! Davis tosses him! Speedball with a counter into a cradle! Two! Bailey looking for a cross armed pin, TWO AGAIN, SO CLOSE! THE SPINNING HEEL KICK! ANOTHER KICKOUT!

… yeah, okay, do we need to kill all of Bailey’s signatures and finishers?

Crowd is BEGGING for a Bailey win. Spinkick nails Davis again. Bailey goes for the 450 knees. Davis moves! Blasts Bailey with a forearm. Speedball is limp on the apron. Davis looks for a suplex, Bailey gets out, three kicks to the chest of Davis! Speedball SWEEPS THE LEG! Bailey… ULTIMATE WEAPON ON THE APRON. DAVIS MOVES. KNEES TO THE APRON. NASTY looking suplex slam to Bailey. Davis with a lariat, countered again, ONE, TWO, DAVIS KICKS OUT! Davis hits the piledriver and gets three.

WINNER: (and still National Champion) Mark Davis
TIME: 14:16
RATING: ****
THOUGHTS: “Give Mike Bailey all the credit in the world” says Schiavone. Well, that’s fine, but “coming close” and “credit” only goes so far. That saidThis was a fantastic match, best of the night by far, but I have to question having Mark Davis, the HEEL, kick out of so much in the home stretch. Bailey hit him with basically his entire arsenal but couldn’t get the job done. Not sure why Davis needed to kickout, clean, of everything Bailey unleashed. Bailey kicking out of a lot more would have made more sense. I think the idea was to have Bailey come so, so close, but it felt a little empty when he couldn’t do it and then lost. Still, a VERY good match, and it’s VERY worth noting just how much the crowd got behind Speedball. People love this underdog karate kid non-binary French-Canadian. This match went a long way to give Speedball some needed momentum, even in loss, after being sidelined since the split with Kevin Knight. Now give Bailey a big match at Redemption, TK!

Fletcher, Doyle, and Mark Davis celebrate as the show comes to a close.