Sambus’ AEW Collision: Holiday Bash Review 12.20.25

Good afternoon friends! It’s Theo Sambus on hand for today’s early broadcast of Collision, with part 2 of the Holiday Bash events, filmed earlier in the week in Manchester, England. And I was there live! I’m very glad to be covering this one as I had to leave for my train just as the main event was starting, and I was gutted to miss out as I heard very good things about Okada vs Knight. So that should be a little treat!

I had a blast at the 3-hour Dynamite/Collision taping, with Fletcher/Pac standing out as the clear match of the night. And despite seeing a few moans about it online, I loved the MJF return and how he seamlessly slipped into owning that microphone against Hangman, Swerve and Joe. I feel like there’s real intrigue about which direction they go with that four-way at World’s End now – my money is on Hangman somehow assisting Swerve to win the title as a receipt for Swerve’s involvement when Page beat Moxley. But then again, MJF has the momentum; can he afford to lose another title opportunity? The unlikeliest result at face value seems to be Joe retaining…which makes me think that’s the kind of curveball we’ll get after all. It’s always fun to be kept guessing in wrestling, so I’m sure the next week of shows will prove important as we tick off the last stops before World’s End.

On tap for tonight, it’s Gold League action for the Continental Classic, with Speedball Mike Bailey taking on Jack Perry, and Okada vs Kevin Knight in our main event. We’ll also see Eddie Kingston in singles competition, along with Mercedes Mone defending her RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship, which makes sense seeing as we’re in ENG-EEER-LAND BRUV!

So on that note, let’s crack on with the show and enjoy the next hour of All Elite action.

 

Location: Manchester, England

Venue: Co-Op Live Arena

Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness, & Tony Schiavone

 

We are live-to-tape from the Co-Op Live Arena, as the opening pyro goes off and Arkady Aura welcomes us to the show for our first slice of action.

 

[AEW Continental Classic – Gold League] Mike Bailey [6] vs ‘Jungle’ Jack Perry [0]

Bailey and Perry shake hands in a show of sportsmanship. They both sweep the legs and go for dropkicks, neither man hitting the mark. That seems to jar Perry’s ankle, previously injured last week. Chops in the corner from Perry, and a suplex for a one count. Speedball to the outside, Perry goes for a suicide dive but Perry hops over and nails a springboard moonsault to catch Perry from behind, nicely done. Perry manages to send Bailey into the steps to create some space as we head to our first commercial break.

We’re back with Bailey launching off the ropes for a second rope shotgun dropkick. Spin kick to the midsection, standing SSP gets a 2 count. Bailey to the top rope, misses the shooting star knees, also misses the standing variation but he sweeps the legs of Perry on the apron. Apron Ultima Weapon misses too! DESTROYER by Perry, and both men are down on the outside. Perry to the top rope now, misses a stomp and that jars the ankle again. Bailey is poised for the tornado kick, Perry comes out and delivers an overhead biel into the corner! German, 1, 2, no. Thrust kick from Bailey, and he sets up for the Flamingo Driver, Perry rolls through into a cover for 2. They trade nearfalls until Perry transitions into the Snare Trap! But Bailey makes the ropes. Roaring elbow connects from Bailey after he misses a tornado kick. Moonsault knees, Perry gets the knees up but it hurts him too. Tornado Kick connects in the corner, Bailey is poised for the Ultima Weapon, Perry evades, dodges a kick too and bites the toes! Backdrop suplex from Perry, 1, 2…3!

Winner: Jack Perry

Time: 10:33

Rating: *** – Exciting action with some decent high spots, very back and forth without either man getting to build much momentum. Finish kind of caught me off-guard as I don’t believe Perry has used the Backdrop suplex as a finish before. Perry gets some points, and Bailey is prevented from getting those elusive 9 points.

*Luchasaurus comes out after the match with a sack of goodies and a santa hat…SantaSaurus? LuchaSanta? Bailey and Perry hug as we go to commercial.

 

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Eddie Kingston makes his way to the ring, with the Grizzled Young Veterans in the ring along with Nathan Cruz. GYV are big heels in Manchester due to Manchester/Liverpool rivalry. GYV attack Kingston before he gets into the ring to give Cruz an advantage, and the bell rings as Eddie enters the ring.

Eddie Kingston vs Nathan Cruz

Slingshot suplex by Cruz, and a running leg lariat to Eddie on the ropes. Running lariat from Eddie, machine gun chops in the corner. Neckbreaker connects, 1, 2, Zavk Gibson gets up on the apron to distract Eddie. Rollup for 2 from Cruz. Exploder! Eddie hits a DDT for the 1, 2, 3.

Winner: Eddie Kingston

Time: 1:39

Rating: N/R – Squash match to give Eddie some time in front of the Manchester crowd, who are firmly behind him. Eddie’s over in the UK, big time.

 

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Mercedes Mone makes her way to the ring for her Open Challenge. Answering the call….WINDSAHHHHH! It’s Alex Windsor to a reasonable reaction, albeit perhaps not the homerun pop they were expecting.

[RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Championship] Mercedes Mone vs Alex Windsor

Windsor nails a shotgun dropkick as we begin and works over Mone in the corner. Boot from Mone, flying forearm in response from Windsor. Sliding lariat gets a 1 count. Windsor locks in a Sharpshooter but Mone is by the ropes and steps to the apron to break it. Meteora on the apron, nope Windsor rolls through and locks the Sharpshooter back in! Mone uses the turnbuckles to escape as we get the graphic that Revolution is scheduled for March 16th. Mone is planted on the floor with a Blue Thunder-type manouevre. Back in the ring, Mone hits a backstabber and throws Windsor into the buckles. Kick to the side of the head, and Mone looks pleased with herself as we go to commercial.

Back from break, Mone is in the middle of delivering the Three Amigos…but the third is blocked. Windsor is driven face-first into the middle buckle, and then both women collide heads. Rope-assisted neckbreaker by Windsor, and a draping DDT connects! Windsor looks for another Sharpshooter but Mone reverses into a cover for 2. Crossface from Mone, Windsor gets to her feet though. Crucifix bomb by Mone, and she hits the running Meteora for 2. Mone is pissed that didn’t get the job done. She climbs the buckles, and does a ‘MONEEEEE’ shout in the style of WINDSAHHHH which made me chuckle. Blue Thunder Bomb off the top rope! 1, 2, no! Mone with a backstabber and rolls into the Statement Maker! Windsor rolls through, looks for the Sharpshooter again, sunset flip attempt, Mone with the Mone Maker attempt, denied. Tight cover by Windsor! 1, 2, 3!

Winner and NEW RevPro Undisputed British Women’s Champion: Alex Windsor

Time: 10:41

Rating: *** – Big moment with Mone being pinned cleanly, and the match had some notable moments but didn’t ever reach anything remotely like ‘epic’ status. Windsor still hasn’t quite clicked for me in AEW yet but this was a good start towards turning a new leaf; hopefully she finds her groove in 2026.

*In a touching moment, Windsor celebrates with her son post-match, who climbs into the ring for a big hug. That’s so sweet.

 

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*Next, we recap MJF interrupting the contract signing this past Wednesday, making the World’s End main event a four-way.

[AEW Continental Classic – Gold League] Kevin Knight [3] vs Kazuchika Okada [6]

Don Callis is on commentary for this one, as per usual. Okada gets some sweet pyro tonight. Shoulder block from Okada as we begin, Knight tries a hip toss, gets out of a reversal from Okada, and they both go for dropkicks but fail to land. Okada with a clean break in the ropes, slaps the chest a little, and Knight mocks the Okada pose, flipping him off. Okada baits Knight to crossbody to the floor, stepping out of the way, but Knight lands on his feet. They trade forearms on the floor, realize the count is getting high so roll back into the ring to continue trading forearms.

Okada gets the upper hand, goes for the Rainmaker but Knight LEAPS over it! More elbows and forearms, both men knock each other back. They step to the apron and look to meet in the middle of the ring with stereo crossbodies, and Knight dives but Okada was faking, and he finds it hilarious. Amazing. Knight doesn’t let up though, and he launches himself to the floor in a springboard crossbody to knock Okada down as we go to PIP.

During the break, Okada has stayed in control, driving Knight into the barricade a few times. Back body drop in the ring, Okada covers for 2. Knight breaks out a chinlock, stops the dropkick attempt and hits a crossbody. Leaping lariat connects! Kip up, corner lariat and a body slam, and Knight hits the splash for 2. Knight goes for the pendulum DDT, Okada dumps him to the apron, and then nudges Rick Knox into the ropes to cut Knight off on a springboard move. Air Raid Crash across the knee connects, Okada goes up top…elbow drop! RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE! Okada looks for the Rainmaker, Knight evades and hits a Sky High, 1, 2, no! Knight to the top once more, UFO Splash but Okada gets the knees up! Okada tries for a tombstone, can’t get it, rolls Knight into a modified Rainmaker and maintains wrist control….Knight ducks another but runs into a dropkick. Knight lands a dropkick of his own! Knight goes for his own Rainmaker INTO the pendulum DDT! Springboard lariat, 1, 2, NO.

Knight to the top, Okada catches him with a dropkick in midair…wheelbarrow reversed, no Okada hits the wheelbarrow German. Cradle by Knight! 1, 2, 3!

Winner: Kevin Knight

Time: 13:55

Rating: ***1/2 – Well that is QUITE the upset and most likely upends everyone’s predictions! Great to see Knight showing up in a spot like this and owning it against someone the calibur of Okada – Knight may be the single competitor who’s gained the most from the C2 this year.

*Okada is shocked to the core at his defeat! Bailey heads back out to celebrate with Knight. And we see on the scoreboard that there is now a 5-way tie at the top! Bailey vs Okada next Thursday, along with Pac vs Kevin Knight. Nice. And just like that, we’re done!

That leaves us with the standings as follows:

Gold League:
Kyle Fletcher (2-2-0 = 6 points)
Kazuchika Okada (2-2-0 = 6 points)
Speedball Mike Bailey (2-2-0 = 6 points)
PAC (2-1-0 = 6 points)
Kevin Knight (2-2-0 = 6 points)
Jack Perry (1-2-0 = 3 points)

Blue League:
Konosuke Takeshita (2-0-1 = 7 points)
Claudio Castagnoli (2-1-1 = 7 points)
Jon Moxley (2-2-0 = 6 points)
Orange Cassidy (2-1-0 = 6 points)
Mascara Dorada (1-2-0 = 3 points)
Roderick Strong (0-3-0 = 0 points)

 

Good stuff all round. Our main man Ryan Ciocco will be covering all your Collision needs this coming Thursday for the special Christmas edition, so I will see you next week right here on 411mania for our live World’s End coverage. Have a FABULOUS Christmas, folks!

7.4

The final score: review Good

The 411

It’s a breezy hour of good solid fun, so there’s never going to be any complaints from me there. The early portion of the show was a little perfunctory (which some could say is a tiny bit of a disappointment consideringit involved a title change and a rare loss for Mone), but the main event was certainly worth a look, not just for providing arguably the biggest upset of the tournament, but solidifying Knight as a hot prospect.