wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ AEW Collision: Homecoming Review 10.11.25
Image Credit: AEW
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Hello friends! It’s Theo Sambus once again for your Collision coverage this evening, and I have torn myself away from Ghost of Yotei momentarily to check out this week’s Homecoming edition of the show. I’m absolutely loving Yotei by the way; it won’t be my Game of the Year (Expedition 33 is the clear frontrunner by a longshot) but Ghost of Yotei has got me absolutely hooked.
We’re back in Daily’s Place for a taped airing of Collision, with some pretty tasty multi-person matches lined up. Willow Nightingale teams with her pals JetSpeed to take on Megan Bayne and FTR in Mixed Trios action, plus we’ll also see Toni Storm together with Kris Statlander and Harley Cameron to face the Triangle of Madness, which will undoubtedly have ramifications for the Storm/Statlander match next weekend, not to mention Blood & Guts next month.
Elsewhere, Kota Frickin Ibushi goes up against on Josh Alexander, and Eddie Kingston faces a member of LFI for a second week running, this time facing The Beast Mortos in a bit of a hoss fight. Looks good, let’s get to it!
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*Collision is LIVE (to tape) and we have ourselves some COLD OPEN PROMOS~! The Triangle of Madness welcome their opponents to the web. Harley Cameron says a Storm is coming. They’re asses will be on Statlander’s foot. Big Bill will help Bowens and Caster get on the same page by cracking their skulls together. Anthony Bowens tries to cut a promo and Max Caster just screams that he’s boring in his face. Ha! Stokely says this alliance has paid off, and Bayne will make her opponents bow down. Kevin Knight is taking flight tonight. Willow warns Megan Bayne that she’ll be in the lion’s den.
OPENING CREDS.
And Kota Ibushi makes his way to the ring as we prepare for our opening contest.
Kota Ibushi vs Josh Alexander (w/ Don Callis)
Alexander backs Ibushi into the ropes, clean break. Ibushi takes his turn to back Alexander into the ropes, clean break too but Alexander tries to take advantage so Ibushi delivers a swift crescent kick. Alexander back in control, side headlock takedown, shoulder tackle, looks for a DVD but Ibushi avoids it and nails and dropkick. Ibushi with a slingshot crossbody to the outside, followed by kicks to the chest. Alexander grabs the leg and whips it into the ringpost, before dropping him with a DDT on the floor!
Back in the ring, Alexander stomps the legs, softening Ibushi up. Ankle twist, Ibushi gets sent to the outside, where Callis gives him a cheap kick for the hell of it. Clubbing blows to Ibushi, he tries to fire up but Alexander with a gutshot. Powerslam from Ibushi though! Electric chair from Aleander, Ibushi counters with a German. Kicks to the chest again, spin kick, Alexander catches the leg once more but Ibushi takes him down. Standing moonsault connects. Alexander rolls through on a powerbomb attempt and locks in the Ankle lock! Ibushi counters and sends Alexander into the corner. Burning Hammer position, Alexander spins Ibushi out into a reverse Blue Thunder! 1, 2, NO. Alexander on the middle rope, misses a dive and Ibushi gets him with a big kick and a half Nelson suplex. Running Meteora! 1, 2, NO. Josh to the apron, he picks Ibushi up over the top rope and slams him on the apron! Crossbody to the back, vintage Alexander. Lariat! 1, 2, nooooo. Alexander gets Ibushi on the top buckle and heads up with him, gets him on his shoulders but HOLY SHIT Ibushi falls off to the floor! That was grim. Ref is checking on Ibushi and his leg is twisted under him. Docs tending to Ibushi as Bryce Remsburg begins to count him out. Yep, that’s the 10 count.
Winner: Josh Alexander
Time: 13:57
Rating: ***1/4 – That injury absolutely sucks for Ibushi as it feels like he just can’t catch a break in AEW. Cracking match up until the unfortunate end, comfortably heading to even better territory but the injury obviously cut it short.
*Callis takes the mic and says that’s what happens when you mess with the Don Callis Family. Mark Davis is back!! He attacks the injured Ibushi, wtf! BUT KENNY OMEGA IS HERE! Omega cleans house, V-Trigger to Alexander! He has a trash can and throws it down to strike Davis on the floor. Quite an understated return for Davis but good to have him back in the fold.
*Mark Briscoe vs Kyle Fletcher 5 is signed for WrestleDream.
*Mark Briscoe says he sees the fear in Kyle’s eyes. They ain’t no strangers. 2 wins for Briscoe, 2 wins for Fletcher. Briscoe needs gold around his waist. He’s been here near 3 years now, and at WrestleDream it’s high time he takes the TNT title. Fletcher thinks he has Briscoe’s number.
*Video package for Hangman Adam Page vs Samoa Joe. I’m enjoying the build so far, great promos between them this past week.
‘Platinum’ Max Caster & Anthony Bowens vs Big Bill & ‘Bounty Hunter’ Bryan Keith
It’s Caster and Keith to start, nope Bowens tags in, oh Caster blind tags back in as they jockey to start things off. Max does his chant in the face of Keith, and walks towards his own corner, where Bowens tags himself in once more. Shoulder block from Bowens, kick to the midsection, slingshot DDT connects. Big Bill tags in so Bowens quickly tags out to Caster. Max tags him back haha. They go back and forth tagging out until Bill splashes Caster in the corner and clubs him in the back. Sunset flip from Caster, Bill keeps his balance but Caster rakes the eyes, and Bowens comes in for a Fameasser.
Caster and Bowens are on opposite corners now, staring at each other, perhaps about to face off? But Bill pulls Bowens to the floor and Keith takes out Caster. Keith gouges the eyes as we head to commercial, and Bill and Keith work over Caster and Bowens around the ringside area.
We come back to see Keith grabbing a side headlock on Bowens, who gets him on his shoulders but that doesn’t last long. Big boot from Keith, tag to Caster, who slides to the outside to chop Keith. He ends up chopping the ringpost, but dodges Bill on a splash. Back in the ring, Death Valley Driver from Caster connects on Keith! 1, 2, no. Blind tag from Bowens as Caster climbs the ropes, Keith sends Bowens into Caster. And now Bowens and Caster get into a shoving contest. Bill is sent to the floor, kick from Keith to Caster, and the Mollywhop connects on Bryan Keith! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Max Caster & Anthony Bowens
Time: 10:22
Rating: **1/2 – Basic stuff in the early goings, and the Bowens/Caster dynamic is fun to a point, but a whole load of blind tagging gets a little old. Bill & Keith again don’t come out favorably, which is a shame as they’re a great team.
*Post-match, Bowens is very happy and says he did it all by himself.
*The Bang Bang Gang are happy backstage, the MVP of the Pandemic Era is back in Jacksonville baby! Big Bill & Bryan Keith storm backstage, and Ace Austin says Bill has a big mouth for someone who just lost. Bill and Keith take issue with them, and challenge them for…some time down the line?
TayJay vs Dream Girl Ellie and Carolina Cruz
Double knee to Carolina, and a double hip attack connects. Cruz in, running in to an elbow from Melo.Snapmare from Anna, step up knee from Melo, and now it all breaks down, both Anna and Tay hitting stereo thrust kicks. Pump kick from Melo, stomps too. Anna whips Tay into the corner for another Pump kick. Anna Jay with a Gory Bomb into a knee from Melo, nice!
Winners: TayJay
Time: 2:10
Rating: N/R – TayJay are looking to build a head of steam before we get to crown Women’s Tag Team Champions, so a few squashes like this make sense. Nice finisher from TayJay!
*Lexy Nair is with the Conglomeration backstage. O’Reilly says he got out-Kyled. Orange Cassidy says Briscoe is back in the farm but he’d probably say something about the word of the day. Strong still has his attention on Moxley. Willow says she always flies the flag for the Conglomeration. OC says she should do the thing. Willow gives her best Mark Briscoe impression to send them all out.
*Video package based on The Demand/Hurt Syndicate rivalry. For Collision on Wednesday, Gates of Agony take on Lashley and Benjamin, and then at WrestleDream it’ll be a Trios rematch as the Hurt Syndicate face The Demand one more time.
*Recap from the crazy events to end Dynamite this past week, including that awesome tackle from security on Darby Allin.
*We see footage from the New York Comic Con, with Darby Allin rocking up to take out Moxley on the stage. This Wednesday, they have a face-to-face.
*The Death Riders are backstage somewhere. Marina Shafir says Darby needs a reset. Garcia says Darby has everything, but he lacks structure. He’s trying to kill himself. Garcia says this right here is his Everest. Pac says they’re very different, they’re legit competitors, the best of the best, they refuse mediocrity. Whereas Allin is a piece of crap who relies on cheap stunts and props. Darby is desperate for attention and an embarrassment to the industry. He put his nose in their business for the final time. Molotov Cocktails, really? They won’t be held responsible for what happens next. Moxley says the next time he sees Darby, he will get his face smashed in, and that’s a promise.
Toni Storm, Kris Statlander & Harley Cameron vs Triangle of Madness (Thekla, Julia Hart & Skye Blue)
Storm takes it Thekla as the bell rings, stomping her down and grabbing the hair, hair biel connects. And again! Glancing blow from a roundhouse kick from Thekla, Storm comes back with a Louise Thesz Press. Backbreaker, tag to Harley. Thekla with a forearm to Cameron and she tags in Blue, who hoists Harley onto her shoulders, only for Cameron to avoid it. Shotgun dropkick, 1 count. Splash from Cameron in the corner, tag to Statlander, Russian leg sweep from Hareley, slingshot senton from Statlander, and a little double teaming ensues. Delayed vertical suplex from the Women’s champion on Blue, body slam, 1, 2, no. Statlander is sent into the buckles as Julia comes in, but Hart runs into a powerslam before Storm tags in. Northern Lights suplex gets 2, Storm tags out to Cameron again. Blue grabs the legs, allowing Thekla to catch her off guard with a knee on the apron. Hart capitalizes, chops in the corner, followed by the Rope Walk Clothesline. Blue in for a running PK, covers for 2. Thekla tags in, snapmare, cover for 2. Thekla elbows both Storm and Statlander on the apron, tags Skye Blue in, who drives the foot into the throat of Cameron. Snap suplex and Blue cuts off the face corner, elbowing Cameron back down to the mat. Cameron fires up but gets knocked down again. On Blue’s shoulders, Cameron avoids it, Sole Food! Tag to Storm, shotgun dropkicks galore. Sky High! 1, 2, no. Storm looks for Storm Zero, countered with a crescent kick. Sisters both in, rising knee and a leg trip on Storm. Double suplex blocked, Storm suplexes both Blue and Hart instead! Statlander tags in, running uppercuts and kicks to everyone. Twisting neckbreaker on Hart, and she dumps Blue on top of her. Cameron and Statlander hit their assisted flatliner, Thekla saves the pin attempt though. Backstabber on Thekla from Cameron. German! Statlander tries a thrust kick, almost hits Toni, but they recover and take out Blue. They get tossed to the floor, where Harley is left with Thekla. Roll up, 1, 2, no. SPEAR from Thekla! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: Triangle of Madness
Time: 11:25
Rating: **3/4 – Plodding at first, building into some decent action, especially in the solid teamwork displayed between the Triangle of Madness, and to an extent the team of Statlander/Cameron.
*Post-match, Storm fetches the Women’s championship and kisses it sensually before handing it back to Statlander.
*Backstage, we sit with Kenny Omega. Fame, fortune, bouts, that was the mission statement, but then Don Callis had to take out the people he loves. It’s not going to end until one of them fu – there’s a knock at the door and it’s Jack Perry. Perry says sorry for what happened to Omega’s friend…and whatever happens, he has his back. Omega isn’t buying it, where did this come from? Perry gets it, there’s nothing he can do to change the past…but they have some of the same enemies now. Omega doesn’t trust him, but if that’s the case, he doesn’t have many friends and maybe they can work something out on Dynamite.
*Lexy Nair tries to get words with Statlander and Cameron. Cameron says she has to come clean, she asked Mercedes Mone about teaming. Kris knows, she watches the show. Statlander would love to fight for the tag titles with her, but she has to dedicate all her focus to the Women’s championship. Cameron worries about being a tag team orphan, but Statlander has other ideas, she has someone in mind. Here comes Wheeler Yuta though and Cameron starts kicking off, but Toni Storm shows up and wants a piece of Stat-Daddy, so Yuta just walks off.
*MxM TV are here for their latest Casting Call. Nigel McGuinness is fantastic here, as always.
Mansoor requests the sweathogs SHYYUUDUPPPP! The Casting Call continues tonight, and he asks where that ‘street walking announcer is’. Arkady Aura announces who they’re facing tonight. The opponents? La Faccion Ingobernable!
MxM TV vs La Faccion Ingobernable (Dralistico, Sammy Guevara & RUSH)
Dralistico and Johnny TV start off, quick take down from Dralistico, kick to the gut, thrust kick, but a dropkick in return from Johnny. Mansoor tags in, gets flipped and LFI fist each other…wait what? Sammy tags in as goes Madden. He grabs Sammy by the throat and slams him a few times before nailing a Sky High. Double dropkicks from Dralistico and RUSH. Johnny brings Dralistico to the apron, TIJERAS TO THE FLOOR! Taya Valkyrie does the same, diving onto Dralistico with a headscissors to the floor. Mansoor tries to chop RUSH, RUSH responds as you’d think. BULL’S HORNS! He’s not done with him yet. Sammy wants in, and he gets the tag. Swanton! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: La Faccion Ingobernable
Time: 3:46
Rating: N/R – MxM are entertaining, but the Casting Call feels like a rehash of Caster’s Open Challenge already.
*Beast Mortos joins LFI in the ring, so here comes Eddie Kingston, ready to scrap.
Eddie Kingston vs The Beast Mortos
Mortos is wearing shades and it’s amazing. He takes them off as the bell rings, and they both hit the ropes, trying to knock each other down. Eddie with a diving shoulder block off the middle rope, goes for the Uraken but Mortos heads to the floor to avoid it. Back in, double knees to the arm of Kingston, and Mortos locks in a chinlock as we head to commercial.
Back to their feet, both men trade strikes, getting into a chopfest. Poke to the eye from Mortos! Low dropkick from the Beast, and he fishooks the mouth in the ropes. We’re back from break and Mortos nails a running lariat for a 2 count. Mortos takes a run up, misses a knee in the corner and spills to the outside. Kingston with a tope suicida! Neckbreaker by Kingston connects, 1, 2, no. Kingston signals for the Uraken, but Mortos bites the hand. Eddie bites back! Big Spear from Mortos gets 2. Mortos stands on Eddie, goes up top looking for a twisting senton, misses. Exploder suplex by Eddie, followed by the Uraken! 1, 2, 3.
Winner: Eddie Kingston
Time: 8:01
Rating: *** – Kingston continues to get more comfortable back in the ring, which is good to see. Mortos always delivers. Nice little hoss fight, mission accomplished.
*HOOK heads down to the ring as Eddie celebrates.
*Triangle of Madness speak to Lexy Nair but Jamie Hayter and Queen Aminata attack! All hell breaks loose as they all brawl in the back, screaming at each other as they fight.
*Katsuyori Shibata is backstage to deliver a text-to-speech promo! RUSH, congrats on winning. RUSH is supposed to be a champion, so let Shibata show him how a true champion behaves. Shibata will put the Trios titles on the line vs any trios combo of LFI this Wednesday.
[Mixed Trios Match] Megan Bayne & FTR vs Willow Nightingale & JetSpeed
It’s Willow and Bayne getting us started with a heavy grapple, with neither woman getting the advantage. Body slam from Willow and she delivers some corner clotheslines, followed by a low crossbody. Dax tags in and gets right in Nightingale’s face, so she tags out to Knight. Fast pace set by these two, leaping clothesline and a dropkick from Knight, he goes to dropkick Bayne too but stops himself. She pie-faces him, and Dax clocks him from behind. Knight takes out Cash on the apron and hits a shotgun dropkick from the top to Dax as Bailey comes in. Willow with a thrust kick to Bayne, double kicks from JetSpeed, and Willow hits the canonball on Dax!
Willow is legal now, and she goes to hit maybe a Panama Sunrise on Dax but Bayne bulldogs him out of the way and then sends Willow into the steel steps. Dax holds Nightingale back as Bayne comes in to kick her in the midsection. Shoulder thrusts in the corner, splash and an overhead suplex. 1, 2, Willow kicks out. Penelope Ford chokes Willow out over the bottom rope while Bayne has the referee distracted. Bayne levels Nightingale with a clothesline and looks for the powerbomb but Nightingale back body drops her out of it. Cash in, cutting off Willow by taking out JetSpeed on the apron. Cash misses a shot in the corner, tags to Dax, and Bailey is in too with a series of kicks. Triangle moonsault to the floor from Bailey! He goes back up top, misses a dive, but Knight helps him out with a UFO/sunset flip combo. Speedball nails the running SSP for a 2 count.
Knight gets dragged to the floor, meanwhile Bayne hits a fallaway slam on Bailey, with ease! Dax nails the brainbuster, covers but just gets a 2 count. Bailye takes on FTR, then hits the rapid kicks and a tornado DDT on Cash. Willow is ready for the tag, Cash cuts Bailey off though. Bayne tags in, delayed suplex attempt, Bailey avoids it. GERMAN TO BAILEY DROPS HIM ON HIS HEAD. Bayne misses a splash, tag to Nightingale, and Dax is in too. Willow faces off with Dax and unloads on him! Cash from behind though, so she wails away on him too. Nightingale taking on both members of FTR! Knight and Nightingale with dropkicks, Spinebuster to Dax. 1, 2, no. Dax and Willow tussle for a suplex, he rolls her up and pulls the tights but it’s just a 2 count. Bayne in, Willow looks for the powerbomb but Ford gets on the apron. POUNCE to Penelope!
Dragon screw to Bayne, Willow locks in a half crab. JetSpeed get FTR in half crabs too! Stokely helps pull both guys to the outside. Stereo crossbodies from JetSpeed! Willow and Bayne in the corner, mounted punches from Willow, Ford gets involved though. Doomsday Device on Willow! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Megan Bayne & FTR
Time: 14:39
Rating: ***3/4 – Hot main event right there, and the intergender elements were pretty fresh, with Dax in particular coming across as a real scumbag, and Willow refusing to back down making her look badass as hell.
*Bayne looks to continue the assault but here comes Harley Cameron to make the save. Cameron has the fret-board wrapped in a chain and she helps Willow to her feet. Maybe Cameron has indeed found her new tag partner?
*JetSpeed vs FTR is confirmed for Tailhgate Brawl next week, as is Harley Cameron & Willow Nightingale vs Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford.
JetSpeed, Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron celebrate as Collision goes off the air. That’s all from us tonight folks – I’ll see you next Saturday for WrestleDream, woooo!
