wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ AEW Collision Review 04.11.26
Image Credit: AEW
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Hello everybody and welcome to 411’s live coverage of AEW Collision, hosted by Theo Sambus, and you join us for our final stop before Dynasty tomorrow evening. ‘Back in the day’, Collision never missed when it came to the go-home shows, and judging by the card this evening I’m feeling this could be a return to form.
The Hurt Syndicate make their long-awaited return to action now that both Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley are healthy. We’ll also determine the #2 spot for Sunday’s Casino Gauntlet match, as RUSH takes on Anthony Bowens. In the women’s division, we have a tasty preview tag, as Thekla & Marina Shafir take on their respective Dynasty opponents in the Brawling Birds. The gripping tag team action continues, with the Young Bucks facing the Don Callis Family duo of El Clon & Hechicero in a match that could be all kinds of wild. Then it’s a double main event with gold on the line, as Kazuchika Okada defends the International championship against Myron Reed (I guess you can earn a title shot with just two victories?), and The Dogs challenging for the Trios championships against recent victors JetSpeed & Mistico. The Dogs have quickly lost a lot of their credibility in AEW thanks to repeated losses against Darby Allin and the Conglomeration, so you’d have to think a title win would get them back on track.
With all of that in store for us, plus the final push for tomorrow’s PPV, we’ve got a Good Time ahead of us. Let’s roll!
Location: Edmonton, AB
Venue: Rogers Place
Commentators: Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness & Tony Schiavone
*We are LIVE to tape and Collision comes on the air with our usual opening credits, followed by the entrance of The Dogs as we prepare for our Trios title match.
[AEW World Trios Championships] Mistico & JetSpeed © vs. The Dogs
Mistico and David Finlay start things off for us, but Kidd attacks from behind while the others knock Knight and Bailey off the apron. They spill to the floor with the Dogs stomping each man down. Kidd mocks Speedball but walks into a tijeras. Connors attacks Bailey from behind, Knight in with a leaping lariat, armdrag to Connors. Finlay kicks Knight out of the ring and turns his attention back to Mistico. Tijeras to Finlay, and again, this one sending him to the outside. Mistico runs the ropes but Kidd is there to cut him off. All six men in the ring, Bailey with a slingshot crossbody to Kidd on the floor. Knight with a slingshot too! And Mistico follows up with a tornillo. Champs are back in control! They go to hit stereo dives, but the Dogs interrupt. Body slam to Bailey on the floor, Knight gets driven into the ringpost as we head to PIP break.
We’re back, with Finlay working over Knight with a sideheadlock, Knight escaping and nailing a dropkick to create some space. Tag to Mistico! Handspring back elbow connects as does the tijeras, and he hits an assisted one on Kidd. The trios champs go for the stereo dives again and hit them this time, tope suicidas for everyone! Knight tags back in, heads up top but Kidd is there to knock him off. Finlay with a big knockout blow to Bailey. Connors catches Mistico with an uppercut. Kidd with a pump kick, thrust kick from Bailey. Powerbomb attempt is thwarted, Bailey hits the triangle moonsault to the floor. Knight knocks Finlay down, may be thinking UFO splash? No, Connors puts a stop to that. Rising kick from Mistico, and the La Mistica is locked in! Finlay gets kicked down, UFO Splash OVER Mistico but Finaly got the knees up! Piledriver on Mistico from Kidd! Kidd gets tagged in, looks for another piledriver but it’s denied. Ah my feed tonight sucks! Big boots from Bailey, Kidd gets caught in a straitjacket pinfall attempt, only 2! PILEDRIVER to Bailey, right into the spear/brainbuster combo! Kidd covers, 1, 2, 3! NEW CHAMPS!
Winners and NEW AEW World Trios Champions: The Dogs
Time: 13:33
Rating: ***1/4 – Surprise result as The Dogs had largely been jobbed out in their AEW appearances, but this massively puts them on the map. Good contest here, a little scrappy with the legal men but a fun way to kick off the show.
*Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy appear on the big screen, and he knows there’s three of them and only two Conglomeration members here, but OC is on the phone with someone who might partner with them. Strong says they’ll see them on Sunday, demanding OC calls the guy back, as he didn’t actually confirm he was going to join them.
*Will Ospreay and the United Empire speak backstage after Dynamite. Ospreay says he had brothers in Japan who had his back against the Death Riders. Ospreay calls Newman his ‘little brother’. Newman says Ospreay told him he had a problem at work, and the United Empire always stand together. They are a brotherhood. Ospreay says on Sunday he gets Moxley all to himself.
Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida vs Ava Lawless & Gigi Rey
We see footage from earlier in the week of Shida saying she goes way back with Statlander, so they should do it just like old times and tag together.
The bell rings, and Shida unloads on Lawless. Schaivone tells us that Harley Cameron is watching backstage, upset that Statlander chose to team with someone else. Shida hits a Falcon Arrow, and then Statlander tags herself in. Snap suplex and a Fisherwoman’s Buster connects on Rey. Staturday Night Fever connects! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: Kris Statlander & Hikaru Shida
Time: 1:42
Rating: N/R – I’m interested to see where we go with Stat & Shida. What’s Shida’s gameplan here? How does this affect Harley Cameron, who had previously put out feelers for re-tagging with Statlander herself.
*Promo video for Hyan and Maya World. Great stuff to see a proper hype video for them. They make their claim for the tag titles, and they’re coming for Divine Dominion on the Dynasty Zero Hour. That’s neat for a match that easily could have been thrown together at the last second on Zero Hour; that shows how much 30 seconds of airtime can help.
*Jon Moxley speaks backstage along with the Death Riders. They thrive in the chaos. Nobody can run with them, not for long; they get tired, they get distracted, they just break. Ospreay is hell-bent on breaking Moxley’s neck? With this play, 20 minutes alone with Moxley, it’s a very long time to not make a mistake. With a neck like that, Ospreay can’t afford a mistake. Screw United Empire, screw Japan, it’s them against the world. Moxley walks off…and is it just me, or are the Death Riders momentarily hesitant to follow after him?
[Casino Gauntlet Qualifier For #2 Spot] RUSH vs. Anthony Bowens
RUSH and Bowens trade shoulder blocks, working to a stalemate. Big elbow knocks Bowens down, and RUSH stomps away at him in the corner. Fakes out the running knees, gives him a little kick and poses, tranquilo! Powerslam from RUSH, Bowens meets him with a bicycle kick. Bowens whips RUSH between both barricades on the outside and bounces his head off the steel steps. Bowens looks for a suplex on the floor, RUSH drops to a knee to block it but gets sent back into the barricades as we head to commercial.
Back from break, Bowens unloads with some kicks, and hits the Fameasser. Cover, 1, 2, kickout. Dropkick to the back of the head from RUSH as he takes back control. They trade chops in the corner, until a modified Olympic Slam gives RUSH a 2 count. Bowens nails the twisting rope-assisted DDT, covers, 1, 2, NO. Bowens charges and RUSH biels him overhead into the corner. BULL’S HORNS is denied, thrust kick. Running knee strike connects, 1, 2, RUSH kicks out. German! RUSH hits another running dropkick and Bowens spills to the floor, and it’s his turn to get thrown into the barricade. Back in the ring, the Bull’s Horns connects! RUSH takes a while to cover, and it’s a cocky cover…he gets the 1, 2, 3!
Winner: RUSH
Time: 11:29
Rating: *** – Bowens got a surprising amount of offense in the first half, making this quite a 50-50 affair. I’m never that enthralled with Bowens as a competitor but matches like this help raise his stock as he held his own well against someone the calibur of RUSH. Even if that lackadaisical cover at the end made Bowens look a bit of a joke, although that’s just RUSH’s douchey character.
*Lexy Nair is with the Brawling Birds before their respective singles matches tomorrow night. Alex Windsor says Will is going to chop off the head of the snake tomorrow, but first she will chop off the arse. Hayter says she didn’t see some toxic spider last time she was in the ring with Thekla, she just saw a tosser who didn’t want to get hit. Windsor advises them to stop drinking because they’re going to beat the piss out of Shafir & Thekla tonight.
*We get a sneak peak of the sit-down interviews that will feature as part of the Countdown to Dynasty show later tonight.
*Here comes the Hurt Syndicate!
The Hurt Syndicate vs Andy Anderson & Mo Jabari
First action for the Hurt Syndicate since November last year. Both looking in fantastic shape, as always. Lashley starts us off against Anderson, shoving him back into the corner. Back elbows from Lashley and a shoulder block connect, and he lifts Anderson up with EASE for a stalling suplex. Jabari tags in, and he attacks Lashley from behind! Lashley absorbs it, shoves him away and tags in Benjamin. Benjamin takes a chop, huuuge German in response! And again! Anderson runs into a spinebuster from Lashley, Benjamin hits a running knee lift. Spear by Lashley, thrust kick from Benjamin! 1, 2, 3.
Winners: The Hurt Syndicate
Time: 2:19
Rating: N/R – Utter domination to welcome back the Hurt Syndicate to active competition.
*Harley Cameron and Mina Shirakawa look despondent backstage. Lexy Nair tries to catch up with them. Harley says hope is all they have left. They’re all alone. Mina says there’s only one thing left to do…she grabs a bottle of champagne, and Harley grabs it from her, downing it from the bottle.
Young Bucks vs. El Clon & Hechicero
El Clon and Nick Jackson begin as the legal men, fast start with Nick nailing a leaping armdrag but Hechicero coming in to attack from behind. Nick hits the rope-assisted armdrag/tijeras combo and poses for the fans. Young Bucks with a double team sunset bomb, followed by attempted crossbodies to the floor, putting the brakes on at the apron. Tijeras off the apron instead! Facebuster/X-factor combo connects, and Nick moonsaults off the apron, catching Hechicero. Clon hits a beautiful powerbomb lift into a kick to the face, then absolutely ties Matt up in the ropes, half straitjacket-style. Nice! Hechicero in for the tight headscissor roll. Clon gets dumped to the floor, Matt follows up with a kick and skins the cat, hitting a sliced bread on Hechicero. Blockbuster to Clon as Matt is a house of fire! Hechicero hits a running knee to Nick to prevent the tag, then delivers the hammerlock swing into a backbreaker as we go to PIP.
Back from break, Hechicero locks in an abdominal stretch on Matt Jackson, until Matt counters with an armdrag. Clon tags in, leaping to the top but diving right into a Northern Light suplex train. Hechicero receives one for his efforts as well! Matt makes the tag, and Nick is the house of fire now. Enziguri catches Clon on a springboard attempt. Nick with a huge top rope hurracanrana. Destroyer to Hechicero! 1, 2, Clon makes the save. The Bucks try to throw their opponents out, reversed, but the Bucks come back and attempt stereo sharpshooters, denied! Superkicks are dodged by both Clon and Hechicero, and they drive the Bucks back-first into each other. Tied up, stereo jackknife pins! 1, 2, NOOO. Superkicks by the Bucks! Double clotheslines, all four men go down!
Meeting of the minds, guillotine takes Matt down. Clon avoids a DDT in his own unique way. Clon gets launched into a superkick! TK Driver is countered, Hechicero pulls Nick off the apron. Hechicero runs back to his corner, makes the tag and locks in the flipping body scissors. Clon gets superkicked though! Frog splash from Nick Jackson to Hechicero! 1, 2, NO. The Bucks have the arms held of Hechicero…BTE Trigger, noooo they bash knees as Hechicero ducks! Clon with a crossbody, caught! Turns it into the TK Driver! 1, 2, 3!
Winners: The Young Bucks
Time: 15:01
Rating: **** – To the absolute surprise of no one, this rocked the house. The Bucks focused on the highspots, with Hechicero and Clon attempting to keep them grounded with their respective unique offense…that’s a dynamic that works so well. Bucks were obviously winning before they face Takeshita and Okada tomorrow night, but my God we need to run this back soon!
*Recap of Jericho’s return to AEW, and his challenge towards Ricochet for Dynasty, with Ricochet ending up going on The List.
[AEW International Championship] Kazuchika Okada © vs. Myron Reed
Okada and Reed grapple, with Okada backing Reed into the ropes and laying in with forearms. Okada tries to lariat Reed to the floor, Reed doesn’t go all the way and hangs onto the apron. Enziguri, springboard kick connects, barely gets a 1 count. Okada rolls to the outside, Reed goes for a dive but Okada rushes back in, misses a big boot though. Okada sits him on the top turnbuckle and lands the dropkick, sending Reed crashing to the floor.
Back from PIP break, Okada drops Reed on his head with a spike DDT. Body slam delivered, and Okada goes up top for the elbow drop…Reed gets the knees up though! Crucifix cover, 1, 2, NO. Stundog Cutter by Reed! Myron kips up, connects with some forearms, misses a superkick but dodges further strike attempts. Slingshot legdrop across the chest, 1, 2, no. Tornillo to the floor connects, back in the ring Reed gets caught and driven into the mat with the Air Raid Crash neckbreaker across the knee. Okada goes back up top and hits the elbow drop this time. RAINMAKER MIDDLE FINGER POSE! Okada looks for the Rainmaker itself, Reed elbows out of it but runs into a dropkick. Reed hits a Hang 5, and OH MY GOD he dives over the top rope to hit a cutter on Okada to the floor!! Rolls him back in, 450 splash!, 1, 2, NO. Okada back up, Rainmaker attempt again countered with a rollup, 1, 2, no. Reed tries another cutter but gets caught with a tombstone piledriver! RAINMAKER LANDS! 1, 2, 3.
Winner and STILL AEW International Champion: Kazuchika Okada
Time: 11:22
Rating: ***1/2 – Some might take issue with Reed getting a title shot after so few victories, but he did a good job of getting in some really decent hope spots, making the most of the opportunity. That cutter over the top rope to the floor was quite a bump for both men.
*Don Callis and Lance Archer celebrate with Okada after the match.
*Willow Nightingale speaks backstage about her victory over Queen Aminata on Dynamite. Aminata really brought it, but Willow is still on top, just like she was with Hikaru Shida last week on Collision. Willow is the ‘Comeback Killer’. If you’re at home, recovering, waiting, she’s ready for you. Come and take it! Ohhh is this how we get Britt Baker back?!
*Divine Dominion speak backstage. Kross wonders why Hyan and Maya World think they belong in the same domain as them. Bayne corrects her and says no, they welcome the challenge. But can Hyan and Maya World survive long enough to keep them entertained?
*Tony Schiavone runs down the card for Dynasty tomorrow. Jack Perry vs Mark Davis has been added to the Zero Hour pre-show. The Dogs vs Roderick Strong, Orange Cassidy and an unannounced partner is also made official. Based on his recent remarks, could it be Kyle O’Reilly back in good health?
Thekla & Marina Shafir vs. The Brawling Birds
Thekla and Shafir of course attack from behind as the Birds take off their entrance jackets, tossing them to the outside. All four women battle around the ringside area before the bell has even rung, and Thekla gets bashed face-first into the barricade, ouuuuch! Thekla wraps the padding of the barricade around the throat of Hayter as anything goes before the bell rings. Uppercuts from Shafir to Windsor. They make their way into the ring and the bell finally rings. Shafir nails a German suplex on Windsor as we go to commercial.
We’re back, with Shafir kicking Windsor, only for Windsor to sweep the legs. Thekla walks into a big right hand, and Windsor hits a DDT on Shafir. Tag to Hayter, release German suplexes delivered in quick succession. Big boot misses, dropkick to the ribs didn’t! But Shafir comes right back with a front guillotine. Shafir relinquishes the hold, tags in Thekla. Thekla toys with Hayter, then locks in an iron octopus. Windsor tries to enter to break it up, distracting Aubrey Edwards inadvertently, allowing Shafir and Thekla to double team. Hayter breaks the hold, misses a lariat, and Windsor comes in but gets speared by Thekla! Hayter with a HUGE headbutt to Thekla, and all four women are down. Windsor and Shafir both tag in, trading shots. Big chopfest ensues.Hayter in, looking for Two Birds One Stone but she gets tripped at the ropes. Mother’s Milk applied! But no, the Birds manage to hit Two Birds One Stone, and make the pin on Marina, 1, 2, 3!
Winners: The Brawling Birds
Time: 8:31
Rating: ***1/2 – Both of the featured singles matches here have great potential at Dynasty, partly because they both feel justly heated. All four women really brought the fight and it just clicked.
*Marina Shafir appears to be smiling after the match! The Brawling Birds celebrate their win, with Hayter gesturing that she’s wining that title belt at Dynasty. And with that, our Collision broadcast comes to an end. Dynasty is almost upon us! Thanks for joining us folks – see you next time.
