wrestling / TV Reports
Sambus’ AEW Collision Review 09.12.23
Image Credit: AEW
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Good evening all! Welcome back to 411 and our live coverage of AEW Collision, this week in live-to-tape format, having been filmed this past Tuesday. We have more Blue League action with a fantastic line-up, featuring Danielson vs Andrade, and another heated instalment between Claudio Castagnoli and Eddie Kingston. Plus, the AEW Canadians do battle, as Ethan Page goes one on one with Kenny Omega in a match to re-introduce Page to AEW TV after his stint on ROH.
If you didn’t catch Rampage last night, don’t sleep on the Danielson vs Garcia C2 match, which was a certified banger. Here’s how the Blue Standings appear as we head into tonight’s show:
Brody King: 6 points
Bryan Danielson: 6 points
Claudio Castagnoli: 3 points
Andrade El Idolo: 3 points
Eddie Kingston: 0 points
Daniel Garcia: 0 points
Location: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Venue: Bell Centre
Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone & Kevin Kelly
We begin with our usual cold open promos – Page isn’t feeling his best, but he’s going to give Omega his all tonight. Omega says Page shouldn’t disrespect him. Danielson says both he and Andrade are undefeated in the Continental Classic, and tonight Andrade better bring his A game. Andrade wants Danielson to remember his words that he is El Idolo. Claudio’s two least favorite things are losers and Eddie Kingston. Kingston briefly sings a little Elton John haha, he’s ready for Saturday. Amazing.
Match One: [Continental Classic: Blue League] Eddie Kingston vs Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio goes for a big boot from the off, but Kingston gets a backdrop driver, sends Claudio to the floor and hits a suicide dive! Eddie gets the first cover of the match and a 2 count after a suplex back in the ring. Chops to the chest in the corner on Claudio, Claudio off the ropes and floats over into the Neutralizer! 1, 2, no!
Eddie on the apron now but fights back with right hands. Clothesline from Claudio takes Eddie to the floor below. Claudio brings him back inside the ring and hits a running double stomp on a prone Kingston. Giant Swing! Steps over into the Sharpshooter. Eddie claws over to the ropes but Claudio drags him back to the center. Eddie finally gets the ropes to break the hold.
In the corner, Claudio unleashes a flurry of uppercuts and a running dropkick. Cover, 1, 2, no. To their feet, they trade chops until Claudio gets a big short-arm clothesline to knock Eddie back down. Claudio drives the knee into the face and kicks a downed Eddie. But Eddie tries to fire back up! Claudio continues the assault in the corner with alternating forearms and kicks to the face, before driving the shoulder into the midsection. He sits Eddie on the top rope, follows him up there, looking for a superplex…Eddie punches out and knocks Claudio down but Claudio comes in with an uppercut. Back up top, Claudio gets the superplex! 1, 2, no. We head to PIP commercial break.
Claudio lays in some shots to the back of the head while Eddie is hanging on the ropes. 1, 2, no. Clubbing blows to the head again. Back to their feet, Eddie gets some chops in, before Claudio locks in a sleeper. Big boot in the corner, but Eddie shrugs it off! Another boot attempt but Eddie avoids it, hits some chops, but Claudio clotheslines him down for a 2 count.
Ricola Bomb attempt, Eddie puts the brakes on, but Claudio tosses him overhead instead in a gutwrench. Eddie with chops and an enziguri, followed by the Exploder! A Sambo Suplex gets a 2. Eddie unleashes the machine gun chops but Claudio fires up, Eddie cuts him off with a straight right hand. Lariat off the ropes! 1, 2, no. Stretch Plum by Eddie but Claudio’s long legs get the ropes. Eddie looks for a piledriver but Claudio drops to a knee. Eddie with knees to the face but Claudio lifts him into a powerbomb. Running European uppercut by Claudio, 1, 2, no but Claudio transitions straight into a Crossface! Eddie reaches the ropes.
Hammer and Anvil blows from Claudio, Ricola Bomb avoided, Backfist avoided, Claudio gets an uppercut, 1, 2, Eddie gets the shoulder up! Strike exchange when both men get to their feet, with Eddie getting the Half and Half suplex and a Backfist!! Claudio absorbed it, hits another uppercut, but Eddie gets one more backfist! 1, 2, NOOO! That was SO close.
Another backfist by Eddie, powerbomb attempt but Claudio rolls through. 1, 2, no Eddie rolls through to pin Claudio, 1, 2, 3!! Eddie gets his first CC win at 18:04.
Your winner by pinfall: Eddie Kingston
Rating: ***3/4 – Slightly less heated than their Grand Slam match but a cracking opener. Great exchange of nearfalls towards the end kept everyone engaged. And Eddie finally picks up 3 points. Can he claw his way back to the top?
Backstage, Moxley reflects on his match with Rush, and acknowledges that next week’s match against Swerve Strickland will be tough. Swerve has a lot of buzz, but buzz is cheap. Mox asks if Swerve is the guy to take him out? Moxley warns him it’s going to be a long night.
Post-break, Renee Paquette is with Hook. She asks about his issue with Wheeler Yuta. Here comes Yuta to call Hook a paper champion. She should be interviewing ‘honorable’ champions like him. Yuta can do it under Pure Rules but he can do it by Hook’s rules too. He’s ready to put him out by FTW Rules. Hook seems game and just says ‘Bet’.
Match Two: Willow Nightingale vs Mercedes Martinez (w/ Diamante)
Lock-up to begin, Willow backs Martinez into the corner and they break the lock-up. Martinez with a cheap shot after a clean break, stomping Willow down in the corner. Clothesline by Willow, wraps her arms up in the ropes and nails some repeated clotheslines to continue the assault. Shoulder block off the ropes, big boot and a senton splash keeps Willow in control. Martinez rolls outside, Diamante causes a brief distraction allowing Martinez to drive Willow spine-first into the ring apron.
They battle by the announcer’s desk, and Martinez sends Willow into the barricade. By the timekeeper’s table, Martinez drapes Willow over the barricade and hits the DDT to the floor! Inside the ring, Martinez locks in a Full Nelson assisted by the middle rope, then distracts the ref allowing Diamante to get in a cheap shot.
Willow tries to fight back out of the corner but Martinez sends her back into the corner and drives her shoulder into the kidneys and lower back as we head to commercial break.
Back from break as Martinez hits a series of vertical suplexes…but Willow blocks the third Amigo and hits one of her own! Bulldog by Willow gets a 2. Hip attack in the corner, followed by a missile dropkick, and a cannonball in the opposite corner. 1, 2, no, Martinez grabs a hold of the rope. Diamante gets up on the other side and Willow smacks her down.
Doctor Bomb attempt, no, Fisherwoman’s Driver by Martinez! 1, 2, no! Backdrop driver by Martinez, and again! Martinez poses, pleased with her work. Exploder suplex connects, and now Martinez hoists Willow to the middle buckle. Razor’s Edge attempt by Martinez, flips her over into a facebuster…but Willow rolls her up for the 1, 2, 3 at 9.48!
Your winner by pinfall: Willow Nightingale
Rating: *** – Not sure about that finish as the facebuster looked pretty devastating, only for Willow to come straight back with that surprise rollup. Still, the work leading up to that was good, and these two packed a lot into 10 minutes. I still think AEW could be doing a lot more with Martinez, she’s very underrated and under-utilized.
Immediately as the bell rings, Diamante slides in to begin a 2-on-1 assault on Willow. She brings out a tiny ladder, and Martinez drives it into Willow’s midsection. Diamante has a pipe too…but here comes Kris Statlander from behind with a chain! Martinez and Diamante hightail it out of there as Statlander checks on Willow.
Renee is with Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang, along with Jake Hager. Hager is mad about his hat, and leaves. Daddy Magic is happy to be back in Canada, and can’t wait to add their names to the list of Canadian greats. Ang is at home, they get to do their thing in front of their friends and family tonight. Saraya shows up, as does Ruby Soho, and Ang flirts with her. Saraya wants to know what Ruby is hiding…Ruby’s wearing a Cool hand Ang t-shirt. She calls Ruby evil, and knows Ruby is going to leave her, just like Toni did. Next week, Ruby Soho will have to prove herself to Saraya.
Backstage, Swerve says he’s the leader of the tournament, and he runs this industry. Swerve is hungry, he’s feasting. Mox does all that violent stuff, well so does Swerve. Whose house? Swerve’s house.
Match Three: ‘Mr Mayhem’ Wardlow vs Willie Mack
Wardlow tosses Mack away, but Mack comes back off the ropes, only to be met with a dropkick. Shoulders in the corner, Wardlow takes a run up but Mack pulls the rope, sending Wardlow to the floor. Mack flies over the ropes but Wardlow doesn’t go down! Back in the ring, Wardlow charges and hits the buckles, rollup by Mack! 1 count. Standing moonsault, another 1 count.
Mack goes for the running headscissors but Wardlow caught him in midair and slams him with a powerbomb! Deadlift powerbomb, big time clothesline. Powerbomb Symphony begins…HUGE bomb connects, and Wardlow exits the ring as the referee checks on Mack and calls the match off at 3:12.
Your winner by referee stoppage: Wardlow
Rating: N/R – I do like that this was setup last week, as it easily could have been thrown together for no reason. For what ostensibly ended up being a squash match, it’s awesome to see some backstory to an encounter like this. Loved Wardlow leaving before the match had even been called off, tremendous.
Match Four: Kenny Omega vs Ethan Page
Page really is in the best shape of his career, amazing work. Go-behind by Omega, arm-wringer by Page, Omega transitions into a headlock. Shoulder block takedown, but a back elbow by Page and some shots in the corner. We see Tony Nese watching backstage. Kenny with a hurrancarana to take Page to the floor. Omega gets the terminator claps and goes for the dive but Page comes back in from outta nowhere with a cutter, springing off the middle rope!
Both men to the floor now, they trade chops, and Omega whips Page into the barricade, only for Page to come straight back with a clothesline. Page whips Kenny into the opposite barricade, he puts the brakes on and nails a moonsault from the railing! Kotaro Crusher back in the ring gets a 2.
Scoop slam by Ethan Page, Omega with a boot, and a BIIIIG suplex over the top rope, sending both men to the floor thanks to the momentum! Working their way back into the ring, Omega gets a series of jabs, tries for a Half and Half but can’t connect. Ethan is wrapped in the ropes, Omega kicks the rope to send Page to the floor again. They trade blows, and Kenny hits a back suplex onto the ring apron. Page back up and dives off the apron with a diving shoulder block, brings Kenny back in the ring and goes for another cutter but Kenny with a knee to the face blocks it! Powerbomb followed by the V-Trigger, 1, 2, NO!
Knee to the back of the head, Dragon suplex attempt by Omega but Page gets out of it. Page with the Iconoclasm and a big DDT gets 2! Page is looking for a piledriver but Omega gets the You Can’t Escape, misses the moonsault, but connects with a snap dragon suplex.
Another Dragon suplex attempt, Page ducks, but Omega locks it in and nails the suplex. He lifts Page to the top rope, Page delivers an avalanche power slam! 1, 2, no. Razors’s Edge escaped, Omega goes for the OWA, rollup by Page. V-trigger misses but Page gets a big boot. Series of V-triggers in the ropes! This is too fast to call! Omega gets the One Winged Angel to pick up the 3 count at 12:39.
Your winner by pinfall: Kenny Omega
Rating: ***1/4 – Very good showing from Ethan Page who looked good in this. Something was oddly heatless for a large portion of this – maybe the crowd were too split to react?
Omega makes his way backstage but Big Bill comes from behind to take him out!! Ethan Page checks on Omega on the ramp.
Lexi Nair is with CJ Perry backstage, asking about the pressure on Andrade tonight. Perry says Andrade has won gold all over the world, has all the tools to beat Bryan tonight. Miro appears…he wants to know when she last said so many good things about him? Why is she so mad about him being the breadwinner? When he hunts, Perry cleans, according to Miro. He won’t Andrade in this tournament, but once it’s finished…so is he.
Julia Hart says that being the princess of darkness comes with a lot of responsibility. But she has some tools of her own. She always knows what is behind everyone’s mask. However…there is one she can’t quite figure out…Abadon. Abadon/Hart TV feud could be fun for a few weeks.
Match Five: Matt Menard & Angelo Parker vs Komander & Penta El Zero Miedo
Sidenote, Menard & Parker’s music has NO RIGHT to go that hard! That guitar… *chef’s kiss*
Penta and Daddy Magic start this one, and Penta “Cero Miedos” in Menard’s face. Huge Daddy Magic chants. Menard grabs the hand but Penta kicks him away. Quick exchanges to begin, leading to a stalemate. Menard gets in a cheap shot as Penta tags in Komander, and Cool Hand Ang tags in too. Komander flips out of the corner, gets an armdrag and a dropkick combo, and tags Penta back in. Step up enziguri, Komander dives off Penta’s back with a dropkick. Penta monkey flips Komander into both Menard and Parker in the corner with a canonball. Stereo dives to the outside but Parker & Menard cut them off with hard right hands!
All four battle on the outside, until Ang and Komander get back in the ring. Suplex by Parker, 1, 2, no. Double team from Menard & Parker with an assisted elbow drop, and Menard is in with Komander now. Menard with the 10 count punches in the corner, tag to Parker…but we go to an abrupt commercial break.
Back to the action, Komander avoids double team offense and tags in Penta, who delivers a pair of Slingblades to his opponents. Stereo superkicks from Komander & Penta on the outside, and Penta sends Menard into the barricade. Penta & Parker in the ring now, Made in Japan by Penta! 1, 2, saved by Daddy Magic. Menard in, sunset flip by Penta but Menard rolls through into a boston crab. Komander kicks Menard to break it up, tagged in, and a double team lungblower by Ang & Menard connects.
Penta and Komander set up for a double team spike Fear Factor, holy moly it connects as Komander SSP’s off the ropes into it. They get the win at 9:58.
Your winners by pinfall: Penta El Zero Miedo & Komander
Ratig: *** – Fun tag match with a decent finish, although it seemingly hit the wind out of the crowd as they wanted the hometown win for their boys.
We recap the history of Shane Taylor and Keith Lee. Taylor doesn’t see the drive in Keith Lee anymore. Lee says physics doesn’t have the answer to him, Lady Death doesn’t have the answer to him, and neither does Shane Taylor.
Match Six: [Continental Classic: Blue League] Bryan Danielson vs Andrade El Idolo
Both men shake hands to begin in a show of mutual respect. Andrade tries for the Figure Four early but Danielson easily escapes. Test of strength initiated, leading to Danielson with a monkey flip to Andrade to break it. Side headlock by Andrade, Andrade goes for a shoulder block but they collide awkwardly. Shoulder breaker by Danielson into some kicks to the arm. Andrade catches the leg and nails a dragon screw legwhip. Flying forearm by Andrade connects!
Dragon in the corner, Andrade signals for the double knees…but Dragon avoids it. Andrade on the outside, Danielson dives through the middle rope in a suicide dive to the outside, but Danielson grazed the post on his way past. Dragon with chops to Andrade on the outside now, and a headbutt, but Andrade comes back with a boot to the face.
Andrade rips the eye patch off! He starts booting Danielson in the face in the corner and opens up the stitches over his eye! Andrade heads to the middle rope and brings Danielson with him. Dragon nails some headbutts and hits a hurracanrana! Back to their feet with some strike exchanges, kick to the chest by Andrade, but Danielson tosses him over the ropes to the floor. Dragon takes a run up and goes for a dive but Andrade strikes him in the eye socket!
Figure Four locked in by Andrade, and Danielson’s eyebrow is busted open. He makes the ropes. Andrade sits him on the buckles again and heads up to meet him, delivering more headbutts…and driving the thumb deep in the injured eye! Andrade attempts a suplex but Dragon punches his way out, chop battle ensues! Danielson slaps him away and stands on the buckles, top rope dropkick!
Danielson fires himself up and begins the Yes Kicks. Misses the roundhouse, Andrade rolls him up but Danielson rolls through into the LeBell Lock. He cant lock it in though. They avoid each other’s offense until they both have the same idea and knock each other out with a double crossbody.
Back on their feet, they trade jabs, Gory Special locked in by Andrade! He backs up and backs Danielson into the turnbuckles. Danielson is seated on the top rope again, Andrade heads up and finally gets that suplex off the middle rope. He keeps the arms locked and goes for the Three Amigos, hits it. 1, 2, no.
Andrade heads to the top rope for his moonsaults, but Danielson crotches him. He heads up as well and nails the back drop suplex off the top! 1, 2, no…Danielson locks in the LeBell Lock! He pulls the opposite arm back too but Andrade reaches the ropes with his feet. Off the ropes, Andrade hits the spinning back elbow for 1, 2, no! Rising forearm by Danielson, they lay in some shots on each other. Kicks by Dragon now. Running kick in the corner, but Andrade comes right back with a running back elbow, and the double knees to the back of the head! Double knees again! Danielson looks like he is out. Hammerlock DDT by Andrade gets the 1, 2, 3 at 18:24.
Your winner by pinfall: Andrade El Idolo
Rating: ***3/4 – Danielson is a mad man for agreeing to have his eye targeted!! Once we got past a little awkwardness in the early going, this turned into a war, and Andrade looks like the real deal after this. The Continental Classic has done a fantastic job at making a lot of the competitors appear legit threats, and with this victory Andrade’s stock will continue to rise.
Post-match, Claudio runs down to attend to Danielson, and he jaws with Andrade, shoving him away. Medical staff check on Danielson as tonight’s broadcast ends.
Continental Classic standings as of the end of the show:
Brody King: 6 points
Bryan Danielson: 6 points
Andrade El Idolo: 6 points
Claudio Castagnoli: 3 points
Eddie Kingston: 3 points
Daniel Garcia: 0 points
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