By: Dave LeClair
AEW has left Canada and returned to the United States to broadcast Collision from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
Opening Promos
As has become a tradition on Collison, the show opened with several competitors cutting quick promos, including Bullet Club Gold announcing a new Ass Boy… I mean Gunn Club shirt and Ricky Starks arriving in his car to celebrate his Owen Hart tournament victory.
Ricky Stark Celebration
Tony Schiavone introduced Ricky Starks, who made his way to the ring to a huge firework display. I can’t understate how much bigger this was than your average indoor wrestling pyro show. Once that was over, Schiavone reminded Starks that he held the rope to win the tournament, to which the crowd responded with “You deserve it” chants.
Starks talked about the controversy and said it doesn’t matter. People will only remember that he won. He also talked about his fancy clothes and how he’s awesome. He said isn’t interested in being a pillar, and then he was interrupted by CM Punk, who came to the ring without music. Despite lacking tunes, the crowd kept the volume up by booing Punk.
Punk said he was proud of Ricky and that he cheated himself throughout his career. He then leaned into being a heel, burying New Jersey. He asked Starks if he could live knowing he couldn’t beat him without cheating and walked away.
Ricky Starks called Punk’s little red bag empty, making Punk return to the ring. Punk asked if Ricky wants a shot at what’s in the bag and calls himself the real champion. He was then interrupted by Christian and Luchasaurus, who said this segment was taking too long and he didn’t want to spend too long in New Jersey. Christian asked what kind of person carries around a belt he didn’t win, which was dripping in irony.
As he was wrapping up, Darby came out, stealing the mic from Christain. Darby said he hated the term pillar, called Punk his good friend, and asked Cage who’s the champion. He says at All Out, he’ll become the TNT Champion and proposed a tag match featuring himself and CM Punk versus Ricky Starks and Christian Cage. Tony Khan says the match is happening, which makes Cage unhappy.
Goodbye El Idolo
Andrade El Idolo tried to enter the building, but security wouldn’t let him in. El Idolo wasn’t happy, and the announcers immediately talked about the trios title being defended later, giving some nice foreshadowing.
Action Andretti and Darius Martin take on Bullet Club Gold
Surprisingly, Andretti and Martin got an entrance, letting us know this is going to be more than just a squash. Bullet Club Gold was accompanied to the ring by The Gunns for the match. White took control of Martin early while the Gunns went nuts on the outside. White tagged Juice into the match and Andretti and Martin took control. Things went back and forth for a while, but eventually Bullet Club Gold took control leading to a PiP commercial break.
Bullet Club Gold maintained control through the break, but Martin received a hot tag shortly after the show returned. He hit lots of impressive moves and remained in control for a while, but eventually, the battle shifted to BCG’s favor and they won with a Blade Runner (which the camera missed live). After the match, the Gunns beat down Andretti and Martin before pushing them out of the ring as the show went to break.
Miro in Action
As Miro made his way to the ring, Nick Comoroto attacked from behind, giving him the upper hand to start the match. That didn’t last long, as Miro took control and locked in Game Over to win.
FTR Video Package
An FTR video package aired, showing some highlights of their AEW run in preparation for their next title match. They also announced that we’d hear from FTR later in the show.
House of Black vs The Acclaimed
The trios titles were on the line as House of Black made their epic entrance with Julia Hart before a commercial break. When the show returned, The Acclaimed’s music hit and Caster rapped on his way to the ring. Talked about drugs in the White House, YouPorn, and how Buddy looked a little nauseous. Buddy attacked before he could finish the line, giving the House of Black control early. The heels had the heat on Caster for a long time, but eventually, Caster made a hot tag to Daddy Ass who came in and cleaned house for a few seconds before eating a Black Mass and taking the pin.
After the match, Black whispered something to Billy Gunn, gave him a small hug, and walked away. Left in the ring, Gunn started to unlace his boots to a chorus of “You still got it chants” from the crowd. The acclaimed looked on as Gunn left his boots in the ring. When they tried to talk to Daddy Ass, he pushed through them and walked to the back. Bowens went into the ring to pick up the boots as the segment ended.
FTR Speaks
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to introduce FTR, who made their way to the ring. FTR says they have unfinished business against real tag teams, but first, they must take on MJF and Adam Cole. Cash Wheeler warns Adam Cole not to trust MJF and says they won’t beat FTR, bay bay. Dax Harwood told a story and related it to MJF and Adam Cole, saying they treat the Tag Team titles as a joke. Harwood wasn’t a fan of the dance break in the middle of the biggest match of their tag team careers. He said there wouldn’t be any comedy in the match and would give Cole and MJF an ass-kicking.
Skye Blue vs. Taya Valkyrie
The match started with Valkyrie patting Blue on the head and shoving her down. She controlled most of the match, hitting different moves on Blue. Eventually, Blue countered briefly, but Valkyrie regained control, leading to a PiP break. Skye got some offense when the show returned, but it was short-lived. Taya Valkyrie picked up the win via pinfall.
Valkyrie took a microphone after the match and said New Jersey was worse than she thought. She said things haven’t been going her way lately, but she won against one of New Jersey’s homegrown sweethearts. She called out Britt Baker for winning a squash match on Dynamite and challenged her to a match for next Wednesday.
Main Event Time
Everyone made their entrance separately for the main event, with Christian coming out first, followed by Ricky Starks, Darby Allin, and finally, CM Punk. Punk started the match for his team while Cage and Starks argued about which of them would have to start. Eventually, Starks went into the ring before taking a series of pinning combinations from Punk.
Darby and Punk kept control at the beginning of the match, but during the first PiP break, Cage and Starks took control, keeping Punk isolated on their side of the ring. Darby found his way into the match, but the heels gained control of him quickly, leaving Punk stuck on the apron waiting for a tag.
During the commercial, Darby was almost counted out, but he just made it back into the ring before time expired and right as the show came back. Darby finally reached the corner, but Punk wasn’t there. However, a few moments late, Punk got the hot tag (to a chorus of boos) and hit all kinds of offense on Cage and Starks.
Starks hit Roshambo on Darby, but Allin kicked out. Allin hit an inverted DDT from the top rope on Starks, but Cage broke up the pinfall. Punk jumped in and pulled Cage outside, hitting him with a GTS. Darby went for a roll-up on Starks, but he countered with a pin of his own while holding the ropes to get the win.
