AEW Collision Results: Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin, The Golden Vampire, “Rest in Pain”

August 19, 2023 Dave LeClair NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: AEW

AEW is broadcasting live from Lexington, Kentucky, with a special Fight for the Fallen edition of Collision. 

Opening Promos

The show started with quick opening promos featuring Bullet Club Gold, Daton Casle, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, and others. 

Samoa Joe vs. The Golden Vampire?

Samoa Joe made his way to the ring for a match against an enhancement talent named The Golden Vampire. However, it ended up being CM Punk in a costume. Punk hit a GTS on Joe and grabbed a microphone to say he accepted Joe’s challenge, making the match official for All In.

Jay White vs. Dalton Castle

Jay White came to the ring with Bullet Club Gold, and then Dalton Castle made his entrance with The Boys. The match started with Dalton Castle hitting a quick takedown, which led White to dive for the ropes. Castle went for a running knee, which White ducked, sending Castle over the ropes. The Boys tried to help but were chased off by Bullet Club Gold. The match went to a PiP break, with White maintaining control throughout. 

Castle hit some of his patented power suplexes on White to take control of the match. The two ended up outside of the ring, where the Gunns and Robinson tried to distract Castle. They took giant dives from The Boys for their trouble. The two ended up back in the ring shortly after, where Jay White was able to hit a Blade Runner on Castle for the win.

Bullet Club Gold Promo

After the match, it was revealed that Bullet Club Gold would cut a promo, but that it would be after the commercial break. And as promised, Bullet Club Gold was in the middle of the ring when the show returned, this time with Tony Schiavone asking about their feud with Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and Kota Ibushi.  White said he had to sit by and watch them deceive the entire professional wrestling world. He said the Elite isn’t the peak of Bullet Club, but that Bullet Club Gold is a cut above The Elite. 

He hands the mic to Juice, who calls out Hangman with a fiery promo. The Gunns went last, calling out The Bucks and Kenny Omega and asking Tony Khan to send three guys out to take on Juice and themselves for a warmup match. The Iron Savages and JT Davidson accepted the challenge.

Iron Savages vs. Bullet Club Gold

The Iron Savages and their manager ​​JT Davidson fought BCG (with Jay White on the outside). They showed more personality than the last time they had a match on TV. Their characters were reminiscent of Heavy Machinery in WWE, as they’re all about lifting weights and drinking protein shakes. 

As the match was preparing to go to PiP, they said they were getting a headset for Jay White to join the commentary team for the rest of the match. During the break, White got his headset. The show returned with Switchblade introducing us to “Cardblade” Jay White. Bear Boulder received a hot tag in the ring and hit some incredibly impressive strength spots, though it was shortlived, with BCG taking control and Juice Robinson getting the pin on Bear Bronson.

House of Black Video Message

Malakai Black talked about funerals and what they represent with clips of Bully Gunn leaving his boots in the ring. They showed Billy’s boots in a trash compactor and said, “Rest in pain.” Clearly, this is teasing a return for Gunn with The Acclaimed and Gunn taking on the House of Black in a trios match.

Jose the Manager’s Call from Rush

Jose gets a call from Rush saying he needs everyone from Mexico and Jose for a faction. Jose is shown on the phone in Mexico, and we see a van pull up and kidnap two people as Rush appears to be rebuilding Los Ingobernables.

Ricky Starks

AEW is trying to fix the weird storyline of Starks being suspended for 30 days by trying to change the timeline. It still doesn’t make a lot of sense that he’s suspended but allowed in the building, but at least they’re trying.

It cut to a Ricky Stark video package where he said he’s strayed off his path but is back to being Absolute.

Derek Neal vs. Big Bill

Ricky Starks used his manager’s license to accompany Big Bill to the ring for a match with Derek Neal. As expected, Big Bill hit a Big Boot and a chokeslam to win the match quickly. After the match, Starks whipped Neal with his belt, and Big Bill threw him out of the ring. 

Darby and Sting Get back at AR Fox

Darby Allin and Sting visited AR Fox at his wrestling school, where they gave him a beating. There was a brief promo from Nick Wayne where he discussed whether he needs to become like AR Fox and Swerve to make it in this business or stick to his morals.

Willow Nightingale vs. Diamante

Diamante jumped on Willow’s back to start the match, but Nightingale pushed her into the corner and hit a series of elbows. She used power moves to keep control for the early part of the match. Conspicuous by her absence was Mercedez Martinez, though she came out a few minutes into the match, causing a distraction that let Diamante take control of the match. 

The match ran through a commercial break, and when it returned, Willow was putting a beating on Diamante while Martinez looked on. Martinez pulled Diamante out of the ring to protect her from more damage, which led to Kris Statlander running down and attacking Martinez. This gave Willing Nightingale the opening she needed to get Diamante back in the ring to hit a Doctor Bomb for the win.

Lexy Nair Interviews Toni Storm

Toni seemed slightly more sane this week in her interview with Lexy. She said she’d become the first-ever three-time Women’s champion at All In and that Saraya has had her back since day one.

Kevin Ku Dies… I Mean Fights Powerhouse Hobbs

Kevin Ku was already in the ring for his match against Powerhouse Hobbs. Early indications pointed to Hobbs winning this match. Jokes aside, Kevin Ku sold well and looked great in the brief match, as did Powerhouse Hobbs. During the match, Hobbs kept calling out Miro, and after the match, he put Game Over on Ku in an attempt to get Miro’s attention. Miro appeared on the screen, saying that he used to use a book for guidance. He said The Redeemer walks alone, though he misses his wife and God. He said he was here to replace his God and that Hobbs isn’t godless because Hobbs prays to Miro now.

Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage

Cage went to the ring wearing the TNT Championship around his waist. Obviously, this is a non-title match because Luchasaurus is the TNT Champion. Early in the match, they showed AR Fox and Swerve watching backstage, which could be a bit of foreshadowing. Luchasaurus got involved in the fight, giving Cage the upper hand on Allin. 

After the first commercial, Cage remained in control, hitting some creative offense on the former TNT Champion, which allowed Allin to show off his incredible ability to get beaten down in various ways. After a long time, Darby finally got some offense in, part of which saw him pull Christian Cage’s turtleneck up around Cage’s face. 

Another commercial break took place, with both participants spending some time in control. Eventually, Christian dragged Allin to the outside, allowing Luchsaurus to land a huge right hand on Darby. It took a while for Darby to get back in the match, but he eventually hit a drop-toe hold on Christian into a steel chair. He followed up with a dropkick from the top turnbuckle to a seated Cage on the outside. He went for a Coffin Drop onto the apron, but Luchsaurus helped Cage get out of the way. This led to the ref ejecting the dinosaur from the ringside area. While the ref was trying to get Luchasaurus to leave, Cage hit Darby with the TNT title, but Darby got his foot on the rope to break up the pin. Allin put Christian on the top turnbuckle, but Cage countered with a sunset bomb into a spear for a near fall. Cage went for an Unprettier, but Darby countered into a pinning combination that Cage couldn’t escape from for the win. 

After the match, Tony Schiavone announced that Darby would get a TNT title match, prompting Luchasaurus to return to ringside. As Darby looked at the prehistoric fighter, Cage again hit him with the belt. He then pinned Allin and forced Schiavone to announce him as the TNT Champion.

About Dave LeClair 47 Articles
A long time POST Wrestling fan and technology writer, Dave LeClair joins the POSTmarks to cover AEW Collision.
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