Miro will be in action on Friday’s Collision.
This week's special Friday edition of Collision will feature Miro taking on Daniel Garcia. On last week’s show, Garcia danced in front of CJ Perry, which Miro didn’t like seeing backstage. Perry was out there to manage Andrade El Idolo, who has accepted Perry’s offer to manage him.
Also in action will be AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida and TBS Champion Kris Statlander teaming together to take on Saraya and Ruby Soho. Shida will defend her title against Toni Storm at Full Gear, while Statlander will defend her title in a three-way match against Julia Hart and Skye Blue.
Two of the participants in Full Gear’s Tag Team title match will also face off. Dax Harwood of FTR will challenge LFI’s Rush. FTR and LFI (Rush & Dralistico) will face champions Big Bill & Ricky Starks and Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black and Brody King).
Live coverage of Collision starts at 8 pm ET.
*****
There were no pre-show promos tonight, as Sir Elton John introduced this week’s Collision, live from The Forum in Los Angeles, California. Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary, throwing it to Tony Schiavone in the ring to kick off the show.
Christian Cage Speaks
Schiavone welcomed out the TNT Champion Christian Cage, who came to the ring alongside Luchasaurus & Nick Wayne. Cage said that Full Gear wouldn’t only be Sting’s last match in Los Angeles, it would be the last match of his career. Cage told Darby Allin that if he ever needed guidance once Sting retired, he knew who to come to. Cage told Ric Flair that if he got involved in Cage’s business, it would be a literal come to Jesus moment.
Cage said that Adam Copeland only came to AEW to steal the spotlight. While Copeland was coddled and protected, Cage fought for everything he got in his career. Cage told Copeland’s wife to keep his kids awake, because Cage was going to break Copeland’s neck. As far as tonight was concerned, he knew that the powers that be wanted him on television as much as possible. He believed he could beat all four men at once, so he wasn’t worried. Cage shouted out Los Angeles Clippers star James Harden, saying that he himself didn’t work within a system, he was the system.
AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill were backstage with Lexy Nair. Starks spoke to Tony Khan, complaining that it was unfair to be in a match where they didn’t have to be pinned to lose the titles. Khan allowed Starks to pick a stipulation for the Full Gear title match, and Starks chose to make it a ladder match, as Big Bill wouldn’t have very far to climb.
(This match was random enough, why not throw some ladders in?)
Miro defeated Daniel Garcia
A hard-hitting opener. Garcia’s technique and Miro’s brute force made for an interesting style clash and a good match. As for the Garcia & Menard story, it’s time to get to the next phase of it.
Miro sent Garcia up and over with a gut-wrench throw before clubbering Garcia in the corner. Garcia threw some leg kicks, but Miro continued his offense unphased. Miro teased doing Garcia’s dance, but Garcia fired up with chops and punches. Miro caught Garcia on a charge before hitting a tilt-a-whirl uranage as we went to commercial.
Back from the commercial, Garcia fought his way out of a headlock before chopping Miro down by the knee. Garcia forced Miro into the corner with punches before hitting a pair of running knees. Garcia hit a trio of Bryan Danielson-esque running knees, but Miro came back with a jumping side kick. Miro called for Game Over, but Garcia grabbed Miro’s foot and got to his feet.
Garcia slapped Miro before hitting a back suplex. Garcia went to do the dance, but Matt Menard came out to tell him to focus. Miro went for a charge, but Garcia ran him into Menard and rolled him up for a nearfall. Garcia locked on a crossface, and when Miro fought out of it, Garcia transitioned into the Dragon Slayer. Garcia leaned back on the hold, which allowed Miro to grab Garcia’s head and repeatedly slam it into the mat. Miro locked on Game Over and scored the referee stoppage.
Andrade El Idolo & CJ Perry were backstage with Lexy Nair. Andrade was happy with Perry’s management. Perry announced that she had entered Andrade into the Continental Classic, an announcement that caught Andrade off-guard. After some whispered words, Andrade shook Perry’s hand and said that he trusted her.
(Andrade has been great since his return. His addition to this tournament is a welcome announcement. His apprehension toward being in the tournament was an odd way to present it, as this should be seen as a big opportunity.)
Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King & Malachi Black) defeated The Boys (Brandon & Brent)
King and Black scored a quick win with Dante’s Inferno.
We had a promo for the TBS Title match, with words from Kris Statlander, Julia Hart, & Skye Blue.
TNT Title #1 Contender’s Match – Trent Beretta defeated Penta El Zero Miedo, Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana), & Komander
This was exactly what you would expect from these four men. Fast-paced, high-flying, and a lot of fun. Beretta has made himself a highlight of Friday nights lately. I'm happy that Brian Cage didn't win, as a Cage vs. Cage title match would make the Rampage review hell on Joseph Collins.
The winner of this match will challenge Christian Cage for the TNT Championship later tonight on Rampage. Cage took all three men down to start before the group teamed up to send him to the floor. Penta launched Komander into a corkscrew dive onto Cage before running into a back elbow from Beretta. Beretta sent Penta to the floor with a half-and-half suplex before Komander booted him to the outside.
Komander went for a ropewalk dive, but Cage shook the ropes to knock him down. Cage took Komander from the ring to the floor with a superplex onto Beretta and Penta. Cage threw his opponents around as we went to a commercial. Cage was still in control after the break, tossing Beretta around with throws. Penta and Komander worked together to take Cage down, with Komander sending Penta into Cage with a throw.
Beretta took control with German suplexes on both Penta and Komander. Cage fought out of Beretta’s suplex, but Beretta hit a poisonrana. Cage came right back with a spinning lariat. Cage stuffed a Komander rana for a nearfall that Penta broke up. Penta ran wild, hitting everyone with offense before landing Made In Japan on Beretta for a nearfall.
Penta used Komander as a stepstool to hit a dive onto Cage, but Komander followed Penta to the floor with a tope. Komander went for the ropewalk Shooting Star Press on Beretta, but Beretta moved and hit Strong Zero for the win.
We got a recap of Powerhouse Hobbs’ massive slam on Paul Wight from the Like A Dragon Street Fight on Dynamite. Don Callis & Hobbs were backstage with Lexy Nair, where Callis said that Hobbs broke Wight with that slam. Hobbs bragged about taking out the giant, noting that he was big, black, and jacked. He told Wight to stay away because anyone could get it.
Wardlow defeated Evan Daniels
Wardlow hit a powerbomb, a swanton bomb, and a Last Ride powerbomb to get the referee stoppage.
Rush (w/ La Faccion Ingobernable) vs. Dax Harwood ended in a no-contest
What a fight this was. A gritty, nasty brawl between these two, ending in a brawl that sold me on the ladder match at Full Gear. A great piece of business.
Ricky Starks & Big Bill joined commentary, with Starks doing the talking. Dax was announced as Dax The Axe, which is new to me. Rush took Harwood down with a shoulder block, but Harwood came back with a flying forearm that sent Rush to the floor. Harwood went for a powerbomb on the floor, but Rush backdropped his way out of it. Rush ran Harwood into all four barricades as Starks humorously mocked Harwood on commentary.
Rush and Harwood traded chops, with Harwood’s chest bleeding from the chops. Rush sent Harwood into the corner post, then feigned the Bull’s Horns before booting Harwood in the face. After a commercial, Rush landed the third of Three Amigos for a nearfall. Harwood hit a pair of German suplexes before Rush turned him around for more chops. Rush took Harwood to the top rope, but Harwood chopped him down.
Rush crotched Harwood, then hit a superplex for a nearfall. More overhand chops turned into slaps before both men knocked each other down. Both men charged at each other with lariats before Rush hit a back suplex for a nearfall. After a series of transitions, Harwood caught Rush with a piledriver for a nearfall. Both men rolled to the floor, where Rush sent Harwood into the post.
Rush got in Starks’ face, shoving him and spitting on him before getting back in the ring and setting up the Bull’s Horns. Rush went for it, but Starks speared him to end the match. Big Bill attacked Harwood as Schiavone announced this match as a no-contest. All of the participants in the ladder match came out and brawled, with Big Bill and Brody King staring each other down. They pulled out a ladder, but Dralistico and Wheeler cut them off. Security and referees came down to break things up.
Action Andretti was backstage with Lexy Nair, who went to give a medical update on Darius Martin after the Kingdom attack on him last week. The Kingdom & Roderick Strong entered the scene, mocking Martin. Strong said that ACTION would be his next victim.
Buddy Matthews defeated Wheeler Yuta
Another damn good match here. Two fresh talents having a chance to showcase themselves on the big stage. This is what made AEW so exciting at the start, and it worked again in this match. Matthews vs. Castagnoli is a welcome addition to the Full Gear card.
During Matthews’ entrance, the commentary noted that the Continental Classic would have no outside interference or managers at ringside. After the opening exchange, Yuta got cocky and fed Matthews his leg. Matthews took the bait, with Yuta escaping and dropkicking Matthews to the floor. Matthews got his hands on Yuta on the floor and flung him into the barricade. Yuta fought back, pulling Matthews to the apron alongside him. Matthews took Yuta and flung him into the announce desk as we went to commercial.
Back from the commercial, Matthews hit Yuta with a flurry of offense before Yuta came back with a heavy forearm. Yuta came back with more strikes before Matthews cut him off with a kitchen sink knee. The two traded big strikes before Yuta came back with a German suplex for a nearfall. Yuta landed a superkick before hitting a dive to Matthews on the floor.
Yuta hit the Right Angle Slam for a nearfall. Both men went to the apron, where Matthews sent Yuta into the post and suplexed him onto the top turnbuckle. Yuta booted Matthews repeatedly before splashing Matthews through the ropes for a nearfall. Yuta went for the stomps, but Matthews kicked his way free. Matthews hit a pair of head-trap superkicks before hitting a powerbomb and a curb stomp to score the win.
After the match, Matthews grabbed a chair to attack Yuta, but Claudio Castagnoli ran him off. Castagnoli said that if Matthews wanted the attention of the Blackpool Combat Club, he didn’t have to hide in his spooky room to do it. Castagnoli challenged Matthews to a match at Full Gear unless Matthews had to ask Malachi Black for permission first.
We got words from both Jon Moxley and Orange Cassidy ahead of their International Title rematch tomorrow.
Hikaru Shida & Kris Statlander defeated The Outcasts (Ruby Soho & Saraya)
The only successful Outcast this week was Andre 3000. The Soho/Parker thing is fine undercard fodder, but save it for the post-match.
During the entrances, the commentary noted that the Claudio Castagnoli vs. Buddy Matthews match was signed for the Full Gear Zero Hour. Shida and Soho started, with Shida sending Soho into the corner with a dropkick. Shida dropped Soho with a slam before tagging Statlander, who hit a double leg drop for a nearfall.
Soho tagged in Saraya, but Statlander took Saraya down with a shoulder block. Saraya hit a running knee on Statlander at Julia Hart watched on from backstage. Statlander took down both Outcasts with Northern Lights Suplexes before Shida hit a crossbody on both of them. Skye Blue watched on from another monitor backstage. Shida hit the ten punches in the corner before Soho yanked Shida down as we went to commercial.
Back from the commercial, Angelo Parker watched on as Soho yanked Statlander off of the apron. Shida hit an enzuigiri to Saraya before tagging in Statlander, who ran wild on the Outcasts. Statlander hit a spinning suplex for a nearfall. Soho sent Statlander into the barricade, where she noticed Parker wearing her merch. Soho hit a poisonrana on Statlander before Shida hit her with a missile dropkick. Shida and Saraya collided with dual cross bodies.
Shida hit a knee on Soho to send her off of the apron before hitting Saraya with a running knee. Parker helped Soho on the floor while Saraya hit the cradle DDT for a nearfall. Saraya went for a tag, but Soho was focused on Parker, who himself got taken out with a lariat from Statlander. Shida hit Saraya with the Kitana for the win.
Collision ended with AEW World Champion MJF sitting down with Tony Schiavone in a pre-taped interview. When asked why he continues to defend the ROH Tag Team Titles by himself, MJF said that he made Adam Cole a promise that he would keep the titles until Cole came back. When asked about Jay White stealing the World Title, he said that White reminded him of the bad parts of himself. MJF said that White took the title to convince himself that he was good enough to be World Champion.
Schiavone asked MJF about his success as World Champion, having the longest reign and the most title defenses if he was successful at Full Gear. MJF said that the odds were against him for a long time, and he would beat the odds at Full Gear.