AEW Collision: Holiday Bash Review – December 23, 2023
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Bryan Danielson (9) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (6)
Danielson advances with a win or draw.
Castagnoli advances with a win & an Eddie Kingston & Brody King lost/draw.
Bryan Danielson applied an early leg lock before Claudio Castagnoli monkey flips Danielson to escape but Danielson held onto his hands then returns the favor.
Castagnoli backs Danielson into the corner and teased a clean break before poking his eye. Castagnoli set up for a Sharpshooter but Danielson countered into a pin for a two count.
Castagnoli fired back by turning Danielson inside out with a clothesline that led to a two count. Danielson went for LeBell Lock but Castagnoli reached the ropes to avoid the hold.
Castagnoli rolls to the floor then Danielson hits him with a dropkick through the ropes and followed up with a flying knee off the apron.
Castagnoli hits a Giant Swing then covers Danielson for a two count. Castagnoli headbutts Danielson then clotheslines him over the top rope to the floor heading into a picture in picture break.
After the break Castagnoli hits a superplex after some fighting on the ropes and got a near fall. Castagnoli went for a Riccola Bomb but Danielson counters into a triangle.
Castagnoli powered up Danielson and hits Neutralizer to break the hold then covers him for another near fall. Castagnoli set up for a move that Danielson escaped.
Danielson ran the ropes and hits Busaiku Knee for a near fall then Danielson grabs Castagnoli’s arms and then stomped his head with kicks.
Castagnoli rolled Danielson over and returned the favor then both men ended up on their backs and were still holding arms while they traded kicks.
Castagnoli put Danielson in a Sharpshooter then Dasha announced that there was 1 minute remaining in the match as Danielson reached for the ropes but Castagnoli pulls him back to the middle of the ring.
Castagnoli released the hold with 10 seconds remaining and hits Danielson with an uppercut then covers Danielson but he kicks out at 1 and then the bell rang to end the match in a draw.
Winner: No One (Time Limit Draw) (20:00) (Both men get a point) (Danielson advances to Semi Finals)
Rate: 9 (Recommend)
After the match Castagnoli got to his knees and offered his hand to Danielson & he accepted then they hugged.
A video package focused on the Gold League coming down to a Triple Threat Semi Final with Jon Moxley vs. Swerve Strickland vs. Jay White.
Trios Titles Match
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Billy Gunn (c) vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti
Action Andretti was isolated by The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn heading into a PIP break.
After the break Dante Martin hits a standing shooting star press on Max Caster and had him beat but Gunn broke up the pin.
Top Flight & Andretti surrounded then attacked Gunn before The Acclaimed came back and set up for Scissor Me Timbers on Darius Martin but Dante & Andretti broke it up.
Andretti hits a springboard 450 splash on Caster for a near fall then Andretti went for a shooting star press that Caster avoided then rolls up Andretti to get the win.
Winners & Still Trios Champions: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn (9:18) (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!)
Rate: 5
After the match both teams shake hands.
FTW Champion Hook was shown taking a seat on steps at an outdoor location. He said that if “Wheels” wanted to fight him they could do it on his home turf at Worlds End.
Keith Lee vs. Brian Cage
Brian Cage hits an tornado DDT heading into a PIP break.
After the break Lee battled back but Cage put him down again with a 619.
Lee rolls to the apron as Cage stood on the middle rope and wanted to suplex him in but Lee fights him off.
Lee went up top but Cage cuts off Lee with a kick then superplex him which led to a near fall then Cage hoisted up Lee and hits an F5 for another near fall.
Prince Nana pulls a cinderblock out from underneath the ring and placed it inside the ring. Cage moved it where he wanted but Lee came back with Ground Zero for the win.
Winner: Keith Lee (9:55)
Rate: 6
After the match Lee took the mic and said that nearly a year ago someone took him out for 2 months with the cinderblock. Lee said he’s been trying to send a message to him but he’s not listening. He said he would go to Dynamite and make sure his message is clear. Lee said he had a house to tear down and would do it brick by brick.
The picture was in black and white while Renee Paquette interviewed Women’s Champion Toni Storm as she was accompanied by Mariah May & Luther. Paquette recalls May taking out Riho on Dynamite. I’m sorry, by whom? Storm asked. May reminded Storm who she was and said they met before.
May spoke about her upcoming AEW debut match. May said it will happen soon and asked Storm for advice. Storm said she didn’t hear a word of what she said because she was mugging for the camera. Storm spoke about Riho and threw her shoe which nearly hit May. Storm told May that she has a lot to learn.
TNT Champion Christian Cage said people wanted to know why Shayna Wayne hit Adam Copeland with the TNT Title. Cage said he could explain it but why would he do that when she could do it herself.
Shayna Wayne made her entrance without music when she was booed, Shayna said she’s a mother and asked How dare you? Shayna said she did what she did to Copeland because Nick is her son, her baby boy, and her pride and joy.
Shayna said she watched Nick slam a steel chair on Nick’s head. And you wonder why I made the choice that I did? Shayna asked. I did what any loving mother would do, I protected my child. Shayna said the one person who loves and cares for her son as much as she does is Cage.
Cage said Shayna worked as a waitress for $40,000 per year to support her son. Cage said Copeland tried to take it away. He said Copeland should have empathy because his mother worked the same crappy jobs to help him live his dreams.
Cage said there was a very small part of him that wished Copeland’s mother was still alive so he could watch her disown her son on behalf of single mothers all over the world. Cage said Copeland has never been angle to harness his anger properly.
Cage said Montreal was not a good night for Copeland but it was a great night for him. Cage said he scored the biggest victory of his career and retained his championship but I scored another way that night when I walked out of Montreal with my matriarch when I walked out of Montreal with my Mother Wayne.
Cage brought up Copeland challenging him to a No DQ match at Worlds End. Cage said he would accept his invitation for a fight at Worlds End but he doesn’t accept it as a challenge because Copeland is no challenge and he’s already beaten him. Cage said he would put Copeland down in Long Island for the last time on behalf of single mothers everywhere.
Lexy Nair interviewed AEW World Tag Team Champions Ricky Starks & Big Bill and mentioned Kenny Omega being sidelined. Big Bill said diverticulitis sounds made up. Bill said his Uncle Joe had gingivitis and is doing just fine.
Starks said Omega doesn’t have the guts to face them. Bill laughed at the cheap shot. Starks said Omega & Chris Jericho forfeit their title shot leaving he & Bill free to party in New York City.
Chris Jericho walks in and said that while Omega is out indefinitely he’s not forfeiting anything. Jericho said he has a signed contract for a title match. He said he doesn’t know when it will be or who his partner will be but he will take the AEW World Tag Team Titles away. Jericho told Bill that his Uncle Joe sucks.
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Brody King (6) vs. Daniel Garica (0)
Daniel Garcia slaps Brody King to start so King went on the offensive and hits a cannonball in the corner.
King covers Garcia but he put his foot on the ropes to break it. King was still in control heading into a PIP break.
After the break King held his arms behind his back and let Garcia fire chops at him.
King took several chops then hits Garcia with a forearm before Garcia fired back with a forearm then hits additional running forearms but he couldn’t knock King off his feet.
Garcia hoisted up King for a suplex and got a two count. King came right back with a Death Valley Driver then hits a lariat that led to another near fall.
King hits Dante’s Inferno and was stunned when Garcia kicked out at the last moment then Garcia jackknifed King to get the win.
Winner: Daniel Garica (3) (10:21)
Rate: 7
After the match the lights turned off in the arena when they turned on Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews were in the ring holding the arms of Matthews.
Matt Menard ran in to help and was dropped by a big kick from Matthews. King wrenched the hand of Garcia. Menard got on top of Garcia to shield him from House Of Black.
FTR made their entrance which caused House of Black to exit the ring. Dax Harwood got a mic and said he’s tired of the fairytales and magic trips.
Harwood mentioned that House of Black wants them to join their family. Harwood said he would be the uncle who drinks tequila and beats everybody’s ass. Harwood said he & Cash Wheeler want to face House Of Black for the 1st time ever.
Tag Team Match
TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Abadon & Thunder Rosa
Abadon ended up being isolated by Julia Hart & Skye Blue when Abadon went for a tag Blue punches Thunder Rosa & she fell off the apron. Hart & Blue works over Abadon going into a break.
After the break Blue got Rosa on the ropes and kicked the back of her leg then Blue follows up with a superkick that drops Rosa.
Hart went up top but Abadon pulls her into a tree of woe as Rosa whips Blue into Hart before Rosa hits Tijuana Bomb on Blue to get the win.
Winners: Abadon & Thunder Rosa (9:02)
Rate: 5
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Andrade El Idolo (9) vs. Eddie Kingston (6)
El Idolo advances with a win or draw.
Kingston advances with a win.
Andrade El Idolo & Eddie Kingston shook hands then traded shoves before Kingston ducks a back elbow as we go to a break.
After the break El Idolo hits a moonsault from the top rope onto Kingston on the floor.
Back in the ring El Idolo hits a moonsault off the top rope and lands on his feet when Kingston moves then follows up with a standing moonsault for a near fall.
El Idolo went for a Hammerlock DDT but Kingston drove him into the corner and then suplexes him.
Kingston picks up El Idolo but he backs him into the corner then threw elbow sat him.
Kingston fired back before El Idolo threw a forearm at Kingston but he blocks it only to take a back elbow from El Idolo which led to a near fall.
El Idolo locks in a Figure 4 then tried to bridge into the Figure 8 but Kingston grabs the bottom rope to break it.
Dasha announced that there was 5 minutes remaining in the time limit then Kingston hits El Idolo with a pair of backfists then suplexes him to get the win.
Winner: Eddie Kingston (9) (15:39) (Kingston will meet Danielson in the Semi Finals)
Rate: 7
After the match Bryan Danielson walks to the ring and smiled at Kingston.
Semi Finals (Dec 27th)
Gold League Winner 1 Jon Moxley vs. Gold League Winner 2 Swerve Strickland vs. Gold League Winner 3 Jay White
Blue League Winner 1 Bryan Danielson vs. Blue League Winner 2 Eddie Kingston
Final Blue League Standings After Night 11
1st Place- Bryan Danielson (10 Points) (3-1-1)
2nd Place- Eddie Kingston & Andrade El Idolo (9 Points) (3-2) (Kingston advances due to tiebreaker)
3rd Place- Claudio Castagnoli (7 Points) (2-2-1)
4th Place- Brody King (6 Points) (2-3)
Last Place- Daniel Garica (3 Points) (1-4)
Updated Worlds End Card (Dec 30th)
Finals Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Gold League Winner 1 Jon Moxley, Gold League Winner 2 Swerve Strickland or Gold League Winner 3 Jay White vs. Blue League Winner 1 Bryan Danielson or 2 Eddie Kingston
AEW World Title Match
MJF (c) vs. Samoa Joe
Women’s Title Match
Toni Storm (c) vs. Riho
AEW World Tag Team Titles Match
Ricky Starks & Big Bill (c) vs. Chris Jericho & TBD
FTW Title FTW Rules Match
Hook (c) vs. Wheeler Yuta
TBS Title Match
Julia Hart (c) vs. Abadon
TNT Title No DQ Match
Christian Cage (c) vs. Adam Copeland
