AEW Collision Review – July 22, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Collision with brief promos from The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn, Darius Martin & Action Andretti & Bullet Club Gold. Ricky Starks was shown driving his car up to the building & he pulls out his Owen Hart Cup Title and said he would celebrate in style.
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and introduced Ricky Starks as the Owen Hart Cup winner. Footage aired of Starks holding the ropes while pinning CM Punk in the Finals and then blowing off Jushin Liger afterward.
Starks stood on the middle rope and a bunch of pyro shot off on the stage. Schiavone brought up Starks holding the ropes while he pinned Punk & Starks said he’d never agreed more with a city than he did now.
Starks assumed people were wondering what was in the bag that he brought to the ring with him. He said nothing and added that he just wanted to show off his Louis bag. Starks said the way he won won’t matter years from now. He said he did things the way he always does by winning via any means necessary.
Schiavone asks about Starks disrespecting Liger. He said no disrespect and then said people say he should be one of the company’s Four Pillars. Starks asked how many Owens the pillars won.
CM Punk walks out without entrance music & he enters the ring and told Starks that he’s almost proud of him. He said that the New Jersey people couldn’t say that they’d never cheated at anything in their life. Punk mocked the New Jersey Devils hockey team by saying that they might have gone past the first round had they cheated.
I’m not mad at you Punk said. I can live with the L but think about this. Can you live with the win knowing how you did it knowing deep down that you can’t beat CM Punk without cheating? Punk patted Starks on the arm and then left the ring.
Starks calls for Punk to stop and told him that his bag is as empty as that little red bag that Punk has been carrying around. Punk returns to the ring while some fans chanted for him. Punk went face to face with Starks. You want a shot at what’s in the bag, Ricky? Punk asked. Or are you like Little Max and you just don’t want me to have it. I am the real World Champion.
Christian Cage called out from the stage as he walked out with Luchasaurus. Cage said that they were contractually obligated to appear in front of the live crowd, but this was taking too long for his liking. Cage said he didn’t want to spend any more time in New Jersey than he had to.
Cage had the TNT Title drape over his shoulder & asked Punk what kind of a man carries around a title that he didn’t win. Cage declared that he & Luchasaurus are the faces of TNT forever.
Darby Allin walks out behind Cage and took the mic from him before heading to the ring. Allin told Starks that he hates the pillar description and said that anyone who is ride or die with the company is a pillar in his eyes. Like my good friend CM Punk Allin said while putting his arm around a laughing Punk.
Allin told Cage & Luchasaurus that he’ll become the new face of TNT. Allin said Luchasaurus seems to be a guy who took too many psychedelics and thinks he’s a dinosaur. Allin calls for a Tag Team match with him & Punk against Starks and either Cage or Luchasaurus. Schiavone said Tony Khan just told him that the match would be Punk & Allin vs. Starks & Cage.
Ian Riccaboni & Niguel McGuinness spoke at ringside and set up footage of Andrade El Idolo arriving at the building and being told by security that management didn’t want him in the building after what he did last week. El Idolo tries to blow them off but the main security guard was persistent
Tag Team Match
Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) vs. Action Andretti & Darius Martin
Darius Martin takes over on Juice Robinson to start this match off and hands it to Action Andretti for the twisting crossbody. Andretti’s multiple springboard wrist drag sends Robinson down again but he’s right back with a kick to the face then a hanging neckbreaker on the floor drops Andretti and he’s sent hard into the barricade as we take a break.
After the break Andretti hitting an enziguri and diving over for the tag to Martin then some right hands and a high crossbody get a two count on White followed by Andretti hits a Asai moonsault to the floor.
Back in and a dropkick into a German suplex gets a two count on Robinson before Andretti gets drop and Robinson hits Left Hand Of God follow by Left Hand Of God into Blade Runner gets the win.
Winners: Bullet Club Gold
After the match The Gunns entered the ring and took some cheap shots at Andretti & Martin.
Highlights aired of Willow Nightingale beating Ruby Soho to win the 2023 Women’s Owen Hart Cup last week and then losing to Athena in an ROH Women’s Title match in the main event of Death Before Dishonor.
Miro vs. Nick Comoroto
Nick Comoroto attacks Miro on the stage then he roughs up Miro at ringside and ran him into the steps before rolling him inside the ring.
Comoroto went for an early cover but Miro kicks out at 1. Miro eventually avoids a corner splash and then suplexes Comoroto.
Miro follows up with Machka Kick before locking in Game Over to get the submission win.
Winner By Submission: Miro
We get a video package chronicled FTR’s time in AEW.
Trios Titles Match
House Of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King & Buddy Matthews) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Billy Gunn
House Of Black works over Max Caster while Billy Gunn & Anthony Bowens stays down at ringside. Bowens made it to the apron as Caster nearly tags out but Brody King pulls Bowens off the apron.
Gunn ran King into the barricade and climbs onto the apron & Gunn took a hot tag and worked over Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews for a moment but King cut him off with a clothesline then Black follows up with Black Mass to get the win.
Winners & Still Trios Champions: House Of Black (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!!)
After the match Black knelt down and spoke into the ear of Gunn before exiting the ring. House Of Black heads to the back. Gunn started unlacing his boots while The Acclaimed watches from ringside.
Gunn stood up and left his boots in the middle of the ring. The Acclaimed tried to talk to him but he blew past them and heads to the stage while the crowd sang Scissor me daddy. Bowens enters the ring and grabs the boots.
A highlight package recaps Darby Allin winning the 2023 Royal Rampage match on Friday’s Rampage.
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and introduced AEW Tag Team Champions FTR.
Schiavone praised their win last week in the 2 Out Of 3 Falls match then noted that they will put their AEW World Tag Team Titles on the line next week against Blind Eliminator Tournament winners AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole. Cash Wheeler listed Aussie Open, The Acclaimed & Young Bucks as real tag teams they have unfinished business with.
Wheeler notes that the fans seemed to enjoy MJF & Cole right now. Wheeler told Cole that he shouldn’t trust MJF. He recalled being part of The Pinnacle with MJF. Wheeler spoke about the devil convincing people that he doesn’t exit and said he’s doing it again. He warned Cole to listen when MJF says what he is. Listen to him, do not trust him Wheeler said.
Dax Harwood recalls his father telling him back in the day that he had to get a job. Harwood said other school kids pick on him because he had to get a job. Harwood said he wanted to punch those kids and never got a chance to but he said it reminds him of what’s happening now. Harwood said MJF & Cole act like the AEW World Tag Team Titles are a joke.
Harwood points to the comedy skits before a double clothesline chant broke out briefly. Harwood mentioned the dance routine. Harwood spoke about the injuries he’s suffered and said he did it to make FTR the greatest team in pro wrestling. Harwood said there won’t be any dance breaks or comedy when they face MJF & Cole next week and vowed to give them the ass kicking he wanted to give the school kids.
We get a video package of the Blood & Guts match from Dynamite.
Taya Valkyrie vs. Skye Blue
Taya Valkyrie pats Skye Blue on the head and then shot a dismissive look to the crowd before pushing her down. Valkyrie knocks Blue off the apron and then follows her to ringside and spears her.
Valkyrie rolls Blue back inside the ring. Valkyrie put Blue down with a Blue Thunder Bomb and got a two count heading into a PIP break.
After the break Blue hits a crossbody from the ropes for a two count then Blue set up for Skyfall but Valkyrie escapes and then Blue ran the ropes.
Valkyrie follows and places her on the middle rope and hits a sliding German suplex before she puts Blue down with a clothesline and then ties her up from behind and stomped her face on the mat to get the win.
Winner: Taya Valkyrie
After the match Valkyrie got the mic and told the New Jersey fans that they are worse than she thought. She said she was kidding but not really. She said things haven’t been going her way lately but she beat one of their homegrown sweethearts. Valkyrie mocks Britt Baker for beating an extra on Dynamite and challenges her to a match on Dynamite. Come play with me Britt Valkyrie said.
A video package recaps AR Fox getting the win over Shane Taylor on the ROH Death Before Dishonor Pre Show.
Tag Team Match
CM Punk & Darby Allin vs. Christian Cage & Ricky Starks
Neither Ricky Starks or Christian Cage wanted to start the match against CM Punk so referee Paul Turner was going to count them out and his count reached 9 before Starks ran in to start the match. Punk put Starks down.
Starks tags out to Cage & he wasn’t happy so Punk tossed Cage from the apron inside the ring and then ran him into the turnbuckles twice. Punk mounted Cage in a corner and threw punches at him. Punk & Darby Allin works the left arm of Cage while making quick tags.
Punk put Cage down with a leg lariat and then looks to Starks. Cage crawls to his corner to tag out but Starks put his hands up. Punk hoisted up Cage for Go 2 Sleep but Cage slips out and took Punk down.
Starks tags in and joined Cage in going after Punk & they shot Punk into the ropes and Cage drops down but Punk held onto the ropes and got the better of both men.
Punk & Allin clears Cage & Starks from the ring. Punk dove onto them. Allin went up top and hit them with a Coffin Drop at ringside as we go to a break.
After the break Starks did his rope walk before dropping down and hitting Punk as he was being isolated by Cage & Starks.
Punk made the hot tag to Allin & he shoves Cage & Starks together and then hit a Stunner on Cage and a Code Red on Starks which resulted in a two count. Allin follows up with a suicide dive on Starks. He went for the same move on Luchasaurus but he didn’t budge. Cage ran Allin into the bottom of the broadcast table.
Back inside the ring, Starks turned Allin inside out with a clothesline and covers him for a two count heading into a PIP break.
After the 2nd PIP break Allin was isolated and made it to his corner for a tag but Starks pulls Punk off the apron. Punk went after Starks and wasn’t there when Allin tried to tag him. Cage slaps Punk & that drew him into the ring.
Allin eventually escaped Starks and made a diving tag to Punk & he slams and dropkicks both opponents. Punk did a cartwheel before he hits high knees in opposite corners on Cage & Starks then hit a bulldog and clothesline combo.
Punk puts Cage down with a hammerlock clothesline and got a near fall. Punk went up top and executed a crossbody but Cage rolls through and got a two count. Cage went up top and was cut off by a Punk punch. Punk backdrops Cage from the middle rope and then went up top and drops an elbow on him for a near fall.
Starks tags in and avoided the Go 2 Sleep before Punk & Starks traded elbow strikes. Punk drops Starks with a kick to the head. Allin tags in while Starks was unable to tag out because Cage was down. Allin went for a springboard move but Starks hits him in mid air. Starks spears Allin and then hit him with Roshambo for a near fall.
Allin hit a reverse DDT from the rope and had Starks pin but Cage returns to break it up. Punk took out Cage with a Go 2 Sleep on the floor as the referee was focused on what happened at ringside as Luchasaurus low blows Allin on the ropes.
Starks pulls Allin from the ropes but Allin rolled him into a pin but Starks escapes and ends up on top of Allin and then held the ropes to get the win.
Winners: Christian Cage & Ricky Starks
