AEW Collision Review – July 29, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Collision with Darby Allin said he was looking for a fight. Better Then You Bay Bay spoke about their AEW World Tag Team Title match. AEW World Champion MJF said he’s going to smash Dax Harwood’s nuts in. Cole said they would win the AEW World Tag Team Titles. AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR spoke briefly and said to be ready for a fight.
Ladder Match For Andrade El Idolo’s Mask
Trios Champion Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo
Andrade El Idolo moonsaults off a ladder set on at ringside onto Buddy Matthews on the floor then ladders were brought into the ring. El Idolo tosses Matthews crashing into a ladder that was leaning in one corner of the ring. Matthews threw a ladder at El Idolo.
Matthews held his left arm at his side and headed to ringside to have it examined Doc Sampson heading into a picture in picture break.
After the break Matthews creates a ladder bridge by wedging a ladder between the rungs of another ladder and draping the other end of the ladder of the apron. Matthews placed a ladder over the apron and the broadcast table on the other side of the ring.
Matthews set up for a powerbomb from the apron but El Idolo stuffed it so Matthews nails El Idolo with a knee to the head.
Matthews returns to the ring and traded strikes with El Idolo & he was on the apron before they ended up reversing positions after El Idolo counters a Draping DDT attempt. El Idolo dove through the ropes to spear Matthews causing both men to land on the ladder set up over the apron and the broadcast table.
Matthews pulls a chair out from underneath the ring and set it up in a corner of the ring then Matthews slams El Idolo’s head against the table multiple times. Matthews made a play for the mask but El Idolo tips the ladder over before El Idolo caught Matthews with an elbow causing Matthews to land on the ladder bridge.
El Idolo climbs the ladder that was set up on the floor and calls for Matthews to join him. Matthews climbs up the other side and they traded blows. El Idolo slams Matthews head on the ladder and then hits a sunset bomb that sent Matthews crashing onto the ladder bridge.
El Idolo returns to the ring and made a play for the mask but Matthews pulls him off and hits him with a knee on the way down. Julia Hart shows off a pair of handcuffs. Matthews pushes El Idolo over to the apron then Hart attached the handcuffs to El Idolo and the turnbuckle.
Hart taunts El Idolo with the key then El Idolo kicks a chair at the face of Matthews. Hart let go of the key while tending to Matthews before El Idolo frees himself and ends up cuffing Matthews to the turnbuckle.
El Idolo threw the key out of the ring. Hart got bolt cutters for Matthews when he didn’t free himself quickly enough Hart climbs onto the back of El Idolo while he climbed up the ladder.
Matthews eventually frees himself and climbs the other side of the ladder but El Idolo shoves him down. Hart ends up on opposite side of the ladder from El Idolo and slaps him a few times.
El Idolo shoves Hart off the ladder and into the arms of Matthews before they both crashed through the table set up in the corner of the ring then El Idolo took the mask down to win.
Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Backstage Tony Schiavone is with Miro & he asks Miro about the battle he said was coming soon & before Miro could answer he was hit from behind by a chair swung by Aaron Solo but Miro quickly fought him off and slams the chair over his back.
Darby Allin vs. Minoru Suzuki
Darby Allin dropkicks Minoru Suzuki off the apron then follows up with a suicide dive then works him over. Allin set up a chair on the floor and sat Suzuki on it before biting his head then went to the apron and dropkicks the seated Suzuki.
Once the bell rings Allin immediately covers Suzuki for a two count. Suzuki sat up and flashed a mean face so Allin hits him with an elbow then Suzuki returns the favor and drops Allin. Suzuki pulls the rib wrap off of Allin heading into a PIP break.
After the break Suzuki chokes Allin with the wrapping then Allin chops Suzuki & he no sold it so Suzuki took another and then knocks Allin over with a chop of his own. Allin hits him with another, which Suzuki shrugs it off. Allin shoves Suzuki and told him to bring it so Suzuki knocks Allin off his feet with another chop.
Suzuki put his arms behind his back. Allin slaps him and then hit him with a shot to the gut before hitting Code Red for a two count. Suzuki got up and caught Allin in a sleeper and set up for the Gotch Style Piledriver but Allin escapea.
Allin ended up going for the Coffin Drop but Suzuki caught him in a rear naked choke before Allin rolls over onto Suzuki as he is maintained the hold while Allin got the win.
Winner: Darby Allin
After the match TNT Champion Luchasaurus & Christian Cage appears on the big screen. Cage applauded Allin and told him it was a hell of a win and it seemed like he was ready for his TNT Title shot. Cage said Allin seemed to have a lot going on and he couldn’t be distracted during their match. Cage said the TNT Title is more prestigious than it’s ever been now that it’s over his shoulder and Allin is no longer qualified to hold it.
A video package featured Women’s Champion Toni Storm talking about her Women’s Title defense against Hikaru Shida on Dynamite. Storm said that if Shida even thinks about using her kendo stick Shida will end up needing to use it to get around.
Samoa Joe vs. Gravity
Gravity did his walk before Samoa Joe sidesteps a springboard move from the ropes and then mocks his walk before hitting Muscle Buster for the win.
Winner: Samoa Joe
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and introduced CM Punk & he came out with the red title belt bag in his hand then he stops Schiavone to listen to the boos. Schiavone asked him what was in the bag. Punk asked the crowd how they were doing. Punk spoke of bad travel and said he just arrived a couple hours earlier. Punk said he would always make his town.
Punk brought up Wembley Stadium and asked if he was the 1st AEW wrestler to mention it. Punk questioned whether he would be on the show and said maybe we’ll find out later in the night while adding that it had a lot to do with what was in the bag.
Punk brought up Ricky Starks beating him in a singles match and then winning last week’s tag team match. Punk said he was more upset about that one for Darby Allin as he took the loss.
Punk turns the focus to the red bag & he spoke about responsibility and how you have to wake up sometimes and do the responsible thing because you’re the responsible adult in the room as Punk cups his ear. Punk said Starks seems to be mistaking his kindness for weakness.
Punk said he told Starks in the back that he wasn’t going to be nice anymore. He said the truth doesn’t care if you’re nice it’s about being right or wrong. Punk pulls out the AEW World Title. He said it’s the real AEW World Title and it has its name on it because he earned it and no one has beaten him for it.
Punk said it had his name and his blood on the AEW World Title and now it would have his symbol on it. Punk spray painted an X on the AEW World Title. Punk said the X has represented him since 1997 and is the foundation that he has built his career on.
Punk said the X means he’s Straight Edge and Straight Edge means he’s better than you. Punk said the AEW World Title is his and it belongs on Collision. Punk said the title is not stolen unlike his catchphrase. Punk said he’s the real AEW World Champion and held the AEW World Title up above his head.
Ricky Starks walked out with a mic and said he needed a proper entrance. Starks ran backstage and then his music played and he made his entrance. Starks posed on the ropes. Punk held his arm and looked at his wrist as if he was checking the time.
Starks said he’s sold on gold. Starks said he got Punk before he could get him and he said Punk would have done the same thing. Starks spoke about beating Punk and said that he’s the real world champion and the face of Collision.
Punk asked Starks if he’s the face of Collision or the face of cheating. Punk asked if Starks beat him or if the refs beat him. Starks said he could have Stevie Wonder as the referee and he’d still win. Punk said it sounded like Starks wanted a AEW World Title shot.
Punk said he didn’t blame the referees because it was a thankful job but if he’s going to face Starks again then he needed extra eyeballs. Starks said that was fine because it’s no secret that Punk doesn’t have any friends around here. Starks said Punk could dig in his past and bring out Julio Dinero or Dave Prazak or go to Stamford to get someone. Starks said he didn’t care because if he did it once, he could do it twice.
Punk said he anticipated this and made some phone calls. Punk asked Starks if he wanted a shot at the champ. Starks said he did. Punk & Starks shook hands while Schiavone said the match would take place next week on Collision.
Punk told Schiavone that he could do the honors. Schiavone announced that the special referee would be Ricky Steamboat. Punk looks confidently at Starks as he was thrown off by the announcement.
Trios Match
Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn & Coleton Gunn) vs. Action Andretti, Darius Martin & El Hijo Del Vikingo
Action Andretti & Darius Martin launched El Hijo Del Vikingo off the top rope and he flips onto Bullet Club Gold then in the ring Martin hits a German suplex on Austin Gunn.
Colten Gunn took out Andretti with a forearm to the back of the head so Austin tags Coleton in and The Gunns hit the 3:10 To Yuma on Martin for the win.
Winners: Bullet Club Gold
Mercedes Martinez vs. Kiera Hogan
Mercedes Martinez had offensive control going into a PIP break.
After the break Martinez hits a suplex late in the match before she locks Keira Hogan in Brass City Sleeper for the win.
Winner By Submission: Mercedes Martinez
After the match Martinez didn’t release the hold right away then TBS Champion Kris Statlander ran out causing Martinez to release the hold and exit the ring. Statlander puts her TBS Title down and checks on Hogan. Martinez returned to the ring, grabs the TBS Title and hits Statlander with it. Martinez stood over Statlander and jawed at her before Willow Nightingale came out causing Martinez to leave the ring again. Nightingale helps Hogan get to her feet.
AEW World Tag Team Titles Match
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) vs. AEW World Champion MJF & Adam Cole
MJF did a leapfrog over Dax Harwood and sold his left ankle then he got to his feet and took a cheap shot at Harwood. MJF teased kicking Harwood in the balls but Harwood reached the ropes. Harwood shoves MJF & he returns the favor.
Harwood threw a slap to MJF’s face so again MJF returned the favor before Cash Wheeler & Adam Cole ran in and then all both teams traded punches going into a break.
After the break Cole hits a backstabber on Wheeler and then rolls legal man Harwood into a pin for a two count. Harwood came back with a crossbody from the 2nd rope for a two count of his own so Harwood rolls up Cole for another two count.
Harwood went for another move from the middle rope and ate a superkick so Cole covered him for a near fall as MJF works up the crowd and led them in yelling double clothesline.
Cole tags in MJF and they went for the double clothesline on Harwood but ducks it then Cole hits superkicks on FTR. MJF held up Wheeler and then Cole kicks him into MJF’s Heatseeker & it got a another near fall.
FTR battles back as Harwood superplexed Cole and then Wheeler hit a top rope splash. Harwood made the cover for near fall. Harwood could have stop Cole from tagging out but he looked at MJF released Cole and motioned for MJF to bring it.
MJF & Harwood traded shots before MJF pokes Harwood in the eye but then ran into a punch. MJF rolls Harwood into a pin for a two count then Harwood connects with a slingshot powerbomb for a near fall.
Harwood went to the ropes. Cole cuts him off and then clotheslines Wheeler on the floor. MJF hits Harwood with a Shattered Dreams kick and covers him but Wheeler broke up the pin at the last moment. Cole superkicks a kneeling Wheeler then sets up for The Boom but Wheeler cuts him off.
FTR set up for Shatter Machine on Cole but MJF shoved his partner out of the way. FTR tried to hit Shatter Machine on MJF but he blocks it so MJF set up for Heatseeker on Wheeler but Harwood rolls up MJF to get the win.
Winners & Still AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR (STILL CHAMPIONS!!!!!)
After the match Cole shook hands with FTR & they left the ring while MJF was seated in the corner showing frustration over his loss.
Wheeler yells into the camera that no one should ever doubt MJF then in the ring. MJF told Cole that he blew it. Cole told him that they blew it. Cole brought MJF his AEW World Title and told him that it’s okay. Cole told MJF that he loves him. Cole plays to the crowd in the opposite corner.
MJF teased hitting Cole with the AEW World Title but Cole picks up on it without turning his back. Cole said he knew it and then told MJF to do what he had to do. Cole held his arms up and kept his back toward MJF & he threw his AEW World Title down. Cole turns around and then he & MJF shares a hug in the middle of the ring.
MJF picked up his AEW World Title. Cole points to MJF and told the crowd that MJF is the AEW World Champion. MJF stood on the middle rope and held up his AEW World Title then drops down and hugs Cole again. MJF held up Cole’s arm and they both played to the crowd to close out this week’s Collision.
Matches Of The Night
Ladder Match- 7/10
Darby Allin vs. Minoru Suzuki- 7/10
AEW World Tag Team Titles Match- 7/10
