AEW Collision: Winter Is Coming Review – December 16, 2023
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Andrade El Idolo (9) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (3)
Castagnoli must win or he’s eliminated.
Andrade El Idolo targets Claudio Castagnoli’s right knee with dragon screws before Castagnoli came back with a popup uppercut that led to a two count before the 1st picture in picture break.
After the break Castagnoli hits a giant swing before El Idolo came back with a Figure 4 but Castagnoli reached the ropes to break it before El Idolo hits a sunset bomb from the middle rope which led to a near fall.
Castagnoli rallied and hits a superplex but El Idolo shrugged it off and hits 2 suplexes before Castagnoli blocks a 3rd.
Andrade caught Castagnoli with a back elbow and covers him for a near fall then both men ended up on the ropes.
El Idolo sets up for El Idolo on the turnbuckle but Castagnoli avoided and dumps him on the top turnbuckle.
The referee picks up the turnbuckle cover that had come off as Castagnoli picks up El Idolo and drove his knee into his balls then hits Neutralizer to get the win.
Winner: Claudio Castagnoli (6) (15:34)
Rate: 8 (Recommend)
A brief video package recaps the Gold League matches from Wednesday’s Dynamite.
Abadon vs. Jazmin Allure
Abadon no sold an kick before Abadon drops Jazmin Allure with a kick then follows up with a running knee to the head before she connects with Black Dahlia to get the win.
Winner: Abadon (1:07)
Rate: 1
After the match the lights went out then TBS Champion Julia Hart was in the ring once they returned on. Hart places the TBS Title between her & Abadon then Abadon speared her. Hart fought back but Abadon got the better of it and hits Hart with a running knee strike. Abadon picks up the TBS Title.
Skye Blue enters the ring then traded a look with Abadon before they both turned and looked at Hart then suddenly Blue hits Abadon from behind. Hart & Blue works over Abadon.
Thunder Rosa hops the barricade and helps Abadon clear Hart & Blue from the ring. Rosa & Abadon back into one another before Rosa offers a handshake which Abadon accepts.
After the break Renee Paquette interviewed Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn and Gunn said they were knocked back down and the got back up and now they are pissed off. Max Caster said they were coming for whoever is under The Devil mask. Caster said he was friends with MJF but he wants nothing to do with him because he put them in danger. Anthony Bowens said they would beat their Scooby Doo asses then get back to being the best trio in AEW history.
Top Flight & Action Andretti walks in & Dante Martin said they didn’t attack The Acclaimed. They spoke about their recent victories and said they would like a Trios Title shot. Caster said they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and granted them the title match for next week’s Collision in San Antonio.
International Title Match
Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Bryan Keith
Bryan Keith puts Orange Cassidy down with a big boot to the head before a PIP break.
After the break Cassidy counters a gutwrench attempt with a Beach Break for a near fall.
Cassidy threw light kicks at Keith then started throwing hard kicks before Keith stood up and took a kick to the face and then responded with one of his own.
Keith connected with another kick in the corner then hits a cutter from the middle rope that led to a near fall.
Cassidy counters out of another move and hooks Keith into Mouse Trap for the win.
Winner & Still International Champion: Orange Cassidy (9:09) (STILL CHAMPION!!!)
Rate: 6
After the match Cassidy offers Keith a handshake but Keith slaps his hand away but then bowed and tips his cap to Cassidy & he returns the favor by bowing while tipping his shades down.
A Miro video package aired. He spoke of being tired of avoiding people to please his wife. He said he wants to fight Andrade because he’s an asshole. He said he’s ready to kill everyone to please himself.
After the break Lexy Nair interviews Komander and touted his impressive performance in the ROH Television Title Survival Of The Fittest match. Komander Roderick Strong yells offscreen. Strong walks in with The Kingdom. Strong & Mike Bennett boasted about being former ROH Television Champions. Strong told The Kingdom that he’d found his next victim and then pointed at Komander and yells his name again.
Cash Wheeler told House Of Black to meet them face to face if they have a problem. Wheeler spoke about all of the titles they have won since they came to AEW.
Wheeler said Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews are still just unrealized potential. Wheeler said they were just jealous of the success that Brody King & TBS Champion Julia Hart are having. Dax Harwood spoke about not having the best physiques and said he’s heard they are hard to do business with but they don’t back down from a fight. Harwood said he has a problem being hit from behind. Harwood said he was going to issue a challenge. He said House Of Black then his mic cuts out.
Malakai Black & Buddy Matthews appeared on the big screen. Matthews said FTR misunderstands in that they are not trying to hurt them, they are trying to point out that no one has their back. Matthews said the people love Harwood and then questioned who loves Wheeler. Matthews said they love him and would welcome both of them being in their family.
Black said it’s not personal, it’s what happens when they have to prove a point. Black said it’s so aggressive that it hurts them because it’s love. Black points out that no one saved FTR when they attacked them.
Black said he wanted to make it personal he would have a picture of Harwood with his wife and daughter. FTR stormed out of the ring. Matthews produced a photo. And I would do this to it Black said before setting it on fire. Black said it was symbolic and whether FTR likes it or not, they are their family now.
We get a video package on Keith Lee.
Tag Team Street Fight
Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Martinez & Diamante
Both teams brawled immediately before Willow Nightingale had a bottle break over her head at ringside as Kris Statlander hits Diamante with a DDT onto a barbwire bat.
Statlander fought off Martinez as she was working over Nightingale at ringside. Statlander & Nightingale moved the ring steps.
Diamante ran up the steps and dove at Statlander & Nightingale but they caught her & slams her onto the steps then back in the ring Martinez slams a tire iron over Nightingale’s back.
Statlander places 3 chairs on the mat before Martinez puts Statlander on the ropes and then suplexes her onto the chairs. Diamante covers Statlander but Nightingale broke up the pin then Diamante slaps Nightingale and flips her off as we go to a PIP break.
After the break Nightingale speared Diamante into a board that was set up in the corner. It didn’t break so Nightingale tried to slam Diamante through it but the thing didn’t break again.
So on the 3rd try Nightingale kicks it & it breaks then Statlander covers Martinez but Diamante slams a briefcase over Statlander’s back to break up the pin. Diamante opens the briefcase and poured thumbtacks and glass onto the mat.
Martinez drove Statlander’s head into the pile then Diamante hits a Destroyer on Statlander onto the pile and went for the pin but Nightingale broke it up.
Martinez powerbombs Nightingale through a table on the floor as Statlander wraps a chain around her arm and clotheslines Martinez to get the win.
Winners: Kris Statlander & Willow Nightingale (10:33)
Rate: 7
Backstage, Renee Paquette spoke with Women’s Champion Toni Storm & Mariah May. Paquette said that the winner of Riho vs. Saraya will challenge Storm for the Women’s Title at Worlds End. Paquette asked Storm if she had a preference. Storm said not really.
Paquette spoke with May & she said Tony Khan helped her apply for her American wrestling license. She said she will have her 1st match soon and asked Storm to be on commentary for it. Storm said she’s very busy. May said it was okay and hoped that Storm would check it out and give her some pointers but Storm said she’s really busy. Storm said May would be the 1st to know when she holds another seminar. Storm spoke briefly about Riho & Saraya tearing each other’s eyes out.
A video package on Adam Copeland & TNT Champion Christian Cage aired. Copeland said he should have been prepared for all scenarios. He said he wants Cage in a No DQ match at Worlds End. He said he would beat Cage and become the new TNT Champion.
Brian Cage vs. Kari Wright
Brian Cage drills Kari Wright to the mat with Drill Claw to score the quick win.
Winner: Brian Cage (1:28)
Rate: 1
Backstage Lexy Nair interviews Mogul Embassy & Prince Nana said Swerve Strickland would win the Continental Classic and spoke about the others. He started to sing we’re in the money. Keith Lee shows up and said they would tell “him” that his patience is running out.
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Eddie Kingston (3) vs. Daniel Garica (0)
Kingston must win or he’s eliminated.
Eddie Kingston puts Daniel Garcia down with a DDT heading into a picture in picture break.
After the break Kingston threw a series of chops in the corner as Garcia motioned for more so Kingston obliged.
Garcia did a tired version of his dance but Kingston hits him with more chops until he sat down in the corner. Garcia did the dance while seated to taunt Kingston.
Kingston charged Garcia but he moves so Garcia worked over Kingston in the corner and hits him with a running boot to the head. Garcia hits a dragon screw leg whip then applied a kneebar which Kingston broke by reaching the ropes.
Garcia rolls Kingston into an Ankle Lock but Kingston reached the bottom rope. Kingston came back with an exploder suplex then drops Garcia with a spinning backfist which led to a near fall.
Garcia suplexes Kingston twice and got a near fall then went for Dragon Slayer but Kingston avoids it.
Both men traded slaps and then Garcia dropkicks Kingston’s knee before Kingston came right back with a suplex and a backfist to put Garica away.
Winner: Eddie Kingston (6) (12:12)
Rate: 7
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Bryan Danielson (6) vs. Brody King (6)
Bryan Danielson threw several kicks at the left leg of Brody King before King drills Danielson with a cannonball in the corner.
Danielson sold eye pain and rolls to ringside as referee Paul Turner checks on Danielson. Danielson ditched the patch but he had his eye bandaged.
King slams Danielson head on the side of the broadcast table twice then ran him into the barricade. King seats Danielson on a chair against the barricade then hits a running crossbody heading into the last PIP break.
After the break Danielson hits King with a flying knee off the apron then back in the ring, Danielson went up to the top rope and hits a missile dropkick but King backs into the corner and stays on his feet. Danielson hits him with a big dropkick in the corner. Danielson threw leg kicks.
Danielson places King in a seated position on the top rope and went up but King crotched him on the top rope then clotheslined him back inside the ring before covering him for a two count. Danielson came back by catching King in a half crab.
Danielson threw elbows at the side of King’s head but King stood up and hits a Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Danielson rallies and hits Busaiku Knee and covers King but he kicks out at one.
Danielson threw kicks at a kneeling King when Danielson went for the finale kick but King shot up and turned him inside out with a clothesline then King covers Danielson for a two count.
King tried to powerbomb Danielson but caught him in an inside cradle for a two count.
Danielson hits a pair of Busaiku Knee when King got to his knees Danielson hits him with another Busaiku Knee to the back of the head to get the win.
Winner: Bryan Danielson (9) (15:12)
Rate: 7
Blue League Standings After Night 9
1st Place- Andrade El Idolo & Bryan Danielson (9 Points) (3-1)
2nd Place- Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston & Brody King (6 Points) (2-2)
Last Place- Daniel Garica (0 Points) (0-4)
Holiday Bash Card
Night 1 (Dec 20th)
Gold League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Swerve Strickland (9) vs. Rush (6)
Gold League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Jon Moxley (12) vs. Jay White (9)
Gold League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Mark Briscoe (0) vs. Jay Lethal (0)
Women’s Title #1 Contenders Match
Riho vs. Saraya
Roderick Strong vs. Komander
Night 3 (Dec 23rd)
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Andrade El Idolo (9) vs. Eddie Kingston (6)
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Bryan Danielson (9) vs. Claudio Castagnoli (6)
Blue League Match Of The 2023 Continental Classic
Brody King (6) vs. Daniel Garica (0)
Trios Titles Match
The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Billy Gunn (c) vs. Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) & Action Andretti
Tag Team Match
TBS Champion Julia Hart & Skye Blue vs. Abadon & Thunder Rosa
