AEW Collision Episode Review and Results- 15th July 2023 (Published 20th July)

15th July 2023- 8/7pm Central on TNT- Live @ The Scotiabank Saddledome, Calgary, Alberta (Attendance according to WrestleTix: 5,374)

*WARNING- SPOILERS BELOW*

On a night dedicated to the memory of one of Calgary’s own wrestling legends- the late, great Owen Hart- tonight’s episode of AEW Collision focused on etching new memories for AEW fans and critics alike, as one match in particular stole the show, and in doing so laid the framework for the future of Saturday night wrestling moving forward for this promotion. Blessed with the TV time to now properly showcase the plethora of talent AEW has at its disposal, if tonight’s episode taught us anything, it was that there’s a few new dogs around town. And while you may not be able to teach an old dog new tricks, on tonight’s viewing, these new dogs can certainly embrace the tricks of old.

As Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting) faded out and Collision hit our screens in its fifth iteration, the absence of lead commentator Kevin Kelly was immediately apparent. However, all trepidation was soon shelved as Ring of Honor’s play-by-play announcer Ian Riccaboni introduced the show with the usual sense of poise and precision ROH fans are accustomed to. If anyone can fill in for the lauded storyteller that Kelly is, while also adding his own concoction of enthusiasm and excitement to the show, it is ROH stalwart Riccaboni. 

In fact, AEW fans should be seeing a lot more of good ol’ I.R in the future, with Fightful Select reporting the day following Collision that Riccaboni has recently signed a multi-year deal with All Elite Wrestling. Kelly- who was covering New Japan Pro Wrestling’s G1 Climax 33 tournament- is reportedly prioritising his commitments with NJPW and was unable to attend tonight’s edition of Collision. Personally, as much as I appreciate the excellent work Kelly has put in so far to elevate Collision, ensuring the show has its own distinct ‘identity’ from Dynamite and Rampage, Riccaboni and co-commentator Nigel McGuinness displayed obvious cohesion after their time together in ROH, and the quality of the show did not drop at all with Kelly’s absence. If Kelly is to miss more of Collision in the near future, fans needn’t worry, following this performance, Saturdays are in safe hands.

Match One- FTR vs Bullet Club Gold- 2 out of 3 falls for the AEW Tag Team Championships (60-minute time limit)

Rating: 9.87/10

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The show not only started off in the shadows of last week’s epic encounter between FTR and Bullet Club Gold- in which Bullet Club won an eliminator match to set up tonight’s 2 out of 3 falls match for the AEW Tag Team Championships- but the obvious nature of the match drew warranted parallels with FTR’s canonical 2 out of 3 falls battle with The Briscoes at last year’s ROH pay-per-view Death Before Dishonor.

While it may be a stretch to say this match was as good as their Briscoe battle, in its own right this was an instant classic, and not only was it one of the best tag-team matches I remember viewing in recent memory, but it is also one of the best matches per se I have saw on free television in a long time, with wrestling journalists Bill Apter and Dave Meltzer also showering this bout with similar praise. A masterclass in timing, psychology, in-ring technical prowess, storytelling, and endurance, both teams left this bout with their stock elevated even higher amongst the wrestling world, and fans will surely be whetting their lips at the potential of further contests between this quartet.

Dax Harwood of FTR and BCG’s Jay White opened up this contest with a bit of mental jousting in and out of the ring, upholding their respective face and heel roles as Dax answered Bullet Club’s stalling tactics by embracing the fans during a little lap of honour, whilst even engaging in an overly flippant chest bump with his tag partner Cash Wheeler. Intimidation would not reign supreme here. Then, once the outside bravado evaporated, it was time to get down to business, as both men immediately reverted to more of the crisp and convincing style of in-ring wrestling they exhibited the week prior. If this opening segment wasn’t an instant reminder of the accumulation of talent sharing the ring tonight, then the next fifty-seven minutes-or-so certainly was.

FTR may claim to be ‘the best tag team in the world’, and if that is the case on this showing Bullet Club Gold aren’t far behind. Obviously buoyed by landing the last two falls in matches involving these teams, Bullet Club’s White was especially physical with Harwood throughout this contest, and in customary FTR fashion, Harwood returned the favour with aplomb. Their chemistry is obvious to see, and achieving this so early into their Collision tenure is testament to both their professionalism and ability as top-tier pro-wrestlers.

As White and Harwood exchanged ‘arm drags’, ‘side-headlock takeovers’, and a few thunderous chops to the chest, both Cash Wheeler and Juice Robinson stood on the apron awaiting their eventual involvement in this burgeoning masterpiece. Wheeler- who McGuiness aptly described as ‘well-put-together’- was especially eager to enter the fray, while Juice continued with his unusual, erratic shenanigans.

It must be said that, even when the remaining two members of both teams were awaiting their tag, their demeanour, psychology, gestures, and verbal involvement helped to keep the viewer invested throughout the match, which is especially important during a lengthy 2 out of 3 falls bout like this one. To put it simply, neither tag partner just stood around idly. It surely made for intriguing viewing, ensuring referee Paul Turner needed eyes in the back of his head throughout the contest. This was especially apparent as fan favourite Harwood even resorted to a cheeky grab of the top rope for added leverage during an ‘abdominal stretch’ on White, the sneaky so-and-so.

When Wheeler and Robinson finally entered the fray, the quality of the match did not dip at all. Wheeler- boasting an obvious size advantage over ‘Rock Hard’ Robinson- bullied the former NJPW United States Heavyweight Champion around the ring during their first tussle, before another shoulder tackle sent Robinson tumbling through the ropes and to the outside. It was time for Bullet Club Gold to regroup. When Robinson finally returned to the ring, Cash tagged in Dax and they continued to work on Robinson with the synchronised teamwork they are synonymous with.

When Robinson finally tagged out, and White and Harwood entered their second stanza, Dax landed an especially crisp ‘side Russian leg sweep’ on White, with Riccaboni intuitively reminding viewers that this may have been a homage to another of Calgary’s own- Bret Hart- on a night where both the men and women’s finals of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament were still to be decided. White’s selling during this match was just as brilliant as the delivery of the moves themselves, and this was evident as ‘Switchblade’ received an especially physical backbreaker from Harwood. Who would have thought being dropped spine first onto someone’s knee could hurt, eh?

When Wheeler and Robinson got back in the ring, Juice really stepped up the pace, and this match really granted Robinson a proper platform to showcase his own abilities to the AEW fans. Personally, I haven’t saw a great deal of Robinson’s work in NJPW, but on this viewing a ‘deep[er] dive’ is more than called for. His southpaw jabs kept Wheeler at range, while Cash also got a little taste of one of his signature moves: ‘The Left Hand From God’. The velocity of the match was beginning to increase, with many notable near-falls being complimented by a mixture of ‘belly-to-back suplexes’, a ‘gorilla press slam’, and a well-delivered ‘body scissors’ pin attempt by Cash. Like their respective partners, the synergy between these two competitors was also seemingly apparent.

When Dax returned to the fray, the direction of the match was immediately turned on its head when Robinson sent Harwood crashing shoulder first into the ring post. BCG could now smell blood. Harwood’s shoulder then became the underlying theme of the bout’s first fall, as Bullet Club Gold continued to wear down one half of the tag team champions, and after just under twenty-five minutes into the show, the first fall went the way of the former NJPW stars. Fairly reminiscent of last week’s finish, a failed attempt at a ‘Shatter Machine’ resulted in Dax being inadvertently knocked out of the ring, as Robinson nailed another ‘Left Hand From God’ on Wheeler, allowing the legal man White to execute a ‘Bladerunner’ outta-nowhere for the three-count. The way White transitioned from his finisher straight into the pin was impressive, and especially effective for this type of match. 1-0 to Bullet Club Gold.

As the articulate McGuiness reminded fans, the two-time AEW Tag Team Champions had now lost three straight falls in matches against Bullet Club Gold, but anyone familiar with FTR’s history will know they are not averse to coming back from a deficit. Wheeler really took the match into his own hands as the second fall began, returning the physicality White’s way with a mix of ‘European uppercuts’, ‘suplexes’, and a mean-looking ‘lariat/clothesline’ out of the corner. However, the crafty White soon turned the tables, as the ‘Bang Bang Gang’ worked to effectively neutralise Wheeler, keeping him stranded in their half of the ring. Territory was becoming a key motif in this epic.

Juice then treat Cash to a few of his trademark ‘standing sentons’, delivering each one with added vigour, obviously understanding the importance of the next pin. Fall two appeared to be resting on the good old tag team trope of the ‘hot tag’, as Wheeler continued to be isolated from his partner. White landed a ‘whiplash’ under the bottom rope on Wheeler, followed by a ‘DDT’ to the outside by Juice as BCG looked for the count-out victory. The aggressiveness on show during this match really helped add to the story and the struggle of this particular match type. Finally, after a few agonising tag attempts were rebuffed and another ‘standing senton’ was missed by Juice, Cash landed a well-timed ‘hurricanrana’ on Jay, which allowed both Wheeler and White to make the tag to their respective partners.

In came a refreshed Dax, and a wonderful counter-wrestling segment ensued with both White and Robinson. Interestingly, it is even being reported by several sources that majority of this match was improvised, with Meltzer claiming during a Wrestling Observer Radio show that Juice Robinson did not arrive at the arena until hours before the bout. While some of the criticism being aimed at the performances on Dynamite as of late was that the abundance of pre-planned spots and overly-choreographed wrestling was becoming increasingly noticeable and less of a novelty with each passing week, then this outing only served to highlight not only calibre of wrestlers on show in this particular match, but also showed the benefits of allowing wrestlers the freedom to tell their in-ring stories with an off-the-cuff approach.

The ability to suspend the fan’s belief for close to an hour by improvising a match of this magnitude will only see these teams assume more of the top spots on the promotion’s cards moving forward, and rightly so. Their aptitude for pro-wrestling is clear to see.

At the end of this segment, Dax finally landed a ‘brain-buster’ on Juice for a near-fall, as the “this is awesome!” chants began reverberating through the Saddledome. The atmosphere was then turned up a notch further as Dax and Cash landed a ‘super sunset flip-lariat’ combination from Dax’s knees for the nearest of falls on ‘Switchblade’. As the camera panned to White lay with saliva hanging from his mouth, Cash and Dax looked astonished. It was apparent there was more fight left in this dog just yet.

In order to put away White, another tribute would soon follow. Wheeler looked up to the sky in memory of their old dance partner- the late, (and equally) great Jay Briscoe- as Cash hoisted White up, allowing Dax to land The Briscoes’ famed ‘Redneck Boogie’. One…two…and White kicked out, again! If FTR were astonished at the prior pin attempt, then after this they appeared dumbfounded, epitomised as Dax grabbed Cash’s hair whilst engaging in a tactical pep-talk of sorts. Was this a rare glimpse of desperation on FTR’s part? Could Bullet Club Gold even be beaten?

If they were to be overcome, some more tandem offence would surely do the trick. Dax lifted Jay up to the top rope, whilst Cash climbed the adjacent corner. A wonderful piece of camera work captured both members of FTR ready to engage in their ‘superplex/big splash’ combination offence, as the fans behind the ring stood up one-by-one in a mix of appreciation and anticipation, evocative of a wrestling Mexican Wave of sorts. However, unbeknownst to FTR was the wily Juice Robinson, lurking in the far corner.

However, when Dax landed the ‘superplex’, White was able to instinctively lift the knees and counter Cash’s follow up splash. Right on cue, Juice landed a ‘frog-splash’ of his own on Dax as the choreography entered its crescendo. After an agonising few seconds, Robinson was finally able to roll legal man White on top of Harwood, but the delay granted Dax just enough time to muster up the energy to kick out after a long two-count. As the crowd became unglued and both members of FTR lay dishevelled and disheartened, co-commentator McGuinness summarised this expertly composed segment with perfection: “This is pro-wrestling! And doesn’t it make you proud?”

The energy both commentators brought to this bout, and the final fall in particular, is truly indicative of both their wrestling knowledge, the enjoyment of their job, and the mastering of their particular craft. McGuinness has instilled some well-needed first-hand wrestling experience to Collision’s commentary team, aptly exploring in-ring psychology and match management from the point of view of the wrestlers themselves, while Riccaboni’s energy and exuberance is complimented by his overall broadcasting acumen.

As the ‘AEW’ chants subsided and White was able to crawl over and tag in his partner Robinson, it would be a back-to-basics blend of tag team offence which allowed FTR to even the match up at one fall apiece. Juice Robinson was sent careering into the ropes, while FTR got themselves in prime position to finally deliver a well-needed ‘Shatter Machine’ for the three count. FTR 1-1 Bullet Club Gold.

As the broadcast returned from the commercial break for the deciding fall, the match really started to break down and spill all over the Saddledome. After Harwood’s ‘piledriver’ attempt on the apron was countered by White, White’s recovery took a little too long, allowing Harwood to hoist White onto his shoulders and into a ‘powerbomb’ position. Both men then went tumbling over the barricade and into the crowd as a brief medical stoppage ensued, leaving fans pondering not only the possibility of a time-limit draw, but now also a medical stoppage.

Both teams would surely not willingly throw in the towel, and as they returned to their feet the outside brutality would only continue. After a ‘suplex’ on the concrete, an incensed Dax Harwood even reverted back to the ring, but this time it was only to break the count-out, as he soon returned to the trenches to assist Cash in delivering ‘double suplexes’ to both members of BCG on the outside. Again, the layering and timing of this match was applied with perfection. After such a colossal struggle and a display of in-ring technicality, maybe a bit of ruthless aggression would be the only way to end this classic.

While Dax’s shoulder underpinned the first fall, it would instead be his knee which took centre stage during the story’s eventual denouement. As both teams squared off in the centre of the ring and figurative battle lines were drawn, Dax and Jay assumed majority of the ring time during the finale, with Robinson strategically removing Cash from the apron on multiple occasions, rendering him unable to tag Dax. Robinson must be lauded for these little additions during the match, as even when he was not wrestling he continued to add to the spectacle with these intuitive instances of deceit.

This ensured White was able to implement not only a ‘reverse figure-four leg lock’ in the centre of the ring, but then also follow that up by applying a ‘Sharpshooter’ on Dax, delivered after briefly antagonising the Calgary faithful with a little bit of HBK foot-stomping for good measure. He couldn’t surely win this match with a bit of ‘Sweet-Chin Music’, could he? Based on the crowd’s reaction, it is safe to say that that night in Montreal still hasn’t dispersed from the collective consciousness of Canadian wrestling fans just yet.

However, what’s good for one is good for another, and after Dax countered Jay’s attempt of another ‘Bladerunner’ finish, soon both members of Bullet Club Gold found themselves in a ‘double Sharpshooter’ in the following segment, as FTR paid tribute to their good friend Bret Hart in the best way possible. Seemingly unable to hold the double submission attempt for any longer, FTR broke both holds. Frustration and fury were written all over Harwood’s face as he sat and pulled down his knee pad, which both literally and symbolically signalled a change in the direction of the match and his overall demeanour.

Finally, after Robinson attempted his ‘Pulp Friction’ finisher on Harwood, Dax countered again into another ‘Sharpshooter’, but this time the removal of the kneepad allowed the tag team champion to sit back even deeper in the hold. After an apparent fifty-eight minutes, Robinson had no choice but to succumb to the submission and tap out. 2-1 to FTR, and still AEW Tag Team Champions of the world. And breathe…

Once the crowd’s adulation subsided and the realisation set in for both teams, FTR and Bullet Club Gold stood in the ring for a tense stand-off. Obviously impressed by the spectacle which they had just endured, FTR held out both their hands as a show of respect, but after a short moment of contemplation, the code of honour was not reciprocated, as Jay White bitterly spat on the mat instead. It is safe to say that this rivalry is not over. This has to be a match of the year contender without a doubt.

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Match Two- Ruby Soho vs Willow Nightingale- Owen Hart Foundation Tournament 2023 Women’s Final (20-minute time limit)

Rating: 6.5/10

Faced with the gargantuan task of following the previous epic, both Willow Nightingale and Ruby Soho made their way to the ring for the second edition of the women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament final in a match that would pitch former tag team partners against one another. Soho- a defeated finalist in last year’s tournament– returned to take on the flourishing Nightingale, who herself was entering somewhat of a rebuild after losing the NJPW STRONG Women’s Title to Guila at NJPW’s Independence Day show.

Nightingale’s recent ascent up the international wrestling ladder has been nothing short of sensational, and she has continued to improve both her character development, popularity, and in-ring performances since her AEW debut in 2021. Performing in AEW, NJPW, and ROH, this run culminated in a career best result in May as she dethroned Mercedes Mone at NJPW’s Resurgence.

Soho, on the other hand, has been locked in a storyline with her teammates The Outcasts (Toni Storm and Saraya) as they battle the self-proclaimed ‘AEW Originals’. Due to an unfortunate injury to Jamie Hayter, this storyline appears to have been shelved for the time being, with rumours that this rivalry was scheduled to result in the first ever AEW women’s Blood & Guts match. Only time will tell how the creative team reapproach this storyline when Hayter returns.

Nightingale- who Riccaboni touts as his wife’s favourite wrestler- was entering the match after defeating the formidable ROH Women’s World Champion Athena at AEW Rampage the night prior, but wrestling two shows in such close proximity did not appear to hinder her output, as she delivered her promise of bringing her “big hair, big smile, and big fight” to Soho. The beginning of the match displayed the obvious familiarity between each competitor, as several offensive attempts were either blocked or reversed. Willow- possessing an obvious size advantage over Ruby- resorted to utilising this benefit, as Soho was left looking for opportunities to exploit any mistakes by the less experienced Nightingale.

Soho really stuck to her role of heel throughout the bout, antagonising the crowd as she implemented submission holds on Nightingale, while pushing the boundaries of legality in doing so. Willow stuck to using her physicality with chops, ‘clotheslines’, and even a ‘running powerslam’ in an attempt to defuse Soho’s attacks. It was not obvious who would remain victorious here.

After a few near-fall pin attempts, Nightingale applied a ‘single-leg Boston crab’ on Soho, who after finally crawling to the corner for the rope break, reached for The Outcast’s trademark spray paint, which was hidden in her ring gear. After throwing the can to Willow- a misguided attempt to rouse referee Aubrey Edwards- the referee disposed of the foreign object (albeit not very well), but during this short interlude Soho was able to rake the eyes of Willow, following up her heelish antics by landing her ‘No-Future’ ‘enzuigiri’ finishing kick flush on Nightingale’s chin. To be honest, I thought this was going to be the end of the match, but Willow was able to roll her shoulder off the mat just enough to keep herself in contention.

After more extra-curricular activity involving that *beeping* spray paint, Nightingale was able to duck the oncoming ‘green mist’ (sorry Tajiri) and land her ‘Pounce’ shoulder tackle on Soho, sending the much smaller competitor flying into the ropes. In customary Willow fashion, the ‘Pounce’ preceded her ‘Doctorbomb’ finisher, as Willow elevated Ruby up and slammed her down to the mat for the three-count victory. Willow Nightingale is now your 2023 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner.

While this wasn’t a bad match, unfortunately for both women they were not only hindered by time constraints following the marathon which came before them, but the energy of the crowd was just a little flat, and this seemed to affect both the pace and the vibrancy of the match. However, two titles so far in 2023 for Willow Nightingale is a good return, and that could soon be three as Willow takes on ROH Women’s World Champion Athena at Death Before Dishonor on Friday 21^st July.

For me, Nightingale is one of the most improved competitors I have observed throughout my time as an AEW fan, and it is great to see her getting the plaudits her work deserves. Soho, meanwhile, should not be disheartened in defeat. She is still a competent in-ring worker and well-known star, and while The Outcasts have not yet been fully utilised as a faction, there is still plenty of potential for The Outcast vs AEW Originals storyline to develop and flourish in the near future.

Match Three- Kings of the Black Throne vs Artemis Spencer & Randy Myers (20-minute time limit)

Basically a squash match. Nothing more to be said. Kings of the Black Throne were both dominant and victorious in no more than a few minutes.

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Match Four- CM Punk vs Ricky Starks Owen Hart Foundation Tournament 2023 Men’s Final (20-minute time limit)

Rating: 7.92/10

With five wins over former world champions to his name, Ricky Starks entered the final of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament with not only the potential to acquire his most prestigious title in his AEW reign so far (the FTW Championship is still not a recognised title in AEW), but he also had the chance to add the scalp of CM Punk onto his resume in his biggest match since he was beaten by MJF for the AEW World Heavyweight title at Winter is Coming in December. Only weeks prior on the June 24^th edition of Collision, Starks and Punk had been fighting on the same losing team in an 8-man tag against Bullet Club Gold, so intrigue was in the air as friends would become foe in the quest for gold.

After Starks had entered the ring, Living Colour’s Cult of Personality rang out through the Saddledome speakers, and if the reaction of the crowd was anything to go by, it is safe to say that ‘The Second City Saint’ still holds the title of being the most divisive figure on the entire AEW roster. However, reactions like this are simply water from a duck’s back for the Chicago-based star, as CM Punk laughed his way to the ring, seemingly vitalised by the vacillation of the Calgary faithful. Or, as Riccaboni fittingly described it, Punk was facing both “headwind and tailwind” in this outing. Ambivalence was rife tonight.

Both men started the match jostling in the centre of the ring, as the “Lets go Ricky-CM Punk” chants brought the crowd back to life after a slight mid-show lull. ‘Wristlocks’ and ‘side-headlock takeovers’ were both implemented and countered by both men in the opening canto, as neither man wanted to give up early ground. The intriguing subplot of Punk’s new ‘Jekyll and Hyde’ Collision character obviously helped keep the crowd enthused, and this uncertainty of face/heel distinction also began to seep into Starks’ demeanour, as he teased and taunted Punk with his own ‘go to sleep’ gesture.

The mind-games continued after Punk ‘hip-tossed’ Starks to the outside, with Punk sitting brazenly on the middle rope, ushering Starks back into the ring. As Starks tentatively returned to the ring, Punk’s conceit developed into brash cockiness, as he clapped Starks’ entrance back into the ring. There would be no place for friendship here, only egos would prevail.

After Ricky Starks was able to perform his ‘walking the top rope’ attack on Punk, Punk was then sent flying through the ropes and to the outside after a failed charge in Starks’ direction. Returning the ‘favour’, Starks himself sat on the middle rope, encouraging the veteran to re-enter the fray. His offer of assistance was equally laced with arrogance. Again, just like the FTR vs Bullet Club Gold encounter earlier in the night, neither competitor would succumb to intimidation. However, unlike Starks, Punk would not take the bait.

More tributes to Bret ‘The Hitman’ Hart were on show as Punk delivered his elbows from the second rope, while following that up with a ‘side-Russian leg sweep’ of his own. However, when Punk climbed the ropes again for some more flying offence, his indulgence towards the crowd would be his downfall- both literally and figuratively- as Starks swept his legs away to send the Chicago native crashing back first into the mat. Starks had found an opening.

‘Absolute’ then continued to work on the back of the ‘Second City Saint’, delivering a ‘backbreaker’ to Punk, whilst also engaging in some rope-assisted stomps to the spine. The former FTW champion would then resort to sacrificing his own body in an attempt to maintain control of this bout, delivering a ‘leg drop’ on the apron. However, as Starks ascended the top rope looking for a ‘diving elbow drop’, Punk mustered an amalgamation of experience and ring awareness, nonchalantly sitting up in true Samoa Joe fashion, subsequently avoiding Starks’ incoming elbow.

‘Clobbering time’ soon followed, as Punk hit Starks with a well delivered ‘hammerlock-clothesline’ combination, but Starks was able to kick out after the nearest fall of the match so far. After both men attempted simultaneous ‘cross bodies’ in the centre of the ring, a double count-out ensued, with Punk rising to his knees first. Both men then traded forearms in the centre of the ring as the fatigue and wear and tear began to visibly set in. After coming out on top in this exchange, Starks sent Punk towards the corner, catching the former AEW champion as he attempted to jump over Starks and avoid the follow up attack.

Out of nowhere, Punk then countered Starks, landing Bret Hart’s original finisher the ‘Piledriver’, but could not capitalise with a quick cover. When he finally did attempt the pin, Starks was able to kick out after a long two count. Punk signalled for the ‘Go To Sleep’, but Ricky desperately elbowed his way out of trouble. After delivering his trademark ‘Spear’, Punk instinctively rolled to the floor and out of bounds in another demonstration of the shrewd veteran that he is.

However, Punk would not find much solace out of the ring as Starks threw him back into the fray and immediately attempted a second ‘Spear’. Punk somehow countered this attack into a ‘front-face lock/guillotine’ manoeuvre, which I must admit was very well executed and unexpected. Unfortunately, the momentum ushered both men closer to the ropes than Punk would have liked, allowing Starks the opportunity to break the hold by a mere toes’ length, much to Punk’s dismay.

The finale of the match would be as well executed as it was foretelling, as Punk attempted a ‘hurricanrana’ from the top rope, only for Starks to answer this with a roll-up pin attempt. After a two-count, Punk then moved his weight forward and attempted a deep cover of his own, which on first glance looked like it was impossible to counter, only for Starks to somehow roll out and transfer Punk’s body closer to the ropes. Starks then reached forward, using the middle rope for added leverage as referee Bryce Remsburg counted one, two, and then three for the victory. Ricky Starks is now the men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament 2023 winner.

While this match wasn’t a display of top tier athleticism, and both competitors were clearly showing battle scars from prior bouts, this certainly was Punk’s finest outing since his AEW return, and a very entertaining match in its own right. Both men showed signs of brilliant chemistry, and some of the counter-wrestling was well-executed. In addition, the pacing really suited the crowd’s ambivalence towards Punk, as what it lacked in fast-paced action, it surely made up for in crowd reaction, involvement, and psychology.

Also, the overall storyline of it actually being Ricky Starks who revelled in the act of subverting the face/heel role was an extra, unexpected layer to this match, but a welcome addition at that. This result catapults Starks back into the top tier of AEW following a slight lull after his impressive performances in rivalries with Powerhouse Hobbs, Chris Jericho, and MJF. Not only that, but it also gives plenty of opportunity now for both Starks and Punk to rekindle this friendship-turned-feud in future editions of Collision. I myself would certainly like both men to play this back again.

Conclusion

Rating: 9/10

Overall, this was a fantastic show and a wonderful display of AEW’s roster. Not only that, but the way these matches were booked and organically led to one another after the previous four renditions of Collision gives me and other fans great hope for this show’s future potential. So far, Collision has pitted some of the best against the best; iron sharpening iron, so to speak. However, the ability to have another two-hour feature show may also benefit Dynamite moving forward too. The ‘so-called soft roster split’ allows the company the ability to not only exhibit a different ‘style’ to Wednesday nights, but could also help AEW shine the light on stars in need of consistent storylines and worthy opposition, such as Starks, The Gunns, Andrade El Idolo, Miro, and many others.

White and Robinson in particular have been fantastic additions- and this intermingling of Punk, Samoa Joe, Ricky Starks, FTR, and Bullet Club Gold is rife with tantalising options as Collision continues to develop. Jay White really put on is best performance in AEW for me so far- as did Juice Robinson- but the sky really is the limit for ‘Switchblade’ if he continues with this overall quality and intensity. He really is demonstrating that he is the complete package.

Aside from that, if MJF’s continuing bromance with Adam Cole on Dynamite allows him to continue blurring the boundary between face and heel, I would love to see him and White square up in the future for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. This really would be a match between two prime athletes, and the verbal battles would also be great to witness (I vaguely remember MJF referring to White as looking like a ‘homeless man’ on Twitter when White was NJPW’s Heavyweight Champion).

This really was my favourite free TV show in quite some time, and I am honoured to be writing my first ever wrestling review on a show of such quality. An absolute must-see for all wrestling fans. Long may it continue.

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