AEW Collision Review – 07.19.25

This week in AEW has included: All In: Texas | Dynamite | ROH and now you’re caught up just in time.

Congratulations and welcome to Collision, coming to us live (recorded Thursday July 17th) from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago, IL. The announce team is Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness and Colt Cabana on match calls, Arkady Aura on ring announcements, and Lexy Nair on backstage interviews.

Tony Schiavone opens the show mid-ring and he introduces the new AEW TNT Champion Dustin Rhodes. (It’s wild to see Dustin Rhodes holding three title belts in 2025, but here we are). Schiavone congratulates Rhodes and hands him the mic. Rhodes looks to the sky and says “Dad, I wish you were here with me right now.” and the camera captures this from overhead in a really cool visual. Dusty would tell Dustin to “keep steppin'” whenever things went poorly and it stuck with him. To him, it means hope. Rhodes has put 37 years into the business at this point, and he’s done it for the love and passion of it. Rhodes says one thing he’s never done is telling himself he wasn’t good enough. Rhodes says he’s been waiting to say this for thirty years, but he’s now the FACE OF TNT (Insert Darryl screenshot….here). Rhodes promises to give his all every week because he wants to be a fighting champion.

Here’s Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher to interrupt. Callis says Fletcher has something important to say. Fletcher says Rhodes told a very touching story but the only issue he has with it is that it was a “gigantic load of crap”. Fletcher says this celebration should be his because the moment at All In was handcrafted for him. Fletcher had earned a one-on-one shot at the TNT title but Rhodes “weaseled” his way in and got the title so congratulations on that, says Fletcher. Fletcher says all that means is that Rhodes has signed his own death certificate because Fletcher won’t rest until he’s taken everything from Rhodes.

Rhodes says he knows what kind of athlete Fletcher is. Rhodes runs down his list of failures when it comes to the TNT title including Lance Archer, Sammy Guevara, Christian Cage and Brodie Lee. Rhodes says all Fletcher does is complain and give excuses. Rhodes says he worked three times in less than 24 hours last weekend and Fletcher worked once, and Rhodes pulled it off while Fletcher didn’t. Callis takes the mic from Fletcher and asks him to step aside so he can talk to Rhodes. Callis says Rhodes is a legend, a great wrestler, and an even better man. Callis says the one high Rhodes is still chasing is winning titles. Callis wants to know what happens to Rhodes when Fletcher takes the belt from him. Callis says he’ll hold a place in the Don Callis Family for Rhodes because it’s a much better place than the “dysfunctional shit-show Rhodes family”.

Rhodes grabs Callis and Fletcher blasts Rhodes from behind. Rhodes fights back with right hands and then clotheslines Fletcher over the top rope to the floor. Callis holds Fletcher back from charging back into the ring. McGuinness throws to a video package about The Conglomeration that focuses on Mark Briscoe, Willow Nightingale, and Tomohiro Ishii. Briscoe promises to hurt MJF the next time he sees him.

Ricochet vs AR Fox

Sadly, this is not a Hell of War match. Richochet stalls Memphis-style to start as a frustrated Fox gives chase. Ricochet does some acrobatics around Fox and bows to the crowd. Fox yanks him down and goes to ground-and-pound. Ricochet pulls himself to the floor after an irish whip so Fox soars over the top rope and splashes Ricochet to the ground. Fox whips Ricochet back in the ring as the Gates of Agony arrive on the scene. Fox gets back in the ring and dumps a charging Ricochet to the apron before SWEEPING THE LEG. Fox flips over the top rope and double-stomps a prone Ricochet on the apron. Fox destroys Ricochet with a spinning neckbreaker and that gets two.

Fox mounts in the corner but Ricochet slips it and rakes Fox’s back. Ricochet mounts and starts throwing rights but Fox slips that and drops Ricochet face-first on the top turnbuckle. Fox starts slapping Ricochet’s head with both hands in a wildly funny visual. Fox whips Ricochet to the opposite corner and nails him with a running lariat. As Ricochet is bothering the referee, Toa Liona snatches Fox and drives him back-first into the apron and then to the floor. We go to picture-in-picture commercials.

During PIP Ricochet drives Fox back-first into the apron before jumping in the ring hoping for a count-out. Fox tries to come back in so Ricochet hops out to the floor and runs him into the barrier. Ricochet taunts the crowd and then puts the boots to Fox. Ricochet tosses Fox back in and pulls Fox’s arms back while driving a knee into his back. Fox powers up with rights but Ricochet cuts off his charge with a shoulder tackle. Ricochet covers for two. Ricochet hits Fox with a couple of rights and tries to bully Fox.

Back live with Fox charging Ricochet in the corner. Fox dumps Ricochet on to the second rope and lariats him from behind. Fox ascends but Ricochet punches him and hoists him on his shoulders. Fox fights out of it and wallops Ricochet with a couple of rights before nailing him with a bunch of elbow drops. Fox hits Ricochet with a timed rolling senton and Ricochet bails to the floor. Fox flies over the top rope and hits a rolling tackle on Ricochet before dumping him back in. Fox hits a running lariat on Ricochet in the corner before sliding to the apron. Fox skins the cat and double-stomps Ricochet in the chest. Fox hits a swanton and that gets a LONG two.

Ricochet recovers and rolls Fox up for two. They exchange a series of roll-ups and all get two counts. Ricochet slips out of a backslide and nails Fox with a Death Valley Driver for two. (Cabana talks about Fox winning a bunch of money and whether or not he has it in his bank account and the irony of all of this happening in Chicago is just….). Fox slips a Spirit Gun attempt and staggers Ricochet with a jumping roundhouse. Fox hits another enziguri while Ricochet is draped over the second rope before hitting Ricochet with a modified springboard destroyer. Fox covers for two. As Fox ascends, Bishop Kaun distracts the referee allowing Ricochet to recover and smack Fox with a right. Fox dumps Ricochet off the second rope, so Ricochet charges back in and eats a kaman giri. Fox ascends but misses his 450 splash attempt as Ricochet slips it. Ricochet hits the Spirit Gun and gets the three count.

I was expecting more from these two. There was nothing wrong with it, it just felt flat for two guys who have the history and chemistry that they possess. I’d call this “technically proficient” but you won’t remember any of it by Monday. 2*

Winner – Ricochet (Spirit Gun)

Next up is a video package on Hangman Adam Page winning the AEW World Championship at All In: Texas and then again beating the Death Riders in a six-man tag at Dynamite on Wednesday. Back at the announcer desk, Cabana and McGuinness are discussing Page’s week when Marina Shafir looms up behind Cabana with a chain. Shafir chokes Cabana while Wheeler Yuta tells the announcers to back off. Jon Moxley sprints in and starts hammering Cabana with a length of chain (presumably the one that was used to end his reign). Moxley heaves the chain in the ring while Yuta runs a bloody Cabana into the ring steps. Yuta whales away at Cabana’s head and you can tell Moxley really opened him up. Shafir gets a few licks in before Yuta dumps Cabana in the ring. Moxley says this is what the crowd wants as Yuta wraps the chain around Cabana’s neck. Moxley dumps Cabana over the top rope and hangs him the exact way Page hung Moxley at All In. Cabana taps out and Moxley lets him go. The referees and medical staff attend to Cabana as the Death Riders leave to chants of “You tapped out!”. We go to commercials.

Man, Colt bled a TON here. An unhinged Moxley could be fun if they keep him away from Page for awhile. We cannot just keep running it back, TK. Trust me on this.

Back live with Kris Statlander joining Lexy Nair backstage, as Nair promises to try to get an update on Colt Cabana. Nair asks Statlander about her ongoing thing with Willow Nightingale. Statlander says Nightingale was her opponent in both the Casino Gauntlet match and the four-way on Dynamite and asks Nair if Nightingale hits her, should she not hit her back? Statlander says she’s a wrestler, strong, and tough….and Marina Shafir walks through the shot followed by Moxley and Yuta. Yuta says that Statlander had a tough week, but champions bounce back. Shafir drags Yuta off and Statlander tells Nair she’s going to bounce back.

Megan Bayne vs Tay Melo

The rules here are that everyone associated with these two are banned from ringside.

Bayne snatches Melo up at the bell and drives her into the corner. Bayne drives the shoulder in repeatedly before pie-facing Melo and posing. Melo slips a charge and fires right hands before Bayne shoves her away. Melo comes back in with more rights and Bayne shoves her away again. Bayne charges but Melo slips it and goes behind. Bayne fires a back elbow and then crushes Melo with a lariat. Bayne yanks Melo up, spins her around and body-slams her. Bayne tries for another lariat but Melo grabs a Fujiwara armbar. Bayne manages to roll out of it so Melo rolls her into a triangle as McGuinness touts Melo’s real-life credentials in the martial arts. Bayne manages to lift Melo while still in the hold and drops Melo on her back to break it. Bayne runs Melo into the turnbuckle and then sets her up. Bayne charges in so Melo boots her in the face before using her legs to send Bayne over the top rope to the floor.

Melo is on the apron and as Bayne charges, she slips her first attempt and then kicks Bayne in the chest. Melo tries an ill-advised cross-body and Bayne catches her and dumps Melo into a fall-away slam. We go to picture-in-picture commercials.

During PIP Bayne runs Melo into the barrier. Melo fires up with some forearms so Bayne rams her back-first into the ring apron. Bayne rolls in to break the count and rolls right back out to dump Melo back-first onto the apron. Back in the ring, Bayne kicks Melo in the head a couple of times and then stands her up in the corner. They start exchanging chops and Bayne gets the better of it. We go to full commercials.

Back live with Melo getting a jawbreaker on Bayne off of a side headlock. Melo hits a reverse thrust kick and a running forearm on Bayne. Melo hits two more forearms and Bayne is finally staggered a bit. Melo slips a Bayne charge in the corner before hammering Bayne with thee high boots from the various corners. Melo starts pie-facing Bayne with her boot. Melo is celebrating when Bayne looms behind her. Bayne wants Fates Descent but Melo slips off and runs Bayne into the corner before firing off a release German. Melo tries a knee strike but Bayne grabs her leg and fires Melo into an overhead release suplex. (During this sequence Schiavone lets us know that because of the attack on Colt Cabana, Hangman Adam Page will face Wheeler Yuta on Dynamite this week.)

Bayne goes for a bear hug, but Melo yanks her into a forward guillotine choke. Bayne somehow powers out of it and drops Melo with a Falcon Arrow and that gets two. Bayne hoists Melo up but she slips off and tries to roll Bayne up. Bayne slips out of it so Melo utterly waffles her with a knee strike. Melo hits a Canadian Brazilian Destroyer on Bayne and covers for two. Melo tries for the TayKO but Bayne slips out of it and dumps Melo into a fall-away slam. Bayne wallops Melo with a lariat. Bayne hoists up Melo and hits a running Liger Bomb for three. (McGuinness called Melo a “marsh-melo” after the Liger Bomb and I’m dying.)

This turned into a hell of a battle. I have issues with Bayne’s selling but she got better as the match went along. Melo had her working boots on tonight. I enjoyed this a bunch, actually. Melo is a good match-type for Bayne because she can strike and still work from underneath, and Melo sells. Bayne works deliberately and that’s fine for a match like this one was. 3*

Winner – Megan Bayne (running Liger Bomb)

Here’s Sky Flight for a promo. Don Callis enters and says he’s happy to see Scorpio Sky back as he was always one of his favorites. Callis shakes Sky’s hand and starts pitching, but Christopher Daniels interrupts and tells Callis that none of the group is looking for “extra representation”. Daniels says what they would like is a challenge. Callis says maybe he’ll take them up on that one day and leaves. Daniels says it would be a fight but he knows they are ready for it.

Schiavone plugs Draft Kings and we go to commercials.

Taya Valkyrie vs Alex Windsor

Valkyrie is seconded by MxM Collection and Johnny TV. Windsor cuts a promo prior to the match to confirm that she’s ALL ELITE. There’s a hysterical visual of Mason Madden laying across the announcer desk as McGuinness hypes up the MxM “seed” fragrance.

They lock-up to start and Valkyrie shoves Windsor down. Valkyrie puts the boots to Windsor in the corner. Valkyrie whips Windsor to the opposite corner and chases right behind to wallop her with an elbow. Valkyrie repeats this and then lariats Windsor to the mat. Valkyrie hits a Meteora and covers for one. Windsor slips a Valkyrie charge and arm-drags her down. Windsor rolls out of the arm-drag and hits a shotgun dropkick on a sitting Valkyrie and covers for one.

Windsor gets the crowd going and starts whaling on Valkyrie in the corner. Windsor lays in a big chop and then whips Valkyrie to the opposite corner. Windsor catches Valkyrie’s boots and spins her around on the second rope before dropping her with a neckbreaker. Windsor covers for two. Windsor puts Valkyrie in a Sharpshooter but Valkyrie pulls Windsor’s hair to break it. Valkyrie tries for a leg submission but Windsor makes the ropes. Valkyrie puts the boots to Windsor’s back. Valkyrie yanks Windsor up and runs the ropes but Windsor recovers and nails Valkyrie with a spinning Blue Thunder Bomb. Windsor covers for two.

Windsor wallops Valkyrie with a discus clothesline and covers for two. Windsor headbutts Valkyrie down and again slaps on the Sharpshooter. Windsor sits down deep and Valkyrie taps.

For a sprint, this wasn’t bad at all. Not a whole lot to it obviously, but Valkyrie is a wildly creditable veteran who almost always makes her opponent look good. Windsor didn’t look like she had nerves at all, which was good, not that she’s green or anything. This was good television mid-card wrestling. 2.5*

Winner – Alex Windsor (Sharpshooter)

Post-match sees Athena pop up in the same opera box Toni Storm cut her promo in (who was Windsor’s opponent at Grand Slam: Australia) and she tells “Andrea” to get her ass to the back because it’s her time. Windsor leaves as Athena tells her minions hello.

Athena Elite Wrestling is taking center stage, says…Athena. Athena says this is what she has to do, be like Toni Storm, throw out a sexual innuendo? Or maybe it’s her “London-ese accent” they all like innit? Athena knows what they all like about “Tontsy” is her idiotic pose (Athena makes vomit noises as she’s imitating the pose and I’m dying). Here’s AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm to interrupt.

Storm says she’s the only “balcony bitch” in this business, darling. Storm tells Athena to sign the Gauntlet contract and fight her right now. Athena says the people would love that, but no. Athena says if “Tontsy” gets down on her knees and begs her like the “dirty disease-ridden whore” she is then maybe. Storm sinks to her knees but then pops up and says fine, if Athena won’t sign the contract, perhaps she’ll come down anyway so Storm can “shine her shoes on your sphincter”. Athena says no to that, but reminds Storm that she’s facing Athena’s minion Billie Starks on Dynamite and when Starks “dog-walks” Storm, Athena will be ringside with the contract to pounce like a shark (It’s Shark Week, get ready for a lot of this). Storm says when Starks reaches puberty she’s going to be an excellent wrestler but in all seriousness, if Starks beats her on Dynamite then she can have a title shot as well. Athena says that wasn’t part of her plan. Storm says since Athena won’t come to her….and sprints out of the ring.

The camera follows Storm out onto the concourse as back inside Athena says no no, catch me if you can bitch and takes off. Storm ends up alone in the balcony window, so she poses to a huge pop.

Backstage Lexy Nair is with Anthony Bowens who’s looking at an iPad. Nair asks if Bowens has had a chance to speak with “Billy” after the Gauntlet match and Bowens says no. Billy Gunn joins the scene and says today is Bowens lucky day. Bowens says they haven’t been on the same page for awhile and it’s affecting his career. Gunn gently takes the iPad from Bowens and says that what’s affecting Bowens career is his obsession over Max Caster (A shot of Caster from the Gauntlet match is on the iPad). Bowens says he’s wrong and what he’s obsessed with is the fact that Gunn isn’t in the picture he was looking at. Gunn is supposed to be at his side taking him to the top but he feels more like an “absent father”. Gunn says Bowens wants him there half the time and the other half he wants to do it on his own but he’ll fix it next week. Gunn says he has a “slump-buster” for Bowens and asks if Bowens trusts him. Bowens says he always has and they scissor it up.

$200,000 Four-Way Tag Challenge: Big Bill and Bryan Keith vs Cru vs Gates of Agony vs The Gunn Club

McGuinness mentions Chris Jericho during the Bill/Keith entrance and I think he might be the only one actually missing Jericho. Cru are wearing matching swank brown and gold gear. Juice Robinson seconds the Gunn kids as I remember Jay White works here too and just how snakebit this company has been with injuries.

Austin Gunn starts with Lio Rush and Rush immediately rolls Gunn up for two. Gunn fires off some left jabs and then a big right which floors Rush. Andretti tags in and he and Rush end up getting a double team leg lariat on Gunn, who rolls away and tags in his brother Colton. Cru hits double dropkicks (HI RICKY AND ROBERT) on Gunn’s knees, but Gunn comes off the ropes to wallop them both with clotheslines. Bishop Kaun tags in and he rolls Gunn up for one. They run the ropes and Kaun hits a cross-body as Toa Liona tags in. Liona whips Kaun in to splash Gunn in the corner and as Gunn staggers out Liona crushes him with a lariat. Liona covers for one.

Kaun tags back in and Gunn reverses an irish whip. Gunn nails a charging Kaun with a beautiful dropkick and Kaun flies into the corner where Byran Keith tags in as Gunn tags Austin Gunn back in. Keith hits a reverse thrust kick and then a running high boot as Colton Gunn tags back in. The Gunns hit Keith with some double-team offense that ends with Colton hitting a swinging neckbreaker on Keith. Big Bill tags in to a BIG pop from the crowd. Gunn charges Bill who no-sells it. Keith tags Gunn, weirdly, and the referee calls it legal as everyone charges in to protest. A Pier Six erupts, predictably. We go to picture-in-picture commercials.

During PIP Bill and Liona are hossing it up near the barrier. Everyone is still battling on the outside and presumably there’s no count actually happening because this has been going on the outside for a while. Cru are double-teaming Colton Gunn as Austin Gunn is working over Kaun. Kaun recovers and wallops Gunn with a chop before kicking Bill in the chest. Rush and Andretti are double-teaming Colton Gunn in the ring as there’s actually no way to know who the referee considers legal at this point. Andretti stands on Gunn and tags in Rush, so I’m guessing it’s Rush and Colton Gunn as “legal” at this point. Rush tags back in and they double-team Gunn again. Rush snaps Gunn down and elbows him in the back. Rush covers as the ref isn’t even looking but Liona breaks it up anyway. Andretti tags in and stomps Gunn in the head. Andretti suplexes Gunn and covers and again the ref is not in position but Liona breaks it up once more for good measure.

Back live with Andretti holding Gunn in a side head-lock. Gunn drops to his knees to break up the hold. Gunn wants to tag out but Rush charges over and acrobatically knocks Austin Gunn to the floor. Gunn tries to tag out to the other teams and Rush sprints around knocking people off the apron. When he gets to Bill it doesn’t work for obvious reasons, so Rush turns and accidently nails Andretti with a forearm. Gunn tags in Bill who immediately wastes Andretti and Rush with a double lariat. Kaun and a charging Austin Gunn also eat lariats. Bill kicks Liona off the apron and then hits running splashes on Kaun and Gunn who are in opposite corners. Bill clotheslines Gunn to the floor and then hits a running boot on Kaun to send him to the floor. Rush charges in and Bill yanks him up into a spinning Black Hole slam. Bill wants the chokeslam but he’s in the Gunn corner and Colton Gunn tags in. Bill swings at Gunn and misses, so Gunn drops him throat-first over the top rope. Gunn charges in and Bill wallops him with a right cross as Gunn grabs his knee when he lands (The rumor coming out of this show was that this was indeed a legit injury and Colton had to be helped to the back. Given that this was their first televised match in five months you HAVE to feel for these kids and this group because they just CANNOT stay healthy. It’s a damn shame.)

Bill is on the floor and he splashes Liona against the barrier. Bill stalks around and wipes out Austin Gunn with a big boot. As Bill continues stalking, a recovered Liona hits a monster POUNCE on Bill sending him flying over the announce desk. McGuinness protects a shocked Schiavone. Back in the ring Austin Gunn is working with Rush who’s hunched over. Gunn hits a Fameasser on Rush and gets ready in the corner, but here is Ricochet to yank Gunn out to the floor. Ricochet runs Gunn into the barrier as Kaun and Liona double-team Andretti. Kaun and Liona hit the Fall From Heaven crucifix powerbomb on Andretti and Kaun covers for three.

I just feel so bad for the Gunns, man. What a snakebit group the Bang Bang Gang is, my god. The match was a mess overall, kind of sloppy in spots, but the crowd was very into Big Bill and the POUNCE was a phenomenal visual. The only “story” part of this was Ricochet continuing to be a menace as he and the Gates are now solidly together, but otherwise this wasn’t anything you need to seek out if you missed it. 2.5*

Winners – The Gates of Agony (Fall From Heaven crucifix powerbomb to Andretti)

Schiavone throws to a video package on COPE coming in to ward off the attacks on Christian Cage from the former Patriarchy crew at All In: Texas. It was a good quick overview of the entire thing including Nick Wayne’s promo from Dynamite.

Platinum Max Caster is in the ring and his graphic is PRICELESS. I have to show you this if you didn’t see it.

Caster says he knows life in the mid-west can get boring, but for all of the Max-i-maniacs in the Windy City Caster is bringing the excitement and they get to chant his name. Caster gets his chant going but then tells the crowd to stop because it was bad. Caster would rather watch Angel Reese struggle to make a basket than listen to them chant. It’s time for the Open Challenge.

Max Caster vs Kyle O’Reilly

O’Reilly is seconded by Roderick Strong. McGuinness says you have to admire Caster’s “gumption” for continuing the Open Challenge never knowing who his opponent is going to be. The bell sounds and we’re off.

O’Reilly starts working Caster over along the ropes before walloping him in the ribs with a kick. O’Reilly irish whips Caster who grabs the ropes and bails instead. Caster grabs a mic and tells O’Reilly the clock is ticking and he can’t survive so O’Reilly starts chasing Caster on the floor. Caster is running for his life as O’Reilly is chasing him with Caster repeatedly asking O’Reilly to stop. Strong casually trips Caster on his next trip by and O’Reilly finally catches up. O’Reilly fires Caster’s head at the ring steps and then kicks him high on the chest. O’Reilly does the same sequence again as Aura winces for Caster from the timekeeper’s area. O’Reilly fistbumps Strong after dumping Caster back in the ring. Caster tries to hit O’Reilly with his Best Wrestler plaque but O’Reilly blocks it and hands it to the ref. Caster rakes the eyes while the ref’s back is turned and tries to get his chant going again. Caster tries for a sunset flip so O’Reilly slaps on an armbar and Caster taps after two minutes and 18 seconds.

Caster is maybe building something here but I’m not sure what the end-game might be with it. The chant is getting over and his heel schtick is fine. I’m not sure how long they can run this losing streak gimmick without the fans getting really bored with it. O’Reilly barely broke a sweat here. 1.5*

Winner – Kyle O’Reilly (armbar submission)

Post-match sees Tomohiro Ishii and Hologram watching their sometimes-Conglomeration buddy O’Reilly on a monitor. We go to commercials.

Back live and here’s Juice Robinson backstage. Robinson says that the four-way tag earlier wasn’t just a normal match, it had a lot of money on the line as well. Robinson says Ricochet cost the Gunns the 200 K and Robinson isn’t hard to find if Ricochet is feeling squirrely. Big Bill comes in to complain about Robinson sticking his nose in their business and a hockey fight breaks out. Insults are hurled as the refs break it up.

Rush vs Katuyori Shibata

Rush is seconded by Dralistico and The Beast Mortos and I am left wondering where those dudes were when Mortos was being submitted by Mistico on the last Collision. JUSTICE FOR MORTOS DAMMIT. Rush sends them to the back prior to Shibata’s entrance which does not include any of the Opps. Shibata has his Trios belt with him as Schiavone discusses Samoa Joe being taken out on a stretcher after the Opps successfully defended the titles against the Death Riders at All In: Texas.

The bell sounds and they go nose-to-nose. They back into opposite corners and then come flying at each other with strong style forearms. Rush hits a thunderous chop which Shibata returns in kind. This turns into a chop battle which Rush eventually wins. Shibata fights back and drives Rush to the ropes with chops. Rush comes off the ropes with a big slap to Shibata’s chest before nailing him with a big right. Shibata ends up on the floor so Rush hops down to work him over along the barrier. Rush runs Shibata shoulder-first into the barrier before rolling in to break up the ref count. Rush runs Shibata’s head into the ring steps, and then runs him strongly again into the barrier. Rush admires his work and then hits the tranquilo pose while laying on the AEW logo.

Rush lights Shibata up with another chop and dumps him back in while calling the crowd “cabrones”. Shibata fires up and knocks Rush off the apron with a high boot. Shibata then gets revenge by slamming Rush into the barrier four times across the whole arena. Shibata rolls in and sits cross-legged in the ring. We go to picture-in-picture commercials.

During PIP Shibata hops back out and levels Rush with a kick. Rush spits at Shibata so Shibata kicks him again. Shibata dumps Rush in and locks him in a Figure Four. Rush FINALLY makes the ropes to break it as this went on through like four commercials. We go to full commercials.

Back live with Rush lighting Shibata up with chops in the corner. Shibata reverses and nails Rush with chops. Rush reverses and starts throwing bombs at Shibata’s mid-section. Rush runs to the opposite corner but Shibata immediately recovers to wallop Rush with a Helluva kick. Shibata starts throwing forearms to a prone Rush before nailing him with a running shotgun dropkick. Shibata hits Rush with a vertical suplex and covers for two. Rush hits Two Amigos but his third is reversed by Shibata. They take turns hitting the suplexes on each other until Shibata covers for one.

Rush fires up but Shibata hits him with a German suplex. Rush no-sells it and a German suplex battle starts. They end up at mid-ring where Rush hits Shibata with a headbutt (It legit looked like Rush headbutted him in the eye, as Schiavone points out here) but Shibata recovers and locks Rush in a sleeper. Dralistico and Mortos charge in but Shibata disposes of them as the referee decides it’s not a DQ somehow. Rush rolls up Shibata along the ropes but he won’t count it because Rush’s arm is hooked over the bottom rope. Shibata hits a sort-of standing uranage on Rush as McGuinness explains the referee’s decision to not DQ Rush was him wanting to see a clear finish here (Okay, Nigel, simmer down pal.) Shibata wants the PK but Rush rises and hammers him with a forearm. Rush stands on Shibata in the corner and drives both his feet into Shibata’s shoulders repeatedly. Rush hits his HORNS running shotgun dropkick on Shibata and covers for three.

That was a hell of a fight in the end. Shibata looked a little gassed by the end but they both took an ass-kicking here from the chops and slaps. The crowd was kind of subdued for this, and I’m not sure why because for the most part, this was a low-key war. The ref decision to not DQ the LFI guys for the interference was kind of weird, obviously. I’ll be generous here. 3*

Winner – Rush (HORNS running shotgun dropkick)

Post-match sees Dralistico and Mortos stomping Shibata. Dralistico hands Shibata’s title to Rush and Rush tells the camera they want a shot at those Trios titles. This brings out Powerhouse Hobbs who’s toting a chair. Hobbs nails a charging Mortos with the chair edge as Rush and Dralistico bail. LFI do their salute on the ramp as Hobbs tends to Shibata. We go to commercials prior to THE MAIN EVENT.

Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, Hechicero and Josh Alexander vs “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, Mascara Dorada and Bandido

It’s Hechicero and Bandido to start as the bell rings. They slug it out to start and Hechicero gains control as he tries to pull Bandido’s mask off. Bandido fires up and snaps Hechicero down, then tries to tear his mask off. Hechicero dumps Bandido and puts the boots to him. Hechicero tries for a move from his back but Bandido slips it and kicks Hechicero in the face. Bandido drives in the knee and tags in Dorada. Hechicero holds the ropes off an irish whip and dumps a charging Bandido to the floor. Dorada charges in and hits Hechicero with a spinning rana off his shoulders. (Schiavone announces the next Collision will have Athena defending the ROH Women’s World championship against Alex Windsor here. OOOOHHH INTRIGUING INNIT BRUV.)

Archer tags in and after some Dorada acrobatics, Archer calmly tosses Dorada directly over his head. Alexander tags in and he and Romero put the boots to Dorada. Dorada recovers and uses Romero as a springboard to rana Alexander. Dorada then hits a rolling enziguri that staggers Romero (Schiavone points out there that Dorada beat Romero in 2023 for his World Historic Welterweight title in Mexico that he still holds to this day). Dorada tags in Knight who then immediately tags in Bailey. Knight and Bailey clothesline Alexander and Romero to the floor. Archer comes in and Bailey and Knight try high kicks on him. Archer wants a double chokeslam so Dorada charges in and superkicks Archer. Dorada, Knight and Bailey hit a triple dropkick that sends Archer to the floor. Hechicero charges in and wastes all three until Bandido comes in and dumps him to the floor. All four babyfaces hit over the top rope splashes on their opponents as the crowd comes to their feet.

Bandido runs Hechicero into the barrier while Knight works over Archer. Bailey wallops Romero with front kicks to the chest and gets a Speedball chant. Bandido hoists Hechicero up and drops him throat-first on the railing before high-fiving a couple of presumably snot-nosed kids (TM: MJF). Alexander slips a Speedball kick back in the ring, and then he drops Bailey over his knee. Alexander rolls Bailey into a Flatliner and covers for two. We go to picture-in-picture commercials.

During PIP Alexander just destroys Bailey in the corner with kicks. Aubrey Edwards tells him to back off so Romero comes flying down the apron to put his boot on Bailey’s head. Alexander drags Bailey out of the corner and stomps on his foot. Romero tags in to stomp on the same foot as Alexander holds Bailey. Romero comically runs the ropes a bunch and then hits a running shotgun dropkick on a prone Bailey (Seriously he ran the ropes like six times, as Bailey had to sit there waiting to take the move. Rocky can be a delight sometimes.). Archer tags in and BITES Bailey’s exposed bare foot and I’m pretty sure they don’t teach that at the New Japan dojo. Archer sets Bailey up in the corner and hammers him with a running splash. Hechicero tags in and wallops Bailey with a high pump kick as Archer held him in the corner. Hechicero slaps a submission hold on Bailey and hammers him with elbows to the ribs. Hechicero grabs a sort-of single leg crab before locking Bailey in a kneebar. Alexander tags in and hoists Bailey on his shoulders.

Back live with Alexander hitting a rolling slam and covering for two as Knight breaks it up. Alexander whips Bailey into the corner but his charge is met with a high kick from Bailey. Bailey crushes Alexander with a second rope dropkick and tries to fire up. (There’s a wild shot of Bailey’s full glorious mullet here. Put him in a bodybag, Speedball, yeahhhhh!). Bailey gets the hot tag to Bandido who starts throwing rights at Alexander. Alexander breaks that up with a kick to the gut. Alexander runs the ropes but Bandido catches him with a press slam. Bandido runs the ropes so Romero kicks him in the back. Bandido calmly turns around and wallops Romero with a right that sends him to the floor. Alexander charges in and nails Bandido with a big boot as Hechicero tags in. Hechicero rips the kinesio tape from Bandido’s back and starts stomping on him.

Bandido reverses an irish whip and crushes Hechicero with a high knee, but as he tries for it again Hechicero charges in with a knee strike of his own. Bandido rolls through a sunset flip attempt but Hechicero hoists him up for a running powerbomb. Bandido slips it and hits a short Destroyer and both guys are down. Dorada and Archer tag in. Archer wants a chokeslam but Dorada slips out and trips Archer up. Archer rises and after some rope running Dorada hits Archer with a rana. Archer recovers and hoists Dorada up for the Blackout, but Dorada slips out of it and rolls up Archer for two as the entire heel team breaks it up. Another Pier Six ensues.

Romero tags in as Alexander and Hechicero hit a double-team slingshot Flatliner on Dorada. Romero is seated on Archer’s shoulders and Archer drops Romero directly onto Dorada for two. Knight charges in as Hechicero hoists him up to drop him face-first to the mat. Bandido runs the ropes and wipes out Hechicero with a drop-kick as I think we’ve reached the “no one is tagging in and out” portion of things (AKA the part that used to drive JR insane). Alexander hits a German on Bandido as Bailey charges in to hammer Alexander with a front kick to the chest. Bailey hits a jumping 360 double knee to Alexander’s chest. Archer charges in and whips Knight and Bandido into the corner where Bailey is. Archer charges from the opposite corner as all three duck out of the way. Archer hits a big boot on Knight and then chokeslams Bailey onto Bandido.

Archer charges Knight who pulls down the top rope sending Archer to the apron. Archer calmly clotheslines Knight back into the ring but Knight no-sells it and dropkicks Archer to the floor. Bandido and Bailey propel Knight’s second rope springboard moonsault as he wipes out Archer. Romero charges Dorada in the babyface corner, and Dorada wipes him out with a roundhouse kick before ascending. Dorada’s moonsault is met with Romero’s boots. Romero hits a modified Sliced Bread #2 for a long two count. Alexander and Hechicero come in and they team up to launch Dorada into a Romero superkick. Alexander waffles Dorada with a discus punch. Another Pier Six breaks out. The faces hit simultaneous superkicks, and then Bailey and Knight hit simultaneous tope con hilos while Bandido hits a German on Romero. Dorada hits a Shooting Star press on Romero and gets three.

Man, Azucar eats ALL the pins for the Callis crew when they lose. At some point you wonder if it will come up in storyline. This was a big lucha style match and the second week in a row that Collision has closed with an eight-person tag that the babyface side wins. I wonder sometimes if Khan realized that constant heel wins get very boring. Either way, you know the drill. Everyone worked hard here, there was a long heat sequence on Bailey (who’s perfect for that role) and almost no storyline stuff to be overly concerned about. Match of the night, I suppose, but Rush and Shibata was right there too. 3.5*

Winners – “Speedball” Mike Bailey, Kevin Knight, Mascara Dorada and Bandido (Dorada Shooting Star Press to Romero)

Schiavone talks about the upcoming Dynamite card and that’s the show.

They’ve got a little over a month until Forbidden Door and I’m interested to see the build without presumably Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega being involved. Clearly an Okada defense and probably Page-MJF would be in the cards but it will be interesting to see what else happens. This was a fine placeholder show with a bunch of solid matches. I really enjoyed the Athena-Storm bit and Caster’s schtick is usually pretty solid. The two women’s matches were also decent tussles. However, if you missed it, you’ll survive. Thumbs in the middle leaning up.

As always, thank you so much for reading and commenting. Have a good Sunday and be safe.