AEW Collision Review – 11.08.25

Dynamite happened on Wednesday, as usual, so make sure to read the recap that SK wrote.

Collision comes to us LIVE tonight from the Bayou Music Center in Houston, TX. The hosts and presenters of tonight’s show are Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on match calls and analysis, Arkady Aura on ring announcements, and Renee Paquette and Lexy Nair with backstage interviews and breaking news segments.

There was a bit of a shocker on Wednesday night in case you missed it.

FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs The Bang Bang Gang (Juice Robinson and Austin Gunn)

As always, FTR are seconded by Stokely. Gunn starts with Harwood and some grappling leads to nothing. Wheeler tags in and Gunn works the arm before tagging in Robinson. Harwood tags in and it’s 50/50 until Robinson snaps off a deep armdrag. Harwood takes the advantage as we see Big Bill and Byran Keith watching on a monitor in an inset. A Pier Six breaks out and FTR get dumped to the floor. Robinson clotheslines Harwood but a blind tag had occurred and Wheeler clips Robinson’s knee. Wheeler gets kicked away so Harwood tags in and Robinson escapes a bunch of elbow drops. Robinson sunset flips Harwood and gets two. FTR try to prevent Robinson from tagging so he promptly DDT’s both of them. Gunn finally gets the tag and he wipes out Wheeler and Harwood before rolling up Harwood for two. A Gunn backslide gets two. Wheeler pulls the top rope down and Gunn spills to the floor as we go to commercials.

Wheeler tags in and he and Gunn clothesline each other simultaneously when the show returns. Robinson tags in and he goes to work with jabs on both Wheeler and Harwood. There’s a double noggin knocker and Robinson sends Wheeler to the floor. Robinson clocks Harwood with a leg lariat and then a cannonball. Harwood rolls through a Robinson cross-body and holds the tights while getting two. Robinson gets a small package for two on Harwood. Wheeler and Gunn go to the floor as Robinson gets another two on Harwood. Bandido and Gravity come out of the crowd to confront Stokely. Stokely’s escape is cut off by Jet Speed and then he turns into a Bandido superkick. Back in the ring Robinson hits a Flatliner on Harwood and covers for three.

A solid opener with a slightly overbooked finish. Okay, I can work with that and four terrific workers who understand tag wrestling being involved makes the whole thing work. Yeah, it got a little stupid towards the end but Stokely has some receipts to collect and tonight was one of them. Really fun opener. 3.75*

Winners – The Bang Bang Gang (Robinson Flatliner on Harwood)

Post-match sees the babyfaces celebrate in the ring as FTR drag a stricken Stokely to the back.

From Wednesday night: AEW TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher speaks with Renee Paquette about his upcoming No DQ match with Mark Briscoe. AEW Unified Champion Kazuchika Okada wanders into the scene to claim that he and Fletcher are the captains of the Don Callis Family, and proposes that they team up after Full Gear to form PROTOKADA. Sure, why not.

AEW TNT Championship: Kyle Fletcher (C) vs Ace Austin

No Don Callis tonight, apparently. What a shame. Fletcher works an arm to start and then dumps Austin to the mat. Fletcher trucks Austin but Austin recovers to get a crucifix for two. Fletcher bails to collect himself and then promptly kicks Austin in the head after re-entering. Austin recovers and rolls up Fletcher for two. Austin gets dumped to the apron and Fletcher catches his cross-body attempt. Fletcher hits a backbreaker and a sitdownFull Nelson driver to take the advantage prior to commercials.

Austin breaks out of a chinlock and snaps off a forearm. Austin hits a clothesline and some kicks before crushing Fletcher with a leg drop. Austin hits a reverse cutter from the ring to the floor before rolling Fletcher back in. Austin hits a weird sort of side piledriver and gets two on Fletcher. Fletcher catches Austin and powerbombs him on the apron. Fletcher hits a big knee and a sit-out powerbomb before covering for two. Fletcher hits a big running kick but Austin slips off a brainbuster attempt. Austin hits a lariat in a corner and then he kicks Fletcher in the head. Austin monkey flips Fletcher out of the corner and then hits a double knee smash that gets two.

Fletcher catches Austin and spikes his head on the second turnbuckle. Fletcher misses a charge and eats a big kick from Austin. Fletcher catches Austin during a charge and hits the sheer drop brainbuster only to be stunned when Austin kicks out at two. Austin gets a quick roll up for two and then hits a bridge cover for two. Fletcher murders Austin with a clothesline and then wallops him with a running kick. Fletcher hits Austin with another brainbuster and covers for three.

The crowd was INTO this and it helped the match a bunch. My only complaint with this was neither guy actually sold a whole lot and Austin was kind of sloppy at times. Still, though, almost all of it was leaning towards “very good” in my book as Fletcher at least gave some offense to his opponent. Austin won’t be hurt by this, but he needs to tighten things up with some of his moves. 3.5*

Winner AND STILL AEW TNT Champion – Kyle Fletcher (Brainbuster)

AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander talks about Mercedes Mone and says that her focus is solely on being the AEW champion while Mercedes focus is on everything else. Statlander promises to get Mone’s focus in Blood and Guts prior to the big match at Full Gear.

From Wednesday night: Jon Moxley and the Death Riders meet up with Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher. PAC tells Callis that they are leaving five bodies in the cage on Dynamite, and Callis offers up a favor if they dispose of Mark Briscoe. Moxley tells Callis they don’t need any of his favors, and everyone eyes up Fletcher’s title as they leave.

Tay Melo and Anna Jay vs Hyan and Maya World

Melo dumps Hyan and then wallops her with a right. Jay tags in and she and Melo hit some double team stuff before Jay covers Hyan for two. Jay and Melo hit a double butt bump on Hyan’s head. World gets tagged in and Jay hits a Gory Special as Melo kicks World in the head. Jay covers and gets three.

Squash adds a lot of fiber to your diet. 1*

Winners – Tay Melo and Anna Jay (Jay Gory Special on World)

Lexy Nair is backstage with ROH Women’s Champion Athena. Athena says she doesn’t feel like the Forever Champ today because she got pinned by Harley Cameron. Athena is doubting herself because no one around her was competent, apparently. Athena promises to get Cameron at Blood and Guts.

Blood and Guts Advantage Battle: Skye Blue vs Jamie Hayter

Hayter hits a couple of immediate roll-ups for one, and then Blue gets one of her own for two. Blue bails to the floor so Hayter literally gives chase until she catches Blue trying to come back in. Blue goes behind and rams Hayter into the ring steps. Blue beats on Hayter’s back but Hayter fires up with some chops. Hayter hits a spinebuster and goes to ground and pound. Hayter drops right hands in a corner but Blue catches Hayter and rams her face-first into the second turnbuckle. Hayter misses a dropkick and eats a superkick as Blue covers for two. We go to commercials.

Hayter snaps off a German and a toss suplex before walloping Blue with a missile dropkick.Hayter hits a gnarly Saito suplex and covers Blue for two. Hayter hits a big boot and that gets two. There’s a series of roll-ups that get two and then Blue snaps off a superkick. They start slugging it out and a double headbutt sees Hayter fall on top of Blue and get a quick two count. They start slugging it out again and Blue hits a Cheeky Nandos before covering Hayter for two. Hayter reverses out of a Code Blue attempt and rolls up Blue for two. Hayter crushes Blue with Hayterade and that gets three.

A little long, but the crowd was INTO it. This crowd is really helping this show along tonight, I have to be honest. Hayter and Blue did well meshing together and Blue, while still a bit clumsy in singles, is starting to put it together so it doesn’t always look like she’s counting her steps. The finish was fine but you could tell they had some spots in mind to get there. Anyway, this means that Thekla and Harley Cameron’s match is a go for the advantage for B&G. 2.75*

Winner – Jamie Hayter (Hayterade)

Post-match sees The Triangle of Madness attack Hayter. Julia Hart and Thekla whale away on Hayter until Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale charge in to even up the odds. We go to commercials.

Dean Malenko narrates a package on the upcoming two Blood and Guts matches.

Blood and Guts Advantage Battle: Thekla vs Harley Cameron

They immediately start brawling and Thekla drops Cameron down by her hair. Cameron hits a dropkick and Thekla goes to the floor. Cameron follows and wallops Thekla with a Side Russian Leg Sweep. Cameron shoulders Thekla in a corner and then splashes her. The crowd chants “Feel the Wrath” as Cameron drops rights. Thekla breaks out of it and hits a running kick to Cameron’s head. Thekla hits a snap suplex on the floor and then does it a second time to a chorus of boos. We go to commercials.

Thekla is stretching Cameron when the show returns. Cameron drops Thekla on her jaw and then charges, but Thekla hits the Toxic tarantula stretch and only breaks at four. Thekla covers Cameron and gets two. They run the ropes and Cameron manages a sling blade. Thekla misses a charge and eats some Cameron kicks. Cameron hits a splash and another sling blade before covering for two. Thekla hits some kicks and then they start duking it out on a top turnbuckle. Cameron BITES Thekla’s forehead and puts her in the tree of woe. Cameron hits a sliding dropkick and gets two. Cameron sets up Thekla and ascends but she misses the Swanton attempt. Thekla hits a spear and covers Cameron for three. The heels will have the advantage for the Women’s Blood and Guts match.

This crowd is just killing it tonight. They’re making the whole show feel really important and it helps so much. The match was a bit sloppy as most Thekla matches are, but it was intense and the crowd was into it. I figured the heels would get the advantage on the Women’s side but now I’m interested to see how this plays out with the main event tonight. Anyway, this was solid and had the outcome I expected so we’re all good here. 2.5*

Winner – Thekla (Spear)

Lexy Nair is backstage with Jet Speed, who make it clear that it’s not over between them and FTR. Jet Speed also announce themselves being in the Casino Gauntlet match for the new National title. We go to commercials.

Lexy Nair is now joined by Max Caster and Anthony Bowens, who, for supposedly hating each other, get seen together a LOT. Bowens tells Caster that the Acclaimed are never coming back and in two weeks Bowens will be in the tailgate brawl at Full Gear. Caster tells Bowens he’ll also be in the brawl match. Nair tells them that Tony Khan has stipulated that if they’re going to be in the brawl they have to be a team. Caster and Bowens erupt and say the heck with it, they aren’t teaming up and now won’t be in the match. I don’t get this storyline, but I guess we’re going to keep going with it.

Schiavone and McGuinness run down the current Full Gear card. I wonder how much of it might have to change due to injuries from Blood and Guts. Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair will be in attendance in Greensboro for the B&G matches.

Blood and Guts Advantage Battle: Jon Moxley vs Roderick Strong

Moxley is seconded by Marina Shafir to start with. This is your IDRINQ MATCH OF THE NIGHT. There’s some grappling to start and Strong works the arm. Moxley reverses into a Kimura but Strong makes the ropes to break it up. Moxley bails and flips off the crowd before re-entering. Strong fires up some chops and right hands, so Moxley responds with some of his own. Moxley drops right hands in the corner and then thumbs Strong’s eye. Moxley works a wristlock and then stomps on Strong’s elbow. Moxley bullies Strong in a corner and a shoulder sends Strong to the floor. They start slugging it out on the floor and Moxley goes to SMALL JOINT MANIPULATION. Strong reverses an irish whip and sends Moxley into the ring steps. Strong hits a backbreaker on the barrier and then glares at Shafir. Moxley gains control and runs Strong into the steps as we go to commercials. (It always cracks me up that Shafir and Roddy are married in real life but act like mortal enemies whenever they’re out there together during a match.)

Moxley works a single leg crab when the show returns. Moxley torques Strong’s leg but Strong makes the ropes to break it up. Moxley mounts Strong in a corner and then rakes his back and ear before flipping off the ref. Moxley hits a suplex and covers Strong for two. Strong has a short flurry and wallops Moxley with a leg lariat. Strong dumps Moxley on his face and covers for two. Strong stacks up Moxley for two after a backbreaker. Strong works a leg submission but Moxley rolls through and gets two. They slug it out and Strong crushes Moxley with a dropkick. Strong mounts Moxley in a corner and hits a superplex. Strong hits a gutbuster and then Shafir trips Strong as he runs the ropes. Kyle O’Reilly charges out to help Strong but he gets clipped by Wheeler Yuta. In the middle of all that Moxley had hit a Paradigm Shift and Strong kicked out at two.

The ref ejects Yuta and Shafir but as that is happening PAC wallops Strong with a high kick before ducking into the timekeeper’s area. Strong makes it back in at nine but walks into an immediate Moxley curb stomp. That gets two and a frustrated Moxley goes to ground and pound. Strong blocks an armbar for a bit but Moxley manages to get it working before Strong makes the ropes. Moxley gets into it with the ref and PAC uses that time to crawl under the ring and grab a table. A recovered O’Reilly cancels PAC and Strong dumps a charging Daniel Garcia through the table. Strong dumps Moxley on the ring steps back-first and rolls back in. Moxley gets held by Darby Allin who’s hiding under the ring and Moxley cannot make it back in in time. The babyfaces will have the advantage in the Men’s Blood and Guts match.

Okay, so they really brought it tonight with the ring work up and down the show. This was a hell of a battle between two great pros and the story being told really worked to help build to B&G. Now, I’m not the biggest Jon Moxley fan at this point but he clearly respects Roddy and put in the work to make it look like the frustration was getting the better of him. The Death Riders constantly interference did not work tonight and in fact, it was a bit of babyface subterfuge that got the better of them again. I’m all good with this one. 3.75*

Winner – Roderick Strong (Countout)

Post-match sees Allin emerge from under the ring with a taser that he uses on PAC. Allin escapes to the crowd as the credits roll and we’re out.

Hey look, when they kill it with a Collision I’m a happy person. This was a very good show up and down the card with the obvious women’s tag squash being the only bummer for me. Everything else was solid as heck and while I’m not the biggest fan of B&G type matches at this point, the build has been good. Let’s hope everyone stays relatively healthy in the aftermath. Thumbs up from me for tonight’s show.

Thanks for reading and commenting. You all are the bees knees, you know that?