Collision Review – 12.25.25

In case you missed it due to holiday shenanigans, here’s the Dynamite review by yours truly.

AEW’s Christmas Collision comes to the airwaves on TNT and HBO Max from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. The announcing team for 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 on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Continental Classic Gold League: Kyle Fletcher (6 points) vs Jack Perry (6 points)

There’s a feeling out period and Fletcher trucks Perry as he comes off the ropes. Perry misses a dropkick as Fletcher holds the ropes to prevent running into it. There’s some chain wrestling and we reset with both guys in opposite corners. Fletcher hits a low dropkick on Perry’s bad ankle and then goes to work on it with kicks. Perry tries to fire up with some chops and wants a rana but Fletcher rolls him over into a half crab before Perry makes the ropes. Fletcher goes back to to an ankle lock and then stomps on it for good measure. Fletcher and Perry start exchanging chops and Perry manages to hit a rana to send Fletcher to the floor. Perry wants another rana but Fletcher catches him and sends Perry back-first onto the ring apron. Fletcher runs Perry back in and wants the brainbuster but Perry bites him to get out of it. Fletcher calmly scoops Perry up and slams his ankle over the top rope. Fletcher jams Perry’s ankle into the ring steps and starts stomping away before removing Perry’s boot and sock. Fletcher stomps on the ankle again as we go to commercials.

Fletcher kicks Perry down as the show returns, but Perry manages to fire up with a dropkick. Perry continues to try to fight off Fletcher with elbows and a huge lariat. Fletcher bails to the floor where Perry hits a baseball slide into a bulldog. Fletcher catches Perry’s DDT attempt and hits the sheer drop brainbuster in the aisle. Fletcher rolls Perry back in and hits a sit-out Michinoku Driver for two. Fletcher hits a running kick and mounts Perry on a top turnbuckle. Perry fights out of Fletcher’s brainbuster attempt and hits a sunset flip powerbomb. There’s a reset and Fletcher puts on the single leg crab once again. Perry kicks out and trips up Fletcher to slap on the Snare Trap. Fletcher barely makes the ropes with one finger to break it up. They start slugging it out and Fletcher snaps off a half-and-half suplex. Perry rolls through off Fletcher’s shoulders and pulls Fletcher into a piledriver that gets two. Fletcher gets a quick roll up for two, as does Perry in response. Fletcher hits a lariat and Perry smashes him with a headbutt in response. Fletcher kicks at Perry’s ankle and hits a high running boot. Fletcher hits another sheer drop brainbuster and gets three.

I admit to not being the biggest Kyle Fletcher fan, but he fought like an arrogant douche heel is supposed to fight in a tournament match. He saw his opponent’s weak spot and just savagely went after it the entire time. Perry is a great underdog babyface and since he was on his second match in two nights versus Fletcher having the night off for Dynamite, this result wasn’t unexpected. They went for over 19 minutes and gave the crowd a real show. A terrific opener, and Fletcher puts himself in position to make the semi-finals with the win. 4*

Winner – Kyle Fletcher (Sheer drop brainbuster – 9 points)

Here’s Renee Paquette with Roderick Strong and they’re joined by the returning Kyle O’Reilly. O’Reilly questions Strong’s doubting himself and runs down his recent accomplishments against Jon Moxley and says he’d have never done it without Strong’s support. O’Reilly says he wants to see a Christmas miracle because he knows Roddy can beat Claudio Castignoli on his worst day. Strong takes it all in and stares after O’Reilly when he exits. This was a GREAT segment. We go to commercials.

Continental Classic Blue League: Konosuke Takeshita (10 points) vs Mascara Dorada (6 points)

Takeshita can eliminate Dorada with a win here, while he’s already cemented his spot in the semi-finals. After a feeling out period Dorada snaps off an armdrag and nips up to a pop. They trade wristlocks and Takeshita yanks Dorada down by his mask. Takeshita shows some sportsmanship and pulls Dorada up with a handshake. Dorada grabs a quick roll up for two. Dorada offers his hand and helps Takeshita up, only for Takeshita to chop him and start working him over in a corner. Dorada tries some shoulder tackles that don’t work, but he manages to hit some chops and a springboard armdrag. Dorada hits a rana that sends Takeshita to the floor. Dorada ascends and eats it on the barricade as Takeshita slips away. We go to commercials.

Dorada hits a spinning rana as the show returns. Dorada ascends and hits a moonsault from the ring post to the floor. Dorada ascends again and waffles Takeshita with a 450 that gets a long two count. Takeshita fires up with a spinning Blue Thunder Bomb that gets two. Takeshita and Dorada start slugging it out and Dorada snaps off a poison rana. Takeshita comes flying out of a corner with a huge lariat that gets two. Takeshita misses a charge but manages to hit a buckle bomb on Dorada. Dorada snaps off a huge high kick and a rana from the top rope. Dorada ascends again and misses his splash attempt. They trade pin attempts that get two. Dorada hits a running Shooting Star press that gets two. Dorada mounts Takeshita on a top turnbuckle but Takeshita fights out of it and lariats Dorada down. Takeshita hits a running knee and RAGING FIRE before covering and getting three.

Takeshita worked a bit slower tonight and given his workload and pace in this tournament, I wasn’t surprised in the slightest. Dorada was game and got almost all of his stuff in to the crowd’s delight, but Takeshita has been the MAN in this tournament thus far and proved it once again. This never got to the gear that some of Takeshita’s other C2 matches have gotten to, but the crowd ate it up and were fully into it, as was I. Dorada is officially eliminated with this loss, but he had a solid tournament overall. 3.5*

Winner – Konosuke Takeshita (Raging Fire – 13 points)

Continental Classic Blue League: Claudio Castignoli (7 points) vs Roderick Strong (0 points)

Claudio goes to the semi-finals with a win here. I’m guessing Roddy and Claudio have been in the ring together a LOT over their careers. Castignoli hits an immediate Euro uppercut for two. Strong fires up with some chops and punches but Castignoli dumps him after a charge. Castignoli hits a second rope back suplex and covers Strong for two. Castignoli runs Strong over with a lariat and covers for two. Castignoli smashes Strong with another uppercut and covers for two. They go to the floor and Castignoli waffles Strong with another uppercut along the barrier. Castignoli drops Strong along the barrier and then dumps him into the crowd. Strong struggles back to the floor and makes it in at nine. Strong hoists Castignoli into a Saito suplex but Castignoli shakes it off to crush Strong with some running Euro uppercuts. Strong fires up with a couple of knees before covering and getting three!

This was a fun sprint, and Strong winning after O’Reilly’s spirited pep talk was a fun twist. It obviously hurts Claudio tremendously to lose this match so unexpectedly. I’m glad Roddy got a win in the tournament and having it come at a Death Rider’s expense is quite the bonus. 2.75*

Winner – Roderick Strong (running high knee – 3 points)

Post-match sees the Death Riders charge in to attack Strong, and here’s Mark Briscoe to fly down the aisle with a kendo stick to protect Strong from more damage. Castignoli cannot believe what happened as Marina Shafir stands off with Briscoe. Toni Storm charges down and wants Shafir, who has to be held back by Yuta and Garcia. Storm offers a handshake to Briscoe who accepts, and then kisses Storm’s hand.

The Bang Bang Gang promo from Dynamite is replayed, and we’ll have the Chicago Street Fight for FTR’s world tag team championships at Worlds End. Stokely has a question about why the BBG keep begging for these shots, and says whatever FTR does to them on Saturday will be what it is and they won’t be held liable for any of it. Schiavone and McGuinness talk up the Women’s world title match as well, and we see promos from AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander and her challenger Jamie Hayter.

Continental Classic Gold League: Kevin Knight (6 points) vs PAC (6 points)

They exchange go-behinds to start before going to wristlocks. PAC goes to the ropes and then Knight goes back to the wristlock once PAC locks up again. PAC grabs a side headlock and then hits a shoulder tackle when Knight escapes. Knight hits a shoulder roll and clotheslines PAC to the floor. Knight goes back in as PAC collects himself. PAC returns and starts working over Knight in a corner. They start exchanging chops and PAC rams Knight head-first into the mat. PAC talks some trash and Knight stands up to him going nose-to-nose. They start throwing forearms and Knight wallops PAC with a standing lariat. Knight runs PAC to the floor and then wallops PAC with an apron-assisted lariat. Knight runs PAC back in and he rolls back out to prevent further damage. Knight says okay fine and hits a springboard lariat to PAC on the floor. Knight hits a pendulum DDT and covers PAC for two. Knight pulls PAC into a corner and starts dropping right hands. Knight hits a snapmare and a big elbow before covering PAC and getting two. We go to commercials.

PAC is working a headlock when the show returns, but Knight fights out of it. Knight comes out of a corner with some rights and a big lariat. Knight hits a UFO splash but PAC fires up with a big body slam. Knight hits a rana after PAC tried to ascend, and then smashes PAC with a standing splash that gets two. PAC fires up with a huge Exploder that sends Knight into a top turnbuckle and then to the floor. Knight beats the count and PAC waffles him with an immediate elbow. PAC ascends and hits an overhead suplex before covering Knight and getting two. PAC wants the Brutalizer but Knight makes the ropes before PAC can get it fully sunk in. Knight fires off some forearms but PAC cuts it off with a kick. PAC runs the ropes and Knight fires up with a dropkick. Knight goes to the apron and waffles PAC with a springboard lariat. Knight hits a sit-out powerbomb and gets two. PAC grabs Knight and tosses him down with a German on the floor. PAC flips off the crowd as Knight manages to return to the ring at nine and a half. PAC ascends and Knight springs up to hit a top rope avalanche suplex. They slug it out and PAC hits some kicks to stop the forearms. Knight fires up with a running dropkick and ascends to go coast-to-coast with a dropkick. Knight ascends again and meets PAC’s knees on a splash attempt. PAC hits a crucifix for two. PAC waffles Knight with a lariat and gets two. PAC ascends and his Black Arrow attempt meets Knights knees. They exchange pin attempts for two. PAC slaps on the Brutalizer and Knight doesn’t tap before the bell rings for a time-limit draw.

There had to be some Gold League shenanigans to get to two semi-finalists, and this match was that part of the evening. Obviously this ruled from start to finish and it’s pretty remarkable how well Knight has adapted to facing the type of talent he’s faced in the C2. PAC is always worth the price of admission no matter how much chicken and broccoli has been in his diet, and given that he worked the night before and Knight hadn’t, this was quite a showing. The draw puts them both on seven points and means that if there’s a winner in the Speedball-Okada match later, both of these guys would be eliminated from moving on. Tremendous match. 4.25*

No winner – Time limit draw (PAC – 7 points, Knight – 7 points)

Here’s Gabe Kidd to cut a promo on Darby Allin as he comes through the crowd. Kidd says that no one is listening to him while pointing out that Darby Allin is not indestructible since he’s in the ICU unable to move. The lights go out and Darby Allin is standing in the ring as Kidd laughs uproariously. Allin pulls out Sting’s bat and Kidd bails immediately. Allin grabs the mic and says Saturday will be Kidd’s worlds end.

Schiavone throws to a promo package for the Babes of Wrath vs Mercedes/Athena Women’s tag title match at Worlds End.

AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Babes of Wrath (Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale) vs Hyan and Maya World

This is non-title. Cameron starts with World. Cameron gets a sling blade and covers for two. Nightingale tags in and hits a backdrop that gets two. Hyan tags in as does Cameron. Cameron gets dropped onto Hyan and covers for two. Nightingale tags in and Hyan and World come in to prevent any double team stuff. They get dumped to the floor and Nightingale hits a running tackle that crushes both Hyan and World. We go to commercials.

Nightingale hits a hip attack on Hyan and then waffles her with a spinebuster that gets two. Hyan gets a roll up for two, and then her and World charge in only to get tossed by Nightingale with simultaneous back suplexes. Cameron tags in and she and Nightingale work over World. Hyan breaks a cover up at two. Nightingale hits the POUNCE on Hyan and her and Cameron work over World with a knee into Nightingale’s Soul Food. Nightingale’s subsequent cover gets three.

Not a lot to it, but it was a good showcase for Hyan and World who are clearly moving up in the ranks of “opponents”. They had matching gear! Kind of a fun sprint, but not a ton to seek out if you missed it. 2*

Winners – Babes of Wrath (Nightingale Soul Food on World)

Post-match sees Cameron and Nightingale grab mics to tell a quick Christmas story about coming to New York to see Santa. Nightingale promises that when they get to Chicago they’re going to beat the [redacted] out of Mercedes and Athena. We go to commercials.

Continental Classic Blue League: Orange Cassidy (6 points) vs Jon Moxley (6 points)

If there’s a winner here, that person joins the semi-finalists. If there’s a draw, Claudio moves on to the semi-finals by virtue of beating both of these competitors. Cassidy grabs an immediate roll up for two. There’s some reversals and Cassidy grabs another roll up for two. They tumble to the floor and Cassidy smashes Moxley with some rights before running him into the barrier. Moxley responds with some forearms but Cassidy smashes Moxley into the ring steps in response. Cassidy and Moxley go back in and Cassidy starts dropping rights in a corner. Cassidy gets dumped to the apron and Moxley waffles him with a running dropkick that sends Cassidy into the barrier elbow-first. Moxley runs Cassidy into the ring steps and starts dropping rights of his own. Moxley hits a big boot and runs Cassidy back in. Cassidy snaps off a jawbreaker and starts firing off forearms. Moxley fires up with a running elbow and then drops Cassidy across the top rope. Moxley rakes at Cassidy’s eyes and then yanks Cassidy up to a top turnbuckle. Cassidy rakes Moxley’s back and then hits a DDT from the top rope as we go to commercials.

They’re slugging it out when the show returns and Cassidy goes to his pockets. Cassidy hits some low kicks and a running shotgun dropkick on Moxley’s knee. Cassidy puts the boots to Moxley but runs into a Moxley elbow after being chastised by the ref. Moxley’s knee gives out and Cassidy hits the Orange Punch. Moxley bails to the floor before a cover can happen, so Cassidy wallops Moxley with a tope suicida. They fight into the crowd where Cassidy starts dropping elbows. Cassidy hits a tornado DDT on Moxley through a table as the ref finally goes back into the ring to start counting. They both start making their way back and both make it back in at nine. Cassidy nips up to a pop, so Moxley springs up to put Cassidy in the bulldog choke. Cassidy rolls it over into a two count, and then Cassidy removes his elbow pad. Moxley fires up with a huge lariat and then hits a Gotch-style piledriver but his cover only gets two. Moxley goes back to the choke but Cassidy fights it off and grabs an inverted ankle lock. Moxley kicks out of it but Cassidy works a half-crab as Moxley struggles to make the ropes. Moxley kicks his way out of it and runs into an immediate twisting DDT. Cassidy hits the Orange Punch three times and Moxley won’t go down. Cassidy hits another one and then drops Moxley in the Beach Break before covering and getting two. Moxley rolls Cassidy over and gets three.

Woof, the crowd hated that finish after loving the rest of it. Moxley goes to the semi-finals along with Takeshita from the Blue League, and he’ll face the winner of the Gold League in the semi-finals. Moxley had to use everything in his trick-bag to win this one as Cassidy really got a LOT of offense here. They’ve slowly moved Moxley into more of an underdog babyface fighting style as this tournament has moved forward and given the inevitable turfing from the Death Riders, this makes sense. This was another very solid tournament match, but the finish was kind of a wet fart given all the finisher spamming just prior to it. 3.75*

Winner – Jon Moxley (Roll up – 9 points)

When the show returns from commercials, the Men’s World title situation is highlighted in a package.

Continental Classic Gold League: Kazuchika Okada (6 points) vs Speedball Mike Bailey (6 points)

Don Callis has finally poked his nose out and joins the announce team for this match. They exchange roll ups for two and Okada escapes a spin kick attempt by Bailey. Okada kicks Bailey in the gut but Bailey manages to grab another roll up for two. Bailey hits a drop kick and a pump kick before waffling Okada with a moonsault on the floor. Bailey misses a top rope move and runs into an Okada face plant. Okada hits a neckbreaker and arrogantly covers for one. Okada runs Bailey into a corner and starts firing off forearms. Bailey fires up with a missile dropkick. Bailey misses a standing Shooting Star and Okada yanks him into a backbreaker. Okada ascends and wallops Bailey with a huge elbow. Okada shoots the bird to the crowd and wants the Rainmaker, but Bailey fights out of it only to eat an Okada forearm. They exchange strikes as we go to commercials.

They’re slugging it out when the show returns and Okada invites some kicks from Bailey who responds in kind. Bailey hits a reverse thrust but runs into Okada’s dropkick. They exchange roll ups for two and Bailey misses his double knee drop. Bailey slips a Rainmaker and crushes Okada with a twisting moonsault on the floor. Bailey dumps Okada in and hits him with a roundhouse, but Okada fires up with another dropkick that sends Bailey to the floor. Okada hits some back elbows but gets hit with Bailey’s double knee drop in the aisle. Okada makes it in at eight only to eat a spinning roundhouse from Bailey. Bailey’s cover gets two. Okada rains down some elbows but Bailey hits another roundhouse in response. Okada slugs Bailey down and Bailey’s head clatters off the canvas. Okada puts the boots to Bailey who shakes it off to a huge pop from the crowd. Bailey hits a top rope rana and a 450 knee drop to Okada’s back. Okada bails before Bailey can cover. Bailey goes to the floor to smash Okada with forearms before running Okada back in. Bailey kicks out at Okada who immediately pulls him into a backslide and a Rainmaker. Bailey hits a couple of kicks in response and again hits the 450 splash with his knees onto Okada’s back. Bailey’s cover gets two. Bailey gets a roll up for two and after some reversals Okada pulls Bailey into a cover and gets three.

They don’t call him the best tournament wrestler in the world for nothing. Okada will face Takeshita in the semi-finals, while Kyle Fletcher will face Jon Moxley. That’s a lot of the DCF in the upper echelons of this tournament. Bailey had a tremendous tournament, all things considered, and should be congratulated for his efforts. Okada kind of fluked his way to this win, to be honest, but they got where they wanted to go with the match coming up with Takeshita. I’m still shocked they didn’t try to position it for the finals but I’m guessing there’s going to be a lot more STORY at the PPV. This was a fine main event. 4*

Winner – Kazuchika Okada (roll up – 9 points)

Post-match sees Takeshita emerge to confidently come down to ringside as Callis celebrates with Okada. They go nose to nose and hold up their belts to each other. Okada talks some trash as the credits roll and we’re out.

I expected this to be a great episode of this show and it was. It’s a shame it was going up against NFL football and NBA hoops, so hopefully people will seek it out via recording or “other” methods of Watching Wrestling. The C2 is over now, and while I kind of hate that they taped both Dynamite and Collision far enough in advance that all of this was spoiled the matches still delivered. The booking for the semi-finals is interesting in that you’ve got heel vs heel with Okada and Takeshita and heel vs I guess “tweener” with Fletcher vs Moxley. My guess would be Moxley vs Okada in the finals to prolong the Takeshita thing, and since both will be at Wrestle Kingdom on the 4th of January, maybe things will continue there. There’s a lot of interesting booking coming up, regardless. Thumbs way up for this show as it was really good from start to finish.

Thanks for reading and commenting as always. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas if you were celebrating.