Collision Review – 01.03.26

Let’s catch up on where AEW stands currently: Worlds End | Dynamite

Tonight’s Collision comes to the airwaves on TNT for the first show in a month-long residency at the E-Sports Arena in Arlington, TX. The announcers for tonight’s show are Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on match calls and analysis, Arkady Aura on ring announcements, and Lexy Nair on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Congratulations to THE ACE on his retirement this weekend.

The Timeless Love Bombs threaten to put a whooping on Hyan and Maya World tonight. Christopher Daniels announces that Scorpio Sky isn’t cleared and Dante Martin, a human, will be taking his place against Shelton Benjamin. MVP and Shelton Benjamin talk about things being “business as usual”. Darby Allin is fine with having to go through Wheeler Yuta to get to PAC and promises to break Yuta’s face.

El Clon vs Angelico

Schiavone and McGuinness make a big deal about Clon debuting in the same building that Hologram did. Serpentico seconds Angelico and probably won’t do a thing other than cheer him on. Clon works a wristlock and then some acrobatics break out. Clon kicks Angelico in the back and then drops him with a huge running lariat. Clon works Angelico over in a corner and then wallops Angelico with a springboard moonsault that gets two. Clon hits a springboard DDT and then yanks Angelico up for a gigantic chop. Angelico fires up with a quick enziguri but misses a charge and runs into a Clon Pele kick. Clon hits a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and then hits a helicopter Blue Thunder Bomb. Clon’s cover gets three.

The crowd didn’t really warm up to this and it was over before they could get into it. Clon looked fine but this was basically a squash to introduce him to the wider television audience. It was okay, but you didn’t miss anything if you didn’t see it. 1*

Winner – El Clon (Helicopter Blue Thunder Bomb)

Clon starts whooping on a concerned Serpentico after the match, but Komander emerges from the back to prevent further damage.

Here’s AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley to talk about the grind of the Continental Classic tournament. Moxley says that the Continental title comes with a high price tag and he’s looking forward to facing Shelton Benjamin on Dynamite this coming Wednesday. Moxley says he respects Benjamin for putting in the work over time, but he tells Benjamin he’s going to have to do a whole lot more than hurt him.

Timeless Love Bombs (Mina Shirakawa and Toni Storm) vs Maya World and Hyan

Luther is out with Storm and Shirakawa. Shirakawa starts with World. Shirakawa hits a back splash but World slips out from underneath and each tag their partners. Storm and Hyan exchange headlocks and then Storm trucks Hyan down before waffling her with a shotgun dropkick. Storm hits a back suplex and tags in Shirakawa tags in and hits the same move before tagging Storm back in. Storm tosses Shirakawa on top of Hyan and Storm covers for two. World gets a tag and she and Hyan work Storm over in a corner. Storm ducks a clothesline and smashes both with a double missile dropkick. Storm sends both opponents to the floor and tags in Shirakawa. Storm assists Shirakawa with a rope-walk cross-body to the floor as we go to commercials.

Shirakawa gets dumped onto World’s knees and Hyan covers her for two when the show returns. They start slugging it out mid-ring and Shirakawa smashes Hyan with a backfist to end it. Both tag their partners and Storm runs wild on both Hyan and World. Storm hits a big boot on World before dropping her with a short-arm DDT. Storm wants Storm Zero but gets dropped as Hyan tags in. She and World hit some double-team stuff that ends with a Hyan shotgun dropkick that gets a two count. World hits a top-rope Blockbuster and the cover is broken up at two by Shirakawa. World and Hyan get smashed by a top rope dropkick by Shirakawa. Storm and Shirakawa hit hip attacks and then Shirakawa waffles World with a slingblade from the top rope. Storm hits Storm Zero on World and covers for three.

As usual with AEW, the tag rules were enforced very loosely. I like that they’re making an effort to get Hyan and Maya some shine but maybe let’s try letting them win something on television at some point, you know? Anyway, this was a good exhibition for both teams, and I’m sure Toni’s antics will be over with the usual suspects. 2*

Winners – Timeless Love Bombs (Storm Zero on World)

There’s a post-match show of respect between the teams before Storm and Shirakawa exit with Luther. Marina Shafir‘s music hits before Storm and Shirakawa are fully gone, and Shafir stares them down before entering the ring. We go to commercials.

Marina Shafir and Megan Bayne vs Rache Chanel and Londyn Dior

Penelope Ford is out with Bayne as usual. Shafir starts with Dior and she smashes Dior in her corner before tagging in Bayne. Bayne uses her shoulder to wallop Dior before crushing Dior with a belly-to-back overhead suplex. Bayne misses a charge and Chanel gets a tag. Bayne sends Chanel into Shafir’s double clap. Bayne drops Chanel on top of Bayne who slaps on Mother’s Milk. Chanel taps instantly.

Sure. .5*

Winners – Bayne/Shafir (Mother’s Milk on Chanel)

Schiavone throws to a Callis Family beatdown happening in the back. Josh Alexander has some geek in an ankle lock and tells Hechicero to go whomp on Komander so he can bring the TNT title back to the Family. Lance Archer launches another geek into the ceiling and bellows “EVERYONE DIES!”. Cool, cool.

Komander vs Hechicero

As mentioned before, the winner gets a shot at Mark Briscoe and the TNT title on next week’s Collision. Hechicero grabs a quick roll-up for two and then there’s a bunch of two counts for both guys before we reset. The crowd is dead silent right now. Komander gets tied up by Hechicero who then rises. Komander uses core strength to boost himself up and then uses a helicopter spin to hit a rana on Hechicero. Hechicero grabs a leg and starts working Komander’s knee. Hechicero fires off some chops but then misses a charge. Komander fires up with a top rope rana that finally wakes the crowd up. Hechicero goes right back to a submission type hold on Komander’s shoulder and arm. Komander slips out and hits another springboard move that ends with an armdrag sending Hechicero to the floor. Komander gets caught off another springboard move and Hechicero powerbombs him into the barricade. We go to commercials.

Komander gets invited to chop Hechicero who was fooling him as he ducks everything. Komander hits a chest kick and then drops Hechicero with a DDT. Komander leaps onto Hechicero’s shoulders but botches whatever he was trying with the ropes. Komander recovers with an armdrag and a dropkick and then Hechicero runs into Komander’s back. Hechicero fires up with a trip that sends Komander down and Hechicero grabs a surfboard before putting his leg over top of Komander’s chest and throat. Komander makes the ropes to break the hold. Hechicero fires off some right hands but misses a charge and eats a Komander shotgun dropkick. Komander walks the top rope and hits a giant tope. Komander tosses Hechicero back in and hits a moonsault off the top rope to the floor after Hechicero had bailed again. Komander gets a sunset flip for two but Hechicero fires up with a hammerlock swing that leads to a backbreaker. Komander hits a low drop kick and then a reverse thrust. Komander hits a poison rana and then ascends rather than cover. El Clon flies out to dump Komander down. Hechicero hits two big knees and then Hechicero rolls Komander up for three.

This was a sloppy mess that didn’t really grab the crowd until it was damn near over. The crowd also hated the finish because you could hear them openly groan when Clon made the scene. Anyway, Komander was sloppy here and Hechi never really seemed all that interested in trying to match Komander’s pace. Hechi gets a shot at Briscoe on the next Collision and hopefully he’ll have his working boots on that night because I’ve seen better from him than tonight’s effort. 1.75*

Winner – Hechicero (roll up)

McGuinness throws to a package that shows Max Caster and Anthony Bowens trying to write three nice things about each other at Tony Khan’s behest. This also included a scavenger hunt in NYC that ends with both of them saying they still are not partners.

Tony Schiavone invites Eddie Kingston down to the ring, and Kingston brings out his buddy Ortiz. Eddie seems very happy tonight and wishes someone in the crowd a happy birthday. Eddie is very pleased to have Ortiz back and calls him his right hand. Eddie says he’s been crashing out since he came back but now he’ll be okay with Ortiz back with him. Ortiz says he was born with the gift of putting his foot up people’s asses and says they are coming for the GYV. Eddie says they will get the GYV and they should get ready for it.

Lexy Nair is with Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Bill says Eddie Kingston is a dope for trusting Ortiz. Bill says that he’s heard that there’s a bounty on JetSpeed, and Keith says he’s just the guy to collect.

JetSpeed (Speedball Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight) vs Big Bill and Bryan Keith

All references to the Learning Tree are gone, as you might expect. Bailey waffles Keith with a kick to the face after some rope-running. Keith hits a big boot in response. Bailey and Keith starts slugging it out and Bill grabs a handful of Bailey mullet to stop any momentum. Bill tags in and slaps Bailey in the chest and he and Keith miss a clothesline attempt before getting hammered by a Knight missile dropkick. JetSpeed hit simultaneous springboard cross-bodies and Bailey sends Keith back in. Knight gets the tag and and he and Bailey hit some double team offense that ends with a Knight flying splash that gets two. Knight hits a bodyslam and ascends. Bill shoves Knight off the top rope and then Bill hits a huge side slam on a charging Bailey. Keith runs Knight into the barricade chest first. We go to commercials.

Bill gets a tag and wipes out Bailey before Knight can tag him when the show returns. Bill misses an elbow drop and Knight has no one to tag. Bill misses a charge and then Knight dumps him to the floor. Bill misses another charge and then eats a Knight dropkick. Bailey is finally back and both Keith and Bailey get tagged in. Bailey hits a missile dropkick on Keith and then starts in with his axe kicks. Bailey hits a standing moonsault but Bill just yanks Bailey off the cover and tosses him about ten feet away. Bill shrugs a Knight flurry off and waffles Bailey from behind. Knight and Bill hit big boots on Bailey and Knight saves the team by breaking up the cover at two. Bill eats another Knight dropkick and a roundhouse from Bailey. Knight hits a springboard lariat on Keith as Bailey hits a moonsault on Bill. Keith fires up with a jumping headbutt on Bailey and then smashes Bailey with an underhook suplex from the top rope. Bailey and Keith start slugging it out and Keith hits a knee lift. Keith’s cover gets two. Bill stalks Knight up the aisle and Keith and Bailey exchange roll-ups for two. Bailey hits a chest kick and his double-knee drop before hitting a springboard moonsault on Bill on the floor. Knight tags in and hits the UFO splash on Keith. Knight’s cover gets three.

That’s the MOTN thus far, although it was not a high bar to clear. Bailey and Knight are a fine babyface team and the crowd really seems to enjoy their stuff. Bill and Keith are coming along and while Bill is still a lumbering oaf at times, his power game always gets the crowd hyped. 3*

Winners – JetSpeed (UFO Splash on Keith)

Grizzled Young Veterans have a response promo for Kingston and Ortiz. Gibson promises to make their name in AEW at Kingston and Ortiz’s expense. Drake says Kingston won’t be a hero when they destroy his surgically repaired leg, and then question Ortiz’s “returning hero” status. We go to commercials.

A highlights package is shown of the ongoing saga around the AEW Men’s World Title. Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland will battle Hook and Powerhouse Hobbs on Wednesday night at Dynamite.

Shelton Benjamin vs Dante Martin

Benjamin has MVP with him, while Martin is accompanied by Christopher Daniels and Darius Martin. Benjamin offers a handshake which is taken up by Martin. That’s nice. Benjamin still looks like a million bucks, for the record. Benjamin tosses Martin over his shoulder and Martin bails to chat with Daniels. Martin grabs a headlock and tries a lariat that has no effect. Martin hits a rana and a dropkick that sends Benjamin to the floor. Benjamin springs back in and crushes Martin with a shoulder tackle. Benjamin starts throwing bombs in a corner and Martin cuts it off with a kick. Martin tries a springboard move and Benjamin drops him to the floor where Martin goes ribs-first into the barrier. Doc Sampson charges over to check on Martin as we go to commercials.

Benjamin gets smashed with some forearms when the show returns, but Benjamin shakes it off and drops Martin ribs-first onto his knee. During the break MVP told Martin to just stay down, but Martin says his mama didn’t raise a bitch. Benjamin tosses Martin around but runs into a big knee lift and a tornado DDT from Martin after he fires up. Martin slowly ascends and hits a big splash that gets a long two count. Martin hits a springboard moonsault from the apron and covers for two. Martin puts on a sleeper and Benjamin fights out of it. Benjamin shrugs Martin off to the mat and then hits a release German. Benjamin hits an overhead German and then another release German. Benjamin hits a huge rising knee and a superkick. Benjamin’s cover gets three.

This was good albeit a wild styles clash in terms of speed versus power. Martin was game and he bumped around a bunch for Shelton, as I’m guessing Sky would have had to do as well had he been able to go. Nothing wrong with this overall but it was kind of clunky. 2.75*

Winner – Shelton Benjamin (superkick)

MVP grabs a mic and asks for a round of applause for Martin, before saying that Sky “called in sick” to not face Benjamin. Benjamin helps Martin to his feet and shakes his hand again. Martin and Daniels leave and MVP asks for a round of applause for Benjamin, who also gets a chant from the crowd. MVP puts over Benjamin’s credentials and says that on Dynamite Benjamin is coming for Jon Moxley. MVP puts over Moxley winning the C2 and the Continental title, but says that Moxley is a cult-like leader of the “D-Riders” who wants to make change and revolution. MVP says that the Hurt Syndicate just wants to make money. MVP calls Benjamin an “apex predator” and promises punches, kicks and knees and says that Moxley can’t do a thing about it. MVP says it’s a new year but he has no resolutions. MVP says Moxley is going to get hurt because they HURT PEOPLE.

EARLIER TODAY Lexy Nair had an interview with Sammy Guevara and Bandido. Guevara says he’s challenging Bandido for Dynamite and says he’s going to put Bandido out and take his place against MJF. Bandido says Guevara doesn’t have to be so angry, all he has to do is ask. It’s apparently on for Dynamite.

Schiavone and McGuinness mention that Stokely got a bad injury at Worlds End. Stokely sent Schiavone a statement and says he’s receiving care at the “Vivian Banks Medical Center”. Stokely’s bills are above $400,000 and wants everyone to contact Schiavone after the show to help him out with paying that enormous sum. Schiavone and McGuinness run down the Dynamite card for the Tulsa show next week. The main event is next, and we go to commercials.

Wheeler Yuta vs Darby Allin

Yuta has Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir with him, but only Shafir comes to ringside as Moxley joins the announce team. Yuta grabs a wristlock and Allin reverses. Allin grabs a side headlock and then trucks Yuta after he slips out. Allin hits a top rope armdrag that sends Yuta to the floor. Shafir jumps in front of Yuta to prevent Allin’s next move, so Allin goes to the floor and gets slugged by Yuta after he barked at Shafir. Yuta runs Allin back in and drops an elbow. Allin gets a roll-up for one and then gets a springboard splash that gets two. Allin lifts his boots when Yuta charges and then Allin wallops Yuta with a shotgun dropkick. Yuta crotches Allin on the top turnbuckle and then hits a neckbreaker on the apron as Shafir applauds. Yuta runs Allin back in and goes to work with right hands. Yuta hits a backflip that sends Allin face-first into the mat and then snaps him over with a bridging German that gets two. We go to commercials.

Allin has a short flurry cut off by a Yuta knee when the show returns. Allin hits a reverse shoulder tackle and smashes Yuta with a sunset flip powerbomb that gets two. Yuta bails to the floor and Shafir trips Allin up. Yuta charges in and dumps Allin to the floor but the ref follows up by sending Shafir to the back. Toni Storm charges down and jumps on Shafir’s back. They fight up the aisle and as that’s going on Daniel Garcia comes flying in to smash Allin with a lariat. Yuta hits a spinning shoulder suplex for two. Yuta ascends and misses a splash. Yuta goes to the floor so Allin takes the opportunity to hit Garcia with a tope suicida. Allin flies back in and gets utterly destroyed by a Yuta Baisaku knee on the apron. Yuta rolls Allin back in and covers for two. Yuta starts dropping elbows as Moxley wants the ref to call the match. Yuta puts on the Scorpion Death Lock while mocking Allin but Allin slips it. Allin hits a double stomp on Yuta’s chest and then hits TWO Coffin Drops on Yuta but only gets two. Allin puts on the Scorpion Death Lock and Yuta taps immediately.

For a C+ main event, this was pretty solid. Yuta was feeling it tonight and when he’s on, he’s pretty fun to watch because everything is smooth and looks like it hurts. The Garcia run-in was fun in that Shafir’s blatant cheating once again got her tossed but the Riders had a clear back-up plan for that. Moxley was fairly face-tastic on commentary and even said that Allin “might have earned” the win after it was over. We’ll see if this leads to Allin’s desired wish to face PAC at some point but there’s a long time til the next AEW PPV so we’ll see if and when that might happen beforehand. MOTN for me, your mileage may vary. 3.5*

Winner – Darby Allin (Scorpion Death Lock)

Schiavone announces Shafir and Storm will face off on Dynamite before running down the rest of that card. The credits roll and we’re out.

The second hour saved this from being a disaster, quite frankly. Listen, I know most of the big hitters are in Japan for WrestleKingdom and coming off the incredible matches of the C2 there was always going to be a letdown. The first hour of this show was just a wasteland of crap, quite frankly. It got much better in the second hour and that was appreciated. Thumbs down for the show overall, but Allin-Yuta is worth finding and checking out.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Enjoy the rest of your weekend and don’t forget to get your vote in for the DOOMIES.