Collision Review – 04.25.26

Before tonight’s show, make sure to catch up with SK’s Dynamite rant!

AEW Collision: PlayoffPalooza was recorded Wednesday April 22, 2026 after Dynamite ended. The show comes to the TNT airwaves from The Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR. The announcers for tonight’s show are Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, and Nigel McGuinness on match calls and analysis, Arkady Aura on ring introductions, and Lexy Nair on backstage interviews and breaking news segments. Let’s watch some wrestling!

Joe didn’t like Platinum Max calling him “injury prone“.

Here’s AEW Trios Tag Team Champions Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and Orange Cassidy and they’re hyped to defend their titles for the first time ever. Here’s AEW Men’s Tag Team Champions FTR with Big Stoke to interrupt and tell the Trios champs that they have something important to tell Cope and Cage, and also everyone knows that the Trios champs are going to lose their titles to the Don Callis Family tonight. FTR leave and head towards the arena as their music hits.

Cash Wheeler will speak first and he tells Adam Copeland that the challenge including Cope and Cage never teaming again if they lose to FTR is acceptable to them. Dax Harwood says nobody actually wants Cope and Cage in AEW including the wrestlers and the fans. Harwood says all Cope and Cage had to do was put their tag team careers on the line to get the match, and the New York Street Fight sounds great to him. Harwood also wants the Street Fight to be have an I Quit stipulation and after it’s over, Cope and Cage can continue their singles nostalgia runs while FTR continue to dominate the tag scene. The Top Guys are then out as they put the stink-mouth on some fans while exiting. The Conglomeration’s music hits while they’re exiting and there’s a quick confrontation on the ramp that ends with FTR being shoved down.

AEW Trios Tag Team Championship: The Conglomeration (Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong) (C) vs The Don Callis Family (CMLL World Heavyweight Champion Hechicero, Andrade El Idolo, and Lance Archer)

It’s Hechicero and O’Reilly to start, and they grapple a bit while exchanging headlocks. Hechicero slugs O’Reilly along the ropes but O’Reilly recovers with an elbow snap over his shoulder. Strong tags in and he and O’Reilly work Hechicero over in their corner before Cassidy tags in. Cassidy ascends and then descends before crushing Hechicero with an elbow drop. Archer tags in and Cassidy removes his aviators before tagging in Strong. Archer trucks Strong but he escapes the Family corner and tags in Cassidy as Andrade tags in. Andrade gets blasted with some low kicks from Cassidy before Cassidy removes his belt. Cassidy pantses Andrade and then smashes him with a dropkick as Andrade was struggling to remove his pants. O’Reilly tags in and drops a bunch of right hands on Andrade before Strong tags in to do the same thing. Cassidy tags in and he drops one massive right sending Andrade to the floor. O’Reilly misses an apron charge and gets trucked by Archer, and everything breaks loose on the floor. We go to commercials.

Hechicero gets a tag to continue pounding away on Cassidy when the show returns. Cassidy makes an escape but Archer prevents a tag before Cassidy dumps him to the floor. O’Reilly gets the tag and he smashes Andrade around with a bunch of strikes. Hechicero flies in to smash O’Reilly with a dropkick as Strong grabs a blind tag. O’Reilly and Strong run wild for a bit on Andrade and Hechicero before Strong uses Cassidy as a lawn dart and battering ram on all three Callis guys. Strong hits a high boot on Hechicero and covers him for two. O’Reilly tags in and Andrade grabs a blind tag. Andrade and Hechicero drop O’Reilly and Strong in corners before Andrade waffles O’Reilly with a running Meteora that gets two. Andrade hits Three Amigos but O’Reilly prevents the third one and tags in Cassidy. Cassidy grabs a roll up that gets two. Andrade prevents Stundog Millionaire and tags in Archer. Archer drops O’Reilly and Strong and then yanks up Cassidy. Cassidy slips off and runs right into a helicopter side slam from Archer that gets two. Archer goozles O’Reilly and Strong before eating two Orange Punches and a High-Low from O’Reilly and Strong. Strong pushes Cassidy on top of Archer and his cover gets three.

A chaotic six man on Collision where no one follows tag rules or sells? YOU DON’T SAY. I guess Lance Archer was playing the part of Rocky Romero tonight, poor fellow. Anyway, the trios champs retain, Roddy Strong has a new Orange Cassidy-inspired tee shirt available at ShopAEW.com and everyone had a good time, supposedly. 2.5*

Winners AND STILL AEW World Trios Tag Team Champions – The Conglomeration (Cassidy pins Archer)

Here’s the follow-up to The Death Riders retrieving Will Ospreay after the ref stoppage match with Mark Davis on Dynamite. Claudio Castignoli plants Ospreay on a chair and Wheeler Yuta splashes him with water. Marina Shafir forcefully wraps a towel around Ospreay’s neck and rubs his shoulders a bit. Jon Moxley asks Ospreay what he’s trying to accomplish and what he’s chasing. Moxley doesn’t think Ospreay can answer those questions. Moxley says there’s a door and Ospreay has to walk through it to become who he wants to be. Moxley says they can settle up and tosses a chair down in front of Ospreay, or Ospreay can become everything he’s meant to be while offering himself up for a chairshot. Ospreay takes the chair and then pushes the cameraman away as we go to commercials.

I love Jon Moxley Dinner Theater. The monologues! The intrigue! The creepy backstage settings! ANOTHER TRIUMPH.

Ten Man Tag: The Death Riders (Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia and Claudio Castignoli) and The Dogs (David Finlay and Clark Connors vs The Rascalz (Myron Reed, Zachary Wentz, and Dezmond Xavier) and The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson)

I’m guessing I’m going to have a hard time describing all this coherently. LET’S SEE. Moxley is on commentary while Shafir is patrolling the floor. There’s a Pier Six to start and shockingly Rick Knox has lost control within seconds of the bell. The heels control the ring while smashing Nick around. Nick slips a charge and the faces take over. Moxley says he enjoys the Rascalz as they hit a double stomp on Garcia. The Bucks hit a double team move on the Death Riders crew on the floor but Castignoli is able to slap on a sharpshooter on Wentz. The Bucks fly in to deal with the Dogs and everyone has sharpshooters on. Yuta gets rolled up by Xavier for two. Xavier hits a DDT and covers Yuta for two. Everyone breaks apart and the Bucks hit a rolling neckbreaker on Garcia. Castignoli trucks the Bucks and Xavier responds with a bunch of strikes to send Castignoli to the floor. Yuta hits a brainbuster on Xavier and the Dogs come in to crush Xavier with a running tackle. We go to commercials.

Wentz drops Garcia with a release German when the show returns and then smashes Yuta around with kicks after he rushes in. Reed flies in to mash Yuta with a superkick and he and Wentz combine for a neckbreaker that gets two. Yuta bites Reed and then eats a reverse thrust kick. Reed hits a springboard cutter and he and Yuta are both down. Nick comes in and the Dogs also enter to get worked over. Matt comes in and he and Nick combine on a Northern Lights suplex on Connors and then one on Yuta and Garcia as they come in to help. Castignoli breaks up the fun with a lariat but the Bucks shake that off for a superkick bonanza.. Connors gets dropped with a double team German and the entire babyface team destroys Connors. The Bucks ascend for an elbow drop and a senton. Castignoli again breaks up the flurry by tossing Xavier into the big swing. The Bucks fly in for double bulldogs and superkicks on Finlay, but they miss a BTE trigger and Wentz comes in to deal with Finlay. They go to the floor as Claudio press slams Nick onto Matt. Reed mashes Castignoli with a flying cutter to the floor, and Wentz and Connors are left in the ring. Wentz decides to deal with Finlay first, but Yuta comes in and prevents Wentz from doing any further damage. The Dogs combine for a sheer drop spear and Connors covers Wentz for three.

I cannot begin to explain how much I dislike matches like these. I know this is the new normal and we are where we are with this stuff, but like…honestly, will you remember ANY of this tomorrow? Does anything stand out? The pace is utterly frenetic, no one sells anything, there are no tag rules observed, and Knox is just there to count pins. If you like this, good for you, I guess. 2.5*

Winners – The Death Riders/The Dogs (Connors pins Wentz)

Lexy Nair is backstage with Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Harley Cameron, and Mina Shirakawa. Cameron and Shirakawa want an apology for Shida’s remarks about Cameron. Shida refuses and says her and Statlander will beat Divine Dominion for the tag titles. Cameron insults Shida in Japanese, and Statlander leaves as everyone starts yelling.

Kris Statlander vs B3CCA

B3cca attacks at the bell but Statlander fires up with a back elbow and kick to the face. Statlander drops B3cca into a corner and then waffles her with a running uppercut. B3cca fires up with some kicks along the ropes and a leaping missile dropkick. Statlander recovers quickly and wants Staturday Night Fever, but B3cca escapes and snaps off a Flatliner. B3cca puts on a leg scissors but Statlander rises and drops her with Staturday Night Fever. Statlander’s cover gets three.

B3cca got in more offense than most of these squash-ees normally get, so bully for her. 1*

Post-match sees Statlander trudge up the ramp after ignoring a hug attempt from a baffled Shida. Shida gives chase as Statlander disappears.

Lexy Nair is with AEW Women’s Tag Champions Divine Dominion and they do not seem concerned in the slightest with the challenge of “another thrown together tag team” in Shida and Statlander. Kross says no one looks like they do and Bayne says no one destroys like they do.

Rush vs Adam Priest

Priest kicks Rush’s discarded mask on the way to the ring and I bet he’ll pay for that cheek! Priest offers a handshake and it’s kicked away. They grapple after the bell and Priest mocks Rush’s horns maneuver. Priest wants Rush to bring it and a chop battle breaks out. Priest mashes Rush with a dropkick which he no-sells before walloping Priest with an elbow. Rush puts the boots to Priest in a corner and then drives in some forearms. Rush pulls up from the double knee strike and kicks Priest in the face before declaring that he’s tranquilo. We go to commercials.

Priest hits an Alabama Jam and covers Rush for two when the show returns. Priest chops Rush along the ropes but runs right into a release German and a knee strike. Rush goes to the floor and sends Priest repeatedly into the barricade. Rush runs Priest back in and puts the boots to him in a corner. Rush hits The Horns and covers Priest for three.

We needed a commercial break for this? Sure. 2*

Winner – Rush (The Horns)

Rush reminds everyone that if you mess with the Bull, you get the Horns in a post-match rant.

Wednesday night we got comments from Konosuke Takeshita. Takeshita says he’ll be happy to take Okada’s title at Double or Nothing, Callis Family association or not. AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada responds by saying he doesn’t like Takeshita or respect him but [JAPANESE YELLING] and at Double or Nothing, Takeshita will lose.

AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla and Sky Blue vs CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone and New Japan Strong Women’s Champion Alex Windsor

Jamie Hayter hasn’t been medically cleared since Dynasty, so Windsor has to find partners to deal with Thekla’s shenanigans. Blue and Windsor start and Blue drives Windsor down by her hair. A forearm battle breaks out and then they go to chops. Windsor trucks Blue after some rope-running, but Thekla charges in to smash Windsor in the back of the head. This predictably brings in Persephone who drops Thekla with a backbreaker. Persephone officially tags in and her and Windsor waffle Blue with some chops before dealing with a charging Thekla. Persephone hits a running shotgun dropkick and covers Blue for two. Windsor tags in and she gets tripped up by Thekla as Blue waffles her with a knee to the back. Windsor ends up on the floor and Thekla hits a double stomp on her back as we go to commercials.

Thekla and Blue double team Windsor as the show returns and Blue rolls Windsor up for two. Windsor fires up and mashes Blue with a lariat. Persephone and Thekla tag in and Persephone takes control with some running tackles. Persephone hits a fall away slam and nips up to a pop. Persephone wants a brainbuster but Thekla knees her way out of it to tag in Blue. Windsor tags in and all four are in the ring at the same time. Persephone hits a flying cross body on the heels and Windsor follows with a huge running lariat on Blue that gets two. Windsor bullies Blue along the ropes but turns into a Blue superkick after celebrating. Persephone breaks up a Code Blue attempt only to get speared by Thekla. Windsor drops Blue with a headbutt and Persephone tags in. Perspehone hits a gut-wrench German that gets two as Thekla breaks it up. Thekla battles Windsor on the floor and Persephone mashes Blue with a shotgun dropkick. Perspehone yanks up Blue and here’s Julia Hart sneaking in to hit Persephone with BLACK MIST. Blue hits Code Blue on Persephone and covers her for three.

I love a good misting. Does the Black Mist eventually turn someone evil? I know the Red Mist is meant to symbolize DEATH but I don’t happen to have my Mist Conversion Chart handy at the moment. Anyhoo, the heels cheat, Alex Windsor yells her last name a bunch, and we all go merrily along until Jamie Hayter presumably returns to deal with Thekla some more. They could use some new faces in this upper part of the division right now and hey look, there’s some new free agents available. Get out the checkbook, Tony. 2.5*

Winners – Thekla/Blue (Code Blue on Persephone)

AEW National Championship: Jack Perry (C) vs El Clon

Clon is out alone, thankfully. Perry and Clon have a pose-off which Perry appears to win. Perry shoulders Clon down and then drops him with a monkey flip after some rope running. Clon is on the floor and meets Perry’s leap over the top rope with a knee lift. Perry gets tied up in the ring apron and Clon waffles him with a running shotgun dropkick. Clon drags Perry out and smashes his head into the ring steps before standing on Perry’s head. Clon gets run into a ring post and Perry follows with a swinging double kick. Perry hits a missile dropkick and drops Clon with a sit-out powerbomb that gets two. Perry gets dropped over the top rope and then mashed with a Clon running lariat. We go to commercials.

Both guys are down when the show returns. Schiavone informs us that the Divine Dominion vs Shida/Stat title match will happen on Dynamite. Perry rises up with an elbow strike and a Sliced Bread that gets two. Perry yanks Clon up, Clon sneaks in a back kick, and Perry responds with a Rancho Cucamonga Destroyer that gets two. Clon ducks a knee strike and hits a Go To Sleep that gets two. Clon hits a reverse Pele kick and Perry snaps off a standing rana that gets two. Clon hits a normal spinning backbreaker and then crushes Perry with a Made In Japan spinning backbreaker that gets two. Perry fires up with a German and a running knee strike that gets three.

Just a collection of moves here. I wish someone, anyone, would sell for longer than a second or two. I think Perry is okay in this underdog babyface role, because he certainly wasn’t suited for being some type of killer heel. Clon is a very good luchador and an underrated part of the Callis Goober Squad in my opinion. This just didn’t work for me. 2.75*

Winner AND STILL AEW National Champion – Jack Perry (running knee strike)

AEW TBS Champion Willow Nightingale talks about her recent triumphs and says anyone who wants it can come try to get it. We go to commercials.

Cameraman Shibata leads Samoa Joe and HOOK down a backstage corridor and here’s Anthony Bowens wanting an answer on his application to join the Opps. HOOK says there aren’t any vacancies because Bowens is in. Joe daps up Bowens and HOOK does the same. Yay, I guess? We’re never getting an Acclaimed reunion, dammit.

The Demand (Ricochet, Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) vs Chris Jericho and The Hurt Syndicate (Bob Lashley and Shelton Benjamin)

MVP is out with the Hurt crew as usual. Jericho, Lashley, and Benjamin are a combined 154 years old. Aubrey Edwards will try to control the third multi-man tag match of the program. Jericho and Ricochet start but everyone decides to come in for a face-off. Fisticuffs ensue and Jericho dumps Ricochet to the floor. Jericho hits a sliding dropkick while Lashley and Benjamin are smashing Liona and Kaun around in the ring. Benjamin hits a DDT that sends Liona to the floor and Jericho ascends for a cross-body on all three Demand guys. We go to commercials.

Ricochet is torquing on Jericho’s arm and shoulder when the show returns. Jericho escapes and hits some chops and then snaps off a back body drop on a charging Ricochet. Kaun comes in and prevents a tag by putting Jericho in a bear hug. Jericho escapes and tags in Lashley who immediately runs wild. Lashley drops Kaun with a spinning facebreaker and covers him for two before Liona breaks it up. Benjamin tags in for some release Germans on Kaun before catching Ricochet with one as well. Jericho tags in and he wants the Walls but Ricochet breaks it up by driving Jericho face-first into a turnbuckle. Liona flies over to hit a Samoan drop on Lashley as Jericho drops right hands on Ricochet in a corner. Jericho hits a top rope rana and Kaun sneaks in to level Jericho with a right hand. Benjamin flies over to snatch Kaun off the top rope with a reverse Spanish Fly. Lashley trips up Liona and Jericho hits a Codebreaker on Ricochet that gets two. Jericho gets pulled into a backslide that gets two before walloping Jericho with a knee. Everyone else flies in to hit some moves and it ends with Jericho dumping Liona to the floor. Jericho puts the Walls on Ricochet and Kaun yanks Ricochet over to the ropes to break it up. Everyone fights on the floor and Ricochet uses that to smash Jericho with a low blow. Ricochet hits the Rico-sault and covers Jericho for three.

The Hurt dudes looked super pissed after this was over, so did TK not tell them they were jobbing tonight? Bob Don’t Job, you know? Another multi-man with almost no selling, no real tag psychology, and just move after move after move. I AM TRYING TO BE NICE ABOUT THESE SHOWS and they are not making it easy on me. Jericho does look spry for 55 years old, I’ll give him that. Find the highlights on youtube and you’ll see what you need to see here. 2.5*

Winners – The Demand (Rico-sault on Jericho)

Post-match sees Schiavone quickly run down the Dynamite card for this coming Wednesday night as it stands now, the credits roll, and we’re out.

Not a great effort tonight with the taped show. The crowd sort of slowly lost interest as this went along and wanted to be into the main event, but the heels winning kind of really sapped the rest of whatever energy they had left. I think if they get back to live Collisions we’ll get better quality shows, but all these multi-person tags just stretch my ability to care about any of it. Three on one show seems wildly excessive. I can’t recommend tonight’s show as anything more than “seek out highlights on youtube” if you missed it.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a good Sunday.