Collision Review – 06.13.26

Let’s catch up with what happened on Dynamite this week!

Collision was recorded on Thursday June 11th and comes to the TNT airwaves from The Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, OH. The announcing team for tonight’s show includes Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness on match calls and analysis, Arkady Aura on ring introductions, and Lexy Nair on interviews and breaking news. It’s a super-sized version of Summer Blockbuster Collision, so let’s watch some wrestling!

I miss the MxMTV Open Challenge, man.

Kenny Omega vs Bad Dude Tito

Okay, everyone gets annoyed during Forbidden Door season when people randomly start showing up from other promotions, so here’s what I can tell you about Tito – he’s part of Zack Sabre Jr.’s faction in Japan called TMDK. He’s Hispanic, born in California, and has done shots for MLW, TNA, and CMLL over time. Since Kenny is fighting ZSJ at Forbidden Door, presumably the story here is that Tito is here for scouting purposes and also to soften up Omega. Let’s see what unfolds. Tito is accompanied by his TMDK stablemate Mikey Nicholls, who once worked in NXT as Nick Miller, one half of TM-61 and then The Mighty with Shane Haste, who was then called Shane Thorne.

There’s a handshake and Tito decides to attack during it. Tito hits a bodyslam and Omega responds with some rights. Omega hits a rana and sends Tito to the floor. Omega hits a rope-assisted cross-body and slaps hands with fans at ringside. Tito eats a back elbow and then Omega walks into a Tito suplex. Tito rams Omega’s head into the ring apron and tosses him back in. Tito tosses Omega into a corner and follows with an uppercut, a forearm, and an Exploder that gets two. Tito bullies Omega around until Omega snaps and yanks Tito up for his rolling Death Valley Driver. Omega ascends and his moonsault hits Tito’s raised knees. Tito hits an enziguri and a German for two. Tito hoists up Omega who slips off for a chop battle. Omega hits a running knee and then snaps off the dragonfly suplex. Omega hits another running knee and covers Tito for two. Omega hits the V-Trigger and pulls Tito over into the One Winged Angel which ends things.

Short and to the point, quite frankly. I’m sure Kenny is on a “don’t do anything that might put the ZSJ match in jeopardy” orders so this was simple and straightforward. I think there’s a better and longer match here if they wanted it, but for a five minute or so sprint, this was fine enough. 3*

Winner – Kenny Omega (One-Winged Angel)

Post-match sees Omega grab a mic and tell the crowd he asked himself what the next plan of action is, how does he get back to the top. Omega says he couldn’t make it back to the Owen but comments from ZSJ made him realize the plan. Omega wants to introduce the world to ZSJ and brings up Bryan Danielson and Nigel McGuinness as guys that ZSJ is comparable to. Omega says he’s considered one of the best and Sabre Jr is the key to getting Omega back to the top. Omega mentions that it’s a matter of time before he gets back to MJF, and it’s time to wish everyone goodbye and goodnight, BANG.

Here’s comments from Kyle Fletcher and AEW National Champion Mark Davis. Fletcher knows that Davis is feeling down about not making the finals of the Owen Cup but it’s because of Konosuke Takeshita. Fletcher wants some revenge and Takeshita’s International title. Kazuchika Okada joins the scene to hype up Fletcher and says it’s time for them to get the International title back as well.

AEW TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifier: Hikaru Shida vs Zayda Steel

Steel is accompanied by Christopher Daniels and a hockey fight breaks out at the bell. Shida drives Steel down and goes to ground and pound. Shida trucks Steel down and then prevents an armdrag before ramming Steel’s head into a turnbuckle. Shida mounts Steel for a bunch of right hands. Shida gets caught in a Steel flying head scissors and gets smashed with an uppercut and flying knee. Steel snapmares Shida over for a dropkick, but Shida catches Steel when she tries to come out to the floor. Shida hits a running knee and puts the stink-mouth on a prone Steel. We go to commercials.

Shida gets caught in a Thesz Press when the show returns, and Steel pounds away. Steel hits a sling blade and an enziguri to send Shida to the floor. Steel hits an interesting attempt at a tope suicida and tosses Shida back in for two. Steel pulls Shida up for an Unpretty-her but Shida rams a knee into Steel’s face. They start slugging it out and Shida ultimately prevails with a kick that sends Steel to the mat. Shida gets caught in a Steel koji clutch but Shida rakes the eyes to escape. Steel grabs a small package for two and Shida responds with a knee lift and a running knee that gets two. Shida hits a Falcon Arrow and then works an ankle submission where she also manages to grab Steel’s arm. Steel clearly gives up verbally and the ref calls for the bell.

There were some awkward moments here and I once again implore people – don’t do shit you don’t know how to do, especially on television. Steel should either work way harder on her topes or stop doing them altogether. Other than that, this was fine but very very heat-less. Shida was getting babyface pops and Steel needs non-television reps to get better. Shida moves on to qualify for the Survival of the Fittest match and we’ll see how she fares. 2*

Winner – Hikaru Shida (submission)

Post-match sees Shida continue assaulting Steel, which brings in Daniels to try to put a stop to it. Shida eventually relents before pointing at the TBS title at ringside. We go to commercials.

Lexy Nair is with The Opps when the show returns. Anthony Bowens says the future is bright and he’s happy about it being Pride month. Bowens says the absent Samoa Joe has taught him violence and the Opps will be better than ever. HOOK seems to only care about destroying everything in their path, and gets a comment from Katsuyori Shibata. HOOK wants Bowens to ease up on acting like a leader and reminds Bowens that they’re a group of killers. HOOK tells Nair to only talk to him, and Bowens tries to ease the tensions after HOOK and Shibata leave.

The Rascalz (Dezmond Xavier and Zach Wentz) vs Aaron and Austin Atlas

Xavier and Wentz hit some double team stuff and Wentz goes full bronco buster on one of these goobers. They work both guys over with a flurry of flying offense and it’s over quickly with the Hot Fire Flame onto a helpless Atlas.

Did you know goats have rectangular eyes? Well now you do. .5*

Winners – The Rascalz (Hot Fire Flame)

Post-match sees Xavier with a mic calling the Rascalz the hottest trios team in AEW right now, and they bring out their pal Myron Reed for his title contest.

AEW TNT Championship: Kevin Knight (C) vs Myron Reed

Knight is with Don Callis who joins commentary. There are some standing switches before Knight gains the advantage. Reed goes to the apron and waffles Knight with a legdrop. Reed does some acrobatics and then kicks Knight in the side of the head. Reed hits a rolling monkey flip and goes to the floor with Knight. Knight goes back in and gets caught with a cutter when he charges. Reed goes back in for a springboard dropkick and covers Knight for two. Knight fires up with some chops but Reed reverses and chops away himself. Reed gets whipped hard into a middle turnbuckle and Knight flies off the top rope with a lariat. Knight goes to more ground and pound before smashing Reed with a body slam that gets two. We go to commercials.

Reed grabs a roll up for two when the show returns. Reed tosses Knight haflway across the ring and both guys are down. Both guys get their boots up on a charge, and Reed then snaps off a thrust kick. Reed hits a rope-assisted Flatliner and covers him for two. Knight bails to the floor and Reed wants a tope but Knight walks away from that. Reed gets caught by a Knight rana and a spinning backbreaker that gets two. Knight goes up and wants the UFO Splash but Reed gets to his feet and springs up to grab Knight. They slug it out and Reed gets dumped onto the ramp. Knight grabs a headlock and Reed twists in mid-air to drop Knight throat-first over the top rope. Reed charges down the ramp and nails Knight with a leaping cutter that the fans erupt for. Knight goes to the apron and Reed leaps again for another cutter from the apron to the floor. Reed tosses Knight back and in crushes him with the No Cap Splash that gets two as Knight jams a boot onto the bottom rope. Reed’s hip is in rough shape and Knight crushes him with a forearm shiver to the back. Knight’s uranage attempt turns into a Reed small package that gets two. Knight hits a dropkick to Reed’s back, and then crushes Reed with the Crash Landing. The cover is academic as the ref counts three.

The finish was kind of abrupt, but I thought the second act of this was really great. Myron Reed has been a solid singles competitor since joining the company with Xavier and Wentz and he really showed out tonight with those back to back running cutters – the crowd went bonkers after the second one. Knight had a real fight on his hands. I enjoyed this a bunch, I’d urge you to seek it out. 4*

Winner AND STILL AEW TNT Champion – Kevin Knight (Crash Landing)

Here’s a look at AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Divine Dominion. They’re concerned that there won’t be anyone left to challenge them soon and want someone to step up. We go to commercials.

Here’s Maya World talking about losing her big brother and that she needed to be with her second family during her terrible time of grief. World stunned everyone by upsetting Skye Blue and now has Athena in the Owen Hart Women’s tournament. World plans on taking it all.

Here’s ROH Women’s World Champion Athena with some comments about how sorry she is about World losing her brother, but she wants to know about all the hard work she’s put in as the Forever Champ of ROH. Athena tells World that just because she taught World everything she knows, she didn’t teach World everything Athena knows. Athena provides a reminder that World is living in Athena’s world. That’s a lot of worlds, I think.

ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs Tiara James

A right hand, some clubbering forearms and a knee lift start things off for Athena. Athena hits a running right fist and follows with a handspring right. Athena eats a forearm and James hits a backslide for one. James rolls Athena over in a jacknife for one. Athena drives James to the floor and crushes her with a tope, and then drags her back in. Athena slaps on the Koji clutch and that ends things with James tapping out.

Did you know that forks were once rejected as being “unholy” by the European elite due to the prongs resembling devil’s horns? Well now you do. .5*

Winner – Athena (Koji clutch)

Post-match sees Athena continue the assault on a helpless James. Maya World charges out to prevent further damage and Athena decides she’s had enough as World checks on James. Of course Athena charges back in to attack World from behind. Athena smashes World’s head into her title belt and screams at World before clobbering her with a right.

Here’s The Demand and Ricochet says they’ve had ups and downs over their time together. Ricochet says he’s won the feud with Jericho and is now coming for Konosuke Takeshita’s International title.

The Dogs make their entrance after David Finlay smashes a PA with his shillelagh.

The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) vs The Dogs (David Finlay and Clark Connors)

It’s Finlay and Nick to start, and Connors grabs a blind tag. The Dogs collide and Nick sends Finlay over the top rope onto Connors. Nick hits a rope-assisted cross-body and tosses Connors back in. Connors fires up with a left and Finlay tags in. Matt tags in and he and Nick hit a bunch of double team stuff on Finlay that ends with a rolling Blockbuster. Connors comes in to fire off some rights as the Dogs regain control. The Bucks do a do-si-do and snap off simultaneous bulldogs. The Bucks go to the apron and Nick hits a double cross-body on Finlay and Connors. The Dogs fire up and send Nick over the top rope before Finlay and Connors hit a double shoulder tackle. Nick sends Finlay into Connors and Matt drives Finlay to the floor for a cross-body. Matt charges out and gets caught by Finlay while being speared by Connors. Rick Knox decides to enforce a rule for some reason and Matt beats the count at nine. Finlay and Connors hit a double team High-Low Eliminator and Finlay’s cover gets two. We go to commercials.

Matt gets caught in a Finlay backbreaker that gets two when the show returns. Finlay gets rolled up and Connors walks into a bridging cover by Matt that gets two. Matt hits a double overhead suplex on both Dogs and tags in Nick. Nick fights off both Dogs and drives both down to the mat. Nick hits a top rope rana-neckbreaker combo and then crushes Connors with a cross-body for two. Matt grabs a blind tag and he and Nick combine on a release German on Connors before hitting an assisted Sliced Bread on Finlay. The Bucks ascend for stereo dives before getting dumped to the apron. The Bucks hit sunset flips and slap on Sharpshooters. Connors make the ropes as McGuinness has no actual idea who’s legal at this point. The Bucks call for a superkick party and Connors cuts it off by trucking Nick into Matt. Connors wanders into a superkick but Finlay follows with a lariat and a discus elbow. The Bucks hit superkicks on Finlay and Connors grabs Nick into a crucifix for two when he covers Finlay. The Bucks hit a dropkick-piledriver combo on Connors that gets two. Finlay gets dumped to the ramp and the Bucks double-team Connors before hitting the BTE Trigger. Finlay breaks up the cover at two. Finlay gets dumped and he grabs the shillelagh. Finlay smacks Matt in the head and he turns into a Connors spear that gets two. Nick tries to fight off Connors and Finlay but he gets dumped to the ramp for a Connors spear. The Dogs hit The Full Clip on Matt and that ends things.

Listen, there are some weeks when I watch the Bucks and enjoy them, but this was not one of those weeks. I wish anyone would consider selling a move for longer than half a second but it’s just not meant to be in these matches. It’s so many moves in so little time and none of it really matters much because we’re setting up for the next thing immediately. Rick Knox has the greatest job in the world because he works all of their matches and never has to do anything at all except count three. 2*

Winners – The Dogs (The Full Clip on Matt Jackson)

Here’s a Dynamite recap focusing on AEW Men’s World Champion MJF and Mark Briscoe prior to the big six on six cage match at Forbidden Door. Tomohiro Ishii, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong are excited about having a path to get Briscoe his world title shot by beating the Dong Phallus Family in the cage. The teams will be picked on this week’s Dynamite.

Schiavone apologizes to Stardom for Thekla’s recent remarks, and here’s AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla out to say that she’s not going to apologize to Stardom, AEW, or DUMB BITCHES who think that any cutesy joshi girls deserve her respect. Thekla tells Schiavone to shut his mouth and help her up on to the announce desk. Thekla says Stardom had her and fired her and look at her now as AEW Women’s World Champion and the biggest attraction in THIS BUSINESS. Thekla says that her spitting on the Stardom logo got everyone talking about them and her saliva is worth more than anyone in the locker room. Thekla wipes her spit on Schiavone’s jacket and wants Stardom’s best girl for the title at Forbidden Door. Thekla calls out Taro Okada, president of Stardom, and promises to get him a front row seat for Forbidden Door. We go to commercials.

Here’s The Bang Bang Gang calling out the Dogs. They promise to put cones of shame on Finlay and Connors. I would enjoy seeing that.

AEW TBS Championship Survival of the Fittest Qualifier: Julia Hart vs CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone

Hart slaps Persephone and that doesn’t go well for her. Persephone goes to ground and pound and rolls Hart over for one. Hart misses a charge and snaps off a kick to Persephone’s gut. Persephone bridges in a roll up that gets two. Hart trips up Persephone and mashes her with a running forearm to the back. Persephone hits a bridging suplex that gets two. Hart bails to the floor and Persephone gives chase. Hart ends up on Persephone’s shoulders and gets driven face-first into the apron. We go to commercials.

Persephone hits a missile dropkick and covers Hart for two when the show returns. Persephone yanks Hart up but Hart pulls her into a crucifix that gets two. Persephone gets a roll up for two, and Hart hits a jackknife for two. Hart slips off of Persephone’s shoulders and gets a roll up for two. Persephone hits a shotgun dropkick and we reset. Persephone gets her eye raked by Hart who then snaps off a lungblower. Persephone fires off a spear and both women are down again. Hart leaves to crawl up the ramp and Persephone gives chase. Hart runs into a powerslam on the entryway and both women are down again. Persephone runs Hart back in and gets yanked throat-first over the top rope. Hart goes to the eye again and Persephone slaps Hart full in the face. Persephone pulls Hart up for the Razor’s Edge and that finishes things.

I thought this was awkward and clunky. The crowd mostly sat on it’s hands for this but Hart did get a small babyface chant at one point. I think it’s hard for folks to get invested in stuff like this when Persephone just kind of comes out of nowhere for a series of matches and then goes back to CMLL like none of it mattered. I guess we’ll see how she does in Survival of the Fittest, though. 1.5*

Winner – Persephone (Razor’s Edge)

Here’s Lexy Nair with Thekla after the announcement is made that Starlight Kid has been chosen as Stardom’s representative at Forbidden Door. Thekla says she despises everything about Starlight and says her welcome to AEW will be her last appearance ever. The blood of Stardom will be on Starlight’s hands according to the champ.

Speedball Mike Bailey vs Jake Doyle

Bailey cuts a pre-match inset promo where he vows to take out every Don Callis Family member one by one. Kevin Knight joins the commentary team. Bailey wants a rana but Doyle catches him to prevent it. Bailey hits a rana and a dropkick as Doyle ends up on the floor. Bailey SWEEPS THE LEG and crushes Doyle with a moonsault. Bailey hits a running kick and some chops and kicks. Bailey glares at Knight and a recovered Doyle ends up powerbombing Bailey on to the apron. We go to commercials.

Bailey hits his double knee drop on Doyle when the show returns. Bailey gets goozled by Doyle, but he turns it into a roll through that gets two. Bailey hits the double knee drop again and fires off a kaman giri. Doyle responds with a forearm to the back of Bailey’s head and we reset. Bailey hits some high boots and Doyle steps on Bailey’s foot. Doyle mashes Bailey down with a forearm but Bailey waffles Doyle with a kick when he ascends. Bailey hits a sit-out powerbomb and covers Doyle for two. Bailey ascends and mashes Doyle with a Shooting Star Press that gets two. Doyle hits a running forearm and pulls Bailey up for a fall-away slam that gets two. Doyle rams Bailey into a corner but misses his subsequent charge. Bailey hits a rolling spin kick and ascends. Doyle escapes his Ultimate Weapon attempt and pulls Bailey into a sit-out powerbomb that ends things.

I generally like Jake Doyle and Bailey worked super-physically with him, so I don’t have a lot of complaints with this one. Bailey is still a super goober to me, but when he lays his shit in, I like him a lot more. Doyle was clearly up for it tonight and this is one of the more physical battles I’ve seen in awhile in AEW. They were really laying stuff in, and the crowd perked up for it. No major flaws here other than I wished it had maybe been longer, actually. 3.5*

Winner – Jake Doyle (Sit-out Powerbomb)

After commercials, it’s time for the main event.

Cincinnati Street Fight: The Death Riders (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castignoli, Daniel Garcia, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir) vs Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo, Shawn Dean, Lee Moriarty and Trish Adora)

The fight breaks out during the Death Riders trying to come into the building, which is neat for all the fans sitting inside watching it on the video boards. It’s chaos as Taylor and Moxley square off with everyone else fighting in the background. The Infantry guys put a bunch of barricades on top of Castignoli as the fight starts heading inside. Everyone slowly heads in with Moxley and Taylor being the first ones to ringside. Moxley heaves a chair at Taylor and then whips it at a charging Moriarty. Adora runs Shafir into a ring post and Moxley mashes Taylor with rights along the barricade. Moriarty and Garcia are in the ring actually having something resembling a wrestling match. PAC flies in to battle with Moriarty and there’s a bunch of acrobatics before Moriarty hits an armdrag and a dropkick. Moxley sneaks in and waffles Moriarty with a right before mounting him for more right hands in a corner. Taylor and Bravo take Moxley down and Bravo joins in once he’s recovered. Taylor has brass knuckles and he wallops Moxley with a right after slipping them on. Bravo and Dean continue assaulting Moxley who’s now got color. Castignoli charges in to start wrecking everyone. Castignoli hits an overhead suplex on Taylor to a huge pop from Schiavone and McGuinness. Adora confronts Castignoli with a chop, so Castignoli yanks off his lucha mask and Adora lays in some more chops. Taylor pounds Castignoli but Castignoli no-sells it and wants the Giant Swing. Adora prevents that and Shafir pulls Adora down and wants Castignoli to Giant Swing her. Castignoli obliges and we go to commercials.

The Death Riders are setting up a table as the STP folks are barking at the camera. Castignoli calmly snatches up Shawn Dean and powerbombs him wildly hard through the table. Another huge brawl erupts and the Death Riders have control. PAC hits an Uehara moonsault to the floor as Garcia and Moriarty are fighting it out mid-ring. Moriarty misses a charge and the Death Riders start their Conveyor Belt of Violence that includes Shafir this time. The Death Riders gather mid-ring for the circle dance and then the Promotions guys all return for another Pier Six. PAC pulls out another table and gets mashed by Dean’s infantry helmet when he goes to attack. Adora and Shafir are fighting on the ringside steps and Adora mashes Shafir with a vertical suplex on the ramp. Castignoli rams Taylor into some randomly placed ring steps, and Moriarty crawls on Castignoli to put on an octopus. Castignoli climbs the ring steps and backdrops Moriarty through the timekeepers table. Bravo and Garcia are mid-ring and here’s Christiyan XO out to distract Garcia. XO delivers another pair of brass knuckles to Bravo who smacks Garcia in the jaw with them. XO pulls out a chair and Bravo and Dean send Garcia head-first onto the seat with a double stomp. Moxley breaks that cover up at two and he fights off both Infantry guys with DDT’s. Moxley has a turnbuckle but Taylor prevents any usage of it by clubbering Moxley down and to the floor. Taylor gives chase and he and Bravo set up another table. Bravo and Dean beat Moxley down after a double bird to Taylor. They hit Moxley with the Shield powerbomb through the table and see Shafir alone in the ring. Shafir is also very bloody and is now surrounded by Taylor, Bravo, Dean, and Adora. Shafir tries to fight everyone off but Adora mashes her down from behind. Bravo and Taylor remove her boots and socks and Adora brings in a sack full of thumbtacks and broken glass. Shafir is dumped bare-feet first into the debris and she grinds the stuff into her feet to kick Adora in the face. Castignoli and PAC fly in and Castignoli uses PAC as a lawn dart to toss him at Bravo and Dean. Moriarty and Garcia come in and Garcia uses a piece of glass to break out of Moriarty’s armbar. Taylor breaks up Garcia’s flurry and Shafir leaps on his back to prevent further damage. Taylor snaps her over and Moxley flies in with a running cutter to take Taylor down. Moxley lines up Taylor and the Conveyor Belt starts again. PAC crushes Taylor with a lariat and Moxley’s Death Rider on Taylor ends things.

I would hope this ends this particular mini-feud as that was a fairly decisive finish. Obviously this was chaos from start to finish even with a fairly predictable outcome. I’m not sure how you rate all this but from a spectacle standpoint, I thought it delivered decently enough. I don’t think I can say you missed a ton if you didn’t see it, but there were some cute spots with the broken glass and tacks that will probably float across your social timelines. We’ll call the whole thing 3.25* and move on with our lives.

Winners – The Death Riders (Moxley Death Rider on Taylor)

Post-match sees Schiavone run down every upcoming match that’s scheduled in thirty seconds before wishing us goodnight.

A mixed bag tonight, for sure. I enjoyed Bailey-Doyle and Knight-Reed a bunch, and everything else was just kind of there. This was a LOT of matches in 2.5 hours even with two squashes. You didn’t miss a whole lot if you were watching other things but I can recommend the two matches I mentioned and the main event if you like a chaos brawl with weapons. Otherwise, you didn’t miss a ton.

Thanks for reading and commenting. Have a good Sunday.