Collision – 08.22.26

SK covered this week’s endlessly long Dynamite.

Collision comes to the TNT and HBOMax airwaves from Santander Arena in Reading, PA. The announcers for tonight’s show include Tony Schiavone and Ian Riccoboni on match calls and analysis, Arkady Aura on ring intros, and Lexy Nair on interviews and news segments. The C3 semifinalists will be finalized tonight, and there’s a Women’s world title match on the card, so let’s watch some wrestling!

Schiavone throws to a highlights package of the Will Ospreay-Kenny Omega saga from this past Wednesday night’s Dynamite.

Continental Cup Round of 8 match: Orange Cassidy vs Kyle O’Reilly

Riccoboni mentions that O’Reilly holds three wins over current Continental Champion Jon Moxley as part of the pre-match hype. There’s a fist-bump offered by O’Reilly, but Cassidy responds by placing his shades over O’Reilly’s eyes. O’Reilly gently removes them and hands them to “Blind” Bryce Remsburg (TM: CRZ). There’s some grappling to start and O’Reilly grabs a headscissors, which Cassidy manages to slowly escape from with a headstand. Cassidy works a side headlock and won’t release during a rope running attempt. Cassidy maintains for a bit before O’Reilly drops him with a belly-to-back suplex. Cassidy grabs a roll up for two and O’Reilly seems kind of peeved. O’Reilly goes behind so Cassidy goes to hands in pockets to escape. Cassidy dumps O’Reilly to the floor and nips up to a pop. Cassidy rolls to the apron and offers O’Reilly a route back in, so O’Reilly climbs over the ropes to rejoin things instead. Cassidy gets dumped to the apron and O’Reilly manages to snap off a Dragon Screw leg whip. O’Reilly invites Cassidy back in so he just rolls in instead. They share a bunch of armdrags before an exchange of snap suplexes and we go to commercials.

O’Reilly fires off a snap suplex when the show returns, and Cassidy responds in kind. O’Reilly hits another one and begs off when Cassidy rises. They exchange suplexes again and take a rest before finally agreeing it’s time to fight. They slug it out and and Cassidy gets caught with a lariat after hitting a couple of thrust kicks. O’Reilly hits a big knee and slaps on an armbar before transitioning immediately to an ankle lock. Cassidy makes the ropes and then comes firing out with some devastating kicks. O’Reilly gets caught with a Falcon Arrow and Cassidy’s cover gets two. Cassidy hits a tornado DDT for two. Cassidy ascends but misses whatever move he was going to attempt before getting rolled up for two by O’Reilly. O’Reilly SWEEPS THE LEG and fires off a sunset flip, but Cassidy springs right out of it and blasts O’Reilly in the chest with a kick. Cassidy wants the Beach Break but O’Reilly slips down and goes back to the ankle lock. O’Reilly stops before stomping on Cassidy’s ankle and Cassidy grabs a roll up for two. O’Reilly immediately slaps the ankle lock back on before grapevining the leg and Cassidy is forced to tap.

I think some people are going to really complain a bunch about this but I’m not one of them. I’m also not going to claim that I understand how Orange Cassidy’s mind works, but if he had a hand in laying out this match, I wouldn’t be shocked. The other thing is with this is that O’Reilly should not be too beat up heading into the semifinals in Glasgow this coming Wednesday no matter who he is drawn to face. 3*

Winner – Kyle O’Reilly (ankle lock)

Post-match sees O’Reilly check on Cassidy who claims to be okay while offering up a high five. There’s a hug and a show of respect.

Here’s Nigel McGuinness chatting with Renee Paquette after Dynamite while in Medical. McGuinness says he’s overwhelmed and here’s Will Ospreay in to sit down after the Kenny Omega attack while waiting for ice. McGuinness says he’s not sure he’s going to be able to make it to Glasgow and Ospreay puts over McGuinness’s career while mentioning he paved the way for Ospreay. McGuinness tells Ospreay that he’s got a once in a lifetime opportunity and he has to do it for every British wrestler and kid that he’s inspired.

Five Minute Challenge – AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Eliminator: Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne and Lena Kross) (C) vs Erica Leigh and Tiara James

Leigh and James attack Bayne at the bell and that goes very poorly for them. Kross and Bayne take turns kicking the shit out of Leigh and James before grabbing the cameraperson to yell about the Brawling Birds. Bayne yanks James up after they hit Two Birds, One Stone before ending things with a double chokeslam.

Did you know that Reading, Pennsylvania is home to a giant pagoda that serves as it’s main tourist attraction? Well now you do. .25*

Winners – Divine Dominion (double chokeslam on James)

Here’s Jack Perry in a pre-tape talking about Swerve Strickland. Perry challenges Swerve for Glasgow and it’s official as we get the match graphic immediately after the promo ends. We go to a break.

Here’s a look at the ongoing feud between AEW TNT Champion Kevin Knight and Darby Allin.

Continental Cup Round of 8 match: Claudio Castignoli vs Daniel Garcia

Garcia won a play-in match at Friday night’s ROH Death By Dishonor to take Eddie Kingston’s place in this match. Castignoli offers a clean break after bullying Garcia to a corner. Castignoli goes behind and drives Garcia down. Garcia makes the ropes and goes to the apron. Garcia re-enters and tries to provoke Castignoli before grabbing a backslide for two. Castignoli blasts Garcia with a right and Garcia responds with a flurry. Castignoli gets caught with a Dragon Screw and they go to the floor. Garcia fires off a bunch forearms and charges the length of the outside area for a shotgun dropkick. Garcia turns around and gets murdered by a Castignoli running uppercut. Castignoli drops Garcia over the barricade and we go to a break.

Castignoli is shouldering Garcia in a corner when the show returns. Garcia tries to bow up and Castignoli calmly waffles him with an uppercut. Castignoli unloads with a bunch of uppercuts and kicks every time Garcia tries to rise. Garcia rises again and does his stupid dance before grabbing a roll up for two. Garcia fires up with some offense and mounts Castignoli for hammer fists. Castignoli ends that by tossing Garcia away and his ankle seems to buckle. Garcia suckers Castignoli in and slaps on the Dragon Tamer. Castignoli breaks out of it and Garcia slaps on a guillotine. Garcia transitions to a sleeper and Castignoli finally powers out of it. Castignoli hits a very short Big Swing before getting caught by a Garcia Baisaku knee. Garcia goofs around too long and Castignoli drops a knee on his ankle in response. Garcia goes back to the sleeper before Castignoli fires up with a knee lift and some uppercuts. Garcia goes back to the sleeper and then snaps off the Neutralizer. Garcia’s cover gets two. Castignoli hits a lofted uppercut for two. Castignoli puts on the Dragon Tamer and Garcia rolls through before flipping Castignoli off. Castignoli pulls Garcia’s boot off and puts a big swing on the hurt leg. Castignoli hits a huge uppercut and covers Garcia for two. Castignoli hits a double stomp and yanks Garcia up for a huge powerbomb before the Dragon Tamer ends things.

This got very physical and intense in the second act and that saved it. Claudio’s incredible strength carries him through so many bad situations and he gave Garcia some shine here while still being the schoolyard bully in character. The Death Riders now have two semi-finalists and I suspect we’re getting Moxley-Claudio in Glasgow on Wednesday night. I guess we’ll see what the “blind draw” brings. 3.25*

Winner – Claudio Castignoli (Dragon Tamer)

Here’s a look at the ongoing feud between AEW Women’s World Champion Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone. We go to commercials.

Schiavone announces that the blind draw has happened during the commercial break and the semi-finals will be O’Reilly vs McGuinness and Moxley vs Castignoli. I am the least shocked human ever at that outcome.

Here’s a look at The Dogs who got a reinforcement in the form of Gabe Kidd this past week. Kidd wants the Trios titles at Wembley.

The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin and Bob Lashley) and ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty vs Ryan O’Neil, Nic Nolan, and Matt Mako

The entirety of Shane Taylor Promotions is out with Moriarty for this, along with MVP for the Hurts. Benjamin destroys one of these goofs but won’t tag in Moriarty. Lashley and Benjamin take turns murdering poor Nolan and Moriarty gets a slap to the chest as a tag from Lashley. The Hurts leave and Moriarty finishes with the Border City Stretch on Mako.

Did you know you can watch the Reading Phillies baseball club while sitting in a hot tub? Well now you do. .25*

Winners – Hurts/STP (Moriarty Border City Stretch on Mako)

Post-match sees Shane Taylor grab a mic to say that no one in Pennsylvania knows what greatness looks like. Taylor puts over Moriarty’s record, and then puts himself along with Carlie Bravo and Shawn Dean being incredible at Trios. Taylor throws out a challenge for a Trios match.

Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Carlie Bravo, and Shawn Dean) vs The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White, Austin and Colten Gunn)

Austin starts with Bravo before White tags in. White chops Bravo and Colten tags in. Colten works over Bravo’s shoulder but gets caught in STP’s corner as Dean tags in. Dean and Bravo work some double-team stuff and invite the crowd to suck it. Austin gets a blind tag and goes to work with some rights. Taylor charges in and drops Austin with a lariat. Bravo pounds away on Austin as we go to commercials.

Bravo and Dean drive Austin down when the show returns. Taylor tags in and Dean and Bravo launch him into Austin. Dean hits the BBC on Austin and Bravo sings a song to the camera. Austin escapes from the STP corner and Colten runs wild after a tag. Colten snaps off a neckbreaker on Dean and dropkicks Bravo to the floor. Taylor mashes Colten with a lariat and gets a tag from Dean. Taylor misses a charge and White tags in. White mashes Taylor with some chops and forearms. White tries to drag Taylor into a corner but Taylor hangs on. Taylor hits a back body drop and ascends for a Vader Bomb but White slips it. White fights off Bravo and Dean but the Gunns charge in to even things up. The Gunns combine on the 3:10 to Yuma on Taylor and White hits the Blade Runner on Bravo to end things.

Schiavone and Riccoboni really tried to put this over as an impromptu war and I guess if I cared about Shane Taylor Promotions even a little bit I might have agreed with them. Listen, I’m glad Jay White is back and wrestling again but he can be doing way more high profile stuff than this. I also think the Gunns could be doing more but it’s a PPV build show and they aren’t on the card as of now so you get this instead. 2.5*

Winners – The Bang Bang Gang (White Blade Runner on Bravo)

Post-match sees White grab a mic and Reading provides GUNS UP. White puts over the Collision Cowboys before mentioning his loss to Jon Moxley on Wednesday night. White mentions the Dogs attacking him, and the Good, The Bad, and The Ugly making the save. White and the Gunns want the Trios titles and are coming for the gold. They still have yet to announce what this match is going to be, but White presses on with a GUNS UP shout.

Here’s Lexy Nair with the Conglomeration and Kyle O’Reilly isn’t happy about having to beat his two best friends but he’s ready for Nigel McGuinness in Glasgow. Willow Nightingale is looking forward to walking into Wembley as champ and says Maya World will not stop her from getting to Mercedes. We go to commercials.

Riccoboni narrates a look at the Ospreay-Omega feud. It’s a well-done piece and gives the full history of the two competitors as they make their way to the main event in Wembley.

Nick Wayne and Tommaso Ciampa vs Komander and Speedball Mike Bailey

The reason for this appears to be to hype up competitors in the Casino Gauntlet at Wembley. Bailey and Ciampa start and some grappling leads to a back elbow from Ciampa along the ropes. Bailey hits a bunch of low kicks and Ciampa bails to tag in Wayne. Wayne stomps Bailey down and but eats a kick to the chest in response. Komander tags in and hits an awkward springboard splash on Wayne for two as Ciampa breaks up the cover. Bailey charges in and gets stomped on by Ciampa. Bailey and Komander hit stereo ranas and dropkicks that send Ciampa and Wayne to the floor. Komander and Bailey then hit stereo tope suicidas and we go to commercials.

Komander and Wayne are slugging it out when the show returns and Wayne gets rolled up for two. Bailey gets a tag and rams Wayne head-first into a turnbuckle. Bailey hits a missile dropkick and and a reverse thrust to send Wayne to the mat. Bailey hits a standing Shooting Star Press for two. Bailey misses a kick and Wayne drops him with a dragonfly suplex. Ciampa tags in and hits a sunset flip on Bailey for two. Ciampa gets caught by Bailey’s 360 knee drop and we reset with both guys down. Wayne and Komander get tags and Wayne misses a charge. Komander hits a rope-assisted splash and Ciampa breaks up his cover at two with a running knee. Bailey flies in for more rapid-fire kicks and Wayne accidentally blasts Ciampa with a right. Bailey hits a moonsault on a dazed Ciampa while Komander nails Wayne with a destroyer that gets a LONG two. Komander ascends and a recovered Ciampa trips him up. Wayne tries a cover with his feet on the ropes that gets two, and Komander misses a charge. Ciampa tries for Komander’s mask and in the ensuing chaos Wayne ends things with the Proto-Plex on Komander.

Really, as mentioned, this was just a hype match for the Casino Gauntlet so there’s something to talk about before MJF wins it. I kid, I kid, but for real, that’s all this was. 2.5*

Winners – Ciampa/Wayne (Wayne Proto-Plex on Komander)

Here’s a look at the International Title three-way at Wembley between champion Kyle Fletcher, and challengers Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada. We go to commercials.

Here’s the Death Riders backstage with Wheeler Yuta being told to shut up by Jon Moxley before he and Claudio Castignoli leave.

AEW Women’s World Championship: Willow Nightingale (C) vs AEW TBS Champion Maya World

There’s a clean break to start and Nightingale dumps World over after a go-behind exchange. Nightingale trucks World and World fires off an armdrag in response. World blasts Nightingale with a right and Nightingale responds with a bunch of lariats. World ducks one more and blasts Nightingale with a double kick for two. World snaps off a rana and splashes Nightingale with a cross-body to the floor. World dumps Nightingale back in and ascends. Nightingale slips the dive and hits THE POUNCE as we go to commercials.

Nightingale fires off an enziguri when the show returns. Nightingale hits a pair of lariats and a splash. World fires up with some forearms and an enziguri. World fires off a shotgun dropkick and gets two. World yanks Nightingale up and fires her into the ropes. World hits a 619 and follows with a double stomp to Nightingale’s mid-section. Nightingale catches a charging World with a spinebuster and we reset. Nightingale misses a charge and ascends for a shotgun dropkick. Nightingale hits a cannonball and covers World for two. Nightingale ascends but World springs up for a powerbomb. World hits a bridging fall-away slam for two. They slug it out and World gets caught with a huge lariat. World grabs a roll up for two, and Nightingale gets one for two. Nightingale grabs a backslide and catches a three count to retain.

Tactical and kind of slow, but this was a solid enough main event. World has some chops but she needs more reps. Nightingale picks up a solid win on the way to Wembley and I guess Reading was too small-time for Mercedes to make an appearance. As a face-face matchup, there wasn’t much heat but the two worked hard and we got there in the end. 3*

Winner AND STILL AEW Women’s World Champion – Willow Nightingale (backslide)

Schiavone announces a bunch of matches while running down the upcoming shows and we’re out.

A middling show with some solid stuff strewn throughout. The two C3 quarterfinal matches were okay but nothing super-special, and the main event delivered in the way you’d expect. No major complaints with tonight but if you didn’t see the show, I don’t know that I have anything to point out specifically that you should seek out. This is a big week coming up, and I expect the Glasgow show to be wild and rowdy.

Thanks for reading. Enjoy your Sunday.