This week’s AEW Collision was a mostly great show, primarily helped once again by terrific action between the ropes. This week had 3 different Continental Classic matches, all with different styles, all either entertaining, tense or a combination of both. Despite my early reservations, I think this tournament has been a major success creatively and I am riveted going into the final week. Elsewhere on the card, the street fight was an unexpected gem of pure brutality, and it was great to see Bryan Keith given a good showing against Orange Cassidy. I could’ve done without two squash matches, particularly Brian Cage’s, but you cant win them all. Storytelling was a weak point on this show with some baffling decisions at odds with previous creative decisions (retconning Skye Blue and Max Caster rejecting MJF being two key examples) but some storyline progression was solid and the tournament continues to provide a good anchor to weekly TV, so it does enough to earn half a star. Overall this was another good showing for Collision, and another example of why tournament wrestling can be so exciting.
Tonight on AEW Collision, Eddie Kingston takes on Daniel Garcia in a loser goes home Continental Classic, one of three C2 matches on the show. Elsewhere on the card, Mercedes Martinez and Diamante takes on Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander in a street fight and Bryan Keith challenges Orange Cassidy, Lets get at it!
GREAT Claudio Castagnoli vs Andrade El Idolo
What was particularly impressive about this match was the changes of pace and tempo throughout. These guys know exactly what they’re doing and play the crowd like fiddles throughout, with a very clever finish to give Castagnoli a smart win. Far from the most investing blue league match from a story or stakes perspective, but a very damn good wrestling match with some terrific sequences
Result: Claudio Castagnoli by Pinfall via Neutralizer
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
SQUASH Abadon vs Jazmine Allure
Abadon beats Allure extremely quickly, but the post match is more important. Firstly, Skye Blue turns on Abadon to align with Julia Hart. WE DID THIS WEEKS AGO, we saw her reject Hart already, the memory loss is just bizarre. Anyway, Thunder Rosa is back which is cool, but this whole segment was a complete storytelling mess
Result: Abadon by Pinfall
Too Short To Rate
Acclaimed are back which is great. While they wait to be put into the devil story again (though Caster hates MJF because he didn’t care, even though he did care? I feel like whoever booked this show hasn’t actually watched the last weeks of TV. Anyway, in more logical booking, it’s Top Flight vs Acclaimed next week which will be a great match, and Top Flight have been built with some wins which is good
GOOD Orange Cassidy vs Bryan Keith
Glad Bryan Keith got some time here to really show what he can do because the man is money, and Cassidy gave him a lot. Some good psychology from Keith on Cassidy’s leg and the two had good chemistry. The ending was good in protecting Keith but the mousetrap is a bit overused as a Cassidy finish if I’m honest. Still a nice showing for Keith, who should absolutely be All Elite soon
Result: Orange Cassidy by Pinfall via Mousetrap
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Miro says some more redeemer things, but it does feel like this story is spinning wheels right now waiting for the tournament to end.
Roderick Strong vs Kommander is set up. Good match, but very very random, especially when Strong was just in the main event scene m
GREAT FTR/HOB Promo
FTR did a good job throwing out a challenge but the House Of Black did a better job responding, a very fun and clever segment here that made House Of Black look like monsters. Really fun this was.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
AMAZING Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale vs Mercedes Martinez and Diamante
The greatest of respects go to these 4 women who worked remarkably hard to put on a show here, and boy did they succeed. Blood, glass, thumbtacks, tables, chairs, ladders, boards and every bit of plunder they could find was on full display. Great brutality, excellent spots with mostly flawless execution. A brilliant tv street fight.
Result: Kris Statlander by Pinfall
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4.25 Stars
Toni Storm and Mariah May dissention already? Give it a chance guys. The segment was well acted and funny as usual though
Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Martinez have a pretty good vignette charting their history. A good set up for a match
SQUASH Brian Cage vs Local Talent
This match massively felt like stalling for time, it was a good but very unnecessary squash to get Cage over.
Result: Brian Cage By Pinfall
Too Short To Rate
Keith Lee and Swerve are feuding again? Will we finally get an ending this time? Remains to be seen
AMAZING Eddie Kingston vs Daniel Garcia- Watch Match Here
A great match made amazing by brilliant stakes. This was a lose or go home match and although the action was mostly suplexes, chops and submissions it had some incredible drama courtesy of Daddy Magic’s brilliant commentary and the acting work by both guys to really sell the pain and desperation of every move. I gave full marks to the storytelling, psychology and atmosphere here as they were all fantastic, and I think this is the example of the very best of what late Tournament matches can provide in terms of drama, because this was really excellent.
Result- Eddie Kingston by Pinfall via Backfist
David Sheldon WR Star Rating: 4.25 Stars
AMAZING Bryan Danielson vs Brody King
Wouldn’t be a tournament without a big man/little man encounter, and this was a great example. Brody plays the big bad wolf so well here and Danielson’s ability to switch between heel at the start of the tournament to face now is fascinating and a testament to his talents. A really well constructed match and a great main event.
Result: Bryan Danielson by Pinfall via Busaiko Knee
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4 Stars
Overall…
This week’s AEW Collision was a mostly great show, primarily helped once again by terrific action between the ropes. This week had 3 different Continental Classic matches, all with different styles, all either entertaining, tense or a combination of both. Despite my early reservations, I think this tournament has been a major success creatively and I am riveted going into the final week. Elsewhere on the card, the street fight was an unexpected gem of pure brutality, and it was great to see Bryan Keith given a good showing against Orange Cassidy. I could’ve done without two squash matches, particularly Brian Cage’s, but you cant win them all. Storytelling was a weak point on this show with some baffling decisions at odds with previous creative decisions (retconning Skye Blue and Max Caster rejecting MJF being two key examples) but some storyline progression was solid and the tournament continues to provide a good anchor to weekly TV, so it does enough to earn half a star. Overall this was another good showing for Collision, and another example of why tournament wrestling can be so exciting.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 3.5/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling- December 16th 2023
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
