Acting as yet another stepping stone to bigger things, this episode of AEW Collision set up some very fun future matches and programs for AEW programming, with both short and long term potential. I also appreciated the effort to use the show to build new and underused stars for big future opportunities, though acts such as The Righteous should’ve been handled with much more care. Much of the action was good, with only one tedious black mark, and I thought that the show was easy enough to watch and well structured, even if the card could’ve perhaps used one more refining glance to tighten things up. The crowd were very alive in some moments, but would retreat to stony silence in times they didn't appear interested, making certain matches and segments feel bizarrely vacuous. AEW’s production this week was mostly standard practise, but I do dock points for one very poor and amateurish production botch during a Keith Lee segment which, while amusing, does make the show appear slapdash and not as sleek as it should, on top of some consistent microphone issues throughout the night. There were also some quite poor calls on commentary this week, unusual from a typically reliable team, but something just wasn’t clicking at points. Not show or even story killingly poor, just a little messy at times. Nevertheless, while there was very little that will stick in the mind this week, it was a standard episode for character and story progression that mostly did its job just fine, even if it did linger with a slight whiff of unremarkability.
Tonight on AEW Collision, Bryan Danielson teams with Claudio Castagnoli to take on Ricky Starks and Big Bill, as the feud between both teams intensifies. Kris Statlander will also defend the TBS Title against Dr Britt Baker! Elsewhere on the card, Andrade El Idolo takes on Scorpio Sky and John Silver replaces Evil Uno to take on Anthony Bowens. Let’s get at it!
GREAT Ricky Starks and Big Bill vs Blackpool Combat Club (Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli
A great opening match this week with 4 really good workers doing very good work. Great to see Starks get a big win over Danielson, and the work between the two were expectedly stellar. Claudio and Big Bill also found a fun power battle which created two interesting dynamics running through the match. It wasn’t especially innovative, and it was nothing to blow your socks off in any category, but it was a very solidly well wrestled match to kick off the show.
Result: Ricky Starks by Pinfall via Rochambeau
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
The Hung Bucks accept the Mogal Embassy’s challenge for a trios match next week, asking to put their ROH Trios Titles on the line. This should be very good fun
Powerhouse Hobbs will destroy, which we knew. Miro promises a rematch. Not the most interesting series of promos, though the inclusion of CJ Perry makes this interesting
SQUASH Iron Savages vs FTR- AEW Tag Titles
This was a fun little showcase for Iron Savages with some fun sequences, but the crowd really doesnt seem to care. It’s also very short so they dont really get a chance. Post match, The Workhorsemen come out as the next challengers, to a ‘who are you’ chant from the crowd. That bodes well though I am excited for the match itself
Result: FTR by Pinfall
Too Short To Rate
After a glorious (pun intended) botch where they show the clapperboard intro before the promo, Keith Lee is confronted by Shane Taylor and Lee Moriarty. Yes please to both of those matches, yes please to more Keith Lee
GOOD Anthony Bowens vs John Silver
A match that started slow but began to get really fun by the end. Some really nice sequences and some good chemistry between the two. The ending is ludicrous and really overly telegraphed, but wrestling can be sometimes so it’s not the end of the world. A good match that didn’t become great but was good enough for what it was
Result: John Silver by Pinfall via Running Knee
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Outstanding pre taped promo from Eddie Kingston. He has the reputation as one of the best talkers in the world for a reason, and it’s because of work like this.
Cassidy and Hook are doing a tag match at Grand Slam. Why the hell not?
SQUASH Aussie Open vs Local Talent
The poor souls ripe for the slaughter are unnamed, which tells you all you need to know. Very easy win for Aussie Open
Result: Aussie Open By Pinfall via Coriolis
GOOD Aussie Open Promo
Simple but effective promo. Looks like we’re doing FTR vs Aussie Open 2 at Wrestledream. That will be an outstanding match. Good delivery from Kyle Fletcher but the content was basic
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
A brilliant first part of an interview series with Toni Storm ahead of her match against Saraya. She is the best character AEW’s womens division has ever had, and I pray they capitalise on it
GREAT Andrade El Idolo vs Scorpio Sky
Two excellent talents having a really strong wrestling match. The crowd aren’t electric for it by any means but they are lively in places, and I very much enjoyed the psychology and fundamental wrestling on display, as well as some of the innovative counters and spots, even if the storytelling was lacking a little as a result of a buildless match and a clash of similar styles. A really well done little tv match.
Result: Andrade by Pinfall via Figure Eight
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
AMAZING Jay White Promo
This was unsurprisingly incredibly entertaining, charismatic and well done. I love the challenge issued for next Saturday gives Collision a huge draw next week, and even if I’d have preferred a Wrestledream match, I do think putting it on Collision is a smart choice for such a marquee week for AEW.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4 Stars
Great vignette to show the audience the relationship between Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi. Where was this two months ago lads?
Shibata is wrestling at Wrestledream which is nice, excited to see his opponent.
AVERAGE The Hardys vs The Righteous
I love The Righteous a great deal but this match was the wrong way to showcase them. Quite a tedious affair this was with some fairly boring spots, and even the sometimes fun Hardy comebacks couldn’t save it. A squash match would’ve served this better. Not awful but disappointing.
Result: The Righteous by Pinfall
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 2.5 Stars
AVERAGE The Righteous Promo
Again the issue with the match bled into the promo, as the crowd werent sold enough or impressed enough with the team to buy their slightly rambling promo, and shot it down, despite the intonation by both guys being okay.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 2.75
Good promo from FTR accepting Aussie Open’s challenge. Short but sweet.
Danielson vs Starks 2 in a Texas Death Match next week on Collision. Tony Khan is really taking the criticisms of card this week and throwing them all his big matches.
GREAT Britt Baker vs Kris Statlander- Watch Match Here
An excellent sprint of a main event, these two pulled off a great main event match to close the show. Really enjoyed some of the nearfalls here, particularly by the matchs end, and I enjoyed the closing sequence of Statlander escaping by a hair. These women are really capable of something excellent when you just allow them to shine, and while this could’ve gone even longer, or perhaps told more of a consistent story to tip it over into the 4+ star rating, it was nonetheless a very fun close to the show!
Result: Kris Statlander by Pinfall via Roll-Up
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.75 Stars
Overall…
Acting as yet another stepping stone to bigger things, this episode of AEW Collision set up some very fun future matches and programs for AEW programming, with both short and long term potential. I also appreciated the effort to use the show to build new and underused stars for big future opportunities, though acts such as The Righteous should’ve been handled with much more care. Much of the action was good, with only one tedious black mark, and I thought that the show was easy enough to watch and well structured, even if the card could’ve perhaps used one more refining glance to tighten things up. The crowd were very alive in some moments, but would retreat to stony silence in times they didn’t appear interested, making certain matches and segments feel bizarrely vacuous. AEW’s production this week was mostly standard practise, but I do dock points for one very poor and amateurish production botch during a Keith Lee segment which, while amusing, does make the show appear slapdash and not as sleek as it should, on top of some consistent microphone issues throughout the night. There were also some quite poor calls on commentary this week, unusual from a typically reliable team, but something just wasn’t clicking at points. Not show or even story killingly poor, just a little messy at times. Nevertheless, while there was very little that will stick in the mind this week, it was a standard episode for character and story progression that mostly did its job just fine, even if it did linger with a slight whiff of unremarkability.
Matches: 0.5/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.5/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling- September 16th 2023
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
