This was an excellent episode of Collision, with a remarkable main event match, and two excellent contests to go alongside it. We also saw a breakout, potentially star-making turn for The Workhorsemen and some good build for some Wrestledream matches, even if much of the show’s promo work was merely fine, a little unremarkable in contrast to the rest of the show. The match storytelling this week was terrific, but outside of the bell to bell action it was a little more standard, with some segments needing more story content to enhance my excitement for certain PPV matches,so Storytelling doesn’t quite achieve the perfect grade. I do give full marks for the show structure, as the show was very easy to watch and built nicely to the main event, with each match the appropriate length for its purpose. I thought this week delivered a terrific show, with a main event everyone should go out of their way to see.
Tonight on AEW Collision, Bryan Danielson gets a huge one on one rematch with Ricky Starks in a Texas Death Match. Jay White and Andrade El Idolo also collide, while Luchasaurus and Christian Cage put the TNT Title at stake in a triple threat match against Darby Allin. All this, plus a sprinkling of RVD for fine measure. Let’s get at it!
AMAZING Christian Cage vs Luchasaurus vs Darby Allin- TNT Championship
A very clever opening match which may not be the biggest in ring classic, though the action is very good, but the storytelling is so beautifully well defined here, particularly from Cage. He plays off the dynamics of Luchasaurus and Darby so brilliantly, and I think he made the match captivating to watch, helped of course by the great little and large dynamic of Luchasaurus and Cage. Loved all of this from a storytelling perspective, and the moment when ‘Saurus finally snaps will be incredibly cathartic. This was all fantastically well told.
Result: Ricky Starks by Pinfall via Rochambeau
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4 Stars
Callis accepts the trios challenge set on Rampage for the Callis Family (Guevara, Takeshita and Ospreay) against Omega, Jericho and Ibushi. Reliably good promo from Callis, though a little stilted right at the beginning. Also on further thought the Jericho and Guevara story continues to make no sense whatsoever.
GOOD Hook and RVD vs 2.0
This was a bit of fun. Its amazing how well RVD moves at his age and if he wants to have a proper run in AEW I would not complain. This was nothing spectacular and was mostly just a way to get RVD on the card, but I still had a good time and Hook and RVD worked quite nicely together. Potential tag team incoming?
Result: RVD by Pinfall via Five Star Frog Splash
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.25 Stars
Kingston vs Shibata at Wrestledream. Shut up and take my money!
I like the new characters of Dark Order, I just wish they’d had a bit more time to build this gimmick before their trios title feud rather than trying to build during it.
The Kingdom are doing a Neck Strong campaign. That is absolutely hilarious.
SQUASH Kiera Hogan vs Julia Hart
This was quite a stiff few minutes of action with some really hard strikes, but ultimately was just a vehicle for a quick Hart victory.
Result: Julia Hart by Submission
Too Short To Rate
GOOD Brody King/Julia Hart Promo
Short but reasonably effective, Brody puts out the challenge to Statlander and Hart comes in for a final line. Should be a good match for the card.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3 Stars
The Righteous finally cut a vignette which looked super cool, but they really do say a whole lot of nothing and we need a lot more than that given they’re the number one contenders to the ROH tag titles.
AMAZING Andrade El Idolo vs Jay White
This was an excellent match of course, to that there can be no doubt. This did however feel a bit like an appetiser for the heights of a second outing. The first course was still really quite delicious, but the main can fill me up even further, which I hope to receive very soon. Excellent technical wrestling and (eventually) the crowd got really into it, but it wasn’t quite the 5 star match these guys are capable of, even if it still was a bloody good first outing.
Result: Jay White by Pinfall via Blade Runner
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4 Stars
Good vignette setting up Santana vs Ortiz for down the line. This is good news.
Excellent promo from Shane Taylor trying to get the wheels in motion in his feud with Keith Lee. I enjoyed this quite a bit and, of course, cannot wait to see this match.
SQUASH FTR vs The Workhorsemen- AEW Tag Team Championships
Even though I had more chance of winning this match than Anthony Henry and JD Drake, they still gave a very good account of themselves in the short time they had, and I give huge credit to all 4 guys for structuring a very short match very well. I can’t rate it, but I did enjoy it and I was surprised at how much the crowd did too given the frosty reception they received last week. This could be a real star making performance for The Workhorsemen, and I am so so happy for them.
Result: FTR by Submission via Sharpshooter
Too Short To Rate
GREAT Aussie Open/FTR Promo
A short promo and I wasn’t entirely sold on what Aussie Open had to say, but man Dax sold the match incredibly well, and gave me the intensity it desperately needed. He was the spark that made an otherwise standard segment great.
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 3.5 Stars
MUST WATCH Bryan Danielson vs Ricky Starks- Texas Death Match- Watch Match Here
This match was outstanding, and nothing less that you expect from the incredible standard of these competitors. An absolutely worthy follow up to their initial encounter, at times resembling Rock vs Austin, at other times a throwback to classic Texas Death, while also paying beautiful homage to their original encounter. Two of the best sellers in the world, these two really made you believe in their violence and I was captivated throughout. A remarkable match, only denied the perfect score by a slight lack of innovation and some slightly unremarkable commentary at the end which kinda sullied what was otherwise a beautifully done finale. Still a fantastic match!
Result: Bryan Danielson by TKO
David Sheldon WR Star Rating- 4.75 Stars
Overall…
This was an excellent episode of Collision, with a remarkable main event match, and two excellent contests to go alongside it. We also saw a breakout, potentially star-making turn for The Workhorsemen and some good build for some Wrestledream matches, even if much of the show’s promo work was merely fine, a little unremarkable in contrast to the rest of the show. The match storytelling this week was terrific, but outside of the bell to bell action it was a little more standard, with some segments needing more story content to enhance my excitement for certain PPV matches,so Storytelling doesn’t quite achieve the perfect grade. I do give full marks for the show structure, as the show was very easy to watch and built nicely to the main event, with each match the appropriate length for its purpose. I thought this week delivered a terrific show, with a main event everyone should go out of their way to see.
Matches: 0.75/1 Stars
Show Structure: 1/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.75/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.75/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating: 4/5 Stars
Photo Credit: All Elite Wrestling- September 23rd 2023
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
