AEW Dynamite Grand Slam – October 6, 2026: As Advertised

Dynamite
Date: October 6, 2026
Location: Adidas Arena, Paris, France
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness

It’s a special show here as we’re in Paris, France for Grand Slam. Therefore the card is pretty stacked, with Will Ospreay defending the World Title against Kazuchika Okada, plus Queen Aminata challenging Mercedes Mone for the Women’s Title. In addition, we have to keep getting ready for WrestleDream in less than two weeks. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

We run down the card.

Ring Of Honor World Title: Bandido vs. Kofi

Kofi, with Austin Creed, is challenging and Brody King is here with Bandido. We do get a handshake and a hug as Bandido seems honored to be facing Kofi. They go with some grappling and Bandido stops to dance a bit. Kofi escapes a wristlock and dances as well but gets more serious to block the gun pose. A monkey flip sends Bandido into the corner and yes we have more dancing.

Kofi dropkicks him to the floor and another dropkick sends him into the barricade, setting up the big running flip dive. Back in and Bandido pulls a high crossbody out of the air for a rather delayed vertical suplex. That’s enough to bring out Swerve Strickland with Prince Nana and of course here is Hangman Page to even things up. We take a break and come back with Kofi hitting a Fameasser.

Now the high crossbody can connect to give Kofi two so Bandido is right back with a corkscrew version of his own. A jumping stomp to the chest puts Bandido down and an SOS sends Bandido hard into the corner. The top rope splash to the back gives Kofi two so he goes up again, with Bandido catching him with the super flipping fall away slam. Page and Strickland have to be held apart, and in the melee it’s the 21 Plex to retain the title at 14:27.

Rating: B+. I don’t think there was any doubt that this was going to be a heck of a match given the people involved. At the same time, I wasn’t sure who was winning and that’s a great feeling. Bandido is closing in on the longest reign in the title’s history and beating a former WWE Champion clean is quite the accomplishment on the way there.

Post match Page and Strickland have to be held apart again.

Video on Clockwork Carnage, which seems to be a Royal Rumble which then turns into a multi-man Iron Man match after everyone is in. At least I think, as the rules are a bit complicated. It might sound insane, but NXT’s Iron Survivor Challenge did too and that match has been a blast so this is worth a shot.

Will Ospreay (with the audio sounding rather quiet) says he has to face seven #1 contenders at once but Mike Bailey is ready to qualify on Collision. Works for Ospreay, who is ready for the World Title match tonight.

Clockwork Carnage Qualifying Match: Samoa Joe vs. Jack Perry

Perry charges right at him to start and is quickly faceplanted. Back up and Perry’s chops just tick Joe off but a running clothesline knocks him down. The release Rock Bottom out of the corner plants Perry and an elbow to the face drops him on the floor. Joe knocks him over the barricade and then sends him back inside for a big jumping elbow.

We take a break and come back with Joe sidestepping a dive, earning himself a standing ovation. Joe gets in a superkick and hammers away in the corner. The Snare Trap sends Joe over to the ropes, leaving them both to go outside. Perry charges into another release Rock Bottom but the Koquina Clutch is reversed back inside. Joe catches him on top though and the MuscleBuster finishes quick at 10:41.

Rating: B-. That was kind of a weird one as Perry had been built up for a few weeks and then just got beat clean here. Granted that’s the better move as Joe is a lot more interesting than Perry could hope to be. Throw in his ability to be a menacing force in the title match and it’s that much better. Now make Perry clean the wall that he used to issue the challenge to Joe.

Kazuchika Okada shows off his French and thinks he’ll be so amazing tonight that he’ll get his own monument.

Jon Moxley/Gabe Kidd vs. Don Callis Family

Pac’s chair is still there for Moxley’s entrance. Kidd and Davis chop it out to start so Doyle comes in for a double shoulder. Moxley comes in to try his running shoulders to Doyle and it’s Kidd taking over with the chops in the corner. Everything breaks down and Moxley knocks Davis outside for the suicide dive. Back in and Kidd and Doyle clothesline each other down and we take a break.

We come back with Moxley getting Doyle in the bulldog choke, which is broken up in a hurry. Doyle presumably hits a sitout powerbomb, though the camera decided to cut between him lifting Moxley up and putting him down. Kidd comes back in for some clotheslines, including a big rebound version for two on Davis. A brainbuster gives Kidd two but Davis is right back up with the piledriver for the pin at 10:48.

Rating: C+. They beat each other up well enough and I do always appreciate Kidd being taken out. If nothing else, it’s weird to see the Family winning as it’s hardly something you see very often against bigger competition. I’m not sure what the Death Riders have to do at the moment, but you can bet on at least one of them being in the Clockwork Carnage match.

Video on Nick Wayne vs. Chris Jericho, with their rematch being set for Collision.

TNT Title: Darby Allin vs. Kyle Fletcher

Allin is defending and they slug it out to start with Fletcher being knocked outside. Allin’s dive is cut off though and Fletcher launches him face first into the barricade. Fletcher misses a charge though and Allin climbs onto the post to dive onto Fletcher in the timekeeper’s area. The announcers’ table is loaded up but Allin gets backdropped onto the other table, landing face first for a nasty crash.

Back in and Allin is fine enough to grab a guillotine, with Fletcher escaping rather quickly. Allin is still staggered from the crash so Fletcher slams him as we take a break. We come back with Allin flipping over him for a Scorpion Death Drop, with Fletcher pulling the turnbuckle pad off. A small package gives Allin two, with Fletcher’s rather aggressive Michinoku Driver getting two.

Allin catches him up top with a super Code Red, followed by a regular version for the same. The Coffin Drop on the apron misses though and Fletcher’s brainbuster gets two for the big surprise kickout. A snap half suplex drops Allin again so it’s a top brainbuster onto the exposed buckle, because of course it is. Naturally Allin is gushing blood so Fletcher hammers on the cut but gets sent into the corner. That lets Allin grab the Scorpion Deathlock, with Fletcher going to the ropes. Allin pops up for a pair of Coffin Drops and the pin at 14:45.

Rating: B. This changed gears right in the middle, with most of the focus being on the match and then all of the blood took over. I like watching Allin’s matches and it’s rather annoying to see it turn into whatever stunt he wants to do this week. I’m glad he won here, but find a different way to do this stuff. Like wrestling.

Video on the Dogs vs. the Young Bucks, which happens on Collision.

Queen Aminata speaks another language and says something about the Women’s Title.

Women’s Title: Queen Aminata vs. Mercedes Mone

Mone is defending and is quickly backbreakered to send her into the corner. Aminata hammers away and Mone is already needing a breather. Chocolate Kisses her Mone (with her broken nose) in trouble but she gets Aminata in a dragon screw legwhip to the floor. That means the Meteora can connect as we take an early break.

We come back with Aminata getting two off a headbutt and a snap suplex to send Mone into the corner. Mone is right back with two Amigos but Aminata reverses the third into a neckbreaker. Back up and Mone sunset bombs her into the corner so Aminata is up with a knockdown of her own. A middle rope double stomp gives Aminata two and something like a German suplex knocks Mone outside. Aminata follows and is sent face first into a chair, only to send a charging Mone into it as well. Back in and the top rope double stomp misses for Aminata, allowing Mone to get in the Mone Maker to retain at 11:05.

Rating: B-. This was another case where there was no real doubt about the result but that wasn’t exactly the point. Instead this was more about having a title match on the show, with Thekla already set for Mone at WrestleDream. That should be a lot more intriguing, though Aminata did a good job in the high profile match here.

Post match Thekla runs in to chase Mone off.

Video on the recent issues between Hangman Page and Swerve Strickland, resulting in the latter issuing a challenge for a 2/3 falls Trios Titles match at WrestleDream.

AEW World Title: Kazuchika Okada vs. Will Ospreay

Ospreay is defending and tries a wristlock, with Okada pulling him to the mat. That’s broken up and Okada rolls outside, seemingly ready to walk until Don Callis brings him back. Ospreay gets in a monkey flip and they trade some legsweeps until Okada just misses a Rainmaker to reset things a bit. Ospreay knocks him to the floor for a slingshot dive, setting up a knee drop back inside. Okada is fine enough to dropkick him off the top though and we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay getting two off of a Phenomenal Forearm but he can’t manage Stormbreaker. Okada catches a charge in the corner and hits an air raid crash onto the knee to get back to the neck. The dropkick misses for Okada but he gets his knees up to block the corkscrew moonsault. Another dropkick is countered with a running powerbomb (that was some great timing) to give Ospreay two and they need breathers. Back up and they slug it out until Okada is knocked to the apron for the Oscutter.

Okada barely gets back in so Ospreay gives him a missile dropkick before he can get up. Naturally Okada is right back up with the Rainmaker for two and we slow back down. A shotgun dropkick sends Ospreay into the corner so he hits his own Rainmaker for one. Ospreay is right back up with a Styles Clash for two more and the fans are singing. Stormbreaker is countered into a pair of Rainmakers but Okada doesn’t cover, allowing Ospreay to hit a quick Hidden Blade for two. Stormbreaker gets two more and another Hidden Blade finishes Okada to retain at 18:53.

Rating: B+. This was a pay per view worthy title match as Okada getting a World Title match is a good choice for a big match, especially on this kind of a stage. Ospreay gets credit for winning over a big name and Okada is hardly hurt. Granted I could have gone without a champion losing but that’s hard to avoid with how many belts they have floating around.

Post match Samoa Joe comes out for the staredown to end the show.

Overall Rating: A-. Hot crowd, rather good matches, big time title showdowns and some build for WrestleDream. What more can you ask for from a free TV show? They wanted this to be a big deal and it wound up being exactly that. The show was pretty much what they teased it would be and that’s a nice result. Sometimes it’s as simple as putting on a great show and they made it work here.

Results
Bandido b. Kofi – 21 Plex
Samoa Joe b. Jack Perry – MuscleBuster
Don Callis Family b. Jon Moxley/Gabe Kidd – Piledriver to Kidd
Darby Allin b. Kyle Fletcher – Coffin Drop
Mercedes Mone b. Queen Aminata – Mone Maker
Will Ospreay b. Kazuchika Okada – Hidden Blade

 

 

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AEW Collision – October 3, 2026: The ROH Problem

Collision
Date: October 3, 2026
Location: Truist Arena, Highland Heights, Kentucky
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Paul Wight

We’re done with All Out and rapidly closing in on Wrestledream, with the schedule being a bit crunched because of the Pac tribute show from earlier this week. That should make for a bigger Collision here, as they don’t have a lot of time to waste with just two weeks before the pay per view. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We run down the card.

Kofi is excited to be here and can’t wait to get going. Lee Moriarty says he’s been Pure Champion for 799 days and wants more respect. Kofi doesn’t get what’s wrong with him.

Kofi vs. Lee Moriarty

Non-title and Austin Creed is on commentary. Moriarty spins out of a hammerlock to start and we’re at a standoff. They trade a crossarm choke and Moriarty takes him over to the ropes for the break. Kofi sends him to the floor and teases a dive but bounces off of the ropes instead.

Back in and a leg lariat gives Kofi two but Moriarty plants him with a running DDT and it’s time for a breather on the floor. Moriarty bridges back on his neck and mocks Kofi as we take a break. We come back with Moriarty hitting a backdrop but getting knocked off the top. A tornado DDT and dropkick have Moriarty in trouble until he pulls Kofi into a triangle choke. That’s broken up and Kofi tries a springboard….I think crucifix driver but completely misses.

Instead Moriarty gets in a suplex so Kofi kicks him down and drops the double leg. Trouble In Paradise misses and Moriarty pulls him into a Border City Stretch. Kofi makes it over to the rope so Moriarty punches him in the head. Kofi’s choke has Moriarty in the rope, only for Moriarty to send Kofi head first into the buckle. A European clutch gives Moriarty two but Kofi is back up with Trouble In Paradise for the pin at 13:17.

Rating: B+. Yeah this was exactly what you would have expected, with two established talented guys getting to show what they could do. Moriarty can wrestle a technical match as well as anyone and Kofi is one of the most consistently successful stars of his generation. This was quite the opener and Kofi is quite a good addition to the roster.

We take a look at the Pac tribute show, which is still hard to see.

Commentary gives some thoughts on Pac, with McGuinness sounding close to breaking.

The Young Bucks talk about Pac and how helpful he was to them in Japan when they were starting out. You can hear the emotions here and Nick breaks down in tears.

Video on Will Ospreay vs. Kazuchika Okada at Grand Slam Paris, which was announced after All Out.

Commentary announces Clockwork Carnage, which is a rather complicated match involving eight wrestlers entering but possibly being eliminated until they’re all in. Once that is up, the remaining wrestlers have what is basically a fifteen minute Iron Man match and the most points win. So a Royal Rumble/Iron Man hybrid?

Conglomeration vs. Solorato/Griff Garrison

Garrison gets taken into the corner for some double chops as Wight pops back onto audio to yell at McGuinness for muting him. Cassidy gets more fired up than usual and hammers away with about twenty five right hands in the corner. Comorato crotches Cassidy on top but Solo stops to do the Macarena. A tornado DDT gets Cassidy out of trouble and Garrison gets high/lowed on the floor. Back up and Solo tries a 21 Plex of all things, which is easily broken up. The Orange Punch finishes Comorato at 3:09.

Rating: C. This was a more serious Conglomeration than usual and that’s certainly a way to go, as Cassidy being serious might not be the best idea. I’m assuming this is in response to Strong being annoyed at the team’s recent loss so maybe they’re going in something of a different direction. Then again it’s just Solorato/Garrison so it only means so much.

Post match here are the Death Riders for their scheduled match and a staredown.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Death Riders

The Gang starts in on Yuta’s arm with some alternating shots before Austin gets pulled into the wrong corner. Austin fights back against Garcia and Yuta, meaning it’s time for the double fireman’s carry with the squats. Castagnoli breaks it up with a big boot though and we take a break. We come back with Austin hitting a brainbuster, allowing the tag off to Colten. That means right hands and a dropkick to take over, with Austin coming in for the still cool Quick Draw.

Everything breaks down and a step up clothesline to the back gets two on Garcia. Castagnoli’s powerbomb out of the corner gets two on Colten and it’s off to the six way slugout/knockdown. Marina Shafir and Juice Robinson tease a fight but Gabe Kidd breaks it up. The Gunns chase Kidd off but Yuta dives onto both of them. That leaves Austin to get crushed with running elbows in the corner, with Shafir getting in a shot of her own. The running knee and Dragontamer finish Austin at 12:20.

Rating: B-. Hey look: Austin takes the fall in a match with the Gunn Club there to do it instead. For the life of me I do not get why Austin has to take so many losses but here we are again. Other than that, it was a good enough tag match and a way for the Riders to get a regular win after their big showcase on Wednesday.

Darby Allin talks about how things have been put into perspective and he thought Steven Borden’s career was over at All Out. The Tag Team Titles will still be waiting for them though and it’s time to focus on the TNT Title. Kyle Fletcher never lost it so Allin wants to give him a title shot at Grand Slam so Allin can feel alive.

Myron Reed vs. Dante Martin

They trade rollups to start as McGuinness and Wight have what sounds like a less than playful exchange on commentary. Martin knocks him outside and rolls through a slingshot sunset flip attempt. Reed is right back up with a dropkick and we take a break. We come back with Reed hitting the hanging Downward Spiral from the apron to the floor. Marin is back up for the suicide shove but Reed tries the running diving cutter. The term is try as Martin blocks it and reverses into a poisonrana on the floor. Back in and Martin goes up for…something that takes so long that he dives into a cutter. Reed’s 450 finishes at 9:49.

Rating: B. It was a nice collection of flips and dives with the 450 being a cool looking finish but this felt like it would have been better suited for a middle of the show match on Ring Of Honor. Martin feels like he has been ready to move up to the next level for years now and there is no reason to suggest that is the case. Reed is talented but I have no reason to believe he’s going anywhere either.

Thekla tries to go see Mercedes Mone but can’t get an answer to a knock. Then Mone sneaks up from behind and knocks Thekla down. This has been “Mone is smart and her challenger is dumb”.

Megan Bayne/Lena Kross vs. Emily Rose/Joiya Blake

Divine Intervention finishes Rose at 46 seconds.

Post match Julia Hart comes out for her match and a staredown with Bayne/Kross. Yeah I saw them do that about thirty minutes ago.

Julia Hart vs. Queen Aminata

Hart gets headbutted out to the floor to start, followed by the Chocolate Kisses back inside. Hart knocks her down out of the corner though and Aminata is in trouble as we take a break. We come back with Aminata getting two off a stomp and putting her in a chair on the floor. That means a running double stomp to drive Hart through chair for a nasty crash and they go back inside. Back in and Hart gets in an Octopus, which is reversed into an Air Raid Crash for two. A Backstabber with the feet has Aminata in trouble again but she knocks Hart into the ropes. Off With Her Head finishes Hart at 9:13.

Rating: C+. They were hitting each other hard but this show has been on a streak of matches that do not feel even remotely important. You know where Hart and Aminata are at the moment and it would be ridiculous to think that either of them is going anywhere off of this win. Maybe Aminata can get a shot in Ring Of Honor or something but it’s not happening here, at least not in anything serious.

New Level are glad about what they’re doing so far and Kofi wants to be a singles champion. That means an official challenge to Bandido for Grand Slam, which is certainly a switch.

Jack Perry says he beat Katsuyori Shibata and wants Samoa Joe, who returned at All Out.

Samoa Joe is back and hopes that Perry can be man enough after the beating he’s going to get.

Adam Priest vs. Mark Davis

Davis chops him down to start but Priest is able to get in a knockdown to the floor. A dragon screw legwhip over the rope has Davis in trouble but he’s able to run Priest over as we take a break. We come back with Priest taking out the leg and hitting a top rope DDT. Another twist of the knee has Davis in trouble but it’s too early for the half crab. And then the half crab goes on to have Davis screaming quite a bit. That’s broken up and Priest goes after the leg again but gets pulled into the piledriver to give Davis the pin at 8:39.

Rating: C+. This show has turned into ROH Collision as you’re getting longer matches with zero doubt about who wins. At the same time, and really far worse, is that neither of these two are going to have anything changed with the result. Davis beat someone he should beat and Priest lost to someone he should lose to. That’s been the case with most of the matches this week and it’s making for a very dull watch.

Queen Aminata is told she might get a title shot and says she’ll face Mercedes Mone at Grand Slam. Then she can go on to WrestleDream to beat Thekla up.

Grand Slam rundown.

Jon Moxley vs. Jake Doyle

Non-title Eliminator Match. They start slowly and Moxley can’t get very far by running into Doyle. A running shoulder doesn’t work but the second is more successful for Moxley. Back up and Doyle powers him into the corner but Moxley reverses and hammers away. A running shoulder sends Moxley off the apron and into the barricade and we take a break.

We come back with Moxley in trouble on the floor and a ridiculously slow count, which allows Moxley to sit down next to the post for a few moments. Back in and Moxley wins a slugout, even throwing in some kicks to the leg. The rebound lariat hits Doyle and a cutter sends him outside for a suicide dive. Back in and Doyle tries a powerbomb but gets his face bitten instead. A piledriver just wakes Doyle up and he powerbombs Moxley for two. Back up and Doyle tries Into The Void but gets pulled into the rear naked choke to give Moxley the win at 13:19.

Rating: B. That was exactly what I was expecting, with Moxley selling a bunch and then winning in the end. The match was good and all, but the result was exactly the same as it so often is with Moxley and that makes for a tedious watch. Moxley being there made it feel more important than the rest of the show but dang this did not come off like a main event.

Overall Rating: C+. This really did feel like a Ring Of Honor show, with a bunch of people having matches to fill in the time. A few of them might be building to something, but so many of the matches felt like background noise while commentary announced matches for the two upcoming shows. You have a live television show with the wrestlers there so make this more like this week’s Dynamite. The wrestling was good but the presentation didn’t work, which made this feel very, very long.

Results
Kofi b. Lee Moriarty – Trouble In Paradise
Death Riders b. Bang Bang Gang – Dragontamer to Austin
Myron Reed b. Dante Martin – 450
Megan Bayne/Lena Kross b. Emily Rose/Joiya Blake – Divine Intervention to Rose
Queen Aminata b. Julia Hart – Off With Her Head
Mark Davis b. Adam Priest – Piledriver
Jon Moxley b. Jake Doyle – Rear naked choke

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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AEW Dynamite – September 30, 2026 (A Tribute To Pac): They Didn’t Forget Him

Dynamite
Date: September 30, 2026
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

These things never get easier. Unfortunately this is another tribute show to a fallen wrestler, as Pac tragically passed away over the weekend, less than twenty four hours after wrestling at All Out. I would be surprised if there is much of anything in the way of regular storyline development here and that is absolutely fine in this case. The rules are basically out the window with this kind of a show and that’s how it should be. Let’s get to it.

In Memory Of Pac.

Excalibur is alone on commentary to start and reads a tribute to Pac and you can hear his voice breaking as he talks about things Pac cared about.

Tony Schiavone is in the ring with a photo and wreath for Pac, who he says taught them all a lot. Pac taught them about how you could be a bastard (which he uses in a friendly way) to some people and part of a family elsewhere. You can learn to be friendly to everyone, which is what Pac taught us.

We go to a clip from after All Out, with Jon Moxley talking about how he gave everything he could and you just have to keep getting up. There’s nothing better than this and every day is a gift. There are two kinds of eulogies: some about who you were and some about what you did. Moxley wants to be the former and he and Will Ospreay have wrestling in the palm of their hands. He gets up and leaves with the Death Riders following him, with Pac the last one to leave. That was about as haunting as you could get.

Back in the arena, the locker room is on stage for a ten bell salute.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy

Moxley is defending and Pac’s chair is left sitting in its usual spot as he walks to the ring. You can tell Cassidy is shaken up here and Excalibur sounds on the verge of tears. The bell rings and Cassidy pauses for a second before Moxley grabs a hammerlock, sending Cassidy to the ropes. An armdrag sends Moxley into the ropes and they trade some quick near falls. Moxley tries the bulldog choke, sending Cassidy straight over to the rope. Back up and Cassidy is sent out to the floor and we take a break.

We come back with Moxley getting two off a delayed piledriver. Moxley hammers away in the corner but gets sent into the buckle for his efforts. That doesn’t last long for Moxley, who knocks Cassidy down, meaning it’s time to roll around a lot. Moxley finally catches him but Cassidy pops up for a high crossbody. Cassidy goes up top and this time it’s Moxley rolling away, which is rather rather clever.

The Orange Punch connects, with Moxley popping off a cutter to leave them both down. Back up and they trade the lazy kicks, with Moxley teasing the hands in the pockets but flipping Cassidy off instead. The Stundog Millionaire hits Moxley but he’s right back with a big clothesline. The Brutalizer is blocked so Cassidy tries his own, which is blocked as well. A Stomp and Death Rider retain the title at 17:17.

Rating: B. This was a good, hard hitting match between two people who were associated with Pac in different ways. Slipping in some of Pac’s moves was a great touch and you could feel the emotions from both of them. That’s how this match should have gone and it was a nice moment between two guys who are probably wrecks.

Post match Moxley sits up…and here is a rather somber looking Bryan Danielson. He gets in the ring, looks at Moxley, and breaks into tears for the big hug.

Hangman Page talks about getting to know Pac and how much Pac cared about everyone.

Don Callis Family vs. The Elite

Eight man tag (RPG Vice/Kyle Fletcher/Kevin Knight for the Family) and yeah that’s quite the reunion. The Family jumps them to start fast but get beaten up by the Bucks, with the flipping neckbreaker/backbreaker combination putting Fletcher down. The Bucks pose but get taken down by Romero, only to get stared at by Page.

Romero is surrounded before the Elite clears the ring for a four man Rise Of The Terminators. Naturally that means a quadruple dive and quadruple right hands in the corner. Fletcher breaks up More bang For Your Buck and Strong Zero gets two on Nick with Matt making the save. The Family clears the ring and we take a break.

We come back with Matt fighting out of trouble and grabbing the rolling northern lights suplexes. It’s back to Page to clean house, with a running shooting star press getting two on Knight. Omega gets the tag and fires off the Snapdragon as everything breaks down. Another Strong Zero is broken up with some superkicks, followed by a Buckshot Lariat/V Trigger combination. The One Winged Angel finishes Trent at 14:01.

Rating: B-. This was about having a special treat for the fans with the Elite getting back together. Like them or not, they’re the core group of AEW and having them back together is a big moment. I doubt it leads to some full time reunion, but as a way to give the fans something memorable on a night like this, it worked well.

Cash Wheeler and Jay White offer tributes.

Renee Paquette reads a statement from Pac’s family and has some trouble getting through parts of it.

Here are New Level and Swerve Strickland (with Austin Creed in tears) to lay the Trios Titles down and put a Pac towel over them (as Pac held the titles for more combined days than any individual person).

Ricochet talks about basically living with Pac in Japan and how they had known each other for such a long time.

Ricochet vs. Will Ospreay

Non-title. They both kneel in the middle of the ring and hug for quite the emotional moment. Ricochet takes him down to start and they trade some flips for an early standoff. Ospreay misses a charge in the corner and gets taken down by a springboard high crossbody. Back up and Ospreay knocks him outside for the slingshot dive. They get back inside with Ricochet taking over and getting in his own big dive.

We take a break and come back with Ricochet charging into an overhead belly to belly into the barricade. Back in and Ospreay hits the Kawada kicks and a DDT plants Ricochet on his head for two. A hurricanrana gives Ricochet two of his own and a middle rope Phoenix splash gets the same. Ospreay is back up with a super poisonrana so of course Ricochet sticks the landing. Ricochet’s poisonrana works about the same so Ospreay snaps off a poisonrana to leave them both down.

They get up and trade forearms until Ospreay flips him up into a Blue Thunder Bomb. Ricochet’s sitout powerbomb gets two more and he shooting star knees Page in the back of the head for a nice tribute to Pac. The shooting star press gives Ricochet two but Ospreay is right back with a Styles Clash. A Hidden Blade connects and Ospreay looks up, with the fans knowing what’s coming. The Black Arrow (with the camera showing the Pac graphic in a great visual) finishes Ricochet at 16:13.

Rating: B+. You knew what you were going to get coming in and that’s exactly what it was. This was all about being a tribute to Pac with both of them using his offense, including Ospreay in the end. They were trying to honor their friend and it was a heck of a match between two people who know exactly how to do this style. Rather great stuff.

Post match the seconds come in as Ospreay breaks down in tears. Ospreay and Ricochet share a big hug.

Will Ospreay talks about being told he was similar to Pac and it couldn’t have been a bigger compliment. Then he got to meet and work with the real Pac, who was such a great person.

Hyan/Marina Shafir/Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker/Persephone/Mercedes Mone

Shafir comes to the ring in a jersey which I’m assuming has some kind of a tie to Pac. Persephone headlocks Hyan to start with Hyan getting out and hitting a big boot. Rosa comes in and gets caught with a basement dropkick for two. That’s shrugged off and Shafir comes in for a 619 into a headscissor driver to plant Persephone on the apron as we take a break.

We come back with Rosa in trouble and getting Meteoraed by Mone. Persephone comes in for a chinlock with a knee in the back but Rosa is up with a knockdown. It’s back to Shafir, who strikes and throws Mone without much trouble. Everything breaks down and a spear hits Shafir and Baker adds a Stomp. Lockjaw is loaded up but Shafir flips Baker into the Brutalizer for the tap at 10:57.

Rating: B-. Shafir winning was almost a guaranteed result and that’s not a bad thing. She was clearly close with Pac and rarely gets in the ring so let her have the moment like this. Much like the rest of the show, the wrestling wasn’t the point here, as this was about having Shafir get in the tribute ending.

Swerve Strickland talks about meeting Pac and immediately knowing how great he was. He misses Pac already and always will.

Darby Allin talks about fighting Pac on a golf course and hopes they can fight there again someday.

Don Callis Family vs. Death Riders

Wardlow is here as the newest (I think?) member of the Family (teaming with Jake Doyle/Josh Alexander/Mark Davis/Lance Archer). The Riders come to the ring and do their circle around Pac’s chair and Jon Moxley sits in on commentary so the Riders need a fifth man. That would be…..freaking BRYAN DANIELSON, wrestling his first match in nearly two years (well, save for an 8 second pin over Max Caster last June but I think we can let it slide.

The big brawl is on to start with Yuta giving Doyle a basement dropkick and not covering. We settle down to Garcia getting caught in the wrong corner but he fights out for the tag to Kidd. After Kidd rams his own head into the buckle, he gets pulled into a quickly broken chinlock. Castagnoli comes in to drop Alexander over the top rope and it’s the Swing as everything breaks down.

Wardlow Samoan drivers Yuta and we take a break. We come back with Yuta fighting out of trouble and hitting a missile dropkick. Danielson gets the tag and fires off right hands into the YES Kicks. Alexander pulls Danielson into an ankle lock, which is broken up rather quickly. Castagnoli’s springboard uppercut drops Wardlow and we hit the parade of knockdowns.

Danielson gets in the big kick to the head and it’s Garcia coming in to strike away at Doyle. Yuta and Danielson hit stereo running knees Shafir gets caught by Archer, who is triangle choked over the top. Garcia gets in his dance and the Riders hit about 20 running clotheslines to Doyle in the corner. The Dragontamer with a Stomp from Castagnoli is enough to pin Doyle at 15:23.

Rating: B. Same as everything else on the card here as the wrestling wasn’t the point. Having the Riders win was the only way to go and Danielson being out there was a great surprise. He’s kind of the “in case of emergency” wrestler for AEW and again, this isn’t exactly a regular show so going outside of the regular rules is perfectly fine.

Post match we get the big hugs from the Riders and Danielson.

And now we close it up with the big tribute video, taking us through the history of Pac’s career, including his time on the indies and then AEW, looking at Death Triangle and the Death Riders. We see clips of him with Brodie Lee and the Butcher, along with some narration, including Jon Moxley’s eulogies line from earlier. Pac says until we meet again to wrap it up.

We get one final shot of the chair with the Death Riders and Danielson in the background to end the show. That’s as emotional and gutwrenching of a moment as I’ve seen in wrestling in a long time. I know everyone is messed up over this in the first place but AEW could not have done this better.

Overall Rating: A. What else is there to say? This show was designed to pay tribute to Pac and they did that about as perfectly as could have been done. This was pretty much just raw emotion and grief throughout the night as a lot of the people probably still haven’t processed what happened. Pac was a part of this company’s (and the industry’s as a whole) family and it is never easy to lose someone like that. This was an incredible spectacle as they basically stopped everything else to get us here, which is how it should have been. Pac will be missed very much and this show explained why. Absolutely outstanding.

Results
Jon Moxley b. Orange Cassidy – Death Rider
Elite b. Don Callis Family – One Winged Angel to Beretta
Will Ospreay b. Ricochet – Red Arrow
Marina Shafir/Hyan/Thunder Rosa b. Britt Baker/Persephone/Mercedes Mone – Brutalizer to Baker
Death Riders b. Don Callis Family – Stomp to Doyle

 

 

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AEW Collision – September 23, 2026: The Action Infomercial

Collision
Date: September 23, 2026
Location: Fishers Event Center, Fishers, Indiana
Commentators: Excalibur, Taz, Tony Schiavone

It’s the second half (er, third….I think) of the night with the show taking place just after the two hours of Dynamite. We’re still three days away from All Out and that means we are likely getting some more matches announced here. Hopefully this is more like another hour of Dynamite than the usual Collision in this case so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Jack Perry bangs his head against some tubes because he isn’t getting to face Samoa Joe. Instead, he’s ready to face Katsuyori Shibata, who is a killer.

Here are Lena Kross/Megan Bayne to go face to face with the Brawling Birds. And we even have some tea and I’m guessing crumpets. Kross and Bayne mock the idea of the champions being undefeated because they’ve both beaten the Birds one on one. The Birds say may the best team win and then hit them with the tea to start the fight. Bayne and Kross leave them laying with stereo slams. Of everything they could do, slams?

Last week after Dynamite, the Conglomeration was upset about their loss, with Roderick Strong being sick of all the losing. He can’t do this anymore and walks off.

Don Callis Family vs. Outrunners

It’s Kevin Knight/Kyle Fletcher for the Family. Fletcher backs Floyd up against the ropes to start and a running boot puts Floyd down as well. Knight is dropped onto Floyd for two but it’s quickly off to Magnum, who is beaten down in the corner. The Outrunners are sent outside and knocked down as we take a break.

We come back with Magnum getting in a needed backdrop and handing it off to Floyd. Everything breaks down and the Mega Powers Elbow gets two on Fletcher. That’s shrugged off and it’s a German suplex into the brainbuster into the UFO Splash to pin Magnum at 9:12.

Rating: C+. This was the right way to build up this version of the Family for Saturday as the Outrunners are established enough that beating them matters and it’s hardly a stretch to see the Family beat them. The Family took whatever the mostly comedy guys threw at them and then won. That’s how you set things up for their big match on Saturday and it’s nice to see it done properly.

Post match Fletcher says he didn’t like Knight at first but now they’re working as a family. All Out should be a cakewalk because they want to be #1 contenders. This looks to bring out Darby Allin and Steven Borden, but RPG Vice are waiting at the entrance. Instead, Allin and Borden are in the rafters, with Allin saying they’re too smart for that. Knight calls out Borden for being a rookie but Allin says it won’t be an upset.

All Out rundown.

Here is Chris Jericho for a chat. Last week, he beat Nick Wayne clean in the middle of the ring but then got kicked low. Jericho wants Wayne out here right now so here he is, actually wearing a suit for a change. Wayne declares himself smart and handsome and everyone who has ever trusted Jericho has gotten stabbed in the back. Jericho: “Fair point.” Jericho understands what Wayne did last week and teases giving him a kick right back.

They have a lot in common but Jericho asks if Wayne has ever heard of Nick Bockwinkel (of course he has). Jericho was on a show with Bockwinkel at 21 years old and asked Bockwinkel to watch his match. Bockwinkel said Jericho did too much and moved too fast, which had Jericho wondering what the old man could have been thinking. Wayne talks about how he’s been doing this since he was 9 years old and issues the challenge for Grand Slam Paris. Jericho promises to give him a beating and the match is on.

Hyan (who lost to Persephone on Dynamite) has a new tag partner in the form of Thunder Rosa and wants to fight Britt Baker and Persephone.

Queen Aminata vs. Skye Blue

Mina Shirakawa and Julia Hart are here too and Mercedes Mone is on commentary. Aminata takes her down without much trouble to start and Blue looks rather frustrated. They trade running forearms with Aminata getting the better of things against, setting up Chocolate Kisses. Blue is sent outside and all four of them get in an argument, allowing Blue to send Aminata into the steps. A suplex off of the steps has Aminata in more trouble and we take a break.

We come back with Aminata fighting out of a chinlock and connecting with a double stomp. Blue gets in a superkick into a running knee on the ropes but Aminata knocks her right back down. Hart offers a quick distraction though and Blue grabs a rollup for two. The running knee gets two more but Code Blue is blocked. Instead Aminata hits a big headbutt and the running knee in the ropes gets the pin at 10:25.

Rating: B-. This was in fact a match that ran about ten minutes between two people who don’t have anything to do with All Out. I’m assuming they’re going to have a tag match added to the Kickoff Show, which is where a lot of people are just added to the card. This felt like filler, but it was good filler.

Post match the brawl is on again but Thekla runs in, only for Willow Nightingale to join in for the save.

Britt Baker and Persephone are ready to face Hyan and Thunder Rosa in Pittsburgh, which seems to be a bad idea for the latter two.

Pac vs. Ace Austin

Austin backs him up against the ropes to start and Pac doesn’t look happy. They run the ropes with Austin tripping him down and getting in a kick to the back of the head. The fireman’s carry lets Austin get in some squats and Pac is sent outside, with Austin hitting a slingshot dive. Back in and Austin does more squats into a Death Valley Driver as we take a break.

We come back with Austin in trouble for a change but getting a boot up out of the corner. Austin kicks him down again and drops a leg, followed by some rapid fire clotheslines in the corner. A top rope spinning Fameasser gives Austin two but Pac is right back with a release German suplex. Austin gets suplexed hard into the corner and the Black Arrow finishes for Pac at 10:36.

Rating: B. I get why Pac won (as he should have of course) but dang it’s hard to take seeing Austin lose so often. He’s that talented and can make almost anything look good out there but he never wins anything outside of the occasional nothing match. It’s fine that he loses to bigger names, though it would be nice to see him win something a little more important from time to time.

Post match Pac grabs the Brutalizer so the Bang Bang Gang and Dogs run in. The big brawl is on and Pac grabs the Brutalizer again (as you do in a brawl) but Andrade El Idolo runs in to go after Pac to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. Yeah it was fine. It came at the end of a long night of AEW and the brawl at the end was good. This really would have been better if they had just merged the two shows together as the whole night was really just a big All Out preview. In that sense, it did pretty well and this show was fine at an hour, though stretching it out even longer after a two (plus) hour Dynamite was a bit much.

Results
Don Callis Family b. Outrunners – UFO Splash to Magnum
Queen Aminata b. Skye Blue – Running knee
Pac b. Ace Austin – Black Arrow

 

 

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AEW Dynamite – September 9, 2026: This (Rebel Heart)

Dynamite
Date: September 9, 2026
Location: Akins Ford Arena, Athens, Georgia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

So this is a special show called Rebel Heart, with a focus on Rebel, the AEW performer who was diagnosed with ALS earlier this year. That could make for a rather special show, but we also have the recent passing of the Butcher Andy Williams, who tragically passed away last week. This could be a heavy show and we’re also less than three weeks away from All Out. Let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

In memory of Andy Williams.

Commentary is a bit more subdued this week, which is rather appropriate. They run down the card as usual.

And now, we have the return of the Waiting Room, with Rebel welcoming the dancing Britt Baker. That means a rather nice moment as Baker tells “Reba” how much of an inspiration she is but now let’s bring in Persephone. She is rather pleased with saving the TBS Title and isn’t happy with Maya World. Baker brings in Hikaru Shida, who is teaming with the two of them in a six woman tag tonight. The three of them leave, with Rebel saying Baker forgot her glove. Rebel getting to be in this segment was outstanding and rather emotional.

Trios Titles: Conglomeration vs. Swerve Strickland/New Level

Strickland and the New Level, with Prince Nana, are defending. Kofi and Cassidy start things off and they trade legsweeps, though Cassidy just walks away from Kofi’s attempt in a funny bit. O’Reilly and Creed come in with Creed actually winning a strike off so Strong runs inside to clean house.

Kofi gets taken into the wrong corner and we take a break. We come back with Creed fighting out of trouble but getting struck back down by O’Reilly. A suplex doesn’t work though and it’s off to Kofi to clean house. It’s back to Strickland, who holds Strong up for an apron double stomp from Kofi to the floor. Back in and a top rope splash to the back and Creed’s top rope elbow combine for two on Strong.

Cassidy gives Strickland a Stundog Millionaire but O’Reilly gets caught in a Fameasser/wheelbarrow combination to put him down as well. Cassidy is back up with his hands in his pockets to kick away at Strickland, followed by a double DDT to New Level. Creed is sent into the barricade but Kofi is up with the big dive to the floor. Back in and the Day Break to Cassidy retains the titles at 15:03.

Rating: B. And we have a party match as the titles are successfully defended again. Strickland and New Level are working together well enough so far, though they’ve only been doing this for a few weeks yet. If nothing else, New Level can be fine as a regular tag team if that’s where they need to go. Rather energized opener here.

Post match respect is shown but the Demand, with the Swirl, comes out to say that Toa Liona’s shoulder wasn’t down for the three count. The brawl is teased but Hangman Page/Brodido run in for the save. The villains leave and Page/Brodido have a staredown with the champs but peace holds.

Darby Allin and Steven Borden are ready for their debut tonight, with Borden talking about wanting to get out of his father’s shadow. Tonight he wants to run right at what scares him the most and that is why he wants to team with Allin.

Commentary praises Andy Williams, with Excalibur breaking down. That was a rough one as 48 is an insane age to lose anyone. Apparently he’s getting a bigger tribute on Collision.

The Don Callis Family are ready for their tag matches tonight. Kazuchika comes in for a staredown with Kyle Fletcher but the mics seem to have been turned off.

Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker/Persephone/Hikaru Shida

Baker runs away from Rosa to start and it’s off to Persephone, who hammers away in the corner. World comes in for a basement dropkick and a leg lariat gives Hyan a fast two. That’s cut off with a powerslam so Shida comes in, where she is quickly dropped into the corner. Baker offers a distraction though and Shida gets in a kick to the head as we take a break.

We come back with World getting elbowed in the corner but flipping away for the tag off to Rosa. The running dropkicks in the corner hit Persephone and Shida, who almost take each other out. Hyan crossbodies both of them but Baker’s fisherman’s neckbreakers her down. Rosa comes back in to chase Baker off, only to run into Persephone’s spear on the floor. Cue Rebel in a wheelchair to give Baker her glove, meaning Lockjaw can finish Hyan at 10:24.

Rating: B-. The ending was the big important part here and that’s the best thing imaginable. Rebel got to go out there and get the spotlight one more time. The period with Baker was the highlight of Rebel’s career and she got to relive it on her special night. The rest of the match should keep the TBS Title picture going but we can worry about that later.

Baker gets a ride to the back with Rebel, dubbed the Roll Model.

We get a video on Rebel’s time in AEW, with Rebel and various people talking about the seriousness of ALS and the importance of funding for research and treatment. This includes various AEW names taking the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. If you have an issue with any of this being on the show, go outside and play in the traffic.

Video on Andrade El Idolo.

National Title: Andrade El Idolo vs. The Beast Mortos

Andrade is defending and avoids a cheap shot to start, meaning it’s an anklescissors to take Mortos down early. That means Andrade can get his picture out of the way early on but Mortos uses the distraction to get in a backbreaker. Mortos gets in a dive and Andrade is in trouble as we take a break.

We come back with Andrade nipping up and taking off his pants, with the latter drawing quite the reaction. Mortos cuts off the running knees with a pop up Samoan drop and a gutbuster for two. A pop up electric chair drop of all things is countered into a rollup to give Andrade two of his own. Back up and the Dia de los Muertos sets up the DM to retain the title at 7:19.

Rating: C+. That was rather quick with the break eating up a lot of the time. I’m thinking that electric chair deal didn’t go as planned, as they went home almost immediately. Either way, this was Andrade getting out there to keep his momentum going as he waits for the big challenger to come up. And it wasn’t even an open challenge!

Post match Andrade hits the catchphrase but the Dogs run in for the beatdown. Will Ospreay (facing David Finlay tonight) runs in for the save. Andrade and Ospreay clear the ring but here are Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir to interrupt.

Will Ospreay vs. David Finlay

Non-title. Andrade gets rid of the Dogs as Moxley sits in on commentary. Finlay hits a running elbow in the corner and sends Ospreay flying, only for Ospreay to come back with some right hands. They switch places and Finlay hammers away as well but gets sent outside. Ospreay scores with a dive and we take a break.

We come back with Ospreay fighting out of a chinlock and hitting a top rope forearm. Ospreay’s handspring kick to the head and some Kawada kicks wake Finlay up for some reason and he grabs a Rock Bottom backbreaker for two. A pop up powerbomb gives Ospreay two and Finlay rolls to the apron before the Hidden Blade can become unhidden. An Oscutter gives Ospreay two and it’s a Stundog Millionaire into a Styles Clash to pin Finlay at 10:32.

Rating: B-. You don’t see Ospreay getting to have that kind of a match and it was nice to get this kind of thing out there on occasion. Ospreay got in some of his big moves and won in the end, all with Moxley out there to scout him. I’m sure we’ll get more on this tonight, as they only have so much time before the title match.

Hangman Page and Brodido agree that they’re still a trio, even if this wasn’t what Page had in mind when he came back.

Darby Allin/Steven Borden vs. Don Callis Family

Borden and Davis start things off with Davis grabbing a running armdrag. Allin comes in and helps catch Davis between some forearms. That earns Allin a backsplash and we take a break. We come back with Davis holding Allin in a Texas Cloverleaf, with Allin breaking out rather quickly. Davis isn’t about to let the tag go through though and it’s Alexander coming in for a slam.

Allin gets in a knockdown but Davis sends Borden into the barricade to cut the tag off again. A belly to back suplex is broken up though and NOW the tag brings Borden in to clean house. Borden gets in the big jumping elbow but Davis breaks up a superplex attempt. Instead it’s a torture rack bomb to send Borden crashing again with Allin having to make the save. That means a Scorpion Death Drop/Coffin Drop combination can finish 11:51.

Rating: B-. The point here was to get Borden in the ring for his first televised match and it makes all the sense in the world to have it be with Allin. I’m not sure if he’s ready to be a full time AEW star but at some point you have to get in the ring for some time and that’s what he’s been doing for months now. Borden definitely has a long way to go and he’s still very green, but he has the athleticism to get him through a lot of his issues. Now just get some more ring time and develop, as he seems to understand.

Video on the not-TLC TLC match at All Out.

Here is Thekla to mock Mercedes Mone’s comments about making moments last week. She was playing guitar in a bar in Vienna when she saw some wrestling and knew she could do it better than anyone. Mone pops up in the crowd to suggest that the title dangling between her legs is something rather large. They both mock Willow Nightingale, who runs in to chase Thekla off. The Sisters Of Sin pop up and it’s a big staredown. The only thing I learned from this: Mone isn’t a great talker, which is hardly new information.

The Death Riders yell at Jon Moxley for trusting Will Ospreay but here is Ospreay to say he’s not surprised. He owes Moxley for training him to help win that title and that makes Moxley the #1 contender. The match will NOT be under Continental Rules and Ospreay is coming in with a plan. They’ll be ready for each other in Chicago. Pac isn’t convinced and Moxley is rather annoyed.

Young Bucks vs. Don Callis Family

Tables match and both members have to be put through a table with an offensive maneuver for the win. The Bucks run in and the fight is on fast with the Family being cleared out to the floor. Back in and a sunset flip/German suplex combination puts Fletcher down but he’s back up to pull Knight off the table. The table is set up in the corner but the Family breaks up a double northern lights suplex.

Instead they’re sent outside, where Matt’s running flip dive is pulled out of the air for a double powerbomb onto the apron. Nick gets dropkicked and Knight hits a big dive to drop both Bucks and we take a break. We come back with Matt hitting a Sliced Bread off the table in the corner, plus a DDT. Fletcher gets faceplanted and the top rope double stomp flips him into a powerbomb onto the table.

The Meltzer Driver onto the apron is broken up with a super hurricanrana as the fans want tables. The tables are already in play so do they just want the show to end? Back up and they slug it out, with the Bucks giving Fletcher the BTE Trigger. A superkick into a powerbomb off the apron puts Knight through a table but Matt gets backdropped through a table of his own. Nick uses a table for a running Canadian Destroyer to Fletcher before superkicking him onto the table. Cue FTR for a distraction, allowing Fletcher to hit a brainbuster through the table for the win at 15:13.

Rating: B. FTR interfering to cost the Bucks in the end made perfect sense as they have the title match coming up in a few weeks. Fletcher and Knight are definitely some of the bigger names in the Family so the result is hardly some ridiculous choice. I’m assuming we’ll be seeing a chairs match and a ladder match in the near future, which is quite the way to set up a title match.

Post match FTR and Knight go after the Bucks but Steven Borden and Darby Allin run in for the save. The Bucks shake Borden and Allin’s hands to end the show. I was expecting Adam Copeland and Christian Cage here so that was kind of a surprise finish.

Overall Rating: B. I know I have a reputation of complaining about AEW a lot, but I can’t bring myself to do it with this show. This week was about paying tribute to Rebel and saying goodbye to the Butcher (with more to come). That stuff was incredibly emotional and that’s more than enough to make this show special. We got enough of a build towards the two big All Out matches but that was just a bonus. AEW did a good job here and it felt like a different kind of show here, as it should have been.

Results
Swerve Strickland/New Level b. Conglomeration – Day Break to Cassidy
Britt Baker/Persephone/Hikaru Shida b. Hyan/Maya World/Thunder Rosa – Lockjaw to Hyan
Andrade El Idolo b. The Beast Mortos – DM
Will Ospreay b. David Finlay – Styles Clash
Steven Borden/Darby Allin b. Don Callis Family – Coffin Drop/Scorpion Death Drop combination to Davis
Don Callis Family b. Young Bucks – Brainbuster to Nick through a table

 

 

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AEW Collision – September 5, 2026: Spice It Up

Collision
Date: September 5, 2026
Location: Credit Union Of Texas Event Center, Allen, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Walker Stewart

We’re rapidly on the road to All Out and the main event is already set, even if it seemed to be a surprise to the participants. New AEW World Champion Will Ospreay is set to defend against Jon Moxley, who helped train him to win the title. Throw in the (unofficial) TLC for the Tag Team Titles and we’re mostly set. Let’s get to it.

Here are last week’s results if you need a recap.

Don Callis Family vs. Young Bucks

The Family jumps them from behind to start and sends them outside. Back in and Doyle chokes Matt in the corner but Matt slips through the legs and dives over for the tag to Nick. Everything quickly breaks down and a double dropkick has the villains on the apron for the running flip dive. Cage is fine enough to grab an apron superplex and Matt is knocked down as we take an early break.

We come back with Nick being pulled out of the air but coming out with a Canadian Destroyer. Matt comes back in and everything breaks down again, with a Swanton and top rope elbow combining for a double near fall. The Bucks fire off the superkicks until Cage counters the Meltzer Driver into the F5. Cage and Doyle are sent into each other though and the BTE Trigger finishes Doyle at 11:51.

Rating: B-. This was the usual match from the Bucks and any members of the Family. You could pretty much guess what this was going to be from the second the teams were announced and shockingly enough, the match was completely acceptable. The Bucks weren’t going to lose to the random Family members at any time, especially after the All Out match was announced but it worked for a Collision opener.

Video on Thekla coming after Mercedes Mone, though Willow Nightingale isn’t happy.

Hangman Page/Brodido vs. Braddah Kaimi/LVJ/Vin Parker

Parker chops King to start and…yeah it goes as well as you would expect. The non-stars are stacked up in the corner for a running Cannonball. The Deadeye into King’s big lariat into Bandido’s frog splash finishes Parker at 1:43.

The Bang Bang Gang doesn’t think much of Swerve Strickland and New Level but they’re ready for the Don Callis Family tonight.

The Brawling Birds aren’t done with Megan Bayne/Lena Kross so let’s do it again in a street fight at All Out.

Nick Wayne vs. Komander

Wayne backs him into the corner to start and hits the pose but Komander flips over him without much trouble. Komander sends him outside without much trouble and then does it again with a headscissors. Wayne pulls him down by the mask though and grabs a suplex into the corner as we take a break.

We come back with Komander fighting out of a chinlock but getting forearmed in the back. Komander gets up for a springboard Canadian Destroyer but Cielito Lindo hits raised knees. Wayne’s World is broken up as well so Komander goes up, only to dive into a cutter. The ProdigyPlex finishes Komander at 10:29.

Rating: B-. Wayne certainly seems to be getting more of a push in recent weeks and that’s not the worst thing. If nothing else, having him rack up some wins is better than having him just randomly get a title shot in Ring Of Honor. Let him show what he can do and why we should be impressed. That was what we saw here as Wayne looked good.

Post match Chris Jericho comes in to give Wayne a Judas Effect.

The Conglomeration (minus Roderick Strong) wants some more gold and Konosuke Takeshita seems to have similar goals.

TBS Title: Vertvixen vs. Persephone

Persephone, with Britt Baker (on commentary), is defending and fires off some knees to the ribs to start. Vertvixen gets in a trip for a quick near fall but gets caught in a fall away slam to send us to a break. We come back with Vertvixen fighting out of a rear naked choke and kicking her in the head. Back up and Persephone rolls into a basement dropkick to put Vertvixen down, setting up the Razor’s Edge to retain the title at 7:23.

Rating: C. This was just a way to get Persephone in the ring shortly after winning the title, with Baker being there to sing her praises. Vertvixen is little more than one of the bigger named jobbers and she’s good in the role, but there wasn’t much to be seen here. Persephone and Baker are an interesting combination and I could go for seeing where it goes, but we’re still really early in their story.

Post match the double beatdown is on but Maya World and Thunder Rosa make the save.

We recap Andrade El Idolo and Gabe Kidd’s rivalry in New Japan.

The Swirl vs. Motor City Machine Guns

Shelley and Johnson trade wristlocks to start and it’s off to Christian, who gets chopped into the corner. Sabin snaps off an armdrag into an armbar and everything breaks down, with the Guns taking over again. Sabin’s suicide dive takes both of them down and we take a break. We come back with Shelley making a diving tag to Sabin so house can be cleaned again.

Shelley works on Christian’s arm but Christian takes over, setting up an assisted top rope splash for two. Everything breaks down again and Sabin cutters Christian, setting up the Dream Sequence. The Dirt Bomb (kind of a double Death Valley Driver) finishes Johnson at 12:28.

Rating: B. The Swirl is a good pair of hands and it’s nice to see them being used in the right way. The point here was to establish the Guns in AEW and while the fans know them, we have to see what they can do. They beat a team who is established enough and looked good doing it. That’s a perfectly fine way to start and as usual, the Guns did their part.

Jack Perry still wants the World Title and will face the best to become the best.

The Demand wants the Trios Titles.

National Title: Gabe Kidd vs. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade is defending and Kidd jumps him from behind to start, setting up a brainbuster for two. They go outside with Kidd going for some toys but getting sent into the barricade. Back in and Andrade grabs Three Amigos and they head outside again, with Kidd going into the steps. That lets Andrade take off his pants but his frog splash hits knees as we take a break.

We come back with Andrade taking his usual picture and busting out the double moonsault for two. The running knees in the corner miss though and Kidd gets in a sitout powerbomb for two of his own. Andrade sends him into the corner again and now the running knees connect. Kidd slugs away until he charges into Dia de los Muertos for two and, since that’s a secondary finisher, Andrade grabs the DM for the pin seconds later at 11:44.

Rating: C+. I still do not see the appeal in Kidd most of the time and this was a match where the story was “well they’ve feuded in Japan”. Somehow that’s more than you get for a lot of title defenses around this show, and it’s fine for Andrade to get a title defense. I’m not sure why he needs to be the National Champion if he has the version of the Money In The Bank but Andrade is hot right now and the fans like him enough.

Post match Andrade talks about how he’s hoping to become the best National Champion of all time. Given that he’s the fourth champion, the title hasn’t been around for a year yet and he is already over a third of the way to the longest reign ever, that shouldn’t be hard. Anyway he’s going to defend the title every week.

Tommaso Ciampa wants some new gold.

Isla Dawn vs. Athena

Non-title Proving Ground match. Dawn gets kicked out to the floor to start and it’s time to trade forearms, with Athena getting the better of things. That means Athena can send her into the barricade but gets small packaged for two back inside. Dawn’s running knee gets two but Athena is back up with some rolling German suplexes. The O Face finishes for Athena at 5:00.

Rating: C. If you’ve been watching Ring Of Honor for any time in the last few years, this was nothing new for you. Athena has run through so many people that there are very few wrestlers left who can reasonably challenge her for the title. Dawn was little more than a human for Athena to beat here, in what will probably be another one off AEW match before she goes back to doing the same thing on Ring Of Honor for whatever reason.

Bang Bang Gang vs. Don Callis Family

That would be Ace Austin/Juice Robinson vs. Kevin Knight/Kyle Fletcher in this case. Austin and Fletcher start things off with Austin taking over with an armbar. Knight tags himself in and walks into a clothesline, allowing Robinson to hit a splash for two. Fletcher comes in for a save and Knight isn’t happy, meaning it’s time for an argument as we take a break.

We come back with Austin getting the tag to Robinson to clean house. The big jabs set up a DDT on Fletcher and Robinson dives on Knight on the floor. A running faceplant gives Austin two and he kicks Fletcher in the face. Fletcher hits a quick Michinoku Driver for two more but Austin has to go after Knight, allowing Fletcher to catch him with a superkick. Fletcher hits his brainbuster and Knight tags himself in to hit the UFO Splash for the pin at 12:15.

Rating: B-. Yeah of course this is how it went. I’m sure this was just thee way to set up this version of the Family to go after a bigger team, because if there is one thing AEW loves, it’s more of the Don Callis Family. And of course Austin looks like a star and then loses, which is the case way too often with him.

Post match The Family vs. the Young Bucks in a tables match is set for Dynamite. There it is.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a very typical Collision, as it was absolutely an acceptable wrestling show. The matches were good, there was some star power involved and it set up some things for Dynamite. At the same time, nothing on here felt overly important. It was a bunch of matches with people being thrown out there with little reason other than to get them on a show. It comes off like a cross between Dark and Ring Of Honor, albeit with some bigger names. I understand that you don’t want to burn stuff off on a Saturday night when fewer people are watching, but adding something of value to this show would be great.

Results
Young Bucks b. Don Callis Family – BTE Trigger to Doyle
Hangman Page/Brodido b. Braddah Kaimi/LVJ/Vin Parker – Frog splash to Parker
Nick Wayne b. Komander – ProdigyPlex
Persephone b. Vertvixen – Razor’s Edge
Motor City Machine Guns b. The Swirl – Dirt Bomb to Johnson
Andrade El Idolo b. Gabe Kidd – DM
Athena b. Isla Dawn – O Face
Don Callis Family b. Bang Bang Gang – UFO Splash to Austin

 

 

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AEW Dynamite – September 2, 2026: The Show After

Dynamite
Date: September 2, 2026
Location: Credit Union Of Texas Event Center, Allen, Texas
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

Well we’re finally done with All In and to put it mildly, a lot of things happened. The biggest story is that Will Ospreay finally broke through and won the World Title, defeating Kenny Omega in a heck of a match. We also have a new Women’s Champion in Mercedes Mone and a new TNT Champion in Darby Allin, among others. Let’s get to it.

Here is All In if you need a recap.

Quick card rundown.

All In recap.

Here is new World Champion Will Ospreay for a chat and yeah the fans like him. Ospreay apologizes for looking a bit rough but gets cut off with the YOU DESERVE IT chants. He’s cried a lot this week and doesn’t want to do it anymore, but does seem touched by what he’s hearing. Sunday was amazing and if you were there from the beginning thank you, or if you’ve just gotten on, thank you as well.

As for Kenny Omega, Ospreay admits that Omega is better than him 364 days of the year, but Ospreay only had to be better one day. They’re 2-2 and Ospreay is happy with that because all he wanted to be was seen as Omega’s equal. Ospreay: “But…..”. And the fans like that one. If Omega isn’t cool with the two of them being equal, name the time and the place.

As for now though, Ospreay likes how the belt looks on himself because the previous champions are his heroes. Now his idols are his rivals (good line) and he is the new standard so if you want to take it from him, be prepared to walk through the same fire. He also thanks the United Empire, who were the only people he wanted in his corner at All In. There is a United Empire in Japan but now there is going to be a version in AEW. Ospreay goes to leave but here is the Demand to interrupt.

Ricochet isn’t here to rain on Ospreay’s parade, as the two of them are forever intertwined in this crazy sport. They have known each other for a long time and Ospreay wouldn’t be here without Ricochet. As a result, Ricochet should get the first title shot but here are the Dogs to interrupt. Gabe Kidd is ready to take everything from Ospreay but Ricochet cuts that off, saying it’s his shot. Everyone comes to the ring but here is the United Empire to make things a lot more even. Ospreay is ready for the big tag team main event.

We look at the New Level (Day) debuting at All In and teaming with Swerve Strickland to win the Trios Titles.

Trios Titles: New Level/Swerve Strickland vs. The Rascalz

The Rascalz are challenging. Strickland and Reed start things off with Strickland snapping off an early anklescissors. Reed is sent into the corner and it’s quickly off to Xavier to face Creed. They quickly go to the mat for an exchange of near falls until Creed hits a backsplash. Kofi comes in and the fans certainly approve, including as he moonsaults off of Creed’s shoulders for two.

It’s back to Strickland, is triple teamed out to the floor, where Creed and Strickland hit moonsaults off the apron. Kofi’s dive off the top takes the Rascalz down and we take a break. We come back with Creed chopping Wentz down so Kofi and Reed can come back in. Kofi hits his bottom rope DDT and Strickland is back in with the rolling suplex. Wentz makes the save but dives into a Downward Spiral,, only to get hurricanranaed to give Xavier two.

Everything breaks down and we get a series of knockdowns, with Kofi giving Xavier the SOS (a legsweep to flip Xavier back first onto the floor) outside. That leaves Reed to hit his diving cutter on Creed off the apron, but he manages to hurricanrana Kofi at the same time. Well that was awesome. Back in and Kofi gives Reed Trouble In Paradise (spinning kick to the head) but gets kicked in the head by Xavier. Back up and Xavier tries a handspring but gets House Called out of the air. A top rope double stomp/powerslam combination plants Xavier and another House Call retains the titles at 12:58.

Rating: B+. This was a wild match and that’s exactly what it should have been, as New Level gets to show the fans what they can do on Dynamite for the first time. It was nothing but action throughout and Swerve more than held up his side. You know the Rascalz are going to be right there for all of the high flying stuff and it all worked well.

Post match the Young Bucks come out for the staredown with the New Level, with Swerve looking interested too.

We look at Mercedes Mone winning the Women’s Title at All In.

Here are the Young Bucks for a chat. They’re not going to complain about their loss but they don’t like how they lost to Adam Copeland and Christian Cage. So why not get out here right now and tell them why it had to go that way? Instead they get FTR, with Stokely Hathaway saying FTR are the only two people in the ring who matter. How are the Bucks thinking they deserve yet another title match?

They both bring up their success against the other but here are Copeland and Cage to interrupt. Cage points out that they’re the old guys and beat both teams in the ring. He’s surprised the Bucks and FTR didn’t take a 50% pay cut and go somewhere else. Copeland says it’s time to be the voice of reason so let’s do the three way rematch at All Out, involving tables, ladders and chairs. Oh joy could we really do that? With FTR and the Bucks? It’s all my dreams come true.

The United Empire has a fifth member of the team for tonight: Andrade El Idolo. Will Ospreay isn’t so sure but he goes with it.

TNT Title: Darby Allin vs. Mark Davis

Davis is challenging and cuts off the skateboarding Allin on the way to the ring in a smart move. Davis throws him into the timekeeper’s area and we take a break before the bell rings. We come back with Allin climbing a balcony and diving off with the Coffin Drop onto Davis. A running crossbody sends both of them back to ringside, where Davis gets in a heck of a forearm.

We actually get the opening bell as they get inside, with Allin being launched into the corner. A huge running clothesline gives Davis two and we take another break. We come back again with Allin using the tag rope to tie Davis into the corner. That’s broken up and Davis hits a running forearm for two as the fans are still behind Allin.

Davis misses an enziguri but almost flip Allin onto his face off a backdrop. Back up and Allin reverses a gutwrench into a Code Red for two and they’re both down. They head outside with Allin hitting a missile dropkick as Schiavone thinks this is for the National Title. Davis barely beats the count back in and is quickly Coffin Dropped to retain the title (whichever one Tony thinks it is this week) at 9:23.

Rating: B. Now this is more what I like from Allin. It’s so annoying seeing him have to go so nuts because he absolutely does not need to go there. He can wrestle a high flying style and get the fans behind him every time. That was the case again here, with Davis being a great midcard monster to be slain. Good stuff here.

Post match RPG Vice runs in to jump Allin, with Steven Borden making the save. Josh Alexander returns to jump Borden though and the good guys are beaten down.

We look at Andrade El Idolo winning the Casino Gauntlet Match.

MJF is ticked off at losing the Casino Gauntlet Match because he’s the real World Champion. If anyone got cheated the way he did, it would be the talk of the wrestling world. Of course he was cheated though because no one is on his level. It makes people mad that he is the biggest star in the world, including Will Ospreay. Payback is coming and you won’t see it coming. This was unhinged from MJF.

Megan Bayne vs. Alex Windsor

Lena Kross and Jamie Hayter are here too. Bayne runs her over a few times to start and fires off the shoulders in the corner. Windsor is back up with some corner clotheslines but is quickly sent flying with a fall away slam. Bayne gets low bridged to the floor though and the running flip dive off the apron connects. We come back with Windsor hitting a running dropkick into a hanging DDT for two.

A nice middle rope clothesline gets two more but Bayne German suplexes her out of the corner. The running clothesline gives Bayne two, as does a Falcon Arrow. Windsor grabs a not so smooth Blue Thunder Bomb and it’s time to slug it out on the apron. Bayne is tripped face first down and they clothesline each other down on the floor. Kross and Hayter get in a brawl of their own and Bayne belts Windsor in the head. Back in and a Liger Bomb finishes Windsor at 10:47.

Rating: B-. This seems to be a way to set up a rematch between the two teams at All Out, likely in a street fight. I’m not sure I’d have the new champions lose so soon but we only have a few weeks before the likely rematch. Bayne winning a singles match certainly makes sense as she’s a monster, though seeing a champion lose never quite feels right.

Post match the beatdown is on until Hayter makes the save.

We look at Chris Jericho not quite winning the Casino Gauntlet Match.

Jericho is interrupted by Nick Wayne, who brags about having ten years of experience. Jericho points out that he had fifteen years experience the day Wayne was born, earning a slap to the face. The brawl is on, with Wayne kicking him low and leaving.

Here is new Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone for her big championship celebration. She hasn’t stopped smiling since All In but she needed to win to be here. Mone bet on herself and this is what happened when you give yourself permission to be great. We pause for a CEO chant before Mone says she had to leave Willow Nightingale behind because Nightingale is a stupid b****.

Look what she did to Mone’s face, and we see quite the black eye. What she wants for this title doesn’t even exist yet but here is Thekla (yes she has a drink) to interrupt. Mone is a legendary icon but she’s never been TOXIC. Nightingale deserved to be humiliated but Mone has been calling people “dumb b****”. If there’s one thing Thekla hates, it’s a dumb b**** calling another dumb b**** a dumb b****. Thekla “You dumb b****.” Thekla is ready to fight whenever, which allows Schiavone to tell us how great Mone is (again).

New TBS Champion Persephone and the returning Britt Baker are ready to take the title to a place it has never been before.

Jon Moxley vs. AR Fox

Non-title. They fight over a standing switch to start and Fox takes him down for a quick two off a crucifix. Moxley is sent outside for the step up moonsault and they’re right back inside. Fox gets taken down with a running dropkick and we take a break. We come back with Fox nailing a rolling cutter but Moxley gets fired up as Fox gives him clotheslines. A basement cutter puts Moxley down again but he gets his knees up to block a Swanton. Fox is right back with a swinging suplex into a 450 for two, only for Moxley to pull him into a sleeper. That and the Death Rider finish Fox off at 8:22.

Rating: C+. It had some moments, as Fox’s matches tend to do, but ultimately this was another case of Moxley getting to beat someone else. He did it throughout the tournament and he did it again here. In theory it should be followed by another challenger for the title and that could be anyone. Moxley could use someone new to destroy.

Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher argue after losing their individual titles but Don Callis has them team up on Collision. Kazuchika Okada comes in to remind Fletcher about family.

Andrade El Idolo/United Empire/Will Ospreay vs. The Dogs/The Demand

Ricochet rolls away from Ospreay to start and it’s off to Liona vs. Henare. They trade the forearms with Henare absorbing the shots and taking over. Liona runs him right back over and everything breaks down with Connors getting crushed off an elevated backsplash. Idolo hits a big dive to the floor and we get a group picture with the ringside woman. Ricochet powerbombs Akira onto the pile though and we take a break.

We come back with Akira grabbing a slingshot cutter to Connors, allowing the tag off to Newman. A running boot drops Kaun and Henare adds a spinning Samoan drop. Kidd clotheslines Andrade down and a corner dropkick into a cutter gets two. Akira tries to chop at the Gates, who growl at him, earning themselves more chops.

The Gates easily pick him up but he fires off a suicide dive. Ospreay and Ricochet chop it out until Ricochet scores with the handspring elbow. Everything breaks down again for an exchange of strikes and Akira moonsaults onto the Gates on the floor. Connors runs into Dia de los Muertos and the Hidden Blade finishes him off at 13:53.

Rating: B. It was another wild match, though I’m still trying to get myself to care about the United Empire. Their entire deal is “we’re Ospreay’s friends from Japan” which isn’t the greatest appeal. You also have the Dogs, who could be dropped from the roster without missing much. It’s kind of a weird choice for a main event, though at least Ospreay stood tall in the end.

Post match the villains jump the winners with Gabe grabbing a chair to go after Ospreay. Cue the Death Riders but Jon Moxley takes the chair away. Andrade is back in to brawl off with Kidd and Moxley hands Ospreay the title. They stare at each other….and a graphic comes up announcing the two of them are facing each other for the title at All Out. Moxley looks stunned and leaves in peace to end the show. So you have what feels like one of the biggest matches AEW could run after months of build and it’s just announced with a quick graphic? That’s certainly a way to go.

Overall Rating: B+. This show was entirely about taking the momentum that they had from All In and transitioning that to All Out. With so little time before the pay per view, they had to rush through things, which explains the rushed World Title setup. The action was very good and you can probably figure out a lot of the All Out card from here. They were flying through things here but managed to land the thing, which is quite the feat after their biggest show of the year. Good, and necessary show here.

Results
Swerve Strickland/New Level b. The Rascalz – House Call to Xavier
Darby Allin b. Mark Davis – Coffin Drop
Megan Bayne b. Alex Windsor – Liger Bomb
Jon Moxley b. AR Fox – Death Rider
Andrade El Idolo/United Empire/Will Ospreay b. The Demand/The Dogs – Hidden Blade to Connors

 

 

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AEW All In 2026: They Did Well

All In 2026
Date: August 30, 2026
Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Taz

We have finally arrived at the biggest show of the year and that means we should be in for some major happenings. The show has a special two hour Buy In and the usual huge card, which should make for a pretty awesome night. There are a lot of British wrestlers challenging for titles, including Will Ospreay going after Kenny Omega’s World Title. Let’s get to it.

Zero Hour: The Opps vs. Lio Rush/The Rascalz

Rush is now in a rainbow poncho and runs around on all fours, as is his custom. The suicide dive connects on the floor but Andretti takes Rush down back inside. A double backbreaker and running shooting star from Andretti gives Bowens two and it’s off to Shibata. That means Rush can get over to Xavier to come in and take over. Everything breaks down and Reed breaks up a double whip, only to get dropkicked into a suplex.

Reed kicks and Stunners his way out of trouble, setting up the running diving cutter to send Andretti out to the floor. Back in and we hit the parade of knockdowns, via a selection of strikes and throws. Bowens gives Xavier the running Fameasser, followed by a wind up hanging DDT. Rush gives Bowens the springboard Stunner into the Final Hour for the pin at 9:06.

Rating: B-. This was basically a way for Rush to get his momentum back after he lost the ROH TV Title last week. It’s a match with a bunch of people flying around and getting in a spot here or there, which is about all you can do in a match like this. Rush continues to be so weird that it’s hard to not pay attention to him so this went well enough.

Zero Hour: Sisters Of Sin vs. Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron

Cameron and Blue shove each other around to start until it’s off to Statlander. That means Cameron can be dropped onto Blue for two but Hart gets in a middle rope hurricanrana. Statlander shrugs that off and Cameron is back in to catch Hart on the apron. Back up and Hart grabs Cameron from the ropes and snaps the arm across the top, allowing Blue to get in a running knee for two.

Statlander is back up and strikes away, with a double cover getting two. Hart gets in a quickly broken Black Widow and it’s back to Cameron, who is taken down with a swinging neckbreaker. A crucifix driver gets Cameron out of trouble and everything breaks down, with all four being knocked down. Back up and Statlander gets in a quick Staturday Night Fever to pin Hart at 9:54.

Rating: C. This match was thrown onto the card last night after an attack on Collision and that didn’t give them much time to really make it work. Cameron can have a weird partner of the week and make it work with anyone as she’s more than charismatic to pull the idea off. It’s another match that belongs on Collision, but if everyone has to get on the show (because reasons), it makes as much sense as anything else.

Zero Hour: Shane Taylor Promotions vs. Boom & Doom/Hurt Syndicate

The rest of the Promotions and Big Justice are here too. Benjamin and Moriarty go face to face to start and it’s Benjamin glaring at Moriarty for daring a chop. Benjamin slams him down and it’s off to Boom & Doom to do the same. That just earns Marshall a trip to the apron for a string of shots to the back.

Moriarty slaps on an assisted Abdominal stretch until the cheating chain falls apart. Marshall flips over for the tag to AJ, who is dropkicked down for two. Dean gets in the Bronco Buster but AJ clotheslines his way out of trouble. That means it’s off to Lashley for the running clotheslines, followed by a spear to Taylor on the floor.

A running powerslam gets two on Dean, with Bravo making a questionable save. Bravo and Dean get in a belly to back neckbreaker combination but Benjamin is back in with an ankle lock. That’s broke up so it’s time to go after Taylor, with an assisted Powerboom planting him hard. The good guys are up with the string of strikes and Justice even gets in for a spear. The Dominator finishes Bravo at 11:24.

Rating: C+. This went about as well as it could have as, again, there were so many people involved in a single match. That’s been a problem for a long time around here and it’s continuing on the Kickoff Show, which already has twenty wrestlers in three matches. There is only so much you can do to get attention in that span and it only kind of worked here, even with the Syndicate getting to dominate.

Post match the Syndicate gets a $50,000 check from the Rizzler, which seems to work for them.

Bryan Danielson joins commentary.

Zero Hour: Maya World vs. Persephone

World is defending as Persephone’s CMLL Women’s Title isn’t on the line. World’s headscissors takes Persephone down to start and a springboard version does it again. Persephone is back with a corner clothesline and some stomping but gets knocked outside. The dive off the apron gives World two back inside but Persephone ties her up with a leglock.

With that broken up, Persephone grabs a Samoan driver for two and a fall away slam sends World flying again. World pops up with a springboard Stunner though and they’re both down. They go up top for a fall away slam and the tabletop suplex gets two on Persephone, who has to grab the rope. Cue a masked woman to shove World off the top though and the Razor’s Edge gives Persephone the pin and the title at 11:09.

Rating: C+. That’s a surprise title change as World didn’t feel like she was ready to drop the thing, but at the same time Persephone does seem to be a project for AEW. I’m curious about the interference as it could be just about anyone (Ted Arcidi is always an option) and that gives World another option of something to do. It wasn’t a great match, but it opens some doors and that’s always nice to see.

Post match the masked person is….back inside to give World the Lockjaw, as it’s Britt Baker. Well dang that’s a big surprise.

Thekla climbs onto the Zero Hour desk and confirms that she is back. She’s here to drink and watch the show closely because she’s coming for Willow Nightingale no matter what.

Persephone is glad to have a good doctor watching her back. Britt Baker comes in to say she’s glad to be back because she has some new perspective. They don’t seem to like Thunder Rosa either.

Trios Titles: Roulette Royal

Hangman Page/Brodido are defending and this is a Royal Rumble, with timed (intervals not listed) entrances and all three members having to be tossed. The Bang Bang Gang (Jay White/Colten Gunn/Austin Gunn) are in at #1 (of seven total teams) and the Dogs (Clark Connors/David Finlay/Gabe Kidd) are in at #2. They start with the exchange of right hands but the Gang spends too much time posing and get punched down. The Gang gets beaten down and the Demand (Ricochet/Bishop Kaun/Toa Liona) are in at #3.

The Dogs and the Demand get in an argument though and the Gang fight back up. Colten is sent to the apron though and a spear gets rid of him for the first elimination. The Conglomeration is in at #4 as the ring is starting to get full. Cassidy of course takes his time to get in as his partners beat various people up, only to get caught by Liona. Austin is launched into a cutter and knocked out, leaving White alone for his team. We slow down a bit and the Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli/Wheeler Yuta/Pac) are in at #5.

After the bouncing circle, they get inside with Marina Shafir joining them for a showdown with Roderick Strong, who gives her a backbreaker. Oh he’ll be hearing about that later. The Conglomeration strikes at Pac and it’s Page/Brodido (Brody King/Bandido) in at #6. The three of them get in as Cassidy is holding onto the post to stay out of the way in a smart move. Nine people get stacked up in three corner and the champions fire off cannonballs. A bunch of people get together to toss King but it’s Page getting caught in the corner or running shots from just about everyone else.

O’Reilly and Strong seem to have been tossed at some point in there, leaving Cassidy alone. White is almost thrown out but hangs on and grabs the rope in a smart move. Cassidy is brought back in and splashed but he fights out of the corner. White is still alive with a sleeper suplex as the Cages send Cassidy…well beyond the apron actually but he gets back inside. Kidd bashes his own head into the buckle because reasons and Cassidy is back up with a string of Orange Punches.

Cassidy is the only one standing and falls down as we go off the air with about thirty seconds left in the Zero Hour. We come back to the regular show with Swerve Strickland and….the new Level (Kofi/Austin Creed in a less than stunning yet still cool enough surprise) are in at #7.

The Level and Strickland take over on Yuta but get jumped by the Demand. A springboard Doomsday Device hits Kofi but the Level is back up to strike away at Liona. That means the Gates are knocked out and Cassidy sends Yuta to the apron, where Yuta grabs him with a choke. That’s broken up and another Orange Punch gets rid of Yuta, only for Ricochet to dump Cassidy and clear some of the ring out. Strickland cuts off Bandido’s 21 Plex to Castagnoli and there’s the required Page vs. Strickland showdown.

A Buckshot Lariat off the back of Strickland hits Ricochet but the Dogs spear both of them down. Bandido gets piledriven and tossed, as does Connors. White and Finlay go over the top and to the apron, with White eliminating him but getting pulled out by Finlay to eliminate the Gang. Page gives Castagnoli the Deadeye but gets sent to the apron and is dropkicked out by Ricochet, meaning the champions are gone.

Strickland flips Ricochet out to eliminate the Demand and we’re down to Strickland, Kofi, Creed, Kidd, Castagnoli and Pac. Kofi is sent out but hangs on by his feet, with Prince Nana helping him hand walk back inside. What used to be known as Daybreak hits Kidd and he’s gone and a double clothesline eliminates the Riders to give Strickland and the Level the titles at 40:07.

Rating: B-. You know what you’re getting with a 21 man Royal Rumble and it’s not like Creed/Kofi were big surprises. Once it was confirmed that they would be involved, there was no reason to think anyone else was leaving. It’s not like these titles have any kind of a lasting legacy and losing them pretty quickly is hardly some terrible thing. Fun match, though stretching it out to be on the start of the main show was a bit tedious.

Quick note now that the show has started: it might only be about half full (which is still a ton of people) but the stadium looks great. This feels like a major show on a big stage and that’s what they’re going for by running the venue.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Brawling Birds vs. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne

Kross and Bayne are defending. Bayne shoulders Hayter down to start but a double shoulder drops Bayne as well. Everything breaks down and they go to the floor, with the Birds actually losing the brawl. Back in and Hayter gets caught in the corner, with Bayne standing on her throat.

Kross gets the sliding German suplex for two but Hayter clotheslines her way out of trouble. Windsor chops away at Bayne and Blue Thunder Bombs Kross for two. That earns Windsor some running shots in the corner and Bayne sends her flying with a release German suplex. Everything breaks down again and the Birds grab stereo German suplexes.

They all knock each other down again and it’s Bayne up to German suplex both Birds at once. Hayter gets in a double DDT but it’s a running boot into a German suplex to drop her again. Divine Intervention gets two with Windsor breaking the cover and another German suplex drops Bayne. The Haytebreaker sets up Two Birds One Stone to finish Kross for the titles at 11:40.

Rating: B-. This was the result I had the most confidence in all night as there was no reason to believe that the Birds were losing. Kross and Bayne had held the titles long enough and the Birds winning would be the feel good moment. They didn’t overthink it (save for spamming the German suplexes) and it was pretty much exactly what it should have been.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley vs. Nigel McGuinness

Moxley is defending and this is the finals of a tournament where the champion was involved because that’s a thing we spent most of a month doing. McGuinness is coming in with a bad ankle as well so Moxley already has a target. They go with the wrist battle to start and McGuinness backs him up against the ropes for the break. Moxley gets smart by going for the leg and McGuinness uppercuts him out to the floor.

Back in and McGuinness starts in on the arm, setting up quite the arm stretch. With that broken up, Moxley goes after the leg and McGuinness gets creative by offering his back to protect his own ankle. Moxley works on the leg and hammers away in the corner before unwrapping the tape on McGuinness’ ankle. McGuinness gets smart again by grabbing the tape and wrapping it around Moxley’s face to escape.

A missed charge in the corner lets McGuinness grab the Tower Of London for two but Moxley is right back with the LeBell Lock. That’s reversed into the same thing from McGuinness, with Danielson making sure to compare their grips. Moxley escapes again and stomps on the ankle, which just wakes McGuinness up for the exchange of forearms. A pair of lariats put Moxley down but McGuinness can’t follow up.

Moxley’s rebound lariat is cut off with a lariat from McGuinness, which of course has Moxley popping up for the bulldog choke. McGuinness drives his chin into the arm to escape and the London Dungeon goes on but Moxley rolls out into an ankle lock. McGuinness escapes again so Moxley grabs the same hold, followed by a running Stomp. Another ankle lock makes McGuinness tap at 17:13.

Rating: B. Forgive me for not getting excited about Moxley getting to be the tough submission star, again, and retain his title, again, after we had a tournament for the sake of a wrestler getting to show how awesome Moxley is, again. I know McGuinness winning here was the longest of long shots and they shouldn’t have changed the title, but dang I’m over Moxley. He’s presented as the ultimate fighter in every aspect and it gets more than a bit tiresome. Just do something else with him already. Like send him on vacation.

As for the match itself, this was McGuinness trying to think his way through the injury and survive until he could find an opening but he made the mistake of trying to brawl with Moxley. Throw in the submission game and Moxley was too much for him. Some of the stuff McGuinness was doing out there was brilliant but it just wasn’t enough in the end.

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Kyle Fletcher

Fletcher is defending and this is the Don Callis Family match, as Takeshita has been thrown out of the team while the other two are still in but don’t get along a lot of the time. Fletcher knocks Okada outside and Takeshita looks stunned in a funny opening. Okada is back up and pulls both of them outside for a double hanging DDT, followed by the running dive. Back in and Okada knocks Takeshita down and flips off the crowd, only for Fletcher to come in and flip him off from behind.

Fletcher knocks Takeshita down and then Okada gives Fletcher a brainbuster, only to walk into a Rainmaker from Takeshita. Fletcher’s Raging Fire drops Takeshita and all three are down off the stolen finishers. The screwdriver is brought in and Takeshita German suplexes Fletcher while rolling Okada up at the same time. Now Takeshita grabs the screwdriver but can’t commit a bad case of murder.

Instead he knees Fletcher for two with Okada getting up to kick at both of them. Okada gets double teamed to the floor so Takeshita and Fletcher can slug it out, only to get rid of Okada again. Fletcher hits the turnbuckle brainbuster on Takeshita….but gets Rainmakered by Okada for the pin and the title at 13:12.

Rating: B. Good enough here and I liked that it didn’t run as long. They had told their story and Okada stole the pin at the right time. Hopefully this is it for the multiway feud (it won’t be, at least not entirely) as they all need to just find something else to do. It’s a solid match and didn’t overstay its welcome, which is a perfectly acceptable result here.

Post match Fletcher reluctantly raises Okada’s hand.

Casino Gauntlet Match

There are an unknown number of entrants at unspecified intervals with the winner of the first fall getting a future World Title shot. Andrade El Idolo is in at #1 and MJF is in at #2 and since they hate each other, the brawl is on in a hurry. MJF fights up and struts a bit, setting up a crotch to the face. Andrade is back up, takes his pants off, and hits his own thrust to the face. We pause for the photo with the woman and here is Nick Wayne to poisonrana Andrade on the floor as he’s the #3 entrant.

MJF wants an alliance with Wayne but here is Mike Bailey in at #4 to start firing off the kicks. Bailey kicks Wayne down and MJF is sent outside, leaving Bailey and Andrade to hit big dives. They’re all down on the floor and it’s Tommaso Ciampa in at #5…but he takes so long posing that Chris Jericho is in at #6 to jump Ciampa on the way to the ring. Jericho fires off a bunch of right hands to clear the ring so MJF comes in to mock him. That earns him the Walls, with Mark Davis coming in at #7 to break it up.

Davis starts snapping off the piledrivers, including one to MJF, with commentary being surprised at the kickout. Komander (or Mistico according to Justin Roberts) is in at #8 for his rope walk flip dive. NOW Roberts gets the name right and Komander hits the Cielito Lindo for two on Ciampa. Mistico is in at #9 (Roberts: “You guessed it!”) but Daniel Garcia is in at #10 to jump Mistico on the ramp.

Mistico is back up and gets to clean house before staring it down with Komander. A quick La Mistica has Komander in trouble but MJF makes the save. MJF blocks Garcia’s piledriver and Bailey is back in for the save. Ciampa knees Bailey for two and Jack Perry is in at #11. Perry gets to clean house and Snare Traps Ciampa until Wayne makes a save of his own.

Davis is back in and Perry actually gives him a piledriver before Jericho is back in with the Judas Effect to MJF. Wayne’s Phoenix splash lands on Davis’ face so MJF shakes Wayne’s hand…and then kicks him low. The Heatseeker plants Wayne but Andrade is back in with Dia de los Muertos to MJF and pins Wayne at 21:07.

Rating: B. On one hand, it was a lot of the same people you would have expected in this match with pretty much nothing in the way of surprises. At the same time, the right person won and that should make things more interesting for whomever leaves as World Champion. Andrade is on a roll right now and putting him in a title match is a good idea. Just don’t have him have to defend the shot or something as that’s rarely interesting.

Tag Team Titles: Young Bucks vs. Adam Copeland/Christian Cage

Copeland and Cage are defending in what is a battle of the best teams of their generations (that uh, might be up for debate). Cage and Nick start things off and everything breaks down in a hurry, with Nick getting stomped down in the corner. The Bucks are right back up with the running bulldogs, completely with high fives. That means Cage gets caught in the wrong corner with the Bucks starting in on the arm.

That doesn’t last long as it’s already back to Copeland, who is superkicked down just as fast. Copeland is fine enough to piledrive Matt on the apron (Taz: “That’s a game changer.” Not in AEW it isn’t.). Cage neckbreakers Nick for two and chokes on the ropes but misses the right hand. That’s enough for Matt to get in a kick from the apron and Copeland’s spear is sent into the buckle. Matt gives Copeland a jumping stomp to the back and Backstabbers Cage out of the corner, setting up Risky Business for two.

Copeland is right back up with a half crab but Matt gets out and heads to the apron. Another spear is loaded up but Nick flips away and grabs a Stunner on Cage on the floor in a slick counter. Back in and Matt suplexes both of them at once but Nick’s leg gives out on the Meltzer Driver. Cage is back up with a Twist Of Fate to Matt, setting up a 3D for two more. A double superplex drops Matt but Nick 450s onto both of them for the big crash. The Bucks try the BTE Trigger but Copeland spears Cage by mistake for the failed save attempt.

Now the BTE Trigger hits Cage for two, with the kickout freaking Matt out. Another Meltzer Driver is speared out of the air and the Killswitch into a pop up spear gets two more on Nick. Cage: “F***!” The belt is brought in but the referee takes it away, allowing Cage to pull out what looks like a wrench. A shot to the leg keeps Nick in trouble but Matt rolls Cage up for two. The wrist brace to the head knocks Matt silly and another spear retains the titles at 20:07.

Rating: B+. This was another rather great match and I’ll take the Bucks losing another shot at the titles. I’m not sure how much of a dream match this was (though that term is horribly overused) but it did wind up being pay per view worthy with Cage and Copeland still having incredible chemistry. Rather good match here and I’m not sure who is next for the champions. Just not a ladder rematch. Please.

Post match the Motor City Machine Guns come out for the staredown. Yeah that works. Then FTR comes out to join everyone. Yeah that’s not as interesting. Then it’s New Level, because only having a belt each isn’t enough.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight vs. Darby Allin

Knight is defending in a falls count anywhere match after attacking Allin after he lost the World Title and then attempting to murder Allin (a few times). After skateboarding down to the ring, Allin dropkicks Knight into the corner but gets choked back down. Knight takes too long loading up a table (of course) and is knocked down with a suicide dive. Allin has to dive over the steps but gets taken down, allowing Knight to put him on the announcers’ table.

There’s the springboard dive onto Allin onto the table for two and it’s time to throw in some chairs. That takes too long as well though and Allin sunset bombs him onto the chairs for the crash. Cue the Don Callis Family to take Allin out though and load up a ladder. Knight is dropped onto the chairs and let’s tape his hands together. Steven Borden runs in for the save with a good dropkick but gets powerbombed through the table. Allin is back up with a top rope hurricanrana, even with his hands still taped back.

Cage superplexes him though and ties him in the Tree Of Woe…and the lights go out. The fans go nuts as Sting is back for the save and Allin bats Knight into the Scorpion Death Drop. Borden loads up a ladder and climbs at the same time as Sting, with Borden telling his dad that he has this. Borden’s big dive takes the Family out and then brawls to the back, with Sting joining them. Allin and Knight go to the stage and Allin climbs the set for a huge Coffin Drop through Knight and through the floor. Knight is put on a stretcher but gets crushed with another Coffin Drop to give Allin the title at 15:47.

Rating: B-. Ok so this was a weird one, as the people who weren’t involved were the stars. The deal with Borden doing the dive so his father didn’t have to was a great moment and it’s cool to see Sting getting to do that with his son rather than Allin. At the same time, I am so utterly over Allin trying to find another way to do his insane dives or whatever ideas he has that day. He does them so often and it is just not interesting for me anymore but he got his revenge here and can move on to get blown up another day.

We recap Willow Nightingale defending the Women’s Title against Mercedes Mone. Basically Mone seems to blame Nightingale for all of the bad things that have happened in her career so it’s time for her to get revenge and the title.

Women’s Title: Mercedes Mone vs. Willow Nightingale

Nightingale, with a broken hand, is defending and Mone comes out with a bunch of ballet dancers. On the other hand, Nightingale has a storybook theme of a knight who kept getting knocked down but kept getting up and smiling. As a bonus, Nightingale has chest cannons (exactly what they sound like) which are likely a Dolly Parton reference. Mone is sat on the top to start and gets slapped out to the floor, with Nightingale taking her out with a dive.

Nightingale is getting a bit confident so Mone goes after the hand, only to be sent crashing into the barricade. Back in and Mone pulls a turnbuckle pad off and sends Nightingale into the steel for two as things slow down. Mone takes her down by the arm and cranks away a bit, setting up a camel clutch. That’s broken up so Mone grabs the Three Amigos, with the third seeing them to go the apron.

Nightingale suplexes her down to the floor for the big crash though and they both have to beat the count. The slugout goes to Nightingale as Mone seems to have a broken nose. A missile dropkick gives Nightingale two and Mone’s Backstabber gets the same. Mone grabs a wristlock to really crank up the pain but Nightingale takes her up top for a super Spanish Fly. The Cannonball misses though and Mone powerbombs her into the corner. The Meteora is broken up as well and Nightingale forearms her down.

A moonsault gives Nightingale two more but she gets caught in the Mone Maker, with Mone driving her into the exposed buckle before slamming her down. Nightingale kicks out again and Mone’s face is just covered in blood. Back up and Nightingale knocks her into the referee so Mone sends the bad wrist into the announcers’ table. Mone takes the glove off and bends the fingers back but stops to pick up the belt.

That’s enough for Nightingale to send her into the steps and get in a belt shot of her own. The Babe With The Powerbomb connects for a rather delayed near fall so Nightingale hits an (exposed) buckle bomb. A superbomb is countered into a hurricanrana but Mone reverses another Babe With The Powerbomb into a Statement Maker, with the arm trapped, for the tap and the title at 21:53.

Rating: B. Yeah of course Mone won. I’m not sure why I thought she was ever in danger because Mone has to win because otherwise we might forget that she is a million times better than everyone else. As usual, Mone is the biggest star in the division and we have to remember it, no matter how popular Nightingale was getting. Thank goodness Mone got another big accomplishment, as she just doesn’t have enough to get the point across.

We recap Will Ospreay challenging Kenny Omega for the World Title. Ospreay is back from a broken neck and wants to win the big one in his home country. The idea was that they were fighting to see who was best but then Omega started messing with Ospreay’s mind by bringing up their past and Ospreay’s family, which sent Ospreay over the edge. Omega went a bit nuts as well and feels like a villain coming into this.

AEW World Title: Will Ospreay vs. Kenny Omega

Ospreay is challenging with a video narrated by his mother, talking about how far Ospreay has come and never gave up. Ospreay walks through the back and finds Henare, Akira Francesca and Callum Newman, but stops to get the Union Jack from Jon Moxley. On the other hand, Omega has a video about his career, plus the Young Bucks, Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa with him, which goes nicely with the Assassins Creed (or so I’m told) entrance.

They take their time staring at each other before locking up and trading chops against the ropes. Ospreay pops up from a shoulder and grabs a hurricanrana, followed by a running knee out to the floor. The required dive puts Omega down again and the fans rather approve of Ospreay. Back in and a Phenomenal Forearm is countered into a gorilla press slam, allowing Omega to crank on the neck.

Omega chokes in the corner and hits a backbreaker to move on to the other end of the spine. A nasty neckbreaker lets Omega take the pad off of the turnbuckle bar, with the neck being crushed against the steel again. Ospreay is fine enough to hit the Phenomenal Forearm and a pair of enziguris gets two. The standing corkscrew moonsault hits raised knees but Omega is sent outside for a dive. They fight out to ringside and Omega loads up a table, which can’t possibly end well.

Ospreay fights back and shoves the referee down, allowing Omega to get in a monitor shot to the head. The bleeding Ospreay is sitout powerbombed onto the table, which is good for a nine, with Omega smashing him with a V Trigger on the way back inside. A dragon suplex drops Ospreay onto the apron and Omega yells at the camera. Omega knocks him silly again and it’s a missile dropkick to the back of the head back inside.

A V Trigger in the corner looks to set up a super One Winged Angel but Omega has to settle for a German superplex. Omega fires off some hard knees to the head and some snapdragons have Ospreay in more trouble. Another V Trigger is loaded up but Ospreay scores with a much needed Hidden Blade. Back up and Omega starts firing off some boxing style punches, earning himself a hard headbutt. Ospreay hits a heck of a punt to the head and a hard elbow to the back of the head.

Omega has to get up at nine, where a Hidden Blade connects to give Ospreay two more. Back up and Ospreay rolls him into the Styles Clash for another near fall but Omega knees him out of the air. They get up and slug it out until Omega hits a poisonrana, with Ospreay popping back up to his feet. Omega grabs a Tiger Driver 91 and the fans go rather quiet. The One Winged Angel connects….for two in quite the moment. Well at least he didn’t kick out at one.

Omega sits next to him on the ropes and hits another big running knee, only to get Tiger Driver 91’d to leave them both down again. Ospreay can’t stand up so Omega knees him in the head again but a running version is blocked. Ospreay’s own One Winged Angel gets one, as do a Hidden Blade and Stormbreaker. Another Hidden Blade gives Ospreay the pin and the title at 34:47.

Rating: A-. The fans going silent at the Tiger Driver 91 was a great moment and while this took some time to get going, it turned into an awesome back and forth match by the end. I never quite bought Omega having a realistic chance to retain the title but they had enough hard hitting violence that it worked. Heck of a main event here, with AEW doing exactly what they should have in crowning Ospreay on his home soil.

Ospreay celebrates to end the show.

Overall Rating: B+. Yeah it’s a rather good if not great AEW show. Film at 11 and all that. The stadium looked very nice and the crowd was huge, but I’m not sure if it got up to that epic level that some AEW events reach. The main event was great and there were some very good parts throughout, but this didn’t so much feel like an all time major show as much as a really good show taking place in a big stadium. Certainly good, but not in their upper tier of shows.

Results
Lio Rush/The Rascalz b. The Opps – Final Hour to Bowens
Harley Cameron/Kris Statlander b. Sisters Of Sin – Staturday Night Fever to Hart
Hurt Syndicate/Boom & Doom b. Shane Taylor Promotions – Dominator to Bravo
Persephone b. Maya World – Razor’s Edge
Swerve Strickland/New Level won Roulette Royal last eliminating the Death Riders
Brawling Birds b. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne – Two Birds One Stone to Kross
Jon Moxley b. Nigel McGuinness – Ankle lock
Kazuchika Okada b. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita – Rainmaker to Fletcher
Andrade El Idolo won the Casino Gauntlet match – Heatseeker to Wayne
Adam Copeland/Christian Cage b. Young Bucks – Spear to Matt
Darby Allin b. Kevin Knight – Coffin Drop onto a stretcher
Mercedes Mone b. Willow Nightingale – Arm trap Statement Maker
Will Ospreay b. Kenny Omega – Hidden Blade

 

 

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AEW All In 2026 Preview

We have arrived. This is the biggest AEW show of the year and once again we are over in England at Wembley Stadium where tens of thousands of fans are going to be in the house. As big as the stadium may be and how high the capacity may be, that is absolutely nothing to sneeze at and AEW deserves credit for drawing that many people. Let’s get to it.

Kickoff Show: Trios Titles: Royal Roulette

From what I can tell, this is a gauntlet match for the titles, with basically every trio in AEW at the moment, plus a wild card entry. Now I don’t think there’s much of a secret as to who is going to be in the wild card spot, but that has never stopped AEW before. As usual, this would be better off as a one off six man tag, but why do that when you can have another twelve people in a match instead?

I’ll go with the wild card team winning the titles here, in the form of Swerve Strickland and whatever New Day will be called in AEW. Assuming they’re the wild cards, there is almost no reason to not have them win the titles. I’m still not sure why they need to be involved in a trio (it worked so well with Odyssey Jones) but I guess the Bucks have the tag match sewn up so here we are.

Kickoff Show: TBS Title: Maya World(c) vs. Persephone

Champion needs challenger, challenger pins champion in tag match, title match ensues. It’s a story that has worked for the better part of ever in wrestling and it should work fine here. World has done well enough as champion but is feeling a bit like Rocky Maivia in his first reign, in that she is just kind of there with the title and having random matches. This might not help things, but at least she’s on the show.

I don’t see any reason to think that the title reign is already ending so I’ll go with World to retain here. It’s the most logical choice of the two and while Persephone feels like someone AEW wants to feature, she already has the CMLL Women’s Title and I don’t think I can take another double champion at the moment. World retains here and hopefully moves on to something more important.

Kickoff Show: The Opps vs. The Rascalz/Lio Rush

Here we have the first “does this really need to be here” match of the card, as the Opps continue to be a thing that exists for whatever reason. I’m not sure why Tony Khan insists on keeping the team around when Samoa Joe isn’t there to lift them up but how else will Hook fail to get over? This is also fallout from Rush losing the ROH TV Title to Action Andretti thanks to the Opps, because that’s a thing that happened.

I’ll take Rush and company to win here, even if there isn’t much for any of them to do. It’s probably a way to set up Rush’s rematch against Andretti for the title, which doesn’t really need to happen but how else are we getting eight more people on the show? There isn’t much of a need for this to be one of five pre-show matches but how else can Ring Of Honor be included here?

Kickoff Show: Kris Statlander/Harley Cameron vs. Sisters Of Sin

I’ll take more Cameron and Statlander so this is hardly a terrible thing, but it feels like filler on Collision rather than a match that needs to be happening here. Statlander and Cameron aren’t exactly a regular team but Cameron could get fans cheering for her in a coffin and the Sisters are a ready made heel act. It’s not exactly a complicated idea here and it should be fine.

Uh we’ll go with…..eh the Sisters I guess. It’s such a nothing match that it doesn’t really matter which way you go and that’s not the best feeling. Cameron tends to lose more often than win on the big stage but this is about all she can do at the moment. I still don’t see how AEW couldn’t find something better for her to do but that’s a list that we absolutely don’t have time to cover. I’ll take the Sisters here in a “someone has to win” situation.

Kickoff Show: Boom & Doom/Hurt Syndicate vs. Shane Taylor Promotions

And where would we be without the Costco Guys? It feels like these guys were a big deal for about five minutes and that was well over a year ago but here they are again. It’s another case of putting people on the show for the sake of getting them on there and now that we’re having as many matches on the Kickoff Show as we had on this week’s Dynamite, it’s kind of hard to get enthusiastic about another one.

Of course I’ll take the good guys to win, with the Syndicate getting some more momentum before a big showdown with the Promotions. There’s nothing to get excited about with this one, but I’m sure the Rizzler will be there to do his oh so funny face. That really does feel like the only thing this match has going for it and that’s hardly enough to get my interest up. But then again, something something celebrity star power I guess.

Women’s Title: Willow Nightingale(c) vs. Mercedes Mone

I wanted to get this one out of the way first because it has the potential to make me the angriest. I’ve made no secret about the fact that I’m not a fan of Mone. She’s incredibly talented and feels like a star, but she’s often presented as being light years ahead of the rest of the division. Nightingale already put Mone over to end a short title reign and it does not need to happen again.

While I don’t believe that it’s happening, I’ll take Nightingale to retain here. I know she’s injured and Mone is likely winning anyway, but Nightingale has made a connection with the fans and it would be a shame to see her lose again so Mone can get yet another accolade that won’t make her feel any bigger. Nightingale needs to win here and would benefit a lot more and I’ll say she will, though I won’t be surprised if/when Mone gets another big moment.

Women’s Tag Team Titles: Lena Kross/Megan Bayne(c) vs. Brawling Birds

So there is going to be a theme to this show as there is a good chance that a lot of British wrestlers will pick up titles. That very well may start here, as the Birds are more than good enough to be the first team to stop Kross and Bayne. The only guaranteed thing here is that it’s going to be a heck of a fight and that is exactly what it should be with the British team involved.

There is no reason to think that the champions will retain here so I’ll go with the Birds taking the titles. Kross and Bayne are the monster champions and that means it is going to take a special team to stop them. A very British team in the most famous stadium in England is about as perfect as it can get. That’s exactly what should happen here and I’ll go with that, as the titles change hands.

TNT Title: Kevin Knight(c) vs. Darby Allin

This is Falls Count Anywhere and Knight has gone the extra mile with Allin, attempting to murder/injure him multiple times in the same segment. I know Allin gets attacked a lot but this was extreme even for him. Therefore we’re doing a match for revenge, and to allow Allin to do some kind of insane thing at the stadium. You know, as he does pretty much every time he’s around.

I’m actually going to go with Knight retaining here, as Allin is as made of a man as you can get in AEW and Knight could get a lot more out of retaining over a former World Champion. It is far from a guarantee as Allin needs to get revenge and such, but he can do that without taking the title. The TNT Title doesn’t mean anything to Allin here so let Knight keep it and get more out of the thing.

Tag Team Titles: Adam Copeland/Christian Cage(c) vs. Young Bucks

This is the dream match of the show and it falls firmly into the “yeah I guess” category that a lot of so called dream matches hit these days. That’s just the way it goes as I’m not sure how many people were clamoring for this in the first place. That being said, it should work out well as the Bucks can be very entertaining and the champs know how to do the old person version of their match.

As sick as I am of the Bucks, there isn’t much of a reason to believe that they’re going to lose here, so I’ll say new champions. Copeland and Cage winning the titles was a big moment but they haven’t exactly done much with the belts. That’s what happens with a lot of these title reigns, and now they can put the Bucks over so the Bucks can continue to be the biggest, most amazing team in AEW history because of course they are.

Continental Title: Jon Moxley(c) vs. Nigel McGuinness

So here we have the finals of a tournament, which has taken almost an entire month, and ended up with Moxley defending the title against a British challenger. In short, why have one match to set up a title defense when you can have fourteen of them? That’s where we are now and it leads to an interesting final, which should go one way but will probably go another.

In theory, this should be McGuinness winning the title but that would imply Moxley has to lose, which won’t happen, so I’ll say Moxley wins to retain. He has to you see because he needs to be in the next tournament for this belt later on in the year. I’m still not sure why this tournament, or title for that matter, needs to exist, but at least Moxley can get a big win that he hasn’t had in at least a week.

Casino Gauntlet

Remember when this was the most fun that AEW had? So much of that was due to the surprise entrants that you would see, but lately it has just been the regular midcard group and that’s not the most thrilling. Anyway the winner here gets a World Title shot at some point, but since we don’t know who all is involved, I’m kind of limited in the guesses that I can make.

The one entrant announced who makes the most sense here is MJF so I’ll go with him, though it would be rather hilarious if the match ended while he was on the way to the ring or something like that. Andrade El Idolo is an option, but he needs to continue his rather unnecessary National Title reign. There is always the chance that it’s someone we don’t know yet winning the thing, but I’ll go with MJF of the entrants involved.

International Title: Kyle Fletcher(c) vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Konosuke Takeshita

This is the most Don Callis focused match on the card and thankfully it’s pretty much the only thing they’re doing here. The feud has been going on in some form for the better part of a year now and somehow this still doesn’t feel like the blowoff. The idea is that Fletcher and Okada are both part of the Family and want to keep the title between them but they might not trust each other, which gives Takeshita an opening.

I think I’ll go with Fletcher retaining, as he hasn’t been the champion for very long and while Takeshita thwarting the team’s plans makes more sense, odds are the feud isn’t even close to over with anyway. Fletcher feels like someone AEW wants to make into one of their bigger names and that could go well, though I don’t think he loses here. There is a good chance he does lose, but I’d call that much uncertainty a good sign.

AEW World Title: Kenny Omega(c) vs. Will Ospreay

I do these things for every pay per view and occasionally, there are times where I have no idea what is going on with one of the matches. In this case though, I’m getting a little bit of a break. I’m not bothering to try and build up suspense for this match, as, at least in theory, it should be the biggest layup in the history of AEW, as even their screwiness shouldn’t be able to get in the way.

It doesn’t matter if Ospreay loses all of his limbs and nose. His deformed face and torso with the bleeding stumps will be put on top of Omega for the pin and the title to the roar of the British crowd. There is no reason to think that anything else is going to happen here and there is nothing else that should happen here. The match has been built up and Omega has gotten his big title reign to show he’s still go tit. Now make Ospreay champion already.

Overall Thoughts

I’m really not sure what else to say about this show. It’s AEW’s Wrestlemania and there will be tens of thousands of fans in a massive stadium eating up everything thrown at them. AEW has done a great job of turning this into a spectacle and this year they have the card to back it up. If they can make this work, they’re going to be fine and it should be a massive success, as long as Ospreay ends the show holding the title. Now don’t screw it up.

 

 

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AEW Collision – August 29, 2026: They Had One Job

Collision
Date: August 29, 2026
Location: OVO Hydro, Glasgow, Scotland
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur

We’re still in Scotland on the eve of tomorrow’s All In extravaganza, meaning tonight is likely going to be a hold the fort show. The main event is a twelve man tag, which should be a lot of stories getting their final push at once. Throw in a lot of promos and this could be a bit of a different kind of Collision. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

We start with an All In rundown.

Mercedes Mone vs. Isla Dawn

Dawn is the hometown star. Mone backs her into the corner to start and yells a lot but has to duck a running shot to the face. The Backstabber hits Dawn and Mone starts in on the arm. A hammerlock has Dawn fighting back so Mone quickly knocks her down. Dawn gets up for the running clotheslines and a suplex puts Mone down for two. A sunset bomb sends Dawn crashing into the corner and the Mone Maker and Statement Maker finish Dawn at 4:08.

Rating: C. This was a quick match to get Mone more ready for her big showdown against Nightingale tomorrow and it certainly took some of the energy away from the Glasgow crowd. That’s fine enough for this spot, though I’m still hoping that Mone doesn’t win tomorrow. Nightingale deserves a chance to win on the big stage and run with the title for a bit, while Mone is already treated as the biggest star in the world.

Post match here is Nightingale to chase Mone off and say that Mone is obsessed with Nightingale’s smile. The reality is Nightingale is the champion and she’s leaving All In with both the smile and the title.

Jon Moxley says Nigel McGuinness has lightning in a bottle but what is he going to do with it? This is the kind of thing that they make movies about and Moxley would watch that movie. In the real world though, Moxley is going to rip the leg off in front of McGuinness’ family and feed it to their dog. It’s the fourth quarter or third period or whatever and Moxley’s hand isn’t the one that’s shaking.

Tommaso Ciampa/Mark Davis/Nick Wayne vs. Chris Jericho/Mike Bailey/Komander

Ciampa bails away from Jericho to start, with Jericho pointing at Don Callis on commentary. Back in and everything breaks down with the good guys connecting with the big dives. We take a break and come back with Jericho fighting out of Wayne’s chinlock. Bailey gets the tag and comes in with a double missile dropkick as everything breaks down again.

The villains get pummeled in the corners and it’s a trio of super hurricanranas to bring them back down. Bailey’s shooting star press gets two on Wayne, who hammers away on Bailey to take over again. Ciampa starts in on the leg and we take another break. We come back again with Bailey hitting a dropkick and rolling over for the tag off to Komander.

House is quickly cleaned and everything breaks down with a springboard splash getting two on Ciampa. The Walls have Davis in trouble and we get a triple Walls until the other two villains break out and make the save. Bailey comes back in to clean house again and Ciampa hits Wayne by mistake. We get the parade of shots to the face until Bailey gives Wayne a flipping powerslam for the pin at 19:44.

Rating: B. This was rather fun and it was nice to see some unique combinations out there. The good thing is that the result here is something that could happen in the Casino Gauntlet match so it’s hardly some waste of time. I’m not sure I’d believe that Bailey is a favorite to win tomorrow, but that’s part of the appeal of such a match.

Video on the Brawling Birds vs. Lena Kross/Megan Bayne for the latter’s Women’s Tag Team Titles.

The Dogs vs. Ronan King/Landon Riley/Judas Grey

The Dogs jump them fast and the beating is on outside. Back in and King is caught with a spear, piledriver and knee to the face for the pin at 2:56. It was even more lopsided than it sounds.

Video on Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone.

Nigel McGuinness says it’s coming home because he’s coming to Wembley. He’s been against the odds over and over and he wants to do it again.

Lethal Twist/The Demand vs. Bang Bang Gang/Brodido/Hangman Page

The villains go with a jump start but gets cleared out to the floor, leaving Bandido to slug it out with Johnson. Bandido gets in a superkick and hands it off to Page, with White tagging himself in immediately. The Gang takes over on Johnson, with a DDT giving Austin two. Christian comes in to take over on Austin, with Lethal grabbing a cutter. That doesn’t last long as Austin jumps over Lethal and dives for the tag to King.

That means house can be cleaned, with Austin being dropped onto Lethal. White breaks up the five way Macarena before opting to join in, with the villains breaking up the six way version. Ricochet and Christian hit stereo dives to the floor and we take a break. We come back with King in trouble and Christian mocking the good guys, as he tends to do. Kaun grabs the chinlock as Ricochet is yelling at various people, including commentary.

King fights up and hits a clothesline, allowing Page to come in and wreck everyone. The dive and moonsault to the floor connect with the Twist and a Liger Bomb gets two on Christian. Back up and the villains take over with a rather nifty string of combinations, capped off by a springboard 450 to Page. Brodido is back up with their own dives and Page Buckshots Lethal into the Blade Runner for the pin at 13:40.

Rating: B-. It was fun while it lasted and I can go for getting as many trios onto this show as possible before they overrun the pre-show. I’m still not sure how necessary it is to have that many people involved in a single match but that has never stopped AEW before. Otherwise, good action here, which you probably expected given all of the people involved.

Post match the Dogs run in to beat the winners down, with a bunch of other trios getting involved with the brawl.

Skye Blue vs. Harley Cameron

Blue pulls her down by the hair to start and hammers away while mocking the crowd. That earns Blue a running clothesline, which is enough for Schiavone to say that Cameron is looking “spectacular”. That’s quite the reaction to a single clothesline but Schiavone is easily impressed. Blue is knocked outside for a dropkick through the ropes but sends Cameron into the steps to cut her off again.

We take a break and come back with Cameron joining her on top but getting powerbombed out for two. Blue: “WHAT DO YOU MEAN TWO???” A superkick catches Cameron and Blue gets in a running knee. Cue Julia Hart to throw in a belt, which the referee throws out. Another belt is thrown in and Blue knocks Cameron silly for the pin at 8:18.

Rating: C. Odds are that ending was designed to set up a Kickoff Show match, or one that was already announced but it was barely mentioned. Cameron continues to be one of the most entertaining and underutilized stars around here, so at least she is getting a chance. Then again it comes after another loss, so it might only mean so much.

Maya World is mad about Persephone pinning her on Dynamite and their title match is set for the Kickoff Show.

Here is Don Callis to give Kevin Knight a rather nice introduction. Knight talks about how far he is willing to go to beat Darby Allin and wonders where Allin is right now. Cue a masked man to go after Knight but the Don Callis Family cuts him off. It’s Steven Borden, who has had Callis’ interest.

Callis lists off some of Borden’s football stats and talks about his success with young stars like Borden. The offer is made but Borden says he’s looking forward to seeing Allin take the title. That earns him a beating and the villains stand tall. As the Family leaves, Kyle Fletcher comes out for commentary on the next match but Knight doesn’t seem happy.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos

Kyle Fletcher is on commentary. They trade shoulders to start until Takeshita hits a jumping elbow to take Mortos down. Mortos comes back with a reverse Sling Blade and headbutts him to the floor for the corkscrew suicide dive. A big backbreaker drops Takeshita inside and we take a break.

We come back with Takeshita hitting a running flip dive to the floor and glaring at Fletcher. They get back inside and slug it out with Takeshita getting the better of things. Mortos gets in a spear but runs into a knee to the face to leave them both down. A running crucifix bomb drops Takeshita but he gets in one of his own, setting up Raging Fire to pin Mortos at 10:11.

Rating: B-. It’s nice to have Takeshita back and hopefully he is able to get in one of his outstanding performances at All In. Takeshita can do just about anything with anyone and it was good to have Mortos back to have a good match with him. It was a good main event to help set up what could be a show stealer on Sunday and that’s a smart way to wrap up the show.

Post match Fletcher comes in and lays Takeshita out, including the brainbuster to end the show.

Overall Rating: B-. This was a show where they had to just get through two hours with a few minor adjustments before the pay per view. That’s all it should have been as the All In card is already set up. It had the usual good action and while nothing was must see, it did exactly its job before the biggest show of the year.

Results
Mercedes Mone b. Isla Dawn – Statement Maker
Mike Bailey/Chris Jericho/Komander b. Mark Davis/Nick Wayne/Tommaso Ciampa – Flipping powerslam to Wayne
The Dogs b. Ronan King/Landon Riley/Judas Grey – Knee to the face to King
Bang Bang Gang/Brodido/Hangman Page b. Lethal Twist/The Demand – Blade Runner to Lethal
Skye Blue b. Harley Cameron – Belt shot
Konosuke Takeshita b. The Beast Mortos – Raging Fire

 

 

Remember to follow me on Twitter and Bluesky @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Hall/e/B00E6282W6