By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision (Episode 53)
Taped July 10, 2024 in Calgary, Alberta at Calgary Stampede Saddledome
Aired July 13, 2024 on TNT
[Hour One] Tony Schiavone welcomed viewers to the show and was joined on commentary by Nigel McGuinness. Ring announcer Bobby Cruise introduced Konosuke Takeshita. Don Callis came out with Takeshita and then sat in on commentary. Tommy Billington’s entrance followed…
1. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Tommy Billington. There was a “Tommy” chant as the match started. Takeshita toyed with Billington and got cocky. Billington hit him with a dropkick. A short time later, Billington performed a running crossbody block and both men ended up at ringside.
Billington slammed Takeshita and worked him over before throwing him back inside the ring. Billington went up top, but Takeshita popped up and cut him off. Billington came back with headbutts. Takeshita bit Billington’s head and then superplexed him.
Both wrestlers traded strikes and then Takeshita put Billington down with a headbutt and ran him through the ropes and into the ring post. Billington tumbled to the floor and was down heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Billington battled back during the break and performed a crossbody block from the top rope onto Takeshita at ringside. Back in the ring, Billington executed a shotgun dropkick and followed up moments later with a snap suplex.
Billington went up top and was cut off again and was tossed to the mat. Takeshita waited for Billington to stand up and then missed a move in the corner. Billington powered up Takeshita for a tombstone, but Takeshita reversed position. Billington reversed it one more time and hit the tombstone, but he was too weary to make the cover.
Billington went for a top rope headbutt that Takeshita avoided. Takeshita performed a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Takeshita stuffed a small page attempt and was rolled up for a two count. Takeshita blasted Billington with a clothesline and then hit him with a running knee strike before pinning him…
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Tommy Billington in 13:30.
After the match, Don Callis entered the ring and said Billington gave a tremendous effort. Callis said Billington has the blood of Dynamite Kid running through his veins and has everything that Callis looks for.
Callis said his mentor Bad News Allen was also the mentor of Dynamite Kid. Callis said now he can be Billington’s mentor. Callis said Allen and Kid would want this, then offered Billington a chance to shake on a deal to become part of the Don Callis Family.
Billington teased a handshake and then pulled back before going through with it. Callis asked him what his answer was. “Kiss my ass,” Billington said. Callis slapped Billington, who grabbed him by his jacket. Takeshita attacked Billington.
Kyle Fletcher ran out and held Billington while Callis hit shim. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler ran out and cleared the heels from the ring. Harwood helped Billington get toh is feet…
Powell’s POV: A nice match. Normally, I would grumble about Takeshita having such a competitive match with someone who isn’t a regular on AEW television, but Billington has name value and it all led to a good post match angle. It’s good to see FTR back after they took some time away due to Harwood’s back injury. Wheeler shaved his beard and looks like a new man.
A video package recapped Mariah May attacking Toni Storm after winning the Owen Hart Cup tournament. Schiavone said May will speak on Wednesday’s Dynamite 250…
Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson made their entrance holding the Unified Trios Titles. Their opponents were already inside the ring…
2. Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson vs. London Lightning, Michael Allen Richard Clark, and Shaun Moore. Schiavone said the Unified Trios Titles were not on the line because Robinson is not allowed to defend them on behalf of Jay White. In the end, the Gunns hit 3:10 To Yuma on one of their opponents and got the pin.
Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Juice Robinson defeated London Lightning, Michael Allen Richard Clark, and Shaun Moore in 2:10.
After the match, the Gunns and Robinson delivered an in-ring promo. Colten said the good news is that the fans got to see the best trios team in the world. Colten said the bad news is that Christian Cage hurt Jay White last week. Colten said Robinson is now officially a trios champion. Robinson said he should have been anointed before and now it’s forced.
AEW authority figure Christopher Daniels came out and said that when a member of a championship team is injured, they can’t allow a substitute to defend the titles. Daniels said he was unfortunately stripping the Bang Bang Gang of the Unified Trios Titles.
Christian Cage’s entrance theme played and he walked onto the stage with Nick Wayne, Killswitch, and Mother Wayne. Cage barked at the fans to sit down and shut up. Cage said Daniels made the right call by stripping them of the titles and now he would present them to him and his team.
Daniels said Tony Khan wouldn’t like that. He said he thinks he would like the match he had in mind. Daniels proposed Robinson and The Gunns vs. Cage, Wayne, and Killswitch for the Unified Trios Titles.
Robinson called for the match to take place on the spot. Cage teased the possibility of going through with the match and then said he wouldn’t tarnish his team’s champion win by having it occur in Calgary…
Powell’s POV: A simple squash win for the Gunns and Robinson. I’m surprised that AEW is one of the only promotions that won’t allow Freebird Rules, but it’s logical and will be fine as long as they are consistent with it. It’s a little odd to set up those teams in a match for the vacant titles, but it beats the alternative of sitting through a trios tournament for titles that are not over.
A video package recapped Jack Perry beating Marko Stunt to retain the TNT Title in an open challenge match on last week’s Collision… [C]
Malakai Black and Brody King delivered a backstage promo. Black said next week in Arlington they will start to build “the foundation of Wembley.” King barked at the end…
A video package aired with Jeff Jarrett discussing his involvement in the Owen Hart Cup tournament and then having a backstage moment with Martha Hart and Oje Hart…
Roderick Strong made his entrance with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett. Dalton Castle was accompanied by The Outrunners during his entrance…
3. Roderick Strong (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) vs. Dalton Castle (w/Turby Floyd, Truth Magnum) for a shot at the ROH Championship at Death Before Dishonor. At one point, Castle was dumped to ringside. Floyd and Magnum flexed in front of him and it inspired him to, well, get up.
Castle returned to the ring and then sent Strong to ringside. Castle hit Strong with a head-scissors takedown before throwing him back inside the ring. Castle and The Outrunners bickered with Taven and Bennett. Strong kicked Castle through the ropes and then slammed him on top of the ringside barricade going into a PIP break. [C]
Strong avoided a high knee in the corner, which sent Castle tumbling to ringside. Castle returned to the apron. Strong joined him and slammed Castle on the apron. Back in the ring, Strong covered Castle for a two count. Castle avoided a running knee strike. Castle spun Strong around and sat down on him for a two count. castle went for his finisher, but his arm gave out. Strong hit Castle with a knee strike and then pinned him…
Roderick Strong defeated Dalton Castle in 10:55 to earn a shot at the ROH Championship at ROH Death Before Dishonor.
ROH Champion Mark Briscoe checked in while standing in front of a ring on his property. Briscoe spoke about taking part in the Blood and Guts match and then defending the ROH Title against Roderick Strong at Death Before Dishonor. Briscoe said Strong’s ass would be his… [C]
Powell’s POV: A good match. They didn’t make a fuss over this being a No. 1 contender match going into the show. It seems like they’ve figured out that ROH isn’t appealing to the masses, so they simply acknowledge ROH and its titles without forcing it on viewers. By the way, I didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary at the end of the match despite our reader report indicating that Castle may have been knocked out. Hopefully Castle just did a good job of selling.
Lexi Nair interviewed Kris Statlander and Stokely Hathaway in the backstage area and asked why they got involved in the Owen Hart Cup finals. Statlander said they wouldn’t let Willow Nightingale get away with what she did to them the week before. Hathaway called Willow the biggest con artist in AEW because she preaches positivity. Hathaway said everything Willow has gotten this year was due to them and now they will take her out. Statlander said it will never end for Willow…
Nyla Rose made her entrance while her opponent was already inside the ring…
[Hour Two] 4. Nyla Rose vs. Ava Lawless. Rose chokeslammed Lawless and then splashed her in the corner. Rose hit the Beat Bomb and scored the pin.
Nyla Rose beat Ava Lawless in 1:50.
Powell’s POV: A squash match win for Rose. I’m not sure why Rose has faded to the undercard after being featured prominently early in the company’s run.
A video package aired on Bryan Danielson beat Hangman Page to win the men’s Owen Hart Cup tournament. New footage aired of Danielson sitting backstage and talking about learning to do hard things when you’re uncomfortable. Danielson said he wants to show is family that he can be the “best in the f—ing world”…
5. Lee Moriarty and Anthony Ogogo (w/Shane Taylor) vs. “Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin (w/Action Andretti). Both entrances were televised. There was back and forth action going into a PIP break. [C]
Martin caught Ogogo with a kick from the apron and then hit a springboard crossbody block for a two count. Darius tagged in. Ogogo popped up and then punched Dante, who tumbled through the ropes to the floor.
A short time later, Taylor tripped Dante as he was going for a move from the apron. Andretti went up top and took out Taylor with a dive. Dante ducked a kick from Moriarty and then hit him with with a move and pinned him…
“Top Flight” Dante Martin and Darius Martin defeated Lee Moriarty and Anthony Ogogo in 11:50.
After the match, Taylor joined Moriarty and Ogogo in attacking the Martins and Andretti. Ogogo held Andretti while Taylor hit him with a knockout punch…
Powell’s POV: A decent tag team match with a post match angle that extended the feud. I wish it had felt like the winning team was actually going climb the ladder rather than it just being another chapter in a no stakes feud between these factions.
Deonna Purrazzo was interviewed by Lexi Nair in the backstage area. Purrazzo spoke about Thunder Rosa, who walked onto the set. Rosa said she spoke to her therapist and she has to learn patience. She said she would wait until the bell rings so she could beat her. Purrazzo told Rosa to do everyone a favor and lay down now. Rosa said next week’s Collision would be in her home state of Texas and she will face Purrazzo in a lumberjack match… [C]
Nyla Rose spoke with Lexi Nair in the backstage area. Rose said she saw Mercedes Mone issued an open challenge to anyone other than Britt Baker. Rose said the last time she checked, she’s not a dentist but she knocks people’s teeth out. Rose said she’s never driven a Mercedes, but she will damn sure wreck one at Dynamite 250…
Powell’s POV: A fun promo from Rose. It’s good to see her back in the main mix on Dynamite even if it turns out to be just a one-off.
6. Skye Blue vs. Harley Cameron (w/Saraya). Both entrances were televised. Cameron took advantage of a Saraya distraction and performed a side Russian leg sweep at ringside heading into a PIP break. [C]
Cameron performed Eat Defeat for a near fall. Blue caught her in an inside cradle for a two count of her own. Cameron drilled Blue with a running knee strike for a near fall. Blue avoided a Backstabber by holding onto the ropes. Blue executed a crucifix drop and applied a new submission hold for the win…
Skye Blue defeated Harley Cameron in 8:10.
Powell’s POV: Nothing memorable aside from Blue using a new submission hold. I guess the evil mist finally wore off. Blue dressed in white and was the babyface in this match.
A video package recapped The Learning Tree taking out Samoa Joe on Wednesday’s Dynamite… [C]
Backstage, Skye Blue said “these bitches” need to start putting respect on her name because she is one of the best. Blue challenged Hikaru Shida to a match for “next week”…
Powell’s POV: I take back the babyface talk. Blue was the babyface in the match, but she came off like a heel during that promo.
Entrances for the main event took place…
7. ROH Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett vs. Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly in a non-title match. Roderick Strong sat in on commentary. Cassidy hit Bennett with a suicide dive. Bennett bounced off the ropes at ringside and put Cassidy down with a forearm shot.
Back inside the ring, Taven caught O’Reilly with a kick that led to Bennett getting a two count. O’Reilly came back with a double clothesline heading into a PIP break. [C]
Cassidy was isolated for a stretch and then made the hot tag to O’Reilly, who worked over both opponents. O’Reilly put Bennett in a guillotine that was broken up with a Taven kick.
Bennett held up O’Reilly and then Taven performed a neckbreaker. Bennett went for the pin, but Cassidy returned to break it up. Cassidy tagged in and put Bennett down with a DDT.
Cassidy removed his elbow pad and went for an Orange Punch, but Bennett caught him with a punch instead. Cassidy went for Beach Break. Taven held his partner to block it until O’Reilly took him out. Cassidy got a near fall on Bennett.
Strong left the broadcast table that was on the stage and headed to the ring. Strong hopped on apron and spoke with O’Reilly.
Tomohiro Ishii came out and pulled Strong off the apron and then roughed him up as they headed to the back. Meanwhile, Trent Berretta showed up and pulled Cassidy to ringside.
O’Reilly put Bennett in a crossarm breaker. Taven hit a top rope splash on O’Reilly to break the hold and then tagged in. Taven and Bennett performed a spike piledriver and then Taven pinned O’Reilly.
ROH Tag Team Champions Matt Taven and Mike Bennett defeated Orange Cassidy and Kyle O’Reilly in 13:40 in a non-title match.
After the match, Beretta grabbed Cassidy. Beretta said he was supposed to win and told Cassidy that they are not finished. Beretta told the fallen Cassidy to watch what he was about to do.
Beretta entered the ring and kicked O’Reilly. Beretta started throwing punches at O’Reilly until Taven and Bennett stopped him while saying that O’Reilly is their friend.
Cassidy entered the ring with a big wrench and hit Beretta with it. Cassidy moved toward Taven and Bennett with the wrench, but Cassidy stopped him. Taven and Bennett went to ringside. Ishii returned and clotheslined Taven and Bennett before joining Cassidy and O’Reilly inside the ring…
Schiavone officially added Mercedes Mone vs. Nyla Rose in an open challenge to the Dynamite 250 lineup. A video package spotlighted the Will Ospreay vs. MJF match for the AEW International Championship that will open Wednesday’s Dynamite 250…
Powell’s POV: A well worked main event. The post match angle with Cassidy using a big wrench as a weapon was a bit much. I’m not into the never ending drama involving the old Kingdom members, but I did like the dynamic of Taven and Bennett stopping Strong from attacking O’Reilly, followed by O’Reilly stopping Cassidy from going after Taven and Bennett.
Overall, you can’t judge a book by its cover. This was an average show, which is actually better than I thought it was going to be based on the lineup. It’s certainly missable in some ways, yet it was a solid show for those of us who watched it. We’ll see what Will Pruett has to say about this episode during his weekly Collision audio review, which is available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
Would love if AEW was consistent with their rules. We spent about 4 months or more where mjf was defending the tag belts with Joe or by himself. Yet Juice isn’t allowed to step in officially?
But you see these are the unified trios titles, so they have to adhere to the… I got nothing.
WBD could save a lot of money by just putting reruns of old movies in this timeslot. I’m sure the ratings would be just as good as no one is watching this AEW dreck excepts the dateless sickos Tony books for. I’m the real Brian by the way. Accept no imitations
Still laugh at the sad individuals who come to every AEW story just to say negative things, but hey, sympathy for those who are loses in life and only can make themselves feel better by bashing things.
That aside, this show proves, yet again, that in-ring action is top notch, but STORYLINES….long, or even semi-long, storylines would make AEW complete. Enjoy the shows, enjoy the little 2 or 3 week things (I enjoy AEW but storylines aren’t 3 weeks long), but man…..what does it take to get the only piece missing put in place?