By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision “Christmas Collision” (Episode 74)
New York, New York at Hammerstein Ballroom
Aired live December 21, 2024 on TNT
[Hour One] Ian Riccaboni stood in the ring with Big Boom AJ and Big Justice. They said “boom” a lot while discussing the show and running through the Continental Classic leaderboards… Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary, and Arkady Aura was the ring announcer…
Will Ospreay made his entrance for the opening match. He stopped and did a “boom” with Big Boom AJ and Big Justice (was that a heel turn for Ospreay?). Ricochet’s entrance followed. The stage had a light Christmas theme. Ricochet was booed and was bothered by the fans throwing rolls of toilet paper in the ring. Ospreay laughed at ringside and then Ricochet tossed a roll back into the crowd…
1. Will Ospreay vs. Ricochet in a Continental Classic gold league match. The fans cheered when the bell rang to start the match and then a “holy shit” chant broke out followed a “f— ’em up Ospreay” chant.
Ricochet hit Ospreay with a flip dive on the floor. Ricochet grabbed a roll of toilet paper and simulated wiping himself with it and then rubbed the toilet paper in Ospreay’s face heading into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Powell’s POV: Let the record show that Ricochet wiped himself like a lady.
Ospreay went for a Styles Clash, but he couldn’t hook Ricochet’s legs. Ricochet countered into a face-first slam and got a two count. Ricochet slipped on the ropes and the crowd was all over him. He recovered immediately and moonsaulted over Ospreay, who hit a Styles Clash for a near fall moments later.
Ricochet came back with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Ricochet performed a shooting star press off the apron onto Ospreay on the floor. Ricochet rolled Ospreay back inside the ring and then hit a springboard 450 for a near fall.
A short time later, Ospreay hit the Stundog Millionaire. Ospreay went for an OsCutter, but Ricochet caught him with a cutter. Ricochet hit a Death Valley Driver. Ricochet charged at Ospreay, who dropped him with a Hidden Blade that left both men down.
Both men met in the middle of the ring and traded elbow strikes. The referee was knocked down when Ricochet pushed Ospreay into him. REF BUMP!!! Ospreay got a visual pinfall and the crowd counted to ten.
Ospreay revived the referee and went up top. Ricochet tripped the woozy referee, who fell into the ropes, which knocked Ospreay down. Ricochet hit Ospreay with the Spirit Gun and then pinned him.
Ricochet defeated Will Ospreay in 14:20 to earn three points in a Continental Classic gold league match.
The broadcast team questioned whether Ricochet intentionally tripped the referee. The updated leaderboard showed Ricochet leading the gold league with nine points…
Powell’s POV: The point in opening the show with the most appealing match was presumably to take advantage of the college football playoff game that served as a strong lead-in. The match was highly entertaining and Ricochet is clearly starting to click as a heel. I was surprised to see Ospreay take another loss after he put over Darby Allin clean on Dynamite, but he was given a big out for losing this match. One can only hope that Ospreay will either find his way into the semifinals of the tournament or there’s a plan to push him aggressively coming out of the Continental Classic.
A video package spotlighted the Claudio Castagnoli vs. Darby Allin match…
Adam Cole made his entrance and then glared at the entrance area. A group of “private security” guards came out and then MJF followed and joined Cole inside the ring. The live crowd chanted “Shut the f— up” at MJF, who recalled that it was Cole who turned on him.
MJF said Cole had other enemies to worry about such as spray tanner, a crack in the floor, a gust of wind, or a cavity. MJF said he heard that Cole’s dentist isn’t seeing him anymore.
MJF said Cole wanted his “Triple B” title belt. MJF said Cole had plenty of opportunities to win the AEW Championship, but he blew it. MJF said he didn’t buy that Cole turned on him because he knew that MJF would turn on him first. MJF said Cole is simply jealous of him. MJF said Cole used to be “Adam Cole BayBay,” but now he looks like a “Crack BayBay.”
Cole asked if that was MJF’s last line. He said it sounded like MJF practiced in front of a mirror for two weeks. Cole said he could come back with childish comments and mention that MJF has had two surgeries on his “fake head of hair” even though he’s only in his twenties, but he wouldn’t do that.
Cole said he could talk about how MJF pulled strings to get his girl hired like a politician, but he wouldn’t do that. Cole said he and MJF are nothing alike and that’s why their friendship was ruined. Cole said MJF calls him a failure, but he’s the longest reigning champion is “so many companies” he’s worked for.
Cole recalled bleeding buckets when he faced Kyle O’Reilly in the same building. The ROH throwback reference didn’t get a peep out of the crowd. Cole said he has regrets, but turning his back on MJF isn’t one of them. Cole said MJF is terrified to have anyone close to him because he considers it a weakness. Cole said MJF thinks like a child and was going to turn on him first.
“You’re goddamn right I was,” MJF said. He said Cole solved the mystery and said he was like Scooby Doo. MJF said last year at Worlds End, he had every intention of stabbing Cole in the back, but Cole got lucky.
MJF said he didn’t care about Cole initially, but he did start to care about him a little bit. MJF said that made Cole a liability. MJF said Cole was a fragile freak whose ankle exploded when he jumped off the ramp at Arthur Ashe Stadium, which made him a distraction.
MJF said there’s no room for emotions when all you’re concerned with is keeping the world championship. MJF told Cole that he’s not the devil he just beat the devil to it. MJF said that he will end Cole’s world in the same place that Cole tried to end his.
Cole asked how about he ends the face to face. Cole tossed his mic at MJF and then threw punches at him. MJF’s security ran in. Cole fought them off, but MJF caught him with a kick to the balls. MJF set up to hit Cole with the Dynamite Diamond Ring, but Matt Taven and Mike Bennett ran out…
Powell’s POV: Okay, so Adam Cole and MJF were both dicks who were going to turn on each other. I think it’s a mistake to continue to try to make sense of that mess of a storyline. That said, this was a solid segment with some hard hitting lines that drew a couple of gasps from the live crowd.
Highlights aired of Mercedes Mone beating Hazuki at NJPW Strong Style Evolved, followed by her win over Anna Jay on Dynamite…
Lexi Nair interviewed Kris Statlander in the backstage area. Nair noted that Statlander saved Willow Nightingale from an attack from Harley Cameron and Penelope Ford on Rampage. Statlander said that what she and Willow discussed was between them. Statlander challenged Mercedes Mone to a rematch at Worlds End…
A live events video aired… [C]
Orange Cassidy was interviewed by Nair in the backstage area. Cassidy said he needed Hangman Page and Jay White to listen. Cassidy said that Jon Moxley will have nowhere to go in seven days and will be in the ring with the three of them. Cassidy said they could take out Moxley and then the three of them could fight it out to become AEW World Champion. Cassidy said it was just something for them to think about and said he would see them on Dynamite…
Powell’s POV: Cassidy expressed a logical approach for the challengers to the take in the four-way title match, so you know that’s not going to happen.
2. Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford. Both entrances were televised. Statlander held up Ford for a vertical suplex, but Ford slipped out and caught her in a sleeper. Statlander powered her up and then finished the suplex, which resulted in a two count.
Ford came back and hit a top rope Blockbuster for a two count. Ford was in offensive control heading into a break. [C] Ford hit a Stunner and then followed up with a springboard into a Poison Rana for a near fall.
Statlander avoided a top rope moonsault and then hit Ford with a pair of German suplexes. Statlander followed up with Saturday Night Fever and scored the pin…
Kris Statlander defeated Penelope Ford in 9:00.
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone came out and stood on the stage. She said she was going to take Worlds End off, but she was feeling nice because it was the holiday season. Mone accepted the challenge and boasted that she’s the greatest TBS Champion of all-time…
Powell’s POV: The match was well worked, but it felt a little too competitive given the circumstances. I’m high on Ford, but Statlander could have used a dominant win given that she feels like an underdog heading into a rematch with Mercedes Mone, especially after losing clean to her at Full Gear.
Harley Cameron’s cute 12 Days of Shop AEW ad aired… [C]
Just in case you didn’t get enough “Boom” earlier, Big Boom AJ and Big Justice entered the ring and gave us two more. Chris Jericho interrupted from the stage and was joined by Big Bill and Bryan Keith. Jericho asked if they knew him. Justice said he did and called Jericho a jackass.
[Hour Two] Keith said dumbass kids like Justice should be seen and not heard. Jericho said he’s the King of New York and the biggest jackass in the city. Jericho said he speaks for everyone when he says AJ and Justice aren’t wanted in the ring. Jericho said they don’t have Costcos in New York because “we” shop at bodegas.
Jericho said they were in the Hammerstein Ballroom and said it’s the house he built. Jericho said they didn’t have time for bad gimmicks like boom or bandits or scissoring. Jericho asked Keith to scissor him.
Anthony Bowens made his entrance and joined AJ and Justice in the ring. Bowens said Jericho was trying to intimidate a man in a walking boot and an 11 year-old child. Bowens told Jericho to do what he asked so many others to do – “shut the hell up.”
Big Bill said when a man tries to silence another man, he’s probably afraid of the truth. A “Big Bill” chant broke out. Bowens said he had no idea what that meant, but he knew they were live on TNT in New York City. Bowens told Jericho to come to the ring and get his ass whipped by the Scissor King.
Jericho teased going to the ring and then said not tonight. Jericho and his crew headed backstage. AJ tried to say that Bowens would get his chance to bring the boom, but Bowens stopped him and then Bowens, AJ, and Justice scissored…
Powell’s POV: AJ and Justice are making me consider a podcast name change, but I suppose that’s better than Jericho making me wish I could turn the channel.
Backstage, Nair interviewed Deonna Purrazzo and Taya Valkyrie. Toni Storm showed up and introduced herself to the three women as if she’d never met them. Purrazzo pulled Storm in and said she knows who she is. Valkyrie brought up the tattoo of a duck with a knife in it on Storm’s leg. Purrazzo challenged Storm to face Valkyrie on Dynamite. Storm thanked them and said it was a great opportunity…
Powell’s POV: I continue to get a kick out of Storm’s latest routine. It will be interesting to find out whether the story is that her character has amnesia or that she’s actually Timeless Toni and is merely “acting.” And I continue to get a bigger kick out of fans of Timeless Toni who are complaining about logic gaps or believability issues with this version of her character. So you could believe that a woman thought she was a Hollywood starlet from Hollywood’s golden era, but you draw the line at amnesia?
The Hurt Syndicate made their entrance. One on the stage, Shelton Benjamin headed to the ring and then Bobby Lashley and MVP went backstage. The entrance of Daniel Garcia followed…
3. Daniel Garcia vs. Shelton Benjamin in a Continental Classic blue league match. Matt Menard’s weird streak of being Garcia’s personal color commentator continued. Benjamin was on the offensive heading into an early break. [C]
Schiavone noted that Collision will not air next week due to Worlds End, but it will be back in two weeks and will also be available to stream on Max. Benjamin suplexed Garcia at ringside. Garcia battled back and dropkicked Benjamin at ringside. Benjamin came right back with a clothesline and returned to the ring.
A short time later, Benjamin dropped Garcia with a superkick in the ring and got a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Garcia used a jackknife pin to get a three count.
Daniel Garcia defeated Shelton Benjamin in 12:15 to earn three points in a Continental Classic blue league match.
After the match, Bobby Lashley and MVP came out while Garcia was celebrating at ringside. Lashley grabbed Garcia from behind in a chokehold. Mark Briscoe’s music played and he came out with a chair, but security held him back.
Swerve Strickland showed up in the ring and jumped off the top rope and stomped security guards on the way down. Swerve and Garcia entered the ring while Briscoe stood in front of The Hurt Syndicate while holding a chair. A group of wrestlers ran out to get in between Briscoe and the Hurt Syndicate while Prince Nana led “Swerve’s House” chants.
Swerve recalled telling Lashley that he would get his hands on him by the end of 2024. Swerve said that’s what he did and asked “Who’s House?” The crowd responded “Swerve’s House.” Swerve’s entrance theme played while the Hurt Syndicate headed to the back… [C]
Powell’s POV: An enjoyable match, but I don’t think the tournament has been good for Garcia coming off of his TNT Title win. Of course, there’s still more of the tournament to go, so perhaps I’ll feel differently once it all plays out.
The Blue League leaderboard was shown. Kyle Fletcher with nine points, Garcia and Kazuchika Okada with seven points, Benjamin and Briscoe with six points, and The Beast Mortos with zero points…
The Beast Mortos made his entrance…
4. Mark Briscoe vs. The Beast Mortis in a Continental Classic blue league match. Schiavone said Mortos may not have a win in the tournament, but he’s “one of the most successful wrestlers from Mexico ever in AEW.” There was a “both these guys” chant a couple minutes into the match.
Mortos charged Briscoe, who backdroppped him over the top rope to the floor. Mortos clutched his left knee, but he quickly returned to the ring and speared Briscoe. Mortos stood up and played to the crowd when he could have gone for the pin before a PIP break. [C]
Briscoe had a flashy run of offense coming out of the break. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Briscoe went up top and went for Froggy Bow, but Mortos put his knees up. Mortos put Briscoe in Torture Rack position and then executed a backbreaker. Mortos followed up with a powerbomb onto his knee. Mortos hit a popup Samoan Drop for a near fall.
Briscoe came back with a Death Valley Driver and then hit Froggy Bow. Briscoe made the cover, but Mortos kicked out. McGuinness pointed out that Briscoe counted with his hand when he could have hooked the leg.
Briscoe hit another Froggy Bow and then followed up with the Jay Driller for the win…
Mark Briscoe defeated The Beast Mortos in 11:40 to earn three points in a Continental Classic blue league match.
The updated leaderboard showed Fletcher and Briscoe with nine points. Schiavone noted that Briscoe holds the tiebreaker over Fletcher due to beating him.
Powell’s POV: Fletcher’s final match is with Daniel Garcia, who is tied with Okada at seven points. They have set up interesting finishes to both leagues.
A Julia Hart promo aired. She said she warned Jamie Hayter. She said she thought she was being reasonable. Hart mentioned that she will face Hayter on January 1 and said The House always wins…
Alex Marvez interviewed AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May, who said Thunder Rosa’s father would be in the front row. She questioned if he was going to watch the match or if Thunder Rosa needed a new mommy.
Thunder Rosa attacked May, who eventually shoved her down and then exited the room. Rosa yelled and then followed May, who was at ringside when Rosa arrived on the stage. Rosa ran down the ramp and knocked May down. Rosa slammed May’s head on the ring steps. Rosa tried to slam a chair on May’s head, but May avoided it. Security came out and kept the women apart while a “let them fight” chant broke out…
The Jon Moxley narrated ad for Worlds End aired… [C]
Darby Allin made his entrance for the main event. Schiavone noted that the night started with a five-way tie in the gold league, and that Ricochet took the lead with his win earlier in the show. Claudio Castagnoli’s entrance theme played. The camera followed him as he walked backstage and then entered via the crowd.
Allin hit a suicide dive on Castagnoli, who ended up slamming Allin on the entrance ramp. Allin slipped out of a press slam attempt and ran Castagnoli into a lighting truss. Allin climbed to the top of the lighting truss and dove onto Castagnoli.
A “holy shit” chant broke out and then the crowd got silent. The replay showed that Allin bounced off of Castagnoli when he dove at him and then landed hard on the stage. Allin once again showed that he’s not human by standing up and going to the ring to start the match…
5. Darby Allin vs. Claudio Castagnoli in a Continental Classic gold league match. Castagnol hit a popup European uppercut for an early two count. Castagnoli performed the giant swing on Allin, who rolled to the floor heading into a PIP break. [C]
Allin hit a couple of suicide dives and then performed a Coffin Drop onto a standing Castagnoli on the floor. Allin put Castagnoli in a sleeper at ringside. Castagnoli jumped backward and drove Allin through a table to break the hold. Both men beat the referee’s count.
Allin made rapid fire pin attempts. Allin went for a sunset flip, but Castagnoli blocked it and then hit a standing double stomp. Castagnoli slammed Allin over the top rope so that his lower back hit the edge of the apron. Castagnoli went to the floor and then picked up Allin and ran his lower back into the ring post twice.
Back in the ring, Castagnoli turned Allin inside out with a lariat (that looked mistimed) and then covered him for a two count. Allin countered a move attempt into a Code Red for a near fall.
[Overrun] A smiling Ricochet was shown watching the match on a backstage television while Schiavone noted that Allin will be Ricochet’s next opponent in the tournament.
Castagnoli went for a superplex, but Allin countered into a Scorpion Death Drop from the ropes. Allin went for a Coffin Drop, but Castagnoli put his knees up. Castagnoli powerbombed Allin for another near fall.
Castagnoli barked at the referee about the count and then powerbombed Allin for another near fall. Castagnoli grabbed a chair from ringside. The referee took the chair away from Castagnoli. As the referee was clearing the chair from the ring, Castagnoli pulled out brass knuckles and then used them while punching Allin. Castagnoli covered Allin for the three count.
Claudio Castagnoli defeated Darby Allin in 11:15 to earn three points in a Continental Classic gold league match.
The updated gold league leaderboard was shown for a moment. Castagnoli grabbed a couple of chairs from ringside, but Will Ospreay entered the ring and picked up the brass knuckles. Castagnoli hopped the barricade and made his exit…
Powell’s POV: A strong match with a bad finish. I’m so over all pro wrestling companies making referees look like incompetent morons who are incapable of walking backwards while clearing weapons from the ring. Castagnoli beat Allin clean before the tournament started, so why not just have him do it again?
Despite the weak finish, that’s back-to-back Collision shows that I found enjoyable rather than the usual “fine if you saw it, fine if you missed it” shows. The Continental Classic helps by giving purpose to the tournament matches, and the Hammerstein Ballroom atmosphere was excellent. Here’s hoping that AEW continues the recent approach of running smaller venues. I’m looking forward to seeing how the round robin part of the tournament plays out on Wednesday night. Well, technically I’ll be watching the show on Thursday because of the holiday. In other words, no live review of Dynamite on Christmas night, but I will have a live review of AEW Worlds End next Saturday night.
Will Pruett’s excellent weekly audio reviews of Collision are available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let me know what you thought of the show by grading it below.
And now Ospreay jobs to Chet. SMDH