By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision – Fyter Fest (Episode 96)
June 4, 2025, in Denver, Colorado at Mission Ballroom
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
[Hour One] Excalibur reset the show by introducing himself, Taz, and Ian Riccaboni three minutes past the top of the hour. The conclusion of the AEW International Championship match was in progress, and eventually Kenny Omega beat Mascara Dorada, Brody King, and Claudio Castagnoli in a four-way to retain his title (check out Jake Barnett’s review of AEW Dynamite for a full rundown of that match and the first two hours of Fyter Fest)…
The screen went black for a second or two, roughly eight minutes past the top of the hour, so this is likely where Collision technically started. Kenny Omega was in the ring celebrating his win when entrance music played.
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada headed to the ring. The fans chanted “holy shit” while Okada held up his title belt and Omega held up his. Omega and Okada threw forearms and punches at one another. Omega started to get the better of it, but Okada cut him off with a body shot. Okada went for a Rainmaker, but Omega kicked him. Omea set up Okada for a One Winged Angel. Okda slipped away and scurried out of the ring…
Excalibur set up a highlight package from AEW Collision that set up the FTR vs. Atlantis Jr. and Templario…
Ricochet stood backstage and spoke about how fans have the pleasure of watching four hours of AEW (GFY). Ricochet said he would not be competing “in this crappy town.” Ricochet said he would be watching to find people who would follow and serve while making sure that his quest for gold becomes reality…
Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness took over on commentary. Arkada Aura delivered the introductions while the opening match entrances took place…
1. Will Ospreay vs. Lio Rush (w/Action Andretti). Rush ducked to ringside once the bell rang. Back in the ring, Rush avoided a Styles Clash and then raked Ospreay’s eyes. Ospreay regained control immediately and set up for his finisher, which led to Rush exiting the ring again. Ospreay followed. Eventually, Rush hit Ospreay with a suicide dive heading into a picture-in-picture break that Schiavone said would last 90 seconds. [C]
Ospreay performed a handspring into a dive over the top rope onto Rush and Andretti. Ospray followed up with a springboard forearm strike on Rush in the ring. Ospreay set up for a move, but Rush countered into a DDT and then hit a frog splash for a near fall. Andretti slid Rush a chain. Rush wrapped it around his fist and tried to use it, but the referee cut him off. Ospreay hit the Styles Clash and then pinned Rush.
Will Ospreay defeated Lio Rush in 9:00.
After the match, Andretti entered the ring and attacked Ospreay from behind. Rush called for Andretti to hoist up Ospreay, and then the Cru duo hit an assisted neckbreaker.
Hangman Page’s entrance theme played. Page walked out in non-wrestling attire. Andretti went after Page, who punched him from the apron. Page went for a Buckshot Lariat, but Rush pulled his partner to ringside. A “Cowboy Shit” chant broke out while Page checked on Ospreay. Page and the referee pulled Ospreay to his feet, and then Ospreay and Page bumped fists, and then Ospreay headed to the back.
Powell’s POV: A fun television match. The live crowd was hot for Ospreay.
Page got a mic and said that if Ospreay has his back, then he’ll have Ospreay’s back. Page said he wanted to make it clear that he is his own man. Page said he doesn’t need help to win the AEW World Championship, not from Ospreay nor “one of the worst men to walk this planet.” Page vowed that he would never need, nor accept help from Swerve Strickland. Page fired up and spoke about how All In Texas will be his night.
AEW World Champion Jon Moxley stood in the ring behind Page, who turned and saw him. Marina Shafir, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta all showed up at ringside. Ospreay returned with two chairs and gave one of them to Page. Moxley rolled out of the ring, and then he and the Death Riders hopped the barricade to make their exit…
Powell’s POV: Page showed his veteran mic skills. The crowd got quiet when he said he would never accept help from Swerve, but he clearly recognized it and showed fire while delivering his follow-up lines, which brought the fans right back in.
Backstage, Lexi Nair spoke with Don Callis, who was accompanied by Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita. Callis said he accepted the challenge that Adam Cole issued during the Dynamite portion of he show. Callis said Badido has cost him money. Callis told Bandido to get The Outrunners. Callis said he would show them “ProtoShita” and “the greatest luchador in the great country of Mexico,” Hechicero. Callis and his crew applauded as Hechicero joined them and then spoke in Spanish. Takeshita spoke briefly in Japanese. Callis said they would kick some ass today…
2. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler (w/Stokely Hathaway) vs. Atlantis Jr. and Templario. Both entrances were televised. McGuinness said he would do his best to be unbiased despite his bad history with FTR. Atlantis and Templario dropkicked the FTR duo to the floor. Both teams fought at ringside while a “lucha” chant broke out.
Back in the ring, Wheeler made a blind tag, but Templario punched him. Templario set up Harwood for a move on the ropes, but Wheeler jumped on the ropes and suplexed Templario. Wheeler picked up a near fall on Templario going into a PIP break. [C]
Templario got a few near falls on Harwood. Wheeler made another blind tag, but Templario shot him into the corner and rolled him up for a near fall (apparently it wasn’t a blind tag). FTR came back and went for Shatter Machine, but it was broken up. Atlantis went up top, but Harwood tripped him. Templario tried to suplex Wheeler from the apron, but Harwood tripped Templario, causing Wheeler to fall on top of him for the three count…
“FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler defeated Atlantis Jr. and Templario in 13:45.
After the match, Hathaway got a mic and mockingly said it was a shocker that FTR won again. Hathaway said FTR has won the most out of all the tag teams in AEW. Hathaway said it doesn’t matter what company or country, everyone falls to FTR. Harwood took the mic and told the crowd that the greatest tag team of all time was trying to speak. Harwood told the fans they had their chance and now they wouldn’t get to hear him talk… [C]
Powell’s POV: A solid match. The live crowd was quiet for the finish. It was hard to tell if they’d hit the proverbial wall or if it was just because the heel duo went over a team they’re not invested in, but the post-match mic work elicited good heat. They invested some time in setting up this match on the previous episode of Collision. I wonder if they’ll run it back in two weeks at the Grand Slam Mexico show.
A brief video package aired on Thekla, and then Schiavone hyped her in-ring debut for later in the show… Konosuke Takeshita and Hechicero came out together, and then waited on the stage while Kyle Fletcher had a separate entrance with Don Callis. The Outrunners came out wearing pink masks, and then Bandido made his entrance…
3. Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero vs. ROH World Champion Bandido and “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum. Don Callis sat in on commentary. The broadcast team called Floyd and Magnum “Los Outrunners”, and the duo started the match wearing the pink masks.
[Hour Two] Fletcher and Takeshita held Bandido and the Outrunners on the floor, and then Hechicero performed a dive over the top rope onto the babyface trio. [C] Takeshita hit a Blue Thunder Bomb on Bandido for a near fall. Moments later, Bandido hit a frog splash (after the obligatory Eddie Guerrero shimmy) on Fletcher and had him pinned, but Fletcher’s partners broke it up.
Bandido went for a springboard move, but Fletcher caught him with a kick while he was performing a flip. Fletcher handed Bandido to Takeshita, who was on the ropes. Takeshita set up for a powerbomb, but Bandido countered into a huracanrana. Bandido tagged out and then dove onto Hechicero at ringside. Fletcher and Takeshita hit stereo moves on the Outrunners, and Fletcher got the pin…
Kyle Fletcher, Konosuke Takeshita, and Hechicero defeated ROH World Champion Bandido and “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum in 14:20.
Powell’s POV: I hate seeing Fletcher and Takeshita spin their wheels. To be fair, Fletcher had a TNT Title shot last week, but Takeshita has been directionless in AEW ever since he lost to Will Ospreay in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament.
Highlights aired of Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford beating Harley Cameron and Anna Jay…
Backstage, Bayne and Ford appeared to be delivering a promo, but it turned out they were standing over Anna Jay, who was laid out on the floor. The heels brought Jay onto the stage. Bayne set up for a Fate’s Descent that would have launched Jay off the stage, but she froze when she heard entrance music.
Tay Melo, who had dark hair and some face paint, came out and hit Ford with a lead pipe. Security ran out and pull Melo and Bayne apart… [C]
Powell’s POV: It was nice to see Melo back on television. Her last AEW match was in January 2023 when Rampage was still a thing (a/k/a the bad old days). Her most recent match was this January when she and Mina Shirakawa lost to Athena and Thekla in a Stardom match, according to Cagematch.net.
Backstage, Lexi Nair interviewed Anthony Bowens, who was accompanied by Billy Gunn. Bowens declared that it was “The Pride of Pro Wrestling month.” Bowens talked about whooping Kyle Fletcher’s ass all over Portland on next week’s Summer Blockbuster show…
Powell’s POV: Bowens was better here than he has been in most of his recent promos. He’s spent a lot of time trying to establish the Five Tool Player gimmick, and that led to some wordy promos that didn’t click. He was more conversational in this segment, and it came off better than trying to rattle off all of his Five Tool Player lines.
Ricochet made his entrance, and then all of the entrances for the ROH TV Title match followed…
4. Nick Wayne (w/Christian Cage, Mother Wayne) vs. Lee Johnson (w/Blake Christian) vs. Sammy Guevara vs. AR Fox in a four-way for the ROH TV Title. Ricochet sat in on commentary. A few minutes into the match, Fox hit a shooting star press off the apron onto Johnson and then threw him back inside the ring. Christian jumped off the ring steps and put Fox down. Ricochet gave Johnson and Christian a thumbs up heading into a PIP break. [C]
Fox performed a dive from the elevated ramp onto all three opponents. Fox brought Wayne back to the ring and went for a Swanton, but Wayne put his knees up. Wayne used a JML Driver on Fox and then pinned him…
Nick Wayne defeated AR Fox, Lee Johnson, and Sammy Guevara in a four-way in 11:10 to retain the ROH TV Title.
The following matches and segments were announced for next Wednesday’s AEW Summer Blockbuster: Will Ospreay vs. Swerve Strickland, Mistico appears, “The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MJF vs. Komander, Kevin Knight, and Mike Bailey, Kyle Fletcher vs. Anthony Bowens, and Toni Storm vs. Julia Hart in a non-title match with Mercedes Mone on commentary…
Thekla made her entrance while her opponent was already in the ring…
5. Thekla vs. Lady Frost. Schiavone said Frost “has had so much success here in AEW” (I wish that were true). Thekla put Frost down and threw a big kick. Thekla hooked her hands in Frost’s mouth. The referee counted until she released the hold. Thekla caught herself in the ropes while Schiavone pointed out that she did so “like a spider.” Thekla dropped Frost with a big forearm and then did the crab, er, spider walk. Thekla speared Frost and then hooked her into her Death Trap submission hold.
Thekla defeated Lady Frost in 2:30.
After the match, Thekla attacked Frost and hooked her mouth with her hands again. Queen Aminata entered the ring with a heel in her hand. Thekla smiled and exited the ring…
Schaivone hyped a major announcement from Tony Khan… [C]
Powell’s POV: I’m out if Khan announces he’s adding another hour to this marathon. A solid debut for Thekla. But why save it for so late in the four-hour block?
Queen Aminata spoke backstage. She said she gets that newcomers try to make a name for themselves to stand out because AEW is where the best wrestle. Aminata asked if Thekla knows what they do to spiders in Africa. She said they stomp on spiders. She proposed facing Thekla next week and said they’d find out who stands out…
Powell’s POV: I guess no one has bothered to tell Aminata that spider stomping isn’t limited to the continent of Africa.
The broadcast team recapped Omega and Okada fighting in the ring earlier in the show. Schiavone stood behind the broadcast table and credited Tony Khan with signing Okada vs. Omega in a “winner takes all” match at All In Texas. Schiavone said the contract signing for the match will be held on next week’s show…
Powell’s POV: The crowd’s reaction was pretty tame, but I’m guessing that’s a combination of fatigue and the announcement not being much of a surprise. There were rumors that this would be a unification match. Perhaps they will clarify next week, but the “winner takes all” stipulation seems to suggest that the winner will hold both titles.
Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta. Daniel Garcia was accompanied by Matt Menard (sigh), and then The Paragon made their entrance…
Powell’s POV: I get it now. Garcia and Cole are bonding over how they both desperately need to ditch their friends while appearing on AEW television.
6. Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta vs. Daniel Garcia, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly. Don Callis and Matt Menard sat in on commentary. Garcia was getting the better of the heels until Archer chokeslammed him heading into a PIP break. [C]
Late in the match, Cole caught a springboarding Romero with a superkick. Cole knocked Archer off the apron and then hit Romero with The Boom knee strike before pinning him.
Daniel Garcia, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly defeated Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, Rocky Romero, and Trent Beretta in 11:20.
After the match, Garcia did his dance in front of Callis, who was behind the broadcast table. Garcia joined The Paradon inside the ring. Garcia raised Cole’s hand, then shared hugs with Strong and O’Reilly. Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita walked out and stood with the other Callis Family members on the ramp as Schiavone signed off to end the marathon at four hours and five minutes…
Powell’s POV: Is four hours too long for a pro wrestling show? God, yes. But at least the Collision portion of Fyter Fest was better than most Collision episodes. I’m looking forward to finding out what Jake Barnett thought of the Dynamite half of the show, and what Will Pruett thought of the Collision portion when their separate audio reviews are available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of Fyter Fest by grading the four-hour block below.
The second half of the show didn’t impress me as much as the first half did ….i mean I’m not sure we needed the out runners in a six man tag , however that being as it may, I would say it was a decent show, and an easy watch that at times flowed together really well for being a 4 hour show.
It would almost be like putting Raw and smackdown back to back ( not to give anyone any ideas LOL) and not having smackdown deliver to the standards of Raw, for whatever it’s worth.