By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision – Summer Blockbuster (Episode 97)
June 11, 2025, in Portland, Oregon at Theater of the Clouds at Moda Center
Simulcast live on TBS and Max
[Hour One] Kenny Omega was placed on a stretcher board after the screen went black to signify the change from Dynamite to Collision (check out Jake Barnett’s Dynamite report on the main page for more details). Kazuchika Okada and Don Callis were in the ring while trainers tended to Omega. Okada went up top and dropped an elbow on Omega, who was strapped to the stretcher board.
Christopher Daniels came out and barked at Okada and Callis while Omega was placed on the stretcher. Callis teased hitting Daniels with the baton, but he hesitated and left the ring. Callis scared off Michael Nakazawa and the medical staff with his baton, and then Okada jumped from the apron and dropped an elbow on Omega, who bled from the mouth.
Cameras followed Okada and Callis as they went backstage, Alex Marvez tried to get comments from the duo, but they hopped into a vehicle that was waiting and then exited the building once they were inside…
The broadcast team of Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness checked in from their desk at ringside. Schiavone apologized for being at a loss for words, and then spoke about how disgusting the attack on Omega was…
TNT Champion Adam Cole made his entrance. After finishing off his entrance routine in the ring, Cole joined the broadcast team… Kyle Fletcher made his entrance with Lance Archer. Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn came out next…
1. Kyle Fletcher (w/Lance Archer) vs. Anthony Bowens (w/Billy Gunn). Cole said Bowens has over 100 wins in AEW. Fletcher booted Bowens off the apron to the floor heading into an early picture-in-picture break. [C] Fletcher set up for a powerbomb on the apron. Adam Cole stood up and said no. Bowens avoided the powerbomb and then dropped Fletcher face-first on the apron.
Back in the ring, Bowens threw a nice series of kicks. Fletcher came right back with a big kick of his own and then hit a sit-out powerbomb for a near fall. Fletcher showed frustration. Fletcher hit a Helluva Kick. Bowens came right back with a twisting slam for a near fall of his own.
Bowens set up for the Mollywhop, but Fletcher left the ring to avoid it. Bowens went up top and dove onto Fletcher on the floor. Archer hit Gunn with a big boot and then ran him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Fletcher hit another Helluva Kick and followed up with a brainbuster for the win…
Kyle Fletcher defeated Anthony Bowens in 11:30.
A graphic listed the main event as Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly, and Daniel Garcia vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, and Hechicero…
Powell’s POV: Yes, another eight-man tag main event. Anyway, this was a nice television match. Fletcher going over was logical, as it seems like they are building to him challenging Cole for the TNT Championship, presumably at All In Texas.
The broadcast team hyped Mistico vs. MJF for next week’s AEW Dynamite’s Grand Slam Mexico edition… A video package featured footage of MJF and Mistico, along with comments that MJF has made during promos…
AEW Spanish broadcast team voice Carlos Cabrera stood in the ring. He said that they will make history in seven days with a great collaboration between AEW and CMLL. Cabrera gave a long introduction before finally introducing Atlantis as a living legend.
Atlantis and Atlantis Jr. made their entrance. The crowd gave them a nice round of applause as they joined Cabrera inside the ring. Cabrera said who better to talk about next week’s AEW and CMLL collaboration than “these two great stars.”
FTR’s entrance music played and interrupted. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler made their entrance with Stokely Hathaway, who heeled on the father and son luchadores. Hathaway said FTR doesn’t have a match yet, but they get what they want no matter how they do it.
Harwood took the mic and said “Big Stok” was upset, whereas he’s excited about AEW and CMLL working together. Harwood asked Atlantis how many Depends he goes through. Atlantis tried to talk, but Harwood pulled the mic away. Atlantis punched Harwood, and then Wheeler and Atlantis Jr. fought. The FTR duo set up Atlantis for a spike piledriver.
Adam Cole ran in from the broadcast table to stop the piledriver. Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, and Hechicero ran in and attacked the babyfaces. Bandido and Templario ran out and helped the babyfaces. Brody King came out and helped the babyfaces. Harwood ended up alone in the ring with all of the babyfaces. Atlantis tackled him and threw some punches until Harwood rolled out of the ring. Atlantis followed Harwood and threw punches at him until he hopped the barricade…
Powell’s POV: This didn’t do much for me, but it was well received by the live crowd and presumably sets up a match or two for next week in Mexico.
Lexi Nair interviewed Big Bill and Bryan Keith in the backstage area. Bill boasted about beating Gates of Agony in a street fight. Bill said that was just one win, and started to talk about facing another team. “The Work Horsemen” JD Drake and Anthony Henry showed up and set up a future match with Bill and Keith…
TBS Champion Mercedes Mone made her entrance and told the broadcast team to let her enjoy her dinner. A steak dinner was set up on a table next to the broadcast table.
Powell’s POV: I suspect there was more food on the table than Mercedes has eaten so far this week.
Julia Hart made her entrance with Skye Blue. AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm’s entrance with Luther followed. Storm stopped at Mone’s table and took a bite of food before she was attacked from behind by Hart and Blue. Referee Aubrey Edwards was given a moment in her home area, as she ejected Blue from ringside. Edwards, Luther, and a trainer checked on Storm, who eventually entered the ring and said she was good to go…
2. AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm (w/Luther) vs. Julia Hart in a non-title match. Hart hit an early moonsault for a two count. Storm came back with a dropkick and then hit a hip attack that knocked Hart off the apron heading into a PIP break. [C]
Schiavone said Mone declared that she wants to challenge for the CMLL Women’s Championship on next week’s show. Storm avoided a moonsault. Hart landed on her feet, and then Storm caught her in an inside cradle for the three count.
AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm defeated Julia Hart in roughly 8:00 in a non-title match.
After the match, Mone entered the ring behind Storm, who was on the mat. Storm spotted Mone and stood up. Mone rubbed her face against Storm’s face and then threw her to the mat. Mone threw punches at Storm until entrance music stopped her. Mina Shirakawa entered the ring and tended to Storm until Mone hit her from behind. Mone picked up the AEW Women’s Championship belt and stood over Storm. Mone rubbed the belt on Storm’s face while telling her to kiss it goodbye…
Powell’s POV: The latest angle between Storm and Mone felt a little flat. On a side note, it’s disappointing that Hart hasn’t been booked stronger since her return from a long injury layoff.
Lexi Nair interviewed Ricochet, who spoke about searching for the right people to have in his new group. Blake Christian and Lee Johnson showed up and expressed interest. Ricochet said people have mentioned the duo to him, but there’s something pretty embarrassing about watching two grown men playing “make believe Ricochet.” He said they might be impressive in the ring, but they are missing something. Ricochet did his laugh in Nair’s face and then walked away… [C]
Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, and Willow Nightingale made their entrance. Kris Statlander was shown watching on a backstage monitor before walking away. Ring announcer Arkdy Aura introduced the MxM Collection, Tyra Valkyrie, and Johnny TV…
3. Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, and Willow Nightingale vs. Tyra Valkyrie and “MxM Collection” Mason Madden and Mansoor (w/Johnny TV). Willow got the better of Valkyrie in an early exchange.
[Hour Two] Madden tagged in and went after Willow, who tagged in Briscoe. Later, Willow performed a senton dive off the apron onto Valkyrie and TV on the floor. In the ring, Willow speared Mansoor and then joined Ishii in executing a double superplex on Madden. Briscoe followed up with Froggy Bow on Madden. Valkyrie rolled up Willow, who kicked out. Willow hit the Dr. Bomb and then pinned Valkyrie…
Mark Briscoe, Tomohiro Ishii, and Willow Nightingale defeated Tyra Valkyrie and “MxM Collection” Mason Madden and Mansoor in 5:15.
Schiavone set up comments from Kris Statlander that were recorded after last week’s Fyter Fest. Statlander told an anonymous cameraman that Willow is done with her, so she’s done with that. Wheeler Yuta showed up and said he knows it’s been tough since she left Best Friends. Yuta said he had to make tough choices to get where he is. He said he’s there if she needs advice. He told her to forget about Willow and make her own choices. Statlander stormed past Yuta and then crossed paths with Marina Shafir and engaged in a staredown. After Statlander left, Yuta laughed…
Powell’s POV: The crowd had fun with this. It felt like the match should have ended with the Froggy Bow, but at least it didn’t go too much longer. The Willow and Statlander saga just won’t end.
The Beast Mortos made his entrance. Bandido made his entrance with “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum. McGuinness said it was Los Outunners and they forgot to put their masks on. Floyd and Magnum headed to the back after accompanying Bandido to ringside…
4. ROH Champion Bandido vs. The Beast Mortos in a non-title match. Mortos hit a spinning suicide dive on Bandido heading into an early PIP break. [C] Bandido hit a frog splash for a near fall. Mortos hit a pop-up Samoan Drop for a two count. Mortos hit a lung blower for another near fall.
Bandido came back with a couple of quick rollups for two counts. Bandido hit a GTS. Bandido went up top and was cut off by Mortos. Both wrestlers ended up fighting on the ropes. Bandido hit a moonsault fallaway slam and then got the three count…
ROH Champion Bandido defeated The Beast Mortos in 10:50 in a non-title match.
Powell’s POV: This was billed as a standby match and featured the usual good work from Bandido and Mortos. We’re in the fourth hour of a marathon show. Throw viewers a bone and make this a title match.
Mercedes Mone was being interviewed by Renee Paquette in the backstage area. Mone spoke about her tweet in which she expressed interest in challenging for the CMLL Women’s Championship next week. CMLL Women’s Champion Zeuxis showed up, punched Mone, and accepted her challenge…
Powell’s POV: A simple name graphic for Zeuxis would have been helpful since they didn’t mention her by name.
Renee Paquette stood in front of a trainer’s room and said she was looking for a medical update on Will Ospreay. Hangman Page showed up and asked how Ospreay was. “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson showed up. Prince Nana stuck his head out of the trainer’s room door. Page asked them to explain in five words why he shouldn’t take their heads off. “We were aiming for Swerve,” Matthew said.
Matthew added that Page just needs to stick the landing and bring home the world championship to The Elite, adding that it was the real plan. Page said that’s not the plan. He told them to stay out of his business and Ospreay’s business. “And stay out of Swerve’s business,” he added after a pause. Page told the Bucks that if they don’t listen to him and he ever burns down a home again, it will be because he traps the two of them inside.
Inside the trainer’s room, Ospreay was being tended to on a table. Prince Nana asked Swerve Strickland if he had heard what was said. Swerve said he heard every word…
Powell’s POV: An interesting segment that really should have been preceded by a recap video given that what they were talking about took place like three hours earlier. More importantly, that segment really should have aired long before the fourth hour, when viewership will surely be at its lowest.
5. Thekla vs. Queen Aminata. Both entrances were televised. Thekla took Aminata down with a head-scissors. Thekla followed up with a running kick, then went to the apron while Aminata was draped over the middle rope and booted her head again before a PIP break. [C]
Aminata dropped Thekla with a kick. Aminata hooked her legs around Thekla’s head and then pulled Thekla’s head into her ass a few times (the Devil’s Fart?) Aminata followed up with a top rope double stomp for a near fall. Thekla came back and hooked Aminata in her submission finisher and got the win…
Thekla defeated Queen Aminata in 10:55.
Powell’s POV: Good news for Thekla. Dynamite and Collision will go back to being two-hour shows next week, so the company can’t extend this weird streak of having her matches in the fourth hour. I’d say this match should have been more of a showcase for Thekla, but it’s not like it matters this late in a four-hour show.
Jon Moxley, Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, Claudio Castagnoli, and Wheeler Yuta vs. Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata in a ten-man tag…
Backstage, Lexi Nair stood with Nick Wayne and Kip Sabin. She asked Sabian if the surprise that Christian Cage said Sabian had for Wayne was ready. Wayne asked where Christian was. Sabian said Christian wants to give Wayne some space because Wayne deserves it after all the hard work he’s put in. Wayne asked where his mother was. Sabian said Christian also wanted to put in some hard work with her.
Sabian set up a “Best of the Super Juniors” highlight package that featured Wayne looking strong during his matches. Wayne said he loved it and thanked Sabian, who said that’s what brothers are for. Sabian said Christian is really proud of Wayne. Sabian said he didn’t know where he’d be without Nick. Sabian closed by saying he didn’t know where Nick would be without Christian…
Schiavone hyped the main event… [C] A video package recapped the Omega and Okada angle from the top of the show. Schiavone said Omega had been taken to a nearby hospital. He mentioned Omega’s past battle with diverticulitis, and then plugged Omega vs. Okada for the pay-per-view…
The heel team made their entrance with Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero. Daniel Garcia made his entrance with Matt Menard, and then The Paragon’s entrance followed…
6. Daniel Garcia and “The Paragon” Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, and Hechicero (w/Trent Beretta, Rocky Romero). Matt Menard sat in on commentary. Garcia did his dance while Hechicero was down during the opening minute. Archer had O’Reilly down heading into a PIP break. [C]
Schiavone touted next week’s show as being 2.5 hours, and the graphics for the matches were shown. Late in the match, O’Reilly took out Beretta and Romero when they tried to interfere. Takeshita blasted Strong with a forearm Strike while the referee was distracted, and then Alexander suplexed Strong and pinned him…
Konosuke Takeshita, Josh Alexander, Lance Archer, and Hechicero defeated Daniel Garcia, Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly in 12:10.
What’s, um, better than a 10-man tag? Apparently, a 12-man tag. Schiavone credited Tony Khan with informing him that next week’s show will feature Bandido, Adam Cole, Daniel Garcia, Brody King, Templario, and Atlantis Jr. vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Kyle Fletcher, Josh Alexander, Hechicero, Dax Harwood, and Cash Wheeler. The heels celebrated their win to close the show…
Powell’s POV: The four-hour marathon is over. I really hope that TNT losing the NBA means there won’t be four-hour blocks of AEW next year at this time. AEW did their best with the pacing, but four consecutive hours of a pro wrestling television product is just too much. I will be back later tonight with my audio review of AEW Dynamite, and then Will Pruett will be by on Thursday with his audio review of Collision for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Let us know what you thought of the Summer Blockbuster by grading it below.
The obsession with so many multi-man tag matches that aew still has is mind numbingly dull to me
I couldn’t agree more.