By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision (Episode 106)
Taped August 14, 2025, in Cincinnati, Ohio, at Andrew J Brady Music Center
Simulcast live August 16, 2025, on TNT and Max
[Hour One] Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard checked in on commentary. AEW Women’s Champion Toni Storm made her entrance while being introduced by ring announcer Arkady Aura. Storm stood on the stage and spoke about Athena, saying she’s a record-breaking woman and yet also annoying.
Storm questioned how many nicknames Athena needs. Storm dropped to her knees and prayed that Athena would end up leaving London on a budget airline with Storm’s ass prints on her face. Storm was about to close out her promo when she was interrupted.
Athena showed up and threw a kick that Storm avoided. Storm beat Athena down until Billie Starkz ran out and hit Storm from behind. Athena grabbed the mic and said that if Storm wants to play, she would expose her for the fraud that she is. Athena called Storm an idiot and said she’d be nothing without sexual innuendo.
Athena had Starkz bring Storm to the ring. Athena stood on the stage and said that Storm’s days are numbered. Athena spoke of taking the division to new heights once she becomes the forever champion. Athena called for her spotlight and then struck a pose on the stage.
Mina Shirakawa made her entrance. In the ring, Storm grabbed a distracted Starkz and gave her a German suplex. Athena tried to play nice and then dove off the stage and into the arms of security guards once Storm and Shirakawa got close to her. Storm and Shirakawa traded peck kisses on the entrance ramp to close out the segment…
A video package recapped the Hangman Page and MJF segments from AEW Dynamite… The broadcast team hyped some AEW Forbidden Door matches…
Jon Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir entered the building and then walked through the crowd while their entrance music played. Moxley and Yuta stood at ringside while Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey made their entrance. Knight and Bailey dove onto Moxley and heels and fought with them at ringside…
1. Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta (w/Marina Shafir) vs. “JetSpeed” Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey. The referee started the match once a member of each team was inside the ring. A short time later, Bailey caught Yuta with a Crane Kick. Moxley ran in and raked the eyes of Bailey. Knight and Bailey hit Moxley with a double dropkick. Moxley battled back and hit Bailey with a German suplex on the apron heading into the first picture-in-picture commercial break. [C]
Moxley and Bailey traded rolling elbows and the had a chop battle. Yuta and Knight entered the ring and joined the chop fest. Bailey threw a superkick that Moxley avoided, and then Moxley put him down with a cutter for a near fall. Yuta checked in and ate a big kick from Bailey, who had him pinned until Moxley broke it up.
Knight pulled Yuta off the ropes with a huracanrana and shot him into Bailey, who hit Yuta with a powerbomb on his way down. This would have been a cool finish, but it was only good for a near fall. A “this is awesome” chant broke out. Knight had Yuta pinned with a backslide when Shafir pulled Knight out of the ring. Bailey ran over and pushed Shafir, who then charged him. Bailey sidestepped Shafir and shoved her into the ring steps.
Bailey went to the apron, but Moxley pulled him down. Moxley entered the ring and kicked Knight. Yuta went for the Busaiku Knee, but Knight moved, causing Yuta to take out Moxley. Bailey hit Yuta with a spin kick. Knight hit a top rope splash. Shafir distracted the referee long enough that Yuta was able to kick out of Knight’s pin once the referee finally counted. Moxley put Bailey down with a Death Rider on the floor. Yuta hit a distracted Knight with a low blow and then rolled him into a pin…
Jon Moxley and Wheeler Yuta defeated “JetSpeed” Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey in 16:25.
Schiavone hyped the four-way “technical spectacle” match while brief footage aired of all four men… [C]
Powell’s POV: A strong opening tag match. I was really hoping that the established tag team would go over, but they went with the singles wrestlers instead. It’s fine if they intend to turn this into a program and eventually put the actual tag team over,. Otherwise, this was what I now call a Smackdown Special.
An Outrunners video called “Brother Nature” was shown. Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum were dressed in military garb while doing things in an outdoor setting. It closed with them fishing, roasting marshmallows, and doing their bro handshake…
Ricochet made his entrance. Ace Austin’s entrance followed. There were some fans who applauded, but most didn’t react until he was billed as being from Ohio…
2. Ricochet vs. Ace Austin. Austin went for an early springboard move, but Ricochet pulled the top rope, causing Austin to fall onto it. Ricochet was on the offensive heading into a PIP break. [C] Austin took control coming out of the break.
“Gates of Agony” Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona walked out, which distracted Austin long enough to let Ricochet regain control. Ricochet showed frustration over not being able to get the pin. A loud “Let’s Go, Ace” chant broke out. Austin caught Ricochet in a pin for a two count, but Ricochet got up and drilled Asutin with a knee strike.
Ricochet went up top. Austin shot up and bounced into the ropes, which crotched Ricochet on the top turnbuckle. Austin used his legs to pull Ricochet off the ropes and then he sent him to ringside. Austin performed a dive onto Ricochet and Kaun. Austin threw Ricochet back inside the ring.
Liona stopped Ricochet from returning to the ring, but Austin knocked him down and got back in the ring. Kaun returned to the apron. Austin sent Ricochet crashing into Kaun to knock him to the floor. Austin rolled up Ricochet for a near fall. Austin hoisted up Ricochet, who raked his eyes and then pulled his hair to get him down on the mat. Richochet hit the Spirit Gun and scored the pin.
Ricochet beat Ace Austin in 10:25.
After the match, Kaun and Liona hit their finisher on Ricochet.
Powell’s POV: Austin had a good enough outing that he was signed to an AEW contract afterward. This was an enjoyable match, and Austin is a talented wrestler, but it’s hard to be excited about him signing with the same company that books fellow former TNA star Josh Alexander as a henchman in the Don Callis Family.
Renee Paquette interviewed “The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP, and asked about facing the winners of the FTR vs. Brodido match at Forbidden Door. MVP said they are both talented teams, but he showed no concern. Paquette asked if they were all on the same page. MVP laughed about the idea of drama, saying it’s just idiots who drum it up online…
Blake Christian and Lee Johnson made their entrance for a tag team match…
Backstage, Paquette interviewed Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly. She brought up Adam Cole having to step away and questioned whether emotion would play into their match. Strong was bothered, but O’Reilly tried to play it cool.
Hologram and Tomohiro Ishii showed up. Strong looked into the camera and said everyone will pay until he gets his hands on Kyle Fletcher. Strong walked away. O’Reilly spoke about the world of the day being “momentum” and then fired up while talking about all the things they would do after the match (including eating Skyline Chili, which is tremendous).
3. Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Blake Christian and Lee Johnson. Late in the match, O’Reilly jumped off the apron and took out Johnson with a knee strike on the floor. In the ring, Strong caught Christian with a knee strike of his own. Strong and O’Reilly hit their high/low move on Christian, and then O’Reilly pinned him…
Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly beat Blake Christian and Lee Johnson in roughly 5:00.
After the match, Hologram and Tomohiro Ishii came out to celebrate with Strong and O’Reilly. O’Reilly was happy to join them, but Strong walked away… [C]
Backstage, Bandido was laid out while Stokley Hathaway and “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler stood over him. Hathaway pulled Bandido’s mask off. Brody King showed up and fought Harwood and Wheeler and eventually got them both inside the ring. King dominated the FTR duo.
[Hour Two] King set up for a cannonball on Harwood and Wheeler, but Hathaway grabbed his leg. King grabbed Hathaway, who threw powder in his face. Harwood and Wheeler hit King with the Shatter Machine. Hathaway looked into a ringside camera and said FTR would become No. 1 contenders…
“Sky Flight” Scorpio Sky, Dante Martin, Darius Martin, Leila Grey, and Christopher Daniels delivered a backstage promo. Dante recalled Don Callis sending his goons after them before they even got started. Scorpio challenged Callis to a singles, tag, or trios match next week in Glasgow. Grey cussed. Daniels said she had to pay $5 per the faction’s previous agreement…
Entrances for the four-way took place…
4. Julia Hart vs. Kris Statlander vs. Penelope Ford vs. Anna Jay in a four-way for $100,000. A few minutes into the match, Ford dropkicked Jay into the middle rope heading into a PIP break. [C] There was a nice sequence that resulted in all four wrestlers staying down for a moment. The fans applauded, and then a “this is awesome” chant broke out. A short time later, Jay put Ford down with a DDT on the entrance ramp. In the ring, Statlander put Hart in a submission hold and got the submission win…
Kris Statlander beat Julia Hart, Penelope Ford, and Anna Jay in a four-way to earn $100,000.
After the match, Statlander made the money sign with her hand. Thekla and Sky Blue ran out and attacked her. Queen Aminata ran out to help Statlander. Tay Melo also showed up, but Ford got the better of her on the ramp. Megan Bayne came out and joined in on beating up the babyfaces. Harley Cameron’s entrance music played. Cameron ran out wearing a face shield, and she had a weapon. The heels all fled the ring…
Powell’s POV: I can’t wait to see how winning $100,000 will change the Statlander character. Wait, if every other AEW money match is any indication, the prize money will be mentioned in passing once or twice, but it won’t really lead to anything. It’s nice to see Cameron back, but it felt like it was a bit much to have all the heels run away from her, even if she had the weapon.
Backstage, TNT Champion Kyle Fletcher delivered a promo while Lance Archer and Hechicero stood by. Fletcher mentioned that Konosuke Takeshita went to the G1 Climax Tournament finals in Japan. Archer said Sky Flight should keep the Callis Family’s name out of their mouths. Fletcher wished Takeshita luck, and said they love Don Callis and hope they continue to make him proud… [C]
Backstage, Paquette tried to congratulate Kris Statlander for winning the prize money. Statlander cut her off and threw some confetti in the air while talking about how she doesn’t need anyone to tell her who she is or what she’s worth. Harley Cameron showed up and jumped into Statlander’s arms after she failed to pick her up. Jon Moxley showed up. Statlander set Cameron down. “Damn right,” Moxley said to Statlander before walking away. Yuta told her she had a great work ethic…
5. Juice Robinson (w/Austin Gunn) vs. Bryan Keith (w/Big Bill). Both entrances were televised. Schiavone said Wednesday’s Dynamite was the N0. 1 show on cable television. Keith dumped Robinson on the top rope, and Robinson tumbled to ringside heading into a PIP break. [C]
Before the break, Schaivone announced Jon Moxley going face-to-face with Will Ospreay, and Moxley, Wheeler Yuta, and Claudio Castagnoli vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi, Mike Bailey, and Kevin Knight for Wednesday’s Dynamite in Glasgow, Scotland.
Big Bill climbed on the apron. Gunn pulled him to the floor and tried to run him into the barricade, but Bill reversed it. Bill charged Austin, who moved, causing Bill to crash into the barricade. In the ring, Robinson hit the Left Hand of God and then followed up with Pulp Friction for the win…
Juice Robinson beat Bryan Keith in roughly 6:00.
Cincinnati Reds player Jose Trevino was shown in the front row… Schiavone hyped Max Caster’s latest open challenge for Dynamite…
Backstage, Paquette interviewed Anthony Bowens, who said he was supposed to be the star when The Acclaimed broke up. He said he threw out the first pitch an MLB game, attended the Nobody 2 movie premier with his friends Bill Burr and Bob Odenkirk, and then he attended a cancer awareness event. Bowens asked why Caster gets the opportunity in Glasgow when he’s a pathetic loser. Bowens vented about Caster’s crowd chant…
Powell’s POV: Hanging out with Bill Burr and Bob Odenkirk would be fun, but I’d be just as excited to meet Odenkirk’s Better Call Saul co-star Rhea Seehorn, who was also at the movie premiere.
Entrances for the four-way main event took place. Other members of Shane Taylor Promotions walked out with Moriarty, but he headed to the ring alone…
6. Hechicero vs. Nigel McGuinness vs. Lee Moriarty vs. Daniel Garcia in a four-way for a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship held by Zack Sabre Jr. at Forbidden Door. Schiavone noted that there was a second referee at ringside for this match. All four men were down heading into an early break. [C]
McGuinness hit the Tower of London on Hechicero while simultaneously kicking Moriarty. McGuinness covered Hechicero, but Garcia broke up the pin. McGuinness and Garcia traded pin reversals. Hechicero kicked Garcia in hte face to end the exchange. Hechicero put McGuinness in a submission hold, and then McGuinness countered into a reverse figure four. Moriarty held Garcia up on his back.
McGuinness released his hold and went toward Garcia, who caught him in a triangle and eventually ecaped Moriarty’s hold. Garcia put McGuinness in a crossface while Hechicero put Moriarty in a submssion. Both holds were broken when the recipient reached the ropes. Hechicero used his legs to drive Moriarty’s head into the mat. McGuinness put Hechicero in the London Dungeon submission hold, and then Garcia put Moriarty in a Dragon Tamer. McGuinness released his hold to elbow Garcia in the face, which broke his hold.
Later, McGuinness caught Moriarty in the London Dungeon, while Garcia had Hechicero in the Dragon Tamer. McGuinness wrenched back on Moriarty’s arm and forced him to submit.
Nigel McGuinnesss defeated Lee Moriarty, Hechicero, and Daniel Garica in a four-way in 15:35 to earn a shot at the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door.
After the match, Garcia was dejected while sitting on the mat, and McGuinness celebrated his win. Renee Paquette entered the ring and spoke to McGuinness about having a dream match with Zack Sabre Jr. for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. McGuinness played to the crowd and spoke about making his dream a reality in London.
Matt Menard was shown standing on the floor talking with Garcia, who was still down on the mat. McGuinness told Garcia that he was close to winning, and then asked the crowd to applaud him. McGuinness said Garcia’s heart will get him a long way in the business.
McGuinness said it would be his honor if Garcia would be in his corner at Forbidden Door. A “yes” chant broke out. Garica shook McGuinness’s hand and hugged him. Garcia held up the arm of McGuinness and left the ring. Schiavone hyped previously advertised matches for Dynamite to close the show…
Powell’s POV: I love the idea of McGuinness facing Sabre at Forbidden Door. Garcia’s character showed a lot of frustration, so I assume we’re supposed to be questioning where he truly stands with McGuinness despite being friendly with him after this match. Speaking of which, I wanted to like this more than I did. I enjoy the submission style, but it didn’t work for me in the four-way format for some reason. Overall, a slightly better than average edition of Collision. Will Pruett’s audio reviews of AEW Collision are available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
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