By Don Murphy, ProWrestling.net Staffer (@DonThePredictor)
AEW Collision (Episode 162)
Charleston, West Virginia, at the Charleston Coliseum
Simulcast live on September 19, 2026, on TNT and HBO Max
[Hour One] Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and Paul Wight checked in on commentary. Schiavone ran down the evening’s lineup and then threw to a pre-taped promo…
Jon Moxley said that he could apologize for what happened to Francesco Akira on Dynamite, as the “red-haired kid” didn’t deserve that, but that would be robbing Will Ospreay of his responsibility in the matter. He added that Ospreay chose a conflict with the Death Riders, and with that comes collateral.
Moxley said that his problem with the match is not the possibility of losing, but the likelihood of winning, as he doesn’t know what becomes of Ospreay in that scenario. He added that the climb from the back of an ambulance at the O2 Arena in London all the way to the top of the world at Wembley Stadium was a long one. The fall will be even longer, and he doesn’t know if Ospreay can make that climb again. He said he can’t be by Ospreay’s side this time and has given him everything he has, including the gift of friction.
Moxley said that he’s been to the highest of highs and fallen all the way down – as low as you can go. He added that he climbed all the way back up and no one understands more than him about the cliff that Ospreay is about to fall off. He concluded by saying that Ospreay will be introduced to a powerful truth. The universe pulls gently at first and then pulls really hard. And that’s called gravity…
Don’s Take: Great promo by Moxley. Also, approximately 30 minutes before the show started, WrestleTix listed the venue as being set up for 2,608 people, with 2,260 tickets distributed. Capacity for the venue is approximately 13,500.
Arkady Aura was the ring announcer and introduced the opening match….
1. Darby Allin vs. Myron Reed for the TNT Title. This match was even, with chain wrestling to start. Allin went for the coffin drop early, but Reed took Allin’s legs out while on the top rope, sending him to the floor. Reed hit a dive onto Allin on the floor by diving over the ring post. [C]
Allin hit a superplex on Reed coming out of the break. The two battled on the floor. Reed rolled Allin back in the ring and missed a 450 splash. Allin hit a destroyer for a near fall. Allin dove onto Reed on the floor. Back in the ring, Allin went for the coffin drop again, but Reed rolled out of the ring before Allin could execute the move. Allin went for another dive on the floor but was caught with a cutter. Allin rolled to the other side of the ring when Reed went for a top rope move.
Allin was on the apron, and Reed ran across the ring and hit another cutter to the floor. Reed hit a 450 splash for a near fall, as Allin got his foot on the bottom rope. Allin went to the floor. Reed tried a third dive, but Allin moved, and Reed landed on a chair that was at ringside. Allin rolled Reed back in the ring and hit the coffin drop from the top rope for the win.
Darby Allin defeated Myron Reed in 11:23 to retain the TNT Title.
After the match, Zachary Wentz came out to check on Reed, and Steve Borden came out to check on Allin. Allin and Reed exchanged respectful words. Allin took the mic and put over Reed, saying that he showed everyone he belongs. He told Borden that teaming with Borden’s father, Sting, was one of the greatest things he’s done in his life. But at All Out, they have a chance to become number one contenders for the titles that he and Sting never lost. He said Borden doesn’t run away from challenges, and he expects to run through the division the same way he and Sting did. Allin said at All Out, they’re jumping right into the fire.
Borden said he knows how much winning the titles with Sting meant to Allin. He added that although he’s new, he’ll give whatever he has to offer and lay it all on the line to help Allin win the titles again. He said if they can do that, it checks two boxes. The first is winning the titles. The second for Borden is winning the titles with Allin as his partner. He concluded by saying that next Saturday, “let’s become number one contenders,” and after that, “let’s go win those tag team titles.” The two embraced…
Don’s Take: I’m not usually a fan of Allin’s daredevil style, but I enjoyed this one. I wouldn’t mind seeing them run it back. I also like the journey they’re taking us on with Allin and Borden. That said, I do hope they don’t rush things and put the titles on them before the end of the year. Rather, I’d like to see a slow build to their title shot – perhaps even have them fall short a couple of times before they win. Borden needs reps in the ring, so let’s not rush things. And, looking very far ahead, you could set the foundation for the eventual Borden heel turn, resenting Allin for using his father, or something similar.
A video package aired on Tommaso Ciampa that recapped the events of Dynamite where he attacked AEW International Champion Kazuchika Okada. Ciampa said that this was the one match he wanted since joining AEW…
An “After Dynamite” promo aired with Don Callis, Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight, and Okada. Callis said Stokely Hathaway’s strategy on Dynamite was idiotic, but his team is still pristine and should be in the ladder match at All Out for the tag titles. Knight said he wasn’t sure about teaming with that “flamingo” (Fletcher), but they’ve had some success and now are in line to be number one contenders for the tag team titles, which are the titles the Callis Family has never won.
Fletcher agreed with the sentiment and said all they have to do is beat Allin and Borden. He added that he’s all about bringing gold to the family and trusting Callis since Okada may lose his title to Ciampa after the attack on Dynamite. Okada stared down Fletcher and told Ciampa, “Be careful what you wish for – you wanted the Rainmaker, and now you have him, but you won’t have the International Title.” Okada yelled in Japanese and walked off… [C]
Backstage, Juice Robinson played the role of a football coach and was joined by Jay White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Ace Austin. Robinson challenged the Dogs and the Death Riders to an eight-man “Tailgate Brawl” on next Saturday’s Collision, which will air live at 7 PM ET/6 PM CT – one hour before the start of the All Out pay-per-view.
2. Thekla vs. Zayda Steel (w/Christopher Daniels). Willow Nightingale sat in on commentary. Steel offered Thekla a handshake, but Thekla slapped her. Steel lunged at Thekla and attacked her. Thekla quickly regained the advantage. Thekla slapped Steel again, but this time, Steel slapped her back. After some brief offense by Steel, Thekla sent her to the floor with a running knee. Thekla mocked Nightingale at the announce desk. [C]
Steel was still on the floor. Thekla threw her back in the ring and continued to jaw with Nightingale. This allowed Steel to recover and hit a baseball slide dropkick. Steel hit a flurry of offense, including one spot where she had Thekla in the tree of woe and delivered a double stomp from the top rope for a near fall.
In the end, Thekla went to the eyes, did her spider walk, and hit a spear. Thekla picked Steel up during the count. Thekla then delivered a curb stomp for the win.
Thekla defeated Zayda Steel in 11:30.
Julia Hart came to the ring and raised Thekla’s hand…
A video package aired previewing Thekla and Willow Nightingale at All Out. The winner faces Mercedes Mone for the AEW Women’s Title at WrestleDream in October. [C]
Don’s Take: This was a little clunky, but I liked the fire Steel showed here in defeat. That said, I question the decision to have Thekla take over 11 minutes to beat Steel when she is in the title hunt. But that’s an AEW thing.
3. Pac vs. Adam Priest. Pac attacked at the bell. This was a competitive but short match, with Priest attempting to lock Pac in the single-leg Boston crab. In the end, it was Pac delivering a running boot in the corner, followed by a tombstone and into the Brutalizer submission.
Pac defeated Adam Priest in 4:14.
Pac was leaving over the ringside barricade as Andrade El Idolo made his entrance for the next match…
Don’s Take: This was fine. I’m guessing we’ll get a future match between Andrade and Pac.
[Hour Two] Entrances for the AEW National Championship match took place…
4. Andrade El Idolo vs. Daniel Garcia (w/Marina Shafir) for the AEW National Championship. The match was even to start. El Idolo teased the spot where he takes off his pants, but Garcia attacked him. El Idolo quickly sent Garcia out of the ring and dove onto him. [C]
Garcia punched El Idolo in the corner but stopped before ten. Tons of action down the stretch. In a fun spot, Garcia tried to take a selfie with a female fan at ringside, as El Idolo does. The fan was hesitant, and Shafir chased Garcia away and told him to concentrate on the match. El Idolo eventually did the spot where he took his pants off while back-dropping Garcia over the ropes.
The finish was a mess. Garcia appeared to be going for a Boston crab. El Idolo rolled him up, and both wrestlers’ shoulders were down as the referee, Bryce Remsburg, counted three. El Idolo adjusted himself so only Garcia’s shoulders were down, and Remsburg counted three again.
Andrade El Idolo defeated Daniel Garcia in 13:22 to retain the AEW National Championship.
After the match, El Idolo tried to shake Garcia’s hand but was attacked by Wheeler Yuta, Pac, Gabe Kidd, Shafir, and Claudio Castagnoli. Pac challenged El Idolo to a match at All Out. EL Idolo called him a “perro,” and the attack continued. Francesco Akira came out for the save, but he was taken out by Shafir. “Speedball” Mike Bailey came out and ran off the heels with a chair. [C]
Don’s Take: OK, I get that the goal here was to set up Pac vs. Andrade at All Out. But this was a mess. First, there was the finish I outlined above. Second, why is Akira running out on fire when he took a large beatdown on Dynamite? I get it was three nights ago, but I would have sold it a bit better. Third, Bailey had a chair, but it was still four on one, and the Death Riders are supposed to be killers.
5. “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. Wheeler Yuta. This was standard back-and-forth action. Heading to the break, Bailey had the advantage by diving onto Yuta on the floor. [C]
Yuta hit an avalanche belly-to-back suplex from the top rope. Down the stretch, there were tons of near falls, and Bailey missed his double knee jump twice. In a clunky spot, Yuta missed the busaiku knee and had to position himself to take a knee from Bailey. In the end, Bailey pinned Yuta after a sunset flip.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey defeated Wheeler Yuta in 11:21.
After the match, Bailey was attacked by Yuta, Marina Shafir, Daniel Garcia, David Finlay, Clark Connors, and Gabe Kidd. Shafir had Bailey held for a Finlay shot with the shillelagh, but was interrupted by Jay White, Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, and Ace Austin. The two teams brawled and were separated by security. It was announced that these are the two teams that will meet next Saturday night during the Tailgate Brawl…
Don’s Take: The match was fine, but I don’t get how they’re establishing that Jon Moxley, the challenger for the world title, hangs around with a group that he builds up as killers – and all they do is lose. And if I never see another variation of the Dogs and Death Riders vs. the Bang Bang Gang again, it will be too soon.
A weird Jack Perry vignette aired. The best I could tell, he was walking in the woods, and the screen had a red effect. He said something about walking with killers and facing the best to become the best. Perry stuck a knife in a tree…
Hook, Anthony Bowens, and the ROH TV Champion, Action Andretti were backstage. Hook said they didn’t think Perry was stupid but learned otherwise when he mentioned Samoa Joe. They brought in Katsuyori Shibata and said that if Perry wants to talk to Joe, he’ll have to go through Shibata…
6. Queen Aminata and Mina Shirakawa vs. Georgia South and Emily Jaye. South is of no relation to 80s enhancement wrestler George South. Yes, I looked it up. This was a squash as Shirakawa locked Jaye in the figure-four leglock, while Aminata delivered a running knee and pinned South.
Queen Aminata and Mina Shirakawa defeated Georgia South and Emily Jaye in 2:45.
Don’s Take: Shirakawa and Aminata were opponents last week. But I’m OK with that, as the women’s tag division simply needs more teams.
Nick Wayne cut a backstage promo, saying that he wasn’t upset to lose to Chris Jericho. What upset him was Jericho trying to shake his hand and treat him like a rookie. He said he sees right through Jericho and said that Jericho didn’t teach him anything. He said he may have taught Jericho a thing or two and concluded by saying that maybe Jericho doesn’t know what he doesn’t know. [C]
A video package previewed Jon Moxley vs. Will Ospreay for the AEW World Title at All Out…
7. AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley vs. Zachary Wentz in an eliminator match. Wentz got in some initial offense, but Moxley countered with a cutter. [C] Wentz made a spirited effort with offense, but this was a showcase for Moxley. Wentz missed a top rope dive, allowing Moxley to hit a curb stop followed by the Death Rider for the win.
AEW Continental Champion Jon Moxley defeated Zachary Wentz in 9:21 in an eliminator match.
After the match, Moxley was joined in the ring by the rest of the Death Riders. The group left through the crowd as the show came to a close…
Don’s Take: With Moxley challenging for the title, I’m glad that this was less competitive than we’ve seen before. It was treated more like a squash and didn’t overstay its welcome.
This was a decent episode as we added some more developments for All Out and the Tailgate Brawl. I also liked that we got a bit more mic work and promos than usual. Incidentally, for the Tailgate Brawl, an eight-man match was made official between David Finlay, Clark Connors, Wheeler Yuta, and Daniel Garcia vs. Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Ace Austin, and Jay White. Jack Perry vs. Katsuyori Shibata was also made official.
That’s all for me for tonight. Will Pruett’s review of tonight’s episode will be available for Dot Net Members (including Patreon patrons. And I’ll be back next week with another review and my All Out picks. Don’t forget that Dynamite and Collision is a three-hour special on Wednesday. And until then, enjoy wrestling!
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