By Don Murphy, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@DonThePredictor)
AEW Collision (Episode 168 – Fright Night)
Taped on October 28, 2026, in St. Louis, Missouri, at Chaifetz Arena
Simulcast on October 31, 2026, on TNT and HBO Max
[Hour One] Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, and Paul Wight checked in on commentary. McGuinness was dressed as kind of a zombie/vampire combination. Arkady Aura was the ring announcer.
1. Tommaso Ciampa vs. Matt Sydal (w/Christopher Daniels). Ciampa looked like something out of Braveheart, but I am sure it’s an homage to something more current that I am just not aware of. The match started slowly, with Ciampa using some stalling heel tactics. Sydal took control and delivered double knees on the floor at one point. While climbing back into the ring, Ciampa knocked Sydal off the apron with a running knee. [C]
Ciampa caught Sydal with another knee as he jumped off the ropes. Sydal eventually made the babyface comeback. After a series of offense, Ciampa caught Sydal running off the ropes and delivered Project Ciampa, which is the double knees to the back. Ciampa followed up with a running knee strike and, finally, the Kill Shot knee strike, where he lowers his kneepad, for the win.
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Matt Sydal in 11:54.
Don’s Take: I was optimistic when Sydal returned, but I think this is the first time I’ve seen him on main AEW programming since then. They’re building Ciampa up for another run at Andrade El Idolo, which was announced for next Saturday’s Collision, coming live from the Jericho Cruise. The title doesn’t do anything for me, but I would be in favor of a National Title run for Ciampa. If anyone can elevate it, he’d have a good shot to do so. Finally, I have to ask, who has lost more as a manager/coach – Christopher Daniels or Aaron Glenn, head coach of my woe-be-gone New York Jets?
A video package highlighted a key AEW moment that took place in tonight’s host city – St. Louis, Missouri, when Swerve Strickland won the AEW Title from Samoa Joe at AEW Dynasty on April 21, 2024.
Don’s Take: This was a nice touch, and I’d like to see them utilize their history more in promoting some of these cities.
2. “The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin (w/MVP) vs. Nick Comoroto and Aaron Solo (w/Griff Garrison). Comoroto and Solo attacked before the bell. The referee started the match without any admonition. This quickly turned into a squash match. Lashley speared Comoroto on the floor. MVP threw Garrison into the ring so that Lashley could spear him. Lashley then speared Solo twice for the win.
“The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin defeated Griff Garrison, Nick Comoroto and Aaron Solo in 4:12.
Don’s Take: Well, I can take the “missing” signs off the milk cartons or the Hurt Syndicate. With the recent additions of tag teams in AEW, there has to be a place for them, right?
Gabe Kidd, Jon Moxley, Daniel Garcia, Wheeler Yuta, and Marina Shafir cut a backstage promo. Kidd talked about his history with David Finlay and Clark Connors and how he was going to destroy them for betraying him. Moxley said “Goodness gracious” and talked about how if the Cut knew where the Death Riders came from, they wouldn’t say that they’re outnumbered, as they’ve always been outnumbered.
Shafir, who wore a shirt that read “Professionals that give a shit,” added to this by talking about how they’ve been outnumbered from the beginning and their mission was to always put the work in. Garcia said without Claudio Castagnoli, they may be outnumbered, but the Cut is outmatched. Yuta and Kidd shouted, “Against the world.” [C]
Persephone and Britt Baker were backstage after Dynamite. Persephone yelled repeatedly that Queen Aminata took her title. She added that there’s one spot left on the women’s Blood and Guts teams and she wants her title back. Baker yelled, “Give her back her title, you twit.”
3. Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue vs. Hazuki, Koguma, and Fuwa-chan for the Artist of Stardom Championship. The Stardom trio started strong, but the Triangle of Madness quickly gained control. [C]
Good action down the stretch, with the Triangle of Madness locking all three of the Stardom team members in the Iron Octopus. Thekla hit spears on Koguma and Hazuki and dove onto them on the floor. In the ring, after a near fall on Fuwa-chan, Blue distracted the referee so that Hart could spit the mist in her eyes. Blue and Hart delivered a double team move to Fuwa-chan for the win.
Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue defeated Hazuki, Koguma, and Fuwa-chan in 13:04 to retain the Artist of Stardom Championship.
The two teams briefly continued fighting after the bell.
Don’s Take: I don’t follow Stardom, so I’m not familiar with the Stardom talent, this title, and its prominence. It was logical to have Thekla, Hart, and Blue go over since they will be featured in the Women’s Blood and Guts match on Dynamite. Speaking of Blood and Guts, during the match, Tony Khan made it official and added TBS Champion Queen Aminata and Persephone to the match.
Samoa Joe, Hook, and Katsuyori Shibata were backstage. Joe talked about the importance of perception and how the initial perception of the Opps was a group not to be approached. He said, ” Now, people are barking a little louder, and it may be due to a failure in leadership or a failure in who is allowed to lead.” Joe glanced at Hook. Joe said that the man who choked out the TNT Champion and made the AEW World Champion tap out is here and that the perception of the Opps will change. He closed by saying, “Maybe we change the nature of the beast,” and glanced at Hook again and walked away.
Don’s Take: This seems like a foreshadowing of either Hook being kicked out of the group or a dismantling of the group altogether. Either way, that works for me, as the group just hasn’t meant anything in some time.
4. Ilja Dragunov vs. The Beast Mortos. The two traded hard chops to start. Mortos hit a Samoan Drop while Dragunov hit a missile dropkick. [C]
[Hour Two] Tons of hard-hitting action and near falls down the stretch. The two continued to exchange hard chops. In the end, Dragunov hit a headbutt, followed by a Torpedo Moscow, and finally, his D-Bomb finisher for the win.
Ilja Dragunov defeated The Beast Morton in 10:57.
After the match, Tommaso Ciampa came on to the stage to taunt Dragunov in the ring.
Don’s Take: I won’t raise any red flags yet, but I truly hope Collision isn’t Dragunov’s fate. He’s far too talented and brings a different style than many on the AEW roster. Putting him in meaningless matches will produce good action, but he can bring so much more to the table. That said, I am looking forward to the Dragunov/Ciampa match they are building to.
A video package recapped the Nick Wayne/Chris Jericho segment from a week ago on Dynamite. This was followed by Nick Wayne walking around Miami and in various bars/nightclubs, telling everyone that he beat Chris Jericho. Whenever he said this, pyro shot off in the arena. Cute.
5. Mike Bailey vs. Darius Martin (w/Christopher Daniels). The crowd was tame for the early part of the match. The action spilled to the floor, and Bailey almost struck Daniels with a kick. Daniels inadvertently distracted Daniels, allowing Martin to get the upper hand. Martin mounted Bailey and delivered punches on the floor. Daniels pulled Martin off. Martin then hit a tornado DDT on the floor. [C]
Bailey made a comeback. The two exchanged blows. After a series of moves and near falls, Bailey trapped Martin in a straitjacket roll-up for the win.
Mike Bailey defeated Darius Martin in 8:59.
At Daniels’ prodding, the two shook hands after the match. Martin seemed to hesitate just a little bit.
Don’s Take: This was fine but mostly served as filler. The curse of Christopher Daniels continues. Bailey is missing a tooth, but I am not sure if that happened during this match.
A Will Ospreay video package aired and spoke about his past battles with Kyle Fletcher. He said the landscape is different now and they’re both stronger. He said before their match at Full Gear, they have to get through Blood and Guts. Ospreay said that Fletcher will have two choices – submit or surrender.
6. Megan Bayne and Lena Kross vs. Nixi XS and Leela Feist. Bayne was dressed as a rather provocative Fred Flintstone. The heels attacked at the bell and completely dominated. Bayne and Kross hit the Divine Intervention on Feist – on top of XS, who was laid out as well. Bayne covered both for the win.
Megan Bayne and Lena Kross defeated Nixi XS and Leela Feist in 2:02.
Don’s Take Another showcase win for talent in Wednesday’s Blood and Guts.
Queen Aminata, Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, and Harley Cameron were backstage. The babyface team asked the heel team if they were ready for Blood and Guts. Nightingale spoke about all her team members, and when she got to Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor, Statlander reminded Nightingale that Hayter and Windsor were not there this week, same as last week. She also said that she and Cameron were facing Hayter and Windsor for the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles at Full Gear. They all agreed to put differences aside for a common enemy.
7. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Adam Priest. The two were evenly matched from the start and ended up on the floor. Takeshita hit a DDT on the floor. [C]
The two exchanged blows with Takeshita in the ring and Priest on the apron. In the ring, Priest gained control and locked Takeshita in a half crab. The finish saw Takeshita hit a knee strike out of a backslide attempt. Takeshita then hit a rolling forearm strike, followed by Raging Fire for the win.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Adam Priest in 8:18.
Don’s Take: I hope they find something meaningful for Takeshita to do. He seems to be out of the main title and Continental title picture. He’s too talented to be relegated to meaningless Collision matches.
Thekla, Julia Hart, Skye Blue, Megan Bayne, Lena Kross, and Persephone were backstage. They each took turns talking about Blood and Guts. The best line was Thekla saying that for every bitch, there’s a real one ready to take them out. [C]
A video package recapped the history between AEW Women’s Champion Mercedes Mone and Marina Shafir ahead of their title match at Full Gear.
8. Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly vs. Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn. The heels attacked at the bell, but the babyfaces quickly retaliated. The Conglomeration took turns hitting the ten punches in the corner on Robinson. The heels eventually took over and began focusing on O’Reilly. [C]
O’Reilly came back and made the hot tag to Cassidy. The heels attacked right away, but Strong came in without being tagged and cleaned house. Cassidy was back in and went back and forth with Colten Gunn.
The finish saw O’Reilly with an ankle lock submission on Robinson. This brought out Clark Connors and David Finlay to brawl with Cassidy and Strong. Ace Austin climbed on the apron, causing O’Reilly to release the hold and go after him. This distracted the referee, allowing Jay White to slip brass knuckles to Juice Robinson. Robinson knocked out O’Reilly for the win.
Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn defeated Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, and Kyle O’Reilly in 12:52.
After the match, the entire Cut faction laid out O’Reilly, Cassidy, and Strong as Collision came to an end.
Don’s Take: The fanbase and creative seem to still be high on the Conglomeration, but they seem to be spinning their wheels. There was a time when they showed more aggression, and I’m wondering if we’ll see more of that. The Cut faction isn’t doing it for me thus far.
This was a standard episode as we prepare for Blood and Guts and get closer to Full Gear. We should be all in on the Full Gear build after Wednesday, and I’ll be interested to see how the card continues to take shape.
That’s all for me for tonight. Will Pruett’s audio review of tonight’s episode will be available for Dot Net Members (including Patreon patrons. I’ll be back next week with the Collision review, emanating from the Jericho Cruise, as well as my WWE Crown Jewel predictions. Until then, enjoy wrestling!
