By Jason Powell, ProWrestling.net Editor (@prowrestlingnet)
AEW Collision (Episode 63)
Springfield, Massachusetts at MassMutual Center
Aired live September 21, 2024 on TNT
[Hour One] Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness were on commentary, and Bobby Cruise was the ring announcer…
1. Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara vs. Matt Taven and Mike Bennett in a Bunkhouse Brawl for the ROH Tag Team Titles. The teams brawled during the entrances. There were various weapons in and around the ring. Bennett was the first man to bleed.
Guevara set up for a dive, but the challengers threw a chair at his head (he appeared to put his hands up). Bennett put Guevara on his shoulders and then Taven performed a suicide dive into a Doomsday Device on the floor. Taven landed on a chair at ringside.
Dustin went after the challengers, who hit him with a double superkick on the stage. Dustin backdropped Bennett on the ramp and then bulldogged Taven through tables that were set up next to the stage. The challengers brought Dustin back to the ring. Guevara executed a cutter from the apron that put Bennett through a table on the floor head into a picture-in-picture break. [C]
Guevara was climbing a ladder that was in the middle of the ring. Taven tipped the ladder over, causing Guevara to crash through two tables that were set up on the floor. Taven and Dustin were also bleeding. Bennett set up to hit Dustin with a belt buckle, but Dustin grabbed Taven and Bennett by the balls.
Dustin hit Bennett and Taven with a bull rope a few times. Dustin set up a chair in the middle of the ring and ended up powerslamming Taven on the edge of it. Dustin suplexed Taven on the chair. Ouch. A “this is awesome” chant broke out.
Bennett performed a Death Valley Driver on Dustin on top of two chairs in the middle of the ring. Bennett held a chair in front of Dustin’s face and then Taven delivered a knee strike. Guevara raced back to break up the pin attempt.
Guevara hit Taven with the GTH. Guevara crotched Bennett in the corner. Dustin wrapped barbwire around his boot and then hit Bennett with a Shattered Dreams kick. Dustin held Bennett down and then Guevara climbed to the top of a ladder in the ring and performed a Swanton Bomb that resulted in a three count…
Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara defeated Matt Taven and Mike Bennett in 13:15 in a Bunkhouse Brawl to retain the ROH Tag Team Titles.
Powell’s POV: A bloody brawl with a lot of weaponry to open the show. The live crowd enjoyed it.
Backstage, Lexi Nair was about to interview Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and Hologram, but she was interrupted by Mark Sterling, Josh Woods, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese. Sterling spoke about the mayor naming it AEW Day, then said Briscoe would not hit him in the balls again. After Briscoe delivered an over the top promo, Rocky Romero showed up and indicated that he’d be with the babyfaces to counter Sterling… [C]
Schiavone and McGuinness spoke from their desk on the stage and announced that Britt Baker will be in action at the Dynamite 5 show. Schiavone also hyped Queen Aminata vs. Serena Deeb for later in the show…
Backstage, Nair interviewed Evil Uno, who was accompanied by Alex Reynolds. Nair noted that Uno would face Darby Allin ahead of Allin’s match with Jon Moxley. Uno acted annoyed that she was looking past his match with Allin.
Darby Allin showed up and told Uno that there’s a war coming. Allin said Uno could lay down and die. He told him to play his video games and film his little skits, but not him. Allin said he would show everyone the difference between him and Uno.
Allin said he’s not lyying down and dying, he’s going to lead AEW into the future as the next world champion. Allin told Uno to remind him what he’s capable of. Allin told Uno to remind him that he still has that dog in him.
Allin said Uno’s been collecting a paycheck and coasting, and has been on cruise control for too long. Allin told Uno to show him what he can do. Uno went head to head with Allin and nudged him with his head while Allin said it’s not a joke anymore…
Powell’s POV: Good fire from Allin. Calling out Uno was solid, but I like the line about how a war is coming with Moxley and his crew. Allin has replaced Jon Moxley as the heart and soul of AEW, and not just because Moxley turned heel.
2. Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and Hologram (w/Rocky Romero) vs. “The Premier Athletes” Josh Woods, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling). Both entrances were televised and Sterling spoke over the house mic while walking his team to the ring. The referee was distracted while Sterling and Daivari put the boots to O’Reilly on the floor. Romero chased the heels away before a PIP break. [C]
Briscoe put Woods down with a Death Valley Driver. Briscoe went up top, but he was distracted by Sterling barking at him from the apron. Romero pulled Sterling to the floor and then backed off before Holograph hit Sterling with a suicide dive. Briscoe hit a Jay Driller on Woods and then pinned him…
Mark Briscoe, Kyle O’Reilly, and Hologram defeated “The Premier Athletes” Josh Woods, Ariya Daivari, and Tony Nese in 9:00.
Powell’s POV: There’s rarely any mystery regarding the outcome during a Premier Athletes match, but the live crowd enjoyed the babyface trio going over. By the way, Arkady Aura replaced Bobby Cruise as the ring announcer after the ROH opening match.
Schiavone hyped AEW Grand Slam and once again stated that Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness will take place if Danielson is cleared to wrestle…
Backstage, “MxM Collection” Mason Madden and Mansoor recalled saying they would give Max Caster’s jacket an extreme makeover. They said they would reveal the jacket as the finale for fashion week in New York at the Grand Slam event…
3. AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May vs. Lady Frost in an eliminator match. Both entrances were televised. May vs. Yuka Sakazaki for the AEW Women’s Title was hyped for Dynamite. May blew kisses to McGuinness, who acted aroused. Frost rolled up May for a two count.
May came back and hit a spinning slam, which McGuinness labeled a Mariah-Go-Round. Frost came back and dropkicked the kneeling May in the back. Frost performed a corkscrew dive from the ropes and got a near fall. May hit a German Suplex and then finished off Frost with Storm Zero…
AEW Women’s Champion Mariah May defeated Lady Frost in 3:30 in an eliminator match.
Powell’s POV: Fine for what it was. Frost was given a little offense before May got the inevitable win.
During the previous match, Schiavone announced Chris Jericho, Big Bill, and Bryan Keith vs. Orange Cassidy, Mark Briscoe, and Kyle O’Reilly in a tornado trios match for next week’s AEW Collision, which will be taped on Wednesday…
A video package aired on Mariah May vs. Yuka Sakazaki…
Willow Nightingale was interviewed by Lexi Nair on the backstage interview set. Willow spoke enthusiastically about Yuka Sakazaki going for the AEW Women’s Title.
Deonna Purrazzo and Taya Valkyrie showed up. Purrazzo said if Willow was Sakazaki’s friend, she would have been there for her on Wednesday and would be in her corner at Grand Slam. Purrazzo spoke about how she could offer Sakazaki protection.
Valkyrie stepped forward and got in Willow’s face after Willow interrupted Purrazzo. Willow challenged Valkyrie to face her in a match on Friday’s AEW Rampage, which is being taped tonight. A graphic listed Darby Allin vs. Evil Uno as coming up next… [C]
“The Acclaimed” Max Caster and Anthony Bowens stood on the backstage interview set with Billy Gunn. Caster rapped about MxM Collection stealing his jacket. Bowens did the usual “everyone loves The Acclaimed” bit…
A video package recapped the Jon Moxley and Darby Allin feud, as well as Wheeler Yuta’s issues with Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Pac…
Darby Allin made his entrance. Allin walked over to the broadcast table and stared at Nigel McGuinness before heading to the ring. Evil Uno’s entrance followed…
4. Darby Allin vs. Evil Uno (w/Alex Reynolds). Reynolds distracted the referee during the opening minute while Uno whipped Allin with his belt. The referee made Uno put the belt down, and then Allin hit him with Code Red.
Uno rolled to the floor and was hit by a suicide dive. Allin tore at the mask of Uno and then slammed his head into the barricade. Uno took advantage of Reynolds distracting Allin, and then Uno distracted the referee while Reynolds clotheslined Allin.
Uno went to ringside and shoulder blocked Allin into the barricade. Back in the ring, Uno put Allin down with a piledriver and covered him for a two count. Allin caught Uno in The Captain’s Hook. Uno reached the ropes to break the hold.
Reynolds distracted Allin again, which allowed Uno to powerbomb Allin and get a near fall. Allin gouged the eyes of Uno. Allin went for Code Red, but Reynolds held Uno’s hands. Allin hit Reynolds with a suicide dive and whipped him with the belt twice. Uno went for a cannonball dive off the apron, but Allin stepped aside and let him crash and burn.
[Hour Two] Allin hit a top rope Coffin Drop at ringside and then performed another on Uno in the ring before getting the three count…
Darby Allin defeated Evil Uno in 5:15.
Powell’s POV: Allin worked a more intense style than usual heading into his match with Moxley. Oddly, the live crowd was not as hot for this match as AEW crowds are for Allin matches.
Highlights aired from Dynamite of the Hangman Page and Jeff Jarrett confrontation…
Footage aired from after Dynamite of Karen Jarrett telling Renee Paquette that she didn’t want her husband to go down this path. Jeff Jarrett cut his wife off and called for a lumberjack strap match for Grand Slam…
Powell’s POV: A graphic listed the lumberjack strap match for Wednesday, but the graphic did not mention which AEW television show it will air on. Jarrett delivered another good promo and going with this type of match first the heated nature of the feud and it also makes sense for Jarrett to work a match like this as opposed to a standard match.
5. Queen Aminata vs. Serena Deeb. Both entrances were televised. Deeb was in offensive control heading into an early PIP break. [C] Aminata battled back and used a swinging neckbreaker to get a near fall.
Aminata hit a running leg whip against the ropes to get another near fall. Deeb caught Aminata in an inside cradle for a two count, then drilled her with a clothesline for another. Deeb bled from the nose.
After trading pint attempts, Deeb clipped Aminata’s leg from behind. Aminata knocked Deeb out of the ring with a headbutt. Back inside the ring, Deeb caught Aminata returning to the ring and hit her with a Dragon Screw Leg Whip. Deeb hit Detox and scored the pin…
Serena Deeb beat Queen Aminata in 10:25.
Powell’s POV: Good work from both wrestlers and a rare case of a Collision match that had an outcome didn’t feel like a lock.
Highlights aired from Rampage of Saraya challenging Jamie Hayter to a Saraya’s Rules match at Grand Slam…
Backstage, Renee Paquette interviewed Saraya and Harley Cameron. Saraya claimed the Saraya’s Rules match has been in her family for generations and it is known throughout England. Cameron listed the rules as being heavily slanted in Saraya’s favor and said the winner would get an autographed copy of Saraya’s autobiography, which is available for pre-sale… [C]
Lexi Nair interviewed Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara. Dustin told Guevara that he’s one of the best partners he’s ever had. Guevara spoke about being motivated by Dustin holding two titles. Guevara challenged Kazuchika Okada to an eliminator match with Continental Rules. Guevara said that if he wins, he would challenge Okada for the title at Dynamite 5. Dustin told Guevara that he has more heart and soul than half the roster and added that he believes in him…
Entrances for the “all-star 10-man tag” match took place with the babyface team coming out first.
6. Hook, “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum, and “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler vs. Rush, The Beast Mortos, Roderick Strong, and “The Grizzled Young Veterans” Zack Gibson and James Drake. A graphic noted that Nigel McGuinness would deliver his final comments to Bryan Danielson after this match. The babyfaces cleared the ring heading into an early PIP break. [C]
Hook and Strong had a brief exchange heading into their singles match at Grand Slam. Hook got the better of it. Hook knocked other opponents off the apron and then suplexed Strong. Mortos took a cheap shot at Hook, allowing Strong to go on the offensive with a backbreaker. Hook was isolated going into a standard break that Schiavone mistakenly listed as a PIP break. [C]
The Outrunners had a run of crowd pleasing offense coming out of the break. The duo hit the Shatter Machine on Dreake and ha him beat, but the other heels ran in and broke up the pin. Gibson hit Magnum with a thrust to the throat, which led to Magnum being isolated by the heels going into a PIP break. [C]
Schiavone said they took their final break. Magnum made a hot tag to Harwood, who worked over the heels for a bit. Harwood was eventually left alone in the ring and took a beating from Rush and Mortos. Rush hit Bull’s Horns and then pinned Harwood clean…
Rush, The Beast Mortos, Roderick Strong, and “The Grizzled Young Veterans” Zack Gibson and James Drake defeated Hook, “The Outrunners” Turbo Floyd and Truth Magnum, and “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler in 24:30 in a 10-man tag match.
Powell’s POV: This was fine for what it was and it’s fun to see The Outrunners getting over with live crowds. I’m surprised they gave Rush the win rather than using the match to give Gibson and Drake a win over FTR. AEW loves its “all-star (fill in the number)-man tag matches.” These matches have plenty of action and the live crowds typically enjoy them, but they are overdone on AEW television and strike me as lazy low stakes filler from a creative standpoint.
Serena Deeb delivered a backstage promo. She asked if we were done talking about the people who weren’t there. She asked why we don’t talk about the people who are, specifically her. Deeb said she heard Britt Baker is going to pop her head in at Dynamite 5. Deeb challenged Baker to a match, but only if Baker is down to get her ass beat in her own hometown…
Tony Schiavone spoke at the broadcast table about Grand Slam and Dynamite 5…
Nigel McGuinness stood on the stage and recalled challenging Bryan Danielson. McGuinness said that true to form, “The American Coward” has refused to answer his challenge. McGuinness accused Danielson of hiding behind a fake injury. McGuinness showed off his “Bryan Fears Nigel” t-shirt.
McGuinness called for Danielson to do the match for the fans. McGuinness said that while the fans cheer Danielson, they identify with him. McGuinness said if Danielson denies him, the denies the fans.
Schiavone joined McGuinness on the stage and said he sees what McGuinness is trying to do. He said Danielson has said the fans are the reason he comes out to fight. Schiavone said McGuinness’s claim that Danielson is afraid of him is ridiculous. Schiavone said that Danielson will face McGuinness if he is cleared to wrestle.
Schiavone said he’s called wrestling for five decades and Danielson is the greatest pro wrestler he’s called during his career. McGuinness said he would have torn anyone else’s head off for saying what Schiavone did. McGuinness told Schiavone not to tempt fate twice and ordered him to sit down and shut up. Schiavone went back to the desk.
McGuinness walked down the ramp while saying he didn’t care if Danielson did it for his family or the fans, he wants him to meet in the middle of the ring for the final chapter of their rivalry. McGuinness entered the ring. McGuinness said it is his destiny.
McGuinness said ever since he retired, he’s told anyone who would listen that he was as good as Danielson. McGuinness said nobody listens to him or believes him.
[Overrun] McGuinness asked why would they when the truth of the matter is that there are only two people in the world today who know that what he is saying is true – “me and you.” McGuinness said that’s exactly why Danielson has refused to answer his challenge.
McGuinness said Danielson knows he will be beaten and destroyed if he shows up. McGuinness said he would finally have vindication. McGuinness said even if Danielson doesn’t show up, he will still be vindicated because the world knows why. McGuinness said the ball is in Danielson’s court. McGuinness said if there is a God in heaven it will happen, and if there’s not may the devil hear his prayer…
Powell’s POV: Even as someone familiar with the history and who wants to see the match, the decision to not have Danielson confirm on Dynamite that the match will happen is baffling when the company has struggled to move tickets. McGuinness has done his best with limited mic time, but the whole thing somehow feels rushed despite being years in the making. Overall, Collision gets its usual “fine if you saw it, fine if you missed it” tag. Will Pruett’s AEW Collision audio reviews are available exclusively for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons).
“The live crowd enjoyed it.”
The live small, intimate gathering enjoyed it.