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AEW COLLISION REPORT
JULY 15, 2023
CALGARY, ALBERTA, CANADA AT SCOTIABANK CENTRE
AIRED LIVE ON TNT
Commentators: Ian Riccaboni, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcer: Dasha Gonzalez
[HOUR ONE]
-They opened with soundbites from wrestlers in key matches on the show. FTR spoke about defending against Jay White & Juice Robinson. Juice & Jay cut a brief promo, Willow Nightingale said she’s bringing her big hair, big smile, and big fight on her way to winning an even bigger trophy. Ruby Soho she’s going to win what was rightfully hers last time. Ricky Starks said he will prove why he’s “Absolute” Ricky Starks. Punk told him to tie his boots tighter and they’ll find out whether he can sink or swim. (Did he watch Edge vs. Grayson Waller?).
-The Collision opening theme aired featuring Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”
-Ian Riccaboni introduced the show, in place of Kevin Kelly who is covering the New Japan G1 Tournament.
(Keller’s Analysis: AEW has a good bench when it comes to announcers. It’s also interesting they didn’t go with anyone associated with Dynamite’s announce team in order to keep the brand differentiation in place.)
(1) FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. JUICE ROBINSON & JAY WHITE – Two out of Three Falls for the AEW Tag Team Titles
As Juice & Jay came out, they went to Ian and Nigel at ringside briefly. Ian was wearing a pink suit and pink cowboy hat. They commented on Juice & Jay earning this title shot with a win last week as a clip aired. Ian said FTR are 6-2 in best of three falls matches. The bell rang seven minutes into the hour. Both teams had a mid-match staredown. Ian plugged Battle of the Belts VII immediately following Collision featuring three titles matches. (By the way, Dan Kuester and I will be going live after Collision and live watching Battle of the Belts on our post-show which you can listen to HERE about five minutes after Collision ends. We’ll have Patrick Moynahan’s detailed report on Battle of the Belts IV posted tonight too.)
The early pacing suggested they were planning for a long match. Cash was really playing to the crowd early. FTR regrouped at ringside early. Juice r0lled to ringside a couple minutes later to catch his breath. They cut to a split-screen break at 4:00. [c/ss]
Juice grounded Cash after the break. Cash outmaneuvered Juice and scored some two counts before pressing him and tossing him into the ropes. Juice again rolled to the floor. Dax tagged in and went after him on the floor. Juice chopped him. Back in the ring, Dax chopped Juice, who went down hard and clutched his chest in pain. Dax grounded Juice with a side headlock at 14:00. Juice broke free and threw Dax shoulder-first into the ringpost. Jay tagged in and chopped away at Dax in the corner. Jay powerslammed Dax for a near fall at 17:00.
Jay back suplexed Dax into a bridge for a near fall, then settled into a chinlock. Dax broke free and they exchanged more chops. Nigel said this is going to be a classic. Dax landed a hard clothesline. Both were down and slow to get up. Jay small packaged Dax for a near fall. Cash tagged in, but Juice shoved him from behind into Dax, knocking him out of the ring to stop the Big Rig. Juice then hit his Jay Driller on Cash to win the first fall as Juice celebrated in the ring right next to Jay.
FIRST FALL: Juice & Jay in 19:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Really good first fall. I love that they went nearly 20 minutes before the first fall instead of the always-too-convenient unnaturally quick first fall in many best of three falls matches. It doesn’t make any sense that a first fall would come sooner than if it was a one-fall match unless a wrestlers taps out quickly to avoid being hampered for the following falls.) [c]
EXCLUSIVE: Minute-by-minute trends for Punk vs. Joe and FTR vs. Juice & Jay on last week’s Collision episode
As the second fall got rolling, Nigel said he loves this and he’d do it for free. (Is that legally binding?) Ian plugged the Battle of the Belts line-up. Juice eventually DDT’d Cash on the mat at ringside at 27:00. Ian said he was going for a countout victory. Nigel asked if the titles change hands with a countout. (They should make clear whether a pinfall or submission in an early fall means a countout or DQ in a latter fall leading to a title change when normally it wouldn’t in a one fall match.)
Cash made a comeback and went for a sunset flip on Juice, but Juice tagged in Jay. Jay stayed in control of Cash near his corner. At 31:00 Dax got the hot-tag and the crowd cheered. Dax clotheslined Jay and then ducked Juice and rolled him up for a near fall. He followed with a slingshot bodypress off the second rope for another two count.He fended off Jay interference and landed a brainbuster suplex for a believable near fall. Fans stood and applauded, “This is awesome!” Dax set up a sharpshooter, which got a roar from the crowd. Juice resisted and upkicked Dax and sent him hard into the top rope. Dax grabbed his head in pain afterward. Jay tagged in.
Jay suplexed Dax into the corner. Juice then landed a cannonball. Jay and Juice set up a stuff piledriver, but Dax broke it up. Dax then leaped off the top rope with a sunset flip on Jay. Cash clotheslined Jay to finish the sunset flip leading to a dramatic near fall. Cash lifted Jay into a Razor’s Edge and then Dax landed a neckbreaker out of it for another dramatic near fall that popped the crowd. Dax superplexed Jay and then Cash went for a splash, but Jay lifted his knees. Juice then leaped with a frog splash on Dax. Juice draped his arm over Dax for a dramatic, believable near fall. An “AEW!” chant broke out. Ian implored viewers to reach out and tell their friends to tune in to this instant classic that they were missing. Dax and Cash hit the Big Rig for the win at 39:00.
SECOND FALL: Dax & Cash in 39:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: Amazing second fall. Just one believable, dramatic near fall after another that fit within the confines of the story and pace of the match.)
Dax set up a piledriver on the ring apron. Juice backdropped out of it. They battled to ringside and tumbled over the barricade to the floor. The ref checked on the wrestlers and called for medical help. Medics checked on both wrestlers. The camera angle didn’t show the landing. Dax stood and he pulled Jay up and then chopped away at him. Jay fired back with strikes of his own. Dax suplexed him on the cement floor. Fans chanted “Holy shit!” After all four fought at ringside, FTR returned to the ring. The ref nearly counted out Jay. All four stood and approached each other for a reset of a sorts and an acknowledgment of respect for the hard-fought battle 48 minutes in. Fans stood and applauded. All four slugged it out mid-ring. Cash and Juice tumbled over the top rope to the floor as they cut to a break. [c/ss]
Back from the break, Jay was in control against Dax. Jay set up a sharpshooter. Fans booed. Jay flexed and celebrated when he got it locked on. Dax crawled toward the bottom rope and eventually reached it to force a break. Fans cheered.
[HOUR TWO]
Dax stood and chopped Jay down and fended off Juice. Dax back suplexed Jay off the top rope. Dasha announced five minutes remained in the 60 minute time limit. Dax leaped to tag Cash, but Juice yanked Cash off the ring apron. Jay clipped Dax’s leg. Juice whipped Cash into the ringside steps. Jay set up a Blade Runner, but Dax escaped and applied a sharpshooter mid-ring. Cash fended off Juie and then put him in a sharpshooter, also. Dax sold his knee giving out as he was cinching on the hold. Cash let go, also. Juice and Cash rolled to the floor. The ref checked on Dax’s condition as Jay tagged in Juice. Juice was selling his leg being hurt before going for a DDT. Dax slipped free and applied a sharpshooter mid-ring. Juice tapped. Ian called it an instant classic.
WINNERS: FTR in 57:00 to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
-Afterward, FTR offered a handshake. Jay and Juice declined at first. They conferred with each other. Fans chanted, “Shake their hands!” Jay and Juice left without shaking hands. Fans booed.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was spectacular. Great story and great execution. I especially liked that they walked right toward a time limit draw, but ultimately delivered a clean win. This is what AEW fans hoped to see from FTR regularly when they joined the company. Juice and Jay have had great chemistry as a team these past two weeks.) [c]
(2) RUBY SOHO vs. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final
Ruby made her entrance followed by Willow. The bell rang 14 minutes into the hour. They cut to an early break at 3:00 with Ruby in control. [c/ss]
Ruby landed her No Future kick for a near fall after an eye rake. Ruby distracted the ref by pointing out an issue with the turnbuckle. She then tried to spray Willow, but Willow ducked and hit a pounce and then finished Ruby with a sitout powerbomb. Confetti blasted. Willow went to the stage and held up her trophy and put the rose in her mouth. Tony Khan was there to congratulate her.
WINNER: Nightingale in 9:00 to win the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
-A clip aired of last week’s Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs match.
-Backstage, Tony Schiavone followed Q.T. Marshall enter the Hobbs’s locker room. Marshall said he didn’t try to cost him the match. He said everything he has told Hobbs is true. Hobbs stood and said, “Your word is your bond.” Marshall smiled as Hobbs walked away, sensing maybe he was going to get a second chance.
-Malakai Black and Brody King made their way to the ring. [c]
(3) KINGS OF THE BLACK THRONE (Malakai Black & Brody King) vs. TWO LOCAL WRESTLERS
Ian said TNT has assured them that Starks vs. Punk will have as much TV time as it needs. Andrade walked out. Brody eyed them as Malakai landed Black Mass for the win.
WINNERS: Black & King in 2:00.
-Four referees tried to hold back Andrade as Malakai and Brody sat behind it in the ring.
-Nigel and Ian hyped the Battle of the Belts VII matches. [c]
(4) RICKY STARKS vs. C.M. PUNK – Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final
Starks came out first. Punk came out to mostly boos. Punk laughed and smiled and blew kisses. Starks had his game faec on as Punk played to the crowd’s boos. A fan held up a sign that said, “Crying Manchild Phil” with a photo of Punk. A loud “C.M. Punk!” chant broke out. Anti-Punk fans booed loudly. Ian noted that Martha Hart will present the Owen Cup winners with their belts during Battle of the Belts. The bell rang 40 minutes into the hour.
The crowd engaged in dueling chants of “Let’s Go Ricky! / C.M. Punk!” Starks locked on a side headlock early. Punk rolled back and got a one count on Starks. Starks held on. Punk whipped Starks into the ropes. They did a drop-down and leapfrog sequence ending with Starks landing a shoulder tackle. They resisted each other’s attempts at hip tosses. Punk won that and threw Ricky over the top rope. Fans booed. Punk held the ropes open. Starks re-entered the ring. Punk applauded as they cut to a split-screen break. [c/ss]
They locked up mid-ring in a reset. After the break, Starks walked the top rope and leaped off with a forearm to Punk. He then threw Punk to the floor. Starks struck his signature pose as Punk regrouped at ringside. Starks yanked Punk off the second rope as he was signaling for an elbowdrop and scored a quick one count. They cut to another split-screen break. [c/ss]
Punk dropped Starks over the top rope during the break. Back from the break, Starks caught a charging Punk with a boot. They scored leverage two counts against each other. Punk landed a running high knee to Starks’s chin in the corner. Starks countered with a tornado DDT for a near fall. Starks leaped off the top rope with a flying elbow, but Punk moved. Punk landed a power lariat for a near fall at 15:00.
They collided and stayed down for a while. Starks sat up and landed a barrage of rapid-fire elbows to Punk’s head. Punk came back with a piledriver. Ian noted it was Bret Hart’s original finisher. Punk scored a near fall. Punk sat up and signaled for the Go To Sleep, which drew loud boos. Punk set it u, but Starks elbowed himself free. Starks then landed a spear. Punk rolled to the floor. When Punk returned, Spears landed another spear, but Punk rolled through into a guillotine. Starks put his boot on the bottom rope to force a break.
Punk set up a huracanrana out of the corner into a roll-up, but Starks reversed it. Punk reversed Starks’s shoulders down. Punk reversed him. Starks then leveraged Punk down and held onto the middle rope for leverage and got the three count. Ian called it the biggest win of Starks’s career by far. The show ended with Starks celebrating as confetti dropped.
WINNER: Starks in 20:00 to win the Owen Hart Foundation Cup Tournament.
-They went right into Battle of the Belts. Jushin Liger was standing by to present Starks with the trophy, but Starks yanked it from him and left with it.
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