AEW Collision: December 9, 2023 (& Rampage, December 8)

December 11, 2023 7:50 PM - Season 1, Episode 26

Some tournament hopes are dashed, because the Continental Classic is a points-based tournament... and the numbers don't lie. Also, Kenny Omega in singles action, Pirate Bryan Danielson wrestles twice this week, and some smark favorites (Abadon! Danhausen! Orange Cassidy!) show up to play. Rampage and Collision were both pre-taped in Canada last week, so if the crowd seemed extra behind certain talent, now you know why.

(This post going up late because I was sick this weekend. Commentary quoted from Wrestling Observer.)

RAMPAGE -- December 8

AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c) (with Hook and Danhausen) defeated Angelico (with Serpentico)

"Tremendous mat work from both guys to start. [...] After a break, Cassidy countered a suplex with a Stundog Millionaire. Cassidy hit the Beach Break, but was too injured to make the cover. Cassidy tried to set up the Orange Punch, but Serpentico tripped Cassidy up, and Angelico hit a pump kick. Danhausen tripped up Angelico when he ran the ropes, dodged an attack from Serpentico, then cursed Angelico! Cassidy rolled up Angelico, but Angelico’s kick out sent Cassidy crashing into Danhausen. [...]

There was some more nonsense on the floor with Serpentico and Danhausen, which ended with Danhausen low-blowing Serpentico. Cassidy caught Angelico with a rollup for another near fall, then finished off Angelico with the Orange Punch and got the pinfall. Fun match that didn’t need the nonsense from Serpentico and Danhausen."

What a grump you are, Mr. Wrestling Observer. Look, when you fight Orange Cassidy you fight his weird friends too, that's part of the appeal. There's a time and a place for serious-hard-worker Cassidy, but two weeks out of a PPV that he isn't, technically, actually booked for yet? Let people have fun.

Abadon defeated Trish Adora

"After the match, the lights went out. When they came back on, TBS Champion Julia Hart appeared. Hart laid the title at Abadon’s feet. They picked up the belt, and the lights went out again. When the lights came back on, but Julia Hart and the title belt were gone.

Push Hart and Abadon to the pay-per-view and see what happens."

Konosuke Takeshita & Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Christopher Daniels & Matt Sydal

Continental Classic Tournament Match: Bryan Danielson (2-0-0, 6pts) defeated Daniel Garcia (0-3-0, 0pts)

"A more serious Garcia is back to basic trunks and black towel. Garcia had a nice wrist lock on early, but Danielson escaped with a throw. Danielson worked over Garcia’s legs with kicks. Garcia battled back with punches and stomped Danielson in the corner. Garcia hung Danielson in the ropes upside down, then dove into Danielson with a dropkick for a near fall. Danielson countered a suplex attempt with a German suplex.

After a split-screen break, Daneilson battered Garcia with kicks to the chest. Garcia battled back with chops, slaps and a backdrop suplex. Garcia went for a Gotch-style piledriver but Danielson countered that into a triangle choke. Danielson hit some elbows in the choke, then rolled on top of Garcia to pummel him with his fists. Garica managed to get a rope break, and referee Aubrey Edwards made Danielson release the hold.

Danielson went for the busaiku knee. but Garcia dropped to his stomach. Garcia was playing possum though, and surprised Danielson with a small package for two. Garcia caught Danielson in the sharpshooter, which he transitioned into a piledriver for two. This was a great sequence.

Garcia said, “He’s gonna get his head kicked in!” then proceeded to kick Danielson's head in. The crowd did not like this turn of events. Garcia broke out the dance, and then ran right into the busaiku knee… for two. Danielson then kicked Garcia’s head in. Garcia put up a fight, but after some forearms, Danielson locked in the LeBell Lock. Garcia tried to get to the ropes, so Danielson hit him with some more forearms, locked in the LeBell lock again, and Garcia passed out."

The reason I left in basically the whole match description is because I just realized that Garcia, while loudly insisting that he's a "sports-entertainer", is secretly one of the best technical wrestlers of AEW's young talent. Lasting 15 minutes in the ring with Danielson? Hoo boy.

COLLISION -- December 9

Continental Classic Blue League Match: Eddie Kingston [3] defeated Claudio Castagnoli [3]

"An excellent match, up there with Swerve/Briscoe for me as the match of the tournament so far. Kingston, fighting his way from the brink of elimination and going through his most hated rival to do it, gave this match a ton of emotion. This was on par with the Grand Slam match, and I give this a high recommendation."

I was fairly certain this was going to be the first draw of the tournament, and I would have been crushed if Eddie was eliminated. AEW has taken a risk putting the crowd's champion in a position of entering this tournament to defend two of his hard-won titles. If he loses, whoever beats him will catch tough heat, even if it's a babyface.

Wheeler Yuta interrupted Renee Paquette's interview with Hook, to challenge him under FTW rules. It's unclear at the moment which, if any, of their two titles will be on the line this way.

Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Martinez (w/Diamante)

"After the match, Martinez and Diamante jumped Nightingale. Diamante pulled out a ladder and a pipe, but Kris Statlander came out from the crowd with a chain to make the save."

Hardcore women's match at World's End? More than one women's match per PPV maybe? Return of Thunder Rosa? [tap tap] Tony Khan do you read me?

"Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, and Jake Hager were backstage with Renee Paquette, who asked Menard and Parker how it would feel to wrestle in their hometown. Hager was more upset about Danhausen stealing his hat before telling Menard and Parker that he wouldn’t be joining them at ringside. They cut a hometown babyface promo, being excited about adding their names to the list of Montreal greats. Ruby Soho came in wearing Parker’s merchandise, but Saraya and Anna Jay came in. Saraya complained that Soho would abandon her as Toni Storm did before saying that she wouldn’t be in Soho’s corner when she wrestled Riho next week."

Wardlow defeated Willie Mack

Willie managed to put up more of a fight than most of Wardlow's victims, however Wardlow showed no respect after hitting the powerbomb, leaving the ring (in search of MJF, I suppose) even before the ref had finished calling for the victory via stoppage bell.

Kenny Omega defeated Ethan Page

"Page has proven himself over the past few months in Ring of Honor as a wrestler good enough to be on AEW television regularly. There’s something there, it’s just a matter of finding the right way of presenting him. Meanwhile, Omega gets a nice win on TV and a reminder that he and Chris Jericho are next in line for a tag team title match."

It's weird to me see Ethan Page treated as a rising star when I have been front row to see him tear the house down vs. Darby Allin in the Before Times (and vs. Johnny Gargano too, if you can believe it). In this Canadian vs. Canadian bout, Kenny Omega and the announce team made sure to put him over, even in defeat.

CJ Perry was backstage with Lexy Nair. Perry ran down Andrade El Idolo’s accomplishments, confident that her client could beat Bryan Danielson tonight in their Continental Classic match. Miro entered the scene, annoyed that Perry continued to disobey him. Miro said that he wouldn’t touch Andrade during the tournament, but made no promises once the tournament ended.

This segment diverged into a bland chauvinist track that Miro hasn't gone to before, something about how his Bulgarian mother and grandmother would always clean and cook the animals the menfolk have hunted? This is very bland considering how specific these two have been in their grievances with earlier segments.

Komander & Penta El Zero Miedo (w/Alex Abrahantes) defeated Angelo Parker & Matt Menard

"Menard caught Penta in the Walls of Jericho, but Komander broke it up. Parker and Menard hit a tag team Codebreaker for a nearfall. Penta and Komander isolated Parker, then hit a modified Fear Factor where Komander walked the ropes into it to score the win."

Poor J.A.S. remnant. They can't even catch a win when they're the hometown boys and they bust out some classic Jericho moves?

Continental Classic Blue League Match: Andrade El Idolo [6] defeated Bryan Danielson [6]

"With this result, Daniel Garcia is mathematically eliminated from the Continental Classic. Andrade going after the eye is such a great call, as it’s not against the rules but morally gray. Danielson fighting through the injury because winning the Continental Classic means that much to him is an excellent way to put over the importance of the tournament. The match was great, as the crowd got into the spots involving Danielson’s eye. The shoving match between Andrade and Castagnoli was a nice set-up for their match as well. Fantastic business all around, as the Continental Classic is really heating up."

Current Continental Classic stats:

Blue League:

Brody King 2-0-0, 6 points
Bryan Danielson 2-1-0, 6 points
Andrade El Idolo 2-0-0, 6 points
Claudio Castagnoli 1-2-0, 3 points
Eddie Kingston 1-2-0, 3 points
Daniel Garcia 0-3-0, 0 points

Gold League:

Jon Moxley 3-0-0, 9 points
Swerve Strickland 3-0-0, 9 points
Jay White 2-1-0, 6 points
Rush 1-2-0, 3 points
Jay Lethal 0-3-0, 0 points
Mark Briscoe 0-3-0, 0 points

posted by The Pluto Gangsta