AEW Collision: January 27, 2024 (& Rampage, January 26)

January 28, 2024 5:43 PM - Season 1, Episode 33

AEW rides out the wave of big weekend news and a big PPV from the competition, but putting on some marquee shows of their own, as Bryan Danielson tangles with an AJPW all-star, Orange Cassidy perpetually defends the International title, Serena Deeb makes her return, and FTR+Daniel Garcia lock themselves in a cage with the House of Black.

(This post going up one day later because yeah, I was watching the Royal Rumble. Commentary in quotes from the Wrestling Observer.)

RAMPAGE -- January 26

Jon Moxley defeated Lee Moriarty (w/ Shane Taylor)

"After the match, Taylor hit Moxley with a cheap shot and both Moriarty and Taylor laid in some boots on Moxley after the match."

Is AEW intentionally trying to portray the Blackpool Combat Club as being fractured and having separate goals? Because that's the feeling I get from their individual Rampage and Collision segments. Each of them doing something pretty cool, but not telling unified storylines.

Konosuke Takeshita (w/ Don Callis, Powerhouse Hobbs and Kyle Fletcher) defeated Christopher Daniels

Anna Jay defeated Ruby Soho (w/ Saraya and Harley Cameron)

"Freshly Squeezed Four Way" - Komander defeated Kip Sabian, El Hilo del Vikingo, and The Butcher to become the #1 Contender's match for the International Title

COLLISION -- January 27

Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty)

AEW International Championship Match – Orange Cassidy (c) defeated Komander

"A good lucha-style match here that got the crowd more invested as time went on. The story here is that [Roderick] Strong is trying to get the title off of Cassidy for an easier title match at Revolution, but his interference backfired here. [...] Komander went to the top rope, but Cassidy rolled to the floor. Strong distracted the referee as Komander went for his ropewalk splash, but Komander landed on the Kingdom instead. Komander rolled back into the ring, where Cassidy hit the Orange Punch to retain the title. After the match, Strong held the International Title up to Cassidy but dropped it at his feet instead of handing it to him."

Mariah May defeated Lady Frost

"Both women were impressive here. Frost’s athleticism jumps off the screen, while May has an impact to her work that stands out in this division. May mocked Frost’s height, leading to the two trading forearms and chops. Frost caught May with a neckbreaker for a nearfall but May took Frost down by the hair before landing a shotgun dropkick. After a commercial, the two traded high-angle German suplexes. Is this Bossier City or the Budokan? Frost cartwheeled into an Air Raid Crash – named the Killer Chill – for a nearfall.

May necked Frost on the ropes before hitting a missile dropkick. Frost avoided a corner charge, landing a kick before cartwheeling into a cannonball. Frost went to the top rope for Frostbite, but May pulled Frost down and hit May Day to score the win."

Eddie Kingston defeated Willie Mack

Bryan Danielson defeated Yuji Nagata

"An excellent piece of business here, with a great match that advanced the Danielson/Kingston storyline. Danielson scored a win over a former All Japan Triple Crown Champion and shakes his hand, while simultaneously disrespecting American Triple Crown winner Kingston. It’s another chapter in Kingston’s eternal battle for respect against the Blackpool Combat Club. Kingston was excellent at commentary here, selling his feud with Danielson while giving great color commentary. The match was excellent, as Nagata can still go at the highest of levels.

Danielson made his entrance as Kingston was leaving and made a point to not look at him while walking down the ramp. Kingston joined the commentary desk, calling Danielson’s move “cute.” The crowd was hyped during the opening exchanges. McGuinness put over Nagata’s MMA training while noting that the closest Danielson’s ever been to MMA fighting is getting his hair braided. [...] After the match, Danielson shook Nagata’s hand as the announcers noted that Danielson beat a former All Japan Triple Crown Champion. When he got to the top of the ramp, Danielson flipped Kingston the bird to laughter from the Continental Crown Champion."

Nigel's unfailing hatred for Danielson on commentary -- having last faced him in a ring back in 2009 -- is never not hilarious to me.

Serena Deeb defeated Robyn Renegade

"Deeb showed no signs of rust here, as the video packages did a successful job of re-introducing her to the AEW audience. The crowd chanted Welcome Back to Deeb as the two locked up. Deeb took Renegade down to the mat and locked on a single-leg crab that forced Renegade to the ropes. Renegade got a Full Nelson on, but Deeb escaped and tagged Renegade with a slap. Deeb hit a neckbreaker in the ropes, then followed with one in the ring. Deeb hit the Detox before locking on the Serenity Lock for the win.

After the match, Deeb got on the mic and said that it felt damn good to be back in the ring. She came back to elevate the division, put the wrestling back in All Elite Wrestling, and to become a champion. She put the locker room on notice that The Professor was back."

Now that Mercedes Mone did NOT make an appearance at the Royal Rumble, my mind is constructing a long line of women for her to face if (when?) she arrives in AEW.

Escape The Cage Elimination Match – Daniel Garcia & FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)

"A fantastic main event. The drama and tension built throughout the match, as the babyface team fought together and rallied to get the win. The story throughout this feud was FTR and Garcia winning when the odds were even, but always left lying when the full House of Black was in tow. The odds were made even here, as the interference of Hart was offset by Mark Briscoe coming back in the nick of time. The escape the cage element made me scratch my head when it was announced, but it allowed Daniel Garcia to be the one to clinch the win in a great touch. A stellar episode of Collision."

posted by The Pluto Gangsta (1 comment total)

My partner and I toggled between Collision and the Rumble and it was just fucking night and day. Like watching a different sport. Not that the rumbles didn't have anything going (the women's rumble had some bright spots for sure, great to see Jade in action again, thank fuck they let Shotzi use her tank) but holy shit did they drag. Even the cool entrances fell apart -- everyone took off their dope gear or dropped their music the minute they got out. Obviously the backstage shit was weighing heavily on everyone.

But this isn't a thread about how WWE sucks.

This is a thread about how SERENA DEEB IS BACK and maybe needs to dial back the self tanner a little but OFFICE HOURS HAVE STARTED and I'm very excite.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 2:18 PM on January 31 [1 favorite]