AEW Collision: February 1, 2025
February 2, 2025 6:57 PM - Season 2, Episode 31 - Subscribe
FTR honors the Huntsville audience with a good ol' street fight. Daniel Garcia defends his TNT title against two more experienced men in a difficult situation. Rush, Dralistico, Mortos and Bandido raise the luchador ratio significantly. Megan Bayne is officially All Elite. Harley Cameron has a good day, Max Castor not so much.
Hook & Samoa Joe defeated The Patriarchy (Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne)
"Hook and Wayne started off, with Hook catching Wayne with a crotch-lift suplex. Tags on both sides led to Joe walking away from a Sabian dive. After interference from Wayne on the floor, Hook was your Street Tough-In-Peril. After a few minutes, Hook caught Wayne with a T-Bone suplex and got the hot tag to Joe. Joe ran wild on Sabian and hit the Muscle Buster for the win. [...] A lifeless, paint-by-numbers opener here. Joe injected some life into this Christian/Hook feud when he returned, but it’s time to get off the pot and get the trios match or the Christian/Hook blowoff."
Cope cut a promo on Jon Moxley in preparation for their match at Revolution.
The Beast Mortos squashed Adam Priest. Max Caster came to the ring to interrupt Mortos’ celebration. He congratulated Mortos but said that he wouldn’t stand a chance against "The Best Wrestler Alive." Caster kicked off the first of his Open Challenge Series.
Max Caster Open Challenge Match – Rush (w/Dralistico & The Beast Mortos) defeated Max Caster
"Rush killed Caster quickly, finishing with The Bull’s Horns for the win. After the match, Rush took the microphone and reminded Mortos that La Facción Ingobernable was a family."
The Learning Tree (Bryan Keith & Chris Jericho) (w/Big Bill) defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
"Jericho & Magnum started, and the Outrunners soon ran wild with atomic drops. They dumped Jericho & Keith to the floor, but a Big Boot from Big Bill took Magnum down on the floor. After a commercial break, Floyd tagged in and ran wild with bodyslams. Keith cut off the Predator handshake, and Jericho got Floyd in the Walls of Jericho. Floyd got out of the hold and we got a Pier Six brawl, ending with the Predator elbow drop. Big Bill interfered again to break up Total Recall, and Keith got a small package to win the match. After the match, Big Bill laid out both Outrunners as Keith pulled out a table.
Big Bill had a double chokeslam set up when Bandido came out to make the save. Bandido ran wild on the Learning Tree, putting Keith through the table with a press slam to a big pop. I was ready to complain about another heel beatdown on AEW TV this week, but Bandido came back to make the save and get some shine here. I think the world of Bandido, as I think he has high-level star potential for AEW. I’m glad to see him back here."
Harley Cameron defeated Taya Valkyrie
"Valkyrie jumped Cameron at the bell and landed double knees in the corner for a nearfall. After a commercial break, Cameron hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. The crowd chanted Feel The Wrath as Cameron brought Valkyrie to the top rope, but Valkyrie took Cameron out of the corner with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Cameron came back with a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall. Cameron went for a senton off the top rope, but Valkyrie moved and hit a spear. Cameron kicked out at two, then rolled up Valkyrie with a crucifix pin to score the pin and her first win in AEW. Deonna Purrazzo was shown upset at her partner dropping the fall here."
Ricochet Sit-Down Interview
"A damn good piece of business to build the Dynamite match between Ricochet and Swerve Strickland."
"Timeless" Toni Storm's Town Hall
Harley Cameron was backstage with Renee Paquette outside of Mercedes Mone’s locker room. -- (I'm not ruining the surprise for this one.)
AEW TNT Title Three-Way Match – Daniel Garcia (c) (w/Matt Menard) defeated Kyle O’Reilly, Lee Moriarty (w/Shane Taylor)
"Moriarty hit a facebuster on O’Reilly while hitting an Eat Defeat on Garcia for a nearfall on both men. O’Reilly and Garcia teamed up to hammer Moriarty with strikes before turning on each other when Moriarty fell out of the ring. Moriarty got back in the ring and all three men traded strikes before taking each other down with boots. Garcia took both men down with ten punches in the corner and a double clothesline. Moriarty hit a neckbreaker on Garcia for a nearfall. Garcia locked Moriarty in the Dragon Tamer, but O’Reilly caught Garcia in an armbar. O’Reilly transitioned to a triangle choke and caught Moriarty in an ankle lock.
Moriarty knocked O’Reilly loose and sent him out of the ring. Moriarty sent O’Reilly to the floor, then sent Garcia into the ropes for Taylor to punch. Moriarty locked Garcia in the Border City Stretch as Taylor held O’Reilly back. Garcia turned the hold into a jackknife pin for the win as O’Reilly was dealing with Taylor. After the match, The Infantry came out to surround O’Reilly and Garcia. Angelo Parker joined Matt Menard to even up the numbers, and Adam Cole & Roderick Strong came out to make sure Shane Taylor Promotions left the scene. It was announced here that a three-way trios match was booked for next week’s Collision, as it would be Shane Taylor Promotions vs. The Undisputed Kingdom vs. Daniel Garcia & 2.0.
A solid TV defense here for Garcia, as they kept up the energy and didn’t fall into typical three-way issues. They worked hard to make sure everyone felt involved, and the result was a good match."
Megan Bayne squashed Hyena Hera
Mid-South Street Fight – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta)
"FTR jumped the Death Riders as they came out. We got plunder and crowd brawling with ladders and trash cans. Moxley got the first nearfall on the floor by booting Harwood out of a chair. Harwood got beaten down in the ring with a chair, but Wheeler came back with a high cross and ran wild. Marina Shafir came out to send Wheeler into the post, and we went to the commercial break with Moxley clawing at Harwood’s nose with pliers. [...] Shafir hit Harwood with a low blow and tried to choke him out, but Harwood backed her through a table. Harwood hit a piledriver on Moxley for a nearfall and locked on a Sharpshooter, but Claudio Castagnoli came out to cut him off. Harwood sent Castagnoli to the floor, but Moxley caught him with a cutter and hit a curb stomp onto a chair for a nearfall.
It was 3-on-2 on FTR before Jay White & Cope came out to help FTR. The fight spilled to the outside, and FTR hit Yuta with a spike piledriver through the announce table to get the win. The fight continued, with White hitting Castagnoli with the Blade Runner. Moxley was surrounded by the babyfaces and got hit with a Shatter Machine and a Spear. The babyfaces set up Moxley for a Con-Chair-To, but Castagnoli dragged Moxley to safety. This was a very good main event, as the babyfaces finally got their act together and stood together to take a chunk out of the Death Riders. The crowd was at their hottest here as well, making for a fun close to Collision."
Hook & Samoa Joe defeated The Patriarchy (Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne)
"Hook and Wayne started off, with Hook catching Wayne with a crotch-lift suplex. Tags on both sides led to Joe walking away from a Sabian dive. After interference from Wayne on the floor, Hook was your Street Tough-In-Peril. After a few minutes, Hook caught Wayne with a T-Bone suplex and got the hot tag to Joe. Joe ran wild on Sabian and hit the Muscle Buster for the win. [...] A lifeless, paint-by-numbers opener here. Joe injected some life into this Christian/Hook feud when he returned, but it’s time to get off the pot and get the trios match or the Christian/Hook blowoff."
Cope cut a promo on Jon Moxley in preparation for their match at Revolution.
The Beast Mortos squashed Adam Priest. Max Caster came to the ring to interrupt Mortos’ celebration. He congratulated Mortos but said that he wouldn’t stand a chance against "The Best Wrestler Alive." Caster kicked off the first of his Open Challenge Series.
Max Caster Open Challenge Match – Rush (w/Dralistico & The Beast Mortos) defeated Max Caster
"Rush killed Caster quickly, finishing with The Bull’s Horns for the win. After the match, Rush took the microphone and reminded Mortos that La Facción Ingobernable was a family."
The Learning Tree (Bryan Keith & Chris Jericho) (w/Big Bill) defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
"Jericho & Magnum started, and the Outrunners soon ran wild with atomic drops. They dumped Jericho & Keith to the floor, but a Big Boot from Big Bill took Magnum down on the floor. After a commercial break, Floyd tagged in and ran wild with bodyslams. Keith cut off the Predator handshake, and Jericho got Floyd in the Walls of Jericho. Floyd got out of the hold and we got a Pier Six brawl, ending with the Predator elbow drop. Big Bill interfered again to break up Total Recall, and Keith got a small package to win the match. After the match, Big Bill laid out both Outrunners as Keith pulled out a table.
Big Bill had a double chokeslam set up when Bandido came out to make the save. Bandido ran wild on the Learning Tree, putting Keith through the table with a press slam to a big pop. I was ready to complain about another heel beatdown on AEW TV this week, but Bandido came back to make the save and get some shine here. I think the world of Bandido, as I think he has high-level star potential for AEW. I’m glad to see him back here."
Harley Cameron defeated Taya Valkyrie
"Valkyrie jumped Cameron at the bell and landed double knees in the corner for a nearfall. After a commercial break, Cameron hit a Shining Wizard for a nearfall. The crowd chanted Feel The Wrath as Cameron brought Valkyrie to the top rope, but Valkyrie took Cameron out of the corner with a powerbomb for a nearfall. Cameron came back with a Canadian Destroyer for a nearfall. Cameron went for a senton off the top rope, but Valkyrie moved and hit a spear. Cameron kicked out at two, then rolled up Valkyrie with a crucifix pin to score the pin and her first win in AEW. Deonna Purrazzo was shown upset at her partner dropping the fall here."
Ricochet Sit-Down Interview
"A damn good piece of business to build the Dynamite match between Ricochet and Swerve Strickland."
"Timeless" Toni Storm's Town Hall
Harley Cameron was backstage with Renee Paquette outside of Mercedes Mone’s locker room. -- (I'm not ruining the surprise for this one.)
AEW TNT Title Three-Way Match – Daniel Garcia (c) (w/Matt Menard) defeated Kyle O’Reilly, Lee Moriarty (w/Shane Taylor)
"Moriarty hit a facebuster on O’Reilly while hitting an Eat Defeat on Garcia for a nearfall on both men. O’Reilly and Garcia teamed up to hammer Moriarty with strikes before turning on each other when Moriarty fell out of the ring. Moriarty got back in the ring and all three men traded strikes before taking each other down with boots. Garcia took both men down with ten punches in the corner and a double clothesline. Moriarty hit a neckbreaker on Garcia for a nearfall. Garcia locked Moriarty in the Dragon Tamer, but O’Reilly caught Garcia in an armbar. O’Reilly transitioned to a triangle choke and caught Moriarty in an ankle lock.
Moriarty knocked O’Reilly loose and sent him out of the ring. Moriarty sent O’Reilly to the floor, then sent Garcia into the ropes for Taylor to punch. Moriarty locked Garcia in the Border City Stretch as Taylor held O’Reilly back. Garcia turned the hold into a jackknife pin for the win as O’Reilly was dealing with Taylor. After the match, The Infantry came out to surround O’Reilly and Garcia. Angelo Parker joined Matt Menard to even up the numbers, and Adam Cole & Roderick Strong came out to make sure Shane Taylor Promotions left the scene. It was announced here that a three-way trios match was booked for next week’s Collision, as it would be Shane Taylor Promotions vs. The Undisputed Kingdom vs. Daniel Garcia & 2.0.
A solid TV defense here for Garcia, as they kept up the energy and didn’t fall into typical three-way issues. They worked hard to make sure everyone felt involved, and the result was a good match."
Megan Bayne squashed Hyena Hera
Mid-South Street Fight – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) defeated Death Riders (Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta)
"FTR jumped the Death Riders as they came out. We got plunder and crowd brawling with ladders and trash cans. Moxley got the first nearfall on the floor by booting Harwood out of a chair. Harwood got beaten down in the ring with a chair, but Wheeler came back with a high cross and ran wild. Marina Shafir came out to send Wheeler into the post, and we went to the commercial break with Moxley clawing at Harwood’s nose with pliers. [...] Shafir hit Harwood with a low blow and tried to choke him out, but Harwood backed her through a table. Harwood hit a piledriver on Moxley for a nearfall and locked on a Sharpshooter, but Claudio Castagnoli came out to cut him off. Harwood sent Castagnoli to the floor, but Moxley caught him with a cutter and hit a curb stomp onto a chair for a nearfall.
It was 3-on-2 on FTR before Jay White & Cope came out to help FTR. The fight spilled to the outside, and FTR hit Yuta with a spike piledriver through the announce table to get the win. The fight continued, with White hitting Castagnoli with the Blade Runner. Moxley was surrounded by the babyfaces and got hit with a Shatter Machine and a Spear. The babyfaces set up Moxley for a Con-Chair-To, but Castagnoli dragged Moxley to safety. This was a very good main event, as the babyfaces finally got their act together and stood together to take a chunk out of the Death Riders. The crowd was at their hottest here as well, making for a fun close to Collision."
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Good news is multiple women's storylines were developed this episode! Granted, Megan Bayne's match lasted as long as it takes to microwave popcorn, but that's entirely realistic for a women of her strength.
In other news -- not necessarily bad or good -- this episode had a lot of talking segments and video vignettes. I only included above the ones for which there were YouTube clips, but there was also a Kris Statlander/Willow Nightingale apology segment, a Hologram vignette, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Briscoe, Okada, Buddy Matthews, etc etc. None of them ran overly long, but it seemed to me that the episode devoted more time to previewing next week -- including more women's matches! -- then has been typical for Collision. I won't complain yet, because one of the criticisms I heard levied at the last 12 months of AEW is that even the great matches had been underpromoted outside of PPV events, so maybe the scale needs to be rebalanced somewhat.
posted by The Pluto Gangsta at 7:06 PM on February 2