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It’s another double header of AEW action and it looks like it’s going to be a great three hours of action. Up first is Collision and it’s our new AEW World Champion kicking things off from Dalys Place. Let’s go.
Prince Nana says Strickland is the Boss of Bosses. The Anointed One in professional wrestling. One helluva wrestler. And he’s none other than the AEW World Champion, Swerve Strickland. Swerve takes the mic.
Swerve reflects on the crazy week in AEW. A New Women’s TBS champion, Adam Cole can walk, Copeland got misted, Ospreay and Danielson tore the house down, Jack Perry returned and put his hands on Tony Khan. On top of that, the AEW tag champions gave Khan a piledriver. Swerve has done some terrible things in the past, but something about 4 elite guys beating up a non-fighter, that sounds like a bitch move to him.
But the most important thing that happened this week was Strickland making history and becoming the new AEW World champion. People walk around and call themselves the Best in the World, but the real best in the world is whoever holds this championship. He made sacrifices. The night he won that championship, he went to his daughter who told him she is proud of him but she feels like she doesn’t really know him. He can’t make up for lost time, but he can make sure that it was all worth it.
He has knocked down everyone AEW has put in front of him. So he wants to issue an open challenge, and he’ll even think about putting the title on the line. Whose house? The music of Claudio Castagnoli hits and out comes Big Swiss, suited and booted.
Claudio takes the mic and says ‘You’re On’. Swerve says he’ll seem him tonight in Whose House? Claudio snatches the mic back again and says it’s gonna be his. It’s made official: Claudio Castagnoli vs Swerve Strickland, for the AEW World Championship tonight!
MATCH ONE: [UNIFIED WORLD TRIOS CHAMPIONSHIPS] BANG BANG GANG VS TOP FLIGHT & ACTION ANDRETTI
White and Dante begin this one. Jay chops Dante in the corner, tags in Colten, who attacks the rest of Top Flight. Quick tags from the champions, Austin grabs the trunks of Dante, holding him there while Jay chops him. Darius mounts a comeback and hits a suicide dive to take out White on the floor. Darius in, atomic drop, kick to the head of Austin, and Andretti comes over the top rope to flip onto Colten. Rope assisted flatliner on Austin gets a 2.
White with a running clothesline on the outside to Darius, nailing a gourdbuster on the apron to follow up, and that gets a 2 count. The Gunns head out into the crowd and we have a throwback to the pandemic era of AEW. They chant away as White battles Darius on the outside. Darius tries to make the tag, falls short as the Gunns pull Martin and Andretti off the apron and White capitalises. Colten misses a splash in the corner and the tag to Andretti is made. Back elbows to the Gunns, springboard back elbows to follow up. Split legged moonsault misses but he rolls through, Spanish Fly gets a 2 on Austin. Dante with a step up tope con hilo over the ropes to take out the Bang Bang Gang on the floor below.
Assisted tornado DDT connects for Darius, standing moonsault for Action gets a 2. Colten distracts the ref, White crotches Action, and White goes for the BladeRunner but Dante dives in, straight into a uranage. 3:10 to Yuma on Dante connects. Half and half avoided by Action. John Woo kick connects, Action heads to the apron, springboard 450 misses, White catches him with the Bladerunner, which gets the 3 count.
Here is your Winner: The Bang Bang Gang
Who doesn’t love the bang bang gang. We just need some real challengers for the trio titles. Seems to be top flight and action andretti every other week.
MATCH TWO: REY FENIX (W/ ALEX ABRAHANTES) VS THE BEAST MORTOS
Into the corner they go, Mortos tosses him in and follows up with some hard chops and slaps. Mortos catches him on a crossbody, Fenix slips out, but can’t avoid a big powerslam. Torneo through the ropes goes Mortos, landing on his feet. Mortos gets Rey back in the ring, clotheslines in the corner. Spin kick from Rey connects, but a Slingblade from Mortos and a crucifix follows, and a big lariat allows him to get the cover for 2. Leg DDT by Mortos, Rey kicks his way out of it but the Beast grapevines the legs and twists into a kneebar. Fenix rolls to the outside to break the hold.
Back in the ring, Rey tries to fight back from his knees, but Mortos swats him down. Mortos gets Rey on his shoulders, Rey escapes but a headbutt from Mortos hits hard. Headscissors out of the corner from Rey, followed by a tiger feint roundhouse kick. Thrust kicks to a kneeling Mortos, Rey looks for a suplex but can’t get him up, eventually manages a twisting gutbuster, gets a 2 count.
Thrust kick from Fenix, and again. Rey walks the rope into a PK and to the opposite buckles. Frog splash. Victory roll by Rey Fenix and 1, 2, 3!
Here is your Winner: Rey Fenix
Two of the best at what they do. Great have Fenix back. Was this a masterclass? Absolutely not but still very enjoyable.
MATCH THREE: RUSH VS THE GUV’NOR MARTIN STONE
German suplex and a running knee to the face sends Stone to the floor. Rush runs him into the barricade a few times and then brings a steel chair into the ring. The ref disposes of the chair, allowing Rush to grab a cable and whip Stone with it. Rush pulls the straps down on Stone’s chest, chops him hard, right hand to follow, and he launches Stone into the buckles. Diving right hand, BULL’S HORNS. 1, 2, 3.
Here is your Winner: Rush
Squash but that was obvious. Welcome back Rush. Hopefully we see him get a good run now.
MATCH FOUR: TONI STORM (W/ MARIAH MAY & LUTHER) VS ANNA JAY
Storm grabs a headlock. Side headlock takedown, leg scissor by Anna. Jabs by Storm, back leg kick by Anna and a hip attack of her own. Lou Thesz Press by Storm. Hip attack from Storm, repeatedly. Mariah May mocks Anna, as Storm hits a hip attack on the apron, sending Anna Jay into Mariah. Neckbreaker by Anna over the ropes sends Storm to the floor.
Anna gets a Gory Special for a 2 count of her own. She looks for a uranage, countered, Sky High but kick out at 2. Queenslayer locked in by Anna. Storm manages to get to her feet though and drops backwards to break the hold. Storm hits the hip attack in the corner, STORM ZERO and 1, 2, 3.
Here is your Winner:Toni Storm
Huge shoutout to Anna Jay in this one. She is just getting better every week but was never defeating Toni Storm.
MATCH FIVE: THE ACCLAIMED (W/ DADDY ASS) VS GRIZZLED YOUNG VETERANS (JAMES DRAKE & ZACK GIBSON)
Gibson controls the arm of Caster and tags in Drake, who continues working the arm. Sunset flip into the neckbreaker/backstabber combo for the Acclaimed as Bowens is tagged in. Tag to Gibson, double team clothesline takes Bowens down. Suplex attempt blocked by Bowens and he gets a vertical suplex of his own. Jawbreaker by Gibson, Acclaimed with a swinging neckbreaker.
Drake cuts out the legs of Caster, Gibson drops to the mat and Drake launches off his back to take out Bowens on the apron. Gibson holds Caster on the outside, Drake springboards from the ring, sending Caster into a backbreaker on the outstretched knee of Gibson. GYV double team Caster in their corner, sunset flip attempt from Caster, but Gibson tags in Drake before he falls backwards. Caster is brought outside again, suicide dive from Drake to the outside. Gibson back in the ring with a uranage, maintains arm control and tags in Drake, who cuts the ring off. Max dives under a leg lariat and tags in Bowens.
Slingshot Fameasser to Gibson. Caster and Bowens hit a volley of offense on Drake. Scissor Me Timbers! KRS-1 from the Acclaimed, 1, 2, no. Snapmare by Bowens, PK. Bowens and Gibson fight now, lungblower in the corner by Gibson! Drake on the opposite side, COAST TO COAST!! 1, 2, NO!! Bowens kicks out!
GYV get involved with Billy Gunn on the outside. Caster pushes Drake off the apron from the momentary distraction. Mic Drop and 1, 2, 3.
Here is your Winners: The Acclaimed
Absolutely love GYV. Not sure they should of lost this one but that’s just me being bias. Excellent first showing from them in their first AEW showing. Hopefully this is the first of many. Sign them up Tony.
MATCH SIX: [AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP] SWERVE STRICKLAND (C) VS CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI
Tie up, Castagnoli backs the champ into the corner, clean break. Swerve grabs a leg, go behind by Claudio, and he grounds the champion. Claudio overpowers him to the mat, Swerve bridges, monkey flips Claudio, and they both bridge out. Castagnoli goes to stomp on the hand, Swerve avoids it, Claudio avoids a stomp as well. Quick rollup from Castagnoli, kickout, tilt-a-whirl backbreaker catches Swerve in midair.
Clothesline to Swerve takes him to the ramp and they battle towards the entranceway. Running headscissors down the ramp from Swerve, and he clotheslines Claudio back towards the ring. Springboard crossbody in the ring now and a neckbreaker, rolling into another. Swerve holds on, gets Claudio over onto the apron and hits a third consecutive neckbreaker, this time over the middle rope.
Swerve goes for a runnign PK on the apron, Claudio catches him and press slams him into the staging area. European uppercut connects! Back in the ring, a vertical suplex gets a 1 count for Castagnoli. A big boot takes down Swerve, but the champion hits a quick thrust kick on the apron. Pump kick along the apron connects, Swerve goes to the top, diving back elbow!
Claudio with an uppercut. Rolling flatliner from Swerve gets a 2. Neutralizer attempt is blocked, Swerve rolls to the floor with Claudio. They head towards the staging area and Swerve hits a moonsault off the stage.
Strickland to the top rope, 450 SPLASH! 1, 2, NO. Claudio gets a stomp to a kneeling Swerve, but Swerve is back up. They trade uppercuts, spin kick from Swerve, clothesline from Claudio, both men down. Deadlift suplex by Swerve connects. He heads up top, SWERVE STOMP. 1, 2, NO!!
Swerve is ready, looking for the House Call. Claudio moves and instantly gets him in the GIANT SWING! Claudio transitions into the Sharpshooter. He sits down in the middle of the ring. Swerve tries to grab the ropes, Claudio rolls into a crossface. Swerve rolls into a pin, 1, 2, no. Hammer and anvil elbows by Claudio, Neutralizer attempt again, denied. Running clothesline, 1, 2, no. Neutralizer attempt but Swerve spins out of it and hits a desperation DDT! Swerve claws his way to the ropes, heads up top, Swerve goes for the stomp but Claudio catches him. Pop up uppercut. Swerve kicks out at 2.
Claudio with combination uppercuts in the corner. Backslide by Swerve, 1, 2, no. German suplex by Swerve. Pump kick, pop up SWERVE STOMP! HOUSE CALL. 1, 2, 3.
Here is your Winner: Swerve Strickland
What a match. Swerve is incredible and mixing it with Claudio was the perfect cocktail. An absolutely superb main event. I am happy to see this again. Claudio is just a different level at time. Swerves title run is off to a great start.
A really fun episode of Collision this week and we are going straight into the next hour of Rampage so don’t go anywhere just yet.
MATCH 1: PARKING LOT BRAWL-CHUCK TAYLOR VS TRENT BERETTA
No build up to this one as both guys are swinging at each other as Chuck throws Trent into a car. Trent tries charging at Taylor but gets nothing but the car instead. Trent takes a trash can lid to Taylor’s head. Trent follows it up by throwing a trash can at him before slamming his back with it. Trent ends up getting powerbombed onto a car.
The action heads over to a truck as Taylor is sent through a piece of drywall in the flatbed area of the truck. Trent follows it up with another shot as he goes to the roof of the truck. Trent hits an elbow that connects with Taylor, who’s on the roof of the other vehicle.
Taylor is slingshot face-first into the back of the truck’s rear door. Both men are a bloodied mess as Taylor is suplexed onto broken lightbulbs. Trent powerbombs Taylor through the windshield of another car. The cover attempt was made, and it’s a kick-out. Both men crawl onto the roof of the car and start trading blows. Trent with another powerbomb to Taylor. A hell’s gate submission is applied and Taylor passes out.
Here is your Winner: Trent Beretta
This was just a bloodfest and I loved it. good luck trying to claim on your insurance for that damage. Certainly wont ever be parking my car in Dalys Place car park. The interesting part of this was Don Callis watching on. Trent the next member of the Don Callis Family? Interesting
MATCH 2: DEONNA PURRAZZO VS THUNDER ROSA
Push and shove exchanges as the women tumble into the corner. Kick to the midsection of Thunder as Thunder comes back with a right hand. Rosa is now in a headlock as Deonna powers out to hit a twisting arm stretch on the left arm. Deonna folds Thunder into the ropes before hitting a baseball slide kick into Rosa.
A Boston crab follows. Rosa takes the opportunity to hit a dropkick as the action spills outside. Rosa hits a few chops before getting dropkicked. Rosa hits a drop gun dropkick and an enziguri, followed by a dropkick. Rosa hits a step-up kick to the face before a cover and kickout. Deonna with a backkick and a kick before a cover attempt and kick out. Rosa had a double stomp and cover attempt but kick out at 2. Rosa to the top as Deonna catches her in a Fujiwara armbar. Rosa reverses with a chokehold as Deonna slams her to the canvas to power out. Nice back and forth as we see a series of roll-up exchanges. Deonna goes for the arm bar again but Rosa rolls through and gets the 3.
Here is your Winner: Thunder Rosa
These two women compliment each other perfectly. This feud could be great if giving the right timing. Instead of having them lose to Storm lets just have a feud between these two for a month or two.
MATCH 3: BIG BILL VS TREVOR BLACKWELL
Lets just say Here is your winner: Big Bill because that was an absolute squash. Nothing needs to be added. This was purely done to make Bill look a monster. Lets see how they make this work.
MATCH 4: SHIBATA & DANIEL GARCIA VS DEONNA PURRAZZO VS SHANE TAYLOR & LEE MORIARTY
Shibata and Garcia jump Taylor off the break as the action spills outside the ring. Shibata hits a back suplex on Lee. Shibata and Garcia return to the ring to showboat. Taylor and Lee make them pay for it as soon as Taylor and Shibata are going at it inside the ring. Taylor hits a big chop like a bear swatting away a fly.
A big headbutt follows as Lee is tagged. Lee stomps on Shibata repeatedly while in the corner. Lee follows up with a knee strike that sends him into the corner, where he can tag Garcia. Garcia with a kick to the midsection followed by a twisted DDT. Taylor grabs on the foot of Garcia while the referee is distracted to hit a high-angle DDT. Taylor, with another chop to the chest, or Garcia, followed by a punch and a body splash.
Taylor misses a splash from the top rope. Lee is tagged as he interrupts Garcia from tagging Shibata. Garcia has some fight left as he fights off both men and hits a backdrop driver on Lee to make the hot tag to Shibata. Shibata with a high boot and running pump kick to Taylor. Shibata drops Lee to the canvas as all four men are fighting inside the ring. Shibata hits Taylor with a running boot, followed by chops and punches. A kickout follows after a double-team suplex. Lee tries chopping at Shibata but he doesn’t flinch. Taylor gets in to stun him as Lee pulls off an attack for a kickout. Shibata and Garcia end up putting sleeper holds on both men. Taylor breaks free as Garcia hits a suplex while Shibata kicks Lee to the head to knock him out for the victory.
Here is your Winner: Shibata & Daniel Garcia
This was actually better than I thought it would be. Shane Taylor is incredible. Great end to a great three hours of wrestling.
See you next week guys and thanks for joining me.
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