You have to wonder what in the world is going on with AEW Collision and the AEW audience. Since its debut Collision has been head and shoulders above not only Rampage but Dynamite as well. Despite that, the ratings have slumped a bit. That could be because of the American holiday. It could be because AEW simply has far too much wrestling on. It could be the night the show is on or that the core AEW fans are not into it, for whatever reason. It might be that it is still building its audience. When it comes to angles Collision has been more consistent and more focused than either Rampage or Dynamite has been in quite some time. Here’s hoping the word starts to spread as Collision is something AEW is doing right.
Although all the attention tonight was on the finals of the Owen Hart Tournament it was the opening 58 minute match between Bullet Club Gold and FTR that stole the show.
AEW Collision Results
Bullet Club Gold versus FTR (c) – AEW World Tag Team Championship – Two Out of Three Falls – Match
One of the best matches AEW has ever produced and one of the best this year.
FTR is wearing ring gear in honor of Bret Hart, which is cool. Hardwood’s bulldog-like strength has White off-balance until he hits an arm-drag and a hip-toss then tags in Juice. A shoulder block by Wheeler knocks Juice right out of the ring.
“I am NOT all right!” complains Juice.
Hardwood bends the rules just a little by grabbing the ropes when he has White in an abdominal stretch. Sneaky that.
Hardwood power presses Juice so hard he just rolls out of the ring. Robinson reverses his fortunes though by throwing Hardwood into a corner and a steel post. It proves to be a game-changer as Jay White just unleashes a barrage on Hardwood. White gives Harwood and Wheeler DDTs stunning them both. Hardwood and White exchange chops. Both men are down and are looking for the tag.
Wheeler blind tags into the match but White pushes him into Hardwood. Robinson hits the Left Hand of God and White the Bladerunner for the first pinfall.
FTR starts working White over in their corner. Wheeler mocks White with the Bullet Club gun hand gesture as he chops him in a corner. Bullet Club Gold turns things around by really taking it to Wheeler. The crowd starts cheering for FTR. Wheeler fights his way out of the corner as he guillotines Robinson over the ropes and hot tags Hardwood. FTR eventually pins Robinson with a Big Rig/Shatter Machine to tie things up.
Hardwood tries to piledrive White on the ring apron but White backdrops him instead. The match goes to the floor. Wheeler goes to suplex White on the floor and they go right over the barricade together. Hardwood suplexes White on the concrete floor. The crowd starts chanting: Fight forever! FTR double-suplexes Robinson on the floor.
White puts Hardwood into a Sharpshooter. Hardwood makes it to the ropes though. Hardwood suplexes White off the top rope but cannot make the pin. The official begins the count and it is announced that only five minutes remain in the match.
Robinson slams Wheeler into the steel ring steps. The crowd goes mental when FTR puts both Bullet Club Gold members into Sharpshooters. Gold doesn’t submit. They fight through the pain. Hardwood pulls down his knee pad, puts the Sharpshooter on Robinson to increase the pain and agony. Robinson submits at 58 minutes.
FTR puts their hands out to Bullet Club Gold. Gold spits at FTR.
Winners: …and still AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR.
Ruby Soho versus Willow Nightingale – Women’s Owen Hart Tournament Final
Willow is wearing pink ring gear and Soho, pink boots. Willow uses her strength to shrug off Soho’s more technical moves. A shoulder block knocks Soho down to the canvass. Willow gets a two count with the Three Amigos Suplexes. On the apron, Soho pulls Willow through the ropes and knees her into oblivion.
“I am bringing the trophy back to The Outcasts!” growls Soho.
Willow’s clotheslines drive Soho into a corner where she receives more punches and chops. Willows slams Soho down and puts on a single-leg Boston Crab. Soho gets to the ropes. Soho goes for the Outcast spray can. She throws it to Willow. As the official confiscates it, Soho pokes Willow in the eyes hitting her Destination Unknown. Willow kicks out. Soho retrieves the can. She misses spraying Willow in the eyes. Willow pins Soho with her powerbomb.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
Footage is shown from last week of QT Marshall apologizing to Powerhouse Hobbs backstage after the foul up last week. QT wonders what he has to do to prove his loyalty to Hobbs? Take on the biggest AEW has to offer? Hobbs tells QT to keep his word.
Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King and Malakai Black) versus Randy Myers and Artemis Spencer
As Brody King throws Jobber Number One into the ringside barricades Black pins the other with his kick to the noggin’. Andrade comes out. He is held back by security. He wants his mask back.
Winners: Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King and Malakai Black)
CM Punk versus Ricky Starks – Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Final
Starks outwits Punk. Courtesy: AEW Collision.
CM Punk gets a mixed reaction in Calgary. As Punk jogs by Starks in the ring they shake hands. Starks and Punk trade arm-wringers and head locks to start things off. Starks hits a shoulder tackle and mocks Punk with a “go to sleep” gesture. Punk and Starks hip toss each other across the ring. Punk gets the last laugh by tossing Starks over the top rope to the floor.
Starks works over Punk’s arm. He walks the ropes driving a fist down into Punk’s shoulder. Punk goes out to the floor. Starks holds open the ropes begging him to come back in. Punk chops Starks in a corner, kicks him in the back. Punk delivers a Bret Hart elbow drop from the second rope.
The crowd chants Owen Hart’s name in unison.
Punk takes too long to hit another elbow. Starks just yanks him off the ropes. Punk lands hard on the mat.
Starks stomps and drives knee drops into Punk’s back. Punk hits two running knees in a corner. Starks climbs to the top rope for a flying elbow smash. Punk just sits up to dodge it. Starks splats on the mat. Things breakdown with fists flying as both men battle on their knees. Punk piledrives Starks in the middle of the ring but he is slow to cover him and only gets a two count. Starks avoids the GTS spearing Punk clear out of the ring.
Starks goes for another spear. Punk counters with a guillotine. Starks reaches the ropes to break the submission. Starks and Punk roll each other up over and over. Starks uses the ropes as leverage pinning Punk. Punk is shocked at Starks not just bending but breaking the rules.
Jushin Thunder Liger comes out to a huge ovation. Starks grabs the Owen Hart Cup out of his hands, holds it up and just walks off. Liger is as confused as Punk is in the ring.
Winner: Ricky Starks
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