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AEW Collision (and Rampage): The Continenal Classic leaves everyone in the Blue League battered and bruised

Tommy "Milagro" Martinez

Courtesy of AEW.

It’s Saturday night and it’s still all right for fighting, especially if you’re George Santos getting expelled and wanting to take revenge on anyone who wronged him.

(Funny how politics are becoming more like pro wrestling, eh?)

However, tonight will take us further in the Continental Classic on AEW Collision, and the big match in the Blue League will feature Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston going to war.

But let’s catch up on yesterday with a…

Rapid Rampage Review in Rhyme™

*ahem*

Orange Cassidy, Hook, Danhausen, and Trent Beretta defeated The Dark Order,

And Powerhouse Hobbs, Konosuke Takeshita, and Kyle Fletcher beat jobbers and gave no quarter.

Kris Statlander, Hikaru Shida, and Skye Blue triumphed over The Outcasts and Anna Jay,

While Penta El Zero Miedo, El Hijo del Vikingo & Komander beat The WorkHorsemen Brian Cage (although Cage chose to walk away).

Overall, AEW Rampage was watch-worthy (but just on the border).

And now we begin with…

AEW Collision

We come to you from Erie Insurance Arena in Erie, PA. Nigel McGuinness, Tony Schiavone, and Kevin Kelly have the call, and we start off with…

Continental Classic Blue League

Schiavone goes over the rules if you missed out…

Got it?  Good.  So your First Match of the night of the tournament starts with…

Courtesy of AEW.

Claudio Castagnoli vs. Brody King

They waste no time as it is hard-hitting action from the start of the bell.  King swings for fences but can’t knock down Castagnoli and vice versa.  A double clothesline sends both men down to the mat, and as they roll out of the ring, it’s more of the same.  A slam to King and Castagnoli knocks him to the outside, then he picks up speed for a running European uppercut.  He sends the big man to the barricade and King comes back with a clothesline and then throws Castagnoli over the barricade.

During Picture in Picture, King is firmly in control of the Blackpool Combat Club member and just chops him down to size.  Once back in the ring, King keeps on offense and then scrapes his casted arm across his eyes but Castagnoli hurts the bad arm.  King then slams him hard to the mat and follows with a senton.  He sets up in the corner for a cannonball and Castagnoli comes flying with a corner European uppercut.  He attempts the big swing but King pushes him off.  Castagnoli returns with a double stomp for a two count.  He gets the big man with a pop-up European uppercut and covers for another count of two.  He signals and gives the big man a Big Swing, followed by the Sharpshooter.

King claws his way and finally reaches the bottom rope to break the hold.  Castagnoli rushes and King uses his momentum and throws him into the ring post to stun him.  Then he whips him into the corner and King follows with a cannonball and covers for a one(!) count.  Castagnoli comes back with a DVD for another two, then attempts the Neutralizer, but King backdrops him.  Castagnoli goes for a springboard European uppercut, but King meets him with a forearm and follows with a piledriver for a two count.  King puts an end to things with a casted lariat and Castagnoli is down for the count.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  Brody King

That gives King three more points for a total of six to take the top spot in the Blue League.

Jon Moxley cuts a promo about how he is sick and tired of being sick and tired of being hurt all the time. But, he’s going to give everything into this tournament, and he will be on top of the Gold League.

Now for something truly different (and I really do mean different!)…

Courtesy of AEW.

Kiera Hogan vs. Abadon

The crowd seems a bit dead after the King/Castagnoli match.  That’s too bad since Hogan is giving Abadon a fight in this bout and follows with her running facewash to cover for a count of two.  Hogan rushes and Abadon gives her a Blackhole slam, followed by a corner splash.  Hogan whips her to the opposite corner and Abadon slips through the ropes and gives Hogan a springboard cutter for another two count.  Hogan fights back with a hanging neckbreaker for another two count.  Abadon connects with a scorpion kick, a roundhouse into a knee lift, and then finishes it by trapping Hogan’s neck in the crook of her knee and drives her facedown into the mat.  McGuinness calls the move “The Black Dahlia,” but whatever it’s called it gives Abadon the victory.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  Abadon

Now the lights go out, and once they come back on Julia Hart makes an appearance to Abadon.  Before she can grab the TBS champion, out go the lights again and Hart disappears.  

I gotta say, that would be quite the match to see.

Alex Marvez is backstage with Samoa Joe, but Roderick Strong wheels in yelling for, “SAMOAAAA….Joe” and says Max is The Devil, and he makes a plea to Joe to convince ADAAAAM Cole to call this tag match he has at the Worlds End PPV at the end of the month.   Joe snickers and walks off.

I mean, seriously, what would you have done in Joe’s place?  I know I would a done the same thing.

“Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joins at commentary for more Continental Classic action with…

Courtesy of AEW.

Daniel Garcia vs Andrade El Idolo

Garcia has zero points thus far, and El Idolo already has a victory over him.  Once the bell rings, he goes for a quick score and El Idolo escapes.  Garcia then tosses him into the ropes and El Idolo is showing he’s tranquilo.  Now the luchador gives a big crossbody and then a dropkick to García and he heads out to take a powder and reassess the situation.  Idolo goes after him with a plancha and sends him back in the ring for a one count.  Garcia then gives him a knee breaker and transitions into a dragon screw leg whip and goes for an ankle lock but Idolo reaches the ropes in time.  He drags in out of the ring and slams him into the barricades before sending Idolo back in for Garcia to cover for one as well.  Garcia then goes up the top turnbuckle, and he knocks him down head over heels to the floor.  During Picture in Picture, Idolo takes a sip of some Woo Energy (hey, gotta make father Flair happy!) and he gets back in the ring and disrespects Garcia.  He chops away but El Idolo keeps him grounded and then…

Ads (Sigh!)

We come back and El Idolo has him in a side headlock and Garcia reverses to a Saito suplex.  He follows with punches in the corner and then connects with a running high knee.  He sets him up the top turnbuckle and Garcia batters at his bad knee.  He gets El Idolo in the Tree of Woe and then follows with a running dropkick and tops it off with a brainbuster to cover, but still gets a two count.  Idolo returns with a flying clothesline and then he kips up and signals for the running double knees but Garcia gets back up.  Idolo catches him with two of the Three Amigos suplexes, and Garcia escapes the third and begins to act like he’s gonna dance.  Idolo turns his back, and Garcia uses the opportunity to catch him in a sleeper hold. He battles out of the submission, and he and El Idolo climb up top and battle on the turnbuckle jockeying for position.  El Idolo finally sends him down with a superplex for the rest of the Three Amigos to cover for another two count.

El Idolo signals for The Figure Eight, but Garcia blocks him and cinches the Dragon Tamer.  El Idolo slips out and connects the hammerlock DDT for the pin and the win.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  Andrade El Idolo

Now with three points of his own, they shake hands but Garcia is still upset at his second loss.

Schiavone goes for a recap on the action from AEW Dynamite in The Gold League but read it here because I said so.

Willie Mack has some strong words for Wardlow after what he did to AR Fox on Dynamite.

Now DAAASHA needs to zip it As The Kingdom wheels in Roderick Strong. No need to “‘Neck’ the halls (Eh, get it?  “Neck” is the same as “Deck,” and it’s Christmas and…Ok, I’m done).” They dedicate this beating to ADAAAM.  That means the next match is…

The Kingdom (Matt Taven and Mike Bennett, with Roderick Strong) vs. The Iron Savages (“Dirty Bulk” Bronson and Beefcake Boulder)

As funny as Strong is, this match calls for a Haiku in Review™:

*ahem*

Savages try to

Pour their secret sauce, but The

Kingdom is Neck Strong.

Your Winners via Pinfall:  The Kingdom

After the match, Strong leaps out of his wheelchair and attacks the Savages before Taven and Bennett help him back, all the while McGuiness is selling this as a “miracle.”

I don’t know what is funnier: Strong’s histrionics or McGuinness’s explanation for how Strong manages to find the courage to fight on.

Lexi Nair is backstage with “All Ego” Ethan Page.  He’s been away for a while but now Page is healthy and he wants to prove that he is not just the best wrestler but the “King of Canada.”  To do that, he will challenge Kenny Omega in Montreal next week on Collision.

A Canadian Collision of epic proportions,  eh?

Now we get a video package of the feud between Mercedes Martinez and Willow Nightingale.  The Babe with the Power has never scored a win over Martinez since coming to AEW/Ring of Honor, and she wants to change that.

The lights dim again and that means your next match is…

Courtesy of AEW.

Christopher Daniels and Matt Sydal vs. The House of Black (Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews)

Daniels and Sydal have good tag chemistry but not enough when facing the House of Black.  At one point they isolate Daniels and he is a Fallen Angel in Peril.  Daniels kicks away Matthews for a hot tag to Sydal and he is Reborn and En Fuego.  There is a big spot where Sydal and Matthews hit dueling Meteoras on each other’s tag team members.

Pretty soon the match breaks down until Matthews shoves Sydal off the top rope and Black delivers the Black Mass to Daniels to seal his fate.

Your Winners via Pinfall:  Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews

The lights go out and this time FTR comes out to confront The House. Black has the mic and assumes they’re joining their stable.  As Black sets down the mic, Harwood reaches for it and they sneak attack FTR. He gives the Black Mass to Wheeler as Matthews makes Harwood watch.  Black taunts the tag team and says no one is coming. Harwood defiantly gestures to Black that “he’s number one” and gets the Black Mass as well.

Renee Paquette interviewed with “Timeless” Toni Storm last week and she felt upstaged by Skye Blue interrupting her Award Ceremony.  She tells Blue she should walk backward because “The only time someone gives you a compliment is when they’re staring at your bottom.”  

Seriously, watch Paquette not crack up as this is timeless in its own way.

Now for Skye Blue with the rebuttal, and she will take the title from her.

Message received.  Skye Blue has certainly come a long way since we first interviewed her.

We get another vignette of the feud between Adam Copeland and Christian Cage that will culminate next week for the AEW TNT Championship.

Next up is lucha libre action with…

El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kip Sabían

I love a good Lucha match.  I do not love a squash match, so let me recommend to you this Calbacitas recipe.  It is zucchini mixed with roasted peppers and corn, and is a fantastic dish to make, especially on cold nights.  Plus it’s a great side dish for any meal you are having.  This recipe is a little different but has a lot of zing to it.

As for the match, the zing was provided by Vikingo.  Sabian; not so much.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  El Hijo del Vikingo

Nair talks with Keith Lee about who the “Him” was that he referenced.  Before he can answer, Shane Taylor interrupts and challenges him at Final Battle. Calm as a coma, Lee says, “Challenge accepted.”

Nair attempts to interview CJ Perry on El Idolo’s win in the Continental Classic but Miro appears and he’s ready to break him. CJ talks him down and asks him to let her work through this and not harm El Idolo as she represents his interests.  Miro replies he has no god, but he will respect her and agrees to leave El Idolo alone.

And I thought Will and Jada Pinkett Smith had issues.

But let’s head back to ringside as the last match of this Blue League Continental Classic will feature…

Courtesy of AEW.

Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston

Kingston is down three points and he vowed earlier in the show he is not gonna lose again and go 0-2.  The left eye of Danielson is patched up after the break he suffered to his orbital socket by a Rainmaker clothesline not too long ago. 

Personally, he’s giving off some Pirata Morgan vibes.  Tell me when I’m telling lies (because the other guy who said that had some tall tales to tell).

The bell rings and they circle as they try to feel each other out.  Danielson connects with kicks to Kingston’s left calf, which is impressive since he’s operating without depth perception.  A chop to Kingston and he’s awake now as he chops Danielson down.  Now they both come out swinging for the fences, and Kingston gives a hard kick to his sternum.  As Danielson gets the wind back in him, he gives single leg takedown to Kingston and then kicks away at the Mad King and covers for a count of two.  Danielson goes into a surfboard but Kingston gets back up to a vertical base and then he transitions to waistlock into a German suplex.  Kingston is on the apron and Danielson attempts to kick him off, but Kingston hangs on.

As Kingston heads down to the floor, Danielson goes for a baseball slide dropkick that misses the mark.  Kingston takes advantage and gives him a side suplex on the floor.  During Picture in Picture, Kingston chops away and then head butts the American Dragon near his bad orbital socket.  They head back into the ring, and Kingston lights him up with Kobashi-style machine gun chops in the corner.  They battle up the top turnbuckle and Danielson fights him off.  Kingston goes back up and attempts a superplex, and Danielson headbutts him off again and then lands a  missile dropkick.  They go back and forth until Danielson captures his arm and brings Kingston down for the LeBelle Lock.  Kingston repositions himself as Danielson can’t quite cinch in the submission, and that is when he mounts The American Dragon and hammers at the head with ground-and-pound action and nearly slaps his eye patch off.

Danielson attempts the Busaiku Knee and Kingston evades the strike.  He launches him with a belly-to-back suplex and then follows with a backfist to cover, but only gets a two count.  Kingston stays on the attack and nails the North-South suplex and still gets another count of two.  Frustrated, Kingston proceeds with knees to the eyepatch side of his head.  Battered and broken, both men unload the heavy artillery and Kingston connects with a half-and-half suplex, but Danielson responds with a Regalplex.  Dasha announces that five minutes are remaining, and Danielson digs deep and hits another Regalplex, and gets a two count.  Danielson then catches his arms and stomps away at his head and neck and collapses in exhaustion.  Both men will each other up, and  Danielson delivers the Busaiku Knee and covers for the one, two, and three.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  Bryan Danielson

Three points are awarded to Danielson, and as he celebrates with the fans, he pulls a sign that shows, “Eddie is a Bum.”

So at the end of the Continental Classic, Brody King is ahead with six points, while Danielson is tied for three points with Andrade El Idolo and his Blackpool stablemate, Claudio Castagnoli.  Only Daniel Garcia and Kingston are scoreless in the Blue League, as the show fades to black.

AEW Collision (and Rampage) - 12/1-2/2023
3.5

Final Thoughts:

What can I say?  I’m a sucker for a good tournament, and the Blue League had action aplenty.  King/Castagnoli was a solid opener and Garcia was impressive against El Idolo despite the loss.  Kingston and Danielson stole the show.

The rest of the card was okay and that is the only reason this show didn’t get four stars.

Until then, see ya next Saturday!

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