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AEW Collision: Carnage ends Collision

Sully Khan
Promo poster for some matches scheduled for Jan 11/25 AEW Collision in Athens, GA.

Welcome to AEW’s second installment of Collision in this ‘New Era’, so to speak, coming to us from Athens, GA. Tonight’s show promises “Hot Girl Graps” between the unmistakable Harley Cameron and AEW Women’s World Champion Mariah May in a non-title match, a match between Cope of Rated FTR and the Learning Tree’s Big Bill, and more!

Mariah May says she’ll throw Harley Cameron’s vocal chords into the third row. The Learning Tree is still a thing? Ugh.

1. Cope vs. Big Bill

Chris Jericho joins the commentary desk. Not a fan of that at all. Stop trying to make “Cope the Dope” happen. It’s not going to happen. (Someone please get this reference). I can’t be the only one who’s way past being over The Learning Tree.

Despite being bitter rivals, Jericho puts over Cope as one of the greatest when it comes to ring psychology, but adds the disclaimer that he’s fragile. Jericho said Big Bill should be the next AEW Men’s World Champion and not Cope, who claimed that he’s aiming for Jon Moxley’s title earlier this month.

The crowd rallies behind Cope as he takes a beating from Big Bill. Nigel McGuinness says maybe Cope isn’t fit to even aim for Moxley’s championship as Cope is getting dominated.

Jericho distracted the ref while Big Bill ripped off the protective padding on the top rope. Cope got Big Bill down with a massive power bomb but the Redwood kicked out. The Redwood kicked out at 2.9 after a Spear from the Rated R Superstar, much to the excitement of Jericho.

Hammer-anvil blows into a rear-naked choke in the middle of the ring ends it for the Canadian.

Winner: Cope via submission.

As anyone could have predicted, Bryan Keith and Chris Jericho rush Cope. FTR come out to counter and a horde of refs and security rush out to put an end to the chaos. Everyone is barred from ringside

Hangman says in a promo that he’s tried to protect his family with his work, all to be undone in one night. “It broke me… I was ashamed.” He brings up his feud with Swerve Strickland, recalling their feud last year. He then talks to Christopher Daniels, saying he crossed a line when he laid hands on Page. He calls out Daniels for a Texas Death Match next week on Collision in Cincinnati. He says he would rather sow worldwide chaos than be who he was last year.

2. PAC vs. Komander (with Alex Abrahantes)

Coming into tonight, PAC is 10-0 on Collision matches. As expected, these two athletes show out, being two of the most agile wrestlers on the AEW roster.

McGuinness reminds fans that Komander almost died twice as a baby and that his mother believed he was destined to do something special. Mission accomplished.

Abrahantes and PAC exchange workds outside the ring. The two have a storied history in AEW. PAC takes advantage after a missed corner missile kick. PAC then gets outside the ring to give Abrahantes a piece of his mind, only to get Komander falling onto him.

Komander gets stunned but rolls out of the way to avoid a Black Arrow. He lands a Poisonrana and follows up with a 450 Splash, only to get PAC’s knees. Komander gets pulled into the Brutalizer.

Winner: PAC via submission.

Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta come out as PAC keeps Komander in the ring. Castagnoli looks for revenge. The Outrunners rush out to stop what was sure to be an uneasy sight.

3. The Outrunners vs. Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli

This one flowed as smooth as butter from the last match. Castagnoli and Yuta gain the upper hand on Turbo Floyd and isolate him, classic tag-team tactics.

Castagnoli lands a brutal Atomic Drop on Truth Magnum (McGuinness calls him Truth Martini) and the Death Riders again take control.

Turbo Floyd and Wheeler Yuta get some really impressive counters on each other as both try for the cover. Claudio tags in and Floyd goes for a predictable circular ride in the middle of the ring.

Castagnoli rocket launches Yuta to get the pinfall.

Winners: Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta via pinfall.

A video package airs for the Hook / Christian Cage feud, for the Women’s Casino Gauntlet match, the AEW Men’s World Championship match between Moxley and Hobbs, and Kenny Omega’s return. All for Maximum Carnage airing next Wednesday.

A separate promo, just Hobbs, sheds light on his past and how nothing Moxley can do will break him. Maximum Carnage airs from Moxley’s hometown so the stakes couldn’t be higher for the current champion.

4. Harley Cameron vs. Mariah May

Mariah May sits up on the corner of the ropes and Cameron verbally forces her to come down and fight.

Cameron’s in-ring work has imporved leaps and bounds in what seems like way too short a time. The champion looks almost like she didn’t expect this tough a challenge.

A Mariah-go-round only gets the arrogant, unapologetic champion a two-count on the cover. But she’s well in control of the match.

It’s no secret who the crowd is rooting for in this encounter. But the champ doesn’t care. A Ripcord from the champ missed but both got the worst of the second one, flying full speed at each other.

This is arguably Cameron’s best in-ring performance. Storm Zero for the win.

Winner: Mariah May via pinfall.

Christopher Daniels responds to Page, saying he only ever wanted to be a friend to Page, even when everyone else deserted him. Daniels reminds Page of the accolades he’s accumulated in his career, revisiting their history together.

5. Brody King (with Julia Hart) vs. Trevor Blackwell

Yeah, this one seems like it’s going to be over quickly. For lack of a better term, King ragdolls Blackwell as Hart intimidates without doing anything.

The dogs are barking.

Winner: Brody King via pinfall.

Lexi Nair is backstage with Kind and Hart. King says it’s a confusing time for the House of Black. Cope shows up, reminding King of who he is. He, like Ospreay to Buddy Murphy on Wednesday, tells King and Hart the House of Black need to “take the reigns and run”. There may be something there.

6. Daniel Garcia (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata for the TNT Championship

Tony Schiavone said that Daniel Garcia barely made it to the arena in time as the weather in and around the Atlanta area was uncooperative today. Daddy Magic is on the commentary desk, as expected for a Garcia match.

Going chop-for-chop with Shibata is a… let’s say, bold strategy.

The Wrestler’s athleticism doesn’t seem to be talked about enough in wrestling circles. This guy can ball, so to speak.

Garcia looks to gain the upper hand coming out of a commercial break. A swinging neck breaker only yields the champ a two-count. But he goes toe to toe with his challenger in a brutal exchange of kicks to the neck.

A standing octopus stretch forces Garcia to the ropes quickly. Garcia gets the Dragon Tamer locked in but Shibata counters with the ankle lock and moves into the Figure Four.

Garcia counters a ripcord with a cover.

Winner: Daniel Garcia retains via pinfall.

The two show respect after the match.

A promo for the Women’s Casino Gauntlet airs, explaining the rules and what’s at stake. “The only way to make history is to go through hell”.

7. Dax “The Axe” Harwood vs. Chris Jericho

It’s not Judas, but this Jericho entrance theme is not too bad. Then again, it’s not FTR’s music.

Both held on to a grapple for way too long, neither accepting to let go first.

I may not be the smartest tool in the shed, but I do know better than to try going shot-for-shot with Harwood.

A brain buster gets Harwood two on the cover in the middle of the ring. Jericho gets a catapult, staggering his opponent. Jericho controls much more of this match than most people may have expected him to.

Harwood gets two German suplexes but is unable to get the lucky third as Jericho powers out. A Lionsault gets “The Nueve” a two-count. A Dragon Screw gives Harwood a brief opportunity but he’s unable to capitalize.

A Codebreaker outside the ring staggers Harwood. The ref gets up to nine before Harwood desperately gets back in the ring. Sharpshooter forces Jericho to reach for the bottom rope. The ref can’t see as he gets hit in the eye and Jericho nails Harwood with his title but only gets a two-count.

Jericho elbows Harwood.

Winner: Chris Jericho via pinfall.

The Learning Tree come out to continue the beating, forcing Cope and Cash Wheeler to rush out. Chaos ensues as the Death Riders come out, attacking both sides. The Outrunners come out. Cope hits PAC with a Spear but gets hit with a DDT from Mocxley sneaking up behind him. Marina Shafir brings a chair out. But guess who comes out next? Hobbs rushes out and lays waste to anyone in his path. Moxley hits him in the back with a chair but Hobbs is unaffected.

So unaffected, in fact, that he does this.

Maximum Carnage may be an understatement come Wednesday.

3.5

AEW Collision Jan. 11

Seven matches in two hours, on paper, seems like a lot. But the pacing of this show was great and only the main event seemed like it dragged longer than it should have. Not sure how I feel about Jericho being in the main event, but I get that he’s still a big draw. Hobbs’ aura is the main takeaway tonight for this writer.

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