We can’t say wrestlers grow up dreaming of winning the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament since it’s only a few years old. Yet it is one of the things that AEW has done that is almost universally loved by fans, so this time of year is always a good one. Tonight’s episode of AEW Collision, coming to us from Springfield, Mass., is heavily built around the Owen, with three matches total between the men’s and women’s tourneys.
Before we get to those, though, let’s start things off with a question …
Why, FTR, why? Looks like we’re going to get an answer to that right now, with the Top Guys coming to the ring to explain why they turned on Adam Copeland. Cash Wheeler says it was because even though he once idolized Copeland, he realized over time that Adam was holding FTR back and disrespecting them, and therefore he had to pay. Dax agrees, claiming what they did was the right thing to do since Copeland was so damn selfish.
Dax goes on to acknowledge the people in the back who are unhappy with them as well as people out in the arena. He’s talking about Tony Schiavone, and despite Nigel McGuinness trying to talk him out of it, Tony joins FTR in the ring. Schiavone bravely sticks to his guns, telling the tag team they are in the wrong here and asking Dax what his daughter thinks of his actions. Things are about to turn bad when Daniel Garcia runs to save Schiavone and almost ends up coming to blows with FTR. But the top guys end up giving Garcia a hug, as fake as it might feel, so cooler heads prevail for now.
Toni Storm wishes everyone in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament good luck, though in her case it also means running down every competitor one by one … except for Kris Statlander. She also says no one ever made any money dressing like they are from a different era, which, heh, funny.
Jamie Hayter vs. Billie Starkz – Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament First Round Match
This figures to be a nice showcase for Starkz where she shows well even in a losing effort, but we shall see. A Swanton Bomb off the barricade onto the floor is a pretty nice spotlight move for sure.
Hayter’s power advantage eventually grinds the pace to a place where it’s more to her liking, but Starkz has a few more tricks up her sleeve. Billie also kicks out from several moves that look like they will be her doom, connecting on a twisting neckbreaker for a two count of her own.
Starkz also shows some toughness when Hayter suplexes her off the apron onto the floor. That couldn’t have felt good for either woman but it energizes the crowd. Both women barely beat the 10-count, allowing the match to continue.
Hayter finally ends it with a backbreaker followed by a nasty clothesline, but that certainly made Starkz look very good.
Winner: Jamie Hayter by pinfall
Want to hear from Claudio Castagnoli in multiple languages? You’ve got it, along with some words from Jon Moxley as the Death Riders address The Opps, questioning what Hook is learning from his elder teammates ahead of the Trios Championship match on Dynamite.
Gates of Agony vs. Smash & Burn
Gates of Agony is on a Ring of Honor winning streak, which is apparently enough to get them a squash victory on Collision. It is indeed a short night for the Gates, but thanks for showing up Smash & Burn.
Winner: Gates of Agony by pinfall
FTR runs into Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang backstage, and there are several words beeped out as they disagree about whether FTR is pulling the wool over Garcia’s eyes. Since this is pro wrestling after all, they decide to settle things in the ring later tonight.
Blake Christian vs. Anthony Bowens
Love that Bowens is back and his entrance and gear try to make him look like a big deal. Billy Gunn is still in his corner as well, which is fun. The announcers put Christian over as a bit of a challenge, and he manages to last through a commercial break, which is long enough for Lee Johnson to intervene on Christian’s behalf.
Christian hits an impressive 450 stomp off the top rope, and Gunn has to rally the fans behind Bowens. But he may overplay his hand a bit giving Gunn a DX crotch chop, as Bowens smashes him with a thrust kick and follows with the Mollywop to end it.
Winner: Anthony Bowens by pinfall
Bowens gets some mic time to talk about being the 5-Tool Player, saying he’ll prove he’s the best every single week. Who will step up to the plate next to get their ass Mollywopped? That might be a rhetorical question for now.
Megan Bayne vs. LMK and Kelly Madan
Keeping Bayne strong is a good idea for AEW, and having her run through two women at a time is a way to do that. She actually pins both of her opponents at once following Fate’s Descent, so the Bayne train rolls on. I just made that up, but TK, feel free to use that free of charge if desried.
Winner: Megan Bayne by pinfall
Kevin Knight vs. AR Fox
If you’re going to throw a random match on an AEW card, you could do a lot worse than putting one on between these two high-flyers. Fox has been an underrated performer for the company for some time, always impressing in the ring, and Knight opened some eyes recently in his Owen bout against Will Ospreay.
Fox looks like he’s going to get the dub after a thrilling combo that ends with a 450 Splash, but Knight kicks out and the fans get a “this is awesome” chant going. Knight gets up high for his take on AJ Styles’ Phenomenal Forearm, and it’s enough to wrap this one up.
Winner: Kevin Knight by pinfall
Gates of Agony say they don’t mind being hurt, which is good since they’re looking to challenge the Hurt Syndicate. See the word is in their name and … anyway, let’s move on.
FTR vs. Daddy Magic and Cool Hand Ang
This is the first match for FTR since they turned heel, so it’ll be interesting to see how they work it. Daniel Garcia certainly isn’t in a dancing move as he comes to ringside to see this, and it strikes me it might be the right move to have him turn as well.
FTR’s early assault is effective as Daddy Magic is busted open quite early. The blood only seems to fire him up, but that only buys him a minute or two of offense. Ang takes a Shatter Machine, and Daddy Magic takes the two-man spike piledriver.
Garcia can only watch as Daddy Magic takes another one, but he’s up on the apron when FTR threatens a third. That works to convince Cash Wheeler to pin his friend instead.
Winner: FTR by pinfall
Garcia checks on Daddy Magic, but that leaves him vulnerable as FTR returns to the ring to attack him from behind. He takes a spike piledriver, then a second one. AEW security hits the ring, along with an extra referee, but things only calm down once The Paragon hit the ring. FTR finally decides to retreat with the numbers now against them.
Athena vs. Harley Cameron – Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament First Round Match
This is one match where the winner isn’t quite as obvious. Athena could certainly win this as that’s what she usually does, but with her title not on the line and Cameron getting a big push, maybe it makes sense for Harley to win. Let’s find out.
Cameron takes a hard bump on the apron, and Athena grins as we head to side-by-side commercials. It’s mostly Athena now as Schiavone reminds us that Athena is from Texas, which is where the winner of the Owen will get their title shot. Cameron responds with a timely right hand as Athena is springboarding, then a belly-to-back suplex for a near fall.
The Despicable Knee gets things going back Athena’s way, and the O-Face finishes Cameron and puts Athena on a collision (pun intended) course with Mercedes Moné in the semifinals of the Owen.
Winner: Athena by pinfall
Hey, speaking of Moné, she doesn’t seem too choked up about skipping tonight’s show or too concerned about beating Athena on Dynamite next week.
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Brody King – Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament First Round Match
Takeshita comes in off a big win over Hiroshi Tanahashi in the Ace’s final match in the U.S. King defeated one of Takeshita’s teammates, Lance Archer, two weeks ago. Something has to give here.
These are two big boys, which makes it awesome when a woman watching in one of the front rows is visibly wide-eyed as Takeshita takes flight to the floor. King isn’t so easily taken out, however, and is soon slugging it back out with his foe in the center of the ring. Tanahashi would appreciate this Strong Style display, one would think.
Takeshita shows off his ridiculous strength with a package piledriver followed by a deadlift into a suplex. King refuses to stay down, even after absorbing some knee strikes. Two more knees crash home to change that, with Takeshita rolling on into the semifinals, where he will face off against … Will Ospreay.
