AEW Collision: A ‘Paragon’ of CMLL championship excellence

Claudio Castagnoli and Roderick Strong battle for the CMLL Heavyweight Championship on AEW Collision.

Tommy "Milagro" Martinez

AEW Collision: A ‘Paragon’ of CMLL championship excellence
Tony Khan (center) witrh Roderick Strong and Claudio Castagnoli (from left) ahead of the main event for the CMLL Heavyweight Championship on AEW Collision. Photo Courtesy of AEW.

It’s Saturday night on AEW Collision, and it’s all right for fighting. So you know what that means?

Nope, All Elite Wrestling won’t be in Texas. Something about a winter warning heading that way, which is preposterous. I mean, climate hoaxes, am I right?

*ahem*

(Is this thing on?)

Well, what isn’t a hoax is that Roderick Strong will take on Claudio Castagnoli for the CMLL Heavyweight title. It’s a match where we will see the Swiss Cyborg defend against the Messiah of the Backbreaker.

We are (taped) from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, FL. Excalibur, Tony Schiavone p, nd Paul Wight have the call on a big show as your First Match of the Night is…

“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata

Excalibur and Schiavone suggest this match could have major implications in the AEW world title picture down the road, but I think Page just wants to take down The OPPs, brick by brick.

It’s a straight slugfest to start, and then it spills to the outside. Shibata throws him around the barricades, props him on a chair, and goes for a boot but misses the mark. Page counters and sends him over the timekeepers’ table and then into the Orlando crowd. The Hangman is in control and rushes to the corner, and he eats a boot by The Wrestler. Shibata then gives a suplex on the apron edge and hangs on for another to the floor, and he cracks his knee to take away his vertical base.

He slaps on the Figure Four (Woo!) but Page makes it to the ropes. The Wrestler and The Hangman go toe to toe during Picture in Picture, and Shibata kicks the bad leg to add injury to insult. He kicks his chest, but Page blocks, and it’s Chops Ahoy with that Cowboy S***. They both got to rolling elbows, and both men drop to the mat. Back on the apron edge again, but Page reverses and down goes Shibata to a DeadEye and then a moonsault to follow.

The Buckshot Lariat gets countered to a headlock submission, but Page makes it to the ropes to make Shibata release. He connects with a clothesline, then delivers the Buckshot Lariat for the pin and the win.

Your Winner via Pinfall: “Hangman” Adam Page

Earlier in the Week, Don Callis and Ricochet were on the golf course, and Alex Marvez talks about their strategy while Doyle and Davis “play through” some golfers.

Granted, some “eagle-eyed” viewers will note they were in the rough, but it’s still a very effective way to play through.

Next up is…

Kris Statlander vs. Isla Dawn

Dawn comes down with the Grizzled Young Veterans in her corner, and the former NXT UK star does have a strong showing, but this is all Big Stat Daddy.

One Saturday Night Fever ends it decisively.

Your Winner via Pinfall: Kris Statlander

After the match, Thekla appears on Khan ‘Tron, and she says she is such a fan of Statlander and loved her win. But she adds it’s so sad it’s her last win as champ. Thekla says it’s okay as she will face her this week on Dynamite for the AEW Women’s World Championship, and then signs off by saying in so many words, “Live long and Prosper, Bitch.”

(Apologies to Kerry Jackson, the host of Geekshow and Radio From Hell on X96)

“Jungle” Jack Perry has a message for Ricochet. He’s going to take his AEW National title, but this is personal for him as he took out his friend, Luchasaurus. But even when that’s done, Perry promises that it won’t be enough.

We also learn that travel issues prevented Ace Austin from coming out. Plus, Juice Robinson is now medically cleared to compete, so tonight we will see…

Austin and Billy Gunn vs. ProtoShita (Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher, with Don Callis)

You gotta admit, Billy still looks awesome for 62, and what a nice reunion he is having with his son after the split. It is something to be Acclaimed.

(Oh, did I say the quiet part out loud?)

Anyway, once you get past Callis’ yammering, Fletcher and Austin start, and both men are in a dead heat. A tag to Billy, and he tells Fletcher to ‘suck this’ in so many words. Now Takeshita comes in, and we get the matchup of a lifetime: The Alpha versus “Daddy Ass.”

He goes after Callis, but Takeshita clocks him, and during Picture in Picture, Billy beats Down the ProtoShita. There’s a tag to Austin who gets a slam by Fletcher and then…

Ads (I’d be upset, but I was digging the A Knight of the Seven Realms promos. It’s actually pretty good.)

We come back, and Billy is in control. The Fameasser is blocked once, but not twice. He covers, but Fletcher kicks out. Now we get the 3:10 to Yuma by the father and son duo for a cover, and Takeshita breaks the count. The Alhpoa gives a live round to Billy and a spinning slam to Austin. The end comes as Fletcher nails a running kick to the corner, and Takeshita delivers the Raging Fire to Austin for the pin and the win.

Your Winners via Pinfall: Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher

Protostar celebrate but Kaizuchika Okada comes out, and Callis and Fletcher do what they can to assuage The Alpha.

Ricochet is backstage with Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona, and he has a message for Jack Perry. He is sorry about Luchasaurus and didn’t realize he was a friend. They will have the match in Las Vegas for the AEW National title, and random luck will be the only chance he has at his belt.

The Grizzled Young Veterans have their sights set on Eddie Kingston and Ortiz, after they “cheated” last week.

But let’s head back to the ring for tag team action between…

Jake Doyle and Mark Davis vs. Alec Price and Jordan Oliver

This is another big match for the former GCW stars, who are now All Elite. Kudos to them, I say.

That said, we know how the match is gonna go, so here is a Haiku in Review™:

*ahem*

No finesse for Doyle
And Davis. Smash mouth offense
Ends this match real quick.

Your Winners via Pinfall: Jake Doyle and Mark Davis

Don Callis is in the ring and has something important to say to FTR. He has a vision of him own the AEW World Tag Team titles. Big Stoke is on the Khan ‘Tron with Harwood and Wheeler to rebuke his words. No matter what, Stoke promises AEW ring announcer Justin Roberts will say, “ And Still…”.

Top Guys Out.

Darby Allin is in Florida with an old friend, Bam Margera, and they get reckless at the skateboard park.

Now for title action for the…

AEW TBS Title: Willow Nightingale (c) vs. Julia Hart

Hart pie faces the champ, and Nightingale makes her reflect on her poor choices. It isn’t long before the Sister of Sin goes Old School and follows with a huracanrana.

Nightingale answers with a missile dropkick. Things look bad when Sky abluentries to interfere, but she gets intercepted by the other Babe of Wrath in Harley Cameron, and they brawl to the back.

Hart is looking good, but after Picture in Picture, Nightingale unleashes a clothes that Wight says, “ She started swinging in Florida, and it came all the way through to Nebraska.”

Ha! Genius.

They go back and forth through the match, and Hart latches onto the Octopus Stretch, but Nightingale rams her into the corner to release the submission. Finally, it’s over with the Babe with the Power Bomb, and Nightingale retains.

Your Winner via Pinfall, and Still AEW TBS Champion: Willow Nightingale

The Rascalz are backstage, and they have the munchies. Plus, the CRU wants to pick a fight with the new AEW stars.

Huh. Wonder which of the three will face them?

Alex Windsor sits down and asks Jamie Hayter if she wants to get some gold. What could it all mean?

Next is…

Andrade El Idolo vs. Magnus

One-half of the CMLL tag champs is in action, and you can tell Andrade is having fun, even sending a selfie and his digits to a fan at ringside during the match.

That said, this match deserves a Lucid Luchador Limerick in Review™:

*ahem*

Andrade is fluid in this match,
And Magnus is a talent with a lot of panache.
But we know this is a squash,
With El Idolo being so Posh.
He ends it so tranquilo (Natch).

Your Winner via Pinfall: Andrade El Idolo

Andrade, after the match, says he has unfinished business, and Swerve Strickland is in his way. See ya Wednesday!

Mox and Marina Shafir join the commentary because now it’s time for the Main Event for the…

CMLL World Heavyweight Title Match: Claudio Castagnoli (with Wheeler Yuta) (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Orange Cassidy)

I should quickly point out that Castagnoli won the CMLL Heavyweight title back in November 2025 against Gran Guerrero. Also, before the match, per CMLL/Lucha Libre tradition, AEW CEO Tony Khan comes out holding the belt with the competitors for a photo op.

Muy impresivo, I say in my native German language.

Justin Roberts starts with the boxing style intros, and when he gets to Strong, Castagnoli attacks, and we’re off to the races. The Swiss Cyborg keeps Strong grounded, but Roddy gets back in the attack. He works Strong’s leg to take away part of his offense and goes for a single-leg crab. Both men fight in the ring like their honor depends on it (if ya catch my drift).

Castagnoli connects with a knee drop on the barricades, and during Picture in Picture, he keeps injuring Strong’s bad leg. The Messiah of the Backbreaker fights back, but he is hurting, yet he finds a way to his favorite target, Castagnoli’s back. It is a clinic for Roddy until Castagnoli clips his knee and further wrecks it. Now things go up to the high rent district, and Strong gives Castagnoli a ride with an avalanche Olympic slam for a two count. He goes to the Stronghold, and Castagnoli tries to hurt him, but Roddy reapplies to a Boston Crab, but he gets out of the submission. Now the Death Rider hits the big swing to a Sharpshooter, and Strong manages to push him off. Castagnoli wraps his leg around the knee, and Yuta gets in on the action until Cassidy punches him.

They get back in the ring, and as Castagnoli rushes at him, Strong makes him eat a knee. Now he drops a knee pad for the kill, and Castagnoli pulls the ref in the way to make Strong stop his finisher. He nails a big swing on the exposed knee, and a Neutralizer by Castagnoli ends it in one, two, and three.

Your Winner, And Still Cmll Heavyweight Champion: Claudio Castagnoli

Third defense by Castagnoli as the show draws to a close.

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