AEW taped this week’s episode of Collision immediately following Wednesday night’s Dynamite from Viejas Arena at Aztec Bowl in San Diego, California, delivering a packed show featuring the Death Riders in action, a major victory for Andrade El Idolo, fallout from AEW Forbidden Door, two Women’s Casino Gauntlet qualifying matches and another violent assault involving Adam Copeland and the Bang Bang Gang.
The show also continued to build towards next week’s edition of Dynamite, with Konosuke Takeshita and Kyle Fletcher exchanging messages ahead of their AEW International Championship match, while Thekla made another statement after her actions at Forbidden Door.
Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli and Pac) vs. Drilla Moloney and Shingo Takagi
The Death Riders opened Collision as Claudio Castagnoli and Pac made their way to the ring, only to be met by Drilla Moloney and Shingo Takagi.
Pac and Takagi began the contest with a fast-paced exchange, with both men countering each other’s offence before Claudio and Moloney entered the match. The action quickly became physical as Claudio and Pac isolated Moloney, but the New Japan duo repeatedly fought back with hard-hitting offence and frequent tags to maintain control.
Following the commercial break, the Death Riders continued targeting Moloney, but the momentum shifted once Takagi tagged in. The former IWGP World Heavyweight Champion cleaned house, taking down both opponents with shoulder tackles before nearly scoring the victory over Pac. Moloney later re-entered the match and teamed with Takagi for a series of tandem attacks that left Claudio struggling to keep up.
The closing stages descended into chaos as all four competitors exchanged heavy strikes. Claudio planted Takagi with the Giant Swing before Pac followed with a dropkick to the head. Although Moloney broke up the ensuing cover, outside interference soon tipped the balance in the Death Riders’ favour.
Pac grabbed Moloney by the throat before Daniel Garcia suddenly appeared, dragging Moloney over the barricade and attacking him from behind. Garcia’s interference prevented Moloney from helping his partner, allowing Claudio and Pac to focus entirely on Takagi. Although Takagi fought back and even dropped Garcia with a punch after spotting the interference, Garcia again became involved by pulling Claudio out of position during a Made in Japan attempt. Takagi dealt with Garcia, but the distraction proved costly as Claudio recovered to flatten him with a lariat before applying a side headlock takeover to secure the victory.
Winner: Death Riders
The Conglomeration appeared backstage following Mark Briscoe‘s unsuccessful challenge for the AEW World Championship on Dynamite.
Orange Cassidy addressed Briscoe’s condition, explaining that the injuries sustained during Wednesday night’s title match meant he could not say when Briscoe would return to action. Cassidy did, however, provide positive news regarding Willow Nightingale, revealing that she would be back soon.
The interview was interrupted by AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita, who turned his attention towards next week’s championship defence against Kyle Fletcher on Dynamite.
Andrade El Idolo vs. Brian Cage
Andrade El Idolo wasted no time taking the fight to Brian Cage, launching a tope suicida before the opening bell that wiped out both Cage and Lance Archer at ringside. Don Callis joined the commentary team as his family member looked to halt Andrade’s recent momentum.
Once the match officially began, Andrade controlled the early exchanges with quick offence and strikes in the corner before Cage’s superior power turned the tide. The former FTW Champion repeatedly drove Andrade into the turnbuckles and used his size advantage to dominate stretches of the contest, including delivering a delayed vertical suplex from the middle rope.
After the break, Andrade battled back by escaping a hold with a jawbreaker, then unloaded with a series of signature attacks, including the Three Amigos suplex sequence and a leaping forearm. Cage answered with an impressive powerbomb and a series of heavy strikes before nearly ending the match with a face plant and another near fall.
The closing moments saw both men climb to the top rope before Andrade knocked Cage to the canvas with a headbutt, then followed up with a Frog Splash for another close two-count. Cage responded with a ripcord elbow and another power move, but Andrade refused to stay down. After countering Cage’s final offensive attempt, Andrade connected with Dia de Los Muertos before planting his opponent with The Message to score the pinfall.
Winner: Andrade El Idolo
Following the victory, Andrade grabbed a microphone and directed his attention towards Don Callis.
“Do you think this is over? I have one question. How do you know?”
After delivering his trademark catchphrase, Andrade threw the microphone towards Callis before leaving the ring.
Thunder Rosa and Mina Shirakawa vs. Zara Zakher and B3CCA
Thunder Rosa and Mina Shirakawa joined forces in tag team action against Zara Zakher and B3CCA.
Rosa established control early by chopping Zakher to the canvas before Mina entered the contest and showcased her speed with a guillotine leg drop and a tornillo. The challengers briefly regained momentum, but any hopes of an upset quickly disappeared once all four competitors entered the ring. Rosa and Mina overwhelmed their opponents with a series of double-team attacks before Rosa delivered the Tijuana Bomb to seal the victory.
Winner: Thunder Rosa & Mina Shirakawa
After the match, Thekla emerged wearing Starlight Kid‘s mask following her actions at Forbidden Door.
Removing the mask, Thekla declared that she had done exactly what she promised before proclaiming, “STARDOM is dead! Long live the Toxic Spider!” She then warned every woman targeting her to “load your gun,” continuing to build anticipation for next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match.
Adam Copeland and Bang Bang Gang vs. Shane Taylor Promotions
Adam Copeland teamed with Jay White, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn to face Shane Taylor Promotions in an eight-man tag team match.
Colten Gunn and Lee Moriarty started the contest before Copeland quickly entered to help his team gain the early advantage. Shane Taylor Promotions soon turned the tide by isolating Austin Gunn, using frequent tags to wear him down while preventing him from reaching his corner.
Austin eventually escaped and tagged in Jay White, who exploded into the match, taking out multiple opponents with a flurry of offence. White delivered dragon screws to several members of Shane Taylor Promotions, while Copeland also became heavily involved as the pace increased.
The closing moments saw all eight competitors brawl around the ring. Copeland speared Carlie Bravo before White planted Shawn Dean with the Blade Runner to score the decisive pinfall.
Winner: Adam Copeland & Bang Bang Gang
The celebrations were short-lived.
David Finlay‘s Dogs immediately stormed the ring, and the Death Riders joined the assault. The two groups overwhelmed Copeland and the Bang Bang Gang, with Finlay striking White with his shillelagh as the babyfaces were left laid out, closing the segment.
The Demand vs. Chris Nastyyy, Jordan Oasis & Sonico
Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona continued to establish themselves as a dangerous unit by taking on Chris Nastyyy, Jordan Oasis and Sonico.
The trio dominated from the outset, with Kaun and Liona using their power to dismantle the opposition before Ricochet showcased his trademark athleticism. The Demand worked seamlessly together throughout the match, repeatedly combining for tandem offence that left their opponents with little opportunity to recover.
Despite Jordan Oasis briefly exchanging strikes with a bloodied Toa Liona, the Demand remained firmly in control. The bout ended after Kaun and Liona sandwiched Nastyyy between them, then lifted him into position for Ricochet to connect with a running lariat from the ropes.
Winner: The Demand
Following the match, Ricochet congratulated Matt Sydal on joining SKYFLIGHT before warning both Sydal and the group that The Demand represented a true brotherhood, putting them firmly on notice.
Women’s Casino Gauntlet No. 1 Entrant Match: Athena vs. Rina
The second half of Collision opened with the first of two Women’s Casino Gauntlet qualifying matches, as Athena faced Rina, with the winner earning the coveted number-one entry for next week’s Casino Gauntlet.
Athena attempted to impose herself early, slowing the pace with a side headlock before drawing on her veteran experience to frustrate her younger opponent. Rina responded with a series of dropkicks and aggressive offence, refusing to be intimidated by the former ROH Women’s World Champion. Athena soon regained control, targeting Rina’s shoulder and driving it into the ring post before taking command heading into the commercial break.
Returning from the interval, Rina mounted an impressive comeback with a succession of strikes, suplexes and running knees in the corner. The momentum swung back and forth as both competitors traded big boots before Rina appeared close to victory following the Pink Devil and a diving knee drop, only for Athena to survive.
Athena responded by targeting the arm once more before delivering a series of kicks. Although Rina continued to fight back with another near fall, Athena eventually regained control, connecting with the O-Face to finally bring the contest to an end.
Winner: Athena
The victory secured Athena the number one entry position in next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match.
Ahead of the night’s main event, Kyle Fletcher delivered a promo focused on both El Phantasmo and AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita.
Fletcher made it clear he was fully focused on defeating ELP before turning his attention towards next week’s International Championship clash with Takeshita on Dynamite, continuing the growing tension between the former Don Callis Family stablemates.
Bandido, Mistico & “Speedball” Mike Bailey vs. The Rascalz
Trios action followed as Bandido teamed with Mistico and “Speedball” Mike Bailey to take on The Rascalz.
The opening exchanges showcased the speed and athleticism of both teams, with Mistico and Dezmond Xavier setting the tone before Mike Bailey and Zachary Wentz joined the fray. The pace only accelerated as each competitor showcased spectacular offence both inside and outside the ring, with dives quickly becoming the theme of the contest.
Following the commercial break, Bandido exploded into the match after receiving the hot tag, overwhelming Xavier and Myron Reed with his trademark combination of strength and agility. The Rascalz responded with several impressive combinations of their own before Mistico fought back with double back elbows and a shotgun dropkick from the top rope.
The closing sequence saw Bandido halt Xavier’s momentum with a GTS, then deliver the 21 Plex to secure the victory. At the same time, Mistico and Bailey neutralised the remaining members of The Rascalz with simultaneous dives to the outside.
Winner: Bandido, Mistico & “Speedball” Mike Bailey
Following the match, both teams displayed mutual respect by shaking hands after an entertaining trios contest.
A backstage interview followed, featuring The Opps.
Hook confidently predicted that Katsuyori Shibata would defeat Bandido to capture the ROH World Championship, issuing a clear warning ahead of the upcoming title match.
Rush vs. Jordan Cruz
Rush looked to continue his recent dominance as he faced Jordan Cruz.
The bout proved to be little more than a showcase for La Faccion Ingobernable’s leader, who immediately overwhelmed Cruz with heavy strikes before repeatedly throwing him into the ringside barricades.
Back inside the ring, Rush relentlessly chopped and stomped Cruz before trapping him in the corner for another devastating dropkick. He then dragged his opponent into the middle of the ring and scored the straightforward pinfall.
Winner: Rush
Divine Dominion returned with another backstage message, questioning where the rest of the tag team division had disappeared to.
The group declared that every team would eventually bow to them, further positioning themselves as one of AEW’s emerging threats.
Women’s Casino Gauntlet No. 2 Entrant Match: Maya World vs. Julia Hart
The second Women’s Casino Gauntlet qualifying match saw Maya World take on Julia Hart, with the winner earning the number two entry position.
World started brightly by using her athleticism to frustrate Hart before taking the fight outside the ring. Hart answered by driving her opponent into the barricade before applying the Tarantula back inside the ring to regain the advantage.
After the break, Hart continued targeting World with submissions and strikes before World rallied with a series of kicks and a near fall. Hart briefly regained control by attacking the knee and arm before attempting a moonsault.
World avoided disaster by getting her knees up before capitalising with a Shining Wizard to score the victory.
Winner: Maya World
The win secured Maya World the number two entry position in next week’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match.
Kyle Fletcher vs. El Phantasmo
The main event featured Kyle Fletcher taking on El Phantasmo in Fletcher’s final match before challenging Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW International Championship on Dynamite.
The opening stages were highly technical as both men exchanged counters, headlocks and roll-up attempts before El Phantasmo gained the upper hand with a hurricanrana. Fletcher responded by flooring his opponent with a big boot before following him to ringside as the action spilled outside.
After the commercial break, the pace intensified dramatically. El Phantasmo connected with an enzuigiri and a rope-assisted DDT before Fletcher answered with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall. The action moved outside once more as El Phantasmo delivered an impressive moonsault from the commentary table, forcing Don Callis to scramble out of the way.
Fletcher soon regained control, launching El Phantasmo into the barricade before driving him into a ringside chair. Despite the punishment, El Phantasmo beat the referee’s count and repeatedly came within moments of victory after the CRII and a spectacular splash.
Fletcher survived everything thrown at him before finally ending the contest with a devastating sequence consisting of a running knee, a buckle bomb and a Brainbuster.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
Following the main event, Don Callis entered the ring to address AEW International Champion Konosuke Takeshita ahead of next week’s title match.
Callis accused Takeshita of betraying the Don Callis Family, claiming he had discovered the champion and transformed him into the star he is today, before branding him a “low-life” and promising that Kyle Fletcher would take the International Championship from him on Dynamite.
Before Callis could continue, Takeshita’s entrance music interrupted him. The champion emerged with the AEW International Championship over his shoulder, prompting Callis to immediately retreat through the crowd rather than confront his former protege.
Takeshita stood tall in the ring, holding the championship aloft as Collision came to a close, setting the stage for next week’s highly anticipated title clash with Fletcher.
