Venue: College Park Center, Arlington, Tx

This is just way too many matches.  Especially with four of them being tournament ones across different leagues.

*****

Joe’s music welcomed us to the show as the big Samoan marched the ramp.  Who’s he going to accuse?  They ran through the whole angle from last week – Max left laying backstage.

You’ll be shocked to hear Joe was very popular.  He’s come looking for answers.  He made a promise to MJF that he’d keep him whole till the ppv but last week was made a liar.  Potentially jeopardizing his title shot.

He saw a ‘certain beer brand that a certain Cowboy likes’ and smelled ‘stetson and disappointment’, searched high and low for Page, who ‘was missing’.  He didn’t have to wait long tonight for Page who headed straight down.  The announcers asked whether MJF was trying to frame Hangman.

Page said if there’s something Joe wants to accuse him of, ‘why don’t you just say it like the man I thought you were’.  He said he doesn’t care about any of the BtYBB silliness or any of the whodunnit stuff.

Joe implied he’d already made up his mind about Page.

‘Well Joe, if there’s something you wanna do about it, why don’t you do it?’.

As he’s been doing for weeks and possibly months now, Roderick Strong watered down a main event segment by interrupting.  Even if yelling ‘SAMOAAAA’ continues to be amusing.

Joe looked furious as Strong and the Kingdom hit the ramp, of course now sans wheelchair.  He called Page his ‘young boy’ but that Joe ought to listen to Page.  Strong painted Max as the Devil, with more detail this time:

Jay White asks for a title match – gets attacked, the Acclaimed lose a tag along with Max – get attacked, the goons were about to attack Max a few weeks back but conveniently didn’t when Joe saved him and then last week we never saw MJF actually get attacked.  ‘It’s obviously Max, Max is the Devil’.

Page tried to interrupt, Strong dismissed him, Page whacked him with a right.  Aubrey hit the ring and it seems this is our opener.  Which is just preposterous.  Even more preposterous, she called for the bell despite Strong attacking Page from behind while he was jawing with Joe.

The latter left up the ramp.  It also felt like that segment ended abruptly, like it was halfway through rather than on a cliffhanger.

Hangman Adam Page vs Roderick Strong

Backstory: NONE

This’d better be a strong win for Page.

Who quickly took over with a flurry of chops across two corners.  Strong briefly hit back before being pounded down in the corner, crowd behind Hangman.  Though a brief ‘neck strong’ chant played as Page hit a fallaway and running shooting star with Strong kicked out of at barely two.

More chops and strikes until Strong hit a kick and stomped Page in the corner.  Of course a backbreaker, Page out at barely one, Strong working a facelock on the mat, Page to his feet, whip reversed, big boot, snap suplex, kickout at barely one.

Noticeable uptick in kickouts that aren’t ‘near falls’ the last couple weeks.

Strong back to chops in the ropes, elevated to the apron, springboard lariat from Page which just about connected and a vaulting press which absolutely did.  The Kingdom did the usual egregious interference which makes everyone but the heel look dumb to prevent an ourihara.

‘It was great teamwork, it really, really was’.  Sometimes Tony Schiavone is so excellent at adding to heel heat and sometimes he just murders it.

Page took a backbreaker across the ringpost, crashing to ringside to bring the break.  A little repetitive.

Strong worked the wrist mid-ring, Page to his feet, gut-shotting his way free, exchange of rights, Page ducked a back elbow, Strong ducked a discus, Page fought off a backbreaker, both smashed the other with simultaneous discus lariats.  Page picking up post-break.

Both down, Aubrey at three as Strong got to his feet, smacking Page’s back with a right, one to the face, Page shook it all off to smash Strong in the corner, Stone Cold-like stomps – to the degree Excalibur called it a ‘Texas mud hole’ – crowd loud for that.

‘Cowboy S’ from the crowd as Strong got a boot up, ducking a lariat but hauled into a DVD for a near fall.  This is edging toward going too long given the relative level of the guys.  Page smashed him with a boot in the corner, set him atop the buckle, biting the forehead (which is becoming a little overdone), Excalibur said it showed a more aggressive Page, something he wouldn’t have done before the match with Swerve.

He has seemed generally more aggressive.  Be a nice pivot for his character if so.

Strong avoided a moonsault, Page landed on his feet, pop-up powerbomb, Strong out at two.  This has officially entered ‘good match’ > getting someone over territory.  Strong hit a tiger driver, high stack for two but right into the Stronghold.  Page got the ropes.  Ohhh the drama, was sure he’d tap.

Taz was enjoying himself repeating the word ‘butt-tocks’.  Speaking of, the Kingdom both hit the apron again for ages, Page fought them off, ourihara took both out, Strong blocked a Buckshot but was cradled for two, Page hit a deadeye to win.

At least he fought all the heels off single-handed but Strong is a comedy character and should not be pushing Page like this.  Especially if the story is he’s newly focused.

Probly a good match; hard to care.  Would enjoy a Joe/Page feud though, that’d be fun on-mic and in-ring.  Two intense, believable guys.

Winner: Hangman Adam Page

Brody King vs Andrade El Idolo (Blue League)

Backstory: Match three for both, both are undefeated at 2-0

As he made his entrance, they showed Andrade battering Danielson Saturday and his shoving contest with Claudio.  ‘The Modern American Triple Crown Champion’ is what Excalibur said Andrade wants to become.  Just rolls off the tongue.  They were at pains to make sure Andrade wasn’t considered a heel.

Collar-and-elbow, whip, clash of shoulders, no dice, Andrade to a headlock, grounding the bigger man.  The announcers talked about Andrade gaining muscle (almost as if he’s headed somewhere which values it).  King kept trying to suplex his way free, El Idolo maintained the headlock until being elevated behind Brody, though immediately snatched it back.

Even holding on through a belly-to-back.  They are clearly intent on branding that ‘Modern American Triple Crown’ name.  And branding is what it sounds like.

A few barks from an otherwise quiet crowd as Brody finally freed himself, shoulder block, senton splash, feeling his neck after the long headlock.  Chop battle in the corner, Andrade in particular lighting up the big guy who barely registered them.  Andrade tried to flip to the apron, was snatched into a choke across the ropes, slipped free, cross body from the top.  For two.

King headed outside for a breather, El Idolo followed via moonsault.  They mentioned that tie-breakers come into play if wrestlers are level on points after five matches i.e. if Andrade wins here and he and Brody are level on points, Andrade would advance.

He was bleeding from inside the mouth as King sent him sprawling to the floor with a chop.

Ads.

Back to a battle of chops and strikes, Andrade reeling to the corner, strong whip to the opposite buckle, crowd barking, Andrade up to intercept the cannonball with a low dropkick.  But couldn’t lift big Brody via body slam, settling for a dragon screw instead, a second, diving forearm, kip-up, King down in the corner.

Chants of ‘Si! Si! Si!’ as he prepared a knee strike.  King got up, Andrade ducked a lariat and hit a loose body slam straight out of Hogan/Andre.  To the top, split-leg bagging two.  TiA from a section of the crowd.  Now back to ‘Si! Si! Si!’.  Again, Brody was wary of the double knees, fleeing the scene, big lariat, Andrade out at nearly three.  Barks starting again – can one of these guys finally hit their big move in the corner?  Yes the answer as he crushed Andrade via cannonball.  For another near fall.

Andrade slipped out of a powerbomb, back to exchanging forearms and chops, Andrade barely hit a boot, Brody ducked a lariat, nailed a big right, Andrade to his knees, coming back with his big back elbow.  Cut off atop the buckle, falling to the apron, cut off again atop the buckle, Brody joining him up there seeking a superplex, Andrade dropped down to drive King’s head into the buckle via a sort-of ddt, El Idolo DDT, win.

The announcers noted that Andrade must have exposed the top of the buckle while up there.  Possibly hinting at his recent actions being less honest than we thought?

Good action.  Liked the story of the headlock and them avoiding the corner moves.

On his way to the back, Andrade eyed the titles and Excalibur again regurgitated the WWE-like corporate spiel.  Gross.

Winner: Andrade

Renee with the Von Erichs.  Cassidy, Danhausen and Trent rolled up, Cassidy asked the younger Von Erichs to tag with him on Rampage.  Danhausen yelled ‘giddy up’ as they did a ‘hands in’ thing.

Cannot tell whether Danhausen was fake annoyed or actually annoyed at Cassidy tagging with other people.  More importantly, I do not care.

And yeah if you tuned in for the advertised Von Erichs, that was your lot.

*****

Kenny Omega came out before the break.  Jericho was just about done with his entrance as we came back.  They replayed the attack on the latter by Starks & Bill.  And Bill’s big boot to Kenny on Collision.  Excalibur saw these weeks-apart attacks as ‘trying to take the challengers out by any means possible’.

Jericho welcomed the crowd back to the return of the ‘Golden Jets’.  A very weak chant started, though the guys were generally over.  Jericho said he’d spent three weeks thinking about what he’d say to the guys who injured his elbow, it was ‘Hey boys, get your sorry asses out here.’

Cue the champs’ first Dynamite appearance since maybe May?

Hence Starks asking ‘Did ya miss me?’.  He said he has no issue with Kenny, thanking him for ‘this great place that we know as AEW’.  As for Jericho, he just ‘sucks the life out of every single thing’.  Making him wonder whether Omega can trust the vet.  Look at what he’s done to all his prior factions.  Bill emphasized that if Jericho ever attacked Omega, no-one here would be surprised.

‘Just sayin’.

Omega smirked and said even Jericho knew he didn’t trust him.  Then reminded Bill of his time in the Firm, asking fans if they remembered – ‘Nooooo’.  Omega agreed.  It was ‘more like the Flaccid, something up your alleyway… ‘soft’?’.  Crowd ‘oohed’ at that.

Kenny called himself the king of receiving beatdowns.  He gets one almost every week.  Then botched their name, calling them the Winnipeg Jets.  But in so-doing coming as close as anyone has to explaining their name.  He said they’d take their titles.

Starks laughed and said ‘You’re on’.  He reminded Jericho of January when he beat him.  Bill interrupted to say ‘twice’.  Starks emphasized that they were the tag champs ‘without a name’ (those two are playing well off one-another).

Jericho said if they needed one he could help.  Most of it was bleeped.  Omega said he could do better.  Then suggested ‘the Rick and the Dick’ (the last of which was also bleeped) before finally Jericho settled on ‘Big Billy Starks’.  Which went down about as well as you’d expect.  This is not good.

‘Well, that one fell flat,’ said Starks.  Jericho actually agreed but repeated it and some of the crowd obliged via chant.  Starks made fun of Jericho’s outfit.  Jericho said Starks called him a vampire and if he were he’d seek someone with ‘more clout’ so seek his teeth into, then called him a ‘better dressed, more charismatic Enzo Amore’.

This.  Sucks.

Of course the crowd ‘oohed’ at that, cause Insider.  Omega continued the weird insider shots by saying at least Amore hyped up Bill and ‘didn’t take all the spotlight’.

‘Well I think you guys have taken the spotlight a little too far in my opinion,’ said Starks.  Erm, yes.

Starks said they could make all the jokes they wanted, ‘No one cares anymore (about them), I don’t, he (Bill) doesn’t, everyone in the back doesn’t,’ he’s sick and tired of Jericho and Omega’s starting to piss him off too.  If they think they’re better, ‘prove it, you two Winnipeg scumbags’.

Omega and Jericho made fun of being called ‘scumbags’, they are verging between dislikeable and lame here.  Omega did his ‘goodbye/goodnight’ line.  Before a tepid crowd.

This was utterly cringe.  Rambling, incoherent and did nothing to build this match.  Quite the opposite.  Legit pissing contests don’t usually lead to good segments.  An argument for scripted promos, and I hate scripted promos.

*****

They finally remembered last week’s show-closing angle, replaying Shayna Wayne helping Cage win (related, heard an excellent point last week – if she was so torn, why not just clock both?).

But yeah that was it.  No follow-up, no promos, nada.

*****

Toni Storm came out with Mariah May.  Storm’s joining on comms.  Should be interesting.

Riho vs Ruby Soho

Backstory: Post-match, Riho interrupted champ Toni Storm last week for her annual title clash before presumably disappearing again

They showed Storm and Soho attacking and spray-painting Riho back in April.  Ah, halcyon days of the Outcasts.

There was the weekly technical gaff when Excalibur addressed Toni who clearly wasn’t ready yet.  She asked if they wanted her to do ‘color or play-by-play’.  Taz said play-by-play since the others aren’t very good.  Storm said ‘You’re Taz aren’t you?’ then called him the Tazzmaniac.

Luther ‘has the traveller’s gout’ so isn’t here.

As Soho and Riho locked up.  Excalibur asked about the above attack, Storm didn’t know what he was talking about.  Tony interpreted that Storm had trouble remembering anything before losing her title and Storm essentially agreed.

Riho hit a nice knee strike in the corner, bridging suplex for two, maintaining the grip into a second, Ruby fought free but took a stomp out of a cazadora and bailed.  But came back to seek a German from the top, Riho hit a back elbow, Soho kindly held on to the ropes to take a stomp from upstairs.

Ads.  Riho’s getting over like she usually does.  Wrestles a nice pace.

Riho flying headscissors, 619, to the top, diving cross body for a near fall.  Nice flurry.  Storm compared her to asbestos as Soho hit a very weak thrust kick and killer saito suplex.  For two.  Storm said she was ready for her close-up and posed for the cameras.

Riho hit a forearm in the ropes, crucifix bomb, Soho out at two.  Riho to the top, missing a stomp, No Future from Soho, Riho kicked out.  Storm questioned if it really was Ruby since she’d changed her hair color, it was very amusing the way she said it.

As Soho hooked a front guillotine, Riho countered into a beautiful bridging northern lights for two, dragon suplex, running double knees for the win.

Riho always gets over and always looks good in the ring.  Weird that she disappears so often for so long.

Storm wagged a finger at her.

Winner: Riho

Wardlow package.  He’s been preparing for war.  They showed footage of him smashing people.  All total jobbers of course, guys we haven’t even seen on tv for months.  He compared himself to the Archangel Michael in bringing the ‘Devil to his knees’.  ‘MJF, your world is coming to an end’.

It’s about time for some developments here.

Rush vs Jay Lethal (Gold League)

Backstory: Match four, Lethal’s already out at 0-3; Rush is 1-2

If you wondered who was going to win, Lethal’s entrance mostly came during the break.

Rush’s leg is still wrapped at the thigh/hamstring.  Quick start with lots of ducking and dodging before the obligatory chops.  Excalibur re-emphasized that Rush didn’t even know what happened last week and was furious when he ‘came to’.  Related, he doesn’t like doing jobs.

Lethal ole’d him past then hit his cartwheel dropkick before stopping to strut.  Related, he’s lost every match.  ‘If you’re in this tournament, you’re a big-time name here in AEW’ said Schiavone after aping the ‘top stars’ blather.  I can accept water if you don’t tell me its champagne.

Rush walloped Lethal round ringside and Excalibur again had to cover for him not being counted out.  After they read through the matches for Collision, Rush hit a snap powerslam for two.

Chop fight atop the buckle saw Rush plummet, avoid a dive, take a Lethal Combination to crickets.  Lethal ducked a discus elbow, hit an enziguri, Rush stumbling back to the corner but belly to bellying Lethal into the buckle as he attacked.  Lethal blocked Bull’s Horns, Rush snatched a sleeper mid-Lethal injection for the tap.  The announcers framed it as a message after the way he lost to Moxley last week.

Fairly quick one, nice to mix it up at least.

But to say I was uninvested in this would be a massive understatement.

Lethal was upset after this despite Jarrett and etc. coming out to console him.  A wild-eyed Rush celebrated with the fans and shook up a fan’s drink all over himself and the front row.  Who all seemed to love it.

Winner: Rush

They recapped Mox’s post-match promo from last Wednesday.  Swerve’s too.  Good package.

Jay White vs Mark Briscoe (Gold League)

Backstory: Match four for both, Briscoe’s done at 0-3; White’s 2-1

It’s just wall-to-wall matches here.  No palette cleansers.

Excalibur did a nice job making this seem important for White.  And emphasizing that Rush would be rooting for Briscoe here since he needs White to lose.  Schiavone went on and on about how ‘great’ all the matches tonight had been.

Briscoe attacked as the bell rang with a big leg lariat, chop, missed a double sledge, hit a big boot as a loud ‘Dem Boys’ chant kicked up.  Rolling DVD, upstairs for the Froggy Bow, hit, White rolled outside to escape the pin.

Fast start.

Briscoe followed, somewhat using a ringside cable to attack White which the ref saw all of.  He continued to beat White around ringside then hurled him back in, White fought off a uranage, took a couple shots, constant back and forth as Briscoe attacked and White escaped until being dumped over the ropes and crashing back-first against the apron.

Nasty spill.

White hurled him back in thinking Bladerunner, Briscoe used redneck kung-fu to escape, took a ddt but kicked out at two.

Ads.

Back to Briscoe fighting to his feet, exchange of rights, crushed against the ropes, took a running back elbow in the corner until countering via back body drop.  White got his feet up but raced out into a big lariat, Briscoe psyching himself up, more kung-fu, chops and forearms, diving lariat, big boot-ing White off the apron then absolutely crushing him via Cactus elbow.  Great camera work on that too.

Back inside, White slipped out of a powerbomb, series of chops, Briscoe immediately took back over, placing White atop the buckle but being fought off until landing a blow to the back of the head, crucifix bomb from atop the buckle, White just kicked out.

Briscoe signaling Jay Driller to another ‘Dem Boys’ chant; White countered via dragon screw before working over the leg.  Briscoe hooked a cradle for two, White popped up to land a sleeper suplex, a second after ducking a lariat, crowd booing as White readied the Bladerunner, Briscoe slipped behind to dump White on his head.

To the top, second Froggy Bow coming, White knees up, Bladerunner, win.

Really good match, Briscoe’s had himself a nice tournament. Would really like to see White stop selling all match only to sneak wins.  Especially against lesser opponents.

He temporarily joined Mox and Swerve atop the standings on nine points.  Schiavone assumed White would want a tie in that match; Excalibur corrected that he needed Swerve to win.

Winner: Jay White

Jon Moxley vs Swerve Strickland (Gold League)

Backstory: Match four for both, both are 3-0

Swerve was very over, plenty of tv time left as he walked the ramp.  ‘Holy S’ chant before the match even started.  Anyone care to bet against Tony Khan joining in backstage lol?

Warily they circled, milking the moment, crowd loud.  It’s a testament to Strickland that fans see this as such a big deal.  This is what more of the tournament should’ve been.

Finally they locked up, Swerve tripped him down into a mount, Mox countered, both grappling against the mat, Mox looking for a submission.  To their feet, to the corner with another strong grapple.  Swerve broke, Mox landed a love-tap of a headbutt, mind games beginning.

Again they grappled to a rope break and Swerve reciprocated.  Back to it in the middle, Mox hammerlock, Swerve slipping out into a headlock, duelling chant as the youngster drop-stepped, rolled Mox through, handspring tejeiras.  Incredibly smooth.

An irritated Mox headed for a breather.

Back in to what he knows best, a fight – exchange of forearms, now to chops, Swerve backed to the corner as Excalibur admitted he was ‘the people’s choice’ in the gold league.  So seems they’re admitting defeat on him being a heel.

Whip out, Swerve reversed it, took a big boot but kicked Mox’s ankles out before springing up to nail a ddt from the middle buckle.  Crowd ‘oohed’ at that.  Count of two with a delayed cover.

Mox again sought solace outside, Swerve followed, firing rights, introducing Mox to the ringpost then choking him against the barricade with his boot.  A ‘Swerve’s House’ chant started as they returned to the ring, Mox nailed a big lariat out of the corner, punches atop the buckle, head bite, stalling piledriver for two.

Wrists captured, Swerve avoided the stomps by dragging Mox through the ropes but was trapped in the apron skirt, Mox raising it twice into his crotch, or ‘yambag region’ per Taz.  Then had his taped shoulder hammerlocked and rammed into the steps as the break beckoned.

Back to Mox wrenching back on the shoulder, Swerve fighting free but immediately smashed down via lariat.  Excalibur announced we were past ten minutes.  Suspicious.

Swerve nailed a turn-around forearm, backbreaker, trying to fire himself up, pair of running forearms, another in the corner, snapmare out, diving elbow to the back, chop to the chest, Mox countered via throw; Swerve looked for his rolling flatliner but rolled right into a cutter for a near fall.

Gotch-style piledriver for the same.  Swerve down on the mat as another dueling chant played.  To his feet, Mox hit a couple kicks but rebounded off the ropes into Swerve’s flatliner, Strickland maintaining his grip through into a suplex, Mox popped up but was smacked back down via something like a shining wizard using the boot r/t the knee.  Another close call.

TiA from the crowd as Swerve went BCC with wrist capture stomps and H&A elbows.  Mox armdragged free, Swerve right back via house call, to the top, Stomp cut off by Moxley just shoving Strickland off the top to the floor.

Ref counting him down, Mox happy to take the win, Swerve back in at nine, right into a curb stomp for a very near fall.  Fifteen minutes passed as Mox rained blows down, into the choke, Swerve blocked the grip, Mox transitioned into a cross armbreaker on the injured shoulder.  Swerve got the ropes with his foot.

Mox went for a chair, Swerve vaulted over onto him, Mox ended up on the chair which conveniently set itself up, Swerve hit a stomp off the apron, another coming inside, hit, the announcers all said he’d won.  So of course he hadn’t.

Mox got a sloppy counter out of a JML Driver to win.  Out of nowhere.  Swerve’s left shoulder was nowhere near the mat either.  Right in camera view.  As Taz acknowledged.  So possibly that was intended to give Swerve an out?

Good but not nearly as good as I expected.  Might be a case of expecting too much.

Presumably this’ll now be our semi.  Where Swerve finally conquers.

Mox slumped against the announce desk holding up four fingers.  And they showed the updated standings.  Mox now on 12, all-but through to the semis.

Winner: Jon Moxley

Outside, Hangman was in a fight with the goons, he lost despite fighting valiantly.  The Devil got out of a car, the goons powerbombed Page on the windshield.  Hasn’t this dude suffered enough lately?

Glad they ended with something different because that was a wrestling-heavy show with few breaks.

*****

I called last week’s ep a poor show.  Not because it was offensive or awful but because it was just a bunch of matches on a show which missed so many easy ways to advance stories.  This was essentially the same.  Despite ending with a decent cliffhanger.

_________________________________________________________________________

Next Collision:

• Andrade vs Claudio Castagnoli
• Daniel Garcia vs Eddie Kingston
• Brody King vs Bryan Danielson (‘A massive one,’ per Excalibur)

Thumbs Up/Down

• Fewer predictable finishes than usual
• Andrade vs Brody
• Briscoe vs White
• Swerve vs Mox
• Hangman being involved at the top of the card again, given a focus, he and Joe had a nice back-and-forth

 *****

• No update on the world champion
• Tag title segment
• Did you know there’s a ppv in 2.5 weeks? Understandable if not
• Despite supposedly having the whole tournament planned out we’re not getting things announced ahead of time
• Both of which suggest they’re not exactly thinking ahead

Appreciate you reading.  Have a good week.