AEW Collision comes at you live from Hartford, Connecticut as the stories keep on rolling and the action breathes. I don’t think I’ve got any pretty things to say or anything witty, except maybe “Hartford? More like Fartford!” I don’t know. Anyways, here’s the card and my thoughts:
FTR (c) vs MJF & Adam Cole (AEW Tag Team Championship)
This is it. The Blind Eliminator Tag Team Tournament has culminated to this moment. Will the beloved, tried and true FTR last against MJF & Adam Cole, or will the budding bromance win out? Regardless, this will be a match that will be talked about for a while due to the sheer level of talent involved, good lord.
Andrade El Idolo vs Buddy Matthews (Ladder Match for Andrade’s mask)
In a rematch of the debut episode of Collision, the custody of Andrade’s mask literally hangs in the balance of its owner and the workhorse of the House of Black. These beefy, athletic boys are likely to exhilarate and keep the energy of the show flowing. I expect to have a lot of fun. The drama of one man’s culture meets the desolation of another’s soul.
Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson & The Gunns) vs Action Andretti, Darius Martin, & El Hijo Del Vikingo
Bullet Club’s momentum is staggering back to a swift and balanced walk, as this week Juice Robinson and The Gunns take on this high-flying team. Martin and Andretti are still impressive, and Vikingo continues to draw Western eyes through his sheer athletic ability. Hoping for a promo following this match, with Jay White especially.
Samoa Joe (c) vs Gravity (ROH World Television Championship)
From a match involving the man that Gravity forgot, this match comes with a man who outright walks away from it. Samoa Joe’s a big boy, he’s got no time for gravity as a concept and Gravity as a wrestler. Don’t get me wrong, he’s an impressive talent, but Joe is as smart as he is lethal. I expect Gravity to put on a great effort, selling how monstrous this legend is, showing his dependency. He could even give Joe a run for his money!
Kiera Hogan vs Mercedes Martinez
Not only does this match include two women of color, it involves members of the LGBT community, as they gain a spot on tonight’s card. I think this could be a hard-hitting match, too – Martinez is the tough type while Hogan recently fought in a Chicago Street Fight with Athena on Ring of Honor. With women having a hard enough time gaining television exposure, we’ve seen them put on a hell of an effort to claim everyone’s attention. I’m of the hope we get to see that here as well.
CM Punk speaks
Punk’s been getting his ass kicked with these sneaky wins from Ricky Starks lately, and the comments made by the Absolute one have visibly rattled the straight-edge veteran. What will he say this time? What’s in the bag? Will Ricky Starks confront him? Find out tonight!
Collision continues its journey to find its voice in a product that has been made must-watch by The Elite, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, and Cody Rhodes, and the cards on each subsequent week creates intrigue and hype with each passing episode. Even when a card doesn’t have a lineup that leaves mouths watering, the action and promos breathe so well that the shows feel legendary like how early Dynamites and post-pandemic Dynamites used to feel. Good show tonight, and I will be seated.
