Jim Ross joins the new Collision announce team of Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness for the first main event in the series’ history. Jay White and Juice Robinson get boos as they enter, but the Chicago fans cheer for Samoa Joe. FTR pauses on the ramp to do the “clobberin’ time” deal with CM Punk.
The crowd quickly gets into a “CMFTR” chant as Dax Harwood tries to get a quick rollup on White, with Kelly joking about nearly needing to load up some standby matches. Dax nails Switchblade with chops in the corner, then takes him down with a clothesline. White regroups on the floor with Robinson before rejoining the fray.
Juice looks good as he tags in, but Harwood cools him off with some chops and gives Cash Wheeler an opening to continue their assault. He nearly gets Robinson with a backslide, then runs into a bodyslam. Wheeler returns the favor and tags Harwood back in. The fans want someone else, however, and Punk is legal for the first time. He tries to pin Juice after FTR hit him with a double team move but only gets two.
Punk wants the GTS and sees Robinson scurry into the corner to allow Joe to tag in. There’s an electric feeling as they stare each other down, and Punk weathers some heavy chops before grabbing a side headlock.
During a side-by-side segment, the heels re able to seize control, working over Harwood as a team. Dax is finally able to deliver a high German suplex to Juice, then tag in Cash. Wheeler rains down corner punches, then drops Juice with a big powerslam for two.
Punk is back in, as Kelly says they are “managing his minutes” in his return match. He’s mostly a bystander as the match goes picture-in-picture again, and now it’s Wheeler taking a beating from all three members of the heel side.
As Joe goes for a cover, Punk storms in to break up the pin. That doesn’t save Wheeler from suffering at White’s hands, Cash finally dives so Punk can receive the hot tag, and he comes in guns blazing. His swinging neckbreaker to White is a nice one, and he signals for the GTS again.
White rakes the eyes to prevent the finisher but eats a kick to the head. Punk goes up top but gets crotched by Robinson. Switchblade connects on a uranage for a near fall. He wants a Blade Runner too but is countered by a lariat.
Harwood tags in, and FTR has White in trouble. Superplex, splash and a big elbow from Punk leave CM looking for the pin, but Juice bails out his Bullet Club Gold partner. Joe is back in and Punk looks woozy. They slug it out and suddenly all six men are in the ring.
Punk and Joe end up isolated again, with Joe getting the Coquina Clutch applied. FTR can’t get to him to help right away, but Harwood is finally able to free himself and smash a shoulder into Joe.
Robinson tags back in, but FTR hit him with the Big Rig. That sets up the GTS, and Punk scores the pinfall in his first match back.
Click here for full AEW Collision results for the debut episode from Chicago.