If we had a dime for every time some wrestling show was called the start of a new era … well, we wouldn’t have all that much money, because dimes aren’t worth too much in 2023. But we would have a lot of dimes, which isn’t nothing. Yet that actually applies to AEW Collision this week in Cleveland.
An argument could be made that the new, post-CM Punk era of Collision actually started last week, since he was fired the day before. It’s just that Tony Khan was still in full explaining mode that night in Chicago, and though the Young Bucks appeared on that episode, it’s not likely that he had his full plans in place for a brand that was essentially built around Punk.
He’s really gone now, though, so Collision will look different going forward. For tonight, it means settling who’s moving on from the semifinals in the Grand Slam World Title Eliminator tournament. Plus Jon Moxley will defend his AEW International Championship against Action Andretti.
Let’s see how this particular show unfolds.
AEW Collision results from Cleveland:
- Jon Moxley def. Action Andretti by submission to retain the AEW International Championship
- A video package hypes up Roderick Strong by focusing on (once again) how Adam Cole has turned his back on him after years of friendship and support
- Kris Statlander def. Robyn Renegade by pinfall to retain the AEW TBS Championship, but that’s not nearly the most exciting thing about this segment because …
- … Jade Cargill returns! Cargill saves Statlander from a post-match attack by Robyn and her sister Charlotte, but she’s definitely doing it because she wants her title back and not because she’s BFFs with Statlander
- Renee Paquette talks with Saraya and Ruby Soho, who are both upset about whatever is going on with Toni Storm, while Saraya does the usual “I’m going to walk in and walk out with my championship” thing about her next title defense
- Tony Schiavone tries and mostly fails to get to the bottom of the ongoing issues between Eddie Kingston and Claudio Castagnoli, but the upshot of it is that there will be a match between the two of them for Kingston’s NJPW Strong Openweight Championship at Grand Slam
- Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson and The Gunns) def. Aerostar, Gravity and Inframundo by pinfall
- CJ Perry explains why she’s back to be a manager, and seemingly determined to do so even if Miro continues to turn his back on her
- The Acclaimed want to defend the Trios Championship all over the world, but especially in New York
- Rey Fenix def. Angelico by pinfall
- FTR tell Schiavone that they’ve beaten nearly everyone and need new challengers, and are willing to go the open challenge route to find some
- Roderick Strong def. Darby Allin by pinfall in a Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament semifinal after attempts by AR Fox’s attempt to assist Nick Wayne in helping Allin goes awry
- A Powerhouse Hobbs video has him talking about taking Miro to his limits (meat!) and that this chapter of the Book of Hobbs isn’t finished yet
- Keith Lee advises people on Collision to run
- Bryan Danielson comes to the ring to talk to Schiavone, suggesting that this will be the final year of his career but he wants to wrestle Zack Sabre Jr. at WrestleDream; Ricky Starks comes out with Big Bill and says he’s going to be the face of Collision, and just as it seems Danielson might offer Ricky a spot in the Blackpool Combat Club, Starks and Bill jump him, and not even the arrival of Moxley can turn the tide
- Schiavone reveals that Big Bill will get a title shot against Mox next week on Dynamite … but Fenix shows up and says he’s next in line after that
- Samoa Joe def. Penta El Zero Miedo by submission in a Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament semifinal