SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
AEW COLLISION REPORT
NOVEMBER 11, 2023 (Taped 11/10)
OAKLAND, CALIF. AT OAKLAND ARENA
AIRED ON TNT
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness
[HOUR ONE]
-Pre-taped backstage soundbites aired with: Sting & Darby Allin & Adam Copeland; Jake Roberts & Lance Archer & The Righteous; Rush & Vance Archer & Dralistico & Jose; Don Callis & Powerhouse Hobbs; Danny Garcia; and Andrade.
-The Collision opening theme aired.
-Tony Schiavone introduced the show as the cameras panned the crowd.
(1) ANDRADE EL IDOLO vs. DANNY GARCIA
After Andrade’s entrance, C.J. Parker walked out and joined Andrade at ringside. Schiavone said it appears they have made an agreement. They cut to Miro watching backstage. Nigel McGuinness said he’s probably not happy with that arrangement. Matt Menard and Angelo Parker accompanied Garcia onto the stage. Garcia did his dance briefly before heading down the ramp. The bell rang six minutes into the hour.
Garcia teased doing his dance, but Andrade attacked him. (Thankfully.) Garcia gave Andrade a Dragon Screw into the middle rope at 5:00 and knocked him to the floor. Garcia turned toward C.J. and walked her way. He stared at her and then did his dance. C.J. imitated it in a mocking way after he turned his back and then frowned. They cut to a double-box break at 6:00 after a Garcia suplex in the ring. [c/db]
Garcia threw Andrade around ringside during the break. Back from the break, Andrade and Garcia battled on the top turnbuckle in the corner. Garcia put Andrade in an ankle lock seconds later mid-ring. Andrade upkicked out of it. Garcia clipped Andrade’s knee from behind. Andrade came back with two Dragon Screw legwhips. Andrade then charged at Garcia with double knees in the corner for a near fall. Garcia popped up and knocked Andrade off the top rope rope at at 12:00.
Garcia took over and cradle-suplexed Andrade and then landed a vertical suplex. Andrade came back with three vertical suplexes in a row. Garcia got up and landed a brainbuster for a two count. Nigel wondered what the ramifications would be if Andrade lost his first match with C.J. at ringside cheering him on. C.J. clapped excitedly as Andrade climbed to the top rope. Andrade went for a moonsault, but Garcia rolled out of the way. Andrade then landed on his feet and connection with a quick standing moonsault for a two count. A “This is awesome!” chant broke out. (That’s in the generous category. The match is fine, but awesome is a definite overstatement.)
Garcia fought back, but Andrade caught him with a spinning elbow and then applied a Figure-Eight for the tapout win. C.J. entered the ring and hugged Andrade. They cut to Miro smiling and shaking his head as he watched on a monitor. Schiavone said he’s not sure what Miro thinks.
WINNER: Andrade in 16:00.
-A clip aired from Dynamite of MJF arriving backstage after Max Caster was thrown through a glass wall backstage and then Samoa Joe walking up and laughing that he was running out of friends. [c]
(2) DALTON CASTLE (w/The Boys) vs. NICK WAYNE (w/Christian Cage, Luchasaurus)
Christian Cage led Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus to the ring. Nigel said Nick might take Christian’s last name. Schiavone said he won’t do that. Nigel touted the “National 69 Celebration Day” and said 77 Day is coming up which the female fans will like. The bell rang 30 minutes into the hour. A “Dalton Castle” chant started a minute into the match. Wayne spun around and flexed, imitating Dalton. At 3:00 Wayne took over and landed a flying uppercut and scored a one count. Wayne struck a pose and flexed. After Schiavone questioned that strategy, Nigel told Schiavone that if he had that body, he’d pose too.
When Luchasaurus stood on the ring apron, the Boys yanked him down. Luchasaurus slammed them both down on the floor at ringside. As Castle reached for Luchasaurus, Wayne tried to attack him from behind, but Dalton turned it into a roll-up for a two count. Wayne came back with a leaping cutter seconds later to score the three count. Christian entered and hugged Wayne afterward
WINNER: Wayne in 4:00.
-They cut backstage to “Hangman” Page pacing and speaking about how Swerve Strickland could have beaten him and taken his spot, but what he decided to do instead was his biggest mistake – stepping into his home. He said now at Full Gear he has to face him in a Texas Death Match. He said Swerve won’t be able to walk or talk at any future family events because he’s taking him to the abyss at Full Gear and will leave him in fire for eternity. He said he and his son will walk hand in hand every November and they’ll pay him a visit. He said he’d watch his son “piss on your grave.” He closed: “Swerve Strickland, what could’ve been.”
(3) RUSH & DRALISTICO (w/Preston Vance, Jose the Assistant) vs. THE WORK HORSEMEN (J.D. Drake & Anthony Henry)
The bell rang 41 minutes into the hour. Nigel said he just got word from Tony Khan that the Texas Death Match that Hangman just talked about is official. At 2:00 Rush took control against Drake and then spit at Henry standing in the corner. They cut to a double-box break as Rush tagged in Dralistico. [c/db]
Drake made a comeback, but Dralistico avoided a moonsault. Rush tagged in and suplexed Drake. Rush landed a running dropkick onto Drake in the corner and scored a three count. Schiavone said Stark & Bill should watch out.
WINNERS: Rush & Dralistico in 8:00.
-A promo aired with House of Black. Malakai Black said, “You guys are hard of hearing. Perhaps we haven’t been direct enough.” (Ya’ think?). He said: “How about we obtain the one thing that you desire the most in the company and make you chase us.” Brody said the enemy of their enemy is also their enemy. He warned Big Bill & Starks they’re coming for their tag titles. Julia Hart told Willow and Skye Blue she doesn’t understand why they keep rejecting her gift. She said Kris Statlander keeps interjecting herself into their business. She said if she beats Willow, then Statlander has to give her a rematch at Full Gear for the title.
(Keller’s Analysis: That was more straight-forward, although at first Black didn’t establish who he was even talking about. Some would figure it out, of course, but if not Brody it would have left some viewers lost, ironic since Black said he was going to be more direct.) [c]
-Lexi interviewed Willow and Statlander backstage. She said at Full Gear, Statlander would be facing the winners of two upcoming matches: Willow vs. Julia Hart later tonight and Red Velvet vs. Skye Blue next week. Statlander said he can’t trust Julia’s antics. She said Willow deserves a shot as much as anyone. Willow was flattered and invited more kind words. Statlander said, “As far as Skye and Red, no comment.” Willow was psyched up. Lexi said she’s ready.
(Keller’s Analysis: Statlander got tripped up pointing at her belt and coming up with a way to describe it as she said Willow deserved a shot at it. She remains undefined and awkward in the projection of her character and clunky in her verbal delivery.)
(4) RODERICK STRONG (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett) vs. DARIUS MARTIN
Matt Taven and Mike Bennett rolled Roderick Strong to the ring. They encouraged him to stand out of the wheelchair. He did. Taven and Bennett acted like it was a miracle. Schiavone sarcastically called it a miracle. The bell rang 56 minutes into the hour. Strong just dominated Martin from the start with intense, stiff offense.
[HOUR TWO]
Strong thwarted a Darius offensive flurry with a Sick Kick and Heartache for the win. Taven and Bennett lifted Strong onto their shoulders.
WINNER: Strong in 6:00.
-Afterward, Bennett gave Darius the “Wiener Punch” (it makes me sad to type that). Then they delivered a stuff piledriver. Action Andretti charged out to the ring. The heels fled.
-Tony Khan and Bryan Danielson stood backstage. Khan announced that Danielson will be part of All In next summer. Danielson said he cannot wait to be part of that event. Khan plugged the Dec. 1 ticket launch, but noted how to be part of the pre-sale event on Nov. 27. Khan then announced there will be a Continental Classic Round Robin tournament “fans have been calling for for years.” He said 12 top wrestlers will begin facing each other Nov. 22. He listed the rest of the cities hosting Dynamite and Collision until the end of the year when the finals will take place on Dec. 27. He said the winner will be crowned at Worlds End on Dec. 30. He said Danielson will be in the first match. Danielson said he might not look ready now, but this is the type of tournament he’s always wanted to be part of. He said nothing could stop him. He began yelling about how fired up he was and said they’ll put on the best wrestling tournament ever.
(Keller’s Analysis: I’m curious if all the top stars in AEW are part of that, because TK’s booking approach has been to save big match-ups. This will result, presumably, in some pretty special rare one-on-one match-ups. This is obviously based on the New Japan G1 tournament.)
(5) WILLOW NIGHTINGALE vs. JULIA HART (w/Brody King)
Julia’s entrance took place first. Then Willow made her enthusiastic entrance. (I love that Willow’s entrance theme sounds like it could have been a theme to a late 1970s or early 1980s TV game show.) The bell rang ten minutes into the hour. They showed Skye Blue watching on a monitor backstage. Willow got the better of Julia at ringside at 3:00 and they cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Willow took Julia down with a Pounce. Brody stepped in front of Julia at ringside to block Willow. When he stepped aside, Willow charged at Julia, but Julia moved and Willow crashed into the ringside steps. Back in the ring Willow landed a half ‘n’ half full nelson for a near fall. Willow release-powerbombed Julia who landed in a sitting position. It wasn’t clear whether that was a good or bad thing, but she took over offense and then followed up with a clothesline from behind and a moonsault for the win.
WINNER: Julia in 11:00 to earn a spot in the AEW Women’s Title match at Full Gear. [c]
-Lexi interviewed Starks and Bill backstage about all of the teams gunning for their titles. Starks said he doesn’t want to be bothered by any of them. She mentioned FTR, House of Black, and Rush & Dralistico. Bill said he doesn’t want to see them in catering or anywhere else. He said they are never going to wrestle them. He smiled. Lexi said TK let her know they’ll be facing those three teams at Full Gear. Starks asked how she knows that before them. Starks said they will remain champions after the match and he predicted they’d be the longest-reigning tag champs ever.
(6) POWERHOUSE HOBBS vs. ALEXANDER
Paul Wight joined Schiavone and Nigel at ringside. Hobbs beat his opponent down and then yelled at Wight. Wight told him to pay attention to the match. Hobbs powerslammed Alexander and got the three count. He looked over at Wight again.
WINNER: Hobbs in 1:00.
-Don Callis and Kyle Fletcher joined Hobbs in the ring afterward. Callis talked about Hobbs breaking Jericho. Callis told Wight that Jericho is a wood tick and he’ll use Wight like he tried to use him. Callis dropped to the floor and told Wight it’s not too late to back out of the street fight. Callis said Wight looks like a scared giant, but that’s okay to be scared since he runs thing around there. He said he buried two giants in his career and he’ll have Hobbs bury a third. “Smoke this fool!” he said. Wight stood up and asked Hobbs, “You want some?” Fletcher and Callis led Hobbs away as Hobbs yelled at Wight.
-Lexi interviewed FTR who talked about being in the tag title match at Full Gear. [c]
(7) LANCE ARCHER & THE RIGHTEOUS (Dutch & Vincent) vs. STING & DARBY ALLIN & ADAM COPELAND
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” at the start. Copeland, Darby, and Sting got in early offense in that order before they cut to a partial double-box break. [c/pdb]
The heels had Sting isolated after the break. Sting fought back and staggered to his corner. As he reached for a tag, Darby and Copeland appeared within reach, but they didn’t manage a tag. Darby then tagged in seconds later and rallied against Vincent. They cut to another double box break at 10:00. [c/db]
The heels beat on Darby during the break. When Sting reached for a tag, Archer yanked him down to ringside. Copeland threw Archer into the ringpost, then received the hot-tag from Darby. Copeland landed a top rope crossbody on both Vincent and Dutch. He showed fire and then speared Archer off the ring apron. He clotheslined Dutch over the top rope. Then he threw Vincent onto both of them. He followed with a leap over the ropes onto all three. Back in the ring, he got an intense look as he set up a spear of Vincent. Archer intervened. Darby hit him a Coffin Drop.
Dutch and Vincent attacked Copeland. Sting entered and punched away at both of them. Sting set up a Scorpion Death Drop and Copeland hit a flying elbow drop to add power to the Sting move. Sting landed a Stinger Splash to the back of Vincent and scored a three count.
WINNERS: Copeland & Darby & Sting in 17:00.
-Christian led his men out onto the stage and stared down Edge, Sting, and Darby to end the show.
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