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KELLER’S AEW COLLISION REPORT
JANUARY 20, 2024
ST. LOUIS, MO. AT CHAIFETZ ARENA
AIRED ON TNT
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Kevin Kelly, Nigel McGuinness
Ring Announcers: Dasha Fuentes
Attendance: WrestleTix reported earlier today that 2,604 tickets had been distributed; arena is set up for 2,959.
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[HOUR ONE]
-The opening theme played to Elton John’s “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”
-They cut to entrance stage as pyro blasted and then a strategic angle of the relatively small crowd of under 3,000.
(Keller’s Analysis: Collision often faces tough competition, and tonight against the 49ers vs. Packers playoff game and next Saturday up against the Royal Rumble are both likely to lead to two of Collision’s lower viewership numbers.)
(1) JON MOXLEY vs. SHANE TAYLOR (w/Lee Moriarty)
Moxley’s “Wild Thing” theme played and then he walked out into the crowd past a concession stand and into the crowd. Schiavone said, “Look at the crowd,” noting how into Mox they were. Mox slipped slightly on his way down the steps. They showed a clip of Mox beating Shingo Takagi at a New Japan Strong event last weekend. Taylor came out second, with Moriarty.
The bell rang 4 minutes into the hour. A “Moxley! Moxley!” chant broke out. Mox threw a barrage of strikes early. Taylor no-sold a running lariat and then nailed Mox with a right to the jaw. Either Mox did a great job selling it or Taylor really connected as Mox went down and the ref ran over to check on him. Taylor went back on the attack, slapping his chest in the corner. Schiavone hyped the scheduled matches.
At 3:00 Taylor backdropped out of a Mox piledriver attempt and then tossed him to ringside. Moriarty interfered at ringside as Taylor occupied the ref. He yanked him off the ring apron and landed a pump kick. Taylor landed a side-slam for a two count. Mox avoided a second rope Taylor splash at 5:00. Mox landed a cutter and then punched away at Taylor in the corner as the crowd counted along. He bit at Taylor’s forehead. Taylor caught Mox with a sudden side suplex. Mox fired back with a Saito suplex and a King Kong lariat. Taylor fired back with a lariat of his own. Both were down and slow to get up.
Mox applied a triangle choke a minute later. Taylor tried to fight it. He lifted Mox and then powered him down to break the hold. Mox mounted Taylor and hit a barrage of downward elbows and then two running knees to the chin. Mox applied a rear naked choke a minute later and then locked on the Bulldog choke for the passout win.
WINNER: Moxley in 10:00 via ref stoppage
(Keller’s Analysis: So “good matches” are not a problem with AEW. It’s built in and expected, which is definitely a good thing, and this was a good match. That said, this was another match where the outcome was never in question yet it lasted quite a while. There’s a downside to that because so many pro wrestling fans want suspense over a finish, not just quality action. I hear from them frequently on the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-shows. Squash matches serve a different purpose because they’re, by definition, short and they are a showcase for a star wrestler’s ring entrance and signature moves. AEW has too many matches like this opener tonight, and when you add to it a dearth of build-up or consequences, it weakens interest in the product.)
-After the match, Mox said he’s pissed off and hungry beyond belief. He said he’s not taking any crap from anyone or anything in 2024. He said anyone who wants to cross paths with him – including colleagues or partners – just do one thing: “Keep the hell up.”
-As Mox left, the announcers talked about “a star-making performance from Hook.” A highlight package aired on the match.
(2) ADAM COPELAND vs. DANTE MARTIN – Adam Copeland Open Challenge match
Copeland came out first. Dante then answered the challenge. They shook hands as the bell rang 20 minutes into the hour. Dante took Copeland down with an armdrag a minute in and then locked on an armbar. He landed a leaping roundkick and then leaped to the to prope. Copeland shoved him off, but he landed on his feet. Dante then landed a standing moonsault for a two count at 2:00. Kelly noted that he called an early Copeland match on Feb. 19, 1999 and he defeated Blue Meanie. He said Dante wasn’t even a glimmer in his parents’ eyes at that time. Copeland blocked a kick and knocked Dante to the floor and then cut to a double-box break. [c/db]
Back from the break, Copeland had Dante on the mat in a side headlock. Dante leaped off the ring apron and head scissored Copeland to the mat. (Kelly said it wasn’t the prettiest huracanrana; that’s because it was a basic head scissors style takedown.) Back in the ring, Dante springboarded onto Copeland with a cross bodypress for a two count.
Dante avoided a spear attempt into the corner and then springboarded off the top rope with a moonsault. He made the cover, but Copeland put his boots on the ropes to break the ref’s count. A minute later, Copeland caught Dante springboarding at him with a spear. He then applied The Grindhouse for the tapout win.
WINNER: Copeland in 12:00.
(Keller’s Analysis: See analysis of the first match. This had more purpose in the sense that it was a chance for Dante to have a match with a veteran star more than twice his age, so there was a real novelty to that. I like seeing Copeland mix it up with different younger wrestlers with different styles.)
-Schiavone interviewed a winded Copeland mid-ring. Copeland said it’s getting harder every week and joked that he didn’t know what he was doing. He said he doesn’t see veterans accepting his challenge, but rather young guys wanting to take a big bite out of him. “And there’s a lot to bite,” he said. “I’m like a five-course dinner. And I don’t know what that means.” He said he’s going to work hard and work harder “just like Christian Cage said he was going to when he first came to AEW.” He said he’ll keep working until he brings the championship back to TNT and defend it every Saturday. He told St. Louis fans the next time they see him, he’ll be their TNT Champ.
(Keller’s Analysis: Nice promo. It was funny when he realized the non-sense of saying he’s a five-course meal and acknowledged he didn’t know what it means. He’s working without a net in AEW without the scripted promo format.)
-Lexy Nair interviewed Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli. Danielson said losing to Eddie Kingston was the low-point of his career, and it’s probably the high-point of Kingston’s career. Claudio said he’s tired of talking about Eddie. He said Ortiz is just going to be a casualty.
(Keller’s Analysis: Danielson being a halfheartedly smug, snide, cocky heel is so miscasting what fans want from him and ultimately works against his babyface opponents who are left with a split crowd reaction. Just because Danielson finds being a heel “more fun” doesn’t mean it’s the right move for AEW.) [c]
-Lexy interviewed Dante with Darius Martin and Action Andretti backstage. Private Party barged in before Dante could speak. Andretti accused Private Party of cheating to win. Private Party suggested they party with Copeland. Dante challenged them to a rematch. Private Party bantered playfully with Lexy after the others left and then smiled for the camera.
(Keller’s Analysis: I still have no idea what reaction Private Party are hoping to get out of fans.)
(3) THUNDER ROSA vs. QUEEN AMINATA
Schiavone said this is Thunder Rosa’s first singles match since August 2022. The bell rang 43 minutes into the hour. The pace early suggested it was going to be a longer match. After Aminata bailed out to ringside at 3:00, Rosa landed a wrecking ball kick. They cut to a partial double-box break (which Schiavone clearly and accurately referred to as a “picture AND picture break” rather than the inaccurate “picture IN picture” break it’s mistakenly referred to often). [c/db]
Aminata landed a pump kick at 8:00. Rosa fired back with a dropkick and then a small package powerbomb for the win. Rosa had some words for the ringside camera afterward which Nigel largely spoke over. She said every champion is on notice because she is unstoppable and undeniable.
WINNER: Rosa in 9:00.
-Lexy interviewed Ortiz and Kingston backstage. She noted it’s been a while since they teamed with each other. Ortiz said sometimes family members fight, but they’ve put their differences behind them. Kingston said he’s got to get taped up and stretch. “Can we please go?” he said. Ortiz told Lexy the translation is he does his talking in the ring. [c]
[HOUR TWO]
-Bullet Club Gold’s Jay Lethal, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn made their way to the ring. Colten and Austin did the derivative New Age Outlaws intro and then laughed. “Who came up with that?” asked Jay. Jay said it’s a different vibe with the Bang Bang Gang back on Saturday night. He said something is missing. Austin then pulled out a cardboard cut out of Juice Robinson. Austin said now that the band is back together, if they’re not down with that, they’ve got two words for you. The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn came out to their music.
Billy asked if they’re too late for Jay White’s yoga class. (I’d take that.) Billy said they are the AEW Trios Champions, but they could do so much more. Max Caster said it’s one thing to get to the top of AEW, but it’s another to stay there. “Just think if we were a super-group,” he said. “Together, we’d be unstoppable in the ring, unstoppable in the back, and unstoppable where it counts, with the people.” He said the people want to see Billy with some singles gold. Fans chanted “Daddy Ass!” Billy smiled and said, “That’s me.”
Caster said he knows fans want to see Jay as the AEW World Champion. Caster said, “This is not our ceiling.” Fans chanted, “Bang Bang Scissors Gang.” Bowens said they’ve been given the run-around before and they won’t take it anymore. He asked the fans if they want to see them unite. Fans cheered. After a chat with each other, Bullet Club Gold agreed to join them and they scissored mid-ring.
-Schiavone threw to backstage footage of Toni Storm after Dynamite last week addressing Deonna Purrazo. She said she is cursed with “this rampant sexuality.” She said she will meet her and greet her and complete her and beat her and then eat her. “Come, children, I’m ready for my pork dinner.”
(4) BUDDY MATTHEWS (w/Malakai Black, Brody King) vs. DANIEL GARCIA
House of Black made their entrance first, then Garcia. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard joined in on commentary. FTR came out to provide back-up for Garcia. Kelly noted how many young fans they’ve been seeing in the crowd lately. Fans chanted “FTR!” The bell rang 9 minutes into the hour. Matthews shoved Garcia down early. Garcia got knocked down again, so he went to ringside where FTR gave him a pep talk. Garcia slapped their hands and returned to the ring. Garcia koncked Matthews to the floor and then showed some fire. House of Black gathered on the ring apron. FTR stood on the opposite ring apron. They cut to a double-box break just as Garcia threatened to dance. [d/cb]
Back from the break, Matthews got the better of Garcia on the ring apron. They replayed footage from during the break where Matthews landed a DDT in the ring and kneed Garcia out of mid-air at ringside. Garcia fought back and landed a piledriver on the ring apron. They both tumbled to the floor. They both barely beat being counted out. They were each slow to get up. Matthews got in some offense, but Garcia made a comeback and stomped away at him in the corner. He then whipped his leg into the ringpost twice.
Back in the ring, Garcia clipped Matthews injured leg and then applied a sharpshooter. Matthews rammed Garcia head into the mat over and over to break Garcia’s grip. Matthews powerslammed Garcia and scored a near fall at 11:00. Fans chanted, “This is awesome!” Matthews kneed Garcia as Garcia sat up on his knees. Matthews went for a powerbomb, but Garcia slipped free and scored a three count with a jackknife pin.
WINNER: Garcia in 11:00.
-Matthews attacked Garcia after the bell. A six-way brawl broke out. A bunch of wrestlers ran out of the locker room to try to separate them. [c]
-Backstage Lexy held a mic for FTR and Garcia. Dax said this has been going on too long and they should settle it next Saturday in a cage match.
(5) MATT SYDAL vs. RODERICK STRONG (w/Matt Taven, Mike Bennett)
The bell rang 28 minutes into the hour. Kelly noted that they are former roommates in an apartment in Tampa, Fla. They cut to an early partial double-box break at 1:30 after a slingshot dive by Sydal onto Strong. [c/db]
Schiavone confirmed the cage match was made official for next week. Kelly said it was just their third singles match, but the 19th time they’ve shared a ring. Strong won with his finisher.
WINNER: Strong in 8:00. [c]
(5) BRYAN DANIELSON & CLAUDO CASTAGNOLI vs. EDDIE KINGSTON & ORTIZ
The bell rang 42 minutes into the hour. A loud “Eddie! Eddie!” chant broke out. Danielson stood on the second rope and played to the crowd. He got some cheers. Kingston then did it and got even more cheers. Danielson played to the crowd again and this time got more boos. Nigel said Danielson doesn’t want to risk being KO’d by a spinning elbow again. Danielson took Kingston down and then did jumping jacks. They cut to a double-box break at 5:00. [c/db]
Back from the break, Kingston and Claudio battled for several minutes including a barrage of chops. Nigel said “Cryin’ Bryan” wants in the match now that Claudio has Kingston beat up. Danielson landed a flying headbutt off the top rope for a two count. Kelly said Harley Race made that move famous, often landing it in St. Louis. Kingston came back with a sudden DDT. Ortiz kicked Danielson as Kingston was suplexing him. The kick came up a bit short, though. Ortiz made the cover, Claudio was a bit late with the save, but the ref stopped his count anyway.
They landed a series of dives including Kingston on Claudio. Back in the ring, Ortiz scored a two count on Danielson. Schiavone plugged the cage match next week again. He also plugged a face-to-face with Storm and Purrazzo, The Acclaimed vs. Mogul Embassy, Wardlow vs. Trent Beretta, Hangman Page vs. Penta, a promo from Sting and Darby, and Minoru Suzuki vs. Copeland for Dynamite. Nigel called it an embarrassment of riches. Danielson landed the Busaiku Knee on Ortiz for the win. Danielson spit at Kingston as he was checking on Ortiz. Schiavone noted that they return to the ranking system next week.
WINNERS: Danielson & Castagnoli in 16:00.
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