SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
To help add context, my “Hits” are ordered from best to worst. With that said, let’s move into the high points of this week’s episode.
HITS
HIT — THE NEW LEVEL PROMO
I thought this was an excellent promo from Kofi and Austin Creed. What stood out to me was how raw and genuine it felt. This wasn’t some phony, forced wrestling promo where two guys were trying to sound tough or convince the audience how dangerous their upcoming Texas Death Match against Hangman Page, Bandido, and Brody King would be. Instead, it felt like two men having an uncomfortable conversation about what they’re about to put themselves through. Kofi admitting his fear made the segment even more compelling because that’s not something we often hear wrestlers acknowledge. You don’t always need someone screaming into a camera or threatening to hurt somebody to sell a match. Sometimes being vulnerable can accomplish far more.
HIT — TOMMASO CIAMPA vs. ANDRADE
I thought Ciampa and Andrade put on a hell of a main event, and both deserve credit for making the title change feel important. What I appreciate about Ciampa is the attitude he’s brought to AEW. He didn’t come in expecting everyone to roll out the red carpet because of what he’s accomplished elsewhere. He came in ready to work, and now he’s the National Champion. Andrade deserves plenty of credit as well for his performance and what he’s brought to the title. I’m happy to see Ciampa rewarded for his work, and I’m interested to see where AEW takes him from here.
HIT — COLLISION’S UNIQUE VENUES
One thing I’ve always appreciated about Collision is AEW’s willingness to experiment with different venues. Whether it’s holding a show at a golf course, running shows at Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, a venue primarily used for competitive gaming tournaments, or broadcasting from Chris Jericho’s cruise ship, there’s a certain charm to these settings that you don’t always get from a traditional arena. I thought this week’s presentation was a lot of fun, and it’s something I’d love to see AEW keep embracing. Not every wrestling show needs to look or feel the same. In fact, I think these unique locations should become part of Collision’s identity. Give the show something that makes it stand out from Dynamite beyond simply airing on a different night of the week.
HIT — MERCEDES MONÉ AND JON MOXLEY INTERACTION
I’m all for AEW finding ways to get its biggest stars interacting, especially when it gives other performers some added exposure. I got a good laugh out of Mercedes Moné and Jon Moxley’s exchange. Mercedes was talking her usual trash, but Moxley reminding her there were children on the boat and that her language was unacceptable was hilarious. Who knew Moxley had that kind of dad energy? We don’t often get to see that side of him. I also liked how the post-match attack involving Jay White and The Cut helped set up Wednesday’s mixed tag match with White and Mercedes facing Moxley and Marina Shafir. More of this, please. AEW has too much talent to keep everyone confined to their own storylines.
HIT — BRADY BOOKER VIGNETTE
I really liked this introductory vignette for Brady Booker. I’ve said this before, but AEW can’t assume everyone watching Collision follows every wrestling promotion or knows every performer coming into the company. Give these new faces some introductory videos and let the audience get familiar with them. That’s exactly what this segment accomplished. Something else I found interesting was AEW incorporating footage from CBS’s Survivor. If AEW has opportunities to use footage from mainstream television to help introduce performers and tell their stories, why not take advantage of that? It’s another way to establish someone’s identity beyond what they can do inside a wrestling ring. I’d love to see AEW make more of these videos moving forward.
MISSES
MISS — LACK OF NON-TITLE STORIES IN THE WOMEN’S DIVISION
I enjoyed Mina Shirakawa and Persephone’s match, and neither woman deserves criticism for their work here. My frustration is with AEW continuing to struggle to give its women meaningful stories outside the championship picture. Look at what they’ve done with FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns. Neither team needs to be chasing the tag titles for their rivalry to matter. Why can’t we see more of that with the women? There’s certainly no shortage of talent. I liked the post-match development with Persephone and Queen Aminata, and I hope AEW follows through. Give these women something to sink their teeth into beyond chasing a championship.
FINAL SCORE
- HITS: 5
- MISSES: 1
FINAL THOUGHTS:
I thought this was a really enjoyable episode of Collision, and the cruise ship setting added to the experience. Coming off last week’s show, where I questioned AEW’s use of television time, I appreciated how much more productive this episode felt. The show struck a good balance of wrestling, character development, and storyline progression without feeling rushed or thrown together. I still believe AEW could do more to develop meaningful stories outside the championship pictures, particularly in the women’s division.
THIS WEEK IN WRESTLING HISTORY
On this day in 2020 – AEW Full Gear took place at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida. In the main event, Jon Moxley retained the AEW World Championship against Eddie Kingston in an “I Quit” Match.
