{"id":160605,"date":"2023-06-18T12:26:04","date_gmt":"2023-06-18T17:26:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=160605"},"modified":"2023-06-18T12:26:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-18T17:26:04","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-6-17-bryants-back-with-his-takes-on-punks-return-promo-qt-hobbs-starks-in-owen-tournament-ross-wardlow-luchasaurus-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/06\/18\/aew-collision-hits-misses-6-17-bryants-back-with-his-takes-on-punks-return-promo-qt-hobbs-starks-in-owen-tournament-ross-wardlow-luchasaurus-more\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (6\/17): Bryant&#8217;s back with his takes on Punk&#8217;s return promo, QT &#038; Hobbs, Starks in Owen Tournament, Ross, Wardlow, Luchasaurus, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2799119851\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><h3>AEW COLLISION &#8211; HITS &amp; MISSES<br \/>\nJUNE 17, 2023<br \/>\nCHICAGO, ILL.<br \/>\nAIRED ON TNT<br \/>\nBY DAVID BRYANT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR<\/h3>\n<p><em>Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly, Jim Ross (Main Event Only)<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Hey! Thank you so much for taking the time to read my rundown of AEW Collision\u2019s \u201cHits &amp; Misses\u201d for the week of June 17, 2022. I love running down things that aren\u2019t pedestrians, and it\u2019s an honor to have you with me while I do it. (The Column. Not vehicular manslaughter.) I know there are a lot of places you can go to read unsolicited opinions about wrestling and car-violence, and it means a lot to me that you decided to come here.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Speaking of tragic wrecks, my social media accounts are @IamDavidBryant on Instagram and @IamDavidBryant on Twitter because @IamBadAtUsernames.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Tonight was the debut episode of CM Punk Presents: AEW Collision (a collision that is entirely unrelated to automobile accidents), and it emanated live from a packed United Center in Chicago, Ill. By the way, Chicago is a beautiful city full of beautiful sights, and the last time I was there, I have to admit that I was overwhelmed by the jaw-dropping sight of my hotel bill.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211; Anyway, Hits &amp; Misses. (I\u2019m trying to stay on track for this column more than I did on my old Dark Elevation Reports, and I must say I am off to a horrible start.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>CM PUNK\u2019S RETURNS \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>CM Punk\u2019s second coming (for the third time) was even better than his second coming last time because this time, we got a Punk who sounded motivated, invigorated, and 40-percent exonerated. (To his credit, he did go out of his way to apologize to soft people, and as a person who practically owns stock in retinol, I accept his apology.)<\/p>\n<p>Listening to Punk\u2019s compelling speech, I couldn\u2019t help but like him and reflect on why. Punk is like an artist whose talents are so bright they shine away the darkness of his flaws. Now, before anyone who isn\u2019t hot jumps down my throat, I am not saying Punk\u2019s flaws don\u2019t matter; they do. But if the world were full of flawless people, it would be empty. Punk is a flawed person, but so is everyone I\u2019ve ever met and most of the people I haven\u2019t. However, most of those people I have and have not met also haven\u2019t moved me to tears with their art. (Yes, I\u2019ve cried over good wrestling before, and I blame the softening effects of retinol.)<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1652707875\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>CM PUNK\u2019S NOT-SO-PUNNY DIG AT THE BUCKS \u2014 MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Despite loving Punk\u2019s brash defense of his right to be exactly where he is, I could have done without his \u201ccounterfeit Bucks\u201d line. Unless Punk and the Bucks are going to have a match soon, I\u2019d rather everyone involved in the whole \u201cBrawl Out\u201d situation move on. None of what happened that night made any of its participants look like \u201cthe adults in the room,\u201d and the only real winner of that fight was Mindy\u2019s Bakery.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE YOUNG BUCK\u2019S TWITTER BIO \u2014 MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like Pavlov Dogs hearing dinner bells, the Bucks updated their Twitter Bio to rebut Punk\u2019s \u201ccounterfeit Bucks\u201d line and just stop it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>WARDLOW vs. LUCHASAURUS (w\/Christian Cage) \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While I\u2019m not a fan of frequent title changes, I am a fan of how well this one was pulled off. Christian is a 1960s Bond villain, and I\u2019m here for it. Christian\u2019s well-executed interference gave Wardlow a reason to demand a rematch, and Luchasaurus needed to make a statement win as he finally returned to in-ring action.<\/p>\n<p><strong>POWERHOUSE HOBBS AND Q.T. MARSHALL BACKSTAGE PROMO \u2014 MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Normal Rockwell milkman, Q.T. Marshall, does not belong next to Powerhouse Hobbs. I\u2019m on board with Q.T. Marshall playing an obnoxious manager but not for a character like Hobbs. Not to mention, managers get the most mileage when they serve as a mouthpiece for someone who cannot talk, and Hobbs can talk.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-2090154656\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>There are so many great wrestlers in AEW who are only held back by their inability to cut good heel promos. Teaming Marshall with one of them would be a much better idea than teaming him with Hobbs. Hobbs is terrifying on his own, and he doesn\u2019t need Q.T. Marshall standing next to him, looking like a bowling alley attendant who wandered into a wrestling show.<\/p>\n<p>Now, if Q.T. Marshall were to wander over to Action Andretti, I could see that working out well. They somehow manage to give me similar vibes, whereas watching Hobbs and Marshall feels like I\u2019m watching a &#8220;House of the Dragon&#8221;\/&#8221;Big Bang Theory&#8221; crossover episode.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ANDRADE EL IDOLO vs. BUDDY MATTHEWS (w\/Julia Hart) \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Wow, Julia Hart has come a long way.<\/p>\n<p>Also, the match was great. Andrade is one of those athletes I keep forgetting is outstanding, and so my goldfish brain is surprised every time I see him. I loved Andrade\u2019s cartwheel moonsault off the apron; I loved his double moonsault, and I marked out for his version of Charlotte Flair\u2019s Figure-Eight leglock.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SCORPIO SKY HYPE VIDEO \u2014 MINOR MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>While I\u2019m thrilled Sky is returning, I would have liked to have gotten more out of this vignette than simple platitudes like, \u201cI am AEW\u2019s Past, Present, and Future.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>MIRO vs. TONY NESE (w\/Mark Sterling) \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This match reminded me of all the things I like about Miro. I hope Miro\u2019s quick defeat of Tony Nese signals great things for him to come. Frankly, Miro should be put in the queue to become AEW\u2019s World Heavyweight Champion someday. (Also, hire Lana.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>TONI STORM &amp; RUBY SOHO vs. SKYE BLUE &amp; WILLOW NIGHTINGALE \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After how good Blue looked in her match last week, I am glad to see she is being rewarded with a win. I also loved the execution of Soho accidentally spraying Storm in the face with her team\u2019s signature green hair coloring spray masquerading as a can of spray paint. It is incredibly easy to mess up a spot like that, and it is incredibly hard to make it not look fake. However, Soho and Storm made that spot look like a genuine accident, and I applaud them for it.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I am absolutely awed by how well Storm executed her transition from face to heel. She went from being elegant, beautiful, and determined, to looking like a mean girl from Riverdale before it went off the rails (which I\u2019m pretty sure was episode two.)<\/p>\n<p><strong>RICKY STARKS DECLARES HE WILL ENTER THE OWEN HART TOURNAMENT \u2014 MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The only reason this is a \u201cmiss\u201d is because Starks should be doing something bigger and better than just entering tournaments. Starks is the only person on AEW\u2019s roster who was able to legitimately outtalk MJF in a one-on-one promo-battle. How can you see that amount of awesomeness and not capitalize on it?<\/p>\n<p><strong>JEFF JARRET CHALLENGES MARK BRISCOE TO A CONCESSION STAND BRAWL \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This promo did its job. I hope this concession stand brawl is more like Tupelo in 1979 and less like that one time Jeff Jarrett wore a hairnet while flipping burgers in 2010.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE ACCLAIMED PERFORM THE INAUGURAL SCISSORING \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Everyone loves the acclaimed, and I loved Caster\u2019s \u201cTrump documents\u201d joke. Also, who would have thought in 1997 that Billy Gunn would be this entertaining in 2023?<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIM ROSS ANNOUNCING THE MAIN EVENT \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>OMG!<\/p>\n<p><strong>JIM ROSS NOT ANNOUNCING THE REST OF THE SHOW \u2014 MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>OMG?<\/p>\n<p><strong>CM PUNK &amp; FTR vs. JAY WHITE &amp; JUICE ROBINSON &amp; SAMOA JOE \u2014 HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This 24-minute match hit all the right notes. Dax Harwood plays a great face-in-peril-looking-for-a-hot-tag; CM Punk proved his ring rust isn\u2019t all that rusty, and Jay White proved that his AEW booking makes as much sense as a sand-coated condom.<\/p>\n<p>Throughout this match, White proved that he is a master of in-ring imagery. The image near the end of the match, in which he was heaped over face-first in the middle of the ring, was a visual embodiment of how grueling this match had been. All six men deserve a lot of praise for the work that went into this, and I hope this is indicative of the kind of CM Punk we will see going forward.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This is as good a debut as AEW could have hoped for, and I\u2019m excited to see what else Tony Khan has in store for AEW Collision.<\/p>\n<p>However, it would have been nice if Khan had given us at least a hint of whatever it is that his \u201cin-store\u201d has in stock. To my knowledge, AEW did not announce a single match for next week, and there wasn\u2019t a big cliffhanger. I know they will likely make some announcements on Dynamite, but the reality is some people may choose to only watch Collision, and AEW should be prepared for that.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SHOW GRADE: A<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Thank you all for reading. I truly appreciate it. I\u2019m still working on my sign-off, but until next week, remember, 52-percent of all automobile accidents occur within a five miles radius of your home, so consider moving.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3664544075\"><div id=\"pwtor-1208944613\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>AEW COLLISION &#8211; HITS &amp; MISSES JUNE 17, 2023 CHICAGO, ILL. AIRED ON TNT BY DAVID BRYANT, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR Commentators: Nigel McGuinness, Kevin Kelly, Jim Ross (Main Event Only) &#8211; Hey! Thank you so much <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/06\/18\/aew-collision-hits-misses-6-17-bryants-back-with-his-takes-on-punks-return-promo-qt-hobbs-starks-in-owen-tournament-ross-wardlow-luchasaurus-more\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (6\/17): Bryant&#8217;s back with his takes on Punk&#8217;s return promo, QT &#038; Hobbs, Starks in Owen Tournament, Ross, Wardlow, Luchasaurus, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":160606,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,28,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-160605","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists_hitsandmisses","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2023\/06\/Screenshot-2023-06-18-at-12.17.19-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160605","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=160605"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160605\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":160607,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/160605\/revisions\/160607"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/160606"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=160605"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=160605"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=160605"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}