{"id":161712,"date":"2023-07-07T14:52:59","date_gmt":"2023-07-07T19:52:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=161712"},"modified":"2023-07-07T14:52:59","modified_gmt":"2023-07-07T19:52:59","slug":"aew-collision-feud-tracker-debut-column-looking-at-the-early-feuds-on-aews-new-show-including-cm-punk-andrade-ftr","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/07\/07\/aew-collision-feud-tracker-debut-column-looking-at-the-early-feuds-on-aews-new-show-including-cm-punk-andrade-ftr\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION FEUD TRACKER: Debut column looking at the early feuds on AEW&#8217;s new show including CM Punk, Andrade, FTR"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2157438565\" 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><p>Before we get into let me introduce myself. I\u2019m Zach Barber. If you are a regular listener to various free and VIP PWTorch podcasts you know me simply as Zach in Texas. I\u2019m a sort of practicing (that\u2019s a long discussion for another time) music historian and the Torch\u2019s second PhD behind Bruce Hazelwood. I\u2019ve been watching wrestling for over 25 years, so I like to think I know bit too much about it. If you\u2019ve heard any of my emails read on podcasts, you know I\u2019m a huge AEW fan and very happy to be joining PWTorch to write this new weekly Collision Feud Tracker.<\/p>\n<h3>Men\u2019s Owen Hart Tournament Semifinals<\/h3>\n<p>This has been the overall biggest story across the first three weeks of Collision. The quarterfinals were held over the course of last week\u2019s show. Powerhouse Hobbs defeated \u201cThe Natural\u201d Dustin Rhodes in a fun, if slightly too competitive match. \u201cAbsolute\u201d Ricky Starks outlasted \u201cRock Hard\u201d Juice Robinson in a not-as-good-as-their-first-encounter fight. Samoa Joe choked out Roderick Strong after a very physical contest. That leaves us with two semifinal matches that are revisitations of old rivalries, Hobbs vs Starks and Punk vs Joe.<\/p>\n<p>Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks traded wins last year, leaving their feud at one apiece. Their semifinal will be the rubber match. C.M. Punk and Samoa Joe had one of the most famous and well-respected trilogies in wrestling history in Ring of Honor. If you know that history you know that Samoa Joe won the third match after the first two ended in draws, therefore Punk has never beaten Joe. This feud goes back 20 years and, if their match on Saturday is half as good as their previous ones, it will be must-see TV, especially since it\u2019s more likely than not that Punk scores his first win over, perhaps, his greatest rival.<\/p>\n<h3>FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold<\/h3>\n<p>FTR and Bullet Club Gold\u2019s Jay White &amp; Juice Robinson have been feuding since Double or Nothing when Dax and Cash came to the aid of Ricky Starks.<\/p>\n<p>This feud has been a lot of fun and they\u2019ve managed to find ways to hold off on a straight up tag team match until now. The match should be very good. While I assume the feud continues on past next week either way, I think there\u2019s a realistic chance that the dynamic changes and that Punk turns heel by costing FTR the tag titles and joins the Bang Bang Gang.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t necessarily want FTR to lose the titles. but I think Punk is better positioned as heel with FTR as babyfaces chasing the titles, and it potentially sets up a Punk-Starks program from the finals of the Owen onward. Those promos would be a blast.<\/p>\n<h3>Andrade El Idolo vs. The House of Black<\/h3>\n<p>Andrade and the House of Black (HOB) has been a psychological thriller of a feud. Andrade tapped out Buddy Matthews on the debut of Collision in an excellent match. He followed that up with a super physical match with Brodie King that ended with a DQ.<\/p>\n<p>The psychological subtext of this feud, however, has been centered around the mask Andrade wears to the ring. Julia Hart &#8211; the Stevie Nicks of AEW as I like to think of her &#8211; teased touching the mask the first week and then outright stole it two weeks ago. Last week Malaki Black, in one of his typically cryptic, mind-gamey promos, taunted Andrade with the mask.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1566692372\" 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>Is the HOB targeting Andrade? If so, why? Are they trying to recruit him? It doesn\u2019t seem like he\u2019s been re-linked with LFI, so who might Andrade enlist to try and fight the &#8220;cucarachas,&#8221; as he called them. So many questions. So many reasons to tune in.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Did you know that PWTorch VIP membership gives you access to an ad-free version of this website (mobile and desktop versions), an unmatched 35 year library of insider wrestling content in newsletter article and podcast formats, dozens of new VIP-exclusive podcasts throughout the month (that are easily compatible with Apple Podcasts App, Apple Car Play, and many other popular podcast apps), and more benefits. Check out details and sign up <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorchvipinfo.com\/\">HERE<\/a>.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Miro vs ???<\/h3>\n<p>Right now Miro has returned, renounced his God, his gold, and his beautiful wife, and he is getting the squash match treatment. He\u2019s being allowed to look dominant and destructive. Obviously, that cannot last forever. Right now, though it\u2019s working, and I can\u2019t think of anyone to be Miro\u2019s first feud at the moment. Whoever the poor schmuck is, it\u2019ll have to be someone who Miro can go through like a hot knife through butter. He doesn\u2019t need to be losing any time soon.<\/p>\n<h3>Shawn Spears vs. Christian Cage\/Luchasaurus<\/h3>\n<p>Shawn Spears returned last week and immediately established himself as the first feud for the TNT Champion. Technically, that\u2019s Luchasaurus, but it\u2019s clear Christian a\/k\/a Evil Steve Jobs, sees himself as champion. (Incidentally when the late Mr. Jobs pioneered the turtleneck and jeans look, I don\u2019t think he expected it to be used for such wickedness, but I digress.)<\/p>\n<p>I expect Christian to take on Spears himself and summarily defeat him. That\u2019s not a bad thing, though. The TNT Title needs some rehab after months of being passed off from person to person. A quick first feud that ends in a decisive win for the champion is just what has been missing for the last few months.<\/p>\n<h3>AEW Women\u2019s Division<\/h3>\n<p>Each of the first three episodes of Collision has featured a different women\u2019s match with a different focus. They\u2019ve yet to establish a consistent weekly feud for the women. It seems like the main story between The Outcasts and the Homegrowns is primarily on Dynamite. Perhaps Kris Statlander and the TBS title will find their home on Collision. Only time will tell but they ought to get something going soon.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>RECOMMENDED:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/07\/02\/aew-collisions-hits-misses-7-1-bryant-evaluates-hobbs-vs-dustin-joe-vs-strong-mjf-vs-ethan-christian-jay-white\/\">AEW COLLISIONS HITS &amp; MISSES (7\/1): Bryant evaluates Hobbs vs. Dustin, Joe vs. Strong, MJF vs. Ethan, Christian, Jay White<\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>OR READ JASON POWELL&#8217;S REVIEW OF LAST WEEK&#8217;S COLLISION AT PROWRESTLING.NET:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/prowrestling.net\/site\/2023\/07\/02\/aew-collision-results-7-1-powells-live-review-of-samoa-joe-vs-roderick-strong-juice-robinson-vs-ricky-starks-and-dustin-rhodes-vs-powerhouse-hobbs-in-owen-hart-cup-tournament-matches-aew-wo\/\">AEW Collision results (7\/1): Powell\u2019s review of Samoa Joe vs. Roderick Strong, Juice Robinson vs. Ricky Starks, and Dustin Rhodes vs. Powerhouse Hobbs<\/a><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3418016974\" 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<hr \/>\n<p><em><strong>If you are interested in joining our team of volunteer contributors,<\/strong> email PWTorch editor Wade Keller at <a href=\"mailto:kellerwade@gmail.com\">kellerwade@gmail.com<\/a>. We are always looking for passionate fans who love writing and want to expand our coverage of pro wrestling with different points of view.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Subscribe to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/show\/wkpwps\">Wade Keller&#8217;s free podcasts<\/a> by searching &#8220;Wade Keller&#8221; in your podcast app. They include a weekly flagship episode (blue-logo show) and the post-shows after Raw, Dynamite, Smackdown, and Rampage (red logo show) with a mix of best-of episodes too!<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" title=\"Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-shows\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3275545&#038;theme=light&#038;cover_image_url=https%3A%2F%2Fd3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net%2Fimages.spreaker.com%2Foriginal%2F77f442a5107bae696d6d14debe52ccce.jpg&#038;playlist=true#?secret=rfJXX1y58F\" data-secret=\"rfJXX1y58F\" width=\"500\" height=\"750\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-3992119351\"><div id=\"pwtor-3547369443\"><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>Before we get into let me introduce myself. I\u2019m Zach Barber. If you are a regular listener to various free and VIP PWTorch podcasts you know me simply as Zach in Texas. I\u2019m a sort <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2023\/07\/07\/aew-collision-feud-tracker-debut-column-looking-at-the-early-feuds-on-aews-new-show-including-cm-punk-andrade-ftr\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION FEUD TRACKER: Debut column looking at the early feuds on AEW&#8217;s new show including CM Punk, Andrade, FTR\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":161713,"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":[52,6447,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-161712","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-feud-tracker","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2023\/07\/Screenshot-2023-07-07-at-2.47.47-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161712","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=161712"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161712\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":161714,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/161712\/revisions\/161714"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/161713"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=161712"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=161712"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=161712"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}