{"id":201854,"date":"2025-07-28T13:40:20","date_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:40:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=201854"},"modified":"2025-07-28T13:40:20","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:40:20","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-7-26-tony-schiavones-handling-of-acknowledging-hogan-dustin-rhodess-fighting-spirit-anthony-bowens-all-star-tag-matches-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/07\/28\/aew-collision-hits-misses-7-26-tony-schiavones-handling-of-acknowledging-hogan-dustin-rhodess-fighting-spirit-anthony-bowens-all-star-tag-matches-more\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (7\/26): Tony Schiavone&#8217;s handling of acknowledging Hogan, Dustin Rhodes&#8217;s fighting spirit, Anthony Bowens, All-Star Tag matches, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-802551099\" 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>Greetings! To help you navigate, my Hits are in order of best to worst. Each review includes a historical tidbit and a final grade. With that said, let\u2019s move into the high points of this week\u2019s episode.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>HITS<\/h3>\n<p><strong>AEW STANDS FOR (ALL ELITE WOMEN)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Athena defended the ROH Women&#8217;s World Championship against Windsor in a match with big implications for the ongoing storyline surrounding the title. Athena, as reigning champion, countered Windsor\u2019s attack, landed a precise shotgun dropkick and executed the O-Face to secure her 30th successful title defense, reinforcing her dominance in the division. Windsor was presented as a resilient challenger, displaying credible offense that positions her as a relevant figure for future title opportunities. This match served to elevate both athletes in the context of the championship.<\/p>\n<p><strong>TONY SCHIAVONE ON HULK HOGAN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tony Schiavone made a succinct, impactful comment. He sent sympathies to Hulk Hogan\u2019s family by name. He also praised Hogan\u2019s role in the &#8217;80s and the Monday Night Wars. His words were intimate, revealing that Hogan was more than just a pop culture icon. It&#8217;s hard to do all that in two minutes, but he did. It felt grounded, authentic, and historical. There was no hagiography. Discussing Hogan is challenging because his immense legacy is marred by scandal and bigotry.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE CHICAGO CROWD<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like the women\u2019s roster, the Chicago crowd kept strong energy all night. Their enthusiasm lifted each match. Other cities might not match this energy.<\/p>\n<p><strong>TRIANGLE OF MADNESS DEBUT<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1773120254\" 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>The debuting trio, The Triangle of Madness, made a strong impression. They showed both credibility and personality. The group\u2019s name hints at playfulness. But in wrestling, audience reaction is the real test.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE FIGHTING SPIRIT OF DUSTIN RHODES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Dustin Rhodes put the TNT Championship on the line against Lee Moriarty, surviving a tense near-tapout before using a smart inside cradle counter for the victory and retaining his title. This successful defense added to Dustin\u2019s legacy as a champion. Following the match, Kyle Fletcher challenged Dustin, setting up a Chicago Street Fight for next week, where Dustin\u2019s championship will again be at stake.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the &#8220;All Elite Conversation Club&#8221; with Joel Dehnel and Gregg Kanner, part of the PWTorch Dailycast line-up: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/all-elite-conversation-club-dehnel-kanner-talk-hangman-vs-moxley-rematch-set-ospreay-injury-mjf-out-of-hurt-syndicate-more--67123307\">CLICK HERE<\/a> to stream (or search \u201cpwtorch\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"All Elite Conversation Club - Dehnel &amp; Kanner talk Hangman vs. Moxley rematch set, Ospreay injury, MJF out of Hurt Syndicate, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=67123307&amp;theme=light&amp;playlist=false&amp;playlist-continuous=false&amp;chapters-image=true&amp;episode_image_position=right&amp;hide-logo=false&amp;hide-likes=false&amp;hide-comments=false&amp;hide-sharing=false&amp;hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>MISSES<\/h3>\n<p><strong>ANTHONY BOWENS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let me start with this: I like Anthony Bowens. He\u2019s passionate, polished in the ring, and was the group\u2019s emotional heartbeat at their peak. But let\u2019s not dance around it: His singles push isn\u2019t working. The matches are fine, and the energy is there. But the story isn\u2019t. AEW gave Bowens a singles spotlight, but without direction, identity, or edge, he\u2019s just floating\u2014and that\u2019s worse than being cold. It&#8217;s forgettable.<\/p>\n<p><strong>COLD MATCHES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AEW projects a sports-based product. But unannounced or impromptu matches, often with little story buildup, make it feel more like WWE. These cold matches lack ongoing storylines or clear stakes, so they seem less meaningful than well-developed feuds or tournament bouts.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1706948804\" 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><strong>ALL-STAR TAG TEAM MATCHES<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I see why AEW uses this gimmick, but why can\u2019t women\u2019s roster members fill this role? AEW just ran a tournament match that deserved more time. Why does Don Callis&#8217;s family get more TV time than Tay Melo, Willow Nightingale, Anna Jay, or Deonna Purrazzo?<\/p>\n<p><strong>SHOW FORMAT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Segments that should\u2019ve advanced stories were either missing or felt like rough sketches. The pacing was off. By the main event, I wondered about the episode\u2019s point.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>FINAL SCORE<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>HITS 5<\/li>\n<li>MISSES 4<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n<p>This week\u2019s Collision wasn\u2019t a bad show, but it felt like one wrestling on autopilot. The women\u2019s division once again carried the episode, both in match quality and storyline weight. But there\u2019s no ignoring the creative fatigue elsewhere. Cold matches, scattered formatting, and a lack of real build made too much of the episode feel like filler. Segments didn\u2019t connect or progress stories. Let\u2019s hope next week brings more cohesion, more narrative purpose, and more follow-through.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>WRESTLING HISTORY:<\/strong> On this day in 1986, Dusty Rhodes defeated Ric Flair in a steel cage match in Greensboro, North Carolina, to win the final of his three NWA World Championships. Two weeks later, Flair won the title again.<\/p>\n<p><strong>PODCAST PLUG:<\/strong> Be sure to check out the Collision Caf\u00e9 I host with PWTorch&#8217;s Amin Ajani, available exclusively to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorchvipinfo.com\/\">PWTorch VIP members<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (7\/23) - AEW Dynamite w\/cohost Tej Narayanan\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sU4ed2ShZ3A?start=3&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2932959938\"><div id=\"pwtor-354688795\"><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>Greetings! To help you navigate, my Hits are in order of best to worst. Each review includes a historical tidbit and a final grade. With that said, let\u2019s move into the high points of this <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/07\/28\/aew-collision-hits-misses-7-26-tony-schiavones-handling-of-acknowledging-hogan-dustin-rhodess-fighting-spirit-anthony-bowens-all-star-tag-matches-more\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (7\/26): Tony Schiavone&#8217;s handling of acknowledging Hogan, Dustin Rhodes&#8217;s fighting spirit, Anthony Bowens, All-Star Tag matches, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":201855,"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-201854","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\/2025\/07\/Screenshot-2025-07-28-at-1.32.49-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201854","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=201854"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":201857,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/201854\/revisions\/201857"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/201855"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=201854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=201854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=201854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}