{"id":208460,"date":"2025-12-08T18:17:56","date_gmt":"2025-12-09T00:17:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=208460"},"modified":"2025-12-08T18:17:56","modified_gmt":"2025-12-09T00:17:56","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-12-6-darby-replacement-dorada-upsets-claudio-mercedes-gets-back-on-track-ricochet-defends-the-national-title-takeshita-vs-moxley","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/12\/08\/aew-collision-hits-misses-12-6-darby-replacement-dorada-upsets-claudio-mercedes-gets-back-on-track-ricochet-defends-the-national-title-takeshita-vs-moxley\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (12\/6): Darby replacement, Dorada upsets Claudio, Mercedes gets back on track, Ricochet defends the National Title, Takeshita vs. Moxley"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-440763896\" 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>To help you add context, my \u201cHits\u201d are ordered from best to worst. With that said, let\u2019s move into the high points of this week\u2019s episode, starting with the most significant moments.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>HITS<\/h2>\n<h3>M\u00c1SCARA DORADA UPSETS CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI<\/h3>\n<p>This was easily the standout moment of Collision. Dorada pulling off the clean upset brought a jolt of energy to the show, one of those rare AEW tournament surprises that actually lands with weight. Claudio\u2019s reaction sold the moment beautifully, and Dorada wrestled with a level of clarity and confidence that made the finish feel earned rather than cute.<\/p>\n<h3>KONOSUKE TAKESHITA VS. JON MOXLEY IN THE MAIN EVENT<\/h3>\n<p>A rugged, physical match that played to both men\u2019s strengths. Takeshita continues to look like someone AEW can build major tentpole moments around while Moxley remains AEW\u2019s most reliable tone-setter. It wasn\u2019t the most emotionally-charged main event Collision has ever produced, but it was tough, gritty, and gave the show a strong finish.<\/p>\n<h3>MERCEDES MON\u00c9 GETS BACK ON TRACK<\/h3>\n<p>This wasn\u2019t about an in-ring showcase so much as it was a necessary narrative correction. AEW has been telling the story of the \u201cMon\u00e9 crash-out. The presentation was sharper, the character work cleaner, and the segment finally acknowledged the arc they\u2019re trying to establish instead of running from it.<\/p>\n<h3>EDDIE KINGSTON PROMO<\/h3>\n<p>Eddie Kingston once again reminded everyone why he remains AEW&#8217;s emotional anchor. His promo wasn\u2019t long, but it didn\u2019t need to be; it was raw, direct, and grounded in the kind of authenticity few wrestlers can tap into.<\/p>\n<h3>FTR vs. BULLET CLUB<\/h3>\n<p>This feud remains one of Collision\u2019s most reliable character engines, and tonight Juice Robinson absolutely owned the segment. His promo had that perfect blend of unhinged energy and focused direction &#8211; less chaotic yelling, more controlled fire. He raised the stakes, clarified the feud\u2019s purpose, and made Bullet Club Gold feel like a genuine threat instead of a quirky heel act. Juice has always had charisma, but this felt like him leveling up and giving the episode a needed jolt of attitude.<\/p>\n<h3>RICOCHET DEFENDS THE NATIONAL TITLE<\/h3>\n<p>A straightforward, well-executed defense that reminded fans why Ricochet belongs in a featured spot. AEW sometimes overthinks his presentation, but tonight was no-frills, high-impact, and exactly what a reigning champion should look like on a weekly show.<\/p>\n<h3>THE C2 CONTINUES TO ELEVATE COLLISION<\/h3>\n<p>The Continental Classic has quietly become the backbone of Collision. Every match has stakes, every result matters, and the round-robin format gives the show a sense of purpose it hasn\u2019t always had. Even on weeks where the stories aren\u2019t loud, the tournament keeps the episode moving with momentum and clarity.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3698405332\" 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><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-discuss-netflix-wbd-deal-continental-classic-matches-darby-allin-injury-more--68909533\">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 discuss Netflix\/WBD deal, Continental Classic matches, Darby Allin Injury, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=68909533&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<h2>MISSES<\/h2>\n<h3>THE TRIANGLE OF MADNESS BACKSTAGE SEGMENT FELT PHONED IN<\/h3>\n<p>The backstage segment with the Triangle of Madness landed with a thud. Nothing about it felt urgent, intentional, or even particularly rehearsed. It came off like something thrown together five minutes before airtime &#8211; a placeholder rather than a progression. And honestly, Thekla is way too talented to be orbiting around material that clocks on the Wade Keller \u201cbitch-0-meter.\u201d She has presence, timing, and personality AEW hasn\u2019t tapped into yet, and segments like this only undersell what she brings to the table.<\/p>\n<h3>JACK PERRY AS DARBY ALLIN\u2019S REPLACEMENT<\/h3>\n<p>First, wishing Darby Allin a safe and speedy recovery. His absence leaves a noticeable hole in the Continental Classic, and AEW had a real opportunity here to make a statement with his replacement. Instead, Jack Perry being slotted in feels like the definition of \u201cjust a guy to take pins.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not that Perry can\u2019t deliver in the ring &#8211; he can &#8211; but nothing about his current presentation signals that.<\/p>\n<p>AEW sees him as a serious threat in this tournament. This spot could\u2019ve gone to Bandido, Brody King, or even Kenny Omega if AEW wanted to inject real intrigue into the bracket. Instead, it feels like a placeholder move rather than a meaningful creative choice.<\/p>\n<h3>STRONG INDIVIDUAL MOMENTS WITH UNCERTAIN FOLLOW-UP<\/h3>\n<p>Dorada\u2019s upset was fantastic, but AEW has a pattern of letting moments like this drift without meaningful continuation. The success of this angle depends entirely on next week, and AEW hasn\u2019t always stuck the landing.<\/p>\n<h3>FINAL TALLY<\/h3>\n<p>\u2022 HITS: 7<br \/>\n\u2022 MISSES: 3<\/p>\n<h3><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>A good show! Dorada\u2019s upset, Ricochet\u2019s defense, and a reset for Mon\u00e9 all hit the mark. Juice Robinson and Eddie Kingston added energy, and the Continental Classic continues to give Collision structure. AEW has the right ingredients it just needs to push their stories a little harder moving forward.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3634729294\" 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<h3>WRESTLING HISTORY<\/h3>\n<p>On this day in 2014: UFC announced the signing of WWE Superstar C.M. Punk to a two-fight contract. He went on to compete twice for the promotion, losing both bouts.<\/p>\n<h3>PODCAST PLUG<\/h3>\n<p>Be sure to check out the Collision Caf\u00e9 I host with PWTorch\u2019s Amin Ajani, available exclusively to PWTorch VIP members.<\/p>\n<p>Did you know you can read an ad-free, silky-smooth-loading version of this website with a PWTorch VIP Membership? Also, unlock 35+ years of archives including nearly 2,000 PWTorch Weekly Newsletters dating back to the late-1980s, hundreds of retro radio shows from the 1990s, and two decades of podcasts including Post-PPV Roundtable Podcasts dating back to the mid-2000s. Plus, new VIP-exclusive articles and podcasts throughout the week, fully compatible with the native Apple Podcasts app. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorchvipinfo.com\/\">CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS ON VIP MEMBERSHIP<\/a><\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Wade Keller Post-show (12\/3) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Lilly\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WSM8kRCq1eI?start=4&#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-3013790696\"><div id=\"pwtor-4010070538\"><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>To help you add context, my \u201cHits\u201d are ordered from best to worst. With that said, let\u2019s move into the high points of this week\u2019s episode, starting with the most significant moments. HITS M\u00c1SCARA DORADA <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2025\/12\/08\/aew-collision-hits-misses-12-6-darby-replacement-dorada-upsets-claudio-mercedes-gets-back-on-track-ricochet-defends-the-national-title-takeshita-vs-moxley\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (12\/6): Darby replacement, Dorada upsets Claudio, Mercedes gets back on track, Ricochet defends the National Title, Takeshita vs. Moxley\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":208462,"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-208460","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\/12\/Screenshot-2025-12-08-at-6.13.03-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208460","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=208460"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208460\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":208463,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/208460\/revisions\/208463"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/208462"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=208460"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=208460"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=208460"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}