{"id":210037,"date":"2026-01-06T14:33:50","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=210037"},"modified":"2026-01-06T14:34:05","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T20:34:05","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-1-3-26-darby-allin-vs-wheeler-yuta-hechicero-earns-a-no-1-contender-spot-for-the-tnt-title-el-clon-debuts-timeless-love-bombs-the-mega-problems-in-action","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/06\/aew-collision-hits-misses-1-3-26-darby-allin-vs-wheeler-yuta-hechicero-earns-a-no-1-contender-spot-for-the-tnt-title-el-clon-debuts-timeless-love-bombs-the-mega-problems-in-action\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (1\/3\/26): Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta, Hechicero earns a No. 1 contender spot for the TNT Title, El Clon debuts, Timeless Love Bombs, The Mega Problems in action"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1675000467\" 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><h2>HITS<\/h2>\n<p><strong>DARBY ALLIN FEELS UNAVOIDABLE RIGHT NOW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Darby Allin submitting Wheeler Yuta wasn\u2019t just a main-event win, it was another step in a story that continues to gain gravity. Darby\u2019s role within the Death Riders orbit is increasingly defined: he\u2019s not trying to outnumber anyone, he\u2019s trying to outlast them.<\/p>\n<p>Yuta was portrayed as a legitimate threat throughout, especially amid outside chaos that constantly threatened to tip the balance. Darby surviving that environment and forcing the submission reinforced his entire ethos. He doesn\u2019t need dominance. He needs endurance. AEW leaning into that distinction continues to pay off.<\/p>\n<p><strong>HECHICERO vs. KOMANDER<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Hechicero\u2019s match with Komander was a perfect example of Collision letting wrestling do the talking. The story lived in contrast. Komander\u2019s speed and aerial creativity constantly forced Hechicero to adapt, slow things down, and drag the match into his preferred rhythm.<\/p>\n<p>That push-and-pull is what made the outcome resonate. Hechicero didn\u2019t stumble into a win; he problem-solved his way through a dangerous opponent. By the end of the night, he didn\u2019t just feel like someone who picked up a victory; he felt like someone who earned his place in the TNT Title conversation. That distinction matters, and it helps keep the division from feeling stagnant.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EL CLON\u2019S DEBUT WAS DECISIVE, NOT DISTRACTING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AEW continues to show restraint when introducing new pieces. El Clon\u2019s debut worked because it was confident, direct, and \u2014 most importantly \u2014 connected to the rest of the show.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-886953763\" 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>He made an impression without monopolizing time, and his presence didn\u2019t exist in a vacuum. By weaving him into a larger arc rather than isolating the moment, AEW avoided the common debut trap of creating buzz without follow-through.<\/p>\n<p><strong>TONI STORM AND MINA SHIRAKAWA<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Consistency remains the biggest strength of this pairing. Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa wrestled like an actual team, not two singles wrestlers sharing ring time.<\/p>\n<p>Their offense flowed naturally, their pacing made sense, and the match accomplished its goal without overstaying its welcome. As AEW continues to search for reliable structure in the Women\u2019s Tag Team Division, this duo feels increasingly worth investing in.<\/p>\n<p><strong>EDDIE KINGSTON ON THE MIC STILL MATTERS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>There are very few people in AEW who can add value to a show without needing a match, and Eddie Kingston remains at the top of that list. Whether he\u2019s talking about the sport itself, grounding a storyline in reality, or even taking a moment to acknowledge something personal \u2014 like wishing someone a happy birthday \u2014 Eddie makes the show feel lived-in.<\/p>\n<p>His presence adds texture. It reminds the audience that wrestling isn\u2019t just about wins and losses; it\u2019s about people, relationships, and emotion. Those moments don\u2019t always advance a storyline on paper, but they strengthen the connective tissue of the show in a way that\u2019s hard to replicate.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE CROWD CARRIED THE SHOW\u2019S ENERGY<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3488069267\" 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>One of the quiet successes of the night was the crowd itself. From the opening moments through the main event, the audience remained engaged and reactive.<\/p>\n<p>They responded to momentum shifts, elevated key near-falls, and treated the main event like it mattered &#8211; which helped reinforce the episode\u2019s biggest stories. AEW can put wrestlers in position, but crowds like this help sell the importance of those positions. This audience did its part.<\/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-willow-winning-tbs-women-s-championship-kenny-omega-returning-to-world-title-picture--69285332\">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 Willow winning TBS Women's Championship, Kenny Omega returning to World Title picture\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=69285332&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\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>MISSES<\/h2>\n<p><strong>THE CARD LACKED TOP-END STAR POWER<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The biggest limitation of the night was the card itself. Collision leaned more on progression and development than marquee attraction, and while that approach largely worked, it capped how big the show could feel.<\/p>\n<p>Some of that was circumstantial. With talent commitments elsewhere over the weekend \u2014 including Kenny Omega and Thekla traveling for Wrestle Kingdom \u2014 AEW opted not to over-correct creatively or hot-shot replacements. Instead, the company trusted its depth and focused on direction over flash.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a defensible approach, but the absence was still noticeable. Collision succeeded on execution and energy, even if it lacked that one true tentpole presence that instantly elevates a card on paper.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>FINAL SCORE<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>HITS: 6<\/li>\n<li>MISSES: 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n<p>This wasn\u2019t a statement episode \u2014 it was a stabilizing one. Darby Allin continues to feel like someone AEW is methodically building toward something larger, the TNT title picture gained clarity without chaos, and new pieces were introduced without derailing existing arcs.<\/p>\n<p>The star-power ceiling was evident, but the intent was strong.<\/p>\n<h3>WRESTLING HISTORY<\/h3>\n<p>On this day in 2013, TNA Impact aired from Orlando, Fla., featuring Kurt Angle and Samoa Joe taking on two members of the Aces &amp; Eights faction \u2014 Devon and a masked partner whose identity was kept hidden.<\/p>\n<p>After Angle scored the pinfall with the Angle Slam, Aces &amp; Eights swarmed the ring, overwhelming Angle and Joe until Sting made the save with his trademark baseball bat. The moment ended with Angle unmasking the mystery opponent, revealing him as the former Mike Knox, now going by Knux \u2014 a reveal that further deepened the faction\u2019s grip on the show at the time.<\/p>\n<h3>PODCAST PLUG<\/h3>\n<p>Be sure to check out Collision Caf\u00e9, the show I host with PWTorch\u2019s Amin Ajani, available exclusively to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorchvipinfo.com\/\">PWTorch VIP members<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Did you know you can read an ad-free, silky-smooth-loading version of this website with a PWTorch VIP Membership? You\u2019ll 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 \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<p><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\/31) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Adams\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KRyzW28F1uM?start=1&#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-4250162644\"><div id=\"pwtor-828841790\"><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>HITS DARBY ALLIN FEELS UNAVOIDABLE RIGHT NOW Darby Allin submitting Wheeler Yuta wasn\u2019t just a main-event win, it was another step in a story that continues to gain gravity. Darby\u2019s role within the Death Riders <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/06\/aew-collision-hits-misses-1-3-26-darby-allin-vs-wheeler-yuta-hechicero-earns-a-no-1-contender-spot-for-the-tnt-title-el-clon-debuts-timeless-love-bombs-the-mega-problems-in-action\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (1\/3\/26): Darby Allin vs. Wheeler Yuta, Hechicero earns a No. 1 contender spot for the TNT Title, El Clon debuts, Timeless Love Bombs, The Mega Problems in action\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":210038,"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-210037","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\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-06-at-2.33.07-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210037","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=210037"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210037\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210040,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210037\/revisions\/210040"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210038"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210037"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210037"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210037"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}