{"id":210754,"date":"2026-01-21T00:23:51","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T06:23:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=210754"},"modified":"2026-01-21T00:23:51","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T06:23:51","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-1-17-26-andrade-makes-his-in-ring-return-to-aew-kingston-ortiz-vs-gvy-zayda-steel-in-ring-debut-new-aew-world-trios-champions-are-crowned","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/21\/aew-collision-hits-misses-1-17-26-andrade-makes-his-in-ring-return-to-aew-kingston-ortiz-vs-gvy-zayda-steel-in-ring-debut-new-aew-world-trios-champions-are-crowned\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (1\/17\/26) Andrade makes his in-ring return to AEW, Kingston &#038; Ortiz vs. GVY, Zayda Steel in-ring debut, new AEW World Trios Champions are crowned"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-2756342886\" 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 add context, my Hits are ordered from best to worst. Each review includes perspective on why something worked (or didn\u2019t). 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>POWERHOUSE HOBBS HANDLING HIS BUSINESS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of the quieter but more telling moments on this episode was Powerhouse Hobbs doing exactly what he needed to do \u2014 showing up, handling his business, and reminding people why he still matters.<\/p>\n<p>With reports circulating in recent months about outside interest, the bigger takeaway here isn\u2019t about destinations or contract details \u2014 it\u2019s about leverage. Whether AEW was willing to match an offer or Hobbs simply wanted to explore something different, he never lost control of his narrative. He didn\u2019t burn bridges. He didn\u2019t posture publicly. He worked.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m not a Rich Paul\u2013level agent, but if I could give advice to any wrestler nearing the end of a deal, it would be this: never lose your leverage. Once reports frame a move as inevitable, the bidding war disappears. Options narrow. Power shifts.<br \/>\nHobbs avoided that trap. And if things don\u2019t work out elsewhere and he ever wants to return, it\u2019s hard to imagine All Elite Wrestling not welcoming him back with open arms. Professionalism still matters, and Hobbs has consistently shown it.<\/p>\n<p><strong>JON MOXLEY EMBRACING THE BABYFACE ROLE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The shift toward Jon Moxley as a babyface has quietly become one of my favorite ongoing developments in AEW, dating back to the closing stretch of the Continental Classic.<\/p>\n<p>This hasn\u2019t felt forced. Moxley hasn\u2019t changed who he is \u2014 he\u2019s redirected it. The growing friction between Don Callis and the Death Riders has added texture, especially because neither group is tethered to the world title picture.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3426787289\" 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>Not everything in AEW needs to orbit a championship to feel important. It may be subtle, but having someone like Moxley willing \u2014 and wanting \u2014 to be the face of Collision gives the show an anchor. He doesn\u2019t need to announce it. The presence alone does the work.<\/p>\n<p><strong>KEVIN KNIGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Everything about Kevin Knight\u2019s interaction with Swerve Strickland worked.<\/p>\n<p>Knight didn\u2019t feel like a background character \u2014 he felt positioned. The promo exchange gave him confidence and credibility, and he held his own, sharing the screen with one of AEW\u2019s most established stars.<\/p>\n<p>It was also a nice touch that Knight was the one who hit the finish to help his team win the titles in the main event. Those details matter. If you\u2019re spotlighting someone, letting them close reinforces that spotlight rather than undercutting it.<\/p>\n<p>With Knight set to face Swerve on AEW Dynamite, this segment functioned as a true table-setter. Win or lose, that match already feels designed to elevate him.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE RE-RE-DEBUT OF ANDRADE EL IDOLO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This was exactly what a returning Andrade El Idolo needed: a clean, straightforward showcase without unnecessary layers.<br \/>\nHe looked to be in excellent shape and immediately comfortable back in an AEW ring. The gear change helped. His previous tights \u2014 the ones that looked like uncomfortable baseball pants \u2014 were always more distracting than flattering. Watching him wrestle in those sometimes brought to mind the Seinfeld episode where George Costanza convinces the Yankees to switch from polyester to cotton uniforms. They may have looked fine, but they didn\u2019t look comfortable \u2014 and Andrade wrestles best when he looks loose and fluid.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1025840955\" 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>On the plus side, he no longer has to share the spinning back elbow with Chris Jericho, which immediately makes the move feel more impactful again. Sometimes subtraction is just as important as addition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>THE RASCALZ GET A PROPER INTRODUCTION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AEW&#8217;s formal introduction of The Rascalz was a welcome move. New acts \u2014 especially factions \u2014 don\u2019t lose momentum by being explained. They gain clarity.<\/p>\n<p>Giving them mic time to establish who they are and what their mission statement is within AEW helps bridge the gap between recognition and investment. Not every viewer follows independent wrestling or tracks every signing online, and AEW shouldn\u2019t assume they do.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GYV vs. KINGSTON &amp; ORTIZ<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AEW airing a brief video package to recap the Grizzled Young Veterans feud with Eddie Kingston and Ortiz was a small but important touch.<\/p>\n<p>Yes, the story is straightforward \u2014 but there\u2019s a difference between spoon-feeding and re-establishing context. Wrestling is on weekly television. People miss episodes. A quick recap isn\u2019t an insult \u2014 it\u2019s a service.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FTR PROMO<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The FTR promo segment made far more sense than another random squash.<\/p>\n<p>Segments like this help shape the show&#8217;s format. They give breathing room, establish direction, and reinforce where a team sits within the division. FTR also took time to put Doyle and Davis over verbally, which only added credibility.<\/p>\n<p><strong>ZAYDA STEEL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>AEW\u2019s video package introducing Zayda Steel was extremely effective \u2014 and necessary.<\/p>\n<p><em>ARTICLE CONTINUED BELOW&#8230;<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>Check out the latest episode of the Wade Keller Pro Wrestling Post-show covering the latest episode of Dynamite: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.spreaker.com\/episode\/aew-dynamite-post-show-1-14-keller-lilly-discuss-mjf-vs-bandido-darby-vs-pac-preview-of-tna-on-amc-more--69449758\">CLICK HERE<\/a> (or search \u201cwade Keller\u201d on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or any other iOS or Android app to subscribe free)<\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"AEW DYNAMITE POST-SHOW (1\/14): Keller &amp; Lilly discuss MJF vs. Bandido, Darby vs. Pac, preview of TNA on AMC, more\" src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?episode_id=69449758&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<h3>MISSES<\/h3>\n<p><strong>TITLE SATURATION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The #1 Contendership Match for the AEW National Title match between Jack Perry and Anthony Bowens was fine and well-wrestled. That\u2019s not the issue.<\/p>\n<p>The larger issue is title saturation. When championships become this plentiful, it becomes harder for any one of them to feel essential.<\/p>\n<p>There are cases where a belt fits a performer. Someone like Ricochet benefits from having something tangible that reflects his style. But AEW would benefit long-term from consolidating some titles and placing more emphasis on wins and losses to create stakes within non-title programs.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>FINAL SCORE<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>HITS: 8<\/li>\n<li>MISSES: 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I understand that this episode of Collision may not light up the ratings sheet, especially going head-to-head with the NFL playoffs. That\u2019s just the reality of Saturday-night television. But ratings context aside, this is the format I would ask AEW to commit to for Collision on a weekly basis.<\/p>\n<p>This show succeeded by prioritizing clarity, structure, and intent. Video packages mattered. Promos had purpose. New and returning talent were introduced with context rather than assumption. Veterans like Jon Moxley embraced the responsibility of anchoring the show without everything revolving around a title. When Collision operates this way, it feels deliberate \u2014 not overloaded.<\/p>\n<p><strong>WRESTLING HISTORY<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On this day in 2009, Tyler Black defeated Nigel McGuinness in the main event of ROH Full Circle in Manassas, Virginia.<\/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.<\/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 (1\/14) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Lilly\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UrldE8DhWgo?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-256471086\"><div id=\"pwtor-3353730858\"><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 add context, my Hits are ordered from best to worst. Each review includes perspective on why something worked (or didn\u2019t). With that said, let\u2019s move into the high points of this week\u2019s episode. <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/01\/21\/aew-collision-hits-misses-1-17-26-andrade-makes-his-in-ring-return-to-aew-kingston-ortiz-vs-gvy-zayda-steel-in-ring-debut-new-aew-world-trios-champions-are-crowned\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (1\/17\/26) Andrade makes his in-ring return to AEW, Kingston &#038; Ortiz vs. GVY, Zayda Steel in-ring debut, new AEW World Trios Champions are crowned\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":210755,"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-210754","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-2026-01-21-at-12.21.46-AM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210754","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=210754"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210754\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":210756,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/210754\/revisions\/210756"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/210755"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=210754"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=210754"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=210754"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}