{"id":215907,"date":"2026-05-04T12:30:08","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=215907"},"modified":"2026-05-04T12:30:08","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T17:30:08","slug":"aew-collision-hits-misses-5-2-knight-starting-to-look-like-a-complete-champion-willow-anchors-tbs-title-jack-perrys-upward-trend-continues","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/04\/aew-collision-hits-misses-5-2-knight-starting-to-look-like-a-complete-champion-willow-anchors-tbs-title-jack-perrys-upward-trend-continues\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (5\/2):\u00a0Knight starting to look like a complete champion, Willow anchors TBS Title, Jack Perry&#8217;s upward trend continues"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1274620427\" 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. There are no grades\u2014just what worked and what didn\u2019t from this week\u2019s episode.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>HITS<\/h2>\n<p><strong>1. MOXLEY\u2013OSPREAY CONTINUES TO FEEL LIKE A CENTERPIECE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The ongoing direction involving Jon Moxley and Will Ospreay continues to feel like the most important thread AEW has right now.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a clear sense of escalation between the two, and more importantly, it feels like something the company is investing real time and attention into. When AEW locks into a central program like this, it gives the show an anchor it needs.<\/p>\n<p>That said, it would have gone a long way for AEW to more clearly connect the dots from last week\u2019s Collision to what followed on Dynamite. The pieces are there, but the presentation didn\u2019t fully capitalize on the momentum in real time.<\/p>\n<p>Still, as an ongoing direction, this feels like a centerpiece &#8211; and one worth building around.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2. KEVIN KNIGHT IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE A COMPLETE CHAMPION<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Jet\u201d Kevin Knight vs. Hook wasn\u2019t just about a title defense, it was a reminder of how quickly Knight is developing in real time.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-3044839312\" 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>There was a moment where Hook launched him with a suplex, and Knight adjusted mid-air, catching himself on his hands before impact. It was a short sequence, but one that stood out for the awareness and improvisation it required.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the kind of adjustment you only make in the moment.<\/p>\n<p>Moments like that highlight a level of comfort and adaptability that continues to set Knight apart. He\u2019s not just executing what\u2019s planne; he\u2019s reacting, adjusting, and making things work on the fly.<\/p>\n<p>That kind of awareness is what elevates a performance from solid to memorable, and it\u2019s a big reason why his TNT Title run continues to build credibility week to week.<\/p>\n<p><strong>3. WILLOW NIGHTINGALE\u2019S CONSISTENCY IS DOING THE HEAVY LIFTING<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What stands out most about Willow right now isn\u2019t just the wins &#8211; it\u2019s the reliability.<\/p>\n<p>Her matches feel consistent, her presence is defined, and there\u2019s a level of clarity in how she\u2019s being presented that gives the TBS Title some needed stability. Even without a fully locked-in marquee rivalry, Willow doesn\u2019t feel like a placeholder champion.<\/p>\n<p>She feels like a foundation.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-4182347406\" 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>4. AEW TAKES A MOMENT TO ACKNOWLEDGE REBEL<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Not everything that works on a wrestling show has to be about advancing a storyline.<\/p>\n<p>AEW taking time to acknowledge Rebel on TV was a small moment, but one that carried real weight following her recent social media post. In a week where she shared a deeply personal health update, the decision to recognize her on-air felt genuine rather than performative.<\/p>\n<p>It didn\u2019t overstay its welcome or feel forced; it was quick, respectful, and grounded in reality.<\/p>\n<p>Moments like that don\u2019t drive angles or ratings, but they do reflect the culture of the company, and this was one of those moments that mattered beyond the ring.<\/p>\n<p><strong>5. JACK PERRY IS STARTING TO FIGURE IT OUT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u201cJungle\u201d Jack Perry vs. Mascara Dorada was one of the more complete matches on the show\u2014and a reminder of what Perry can be when everything clicks.<\/p>\n<p>There was a noticeable shift in how he worked this match. The pacing felt more confident, the offense had more intention, and most importantly, the crowd had something to latch onto. That PWG-style babyface energy &#8211; fast-paced, reactive, and grounded in in-ring credibility\u2014fits him in a way some of his previous presentations haven\u2019t.<\/p>\n<p>Mascara Dorada played his role well in bringing that out, but the bigger takeaway is Perry. This version of him feels more natural, less forced, and more aligned with what he actually does well.<\/p>\n<p>If this is the direction, it\u2019s not just good for his character, it\u2019s good for the overall product.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h2>MISSES<\/h2>\n<p><strong>1. TITLE MATCHES WITHOUT REAL SUSPENSE<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On paper, multiple title matches should elevate the show.<\/p>\n<p>In execution, the outcomes felt largely predictable.<\/p>\n<p>That doesn\u2019t make the matches ineffective, but it does limit their ceiling. When there\u2019s little doubt about who\u2019s winning, the match has to create intrigue elsewhere\u2014and not all of them got there.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>FINAL SCORE<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>HITS: 5<\/li>\n<li>MISSES: 1<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr \/>\n<h3>FINAL THOUGHTS<\/h3>\n<p>AEW didn\u2019t lack direction this week; it did, though, show exactly where its priorities are.<\/p>\n<p>Between Moxley\u2013Ospreay, Kevin Knight\u2019s continued growth, and Willow\u2019s steady presence, the top of the card feels intentional in a way that hasn\u2019t always been the case on Collision.<\/p>\n<p>The next step is making sure that follow-through matches the idea, because the pieces are there. Now it\u2019s about connecting them consistently week to week.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>WRESTLING HISTORY:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On this day in 2005, Shawn Michaels faced Shelton Benjamin on an episode of WWE Monday Night Raw in a Gold Rush Tournament match.<\/p>\n<p>The match is still remembered for its pace and timing, with both leaning into counters and near-falls throughout.<\/p>\n<p>Michaels picked up the win after catching Benjamin mid\u2013springboard with Sweet Chin Music in one of the more memorable finishes from that era.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CHECK OUT MY PODCAST<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Be sure to check out the Collision Caf\u00e9 I host with PWTorch\u2019s Taylor Halley, available exclusively to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/live\/aa5vM1w4jGA?si=Ou3irR5q5-EneWND\">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? Also, unlock 35-plus 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 (4\/29) - AEW Dynamite w\/Keller &amp; Halley\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aa5vM1w4jGA?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-1703291480\"><div id=\"pwtor-2081013428\"><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. There are no grades\u2014just what worked and what didn\u2019t from this week\u2019s episode. HITS 1. MOXLEY\u2013OSPREAY CONTINUES TO FEEL LIKE A CENTERPIECE <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2026\/05\/04\/aew-collision-hits-misses-5-2-knight-starting-to-look-like-a-complete-champion-willow-anchors-tbs-title-jack-perrys-upward-trend-continues\/\" title=\"AEW COLLISION HITS &#038; MISSES (5\/2):\u00a0Knight starting to look like a complete champion, Willow anchors TBS Title, Jack Perry&#8217;s upward trend continues\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":215909,"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-215907","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\/05\/Screenshot-2026-05-04-at-12.27.04-PM.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215907","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=215907"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215907\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":215910,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/215907\/revisions\/215910"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/215909"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=215907"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=215907"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=215907"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}