A week ago, Tony Khan declared CM Punk’s release from AEW, which raised questions regarding the future of Collision, a show heavily centered around Punk since its initiation three months ago. This Saturday episode saw Bryan Danielson brilliantly filling the gap left by Punk, setting up a fascinating encounter with Zack Sabre Jr. at the forthcoming AEW WrestleDream.
Other notable moments included Jon Moxley defending the International Title, Kris Statlander safeguarding her TBS title, and a series of matches determining the contender for MJF’s AEW World Title at Dynamite Grand Slam.
Here’s a breakdown of the episode’s lows and highs:
Negatives:
- Overly Competitive Match – The Jon Moxley vs Action Andretti match felt disproportionate with Andretti, who has a lesser winning record, holding ground for over 11 minutes against Moxley. The contest should have maintained the stature of Moxley as a dominant force.
- Underutilized Women’s Division – The persistent issue of underutilizing the women’s division remained, as the match between Statlander and Renegade lasted just over four minutes, making it feel rushed and not giving the athletes the spotlight they deserve.
- Unnecessary Matchups – The clash involving Juice Robinson, the Gunns, and a trio of luchadors felt like filler content, with the audience indifferent to the outcome due to a lack of substantial background of the luchadors in AEW.
- Weak Finish for Roddy – Despite a pre-match assault on Darby by Luchasaurus, Roderick Strong struggled to secure a win, undermining the impact of the attack and failing to portray Strong as a calculating heel.
Positives:
- Engaging Opening Promos – Opening with pre-title promos from Samoa Joe, Penta El Zero Miedo, Roderick Strong, and Darby Allin set a compelling tone for the episode.
- Roddy’s Character Development – Roddy, alongside Taven and Bennett, delivered an engrossing promo reflecting on his camaraderie with Adam Cole, highlighting his somber side and evolving character.
- Kingston’s Golden Promo – Eddie Kingston’s interaction with Claudio Castagnoli not only hyped their title match but showcased their rich history and elevated the rivalry’s stakes.
- CJ Perry’s Solid Debut – CJ Perry marked a strong debut, portraying authentic emotions and hinting at a possible face-off against Miro, adding a layer of intrigue to their storyline.
- Fenix’s Dominant Display – Rey Fenix’s win over Angelico was both necessary and impressive, establishing him as a potent force while promising Angelico a brighter future in Collision.
- Smooth Story Progression – Backstage segments provided subtle progress in the narratives of various wrestlers including the Dark Order, FTR, and Keith Lee, offering a glimpse into their evolving story arcs.
- Danielson’s Bold Challenge – Bryan Danielson announcing his impending retirement set the stage for a potentially historic match against Zack Sabre Jr., bringing two of the world’s best technical wrestlers face to face.
- Predictable yet Exciting Results – Despite predictable outcomes in the matches determining MJF’s contender, the contests entertained, delivering on the excitement and setting the stage for an exhilarating showdown between Strong and Joe.
This Collision episode had its share of highs and lows, with notable performances and story developments making it an overall engaging viewing while leaving room for improvements in match compositions and usage of talents. It successfully built anticipation for future events, promising a vibrant landscape in the episodes to come.
