Post by sethisthegoat on Jan 5, 2024 8:24:51 GMT -5
AEW Collision
Jan. 6, 2024
The inaugural episode of AEW Collision opens with a career retrospective about Owen Hart (booker’s note: As I’m writing this…I’m realizing how silly it actually is for one UWA company to have a tournament named for a wrestler who is active in another territory and has never been active here…oh well).
As the retrospective ends, Scotty Flamingo’s music hits and the latest AEW superstar makes his entrance, carrying a surfboard and wearing bright pink clothing.
Flamingo - “Hello, AEW! My name is Scotty Flamingo, which you probably already knew, though. I am the coolest, the hottest, and the prettiest wrestler in the world. I’m going to win the Owen Hart Cup and rename it the Scotty Flamingo Cup. I'm the best thing that ever happened to All Elite Wrestling. And I'm the best thing that ever happened to you. I am Scotty Flamingo, and I am the future of AEW. And the future is bright. The future is pink. The future is... Flamingo!”
The commentary team for this episode is Paul Heyman and Jonathan Coachman. Heyman says he is committed to helping Wardlow achieve his highest heights, but he’s also looking to grow his influence. And what better way to see who might be a Paul Heyman Guy (or Gal) than sitting front and center for the Owen Hart Cup?
Match 1 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Men’s)
Scotty Flamingo (8-8 as Raven) vs. Xavier Woods (4-2)
- Woods with the early advantage because Flamingo was posing; hits a dropkick, clothesline and leg drop for a quick cover, but Flamingo kicks out and rolls out of the ring.
- Woods gives chase and rolls Flamingo back in, hitting a snap suplex and a top rope splash for 2.
- Later, Woods has Flamingo in a full nelson. While the ref is checking on him, Flamingo low blows Woods with his leg and the ref doesn’t see. He hits a DDT and a neckbreaker for a 2 count.
- They spill to the outside, where Woods whips Flamingo into the steps. Woods grabs his trombone and plays loudly in Flamingo’s ears, causing Flamingo to plug his ears and run from Woods straight into the ring post.
- Back in the ring, Woods tries for Lost in the Woods, but Flamingo rolls away and catches Woods in a small package with his legs on the ropes. The ref doesn’t see as Flamingo gets the win in 13:29 and will advance to face the winner of tonight’s main event between Kenny Omega and Kofi Kingston.
Alexa Bliss and the Beautiful People come out to the ring next. Bliss reveals a TBS Championship redesign with a pink strap and calls it the most beautiful belt in professional wrestling. Bliss says that Sasha Banks wants a shot at regaining the title, but rematches aren’t given. They’re earned.
Bliss also introduces Madison Rayne, who she says will defeat Kris Statlander next week and will go on to win the Owen Hart Cup.
—
Match 2 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Men’s)
Hernandez (3-1) vs. Kevin Nash (3-1)
- This is a big-man hoss fight with both men slugging it out with each other. Nash gets Hernandez to the corner, where he splashes into him and then hits snake eyes. Hernandez ducks a big boot and hits a monster German suplex.
- Hernandez hits a shoulder block and a diving splash from the top rope for 2.
- Later, Hernandez tries for the Border Toss, but Nash gets out of it with a back elbow, followed by a sidewalk slam. Nash hits the Jackknife Powerbomb for the pinfall victory at 9:20, and he will go on to face the winner of Jon Moxley vs. Solo Sikoa.
The Elite are out to the ring next. Kenny Omega pumps up the Young Bucks’ big win over the Usos and admits that he’s a little bit disappointed about his double countout with Roman Reigns. He’ll get back to Roman soon enough, but right now he’s focused on Kofi Kingston tonight. He and Kofi are going to prove why Omega is known as “The Best Bout Machine,” and then Omega is going to blast his way through the rest of the tournament.
—
Match 3 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Women’s)
Britt Baker (5-2) vs. Serena Deeb (10-9)
- The match starts with a handshake and quickly goes into a series of chain wrestling maneuvers, before they break apart and nod their appreciation at each other.
- Baker gets early control, hitting a sling blade and fisherman’s neckbreaker.
- Deeb fights back with a vertical suplex and dragon screw before locking in an armbar, which Baker breaks at the ropes.
- They stand and Baker hits a superkick, followed by a swinging neckbreaker. Baker tries for her curb stomp, but Deeb dodges and hits a backslide for a nearfall.
- After some more back-and-forth, Deeb goes for the Serenity Lock, but Baker counters with a rollup for a nearfall of her own.
- The women stand in the middle of the ring and exchange punches until Baker finally blocks a punch from Deeb and sticks her hand in Deeb’s mouth for the Lockjaw. Deeb tries fighting out of it, but eventually gets taken down to the mat. Deeb lasts a long time, but eventually taps out at a match time of 16:29. She will face the winner of Brandi Rhodes and Tay Melo in the second round.
Match 4 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Men’s)
Jon Moxley (6-5) vs. Solo Sikoa (2-0)
- The match spills to the outside early, where Mox slams Sikoa into the barricade and the announce table. Sikoa hits a Samoan Drop on the floor and rolls Mox back in the ring.
- Sikoa keeps up the offensive with a spinebuster and a headbutt, followed by a running powerslam for a 2 count.
- Mox dodges the Samoan spike and hits the Paradigm Shift out of nowhere for the pinfall victory at 8:11. Mox will face Kevin Nash in round 2.
Match 5 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Women’s)
Brandi Rhodes (5-12) vs. Tay Melo (18-5) w/ Sammy Guevara
Melo dominates in quick fashion with the Tay KO for the win in 2:39. She will face Baker in the second round.
Following the match, Mankind appears on the big screen. He’s in a dark room. “Sammy, you talk an awful lot about wanting to be respected. About how you’re the Spanish God and the future of this business. Then you turn around and use your diamond ring to cheat and keep your championship. Which got me thinking: I am used to being hurt; being abused. You can’t put me through anything that I haven’t already put myself through. You previously expressed a desire to defeat the third and final Face of Foley. It’s time to put your money and your title where your mouth is. Sammy Guevara and Mankind, no disqualifications for the TNT Championship.”
Guevara sneers at the screen and storms off with Melo.
—
Before the final match of the show, Roman Reigns comes out for guest commentary. He talks about the Bloodline’s setbacks at Winter is Coming, and vows that the Bloodline is going to get their wins back against the Elite and prove that they are the top faction in AEW. Heyman notes that the table isn’t looking quite as strong here in AEW without him behind the scenes. Reigns replies that they ended The Apex; they’re going to prove they are truly elite; and by 2025, the Bloodline will be in their true spot at the top of the company.
Match 6 - Owen Hart Cup 1st Round (Men’s)
Kenny Omega (7-2) vs. Kofi Kingston (3-4)
- Omega takes control early on, hitting a series of chops, kicks and suplexes, followed by a V-Trigger for a nearfall.
- Kingston fights back with the Boom Drop, the SOS and the Trouble in Paradise. After that, the Young Bucks ran out and distracted the ref…only for the Usos to run out and exchange blows with the Bucks!
- Omega regains the upper hand. He hits a snap dragon suplex on the floor, followed by a One-Winged Angel on the ring apron, leaving Kingston in a heap.
- Omega rolls Kingston back into the ring and covers him, but Kingston miraculously kicks out at two, shocking Omega and the crowd. Omega then goes for another One-Winged Angel, but Kingston counters with a DDT.
- Kingston mounts a comeback, hitting a series of strikes and a springboard crossbody for a close 2 count. He goes for another Trouble in Paradise, but Omega ducks and hits a reverse rana.
- Omega then hits another V-Trigger, followed by a second One-Winged Angel, this time in the center of the ring. He hooks the leg and gets the three count and the win following a 22-minute match.
After the match, Reigns gets in the ring for a stare down with Omega as the show ends with an updated look at the tournament brackets:
Men’s Tournament
Women’s Tournament
Next week on Collision:
The Owen Hart Cup 1st Round continues:
Wardlow vs. Jeff Jarrett
Hook vs. Bad Ass Billy Gunn
Sabu vs. Dean Malenko
Miro vs. Rob Van Dam
Paige VanZant vs. Willow Nightingale
Kris Statlander vs. Madison Rayne
Current "Big Collision Event" Card (Jan. 20):
AEW World Championship match: Cody Rhodes vs. Malakai Black - 3 stages of Hell
UWA Women's Championship Eliminator match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Michelle McCool