Post by sethisthegoat on Jan 12, 2024 9:24:30 GMT -5
AEW Collision
Jan. 13, 2024
We open with highlights from last week’s first round of the Owen Hart Cup tournament, which saw Jon Moxley, Kevin Nash, Kenny Omega and Scotty Flamingo win among the men; and Britt Baker and Tay Melo win for the women.
This week’s commentary team is Taz and Pat McAfee, as Paul Heyman is accompanying Wardlow to the ring…and Wardlow vs. Jeff Jarrett is starting off tonight’s show.
Match 1 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Men’s)
Wardlow (3-0) w/ Paul Heyman vs. Jeff Jarrett (12-6)
Wardlow makes his entrance first. While he and Heyman stand in the ring, Jarrett’s music hits, but nobody comes out. Wardlow places his hands on his hips and looks annoyed as someone else walks out from backstage, holding an acoustic guitar.
“My name is Elias, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to perform for you all tonight. I know, Mr. Wardlow, that this isn't what you wanted. But when Jeff Jarrett called me to offer me the chance to sing in front of a national audience, I couldn’t pass it up.” As he’s talking, Jarrett crawls out from under the ring with his own acoustic guitar and slides in the ring. He taps Wardlow on the shoulder, and the big man turns into an acoustic guitar shot to his head. Heyman scatters as Wardlow drops to his knees. Jarrett yells at the ref to ring the bell, as Elias slinks off the stage, dejected.
Jarrett goes straight for the Stroke…but Wardlow powers out, spins around and grabs Jarrett by the throat, hitting a big chokeslam. He follows it up with a Powerbomb Symphony…hitting 5 powerbombs before finally pinning Jarrett at a match time of about 40 seconds. Wardlow will face the winner of RVD and Miro, which is tonight’s main event.
Heyman slides in the ring and tells Wardlow to get rid of the trash before he grabs a mic. Wardlow tosses Jarrett from the ring before standing stoically behind Heyman.
Heyman: “Ladies and gentlemen, feast your eyes on Wardlow, the soon-to-be winner of the Owen Hart Cup. He is the most dominant, unstoppable force in AEW today. I might even say that he could soon earn a spot at the head of the table.”
Wardlow heads to the back, while Heyman joins Taz and McAfee on commentary to scout the tournament and evaluate wrestlers as future “Heyman guys and gals.”
—
Match 2 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Men’s)
Hook (20-5) vs. Bad Ass Billy Gunn (0-0)
- Hook tries controlling things early, but Gunn uses his length to keep Hook at-bay. Hook runs at him, but Gunn counters with a Tilt-a-whirl slam before locking in a chickenwing
- Hook gets to the ropes, then hits an uppercut and a dropkick, before locking in a single-leg crab.
- After some more back-and-forth, Hook eventually gets the win with the REDRUM in 8:40. Taz gives him a standing ovation from the announce desk. Hook will face the winner of Sabu and Dean Malenko in round 2.
The Bloodline comes out next to cheers from the crowd. Reigns has the mic and stares directly at Heyman. “For the past two weeks, you’ve been making some snide remarks directed at me. You’re apparently unhappy with the way I’ve been leading my family recently. From where I sit, you’re just hitching your wagon to the next person you think can help you stay relevant. Wardlow, I know you’re watching in the back: Be wary of anything this man tells you. He’s using you, and he’ll discard you when he wants to move on to the next person.
“Now, I’ve got some other business to attend to. Kenny Omega. You and I fought to a double countout a few weeks ago. And your pet tag team somehow defeated my cousins. The way I see it, The Elite are up 1-0 against the Bloodline. And that doesn’t sit well with me. I know you’re a little busy with the tournament right now, but we’ll be here waiting for you when you inevitably lose.”
—
Match 3 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Women’s)
Kris Statlander (6-1) vs. Madison Rayne (11-7) w/ The Beautiful People
Statlander dominates Rayne for much of the match, but Bliss, Love and Sky of the Beautiful People are constant distractions outside the ring, eventually allowing Rayne to get the win after a CrossRaynes at 8:31. She will face the winner of Paige VanZant and Willow Nightingale.
—
Sasha Banks comes out after the match, clapping. She tells Bliss that she still wants a rematch for the TBS Title, and she can earn it. Next week, at the Big Collision Event? Banks is teaming up with Beth Phoenix against Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey. “And when I deliver your Bank Statement, I’ll be coming straight back for the TBS Championship.” Bliss looks on angrily, stomping her feet.
—
Match 4 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Men’s)
Sabu (2-2) vs. Dean Malenko (13-13) w/ Jake Hager
Malenko and Sabu start with a lock-up, then Malenko quickly applies a wristlock. Sabu tries to counter with a headlock, but Malenko escapes and hits a dropkick. Pin attempt gets 1.
Malenko whips Sabu into the ropes, but Sabu reverses and sends Malenko into the corner. Sabu charges at him, but Malenko moves out of the way and hits him with a clothesline. Malenko climbs to the top rope and hits a diving elbow drop. He covers Sabu for a nearfall.
Malenko tries for a Double Underhook Powerbomb, but Sabu fights back and pushes him off. Sabu hits Malenko with a big boot to the face. He follows up with a running knee strike to the head. He covers Malenko for a nearfall.
Sabu gets up and looks for another move, but he is stopped by Hager, who runs in from behind and hits him with a low blow while Malenko is talking to the ref. Hager slides out of the ring and Malenko pounces, hitting Sabu with an Exploding Gutbuster to get the win at 11:48. Malenko will face Hook in round 2.
—
Promo for next week’s Big Collision Event, headlines by the 3 Stages of Hell World Championship Match between Cody Rhodes and Malakai Black. Taz mentions that the main event will be presented without commercial interruption thanks to sponsor Tekken 8, which releases on January 26.
—
Match 5 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Women’s)
Paige VanZant (17-7) vs. Willow Nightingale (8-7)
The former AEW Women’s Champion in VanZant works hard against Nightingale, who has the strength advantage. VanZant uses her MMA skills to work Nightingale down, eventually locking in an armbar. Nightingale is able to roll her over and get a nearfall.
VanZant tries for an enziguri, but Nightingale ducks and hits a spinebuster, followed by the Dangerous Babe Bomb (gutwrench powerbomb) and gets another nearfall.
VanZant fights back, eventually going for the Pedigree, but Nightingale stands and flips her over. She tosses VanZant into the corner and hits a Cannonball (flipping senton into VanZant’s chest), then a Fisherman’s suplex sets her up for a moonsault off the top rope! Nightingale gets the pinfall and the biggest win of her young career in 9:32. She’ll face Madison Rayne in round 2.
—
Match 6 - 1st Round of the Owen Hart Cup (Men’s)
Miro (4-1) vs. Rob Van Dam (5-3)
- RVD uses his speed and agility to dodge Miro’s power moves, and RVD springboards off the ropes to hit a corkscrew hurricanrana that takes Miro down, before RVD heads to the top rope for an elbow drop.
- RVD sends Miro to the corner and hits a running knee strike that knocks him down. RVD goes for the cover, but Miro kicks out at two. Rob picks up Miro and slams him on the mat, then applies a chinlock. Miro struggles to break free, but RVD tightens his grip.
- Miro fights back with elbows and punches, then rolls out of the chinlock and hits a Machka Kick that stuns RVD. He follows up a DDT with a standing moonsault that gets 2.
- Miro gets frustrated and argues with the referee, allowing RVD to recover. The veteran gets on a roll, hitting the Windmill Kick to knock Miro to the ground and following that up with Rolling Thunder. RVD with the Five-Star Frog Splash! 1…2…No! Miro kicks out.
- Both men stand and RVD tries a kick to the midsection that Miro catches and responds with a monster clothesline. Miro then locks in Game Over in the middle of the ring. RVD struggles for a while, but eventually has to tap out, after a 23-minute match. Miro will face Wardlow in round 2 of the Owen Hart Cup.
Taz, Heyman and McAfee play up next week’s Big Collision Event and note that round 2 of the Owen Hart Cup will begin in 2 weeks on Collision.
Men's Bracket
Women's Bracket
Current "Big Collision Event" Card (Jan. 20):
AEW World Championship match: Cody Rhodes vs. Malakai Black - 3 stages of Hell (No Countouts; Tables; Buried Alive)
UWA Women's Championship Eliminator match: Jade Cargill (c) vs. Michelle McCool
TNT Championship: Sammy Guevara © vs. Mankind - Steel Cage Match, pinfalls and submissions only
Alexa Bliss and Ronda Rousey vs. Beth Phoenix and Sasha Banks
Next PPV: Revolution on Feb. 25