AEW Collision Review - August 5, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR def. Big Bill and ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Champion Brian Cage

FTR continue to prove why they’re the best tag team in the world with matches like this. Bill and Cage obviously aren’t a regular tandem, but they’ve worked wonderfully together this past month and had strong chemistry with FTR here. This was a very enjoyable opener, even if the outcome was never in doubt. Post-match, FTR challenged The Young Bucks to a rubber match for the titles at All Out. Sure, it came out of nowhere, but it’s obviously worthy of the massive stage at Wembley Stadium for All In.

AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander def. Mercedes Martinez

Beyond that one win Martinez picked up over Kiera Hogan last week on Collision, Martinez has barely been on AEW programming this year, so I can’t blame the crowd for the quiet reaction to the match. Nonetheless, it was well wrestled while it lasted. Martinez and Diamante attacked Statlander afterward before Willow Nightingale made the save. I’m glad to see all of these women getting television time.

ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe def. Serpentico (Non-Title)

Joe beat Gravity in a matter of minutes last week and this was even quicker. It was a total squash as it should have been and I’m happy he’s being kept strong. He then called out CM Punk for a rematch at All In, and if that’s made official, that’s another excellent addition to the card. I was disappointed Punk finally beat Joe a few weeks ago, but at least they’re going back to it. Now the key is getting them both in the ring with mics in their hand.

AEW World Trios Champions House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews) def. Darius Martin, Action Andretti and Lee Johnson in an Open House Rules Match

I realize it’s part of the Open House Rules for any three wrestlers to form a trio and challenge for the AEW World Trios Championship, but it feels lazy that actual trios aren’t being built up to face them. I realize they’ve defended against The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn twice and will face CM Punk and FTR next week, but a win like this doesn’t mean much considering Martin, Andretti and Johnson are essentially enhancement talent. That said, it was a fun sprint with House of Black going over decisively.

Jay White def. Metalik

White was having competitive matches when he first came into the company and I couldn’t understand why. He needed more showcase victories like what we got here. I like Metalik, but we never see him on AEW TV and it would have been the wrong call for this to be any longer than it was. I’m all for White reentering the singles ranks while Juice Robinson and The Gunns do their thing in the tag team division.

"Real World Champion" CM Punk def. Ricky Starks (Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat Served as Special Guest Enforcer)

Punk’s supposed “real world championship” isn’t a sanctioned title to my my knowledge, hence the quotes. It’ll probably be a while until we get him against MJF in a unification match, so we’ll have to get used to this in the meantime. The match itself was terrific and even better than their first encounter. They received plenty of time and Steamboat played his role well. He even sold those whippings from Starks afterward exceptionally well. Their feud isn’t over, but maybe the rubber match will be saved for All Out in Chicago if Punk vs. Joe is happening at All In.

Overall Show

Collision had the tough task of going up against WWE SummerSlam and I appreciate that AEW didn’t phone it in like they easily could have. We got four title matches (if we’re counting the main event), above-average action and some newsworthy All In announcements. It’s about time the card started taking shape. This was another stellar show from Collision, even if the ratings don’t end up reflecting it due to the competition.

SEE MORE: Collision Reviews