AEW Collision Review - September 9, 2023

By Graham "GSM" Matthews

AEW International Champion Jon Moxley def. Action Andretti

Moxley just beat AR Fox to retain the title on Wednesday's Dynamite and even Fox felt like more of a threat to the title than Andretti, who has been relegated to Ring of Honor for the better part of the year despite defeating Chris Jericho clean at Winter Is Coming last year. The follow-up with him has been nearly nonexistent. This was a well-worked match, but it wasn't too shocking that the crowd favored Moxley over Andretti. 

AEW TBS Champion Kris Statlander def. Robyn Renegade

Statlander also had an open challenge on Wednesday's Dynamite, so this was unnecessary as well, especially with her opponent being so low on the totem pole. At least it was a simple squash for Statlander that seemed to only exist so Jade Cargill could return afterward and lay everyone out. We haven't seen her since she lost to Statlander at Double or Nothing in May and now their rematch is inevitable.

Bullet Club Gold (Juice Robinson and The Gunns) def. Dios del Inframundo, Aerostar and Gravity

Jay White and Metalik were scheduled to be involved, but the bout was changed shortly before the show went on the air. It was still a standard showcase for Bullet Club Gold without him. I wasn't originally high on White having a faction (especially with ties to the tired Bullet Club), but they've grown on me and have developed strong chemistry together. It was cool to see Inframundo, the former Drago from Lucha Underground.

Rey Fenix def. Angelico

Yes, Angelico is still on the AEW roster, though he primarily competes alongside the rest of Spanish Announce Project on ROH TV. He's a skilled worker, but it's impossible to care about the guy at this point as he's been nothing but an enhancement talent since AEW started. He and Fenix had a nice little sprint, but this probably should have been shorter and more one-sided in favor of Fenix, who is looking for revenge on Jon Moxley for "injuring" him a few weeks ago and taking him out of All In.

Roderick Strong def. Darby Allin in a Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament Semifinal Match

Allin already had a hurt back from the Coffin match at All In, but Luchasaurus attacking him before this bout made it even more obvious that Strong was winning. Even still, this was a great match. Allin sold extremely well throughout and Strong's offense looked even more brutal as a result. I'd be down for a rematch down the road because they had strong chemistry. Given his ongoing angle with MJF and Adam Cole, Strong had to advance here. 

Ricky Starks and Big Bill Attacked Blackpool Combat Club

The big announcement coming out of this segment from Bryan Danielson was that he teased retirement because he wants to be home with his kids more, but it sounded like he'll be wrapping up his full-time schedule within the next year. Get the most out of him while you can, Tony Khan! That starts with Zack Sabre Jr. at WrestleDream, which has been overdue since it had to be bumped from Forbidden Door last year due to an injury to Danielson. The rest of this segment was terrific with Danielson praising Starks, who attacked Danielson, anyway. That led to Moxley making the save and he'll defend the International title against Big Bill next week on Dynamite.

ROH World Television Champion Samoa Joe def. Penta El Zero Miedo in a Grand Slam World Title Eliminator Tournament Semifinal Match (Non-Title)

This was even more obvious that Strong vs. Allin coming off Joe's face-off with MJF on Dynamite this week, but I'm not complaining that we got this match because it was fresh and they had a fun main event. Joe walking away while Penta leapt through a table was a wonderful spot. Although they're both heels, Joe vs. Strong is the best possible match they can do in the finals of this tournament because either guy could believably face MJF at Grand Slam for the AEW World Championship.

Overall Show

This felt like the most Dynamite edition of Collision yet in terms of its pacing and there being what felt like a million vignettes in between the matches. The pacing of Collision was its strong suit, so fingers crossed it doesn't become Dynamite 2.0 with CM Punk gone. I didn't love this episode as there was more filler than usual, but at the two tournament matches were enjoyable and I liked the latest development with Danielson and Starks.

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