Welcome to the Fightful.com live discussion & coverage for the 6/17/2023 edition of AEW Collision on TNT.
We will bring full results and breakdowns for every match and segment on the show. Follow Fightful on https://Twitter.com/Fightful and http://Facebook.com/FIGHTFULONLINE
Here's what is set for the show.
Preview.
- CM Punk & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Samoa Joe & Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson).
- CM Punk speaks.
- TNT Championship Match: Wardlow (c) vs. Luchasaurus (w/ Christian Cage).
- Miro in Action.
- Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale vs. The Outcasts (Toni Storm & Ruby Soho).
- Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo.
- The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn will speak.
Live Coverage.
- Nigel McGuinness & Kevin Kelly welcomed the audience to the broadcast before transitioning into the opening segment.
- After a nine-month absence, CM Punk made his long-awaited return to AEW by walking to the ring with his boots hanging on his neck and bringing in a small red bag. Punk said he was tired of being friendly, but said that as long as he was here it was the Professional Wrestling Business. CM Punk said that before addressing the future, he wanted to first talk about the past by saying that if someone had told 15-year-old him that he would fill out every arena in Chicago, he would not believe it. Punk said that he loves the fans because they love him for the way he is, saying that he would not have been able to do it without them; however, Punk noted that there are some people who hated him because of who he was, saying that his mere presence can make people uncomfortable before declaring that he was the truth and the truth can be scary.
Punk said that they could him any name they want because the Warner Bros CEO calls him "One Bil Phil" because he was the genuine article before declaring that the king is back and that he had a lot of things to get off his chest. Punk said that he would always speak truth to power & never comprise before addressing to those that "wanted an apology". Punk said that he was sorry that they were softer that wanted an apology were the wrestlers they like. Punk held the bag up and said that they would have to beat him to take what was on the bag before holding the boots up and saying that he would not be forced to drop the boots.
- There was a video package recapping the feud between Wardlow & Luchasaurus ahead of their match for the TNT Championship.
TNT Championship Match.
Wardlow (c) vs. Luchasaurus (w/ Christian Cage).
The two heavyweights locked up to begin the opening contest. The two exchanged shoulder blocks before Wardlow hit a dropkick on Luchasaurus to send him to the outside. Luchasaurus & Cage talked strategy on the outside, but Wardlow attacked Luchasaurus at ringside before chasing down Cage. Wardlow tried to pull Cgae from under the ring before attacking Luchasaurus again. As Wardlow did a box jump into the apron, Cage pulled Wardlow's foot to allow Luchasaurus to boot Wardlow off the apron. Back in the ring, Luchasaurus hit an Irish Whip into a Thrust Kick on Wardlow before hitting a body slam for a near fall. Luchasaurus locked in a neck twist on Wardlow before doing a choke on Wardlow onto the mat. Luchasaurus hit Wadlwo with a kick to the ribs before stomping his head. Luchasaurus hit a crossface strike on Wardlow before catching him with a kick to Wardlow's neck. Luchasaurus continued to dominate proceedings before hitting a Release Back Suplex on Wardlow for a near fall.
Back from the break, Luchasaurus locked in a neck twist on Wardlow, but Wardlow got out of the hold by hitting an Electric Chair Slam on Luchasaurus. Wardlow drove his shoulders on Luchasaurus in the corner before leaping over him and hitting another Shoulder block into a Spinebuster. Wardlow climbed to the top rope, but was briefly distracted by Cage to allow Luchasaurus to move the rope and hitting a One-Hand Chokeslam on Wardlow for a near fall. Luchasaurus went for another Chokeslam on Wardlow, but Wardlow bit Luchasaurus's hand. The two exchanged headbutts before Wardlow hit a Swinging Lariat on Luchasaurus. Wardlow hit a Powerbomb on Luchasaurus, which made Cage to lose it at ringside and grab a chair. Wardlow taunted Cage before rolling Luchasaurus for another Powebomb, but Luchasaurus popped back up and hit a Chokeslam on Wardlow for a near fall. Luchasaurus went for a Powerslam on Wardlow, but Wardlow rolled over and hit a Powerslam on Luchasaurus before climbing to the top rope and hitting a Swanton Bomb on Luchasaurus. Wardlwo fired away with punches, but Luchasaurus escaped before Cage smashed a Camera onto Wardlow's head. This allowed Luchasaurus to hit a Reverse Lariat on Wardlow for the pinfall win.
Winner AND NEW TNT Champion: Luchasaurus.
- QT Marshall & Powerhouse Hobbs were interviewed backstage to reveal that Powerhouse Hobbs was officially announcing Hobbs would be the first entrant of the Owen Hart Cup.
Buddy Matthews (w/ Julia Hart of The House of Black) vs. Andrade El Idolo.
The two locked up before Matthews hit a shoulder block on Andrade's previously injured pec. Andrade got a headlock on Matthews before hitting a shoulder block on Matthews. The two exchanged head lock & head scissor locks before the two had a staredown. Andrade hit a shoulder tackle on Matthews before running the ropes again and trapping in the web. Matthews was sent flying by Andrade before catching him with a dropkick on the outside. As Andrade argued with Hart on the outside, Andrade hit a pump kick on Matthews before catching him with a Cartwheel Moonsault on Matthews off the apron. The two continued to brawl on the outside before Andrade hit the Hurricanrana on Matthews off the barricade. Back in the ring, Andrade got a near fall on Matthews before climbing to the top rope, but Matthews evaded before slamming Andrade's shoulder into he ring post before tossing him into the barricade. Back in the ring, Matthews got to the top rope and hit the Diving Meteora for a near fall.
During the break, Matthews was checked by AEW Medical due to a bad landing in his knee while the medical staff double-checked on Andrade's previously injured shoulder as the crowd chanted "LET'S GO DOCTORS!" To keep the match going. The two wrestlers got back up and were cleared to compete before exchanging punches before Matthews slammed Andrande's shoulder right onto the mat. Outside of the ring, Matthews tossed Andrade into the barricade to lay him out for the count-out. Back from the commercial break, Andrade got help from a child in the crowd before rolling back into the ring. Matthews continued to boot Andrade in the face to taunt the former NXT Champion, but Andrade responded by hitting three Dragon Screws and a running forearm on Matthews followed by a kip-up. Andrade went for the Figure Four, but Matthews pushed him off but Andrade responded by hitting a Double-Moonsault on Matthews for a near fall. Andrade got Matthews for the Three Amigos, but Matthews tossed Andrade into he apron before hitting a Draping DDT on Andrade for a near fall. Matthews climbed to the top rope, but Andrade caught him with a chop before meeting him up. Matthews went for a Susnet Flip, but Matthews's knee gave away. Matthews recomposed and hit two thrust kicks before attempting a Powerbomb on Andrade, but Matthews's knee gave away again. Andrade hit a Back Elbow on Matthews before going for the Bull's Horns, but Matthews caught him with a Claymore for a near fall. Matthews locked in the Reverse Clover Leaf on Matthews, but Andrade tossed Matthews into the corner with the Tijeras before locking in the Figure Four.Matthews tried to get to the ropes, but Andrade stopped that by transitioning the hold into the Figure Eight for the submission win.
Winner: Andrade El Idolo.
- After the match, Andrade tried to adhere to the code of honor with Matthews, but Matthews pushed him off. Andrade extended his hand again, but the lights went out. The lights came back on to reveal Malakai Black & Brody King behind Andrade. King caught Andrade with a vicious lariat as The House of Black started the attack on Andrade before the lights went back out.
- There was a video package of Scorpio Sky ahead of his AEW Return, calling himself the present & future of AEW.
- Tony Nese & "Smart" Mark Sterling hosted a Group Training for the Chicago Crowd because he believed he would help the "fat people" from the crowd. The session was interrupted by Miro ahead of their match.
Miro vs. Tony Nese (w/ "Smart" Mark Sterling).
Nes immediately rolled out of the ring and did some jumping jacks to evade Miro. Nese leaped over Miro before hitting him with a chop, but Miro was not amused. Back in the ring, Miro fired away with stomps and jabs on Nese before slamming Nese with an Irish Whip into a lariat. Miro then hi the 10 Betas of the Battering on Nese, but Nese reversed it with a Stunner into the rope before hitting a bulldog on Miro into he top rope. Nese went for a Diving Crossbody, but Miro caught him mid-air before hitting a Fall-Away Slam on Nese. Miro hit a jab on Sterling, but this allowed Nese to hit a Schoolboy into a Spinning Heel Kick on Miro. Nese continued to fire away with strikes on Miro, but Miro caught him with a Uranage before hitting the Running Thrust Kick on Nese. Miro finished the proceedings by locking in the "Game Over" Camel Clutch for the submission win.
Winner: Miro.
- There was a video package of CM Punk ahead of his in-ring return later in the night.
Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale vs. The Outcasts (Toni Storm & Ruby Soho).
Soho & Storm immediately attacked Blue & Willow on the outside. Storm & Soho confronted Mama Blue on the outside, but Mama hit them with consecutive slaps before Willow hit a POUNCE on Soho into the barricade.
The match officially began with Willow hitting a series of short-hand lariats on Soho, but Soho responded with an STO on Willow thanks to some assistance from Storm. Storm & Soho double-teamed Willow in the corner, with Storm locking in a Camel Clutch on Willow before stomping Willow's back. Soho tagged back in and stomped away on Willow in the corner. Willow went for a Schoolboy, but Soho kicked out before catching her with a back elbow. Storm tagged back in and fired away with stomps on Willow.
Back from the break, Soho went for a suplex on Willow, but Willow dropped ger weight and hit a Lariat on Soho before Storm & Blue tagged in. Blue fired way with forearm strikes on Storm before catching her with the Tijeras, the Rising Knee Strikes, a spinning roundhouse kick, a kick to the head, and a diving crossbody on Storm for a near fall, thanks to Soho breaking the pin. Willow hit a Spinebuster on Soho, but Sotrm got Willow with a SHotgun Dropkick before locking in the Texas Cloverleaf on Blue. Blue crawled across the ring and got a rope break before tagging in Willow. Willow got Storm and hit an Angle Slam before going for the Doctor Bomb, but Soho caught her with the No Future Kick. Blue tagged back in, but Storm caught her with a Tornado DDT and a Hip Attack on Blue. Soho tagged in and went for a Flat Liner on Blue while Storm had the Green Spray-Paint, but Willow interfered to make Storm accidentally spray-paint Soho in the head. Willow hit Storm with a Death Valley Driver before Blue hit a Code Blue on Soho for the pinfall win.
Winners: Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue.
- Ricky Starks declared that he was entering the 2023 Owen Hart Cup.
- Jeff Jarrett revealed that he and Mark Briscoe would wrestle each other in a Concession Stand Brawl on AEW Dynamite.
- "Daddy Ass" Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) came to the ring for an interview with Tony Schiavone. Gunn said that the Trios Titles were not out of their view before Bowens claimed that AEW now stood for both "Acclaimed Every Wednesday" and "Acclaimed Every Weekend" as they would be in both Collision & Dynamite. The Acclaimed, Gunn & Schiavone scissored after the promo.
CM Punk & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. Samoa Joe & Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson).
Jim Ross joined the broadcast team for the Main Event of AEW Collision.
The Main Event of Collision's debut episode began with White & Dax locking up before Dax leaned White into the corner. Thew two locked up again before Dax hit a shoulder tackle and an O'Connor Roll on White for a near fall, but White responded with a vicious chop. Dax & White exchanged chops in the corner before Dax hit a giant back drop on White. Dax hit a lariat on White followed by hitting an Irish Whip into a lariat in the opposite corner, and a lariat on White before going for the Sharpshooter, but White rolled out of the ring. "ROCK HARD" Juice Robinson tagged in and laid in the forearm strikes on Dax, but Dax responded with two chops before Cahs tagged in and hit dropkicks on both White & Robinson. Robinson locked in a headlock on Cash, but Cash got out of the hold and hit a shoulder tackle on Juice, but Juice responded with a body slam. Juice hit two shoulder tackles on Cash, but Cash responded with a Military Press Slam on Juice. CMFTR triple-teamed Robinson before hitting him with an Assisted Avalanche Powerslam on Juice for a near fall. CM Punk went for the GTS on Juice, but Juice evaded into the corner before Samoa Joe tagged back in. The two former rivals in ROH locked eyes before Joe backed Punk into the corner before hitting him with three vicious chops on Punk.
Punk hit a chop and locked in a headlock takeover on Joe before hitting a knee drop for a near fall. Dx tagged in and hit a chop on Joe, but Joe shrugged it off and hit a chop on Dax. The two bruisers exchanged nasty chops before Joe hit a series of Toe kicks and a chop on Dax, but Dax continued to hit chops on Joe. Dax hit a line on Joe, but Joe responded with a vicious lariat before White tagged in and got two near falls on Dax. White & Juice double-teamed Dax in the corner before Juice hit an Irish Whip on Dax for a near fall. Juice locked in a chin lock on Dax, but Dax got out of the hold and ran the ropes, but Juice caught him with a vicious left-hand jab on Da. Joe tagged back in and laid in a series of jabs and stomps on Dax in the corner before White tagged back in. White hit a chop on Dax before Juice tagged back in and hit an Ax-Handle on Dax. Juice went for a suplex on Dax, but Dax side-stepped and hit a German Suplex before tagging in Cash. Cash hit two lariats on Juice, a knee lift on White, two uppercuts & a sunset flip on Juice for a near fall. Cash ran the ropes and hit a vicious Shooter Powerslam on Juice for a near fall. CM Punk tagged back in for himself & Cash to hit a Back-breaker/ Elbow Drop combo on Juice for a near fall. Punk hit a Back breaker on Juice before Cash tagged back in and hit a Springboard Leg Drop on Juice for a near fall. Juice rolled out of the ring to get a breather, but Cash caught him with a sliding dropkick on the outside. White distracted Cash to allow Juice to slam Cash into the ring post. Back in the ring, Joe got a Neck Twist on Cash before catching him with a back elbow.
White tagged back in and locked in a Single Leg Crab before Cash got a rope break. Juice tagged back in and hit a body slam into a leaping senton on Cash for a near fall. Cash tried to tag someone in, but Juice got him with a back suplex for a near fall. Juice slammed Cash into the corner with an Irish Whip before tagging in Joe. Joe fired away with body shots on Cash before slamming him with an Irish Whip into a corner SPlash and a Pele Kick for a near fall, broken up by CM Punk. White & Juice continued to double-team on Cash, but Cash hit a back suplex on Juice. White tagged in and pulled Cash's legs, but Cash leaped and tagged in Punk. Punk laid in jabs & body slams on both White & Juice before hitting a dropkick on White and twisting neck breakers on both Juice & White. Punk hit Rising Knee Strikes on WHite & Juice before catching them with a Bulldog/ Lariat combo on White & Juice. Punk went for the GTS, but White racked Punk's eyes. White pointed his finger gun on Punk, but punk caught him with a roundhouse ick. Punk climbed to the top rope, but Juice sweeped Punk's legs to drop him to allow White to hit a Uranage on Punk for a near fall. White went for the Blade Runner, but Punk caught him with the Pepsi Punge. Dax, Cash & Punk hit a Superplex, a Frog Splash & an Elbow Drop on White for punk to get the pin, but Juice to dove to break the pin. Joe tagged back in and immediately exchanged strikes with Punk, but White blindsighted Punk form behind. FTR attacked Bullet Club as Joe & Punk were in the ring. Punk hit a Rising Knee Strike on Joe before going for the GTS, but Joe floated over Punk and locked in the Coquina Clutch on Punk. Dax. &Cash tried to make the save, but White & Juice held them back. Dax & Cash finally evaded before Dax broke Joe's hold. Juice tagged in and went for a DDT, but Punk caught him with a Roundhouse Kick. FTR hit the Big Rig on Juice before Punk hit the GTS on Juice for the pinfall win. CMFTR stood tall to end the broadcast.
Winners: CM Punk & FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler).
- Check out the post-show podcast for a full review of the show on Fightful's YouTube & Twitch channels. You can check Fightful's Results Section here.
