It’s Saturday night, and you know what that means …
All Elite Wrestling returns on TNT at 8/7c from the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. with their annual “Holiday Bash” themed episode of AEW Collision.
On tap for tonight’s show is The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti for the AEW Trios titles, Brian Cage vs. Keith Lee, Thunder Rosa & Abadon vs. Julia Hart & Skye Blue, the response from Christian Cage to Adam Copeland’s challenge, as well as Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli, Brody King vs. Daniel Garcia and Eddie Kingston vs. Andrade El Idolo in AEW Continental Classic Tournament matches.
Featured below are complete AEW Collision: Holiday Bash results from Saturday, December 23, 2023. The following report was written by PWMania.com reporter Matt Boone (@MattBoone0709) as the show aired live from 8-10pm EST. on TNT.
AEW COLLISION RESULTS (12/23/2023)
The show kicks off immediately with a live shot inside the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, TX. as Bryan Danielson’s theme hits.
AEW Continental Classic Tournament
Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Out comes “The American Dragon” with his eye patch on for our opening contest. The commentators give us a look at the updated tourney standings as Danielson settles in the ring for this inner-BCC showdown.
Fellow Blackpool Combat Club member Claudio Castagnoli’s theme hits next and out he comes looking all business as well. He settles in the ring and his music dies down. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this tournament tilt.
The two mix it up early on and then Claudio gets Danielson’s hands down on the mat during a test of strength. Danielson works his way back up and sends Castagnoli back-bridging back. Castagnoli ankle picks his way free and Danielson counters and slaps on an ankle lock of his own, which he turns into a modified surfboard stretch.
Castagnoli starts to take over with some impressive power spots, but his run in the offensive lead doesn’t last long, as Danielson gets him down to the mat and starts using his superior grappling skills to take back over. He knocks Claudio out to the floor and hits a running flying knee to him at ringside.
Back in the ring, we see Danielson take over and blast Claudio with vicious chops in the corner. He hits back-to-back running single-leg drop kicks on Claudio in the corner, but when he goes for the third, Claudio catches his leg and starts hitting the Giant Swing. He goes for the cover but only gets two. Fans chant “This is Awesome!”
Claudio continues to control the offense, blasting Danielson with a big headbutt on the injured eye of his fellow BCC teammate, which knocks “The American Dragon” out to the floor. At ringside, Claudio charges at him and blasts him with a running European uppercut as we head into a mid-match commercial break.
When we return from the break, we see Danielson has Claudio upside down in the tree of woe in the corner of the ring, with Danielson kicking the crap out of him. He gets Castagnoli on the top in the corner and connects with a big belly-to-back suplex.
Danielson hits a spin of his own, an airplane spin, on Castagnoli before dropping him down in his LeBelle Lock. Claudio fights to get to the ropes and ends up getting his boot on the bottom rope. The ref doesn’t see it at first, but eventually does and Danielson has to let go of the hold.
Claudio fights back and hits an Avalanche stalled suplex for a close near fall attempt. The time is running out in this one, as less than five minutes remain in the allotted time for this one. Fans break out into a loud “Fight Forever!” chant. Claudio goes for a Ricola Bomb for Danielson counters with a triangle while in mid-air.
Castagnoli ends up slamming his way out of it. Danielson hits his running knee finisher in the ring for a close near fall attempt, which Castagnoli somehow kicks out of. Now Danielson holds onto Claudio’s hands and stomps the crap out of him. Claudio reverses this, holds onto Danielson’s hands and stomps the crap out of him.
Danielson fights back and they are laying down holding each others hands kicking the hell out of each other. Castagnoli takes over and slaps a Sharpshooter on Danielson as the ring announcer informs us that only one minute remains.
Danielson gets to the ropes but Claudio yanks him to the middle of the ring. Danielson hangs on and the bell sounds. We have a time limit draw. The ring announcer announces that Danielson advances to the Blue League finals.
Time-Limit Draw
AEW Trios Championship
The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass (C) vs. Top Flight & Action Andretti
We see a video package recapping the Gold League, which has a triple-threat between Jon Moxley, Jay White and Swerve Strickland for their side next week. After the video package wraps up, we head into another commercial break.
As we settle back in from the break, we see the team of Top Flight and Action Andretti settling into the ring for our next match of the evening, which features a title on-the-line. The commentators talk about the big run that this three-man team has been on in recent weeks since the return of Dante Martin.
Now the reigning and defending AEW Trios Champions make their way out for this title defense, as The Acclaimed and “Daddy Ass” Billy Gunn settle into the ring. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one. We see Darius Martin and Max Caster kick things off for their respective teams.
We see Top Flight and Action Andretti settle into the early offensive lead and then we shift gears and head into a mid-match commercial break. When we return, we see The Acclaimed take back over after Daddy Ass gets a hot tag and cleans house. Top Flight gets a close near fall but then Caster pulls off the pin and holds the tights out of nowhere to retain.
Winners and STILL AEW Trios Champions: The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass
HOOK Issues A Challenge For AEW Worlds End 2023
We shoot to the streets of Brooklyn, where HOOK comes out on his stoop and pulls the FTW Championship out of a book bag. He challenges Wheeler Yuta to a showdown for the title at AEW Worlds End 2023.
Brian Cage vs. Keith Lee
Back inside the arena, the theme for Brian Cage hits and out comes “The Machine” accompanied by Prince Nana for our next match of the evening. The man who is one-third of the ROH Six-Man Tag-Team Champions settles in the ring and looks ready for action.
After his theme music dies down, the entrance tune for his opponent plays and the crowd in San Antonio erupts as “Limitless” Keith Lee emerges and calmly makes his way down to the ring looking all-business. He settles in the ring, his music fades off and the bell sounds to get this one officially off-and-running.
We hear Prince Nana yelling at Kevin Kelly at ringside when Kelly yells back at him on commentary. We see Cage and Lee lock up and get after it, with Cage slapping on a side head lock. Lee lifts him up but Cage gets his feet back on the mat and sinks in the head lock tighter.
The two each hit the ropes and try and shoulder-smash the other down, but neither man budges. Cage hits a hurricanrana on Lee off the ropes to take him off his feet for the first time in the match. The crowd pops for that. Cage stops and soaks in the atmosphere before the two big boys get back after it.
Lee hits an impressive spot of his own for such a big guy and the crowd loves it. Lee wears a big smile before Cage charges at him and re-engages. Cage takes back over and grounds the big man and then leaps off the ropes with an excellent tornado DDT. We head into a mid-match commercial break on that note.
When we return, we see some more back-and-forth impressive big guy spots and then Prince Nana pulls out a cinder block and slides it into the ring. Before Cage can use it, Lee hits his finisher for the win. After the bout, Lee gets on the mic and addresses Swerve Strickland, telling him he’s coming for him next Wednesday night.
Winner: Keith Lee
Renee Paquette Backstage With “Timeless” Toni Storm & Mariah May
We head to Renee Paquette backstage, who conducts a black-and-white screen interview with AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm. Paquette brings up her scheduled title tilt against Riho and how Mariah May saved her earlier this week.
Toni pretends not to know who that is. May is standing right behind her and says it’s her. She says she’s got her license and will soon debut. She asks Storm for any advice. Storm down plays the question and then addresses Riho, throws a shoe at Paquette and walks off.
Christian Cage Responds To Adam Copeland’s No DQ Challenge For Worlds End 2023
Now we return inside the arena where we hear the familiar sounds of the entrance theme music of the reigning TNT Champion Christian Cage. Out he comes with Nick Wayne to make his response to the No DQ title match challenge issued to him by his former longtime friend turned rival Adam Copeland.
Cage starts off by telling San Antonio to sit down, shut up and let him handle his business. He brings up Nick’s mom smashing Copeland in the head with his TNT Championship when they met in Montreal. He says he could explain it, but why should he when she can do it herself. He introduces Nick’s mom and out comes Shayna Wayne.
She takes exception to the boos from the fans. She asks how they could boo a mother. She bring up having to watch Copeland smash a steel chair into her sons head. She says after that, she can’t understand why anyone would question her actions in Montreal. She praises “The Patriarch” Christian Cage for his role in Nick’s life.
Cage goes on to brag about Montreal being great for him and bad for Copeland. He says he not only scored a win but he scored in other ways that night, while looking at Shayna. He then accepts Copeland’s challenge for AEW Worlds End, but tells him he is no challenge. He claims he’s levels above him and everyone else in the business.
At Worlds End, on behalf of Copeland’s mother, he’s gonna take him behind the shed and put him down in Long Island for the last time. His theme hits again to end the promo segment as the commentators hype Copeland-Cage II at AEW Worlds End 2023.
Chris Jericho Vows To Find Replacement For Kenny Omega At Worlds End 2023
Lexy Nair is backstage with Big Bill and Ricky Starks. Bill talks about how Kenny Omega has diverticulitis but his relative has gingivitis and he’s fine. Ricky Starks jokes about how Omega didn’t have the “guts” to show up at Worlds End. Big Bill laughs and repeats the word “guts” to emphasize the diverticulitis he has.
As the two continue to taunt Omega and talk trash, up walks Chris Jericho, who vows to find someone to replace Omega for his scheduled tag title shot against them at Worlds End. Before walking off, he tells Big Bill that his gingivitis relative sucks.
AEW Continental Classic Tournament
Brody King vs. Daniel Garcia
We return inside the Frost Bank Center where the lights go out. When they come back on, out comes The House of Black’s own Brody King for our next match of the evening, which will be part of the ongoing AEW Continental Classic Tournament. He settles in the ring and his music dies down.
The theme plays for the ultimate sports entertainer now, and out comes Daniel Garcia doing his little dance as the fans cheer loudly for him. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard settles in on special guest commentary for this one.
After the bell sounds to get this one officially off-and-running, we see Garcia get right in King’s face and go nose-to-nose with him before open-hand smacking the crap out of him to start things off in an intense manner. King unloads on him with a ferocious striking response and settles into the early offensive lead.
King ends up choking Garcia from the hard part of the ring apron outside of the ring ropes, with Garcia’s feet dangling above the floor outside of the ring. He lets go, Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida style, and in similar fashion, Garcia flops down to the floor below in violent fashion.
Brody mean-mugs Menard on commentary as we head into a mid-match commercial break on that note as this tourney tilt continues. When we return, we see King nearly finish off Garcia over and over again, but then out of the blue, Garcia pulls off the win via pin fall to the shock of everyone in San Antonio.
After the match, King attacks Garcia and the lights go out. When they come back on, Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews of The House of Black are also in the ring holding Garcia. Matt Menard leaves the commentary desk but gets beat down as well. FTR’s theme hits and out they come to run off The House of Black. FTR issues a challenge to them and we head to a commercial.
Winner: Daniel Garcia
Thunder Rosa & Abadon vs. Skye Blue & Julia Hart
When we return from the break, we hear the familiar sounds of Skye Blue’s theme music. Out she comes with her darker persona. She stops half way down the entrance ramp and the lights go out as her music cuts off. Julia Hart’s theme hits and out comes The House of Black member and TBS Women’s Champion to join Blue in this women’s tag-team bout.
Julia and Skye do a cool joint pose on the apron upon reaching the ring and then the theme music for the TBS Women’s Champion fades off. The theme for Abadon hits and out comes the first of their two opponents. Her music dies down and the theme for Thunder Rosa hits and out comes the former AEW Women’s Champion in a decked out car to a huge pop.
She is wearing the unique face paint that she is known for. She stops on the entrance ramp after exiting the car and fireworks and pyro erupt as she heads down and joins Abadon at ringside. The two head into the ring together and her theme dies down. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one.
Kicking things off for their respective teams are Abadon and Skye Blue. The fans are making a ton of noise for Rosa on the ring apron. Blue works over Abadon in her corner and quickly tags in Julia Hart, who picks up where she left off, taking it to Abadon in the corner. We see Hart and Blue hit some double team spots on Abadon and then knock Rosa off the apron.
On that note, we head into a mid-match commercial break. When we return, we see much of the same until finally Thunder Rosa gets tagged in for the first time in the bout. She takes the hot tag and cleans house, taking out any-and-everything that moves as the crowd goes wild.
Hart and she go face-to-face and Hart throws her out to the floor. Rosa takes over again and beats down Blue and Hart before finishing things off with a Tijuana Bomb for the win. After the match, we head into another commercial break.
Winners: Thunder Rosa & Abadon
AEW Continental Classic Tournament
Eddie Kingston vs. Andrade El Idolo
It’s main event time!
When we return from the break, we immediately hear the familiar sounds of the entrance theme music of “The Mad King” himself. Out comes the ROH World and NJPW STRONG Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston. He settles in the ring for this AEW Continental Classic Tournament showdown.
The crowd gives Kingston a rock star reaction coming out. His music dies down and now the theme for Andrade El Idolo hits and again the crowd goes bonkers as he comes out in his bad ass ring entrance mask with fire pyro exploding in the background behind him. The bell sounds and we’re officially off-and-running with this one.
Early on we see some general back-and-forth action to get things started. El Idolo starts to take over, working over Kingston in the corner of the ring as the commentators talk about him starting off with two wins in this tourney, while Kingston started off with two losses.
As Kingston starts to take over on offense, we head into a mid-match commercial break as the action continues. When we return, we see Kingston fighting from underneath back into competitive form with El Idolo. El Idolo hits a drop kick to the knees of Kingston to take back over control of the offense. El Idolo hits the three amigos suplex spot.
El Idolo comes flying off the top-rope, but on his way down, Kingston blasts him with a well-timed drop kick. This allows “The Mad King” to recover and now he goes to work on him with machine gun chops in the corner. The crowd comes to life as he continues to beat down El Idolo.
He hits a release exploder-suplex out of the corner for a close near fall attempt. The fight spills out to the floor where El Idolo gets Kingston down. He heads to the top-rope and connects with a moonsault on the floor. He rolls Kingston back into the ring as the fans chant “El Idolo! El Idolo!”
Andrade goes for a moonsault off the top but lands on his feet and then hits a standing moonsault for a close near fall attempt. Kingston hits a big back suplex out of the corner on El Idolo to take back over control on offense. He goes for the cover but El Idolo kicks out. El Idolo fights back.
He nearly finishes off Kingston, but somehow “The Mad King” hangs on. El Idolo has the figure-four on Kingston now after softening up his knees earlier in the bout. Kingston gets his hands on the ropes just as El Idolo bridges up for a Figure-8. The ring announcer informs us that only five minutes remains.
Kingston hits a spinning back fist and then a second one and then gets the pin for the win. With the victory, “The Mad King” moves on to challenge Bryan Danielson in the Blue League finals of the AEW Continental Classic Tournament next Wednesday night on the New Year’s Smash special episode of AEW Dynamite.
Bryan Danielson comes back out with his eye patch on and a big smile on his face as Kingston is celebrating his hard fought victory in the ring. Danielson and Kingston stare each other down as the commentators wrap things up. That’s how this week’s show goes off the air. Thanks for joining us!
Winner: Eddie Kingston
