AEW Collision Review – June 17, 2023
Kicking off this week’s Collision with CM Punk walks out with a pair of black boots tied around his neck and a red bag in his hand then once inside the ring Punk blew a kiss to the crowd and set his red bag down.
Punk stood in the middle of the ring and looked into the hard camera while the crowd continued to chant his name. Punk removes the AEW logo from his microphone and tossed it aside. I don’t know if you guys heard but I’m tired of being nice Punk said.
Punk said he was gone 10 months with a ruptured tricep tendon that was torn off the born. He said he’s still here and as long as he is, it’s the professional wrestling business. Punk said it’s business for grownups and not a popularity contest. He said he probably would have lost that one a long time ago if it was.
Punk said they were going to talk about the future but first they had to talk about his past. He said that if someone had told 15 year old him that he’d sell out legendary venues, he’s not sure he would have believed that person. Punk said he’s tired of being nice and told the crowd to tell him when he’s telling lies.
Punk said he got to where he is by riding the wave of smart and passionate professional wrestling fans. Punk said he’s never compromised and has been unapologetic. Punk said he couldn’t have done it without all of the fans. Punk said there are some people who hate him for the season reason that they love him.
Punk said he is the truth and the truth is painful then Punk pointed to signs that labeled him a hero, Pepsi Phil and another that labels him CM Junk. Punk said the fans can do that.
Punk said David Zaslav calls him One Bill Phil because he’s the genuine article in a business full of counterfeit Bucks. Punk declared that the king is back and added that he has a lot of things to get off his chest.
Punk said he had a question and then he’d get out of the hair of the fans. Punk said he this is what Joe Strummer paid him for. He said he will always speak truth to power and will never compromise. Punk mentioned the people who feel he owes them an apology. I am sorry that the only people softer than you are the wrestlers you like Punk said. Tell me when I’m telling lies.
Punk picked up the bag and said the last time the fans saw him, he held what was in the bag above his head. He said it’s not because he deserved it, it’s his because he earned it. He said it’s not his because he had the best Dog Collar match it’s his because he won the Dog Collar match. Punk said it belongs to him until someone can pin him or submit him for it.
Punk held up the boots he brought out with him and said he assumed there were people who hoped he would set them down in the ring and walk into the sunset. Punk said that until there is someone in the company who can fill the boots, they belong on his feet. Tell me when I’m telling lies Punk said before dropping the mic and looking into the camera. Punk approached a camera on the apron and asks What’s in the bag Max?.
A brief video aired on Wardlow’s feud with Christian Cage & Luchasaurus.
TNT Title Match
Wardlow (c) vs. LuchasaurusÂ
Wardlow hits a dropkick & that sends Luchasaurus to ringside. Christian Cage whispers into the ear of Luchasaurus. Wardlow went to the floor and roughs him up. Back inside the ring Luchasaurus took offensive control heading into a picture in picture break.
After the break Wardlow put Luchasaurus in electric chair position and then fell backward to slam him to the mat then he puts Luchasaurus down with a spinebuster. Wardlow went up top but Luchasaurus cut him off and slams him to the mat with a chokeslam then goes for the cover but it gets a two count.
Luchasaurus & Wardlow traded shots in the ring before Wardlow put Luchasaurus down with a clothesline then sets up for a Powerbomb but Cage climbs onto the apron. Wardlow looks at Cage and then hits the Powerbomb anyways. Cage grabs a chair which distracted Wardlow for a moment then Wardlow went back to Luchasaurus but he chokeslams him to the mat for a near fall.
Luchasaurus tried to hoist up Wardlow but he slips out and then counters into a powerslam. Wardlow went up top and connects with a Swanton Bomb then Wardlow lowers the straps but Cage climbs onto the apron again. Wardlow stares at Cage but he dodges a charging Luchasaurus.
Wardlow stood over Luchasaurus in the corner and threw punches at him until Luchasaurus slips through his legs and held the referee. Cage took a camera from a ringside photographer and struck Wardlow with it twice before Luchasaurus drove Wardlow face first into the mat to get the victory.
Winner & New TNT Champion: Luchasaurus (NEW CHAMPION!!!!!)
After the match Cage stood on the middle rope and held up the TNT Title. Luchasaurus puts Cage on his shoulders and then Cage held up the TNT Title again.
Backstage Lexi Nair interviewed Powerhouse Hobbs & QT Marshall. Marshall said they never said Hobbs would wrestle they only said he would appear on Collision. Marshall said Hobbs will be in the Owen Hart Cup. Hobbs spoke of winning the tournament and taking what’s his.
Kevin Kelly & Niguel McGuinness recaps highlights of the TNT Title change while brief highlights were shown.
Trios Champion Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo
Andrade El Idolo sends Buddy Matthews to ringside then he hits a cartwheel on the apron and then moonsaults onto Matthews on the floor.
Matthews came back by shoving El Idolo into the ring post and then tossed him over the barricade. El Idolo climbs onto the barricade and connects with a hurricanrana. El Idolo came up favoring his arm then he rolls Matthews back inside the ring and covers him for a two count.
El Idolo went to the ropes and was cut off by Matthews as he pulls Andrade’s arm through the ropes and into the corner then they went back to the floor where Matthews ran El Idolo’s bad arm into the barricade. Back in the ring Matthews executed a Meteora from the ropes and got a two count. Matthews clutched his left knee heading into a PIP break.
After the break El Idolo nails a moonsault from the ropes and lands on his feet when Matthews rolls out of the way but El Idolo then hit a standing moonsault that got a two count. Matthews came back with a draping DDT for a two count of his own. Matthews went up top and was cut off by El Idolo.
Matthews went for a powerbomb but his knee gave out. Matthews got up and kicks El Idolo twice and then went for the powerbomb but his knee gave out again. El Idolo caught Matthews with an elbow and then plays to the crowd. El Idolo charges Matthews for a move only to be caught with a knee to the face & it gets a near fall.
Matthews went for a submission hold but El Idolo powers out which sent Matthews crashing into the corner. Andrade applied a Figure 4 when Matthews neared the ropes El Idolo bridges into a Figure 8 & Matthews has no choice but to tap out.
Winner By Submission: Andrade El Idolo
After the match El Idolo tried to help Matthews to his feet but Matthews shoves him away. El Idolo still offered a handshake. Matthews limps toward him and then the lights went out.
When the lights turned on El Idolo still had his hand out. Malakai Black was seated in a corner of the ring while Brody King stood nearby. El Idolo turns around and was turn inside out by a King clothesline then Black knelt over El Idolo before the lights went out again.
A video package on Scorpio Sky aired and recaps his AEW accomplishments. Sky was shown seated on a couch with a glass of wine. Sky spoke in a voiceover and said he’s been watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity. Sky said he’s the future and the present of AEW and nobody can beat him because he’s on another level. He snaps his fingers to end the video.
A shot aired from outside the United Center, which had Punk’s Roddy Piper inspired logos on the side.
Tony Nese & Smart Mark Sterling stood in the ring. Nese labels himself a personal trainer and heels on the fans for being out of shape. He said he was shutting down the show so that he could lead them all in stretches. Miro’s entrance music interrupted Nese.
Miro vs. Tony Nese
Tony Nese goes to the outside once the bell rang and did jumping jacks on the floor. Nese threw a chop at Miro no sold it. Back in the ring Miro no sold more shots from Nese and then hit him with punches and kicks in the corner before he follows it up with a running clothesline.
Miro caught Nese on the apron and hits 7 Beats Of The Bodhran before Nese clotheslines him over the top rope. Nese went for a top rope move but Miro caught him and connects with a fallaway slam. Miro set up in the corner for Machka Kick but Sterling climbs onto the apron and was punch off by Miro.
Nese took advantage of the distraction briefly and threw a kick but Miro no sold his offense again and eventually put him down with a uranage slam. Miro followed up with Machka Kick and then yells Game Over before he locks it in for the submission win.
Winner By Submission: Miro
A CM Punk video package aired. Punk said he never left he got injured then some footage aired of his training while he said he has to look forward. Punk said the reason he’s returning is that there are still things left to do and he’s going to finish them.
Tag Team Match
The Outcasts (Women’s Champion Toni Storm & Ruby Soho) vs. Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue
The Outcasts attacks Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue before the bell then they ended up at ringside where Toni Storm jaws at Mama Blue then slaps her.
Once both teams were back inside the ring referee Stephon Smith calls for the bell to start the match as The Outcasts came back quickly and works over Nightingale heading into a PIP break.
After the break Nightingale made a hot tag to Blue coming out of the break & Blue got some offense on Storm & it was cap off by a top rope crossbody then goes for the cover but Ruby Soho ran in and broke up the pin. Nightingale nails Soho with a spinebuster. Storm locks Blue in a cloverleaf. Blue struggles and eventually reaches the bottom rope to break the hold.
Storm sets up for Storm Zero but Blue counters into a pin for a two count. Nightingale tags in and connects with an Angle Slam on Storm. Moments later Blue tags in and was hit with a hip attack by Storm.
Soho tags in and nails Blue with a shot then Storm brought spray paint in the ring right in front of the referee but Nightingale took it from her and tossed it into the crowd. Nightingale put Soho down with another Angle Slam then Blue hits Code Blue to score the win.
Winners: Willow Nightingale & Skye Blue
A video package aired with Ricky Starks announcing that he is in the Owen Hart Cup & he predicted that he will win the tournament.
A video package aired with Jeff Jarrett hyping his Concession Stand Brawl with Mark Briscoe. He said he wouldn’t have any of his sidekicks with him and vowed to kick Briscoe’s ass.
Tony Schiavone stood in the ring and introduced Daddy Ass & The Acclaimed. Max Caster raps on his way to the ring and said they’ve stolen more hearts than Donald Trump stole documents. He concluded the rap with a line about wishing Daddy Ass a happy Father’s Day.
Billy Gunn shows off his new scissor me outfit. He said they were getting back on track and going for the Trios Titles. Anthony Bowens said AEW stands for Acclaimed Every Wednesday and Acclaimed Every Weekend. Bowens said they were sticking around for Dynamite this week.
Bowens said they wanted to make history with the 1st Collision scissor. He plays to the Chicago crowd by saying it’s where the scissor was born and the fans made them the people’s choice. Caster moves Schiavone to the corner and had him join them in a 4 way scissors in the middle of the ring.
Trios Match
AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) & CM Punk vs. Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) & Samoa Joe
CM Punk & Dax Harwood passes Juice Robinson to Cash Wheeler as he slams him from the middle rope then Punk covers him for a two count. Punk motioned for the Go 2 Sleep but Robinson scurried away.
Samoa Joe tags himself into the match. Robinson wasn’t pleased but Jay White held him back. Punk & Joe jawed at one another before they lock up. Joe pushes Joe back into a corner of the ring and blasted him with 3 chops then Punk tries to return the favor but Joe no sold his chop before we go to a PIP break.
After the break Joe works over Harwood before Bullet Club Gold also got involved and continued to isolate Harwood. Wheeler eventually tags in and hits a sunset flip on Robinson for a near fall. Punk tags in and joins Wheeler in hitting the backbreaker/elbow drop combo on Robinson & it gets a near fall heading into another PIP break.
After the 2nd break Bullet Club Gold & Joe regained control and isolated Wheeler. Wheeler inched toward his corner but White grabs him by the foot. Wheeler dove and tags in Punk & he works over Bullet Club Gold with a series of moves.
Punk puts White down with a neckbreaker and then glares at Joe before hitting Bullet Club Gold with knees in opposite corners. Punk bulldogs White while hitting a clothesline on Robinson. Punk set up White for GTS but White gouged his eyes to prevent it. Punk got to his feet and drops White with a kick then Punk went up top but Robinson crotched him.
White puts Punk down with a big uranage slam for a near fall then White signals for Blade Runner but Punk avoided it and put White down with a clothesline. Punk tags out. Harwood set up White on the ropes. Punk tags in before FTR performed a superplex and splash combo. Punk follows with a top rope elbow drop. Punk goes for the pin but Robinson pushes Harwood onto the pile.
Joe tags in & a brawl broke out between the others that quickly spilled over to ringside. Punk avoided a charging Joe in the corner and caught him with a knee to the jaw. Punk sets up for GTS but Joe counters into a rear naked choke. Bullet Club Gold held FTR from returning to the ring. Punk fell to the ground.
Wheeler broke free and took out White freeing up Harwood to hit Joe to save Punk. Robinson tags in and set up for a move but Punk countered into a big kick. FTR hits Robinson with Shatter Machine before Punk follows up with Go 2 Sleep to get the win.
Winners: AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR & CM Punk
Matches Of The Night
Buddy Matthews vs. Andrade El Idolo- 7/10
Trios Match- 7/10
