AEW Collision live results: Grand Slam eliminator tournament semifinals
The finals of the AEW Grand Slam eliminator tournament will be set following tonight’s AEW Collision from Cleveland, Ohio.
In two semifinal matches, Samoa Joe will face Penta El Zero Miedo while Darby Allin takes on Roderick Strong. The winners will square off on this Wednesday’s Dynamite with the winner facing MJF at this month’s Dynamite Grand Slam from Queens, NY.
AEW International Champion Jon Moxley will defend his title for the second time this week as he faces Action Andretti.
In an open challenge, TBS Champion Kris Statlander will look to keep her win streak and title defense streak going.
In eight-man action, Bullet Club Gold (Jay White, Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn) take on the team of Gravity, Metalik, Aerostar & Dios Del Inframundo.
The show will also feature speaking segments from Bryan Danielson, AEW Women’s Champion Saraya and Ruby Soho, and AEW Trios Champions The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn.
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We got our cold open promos from the four men in the Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament. Elton John played us in before Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness welcomed us to the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio.
AEW International Title Match – Jon Moxley defeated Action Andretti to retain
A fortunate coincidence that Moxley’s Collision debut came in Ohio. The announcers made it clear that Orange Cassidy’s reign as champion elevated the title to main event status. Having a bonafide main event player in Moxley hold the title only solidifies those statements. Keep an eye on Moxley’s knee, as that could be a target for future challengers.
In an inset promo during his entrance, Moxley wished Andretti luck, but noted that fighting Moxley in Ohio is like fighting Superman on the surface of the sun. Moxley sent Andretti retreating to the floor after a chop. Andretti fought back with chops of his own, but Moxley sent him to the floor again with a boot to the face. Moxley brought Andretti back into the ring, but Andretti cut him off with a handspring before following Moxley to the floor with a dive.
Moxley peppered Andretti with headbutts before throwing him back into the ring but jammed his knee on a move attempt off of the ropes. Andretti sent Moxley to the floor and hit a split-legged moonsault to the outside. Andretti side-stepped a Moxley charge, with Moxley sending himself into the stairs as Kelly sent us to a picture-in-picture commercial.
Back from the commercial, Moxley side-stepped an Andretti dive before hitting a dive of his own. The announcers talked about this being Moxley’s third title match of the week as Moxley nursed his knee. Andretti made some space, but springboarded directly into a Moxley cutter for a nearfall. Moxley caught Andretti on a handspring elbow attempt with a choke, but Andretti hit a dropkick and a falcon arrow for a nearfall.
Andretti landed on his feet on a German suplex attempt off the second rope. They traded shotgun dropkicks before Andretti hit a corkscrew splash on Moxley for a nearfall. Andretti went for the BCC stomps, but Moxley used his own feet to spin Andretti into a rear naked choke to score the win and retain the title.
In a pre-tape, Roderick Strong talked about his friendship with Adam Cole through their days in the Ring of Honor locker room. Strong said that Cole had changed over their time in AEW, especially with his friendship with MJF. Strong said that Cole abandoned him when Strong needed him the most. He said he was still willing to make amends with Cole, and that he just wanted his friend back.
We got a recap of Samoa Joe and MJF’s confrontation from Dynamite.
AEW TBS Title Match – Kris Statlander defeated Robyn Renegade (w/ Charlette Renegade) to retain
The Renegades looked good here, and Jade Cargill’s return sets up an easy rematch for one of AEW’s big upcoming shows.
Statlander was in firm control early on, stuffing a monkey flip and turning it into a German suplex. Charlette Renegade cut off a running Statlander, allowing Robyn to hit a boot in the corner to take control. Charlette choked Statlander on the ropes as Robyn took the referee’s attention.
Statlander fired back up, hitting a Blue Thunder Bomb for a nearfall. Renegade missed a big boot in the corner, allowing Statlander to hit an elevator drop. After hitting Charlette with a forearm to knock her off the apron, Statlander scored the win with an O’Connor Roll.
After the match, Charlette chop-blocked Statlander, leading to a double-team beatdown. Jade Cargill made her return, getting a huge pop in the process. Cargill took out both Renegades before helping Statlander to her feet. Cargill then snatched Statlander up and dropped her with Jaded before posing with the TBS Title.
Backstage, Renee Paquette was with Saraya & Ruby Soho. Soho was upset about Toni Storm costing her the TBS Title at All Out, but Saraya calmed her down. Saraya said that she would return to Arthur Ashe Stadium – the building she debuted in – as champion.
Tony Schiavone sat down backstage with Claudio Castagnoli & Eddie Kingston. Castagnoli claimed not to remember how the issues between him and Kingston started, with Kingston saying that he was lying. Kingston said the problems started with Castagnoli leaving the independents before giving Kingston a match and doing business. Kingston challenged Castagnoli to a title-for-title match at Grand Slam, with both the ROH World Championship and the NJPW STRONG Openweight Championship on the line. Castagnoli accepted with one caveat. Kingston had to shake his hand once Castagnoli beat him. The heat for that match should be off the charts.
Bullet Club Gold (Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, & Juice Robinson) defeated Aero Star, Dios Del Inframundo, Gravity
You may remember Dios Del Inframundo as Drago from Lucha Underground. He changed his name after his recent departure from AAA. Robinson sat down “Cardblade” and a plaque naming Robinson the “Collision Cowboy of the Month.” The Gunns took care of Gravity and Inframundo before Robinson tagged in to a huge reaction. Andrade El Idolo was seen watching backstage as the luchadors gained an advantage over Robinson. Austin Gunn hooked Robinson’s waist on an Irish Whip, with Colton Gunn taking down Aero Star and Gravity with lariats as we went to the commercial.
Back from the commercial, Gravity fought to make the tag to Aero Star. Aero Star ran wild, using unique rope moves to take out the Gunns. But the Gunns came back to take control, taking out Aero Star and Gravity before feeding Inframundo to Robinson. Robinson scored the win with his DDT variant.
In a pre-tape, CJ Perry talked about being Miro’s first sacrifice on his road to redemption. She calls Miro stubborn for not accepting the help she offered at All Out. She accepted that Miro had to go down his road, but she had to take her own road as well. She said that at one point, she was the hottest manager in wrestling and that maybe it was time for her to re-take that mantle.
The Dark Order had some type of commercial at the merch stand. It was odd.
The Acclaimed talked about their recent World Tour, which started in London and continued to Chicago. They said that they would be in New York for Grand Slam, before taking over the world.
Rey Fenix (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated Angelico (w/ Serpentico)
In an inset promo, Fenix said that he was looking for revenge against Moxley for taking him out before All In. Fenix quickly sent Angelico to the floor, where he hit a tope suicida. Serpentico tried to set up a misdirection, but Fenix hit Angelico with a big kick off the apron. Angelico took control of Fenix’s arm before hitting a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Fenix came back with a lucha armdrag, a double stomp, and a frog splash for a nearfall. Angelico caught Fenix with a flash pin, but Fenix kicked out and dropped Angelico with a superkick. Fenix walked the ropes to boot Serpentico off the apron before hitting a rolling cutter to Angelico. Fenix scored the win with the Fenix Driver.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with FTR. Harwood said that to be the best team, they needed to defend the titles against the best teams. He announced the FTR World Tag Team Challenge, where they would defend their titles against any young team that wanted to challenge.
AEW World Title Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament Semi-Final Match – Roderick Strong (w/ Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) defeated Darby Allin (w/ Nick Wayne & AR Fox)
This match was everything I hoped it would be, with Strong ragdolling Allin around and destroying him with backbreakers. The Allin/Wayne/Fox story continues, and with the WrestleDream PPV in Seattle looming, I assume we’ll get more to this story.
As Allin was skating his way to the ring, Luchasaurus jumped him. Christian Cage said that Allin was only in this tournament because he was never going to win the TNT Title. Cage said that Allin wouldn’t win any title in AEW as long as Christian was around before Luchasaurus sent Allin into a metal door. Strong celebrated what he believed to be a forfeit win, but Allin hobbled his way to the ring with Nick Wayne rooting him on. Strong quickly dropped Allin with a backbreaker. Allin fought back, sending Strong to the floor before following him outside with a suicide dive.
Back from a commercial, Strong sent Allin back first into the post and the barricade. The crowd rattled Strong with Adam Hates You chants, allowing Allin to catch Strong with a guillotine choke in the ropes. Allin turned another backbreaker into a crucifix pin for a nearfall, then caught Strong with a Code Red for a nearfall. Allin went for the submission he used to beat Nick Wayne on Dynamite, but Strong countered it into an STF.
Allin got to the ropes, so Strong brought Allin to the top rope. Allin clawed at Strong’s back, but Strong shoved Allin into the top of the ringpost. Strong hit a sick backbreaker on the top turnbuckle, sending Allin tumbling to the floor. Strong got Allin into the ring, but only scored a nearfall.
Back from another commercial, Allin hit Strong with a Stundog Millionaire on the apron before hitting a Coffin Drop to Strong on the floor. The Kingdom menaced Wayne on the floor before AR Fox backed him up, much to Wayne’s chagrin. Back in the ring, Strong hit a Sick Kick, but Allin countered the End of Heartache into a Scorpion Death Drop. No cover due to Allin’s back being battered.
Taven got on the apron, with Wayne pulling him off the apron. Fox went to dive on Taven, but Bennett yanked him out of the way. Fox landed on Wayne by accident, and all the while Allin landed on Strong’s knees on a Coffin Drop attempt. Strong hit the End of Heartache to score the win and punch his ticket to the final.
Powerhouse Hobbs spoke about how the Miro chapter of the Book of Hobbs was still unfinished.
Lexy Nair was backstage with Keith Lee. Lee spoke about wanting to do things solo and offered his opponents a piece of advice: run.
We got a video package on The Righteous, the team of Vincent, Dutch, & Stu Grayson.
Tony Schiavone welcomed Bryan Danielson to the ring. Danielson said that he promised his six-year-old daughter that he would start wrapping up his career once she turned seven. He said that he wouldn’t go quietly into the night, and would kick everyone’s head in. He said that this would be the most epic year of his career. He made a challenge for October 1st at WrestleDream. He wanted to wrestle the man everyone called the best technical wrestler in the world, Zack Sabre Jr.
Ricky Starks & Big Bill made their way to the ring, with Starks noting how the spotlight escaped him again. Starks noted that he went from being hungry to being greedy and that Danielson never tapped him out. Danielson said that he wasn’t done yet, and noted that in order to be with the Blackpool Combat Club, you had to bleed with them. Big Bill then jumped Danielson. Starks pulled Bill off of Danielson before jumping on Danielson himself. Jon Moxley made his way to the ring, but Big Bill dropped him with a big boot. Starks choked out Danielson with a BCC t-shirt, with Kevin Kelly wondering if that shirt was going to be offered to Starks before the attack. Starks and Big Bill celebrated, leaving Moxley and Danielson lying.
We got a rundown of the Dynamite card, with the addition of Jon Moxley vs. Big Bill for the International Championship. We also got a rundown of the Collision card for next week, with FTR vs. The Iron Savages announced. Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. was made official for the WrestleDream PPV.
Tony Schiavone was backstage with Big Bill. Bill said that he just beat Moxley’s ass and would do it again in Moxley’s hometown. The Lucha Brothers entered the frame, with Fenix noting that he was next in line for Moxley. Bill told them to worry about Penta’s match against Samoa Joe.
AEW World Title Grand Slam Eliminator Tournament Semi-Final Match – Samoa Joe defeated Penta El Zero Miedo (w/ Alex Abrahantes)
A decent main event, but the lesser of the two tournament matches tonight. It set up a Dynamite main event with history that set a lot of the current main event picture in motion.
Jim Ross joined commentary for this main event. Joe headbutted Penta after a Cero Miedo taunt. Penta came back with a superkick before Joe shoulder blocked him down. Joe telegraphed a back body drop, leading to Penta sending him to the floor with a dropkick.
Joe sidestepped a baseball slide, but Penta caught him with a Slingblade on the floor. The two got into a chop battle on the floor before Joe ran Penta into the barricade. They traded more chops before Joe poked Penta in the eyes. Penta sent Joe into the barricade before pulling out a table before the commercial break.
Back from the commercial, Joe avoided a Penta double stomp and dropped him with a back elbow. Penta fought out of a chinlock, but Joe shut him down and locked in another submission. Joe hit a strike combination, ending with a knee drop for a nearfall. Joe hit his corner splash and enzuigiri. Penta fought out of the Muscle Buster before firing up. Penta hit a backstabber out of the corner for a nearfall.
Penta booted Joe in the face but jumped right into a powerslam for a nearfall. Penta lit up Joe with strikes before landing a superkick in the corner for a nearfall. Penta landed a pair of kicks for a nearfall before going for the arm snap, but Joe muscled out and landed a big combination ending in a senton for a nearfall.
Penta sent Joe to the floor, where he landed a kick and a dive. Penta went for another dive, but Joe sidestepped him, sending Penta through Chekov’s table. Penta kicked out of the subsequent cover and even had the Fear Factor set up, but Joe flipped Penta into the rear naked choke for the submission win. On Dynamite, it’ll be Roderick Strong vs. Samoa Joe, the man who hurt his neck to begin with back in July. The winner gets the World Title match against MJF at Grand Slam.