AEW Collision & Rampage live results: Okada vs. Garcia Continental Classic match
The first week of the Continental Classic continues on today’s three-hour AEW Collision and AEW Rampage block with a special time of 4 PM Eastern.
AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada takes on TNT Champion Daniel Garcia in the Gold League in today’s marquee tournament matchup on Collision.
Will Ospreay faces Juice Robinson in the Gold league while in the Blue league, Kyle Fletcher will take on The Beast Mortos.
Hangman Page vs. Wheeler Yuta is also set for Collision as is Mina Shirakawa vs. Leila Grey, The Outrunners vs. Iron Savages, plus MxM Collection & Johnny TV vs. Mistico & Private Party.
Tonight’s Rampage is a lucha libre showcase show as former ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata teams with Atlantis Jr. & Mascara Dorada against Top Flight & Action Andretti.
The Beast Mortos vs. Serpentico, Komander vs. Hechicero, plus Thunder Rosa vs. Harleygram (Harley Cameron in a Hologram mask) are also set for Rampage.
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Collision, taped in Chicago, Illinois.
Tony Schiavone & Nigel McGuinness were on commentary.
Will Ospreay defeated Juice Robinson in a Gold League Continental Classic Match (12:36)
Ospreay got a mega-pop, and Robinson also got a not-too-shabby pop himself, since he hails from nearby Joliet. Robinson blocked a Oscutter early-on, but couldn’t avoid a step-up hurricanrana. Ospreay hung Robinson up in the “tree of woe” then dove at him with a dropkick. Ospreay tried up Robinson in an octopus hold. Juice escaped and went for a senton, but Robinson lifted his knees. Robinson finally go the edge with a clothesline in the corner, then followed up with a cannonball and hangman’s neckbreaker for a near fall.
Robinson hit a crossbody off the top for a near fall. Ospreay fought out of a power bomb attempt. Ospreay went for a hurricanrana, which Robinson was likely supposed to block, but he awkwardly fell instead (and it looked like Ospreay came down on his neck, but that could have just been selling, too). Robinson powered Ospreay up from the mat and into a nasty powerbomb.
After a split-screen break, Ospreay sprung into the ring with a forearm on Juice. Ospreay hit Robinson with a plancha on the floor. Back in the ring, Ospreay caught Robinson with a running boot in the corner. Ospreay ran into a leg lariat from Robinson. Robinson followed up with rights. Ospreay ducked the Left Hand of God and hit a Stundog Millionaire. Robinson avoided another Oscutter and floored Ospreay with a lariat for a near fall. The crowd was really getting behind Juice. Ospreay caught Robinson with a kick and the Styles Clash for a near fall. Ospreay followed up with the Hidden Blade and got the pinfall. Great showing from Juice here.
During the match, it was announced that Ospreay v. Allin would take place on the December 18th Dynamite from D.C.
– Mariah May cut a promo on the set where she attacked Mina Shirakawa last week. May attacked Shirakawa to give Mina everything she ever wanted. Mina v. Mariah for the World Women’s Title is set for December 11th on Dynamite.
Private Party & Místico defeated The MxM Collection & Johnny TV (8:16)
Mansoor standing in the camera shot with a leaf blower to give Johnny the wind blown effect for his entrance was *chef’s kiss.*
Mansoor got double-teamed in the Private Party for a near fall. He got the blind tag to Madden, and Marq Quen got triple-teamed by the heels for the near fall. More triple-teaming from the heels lead to a mid-ring pose from the heels. The heels set up Quen for the most elaborate triple team kick to the posterior I’ve ever seen.
Quen finally got the hot tag to Zay by ducking a double clothesline. Zay went after all three men, catching Madden with a Cutter and dropkicking TV and Mansoor to the floor. Zay followed out with a dive on Johnny, then hit Madden with an Asai Moonsault. Back in the ring, Zay missed a senton on TV for a near fall.
Místico caught Mansoor with a springboard crossbody. Mansoor and TV tossed Zay into a high-angle spinebuster from Madden for a near fall. TV caught Zay with an enziguri and went to the top, but Místico crotched him. Místico caught MxM on the floor with a top rope dive, and Private Party finished off TV with the Gin & Juice. Pretty good, but I was surprised by what a non-factor Místico was.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Anna Jay, who can’t challenge for the AEW World Women’s title anymore (while Mariah is champion, anyway), so she’ll be taking a big swing at someone else instead.
Kyle Fletcher defeated The Beast Mortos in the Blue League of the Continental Classic (9:18 aired)
Don Callis was on commentary for this match. Wait. No seconds are allowed but Callis is allowed to be on commentary? The commentary desk is right at ringside!
Fletcher slammed Mortos and sneered at him. Mortos caught Fletcher with a tijeras. Fletcher countered a monkey flip attempt and sent Mortos to the floor with a forearm.
Fletcher hit a Michinoku Driver for a near fall coming back from the break. Mortos backdropped Fletcher, then hit a Canadian Destroyer, but a DDT instead of a piledriver. Fletcher dropped to the floor, and Mortos followed him out with a tornio. Back in the ring, Fletcher avoided a dive from Mortos, and followed up with a sit-out Last Ride style powerbomb for another near fall. Fletcher followed Mortos into the corner with a boot. He set up Mortos for a superplex, but Mortos headbutted him down. Mortos came off the top with a crucifix driver, then a stiff lariat for another near fall. Fletcher came back with his own lariat, hit another running boot in the corner, and finished off Mortos with a brainbuster. Fletcher got his first 3 points in the tournament.
Fletcher will face Shelton Benjamin in his next Blue League match on Dynamite Wednesday.
– A recap of the feud no one wants to see continue between MJF and Cole’Reily. This led to Lexi Nair interrupting an argument between Kyle O’Reilly and The Kingdom. I guess now the Kingdom wants Kyle to stay out of it while they finish off MJF? It sounds like O’Reilly respects what they want, but isn’t going to do it anyway.
The Outrunners defeated Iron Savages (w/ Jack Jamison) (2:51)
Not only do the Outrunners come out to a 4:3 aspect ratio, but they’ve added tracking errors on the screen. Boulder went to try a springboard something out of the corner, but missed tragically. Truth Magnum then got the “hot tag” (at 1:30) to Turbo Floyd, who bodyslam Bronson. He couldn’t bodyslam big Boulder on the first try, but did on the second. The Outrunner finished off Boulder with some kind of double-team neckbreaker.
After the match, FTR came out to shake hands with the Outrunners.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Max Caster, who challenged Swerve Strickland for Dynamite. Caster talked baldy about Billy Gunn and Anthony Bowens. Caster “gave [them] the week off” after Bowens lost the title match at Full Gear. Caster might make a great heel in the long run but this is absolutely the wrong time for it.
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Wheeler Yuta (12:13)
Page was chastised by the referee for trying to take the turnbuckle padding off one of the corner. Page clotheslined Yuta to the floor, then basically F-5’d him into the ring apron face-first. Yuta tried to toss Page back into the ring, but he rebounded off the bottom rope and hit Yuta with a lariat.
Back in the ring, Page hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a near fall. Yuta ducked a springboard lariat and caught Page by clipping his knee. Yuta went to work on Page’s knee.
After a split-screen break, Yuta countered a top rope superplex attempt by hanging up Yuta in the ropes. Page powerbombed Yuta out of the corner. Page booted Yuta to the floor and whipped him around the ring barricades. The crowd started to get behind Page. Back in the ring, Page hit a death valley driver for a near fall.
PAC and Claudio Castagnoli showed up in the crowd, and this distraction led to a near fall for Yuta. Page floored Yuta with a discus lariat. Page set up Yuta for the Buckshot Lariat as Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir showed up behind PAC and Castagnoli. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, but he hurt his knee when he planted and Yuta went for the Seatbelt. Page countered, maneuvered Yuta into the Dead Eye reverse piledriver, and got the pinfall.
After the match, Page beat on Yuta. He threatened to break his neck with the chair, but Jay White ran out to save Yuta… then White gave Yuta the Blade Runner. White got into Yuta’s face and told him “Tell your king that the real king is coming for his title!”
– Thunder Rosa promoted the Lucha episode of Rampage. Also, watching Mariah May turn on Mira Shirakawa has Rosa interested in getting back into the title picture again. She will be closely watching the title match at Winter is Coming.
– In the back, Adam Page told Christopher Daniels the last thing he needed was advice from an old man like him.
Mina Shirakawa defeated Leila Grey (3:26)
Grey caught Mina with a kick while she was dancing. Grey and Shirawaka exchanged blows. Shirakawa caught Grey with a kick and a running lariat for a near fall. Grey dodged a charge in the corner and caught Mina with a running knee. Mina avoided a pump kick, then caught Grey with a spinning backfist for a near fall. Grey countered a Glamorous Driver with a roll up. Mina caught Grey with a blockbuster off the middle ropes, then finished off Grey with the Glamourous Driver.
– Lexi Nair interviewed Willow Nightingale abut her upcoming International Women’s cup qualifier. Nightingale will face Serena Deeb on Collision next week, and the winner of that match will face Jamie Hayter at Winter is Coming. The winner of that match goes on to the International Women’s Cup on January 5th at the Tokyo Dome.
Kazuchika Okada and Daniel Garcia went to a time limit draw in a Blue League Continental Classic Match (20:00 announced, 18:57 or so aired)
Garica has the classic gold TNT title, not that dirty one Jack Perry was wearing. And again, no seconds are allowed at ringside but there’s Matt Menard, sitting at the commentary desk.
Garcia countered a forearm attempt from Okada with a backslide, which set off Garcia getting a couple of near falls off cradle attempts. Okada faked out Garcia by offering a handshake and Garcia made him pay for it with chops and a shotgun dropkick.
After a split-screen break, Okada missed a slingshot senton. Okada ducked a clothesline and locked Garcia in the Money Clip. That move is as over in AEW as it was in New Japan. Garica fought his way out of the hold and kicked Okada In the corner. Garcia locked in a sleeper on Okada, then hit a running knee strike for a near fall. Garcia locked in a sharpshooter, but Okada easily made the ropes, the dropped to the floor.
On the floor, Garcia stood over Okada and rained down punches on him, then hit Okada with a running shotgun dropkick. Okada was selling his shoulder, and when referee Aubrey Edwards turned to get medical help, Okada popped up and nailed Garcia with a chair. Okada then DDT’d Garcia on the floor and showed Edwards his shoulder was fine.
After a second commercial break, Okada and Garcia were brawling on the top rope. Garcia superplexed Okada from the top rope for a near fall. Okada caught Garcia with a neckbreaker for a near fall. Okada hit a top rope elbow, then taunted Garcia by mimicking his dance. Garica responded by catching Okada with an ankle lock. Okada escaped by making the ropes, and Garcia followed up with another shotgun dropkick. Okada went for a dropkick, but Garcia blocked it. Garcia went for the sharpshooter again, but Okada countered with a small package attempt. Okada and Garica then knocked each other out with a double clothesline.
Okada made it to his feet first and hit a lariat. Garcia ducked the Rainmaker but Okada hit him with a dropkick. Okada went for the Rainmaker again, but Garcia countered with a cradle and locked in the Sharpshooter! Okada crawled to the ropes, but Garcia pulled him back into the center of the ring and leaned all the way back into the Sharpshooter. But Okada hung on, didn’t tap out and the time limit expired. As a result, both Okada and Garcia will get 1 point each in the standings. This was fine but it was fairly obvious they were wrestling to the draw early on.
After the match, Okada offered Garcia a handshake, but then flipped him off instead.
During this match, PAC v. Jay White was announced for Dynamite Wednesday, and Claudio Castagnoli v. Will Ospreay and Ricochet v. Brody King were announced for the December 11th Winter is Coming.
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Now it’s time for Lucha Libre Rampage!
Taped in Reading, PA.
Excalibur, Matt Menard and Ian Riccaboni were on commentary.
Thunder Rosa defeated Harley-Gram (5:20)
Harley-Gram reminded me: whatever happened to Fuego Dos? Less than two minutes in, Harley removed her mask to reveal her secret identity was Harley Cameron all along! Rosa caught Cameron with a dropkick. Rosa tied up Cameron in the corner and hit her with a shotgun dropkick. Cameron came back with a Russian leg sweep for a near fall. Cameron put her mask back on, but Rosa yanked it back off while they were brawling on the floor. Back in the ring, Rosa finished off Cameron with the package driver.
– Renee Paquette interviewed Mercedes Mone, who is not here to talk about Camille. She’s here to talk about Lucha Libre and her favorite wrestler, Eddie Guerrero. Mone also wants more championship gold.
Atlantis Jr., Máscara Dorada & Katsuyori Shibata defeated Top Flight & Action Andretti (w/ Leila Grey) (11:56)
Wow. This was all kinds of crazy action. Dorado went for a hurricanrana on Andretti, who handspringed out of the move and landed on his feet. Dorado and Atlantis combined for a double-hiptoss into a sit-out powerbomb on Andretti for a near fall. Darius Martin saved Andretti from a back suplex. Then Andretti hit a flipping senton off to Darius’s shoulders for a near fall. Atlantis turned a hurricanrana from Darius into a sunset flip for a near fall. Atlantis hit a crucifix driver for a near fall. Darius came back with a dropkick.
After a split-screen break, Atlantis caught Darius with a cutter, then got the tag to Shibata. Shibata hit Dante with a boot and forearms, then ran in with a diving shotgun dropkick in the corner. A suplex on Datne got a near fall. Dante went for a sunset flip, but Shibata rolled through and floored Dante with a kick. Dorado hit a Fosbury Flop on Andretti. Back in the ring, Shibata had both members of Top Flight tied up in leglocks. Andretti broke it up, and Darius and Andretti hit superkicks on Shibata. But when Shibata fell backwards, it increased the pressure on Dante’s legs, which were still tied up in a leg lock!
Dorado caught Darius with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker. Dorado hit a 450 splash off the top for a near fall. Dorado went back to the top, but Dante pulled him to the mat. Andretti dropkicked Dorato into a suplex from Darius, and Dante picked him up for his half nelson slam. Andretti went for a brainbuster on Dorado, but Atlantis broke it up. Andretti caught both his opponents with handspring back elbows. Atlantis and Dorado caught Andretti with kicks, and Dorado finished off Andretti with a shooting star press.
– A recap of the Hook/Patricachy feud. This led to an interview with Nick Wayne and Mother Wayne and the announcement that Hook will face Nick Wayne at the Hammerstein Ballroom (unclear which show). Nick wanted to face Hook in his hometown in a venue that Hook’s father made his name. “I’ll see you at home, Hook… or will I?”
The Beast Mortos defeated Serpentico (5:12 aired)
Nobody mentioned Mortos getting dropped on his head two hours ago by Kyle Fletcher. Mortos crushed Serpentico with a pop-up Samoan Drop for a near fall.
After a commercial break (and talk about a match that shouldn’t have gone through a commercial), Serpentico got a near fall after a La Magistral cradle. Mortos gave Sperpencio a pair of backbreakers, then floored him with a lariat and got the pinfall. Most of this match took place in the picture-in-picture window, but I have no idea why a guy in the prestigious Continental Classic is going 5 minutes with a Dark jobber.
– In the back, someone has laid out Kamille.
– Kyle O’Reilly, Luther Reigns & Brian Cage, Mark Edwards, Komander, Adam Cole are the names announced for the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal. That’s not 12 guys. The winner of the 12 man battle royal gets a shot at MJF and his ring, I would assume at Winter is Coming.
Hechicero defeated Komander (w/ Alex Abrahantes) (13:06)
Hechicero pulled Komander out of the air on a leapfrog attempt, then dropped an elbow on his back. Lots of mat work early on in the match. Hechicero tried to go for a stretch muffler, but Komander climb out of it. Komander went for a tijeras, but Hechicero countered it into apin attempt. More near misses and reversals from both guys ended with Hechicero getting Komander in trouble against the ropes.
A lot of this match took place in the split-screen window. After the long break, Komander sprung out of the corner with a top rope dropkick. Komander hit a hurricanrana off the top, but Hechicero caught Komander with a sleeper in the ropes. Komander dropkicked Hechicero to the floor. Komander followed him out with a top rope springboard moonsault. Back in the ring, Komander came off the top with a body press, then rolled up Hechicero for two.
Komander hit a spinning DDT. He went for a springboard moonsault, but Hechicero caught him with a armbar. Komander countered the armbar into a pinfall attempt for a near fall. Komander and Hechicero exchanged forearms. Komander countered a suplex attempt with small package. Hechicero caught Komander with a backbreaker and followed up with a charging knee in the corner. Hechicero then brought Komander down with what can best be described as a headscissors driver to get the pinfall.
Final rundown for Dynamite Wednesday: Brody King v. Claudio Castagnoli, Shelton Benjamin v. Kyle Fletcher, Jay White v. PAC, Swerve Strickland v. Max Caster, and the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal.
This was a fine three out block of professional wrestling.