AEW Collision live results: Mercedes Mone & Harley Cameron team up, TNT title match

A night after delivering a memorable performance in the Owen Hart Foundation tournament, reigning TBS Champion Mercedes Mone will compete in tag team action on tonight’s live AEW Collision.

The Boston native returns home for the second consecutive night, this time teaming with Harley Cameron against Kris Statlander and Julia Hart with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm on commentary. Mone will face the winner of Statlander vs. Hayter in the finals of the women’s Owen tourney next month.

After making his promotional debut Wednesday, Josh Alexander will team with Konosuke Takeshita against Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii. Alexander fell in defeat to Hangman Page and attacked him afterward at Don Callis’ behest.

After winning the title at Dynasty, TNT Champion Adam Cole will put his newly-won gold on the line for the first time in an open challenge.

Nick Wayne will challenge for Komander’s Ring of Honor men’s TV title while Kevin Knight will battle Lance Archer.

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THE DEATH RIDERS TAKE OVER THE SHOW

Sir Elton John welcomed us to the Spring Break Thru edition of Collision. Tony Schiavone and Nigel McGuinness were on the stage to welcome us to the show, where they recapped last night’s Dynamite and ran down the card for tonight’s Collision before getting cut off by Marina Shafir attacking a stagehand. She took the mic from Arkady Aura as The Death Riders made their way to the ring.

Claudio Castagnoli destroyed a camera before destroying a cameraman by putting him through a table at ringside. The crowd cursed out Wheeler Yuta as they destroyed the ringside area. The crowd chanted You Tapped Out at Moxley before he told the babyface army to enjoy their celebration as it’s the last one they would be having for a long time. Moxley said that he didn’t want help from The Young Bucks and warned them not to cross him or they would never be seen in pro wrestling again.

Moxley moved onto Samoa Joe, who choked him out last night on Dynamite. He treated Joe with reverence and gave him his space, but Joe started something that Moxley had to finish. He wouldn’t hide and would fight Joe to the death for the AEW World Title because he didn’t know any other way. Moxley officially challenged Samoa Joe and said that Joe knew exactly what he was dealing with. The Death Riders left the scene, allowing the announcers to finish running down tonight’s card.

(A hot start to the show, with a clear direction for the World Title set after Samoa Joe choked out the World Champion last night.)

Kevin Knight vs. Lance Archer (w/ Don Callis)

Archer got a jump start on Knight and dragged him up to the stage to pinball him off the video board and down the ramp. Archer went for a chokeslam from the ramp to the ring, but Knight spun to his feet and dropkicked Archer. Knight hit a springboard moonsault to Archer on the ramp before following with a high cross. Archer shot out of the corner with a lariat to shut Knight down.

A short-arm clothesline from Archer, reminiscent of Archer’s former manager Jake Roberts, laid out Knight as Archer took full control. Knight got Archer to his knees and hit a shoulder block to send Archer to the floor. Callis cut off Knight as he climbed to the top rope, allowing Archer to pull Knight from the ring and swing him into the ring steps as we went to a commercial.

Archer squashed Knight in the corner as we came back from commercial. Archer teased Knight to fight back before drilling him with a forearm. Knight pulled Archer down for a small package for a nearfall, but Archer kicked out and hit a release German suplex. Archer set Knight up for the Blackout, but Knight flipped through to his feet. Knight countered a chokeslam with a dropkick and evaded Archer but ran into a boot from Archer in the corner. Archer set up a chokeslam from the second rope, but Knight pulled Archer down with a headscissors and hit the UFO Splash for a nearfall.

Archer came back with a buckle bomb and a chokeslam for a nearfall. Archer went for a ropewalk, but Knight swiped Archer’s legs out from under him and hit a springboard lariat to the floor. Knight hit another springboard lariat in the ring for the win.

(This was a fantastic match as far as giving Knight some shine against a credible name in Archer. The crowd was fully behind him as he eventually took the big man down for the win. An effective TV match in terms of building Knight as a future star.)

Match Result: Kevin Knight def. Lance Archer

We got video from the new AEW Trios Champions Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, & Powerhouse Hobbs. Samoa Joe said that The Death Riders learned that predators can be hunted too. They were The Opps, they were men just looking for a fight, and they were coming for so much more. Joe indicated that Hobbs was now an official Opp.

(This is the energy I want these Trios Titles to have. Groups of people coming together to fight anybody. A guy who has issues with Samoa Joe personally can find partners to fight them, or a guy who has history with Hobbs. These titles can be vibrant showcases of the roster instead of shackled by the need for a dedicated Trios division.)

Kris Statlander & Jamie Hayter were backstage ahead of their Owen Hart Foundation Tournament semifinal. Statlander said that there were other women in the division worthy of praise. They got in each other’s faces and said that whoever won had better go all the way.

At the desk, Tony Schiavone read a letter from FTR, who were suspended without pay for the week for their actions on last week’s Collision. They apologized for their actions and claimed that their punishment wasn’t strong enough. Harwood claimed that he wouldn’t have gone through with a piledriver to Schiavone, but he felt justified in scaring him for what he said. They gave a disingenuous apology to Nigel McGuinness as well, making it clear that they didn’t think McGuinness could beat them up if they wanted to. Schiavone & McGuinness were nonplussed.

(I enjoy the disingenuous nature of FTR’s characters right now.)

Josh Alexander & Konosuke Takeshita vs. Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii

Don Callis joined commentary as his newest charge took the ring with Takeshita. Ishii and Takeshita got after it while McGuinness announced that Mark Briscoe would be adding a ninth child to the Briscoe Family. There may be more Briscoes than Bullet Club members at this point, congratulations to the Briscoe family. Callis explained that he gave former TNA World Champion Alexander his first contract in the US and stayed in touch with him over the years. Takeshita and Alexander teamed up on Romero, with Alexander hitting his sick car crash crossbody off the apron as we went to commercial.

After the break, Romero hit a top rope Sliced Bread to Takeshita before tagging in Ishii, who ran wild on Alexander. The match broke down into a Pier Six brawl as bodies flew everywhere. Takeshita shoved Romero onto Ishii’s cover, and the two argued before they got shoved into each other. Alexander got Ishii in an ankle lock before Romero broke it up.

Alexander scored with a German suplex for a nearfall before Romero broke it up. A double team got broken up by Alexander, and Ishii accidentally caught Romero with a lariat before Alexander rolled up Ishii for a nearfall. Ishii scored with a headbutt and went for the tag, but Romero hopped off the apron and left Ishii to the dogs. The Callis Family hit a pair of forearms before Alexander hit a powerbomb for the win.

The crowd chanted Rocky Sucks like it was 1997 as Romero got back into the ring looking apologetic. He went to help Ishii up before Ishii shoved him. From behind Ishii emerged Trent Beretta, and the seemingly reformed Roppongi Vice laid the boots to Ishii. The Callis Family came back to ringside to welcome Beretta back. Callis handed Beretta a giant wrench, and Beretta drilled Ishii in the back of the head. The Callis Family stood hand in hand with Roppongi Vice to end the segment.

(A solid match, but the story is the return of Trent Beretta after another long injury layoff and the addition of Roppongi Vice to the Callis Family. The Romero turn was done well, as Rocky fought hard but got tired of the miscommunication. RPG Vice is a hell of an addition to the tag team ranks and will be a great addition to AEW TV going forward.)

Match Result: Josh Alexander & Konosuke Takeshita def. Tomohiro Ishii & Rocky Romero

Lexy Nair’s guest at this time was Mercedes Mone. After reminding Nair that she’s beaten Kris Statlander twice, Mini Mone entered the frame. This was some more comedy with Harley Cameron.

Megan Bayne (w/ Penelope Ford) vs. Rebecca Scott & Ashley Vox

The locals had a decent idea of getting a jumpstart on Bayne, but Bayne took them down with a double German suplex. Bayne took Vox down with three powerbombs, dropped Scott with a jumping clothesline, then dropped Scott on top of Vox with Fate’s Descent for the quick win. Bayne made them both bow down before standing tall.

Match Result: Megan Bayne def. Rebecca Scott & Ashley Vox

We got a video package for Anthony Bowens, where he repeated the five tools he had and hit all of his catchphrases.

Adam Cole came out for a TNT Title Open Challenge. Cole was listed as representing “Paragon,” which might be the new name of the Undisputed Kingdom. The challenge was answered by Claudio Castagnoli.

AEW TNT Title Match – Adam Cole (c) vs. Claudio Castagnoli

Cole took the fight to Castagnoli, but Castagnoli took him down with a slam and a boot out of the corner. Cole fought Castagnoli off and took him down with a neckbreaker for a one count. Cole caught Castagnoli with a superkick to the knee and a shining wizard for a nearfall, then sent Castagnoli to the floor with bicycle kicks. Castagnoli brought Cole to the floor, where they fought around ringside before Castagnoli dropped Cole back-first on the barricade. Castagnoli hit a Gorilla Press to Cole over the barricade as the crowd chanted AEW.

Castagnoli took Cole down with a lariat as he re-entered the ring. After a commercial, Castagnoli pinballed Cole around with uppercuts before running into a superkick. Cole hit a backstabber for a nearfall. Castagnoli backdropped out of the Panama Sunrise but caught a superkick after a back and forth. Cole hit a neckbreaker over the knee for a nearfall.

Castagnoli countered a second Sunrise attempt into a Giant Swing for a nearfall, before transitioning into a Crossface. Cole rolled back into a pin for a nearfall, then caught a launching Castagnoli with a superkick for a nearfall. Cole went to drop The Boom, but Castagnoli hit the Swiss Death uppercut for a nearfall. Castagnoli hammered Cole with uppercuts in the corner before hitting a superplex, but Cole pulled Castagnoli back with a crucifix pin to get the win.

The rest of “The Paragon” came out to celebrate with Cole before leaving. Castagnoli lost his mind at ringside, tipping the announce table over before the rest of the Death Riders came out to calm him down. The crowd chanted LOSERS as the Death Riders left.

(A much better showing for Cole in his first TNT Title defense. Castagnoli losing his mind after the match may be the signs of a crack in the Death Riders after their first big loss. As an aside, did I miss when they started calling the Undisputed Kingdom “The Paragon”? When did that happen?)

Match Result: Adam Cole def. Claudio Castagnoli to retain the TNT Title

We got a recap of Chris Jericho’s TV Time from last week where he took a leave of absence. Lexy Nair’s guests at this time were Big Bill & Bryan Keith. Bill said that he was angry, but Keith calmed him down and said that if they were a family, they needed to handle things in-house. Keith said that maybe if Bill hadn’t put Jericho on blast last week, then Jericho wouldn’t have left. Bill said that maybe they shouldn’t be living and dying by Jericho’s whims, but said that they needed to crack some skulls and get some wins either way.

La Faccion Ingobernable vs. KM, Rosario Grillo, & LSG

Rush is back, and he’s here with Dralistico and The Beast Mortos. This was a beating, and Rush pinned KM with The Bull’s Horns.

Match Result: La Faccion Ingobernable def. KM, Rosario Grillo, & LSG

Renee Paquette’s guest at this time was Kevin Knight, who was hanging out with Speedball Mike Bailey. Ricochet cut them off, complaining about his team’s loss in the $400,000 tag match from Dynamite last week. Ricochet told them not to annoy the vets around AEW, claiming that they’re far below his level. Knight said that he could do everything Ricochet could do, but Ricochet couldn’t swing his hair around like Knight could. They got in each other’s faces and Knight feigned a slap and made Ricochet flinch. Knight and Bailey left, and Renee flipped her hair before leaving Ricochet by himself.

ROH World Television Title Match – Komander (w/Alex Abrahantes) (c) vs. Nick Wayne

ROH announcer Bobby Cruise handed the ring announcements for this one. Wayne refused the Code of Honor, spitting at Komander instead. Komander laid in some strikes and took Wayne down with a headscissors. Wayne rolled out of the way of the ropewalk Shooting Star, then after some back and forth, sent Komander to the floor on a springboard attempt. The rest of The Patriarchy were watching the match backstage at a normal TV-watching angle.

After a commercial, Komander caught Wayne with a fancy flash pin for a nearfall. Komander caught Wayne with a big backbreaker as the crowd chanted his name. Komander hit a double jump kick to Wayne on the top rope, then hit a senton over the ropes onto Wayne as he laid on the ramp. Komander hit a step-up moonsault for a nearfall. The crowd chanted Who’s Mom, Nick’s Mom as Wayne caught Komander with a flash pin before sending Komander into the turnbuckles.

Komander came back with a poisonrana for a nearfall. Wayne caught a launching Komander with a Dragon Suplex with a bridge for a nearfall. Komander cut off Wayne’s World and hit a springboard destroyer before landing a step-up moonsault to big cheers from the crowd. Wayne cut off the ropewalk Shooting Star with boots to the face, then hit the Prodigyplex for the win and the ROH TV Title. The Patriarchy looked pleased in the back.

(A great title match, and a great showcase for both of these young talents. The crowd was rabid for this one after the commercial break. Glad to see AEW giving Nick Wayne some momentum on-screen ahead of Best of the Super Juniors.)

Match Result: Nick Wayne def. Komander to win the ROH World Television Title

It was announced during this match that next week’s Playoff Palooza Collision will air after the NBA playoff games next Saturday night.

We got a video package for Hologram, as he returns to action next week.

Top Flight were backstage. They announced that next week they would get another match with The Cru, and this time, it would be a Tornado Tag Match. The Cru came for a fight, but security broke them up.

Julia Hart & Kris Statlander vs. Harley Cameron & Mercedes Mone

AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm joined commentary.

Cameron tried to use Mini Mone to get a quick rollup, but Statlander was too strong. Cameron eventually got a rollup after a sequence for a nearfall. Julia Hart tagged in and hit Old School on Cameron, which was funny to me for some reason. What was funnier was Storm on commentary saying that she wouldn’t be walking the streets calling herself a CEO right now. Statlander and Mone fought on the floor in front of Storm as we went to a commercial break.

After the break, Mone took Statlander up for the Three Amigos, but Statlander responded by doing the Three Amigos with both Mone & Cameron. Jamie Hayter was impressed while watching in the back. Statlander went for the 450 Splash, but Mone and Cameron rolled out of the way. Hart tagged in and moonsaulted onto both of them. Mone sent Hart into the corner, but Mone caught her with a Spider Suplex.

A Pier Six brawl broke as all four women got their moves in, ending with Mone stuffing a moonsault attempt with the knees. Statlander lost her footing with Mone and almost dropped her on her head, but eventually they got to where they were going, with Cameron tagging in. As Hart held Mone in the Tarantula, Statlander hit a discus lariat and the Hayterade on Cameron for the win, sending a message to her opponent on Dynamite.

(Jamie Hayter not being in this match was interesting, as instead we had Statlander in the ring with Mone as a possible preview of the Owen Finals. The match was fine, aside from the one scary spot. This wasn’t quite up to the last two AEW shows, but this was a quality episode of TV.)

Match Result: Kris Statlander & Julia Hart def. Harley Cameron & Mercedes Mone

During this match, Speedball Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight vs. The Young Bucks was announced for Dynamite.