Posted on 11/28/125 by Bob Magee
Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at AEW! We were thrilled
to be back in Nashville for a special Collision on TNT and
HBO Max, as we continued Continental Classic opening week!
Our main event saw IWGP World Heavyweight Champion “The
Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita of the Don Callis Family come out
on top with a hard-earned victory over Roderick Strong to
earn three points. That puts him on top of the Blue League
alongside Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli. In Gold League
action, PAC continued a perfect week for the Death Riders by
beating “Speedball” Mike Bailey. He joins Kyle Fletcher and
Kevin Knight on top of the table with three points.
Eddie Kingston asked for Katsuyori Shibata and got
everything he could handle from The Wrestler before picking
up an impressive win. After the match, Kingston gave a
heart-felt speech and issued a challenge to Samoa Joe for
the AEW World Championship at Winter is Coming on December
10.
Plus, Daniel Garcia beat Daddy Magic in what’s become a very
personal rivalry, then had to answer to TNT Champion Mark
Briscoe. And Red Velvet made a big challenge to Mercedes
Moné for ROH Final Battle! All that and more went down on a
special Thanksgiving Collision!
Here's everything that happened at AEW Collision for
November 27, 2025, including your full results and match
recaps.
AEW Collision Recap Tonight for Nashville
Continental Classic Gold League: PAC (3 points) def.
“Speedball” Mike Bailey (0 points)
Night Two of the 2025 Continental Classic kicked off on
Thanksgiving Collision with the Death RIders looking to keep
their perfect start to the tournament intact when “The
Bastard” PAC faced down the incomparable Speedball! PAC made
his entrance first, without the Death Riders thanks to the
Continental Classic’s prohibition on outside interference or
people being at ringside, followed shortly by Bailey.
Both men looked to land strikes off the opening bell, with a
series of ducks and counters. Bailey laid in a series of
chops, which PAC countered with a kick to the lower part of
Speedball’s mid-section. Bailey responded with a patented
flurry of kicks, but PAC brought the action to the outside,
where he momentarily incapacitated Speedball with a snap
suplex. PAC followed that up by tossing Bailey into the
guardrail, then brought him the length of the ringside area
to slam him into the opposite guardrail. After the ref told
PAC to get the match back in the ring, The Bastard obliged,
where he continued to dish out punishment on Speedball,
slamming him head-first into the turnbuckle and whipping him
into the opposite corner.
The crowd tried to encourage Bailey with “Let’s go
Speedball!” chants, but PAC wasn’t having any of that, as he
pressed his foot against the back of his opponent’s head to
choke him in the ropes. Back in the middle of the ring, PAC
cranked on Bailey’s neck with a cravat before taking him to
the mat and dropkicking him in the back of the head. PAC
followed that up with a boot in the corner, as it was all
The Bastard in the early going.
After a two-count, PAC pounded Speedball with an elbow to
the top of the head then backed him into the corner. PAC
tried to whip Bailey to the other side, but Speedball held
on and reversed a second whip attempt, climbing to the
middle turnbuckle and taking PAC down with a dropkick!
Bailey landed three stiff kicks on PAC after both men got to
their feet, then busted out a standing Shooting Star Press
for a two-count, forcing PAC to roll to the outside.
Speedball went to dive to the outside, but PAC was quick to
get on the apron, where he caught a lunging kick from
Speedball. Bailey countered and scampered up the ropes for
the triangle moonsault! PAC was down as we went to
commercial!
Back from the break, Speedball was perched atop the top
turnbuckle, but PAC quickly climbed the ropes to snatch
Bailey and toss him overhead nearly to the opposite corner,
hurtling through the air! Both men were feeling the
punishment at that point, but it was PAC who was back to his
feet first. He pulled Speedball to the corner and climbed
the turnbuckles, potentially looking for the Black Arrow.
Bailey recovered and forced PAC down, as the two once again
exchanged strikes and counters. PAC gained the upper-hand
with an incredibly crisp German suplex, until Speedball
found just enough strength to nail a downed PAC by driving
both knees into his midsection.
The ref started to count to 10 with both men down, reaching
eight before PAC and Speedball were able to stand. They
kicked each other in the head, growing more and more
staggered with each blow. Eventually, they began to rebound
off the ropes for added force, until both men crushed the
other simultaneously and rolled to opposite sides outside
the ring to recover. As the ref counted to 10 once more, it
looked as if both men were ready to get back in the ring.
Instead, they circled to the same side and once again
plastered each other with stiff kicks directly on the
other’s chin!
With the ref’s count reset, the two brawled on the outside
right in front of the Continental Title on display, only for
PAC to duck a clothesline, send PAC flipping after
countering a kick, then German suplexing Speedball to the
ground after running him into the announce desk! Referee
Paul Turner started his count again, reaching nine before
Speedball barely made it back to the apron. PAC tried to
seize the opportunity, but Bailey leaped out of the way and
used the top rope to wipe out PAC with a high-arcing
moonsault!
Speedball threw PAC back into the ring and climbed the top
turnbuckle, but PAC was able to dodge the incoming high-risk
maneuver. While Bailey landed on his feet, PAC was waiting
for him and tossed him overhead into the turnbuckles. PAC
ran the ropes to build up momentum, only for Speedball to
rise to his feet and destroy PAC with a roundhouse kick!
Bailey went for a huge spinning kick, but PAC reversed it
into a pinfall for a two-count! The Bastard went for a
German suplex, but Speedball landed on his feet and hit a
poisonrana, followed by a thrust-kick right on the jaw and a
spinning kick to PAC in the corner!
Speedball climbed to the top once again looking for the
Ultima Weapon, but nobody was home! PAC ran the ropes and
used that momentum to uncork a bone-jarring lariat on
Speedball. Wasting no time, PAC locked in The Brutalizer,
and with Bailey out like a light, the ref stopped the match,
giving PAC the victory and three points in the Gold League!
Daniel Garcia Wants Daddy Magic to Bleed One Last Time
Backstage, Lexy Nair caught up with the Death Riders’ Daniel
Garcia and Jon Moxley as they entered the building. Or, at
least, she tried to catch up with them, but Garcia said that
he didn’t even need her to ask a question, because he
already knew what he wanted to say.
"Tonight, I gotta drop off a lot of dead weight that I've
been carrying for a long time, and Daddy Magic, that is you.
I appreciate everything you've done for me, all the love you
had for me, all the sacrifices you made, every time you bled
for me. But tonight I just need you to bleed for me one last
time."
Garcia continued that the bleeding would not be in vain.
Tonight, when Garcia gets through Daddy Magic, he’s going
for the TNT Title once again – and Magic won’t be by his
side for any of it.
We Hear from Brodido
Backstage, Renee Paquette was with Brodido and asked about
their really tough loss to FTR. Bandido said that he was a
little sad, because they lost the titles, and he felt it was
because of him, but he’s also very proud, because Brodido
means so much to him. Brody is his brother, and he’s taught
him how to never stop fighting. And so, the next time
they’re fighting for the titles, Bandido will not let that
happen again.
Brody said that Bandido is right, they are brothers. And
he’s proud of what they’ve done, too – and that doesn’t have
to be over. Brodido will be here in AEW fighting for those
AEW World Tag Team Titles for a very long time. But Bandido
is still a champion, and he has a match at Final Battle next
Friday. And they both know what it takes for Bandido to get
ready for that. So Brody doesn’t want his partner to be sad.
He wants him to be proud and be the man that he is. Brody
wants Bandido to walk into and out of Final Battle as ROH
World Champion.
Daniel Garcia def. Daddy Magic via ref stoppage
Garcia was out first, accompanied by Jon Moxley, as the two
Death Riders made their way through the Nashville crowd to
the ring. Mox then made his way to the announce desk as
Daddy Magic Matt Menard made his entrance next.
Daddy Magic was all business as he entered the ring, glaring
at Garcia and turning to say something to Mox at the desk.
The bell rang, and Garcia and Magic stood across from each
other for several moments, with Daddy Magic screaming at
Garcia. From there, they locked up in a collar-and-elbow tie
up, as Moxley called Garcia a “future top guy.”
Menard backed Garcia into the corner and gave a clean break.
Garcia looked as if he might duck to the outside, but he
stayed in the ring for another collar-and-elbow tie up. This
time, Garcia made a reversal and put Magic in the corner.
Daddy Magic replied by shoving Garcia to the ground and
calling the newest Death Rider a piece of crap. Menard then
mounted Garcia in the corner for punches, using an even
stronger euphemism the second time around. Magic followed
that up with massive clubbing blows to the back of Garcia,
who went to the outside.
Daddy Magic gave chase and whipped Garcia into the barricade
after Garcia got one kick in beforehand. With his former
friend down, Menard turned to talk trash to Mox ever so
briefly, as Mox told him to focus at the task at hand. Magic
pounded on Garcia in the corner of the ring barricades, then
slammed his face into the ring steps and returned to the
corner for more punches. Garcia made his way back into the
ring as Menard threw a chair in anger on the outside.
Garcia had recovered enough to cut off Daddy Magic with a
series of punches when the latter re-entered the ring,
leaving Menard slumped in the corner. With Magic flattened,
Garcia taunted the crowd from the corner, as Mox yelled
words of encouragement. Garcia mimed as if he were going to
do his old dance, but it appeared he flipped off the crowd
instead, as Magic came to his feet with blood streaming down
his forehead as a result of Garcia’s assault. And with that,
we went to commercial.
Back from the break, Menard and Garcia exchanged stiff shots
right in the center of the ring. Daddy Magic looked almost
out on his feet, but he kept firing back up. The first time,
he absorbed a lariat from Garcia, but on the second time, it
was Menard who laid out Garcia with a clothesline of his
own! Magic backed Garcia into the corner and once again
mounted his former friend for punches to the dome. Menard
brought Garcia back into the middle for an attempted
piledriver, but Garcia blocked, flipped Magic to the mat,
and locked in a double-leg Boston crab. Menard reversed and
fought off Garcia, putting the latter into a Boston crab of
his own, sitting down way deep! But Garcia got to the ropes
for the break.
Garcia went back to the outside, and he was waiting for
Daddy Magic when he followed, kicking Menard in the gut and
planting him with a DDT on the outside. Garcia then lifted
Magic to his feet and slammed him head-first into the
announce desk, leaving Menard sprawled out across the
surface. Garcia then moved the ring steps enough to put
Daddy Magic’s head between the steel and the ring post, then
delivered a resounding dropkick to the steps, as Menard got
his hands up to protect his head just in the nick of time.
Garcia taunted the crowd once more as the ref started the
10-count, which Daddy Magic broke by getting back into the
ring at nine – but only after staring daggers through
Moxley. As Mox expressed a modicum of admiration for Magic,
Menard did his own mocking version of Garcia’s dance, then
rolled the Death Rider up for a two-count. Garcia didn’t
take that lightly, however, as he began to chop at Menard’s
chest. The two broke down into a pure brouhaha, punching,
slapping and striking each other however they could. Garcia
locked Daddy Magic into a choke, and just a few moments
later, it was lights out for Menard. Garcia wins via ref
stoppage!
New TNT Champion Mark Briscoe Has a Message for Garcia
As Garcia continued to taunt the beaten Daddy Magic, TNT
Champion Mark Briscoe had seen enough and made his way to
the ring to confront Garcia!
Before Briscoe said a word, the Nashville crowd welcomed him
with a “DEM BOYZ!” chant.
“Now here on this sacred day of the giving of thanks, I am
extremely grateful to be in the great city of Nashville,
baby!” Briscoe started. “I am extremely grateful to be in
the great state of Tennessee, baby! And I am thankful and I
am humbled to be your TNT Champion!”
As the crowd told Briscoe he deserved it, Moxley heard
enough and gave some words of wisdom to Garcia.
“Now Danny Garcia, young Danny Garcia. I’m also thankful for
something you done did because I was having a hard time
trying to decide who was gonna be the first man I was gonna
knock off as champion. You said, you was gonna be gunning
for the TNT Title, a title you once held yourself. Well let
me make it real plain, real simple. I ain’t doing no
ducking. I ain’t doing no dodging. I ain’t need to hear no
more! Young Dan, let me give you some advice: don’t let your
mouth write a check that your ass can’t cash!
“Because just like I’m about to go right and finish off this
plate of turkey, I’m gonna devour these deviled eggs. I’m
gonna eat four or five of these deviled eggs. I'm gonna eat
some macaroni and cheese, baby! Then, I'm gonna dust it off
with some pumpkin pie with some whipped cream on top! Just
like I'm gonna devour that delicious plate, I'm gonna devour
your ass, young boy!”
And with that last line, Briscoe got right in Garcia’s face
and Garcia shoved back with his head before leaving the
ring.
As Briscoe celebrated with the crowd, Garcia and Moxley
reconvened and left the scene.
Ricochet Has Plans for the AEW National Title
In the back, the new AEW National Champion Ricochet was with
GOA, and Bishop Kaun gave “The Light-Skinned Kingpin” quite
the introduction. Ricochet said he will set the tone because
he knows what he's capable of. He ran down the list of
opponents he's beaten, including Will Ospreay, Swerve
Strickland, Mark Briscoe, Kyle Fletcher, and The Hurt
Syndicate.
Ricochet said he's thankful that last year he was in the
Continental Classic, but this year he doesn't have to do
anything because he's a champion. And as the AEW National
Champion, he will represent around the globe to the highest
degree. He's a champion where the best wrestle. And he made
sure to give props to GOA because they made sure the journey
to gold was completed. Toa Liona said it was time to show
their appreciation to Ricochet by having a feast fit for
kings.
Bang Bang Gang Interrupts New AEW World Tag Team Champions
FTR
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to welcome the now three-time
AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR, to the broadcast. Dax
Harwood and Cash Wheeler were joined as they usually are by
Big Stoke, who took the microphone from Schiavone to address
the Nashville crowd.
“Tonight…” Boos! “Tonight…” Boos! “Tonight…” Boos! “Tonight
…” and this time, Stoke finally completed the thought:
“Tonight… tonight is the greatest night of my life. Why?
Because FTR are the AEW World Tag Team Champions.” Stoke
said that what we saw last Saturday at Full Gear was nothing
but a spectacle. We saw it all. But the one match that
everyone talked about was FTR vs. Brodido – another classic
in the book of FTR.
Stoke took that opportunity to go into the lore of FTR.
Every obstacle that’s been put in front of FTR in their
lives, they have prevailed over. And Stoke is humbled and
privileged to introduce the 11-time world tag team
champions, the three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions, FTR!
At that moment, the lights in the house went black, and the
call of “GUNS UP!” echoed across the venue! Austin Gunn and
Juice Robinson were at the top of the entrance ramp. And as
Excalibur reminded us, this is the same Bang Bang Gang that
defeated FTR just a few short weeks ago.
Stoke berated Gunn, who pushed Big Stoke to the side and
grabbed a microphone of his own. Given that Bang Bang Gang
was the last team to beat FTR, Gunn wanted to congratulate
FTR on their championship victory. But then he told the
crowd to put their guns up if they’re sick and tired of FTR.
Juice added that just because FTR are the greatest tag team
of all time doesn’t mean everybody wants to hear it again.
We get it. They’re greater than some of the greatest teams
of all time. Blah blah blah.
But last week, Juice said, the Bang Bang Gang won $200,000.
So now, they’ve got a little bit of green – which means they
might want a little bit of gold. After all, that wasn’t the
first time Bang Bang Gang beat FTR. So Juice wanted Dax and
Cash to know he’s dead serious. It’s going to happen again.
Bang Bang Gang don’t care where or when. All they care about
is the next time FTR faces the Bang Bang Gang, the tag
titles would be on the line.
Dax told Juice that he never wanted him to touch his belt
again – and Austin slapped the belt right off of Dax’s
shoulder! And Gunn said that they’re not just fighting for
the two of themselves. They’re fighting for Colten. They’re
fighting for Jay White. And they’re fighting for everybody
in that arena who still rocks with the Bang Bang Gang. And
if FTR aren’t down with that, they’ve got two words for
them: Guns Up!
MxM TV Casting Call: Dalton Castle & The Outrunners (Turbo
Floyd and Truth Magnum) def. MxM TV (Mason Madden, Mansoor
and Johnny TV) via pinfall
Something wicked this way came – and naturally, it was MxM
TV dressed as the characters from Oz! Mansoor did his thing,
running down the crowd in Nashville, before asking to see
who would answer the Casting Call to get their asses kicked.
The answer to that question was quite the treat: Dalton
Castle and The Outrunners were here to break some hearts!
And Castle said that he saw his “third best friend” from
summer camp in the crowd: country music star Michael Ray!
Castle and The Outrunners went to say hello, then made their
way into the ring, exchanging words with MxM TV on the
outside. As Castle, Floyd and Magnum posed in the ring, MxM
TV attacked them from behind!
Johnny TV and Taya Valkyrie double-teamed Castle on the
outside as the bell rang, with Johnny Taya-Bombing Valkyrie
right into Castle! Meanwhile, Mason attempted to stop Magnum
from power-bombing Mansoor, but Castle recovered to
neutralize Madden, allowing Magnum to power-bomb Mansoor and
make the tag to Turbo! Floyd cleared house on Johnny TV and
Mansoor, but Madden sneaked back into the ring and leveled
the Outrunner with a massive boot to the face. MxM then
mocked The Outrunners “You son of a bitch!” pose and touched
tips – but Turbo dodged the elbows and tagged in Castle, who
was still in his jumpsuit!
Castle ducked under Madden, who ended up straddling the top
rope, before Castle chucked Johnny TV around the ring with a
couple of suplexes. While he was doing that, The Outrunners
were crotching Mason on the top rope over and over and over
again!
When Madden finally made his way free, he walked right into
a suplex from Castle, which The Outrunners followed up with
Total Recall on Mansoor, followed by the Double Bi Double
Elbow Drop, as Castle enjoyed every minute of the setup!
Castle then lifted Mansoor onto his shoulders for the Bang-
a-Rang, and that was all she wrote, as Mansoor stayed down
for the three-count!
The celebration was short-lived, however, as just moments
later, Ricochet and Toa Liona of The Demand appeared at the
top of the ramp. Inaugural AEW National Champion Ricochet
told the Nashville crowd not to boo him, then turned his
attention to Castle and The Outrunners, telling them they
were in HIS ring – and that they might want to turn around
real quick “to get your ass beat real quick.” Sure enough,
Bishop Kaun was stealthily lying in wait, and he planted
Castle with a dropkick square to the chest that sent Planet
Peacock’s favorite resident flying!
Liona leveled Turbo with a head-butt, then GOA made quick
work of Truth. Turbo tried to recover, but he turned right
into Open the Gates by GOA. That left Castle defenseless,
and GOA lifted him up only to send him hurtling face-first
into the mat.
With the ring cleared, Ricochet demanded the respect he felt
he deserved – both from the crowd in general and
specifically from the aforementioned Michael Ray, whom
Ricochet went over to have a little chat with. The AEW
National Champion called Ray “Tim McGraw” and poked at his
chest. That was too much for Ray, who shoved Ricochet from
across the guardrail. Security and several referees tried to
de-escalate things, but Ray jumped the rail, forcing the
officials to keep everyone separated.
The Don Callis Family Shares What They’re Thankful For
Backstage, Lexy Nair was with the bulk of the Don Callis
Family, as she asked Don himself what he has to be thankful
for. Callis said that after Wednesday, he’s thankful that
the Don Callis Family got three points in the Continental
Classic. He then asked various members of the Family what
they’re thankful for. Rocky Romero was thankful for a sick
Don Callis Family-themed jacket with Don’s face on the back.
Hechicero was grateful for being among such great wrestlers
in the Family.
Mark Davis … well, he was grateful for nothing, because he’s
a miserable pr*ck (which Don loves!). Josh Alexander was
thankful for Don’s wisdom. “The Protostar” Kyle Fletcher was
grateful for his health – and for this wealth, baby!
Takeshita was thankful to be in the Continental Classic, and
he was thankful for this Family. And last but not least,
Okada was grateful that he doesn’t have to team with
Takeshita. That didn’t sit well with The Alpha, who started
to walk toward Okada, before the Family kept them separated.
After all, isn’t that sometimes how it goes with Family at
Thanksgiving?
Eddie Kingston def. Katsuyori Shibata via pinfall
Shibata was the first man to the ring, but it didn’t take
long for the fists to start flying! As Kingston made his way
down the ring, he gestured for Shibata to bring it, and The
Wrestler obliged, meeting him outside the ring!
The crowd started “Eddie!” chants right off the bat as these
two men brawled outside the ring, with Shibata grabbing some
of the stiff padding from the ringside area and trying to
beat Kingston down with it. Eddie dodged and got in a few
blows, but Shibata kept the offense coming, countering when
Kingston tried to slam his head into a chair on the outside.
Shibata sat Eddie down in the chair then feigned as if he
were going to deliver a MASSIVE kick to Kingston before
stopping short and kicking the Mad King in the face.
Finally, Shibata rolled Kingston into the ring, and the bell
rang! This match was officially underway! Kingston landed a
couple of big chops then sent Shibata flying with a double-
underhook suplex for a two-count. Shibata rammed Kingston
into the corner and went for a choke. When the ref broke the
hold, he did it again, but Eddie responded with another huge
chop! Shibata ducked under a second chop and suplexed
Kingston to the mat, then Shibata climbed the turnbuckles
and taunted the crowd.
With Eddie down in the opposite corner, Shibata shoved his
boot right into Kingston’s face. Shibata took Kingston over
with a snap-mare then cinched in a double wrist-lock, only
to stomp on the exposed triceps of his opponent. Shibata
took Kingston down again and this time did the same thing to
the other arm. Kingston tried to find some respite against
the ropes, but Shibata refused to let up, putting Eddie in
another double wrist-lock before the Mad King got to the
ropes for the break. Kingston tried to fight out of the
corner, but Shibata regained the advantage with a couple of
stiff shots, as we went to commercial!
Back from the break, Kingston had managed to make things a
little more even by winning an extended chop-battle against
The Wrestler and hitting an exploder suplex. Shibata’s
response was a clear low-blow using Kingston’s own arm that
rocked the Mad King! When Shibata tried to capitalize with
an arm-bar, referee Rick Knox wasn’t having any of it, as he
had seen the illegal strike! Both men went to opposite
corners, and when Shibata tried to charge into Kingston,
Eddie was ready with a big boot that stunned The Wrestler!
The Mad King followed up with a picture-perfect DDT that put
Shibata down for the three-count! Eddie Kingston is your
winner!
After the match, Kingston grabbed a microphone to address
the loving Nashville crowd. He said that he wouldn’t speak
on HOOK’s betrayal, because HOOK is still his boy.
Sometimes, we make bad decisions, and you have to pay for
them. Swerve and Hangman will take care of that.
One of the fans shouted that they loved Kingston, and Eddie
frankly told them that he didn’t feel like he deserved that
love. That’s just the way he is. He doesn’t do it for chants
or anything else, this is just him. Kingston isn’t an actor.
He IS pro wrestling. And that’s why when the fans say they
love him, nah, he loves them, because they love pro
wrestling. Kingston said he wakes up every day not knowing
if he’s going to live or die, because who knows what’s going
on “up here.”
But – and this isn’t for the fans to chant or go on social
media – Kingston does this because somewhere out there,
there’s a little kid watching who loves pro wrestling and is
getting inspired to be in the pro wrestling business. But
then Kingston looks at Samoa Joe, someone that Eddie once
idolized, someone who had one of the greatest championship
runs in professional wrestling history at Ring of Honor, and
now Eddie sees what Joe is doing with The Opps, and that
he’s going to lead HOOK down the wrong path.
Before Joe can corrupt HOOK, and before Joe can call himself
a real AEW World Champion, he has to look in Kingston’s eyes
and see who he is. When Kingston was out for 18 months with
a knee injury, all he could think about was being back in
the ring, because the ring gives him peace. It’s the only
peace he has – when he’s in the ring, fighting. And on
December 10, Winter is Coming. So Kingston wanted Joe to do
him a favor: Don’t be a *****, and defend the AEW World
Championship against the Mad King!
Then, just for good measure, Kingston spotted a young fan in
the crowd, who was brought over to the ramp for Eddie to
lift him up, take him to the ring, wave to the crowd, and
then head back to his seat.
Eddie Kingston is for the children!
Red Velvet Challenges Mercedes Moné for Final Battle!
Backstage, the former ROH Women’s World TV Champion, Red
Velvet, addressed the AEW Women’s World Championship match
between Kris Statlander and Mercedes Moné at this past
weekend’s AEW Full Gear Presented by DC. Velvet acknowledged
how incredible it was that 13 Belts Moné, who beat her to
become the Undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Champion, was in
pursuit of her 14th championship belt. But it turned out
that 13 wasn’t such a lucky number for the CEO.
Velvet said she went back and watched their match, and the
only reason Moné beat her is because she took advantage of a
brief opening. Well, congratulations. But if Velvet knows
anything about Mercedes, it’s that she’s a fighting champion
– and so was she. But the last time she checked, she’s never
seen Moné at Ring of Honor. So at Final Battle, she wants
her rematch.
Thekla def. Tay Melo via pinfall
The Toxic Spider entered first, followed by a bubbly Melo,
who took the time to wave to a multitude of fans in
Nashville. When the bell rang, though, Thekla put an end to
the smiles, charging Melo in the corner and throwing her to
the mat by her hair! Melo responded, mounting Thekla. Both
women rolled back and forth looking to gain an advantage
before Melo was able to elbow Thekla in the face.
Melo maintained control on the mat, kicking Thekla square in
the back when the Toxic Spider ducked under a potential head
kick. Melo then cinched in a modified reverse gogoplata, as
Excalibur noted that we’re not used to seeing Thekla in such
a precarious position. On that note, Thekla got her foot on
the rope to break the hold and turned the tide with a
massive kick to the face of Melo against the ring ropes,
sending both women out onto the ramp just outside the ring,
where Thekla hit a suplex on Melo as we went to commercial!
During the picture-in-picture break, Thekla continued to
handle Melo on the outside before bringing her back into the
ring, taunting Melo with light kicks to the face before
putting Melo into a cross-face then dragging her by the hair
to the corner, bashing her head into the turnbuckle. With
more damage done, Thekla went back to the cross-face,
gouging Melo’s eyes at the same time, as we came back from
commercial!
As Thekla admonished the referee – not the other way around!
– Melo recovered long enough to surprise Thekla with a knee
to the gut. Thekla went to tie Melo up in the ropes, but Tay
slipped out of the initial effort. Thekla wasn’t fazed,
however, as she simply used the middle rope instead of the
top rope to choke her out! Thekla then went for an
incredibly lackadaisical cover, which seemed to fire up
Melo, who backed Thekla against the ropes. Thekla tried to
fight her off with two forearms to the chest, but Melo just
kept coming, hitting a huge pump-kick on Thekla’s jaw in the
corner, then another, then a third! That sent Thekla
slumping to the mat, as Melo stomped on Thekla’s face, threw
her to the middle of the ring, then leveled the Toxic Spider
with a huge kick for a two-count!
Melo lifted Thekla back to her feet, looking for a suplex.
When Thekla attempted to reverse, Melo cracked her on the
jaw, then did it again – but Thekla smiled and laughed, even
though she was clearly in pain, telling Melo to, “Come on,
little girl! Try me!” So Melo put her hair up and slapped
Thekla right across the face. That wasn’t nearly enough, as
Melo clubbed Thekla over and over on the back, only for
Thekla to muster enough strength to stun Melo with an elbow
to the jaw!
That gave Thekla the opportunity to put Melo in The Death
Trap. It looked like Melo might have been out, but she
rolled through to counter for a two-count! Melo ducked a
kick from Thekla, but the second landed. The Toxic Spider
let out a guttural scream then hit her spider pose and went
for the spear … but Melo kneed Thekla in the face! Another
two-count!
Melo followed that up with a Gotch-style piledriver on
Thekla for another two-count, which seemed to frustrate Melo
ever so slightly. Melo set Thekla up for the Tay-KO, but The
Toxic Spider stomped on Melo’s foot to escape, leading to a
spear and a stomp to the back of the head for the three-
count!
After the match, the Sisters of Sin came out to continue the
beatdown on Melo, knowing full well that Anna Jay wasn’t in
the building. But Jamie Hayter was! The former AEW Women’s
World Champion and the target of so much of Thekla’s vitriol
ran down to make the save but quickly realized she was
outnumbered. Before the Triangle of Madness could strike,
though, current AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander
made a save of her own, running off Thekla & Co.!
Continental Classic Blue League: IWGP World Heavyweight
Champion “The Alpha” Konosuke Takeshita (3) def. Roderick
Strong (0) via pinfall
It was time for our main event on Thanksgiving Collision!
First out was the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion, as Don
Callis made his way to the commentary desk – but strictly as
an announcer, given the prohibition against outside
interference or people at ringside in the Continental
Classic.
At the bell, Takeshita and Strong went to a collar-and-elbow
tie up, with Takeshita backing Strong into the ropes before
the ref called for a break. Back in the middle of the ring,
the two fighters laced fingers in a test of strength, as
Takeshita powered Strong to the mat, only for Strong to
reverse into a quick series of holds and counters with
Takeshita. Strong established wrist control before putting
Takeshita into a headlock, as Callis appreciated Strong’s
efforts and conditioning.
Takeshita fought his way back to a vertical base, reversing
another headlock from Strong into an attempted abdominal
stretch, which Strong countered with one of his own, before
Takeshita was able to throw Strong over and to the mat for
the counter! The two men separated, but when they came back
together, Takeshita overpowered Strong for a moment (and
apparently got a swipe in at Strong’s face along the way).
Takeshita smashed Strong into the corner, but Roddy bounced
out with vigor, nailing Takeshita with a backbreaker in the
center of the ring. Strong picked Takeshita up and threw him
into the ring, punching The Alpha in the back on the
rebound, then delivered a couple of vicious chops in the
corner and against the ropes. When Strong looked to take
things to the mat for a bit of grappling, Takeshita escaped
with elbows and went to the outside of the ring, only for
Strong to level Takeshita with a dropkick! Strong gave chase
on the outside and threw Takeshita into the barricade, but
Takeshita reversed a subsequent attempt at further
punishment from Strong with a BLUE THUNDER BOMB ON THE
BARRICADE as we went to commercial!
Takeshita maintained the advantage throughout the break, and
when we returned, The Alpha had Strong locked up in the
middle of the ring. Strong fought back, though, and took
Takeshita down with a dropkick after Takeshita came off the
ropes – a dropkick, Nigel McGuinness noted, that even Okada
would be proud of.
Both men were back to their feet and ran the ropes, with
Strong getting the upper-hand, culminating in a high-angle
suplex. Strong placed Takeshita against the ropes and
chopped him twice, then bounced from corner to corner,
laying in blows on the chin of Takeshita. Strong got a two-
count, then immediately went for the Strong Hold after
Takeshita kicked out – but The Alpha made his way to the
ropes just as quickly to escape.
Strong charged Takeshita, but The Alpha got a boot up to
fend off Roddy, then caught him in another Blue Thunder Bomb
for a two-count! Both men took a moment to catch their
breath as the Nashville crowd chanted, “A-E-Dub! A-E-Dub!”
Takeshita and Strong regained their composure in opposite
corners, but Takeshita struck first, running across the ring
to plant a big boot right on the button of Strong. Takeshita
took Strong to the top turnbuckle and looked as if he were
going for a Raging Fire, but Strong escaped and dazed
Takeshita with a couple of blows to the head, before
snatching Takeshita up off of the top turnbuckle for a
backbreaker on the ropes! Strong went for the pin, but
Takeshita kicked out!
Strong went for a vertical suplex on Takeshita, but The
Alpha countered, only for Strong to float over the top.
Takeshita landed an elbow on Strong’s chin, but Roddy fought
back with a couple of kicks and a gutbuster, setting Strong
up for an inverted fireman’s carry into another backbreaker!
Takeshita rolled through as Strong rebounded off the ropes
to continue his offense with an attempted Sick Kick,
however, and landed a Chaos Theory suplex for a two-count on
the bridge!
Takeshita got back to his feet with Strong still grounded,
crushing Roddy with the Power Drive knee strike, then
quickly lifting Strong up for the Raging Fire and the three-
count! Konosuke Takeshita is victorious in his opening
Continental Classic Blue League match! Another three points
for the Don Callis Family!
Catch AEW Dynamite LIVE on TBS and HBO Max from Fishers,
Indiana, Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. CT!
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