Posted on 5/23/125 by Bob Magee
Adam Cole Kicks Things Off
Tony Schiavone and Excalibur were on commentary for this
Thursday night episode of AEW Collision, and they were
joined by the AEW TNT Champion, Adam Cole, whose Paragon
brethren would be in action later in the night against the
Grizzled Young Veterans.
Contract Signing for FTR vs. Nigel McGuinness and Daniel
Garcia
Before Schiavone could join Excalibur and Cole at the
commentary desk, he was in the ring for the official
contract signing between Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler
(accompanied by Big Stoke) and their Double or Nothing
opponents, McGuinness and Garcia.
FTR and Stoke came out first, followed by Garcia alongside
Daddy Magic. That just left McGuinness, who made his way to
the ring amid a warm welcome from the New Mexico crowd. Once
all parties were in the ring, Schiavone presented the
contract to FTR to sign. Before that, though, Wheeler took
the microphone and said that this was one last opportunity
for Garcia and McGuinness to change their minds. FTR still
sees Garcia as a son. Does he really want to throw it all
away to align himself with the likes of Daddy Magic and
McGuinness?
As for McGuinness, Wheeler knows that he’s paid to talk now.
But Sunday, there is no commentary table to hide behind.
There is no magic trick to save McGuinness. It’s just Nigel,
a shell of his former self, against the greatest tag team of
all time. Is Nigel sure that’s what he wants? And with that,
FTR signed the contract.
Garcia took the mic and acknowledged that of course he still
cares about FTR. That’s not just something that goes away.
But when he looks at them now, he just sees a couple of
violent sociopaths. Garcia didn’t turn his back on them;
they turned their back on him. Now, Garcia’s standing up for
himself. But not just himself – he’s standing up for Tony
Schiavone, and Daddy Magic, and Cope, and everyone who has
had enough of the both of them.
But FTR are right about one thing. They are the greatest tag
team that wrestling has ever seen. But this Sunday,
according to Garcia, isn’t going to be a wrestling match.
It’s going to be a fight. Turning to McGuinness, Garcia
knows Nigel has that little voice in his head that’s making
him doubt. But Garcia sees the look in McGuinness’ eyes.
It’s the same look he had when he was fighting Samoa Joe and
Bryan Danielson and being one of the greatest ROH World
Champions of all time. And no matter what FTR say or what
McGuinness feels, Garcia – and everybody in the building –
knows that he’s still got it.
Whether he’s still got it or not, McGuinness said, we’ll
find out on Sunday night at Double or Nothing. But before he
signs the contract, McGuinness told FTR that he needs their
word, for whatever it is worth, that after Sunday, no matter
the outcome of the match, that FTR don’t touch, let alone
talk or even look at, Tony Schiavone or McGuinness ever
again. Because if they do, he promises them that it’ll be
Top Guys Out for good.
As McGuinness went to sign the contract, Harwood snatched
the mic. Before they wrapped that whole thing up, he wanted
Nigel to look him in the eyes while he signed that contract,
because Harwood needed to know that this is what McGuinness
really wants to do. It’s not 2009. This is 2025, and
McGuinness has a beautiful family that Harwood insisted
Nigel needs to think about. Harwood knows that the wrestling
business has beaten McGuinness up throughout the years. And
if he wants FTR to finish the job, all he has to do is sign
the contract. If he does, then the blood is on Nigel’s
hands. FTR will hold no responsibility for what happens.
Or, McGuinness could turn around, get out of the ring, walk
all the way over to the commentary desk – where, Harwood
said, he belongs – and maybe they can even be friends.
Harwood delivered that last bit while condescendingly
patting McGuinness on the cheek, which prompted Nigel to
state very simply that Harwood shouldn’t touch him again.
Why so serious, Harwood wondered? This is just business. If
it were personal, Dax would have already splattered
McGuinness’ nose across his face. But this is business, and
on Sunday, FTR will be businessmen. Harwood just hopes that
McGuinness can be a businessman himself on Sunday.
Another condescending pat to the face by Harwood was too
much for McGuinness, as he and Garcia attacked FTR and
locked both Wheeler and Harwood into submissions in the
middle of the ring, necessitating an intervention from
security to separate the two sides. Finally, McGuinness got
the last word, telling FTR that he’ll look into their souls
and that on Sunday, this ends.
Timeless Toni Storm is Ready for Mina Shirakawa
So many women have died when they were young, only for their
bodies to be buried much later, opined the AEW Women’s World
Champion. But Mina Shirakawa has only ever made Toni Storm
feel very much alive. She has appreciated Shirakawa, admired
her, and by God, she has envied her. But now, Mina is here
to stay. The safari is over. And it’s much more difficult to
survive the squared jungle when this pussy is on the prowl.
Storm had always had a premonition that this journey would
end in tragedy. So if there’s anyone that can stop this
belle from shining in her reflection at All In, then there’s
no one more talented than Shirakawa. The champ just has one
request. Sunday, give Storm your damnedest in the desert.
And then, decades from now, when they’re in the wrestling
retirement home, Storm will turn to Shirakawa and say,
“Mina! You lusty, busty bastard. We LIVED.”
Trios Match: RPG Vice & Konosuke Takeshita vs. Outrunners &
Bandido
Don Callis also joined the commentary desk for this one,
stating before the bell that he’s quite the fan of Adam Cole
– something the TNT Champion found hard to believe. In the
ring, ROH World Champion Bandido and Trent Beretta started
the action. A series of counters and chops left Bandido in
the driver’s seat, as he lifted Beretta for a stalling
vertical suplex and held him aloft for more than 10 seconds.
When Rocky Romero and Takeshita attempted to make the save,
the Outrunners were quick to cut both off, hitting them with
vertical suplexes of their own in unison with Bandido.
Truth Magnum became the legal man on his side, with the Don
Callis Family able to isolate one half of the Outrunners on
their side of the ring. Once Magnum did make his way over to
tag in Bandido, the ROH World Champ cleared the ring,
setting up a stiff altercation with Takeshita. Bandido got
his licks in, but Takeshita leveled his opponent with one
brutal forearm to the chin. Bandido rolled to the apron and
climbed the turnbuckle, taking out Takeshita with a
tornillo.
Bandido attempted a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker, but Takeshita
reversed into a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two-count that was
broken up by the Outrunners. RPG Vice sent Truth and Turbo
out to the floor, giving the Don Callis Family an
opportunity to hit some triple-team offense on Bandido. The
Outrunners returned to save their partner, as Bandido nailed
Romero with a GTH. Takeshita snaked his way back into the
ring for a German suplex on Bandido, but Bandido rolled
through to land a thrust kick, leaving both men on the mat.
Bandido made the tag to Turbo Floyd, who hit both members of
RPG Vice with a big haymaker, then scoop slammed all three
members of the Don Callis Family. The Outrunners gave
Takeshita the double Bionic Elbow, but Rocky interrupted an
attempted Total Recall before Lance Archer, who had been
lurking at ringside the whole time, crushed Bandido on the
outside. With the numbers in their favor, Trent and
Takeshita set both members of the Outrunners up, and Rocky
came off the top rope to drive them head first into the mat
and score the win for the Family.
Gabe Kidd: Anarchy Incarnate
The hired gun for the Death Riders doesn’t understand why he
has to explain himself, but he’ll make things very clear.
Why would Gabe Kidd join up with the Young Bucks? Why would
Gabe Kidd join up with Jon Moxley? It’s very simple. “They”
want to save AEW? “They” want to protect AEW from the Death
Riders & Co.? How are you going to do that when they are
eating it alive from the inside?
At AEW Double or Nothing, they will paint a picture of the
spirit of professional wrestling. And they will paint it in
blood.
TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Moné vs. Reyna Isis
Just three days before her Owen Hart Cup Women’s Tournament
final against Jamie Hayter, the AEW TBS Champion proved how
much of a fighting champion she is by putting her title –
and her 25-0 undefeated record in AEW – on the line against
CMLL’s Reyna Isis.
The women began with a collar-and-elbow tie up that gave
neither the advantage. A second exchange led to a roll-up by
Isis, followed by a hurricanrana and a roll-up of her own by
the TBS Champion.
With both women back on their feet, Isis gestured toward her
waist in the universal sign for “championship belt,” then
did a little dance. Moné responded by locking in the
Statement Maker, then doing the CEO dance once Isis got to
the ropes and forced a break.
A big leg drop off the top rope to a dangling Moné scored a
two-count for Isis, followed by another near-fall after two
massive running blows off the rope to the champion. Isis
landed two rising knees to the face of Moné, but she caught
the third and took Isis to the mat with a head-scissors
takeover, setting her up in the corner for a Meteora. But
Isis had the wherewithal to counter Moné coming off the top
rope into a codebreaker.
The counters kept coming, as the TBS Champion slipped behind
her opponent for a backstabber. Isis attempted to regain the
momentum, but all it took was a moment for Moné to cinch in
the Statement Maker and pick up the submission win.
After the match, Moné’s Double or Nothing opponent, Jamie
Hayter, came out from the back, but security was quick to
keep the Owen Hart Cup finalists separated. We’ll have to
wait until Sunday to watch these two settle things in the
ring.
The Sons of Texas Have Earned This
It’s been six years since the very first Double or Nothing,
a moment in time that will never be forgotten. And Dustin
Rhodes will never forget about making history there with his
brother. He has given his soul for this. Dustin and Sammy
Guevara are the Sons of Texas – two men, Guevara noted, who
have been at AEW since Day One. And yes, they’re ROH World
Tag Team Champions, but they want more gold.
The Hurt Syndicate likes to hurt people? Well, have at it.
The Sons of Texas will risk everything to get everything. If
you’re a betting man, bet on the Day One guys.
Kyle Fletcher vs. Jay Lethal
Two former ROH World TV Champions collided in this one, with
Fletcher accompanied to the ring by both Don Callis and
Lance Archer.
Lethal played some Ric Flair-based mind games to claim the
upper-hand to start, fending off Fletcher stomping on him in
the ring and trying to take the fight to him on the outside.
But a moment’s lapse in focus to fist-bump Adam Cole at the
commentary desk spelled a superkick to the face for Lethal.
Both men made their way back into the ring, where Lethal
targeted Fletcher’s knees before finally being able to tie
the Protostar into a figure-four leglock. Fletcher suffered
for nearly a full minute before he was able to make it to
the ropes and force a break. Lethal climbed to the top rope
for a King’s Elbow, but Fletcher leaped to stymie Lethal
with a blow to the head. Lethal beat Fletcher back to the
mat and set up once again for the Elbow, but Fletcher got
the knees up for the counter. A stiff kick to the chest in
the corner by Fletcher was followed by a brainbuster on
Lethal to give the Protostar the win.
With the match in the books, Takeshita and Josh Alexander
came out to continue the assault on Lethal. Adam Cole took
umbrage with that, making his way into the ring to confront
the Don Callis Family. Moments later, Paragon’s music hit,
and Kyle O’Reilly and Roderick Strong hit the ring, sending
the Family scattering. Back at the announce desk, Cole said
that he couldn’t sit back and let that happen, and that he
thinks the Don Callis Family needs to be taught a lesson – a
lesson Paragon would be more than happy to impart.
Paragon vs. Grizzled Young Veterans
James Drake and Kyle O’Reilly were in the ring first,
showing off their wrestling chops, before O’Reilly quickly
tagged in Roderick Strong, landing some tandem offense
before O’Reilly exited to the apron. Drake backed his way
toward Zack Gibson, who tagged himself in, saved Drake from
a suplex, then sent Strong to the corner for back elbows by
both members of GYV. Strong ate a European uppercut from
Gibson but slipped over the top and tagged in O’Reilly.
Gibson made the tag to Drake, and the two tripped O’Reilly
then landed a low dropkick to the temple on the Paragon
member.
O’Reilly made the tag to Strong, who came in like a house on
fire with a backbreaker and a high angle suplex on Drake and
Gibson. Unfortunately for Strong, O’Reilly had taken a
beating, leaving Strong alone to try to combat both members
of GYV. Gibson hit a lungblower on Strong followed by a
coast-to-coast dropkick by Drake. It was only a last-second
save by O’Reilly that prevented a pinfall victory by GYV.
With both members of Paragon looking worse for the wear,
Grizzled Young Veterans started to mix in some trash talk
with their brutal blows. Perhaps that was a mistake, though.
In the blink of an eye, O’Reilly and Strong took Drake out
with a high-low and got the win. Cole then brought things
back to the Don Callis Family, laying down a challenge for
the Family to take on Paragon at Double or Nothing this
Sunday.
Josh Alexander vs. AR Fox
Did someone order more Don Callis?! The Walking Weapon made
his way to the ring first, with Callis sitting in on
commentary once again, followed by an energetic entrance by
Fox.
Callis had heard Cole’s challenge backstage, and he was more
than game to accept. In fact, Callis was ready to give
Paragon the Big Three of the Don Callis Family: Takeshita,
Kyle Fletcher and Josh Alexander.
But first, Alexander was set to take on Fox, catching the
high-flyer right out of midair and slamming him straight
into the mat. In the corner, Alexander laid in a big chop,
but Fox countered in the other corner for a cutter. That
sent the Walking Weapon to the outside to gather his wits,
but Fox kicked the Walking Weapon right on the chin and
followed that up with a moonsault. The advantage was short-
lived, though, as Alexander cut Fox off in the ring and
mounted him for several bone-jarring shots to the skull.
Alexander went for the ankle lock, but Fox slipped out and
hit two more cutters on Alexander, then took out the Walking
Weapon with a huge dive over the top rope to the outside.
Back in the ring, both men dodged out of the way of the
other, but Alexander caught Fox once more for a huge German
suplex then the C4 Spike for the win.
CMLL Trios Match: Los Depredadores (Volador Jr., Magnus and
Rugido) vs. Mistico, Mascara Dorada and Templario
Templario and Rugido started things off for their respective
sides, and they started things off at a fever pitch.
Templario rocked Rugido with several leaping kicks, then
made the tag to Dorada, as Magnus made his way into the ring
for Los Depredadores. Bodies kept flying in and out of the
ring, as Dorada showed off his athleticism and took down
Volador Jr. with a spinning head-scissors takeover.
Los Depredadores feigned as if they were going to head back
to the locker room, but after they took a moment to collect
themselves, they went back to their corner, sending Volador
Jr. in to face off with Mistico. Volador Jr. was prepared
for Mistico’s acrobatics, as he dropkicked the masked
wrestler square in the back as Mistico came bouncing off the
ropes. But Mistico recovered and took out all three members
of Los Depredadores, opening the door for Mistico, Mascara
Dorada and Templario to hit stereo dives to the outside on
their opponents.
Mistico and Templario continued to take out Los Depredadores
with dives to the outside. Meanwhile, Mascara Dorada spiked
Magnus with a poisonrana, then landed a Shooting Star Press
for the win.
Kris Statlander’s Message to Willow Nightingale
Statlander mused over a few questions with regard to her
relationship with Willow: Namely, what did Stat ever do to
her? Besides spear her off a stage, drop her head-first into
thumbtacks, and choke her with a chain?
OK, maybe Willow has a point. But here’s Statlanders: She’s
sorry. She’s made mistakes. But she’s a very dangerous
person. So be careful who you push, because they might just
push back.
Speedball Mike Bailey and Komander vs. RUSH and Dralistico
With Bailey and Komander in the ring, RUSH came down the
entranceway alone – which, unsurprisingly, was a ruse, as
Dralistico attacked LFI’s opponents from behind. He and RUSH
laid waste to both Bailey and Komander on the outside, even
smashing a can of Idrinq into Bailey’s face.
Bailey countered RUSH’s attempt to send him into the ropes,
though, and made the tag to Komander as the two cleared
house. Both Bailey and Komander nailed RUSH and Dralistico,
respectively, with two dives to the outside, but on the
third, the members of LFI stepped aside.
Dralistico tore at Komander’s mask with the two men perched
on the top turnbuckle, then tied Komander into the tree of
woe and kicked him square in the breadbasket. Double-team
offense from LFI wasn’t enough to keep Komander from tagging
in Bailey, who went to work with his educated feet on
Dralistico from head to toe.
RUSH tagged in for LFI, with Bailey brave enough to stand
toe-to-toe with the larger, stronger man. A spinning discus
forearm put an end to that illusion, however, with RUSH
smashing Bailey into the corner then striking the tranquilo
pose in the middle of the ring. When RUSH was knocked to the
outside by Komander and Dralistico rushed to his teammate’s
aid, Bailey countered the charging luchador with a thrust
kick then a triangle moonsault to Dralistico on the outside.
Komander then wiped out both members of LFI with an
incredible corkscrew dive with absolutely unbelievable
height on it.
Stereo Shooting Star Presses scored a stereo two-count for
Bailey and Komander, but LFI kicked out. Bailey made the tag
to Komander and set Dralistico up for a springboard
destroyer, only for RUSH to break up the subsequent pin. A
massive headbutt from RUSH took out Komander, and a knee
strike sent Bailey rolling to the ring floor. On the
outside, Speedball evaded a stampeding RUSH, instead sending
him crashing into the ring steps. With RUSH out of the
picture, Komander landed a Cielito Lindo for the win.
Once the bell rang, the coin dropped. AEW Continental
Champion Kazuchika Okada came out to the ring to stare down
his Double or Nothing opponent. Speedball attempted to show
respect with a bow and a handshake, but Okada wanted none of
it, instead flipping off Bailey. Speedball kicked Okada’s
extended middle finger, followed up with another kick to the
face, then took out Okada with a dive to the outside – and
took his Continental Champion on his way to the back for
good measure.
Catch AEW DOUBLE OR NOTHING live on PPV THIS SUNDAY at 8e/5p
from the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, AZ!
Empty heading
Tickets On Sale Now! – www.AEWTix.com
Empty heading
And remember… We are AEW—Where The Best Wrestle!