AEW Collision Results: Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights from Aug. 5

Sep 10, 2023

Saturday night was far from the first time a man claiming to be the real world champion competed in a ring in Greenville, South Carolina, but it was the first time CM Punk did so.

The Best in the World defended his version of the title against Ricky Starks in the main event of Collision, a match weeks in the making.

The bout headlined a broadcast that also featured two other championship clashes, as well as the latest from The Acclaimed.

Find out what went down, if any titles switched hands and how it affects All Elite Wrestling's road to All In on August 27 with this recap of the show.

Announced in advance for Saturday's show were:

FTR continued their superb run as AEW World Tag Team champions Saturday, defeating Brian Cage and Big Bill in a high-energy opener in which they absorbed the power and ferocity of the opposition and capitalized on a miscommunication to deliver the Shatter Machine for the win.

The challengers continued to look like a powerhouse tandem right out of the 1980s while FTR was less Midnight Express, and more Rockers as they exploded back into the match with great babyface fire and had the crowd eating out of the palms of their hands.

As high a note as the match started the show on, it was the post-match challenge to The Young Bucks by the champions for a match at All In at the historic Wembley Stadium. It is an enormous match, with history to pull from and genuine interest from fans.

Young Bucks vs. FTR III<br>Wembley Stadium<br>ALL OUT!<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWCollision?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWCollision</a> on TNT!<a href="https://twitter.com/DaxFTR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@daxftr</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CashWheelerFTR?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cashwheelerftr</a> <a href="https://t.co/G7GeNkqfqQ">pic.twitter.com/G7GeNkqfqQ</a>

It is a battle between two top teams with plenty of credibility based on their accomplishments and a showdown that instantly enhances that pay-per-view card.

Result

FTR defeated Bill and Cage to retain

Grade

B+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Kris Statlander withstood a focused attack by Mercedes Martinez to retain the TBS Championship, outwrestling her by scoring a late rollup for the win.

The match was good, physical and Statlander's babyface fire kept the fans invested. The post-match developments, including a heel turn from Diamante and apparently alignment with Mercedes as they beat down the champion appeared to ensure the feud continued while the arrival of Willow Nightingale hinted at a tag team match.

If Collision is destined to be the setting for fresh faces, character and storytelling development, and extended in-ring action, then this writer is all for it.

Martinez, Diamante and Statlander are too good not to be on television while any opportunity to see the delightful Willow is a welcome one.

Result

Statlander defeated Martinez

Grade

B

Top Moments and Takeaways

During a backstage interview with Tony Schiavone, Toni Storm questioned whether she was still a star following her Dynamite main event loss to Hikaru Shida. No longer the women's world champion, she questioned what it meant for her, then stormed off the set.

In the ring, Samoa Joe won the quickest match in Collision history, tapping Serpentico out with the Coquina Clutch.

Afterward, he expressed his desire to battle CM Punk at Wembley Stadium on August 27 at All In, citing an unsatisfactory conclusion to their previous match on Collision.

"A roll-up is not good enough for our legacy!'<br><br>ROH World TV Champion Samoa Joe just challenged the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RealWorldChampion?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RealWorldChampion</a> CM Punk to a match at <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWAllIn?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWAllIn</a>!<br><br>Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AEWCollision?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AEWCollision</a> LIVE on TNT!<a href="https://twitter.com/SamoaJoe?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@SamoaJoe</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/CMPunk?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CMPunk</a> <a href="https://t.co/xodpAtN9zE">pic.twitter.com/xodpAtN9zE</a>

Such a match, if accepted by Punk, would join FTR vs. The Young Bucks (not official) and Adam Cole vs. MJF for the AEW World Championship on what is quickly becoming a must-see card.

Result

Joe defeated Serpentico

Grade

A for all of it

Top Moments and Takeaways

The House of Black earned another successful defense of their AEW World Trios Championship Saturday as Malakai Black, Brody King and Buddy Matthews defeated "Big Shotty" Lee Johnson, Action Andretti and Darius Martin.

The match was every bit as energetic as one would assume given the talent, particularly at the finish. The champions cut off one last attempt at a comeback to retain the gold and set up a showdown with CM Punk and FTR on next week's show, as announced by Riccaboni on commentary after the match.

Another impressive showing for a House of Black finally building momentum, this perfectly set the stage for what will be a dream match of sorts between two of the most prominent and high-powered trios in all of AEW on next week's show.

Result

The House of Black defeated Johnson, Andretti and Martin

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

Jay White returned to Collision this week, defeating Metalik in a match that served as little more than a means of heating "Switchblade" back up following the tag team title match loss to FTR.

No longer burdened by the Lucha House Party nonsense from his previous promotion, Metalik was able to showcase some of his skills but ultimately, White put him down with the Blade Runner and got both he and Bullet Club Gold back on track.

The faction remains one of the centerpieces of the Collision brand and it will be interesting to see which direction White, Juice Robinson and the Gunns head as All In and All Out approach.

As of now, it is not readily apparent.

Result

White defeated Metalik

Grade

C+

Top Moments and Takeaways

CM Punk retained the so-called "REAL" World Championship in the main event of Saturday's Collision, defeating Ricky Starks in a pay-per-view-quality match that saw guest enforcer Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat preventing the challenger from cheating.

The match was further evidence that Starks is a genuine main event guy, not just of the future but of the here and now. He has repeatedly proven an ability to hang with top stars across AEW and this one was no different. The timing was good, he was where he needed to be at every turn.

The post-match assault of Steamboat earned him legitimate heel heat and turned the crowd completely in Punk's favor, the first time that happened all night.

The actions of Starks suggest the feud with Punk will continue in some form or fashion and that is hardly a bad thing, especially as Tony Khan and Co. position him as one of the faces of this new Saturday night brand.

Result

Punk defeated Starks

Grade

A

Top Moments and Takeaways

Collision is still growing and evolving, but it is developing into one of the best wrestling shows on television.

It takes the in-ring action seriously, builds feuds logically and does not overthink them or get too cute with their execution. Punk, FTR, Bullet Club Gold and Starks are the clear centerpieces of the show while House of Black has carved out a nice spot for themselves on the show, too.

In between the matches involving those stars, we saw some really great stuff out of Christian Cage, who sent his daughter packing after she dared ask to hold "his" TNT Championship, and Toni Storm, whose title loss has her questioning what her purpose is.

The overarching story of Punk having so many different rivals and competitors gunning for him, be it Starks, Samoa Joe, or The House of Black, is a quality creative tool that acknowledges that he is the featured star but also elevates everyone else he shares the screen with.

This is a more focused watch than Dynamite has been over the last year or two, with better pacing and tighter production.

This week's show was just another in a string of excellent episodes from a company who may have found its groove on Saturday nights. At least creatively.

Grade: B+