Wait? What is this? A review of AEW Collision? You got it!
Usually, I watch bits and pieces of it live, or wait until Sunday to watch the whole thing. I’ve noticed in the past few weeks I’ve been compelled to sit and watch the whole thing live as I feel like this has become WWE’s version of Smackdown! This is not just a B-level show, but a show which is just as important as events on their flagship show, Dynamite.
This is evidenced by the fact that AEW Collision Homecoming was home one to one of the most shocking reveals in recent history. Toni Storm, the Timeless one, revealed her plot all along into scoring a date with destiny in challenging Mariah May for the AEW Women’s Championship at Grand Slam in Australia.
"They say the hardest role you will ever play is yourself… But what you've just witnessed is the performance of a lifetime!"
Timeless Toni Storm is BACK as #AEWCollision Homecoming is LIVE on TNT and max
— AEW On TV (@aewontv.bsky.social) January 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
This was a masterclass. Work of art. In fact, I think all of the fricken social media had to stop, gasping in unison at the reveal. Beautiful. To think, this whole time “The Rookie” gimmick was all a charade and getting her a number one contender spot. funny how the tables have turned and now the current women’s world champion finds herself scurrying for cover.
While I understand some out there in social media land we’re just made this didn’t take place on dynamite, this reveal on Collision shows the importance of the second program. Much like how main eventers and champions will appear on both RAW and Smackdown!, the same can be said for both Dynamite and Collision.
Further down the show was a crazy brawl between Big Bill and Powerhouse Hobbs. It seems to me but lately the brawls produced by AEW seem to have more feeling and a lasting impact on a longer story. This was no different, while it’s not a championship match it does keep Hobbs fresh in our minds and expecting big things from the big man in the near future.
Overall the night was filled with solid and ring action, Samoa Joe didn’t exactly squash Nick Wayne, but honestly there seemed to be no way in hell the shrimpy member of the Patriarchy even stood a chance.
After the night, and honestly should be run again as a pay-per-view match, Katsuyori Shibata versus Konosuke Takeshita. Was a title change in the works? Probably not, and that’s the only detraction from this near Five Star match. The main event was fantastic, I honestly felt like I was watching a match from New Japan or DDT. It’s difficult to watch Shibata take a loss, but it was 95% clean and in the match that they had it is the way you want it to go.
I have the distinct feeling that viewers will want to pay more attention to Collision in the coming weeks and months as the quality of the program continues to improve. hell, Jim Ross was on commentary tonight. What more could you want?
