8 Ups & 1 Down For AEW Collision (Nov 4 - Results & Review)

7. A Hot, Familiar Opener

For those of us who have a smile put on our faces simply by hearing the words Lucha Underground, it's always great to see Killshot and Dante Fox do battle. Or, as we find ourselves in more recent times, Swerve Strickland and AR Fox.

Swerve vs. Fox was a great way to open AEW Collision, with these long-time rivals always likely to deliver something fun and frenetic - and that was again the case here.

Having Fox interrupt Strickland's pre-titles promos was a brilliant way to kick things off with Collision, and post-Elton John we saw the two brawling on the stage and into the ring. Not just was this a unique way to start the show, but it was a genuinely exciting one, with AR showing some nice intensity as he took the fight to his former friend.

Of course, wherever Swerve Stickland goes these days, Prince Nana is never far behind, and Nana was again great here in his trash-talking, particularly where it pertains to his lambasting of referee Aubrey Edwards. Likewise, the Gates of Agony were also ringside to help stack the odds further against AR Fox.

As expected, Swerve eventually picked up the win at around the ten-minute mark, landing the top-rope double stomp for the 1-2-3. Given how Strickland has a rematch with 'Hangman' Adam Page on the horizon, he was always likely to score the victory here, unless Hangman himself got involved to run interference.

Post-match, AR Fox was saved by FTR as the Gates of Agony circled in, which itself led to Big Bill and Ricky Starts heading out, only to be followed by LFI as Collision set the table for its eight-man main event.

And while Strickland vs. Page II should be a blast, later in this episode also set up Swerve and Penta El Zero Miedo to do battle on Wednesday's Dynamite; another clash of Lucha Underground alumni.