8 Ups & 4 Downs For AEW Collision (19 August)
1. Another Dazzling Collision Main Event
With each passing week, there's the thought that surely AEW Collision can't serve up yet another mesmerising main event. To the show's immense credit, there's now been ten episodes of Collision, and all ten have delivered a main event that's been good, great, or a bona fide Match of the Year contender.
For just shy of 21 minutes, Christian Cage and Darby Allin closed out this week's Collision with a belter.
This is the first time that the two have gone one-on-one, and they carved up a marvellous story based around the fiery, frenetic, risk-taking babyface trying to overcome the cunning, underhand veteran and his "Sea Monster".
That Cage can operate at such a high level at the age of 49 is remarkable, particularly when thinking of the wear and tear put on his body in the various high-risk gimmick matches of yesteryear. And for Darby Allin, the snap with which he performs every move and takes every bump is just ridiculous. Without any sense of hyperbole, there simply isn't anyone in the world like Darby.
After Luchasaurus had been sent to the back, there was a great nearfall as Allin kicked out at 2.99 following a TNT Title shot to the head. That was soon followed by another great spot where Cage nailed his opponent with a spear; the finishing manoeuvre of his long-time BFF Edge, of course.
Darby would eventually manage to outsmart the wily veteran, reversing an Unprettier into a jacknife cover for the victory, but that was immediately followed by a beatdown from Christian and Luchasaurus. Being the total prick that he is, Cage then made Tony Schiavone count a faux three count on the fallen Allin to round out another solid outing for AEW Collision.