AEW Collision delivered one of its strongest Thursday-night episodes from the Masonic Temple Theatre in Detroit, using the hometown arrival of the Motor City Machine Guns, an excellent Will Ospreay versus Daniel Garcia main event and several meaningful All In developments to maintain the momentum created by Dynamite.
The show was not perfect. There were squash matches, an overstuffed women’s angle and several announcements competing for attention. However, Collision felt significantly more important than the secondary wrestling show AEW has frequently allowed it to become.
Nearly everything pointed toward the future.
Will Ospreay proved that leaving the Death Riders has not weakened him. The Motor City Machine Guns officially became All Elite. The Continental Cup was fully explained. Nigel McGuinness declared his intention to wrestle at Wembley Stadium. Hangman Adam Page found a new direction. The Bang Bang Gang scored an upset over the Death Riders. Mike Bailey targeted Kyle Fletcher, while several matches were added to next week’s Grand Slam Mexico card.
AEW still has 31 days to build All In London, but tonight’s Collision successfully expanded the road to Wembley beyond Kenny Omega and Ospreay.
Here Are the Full AEW Collision Results
- The Demand (c) defeated The Rascalz (AEW World Trios Championship)
- Tommaso Ciampa defeated Nick Comoroto.
- The Brawling Birds and HAZUKI defeated ROH Women’s World Champion Athena, Billie Starkz and Diamanté.
- The Bang Bang Gang defeated The Death Riders
- Kris Statlander defeated Aurora Teves.
- Komander defeated Jay Lethal.
- Will Ospreay defeated Daniel Garcia.
Motor City Machine Guns Officially Become All Elite
AEW immediately gave Detroit the moment everyone was waiting for.
Chris Sabin and Alex Shelley opened Collision to an enormous hometown reaction before officially announcing that the Motor City Machine Guns were All Elite. It was simple, direct and exactly how AEW needed to handle their arrival.
There was no unnecessary mystery, fake countdown or prolonged attempt to convince viewers that Sabin and Shelley might not appear. AEW understood the location, recognized the audience’s expectations and rewarded Detroit immediately.
The Motor City Machine Guns are one of the most influential tag teams of their generation. Their combination of speed, timing, creativity and seamless double-team offense helped shape the modern style that eventually became a major part of AEW’s identity. The Young Bucks, The Lucha Brothers, Private Party and countless independent teams have incorporated ideas that Shelley and Sabin helped popularize.
That history makes AEW the most natural environment for them.
Their arrival also gives AEW another recognizable team at a time when the company’s tag division has talent but lacks consistent direction. Sabin and Shelley can work with the Young Bucks, FTR, Edge and Christian, The Gunns, The Outrunners, Brodido, JetSpeed, The Rascalz and several other combinations without requiring complicated storytelling.
AEW cannot treat this as another exciting debut followed by weeks of disappearing from television. The company’s roster is already overcrowded, and adding two more names only matters if there is a real plan behind the signing.
Tonight was an excellent beginning. What happens after the hometown celebration will determine whether the Motor City Machine Guns become a major part of AEW or another respected act lost inside an overloaded roster.
Segment Grade: A
The Demand Retain Against The Rascalz
The Demand made their first AEW World Trios Championship defense less than 24 hours after defeating The Conglomeration on Dynamite.
Ricochet, Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona defeated Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz and Myron Reed in a fast, energetic opening match that immediately established The Demand as active champions.
The Rascalz were the perfect opponents for this defense. Their speed and chemistry allowed Ricochet to work at his preferred pace, while Kaun and Liona provided the power necessary to cut off the challengers’ momentum.
The closing sequence reinforced The Demand’s structure. Ricochet does not need to overpower anyone when Kaun and Liona can isolate an opponent and crush him between them. Their victory was clean enough to make the championship change from Dynamite feel legitimate rather than temporary.
The problem is that AEW moved through The Rascalz too quickly.
The Rascalz already held a victory over The Demand, which could have created an actual program. Instead, they received an immediate championship match and lost cleanly. Unless AEW plans another chapter, the feud may have ended before it had an opportunity to develop.
The Demand needed the victory, but AEW continues to introduce potentially interesting rivalries and finish them almost immediately.
Match Grade: B
AEW Finally Explains the Continental Cup
Tony Schiavone officially revealed the structure of the AEW Continental Cup.
The tournament will feature 16 wrestlers in a single-elimination format, with every matchup determined through a random draw. All matches will take place under Continental rules, meaning outside interference and ringside seconds will be prohibited.
The tournament begins next Saturday on Collision and concludes at All In London on August 30. The winner will also leave Wembley Stadium as AEW Continental Champion.
Jon Moxley will enter as the defending champion, while Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly confirmed their participation. Nigel McGuinness then announced that he intends to enter the tournament and compete at Wembley.
The concept is strong on paper.
A random-draw, single-elimination tournament creates immediate stakes and prevents AEW from relying on predictable brackets. Attaching the Continental Championship to the tournament also ensures that Moxley cannot simply avoid the field and wait for one challenger.
However, AEW already has the Continental Classic. Introducing another similarly named tournament attached to the same championship creates unnecessary confusion.
The Continental Classic is a round-robin tournament. The Continental Cup is single elimination. Those differences make sense once they are explained, but AEW should not require viewers to study tournament formats to understand why two competitions with nearly identical names exist.
Nigel McGuinness entering is the most intriguing part of the announcement.
McGuinness wrestling at Wembley carries emotional value because his career never gave him the major stadium moment his talent deserved. However, nostalgia cannot be the entire story. Nigel should not enter merely to receive a reaction and lose in the opening round.
A meaningful run—possibly ending against Moxley at All In—would give the tournament a genuine emotional foundation.
Segment Grade: B+
Tommaso Ciampa Makes Quick Work of Nick Comoroto
Tommaso Ciampa defeated Nick Comoroto in a short match designed to reestablish him following his violent No Holds Barred battle with Chris Jericho at Redemption.
Ciampa entered with visible damage still remaining from Sunday’s match and immediately wrestled like someone who had no interest in wasting time. Comoroto attacked early, but Ciampa quickly stopped him with a running knee and earned the victory.
There was not much to analyze from an in-ring perspective. This was a straightforward presentation match.
The more important development came later when Ciampa declared that he wants to defeat Andrade at Grand Slam Mexico and secure the number-one entry in the Casino Gauntlet at All In.
Ciampa surviving the Painmaker and immediately targeting the AEW World Championship gives his Redemption victory a purpose. That is exactly what AEW should be doing after pay-per-view matches—using the result to move the winner into something larger.
Match Grade: C
Hangman Adam Page Finds a New Direction
Hangman Adam Page continued searching for a purpose after losing the ability to challenge for the AEW World Championship.
Brody King and Bandido thanked Page for helping them on Dynamite. Hangman then suggested that they join forces and challenge The Demand for the AEW World Trios Championship.
Bandido proposed the name “The Good, The Bad and The Ugly,” leading to a perfectly timed moment where Page and Bandido silently indicated that Brody was obviously the ugly one.
The comedy worked because it did not undermine the characters.
More importantly, the segment moved Hangman away from the world championship picture without making him feel irrelevant. Page being permanently unable to challenge for the title is still a questionable stipulation because AEW may eventually need to reverse it, but placing him alongside Brody and Bandido gives him something meaningful to do immediately.
The trio will challenge The Demand at Grand Slam Mexico.
This could be a temporary combination, but Page’s intensity, Brody’s power and Bandido’s athleticism create an interesting balance. Hangman also gives the trios division a top-level name capable of making the championship feel more important.
Segment Grade: B+
The Brawling Birds and HAZUKI Defeat Athena’s Team
Jamie Hayter, Alex Windsor and HAZUKI defeated Athena, Billie Starkz and Diamanté in one of the most physical matches of the night.
The match succeeded because it never felt like six wrestlers patiently waiting to perform individual sequences. Hayter and Athena established the tone with immediate aggression, while HAZUKI brought speed and intensity whenever the match threatened to slow down.
The exchange between HAZUKI and Athena was particularly strong. Their counters, strikes and suplexes briefly made the match feel like a preview of a future ROH Women’s World Championship confrontation.
Windsor and Hayter eventually combined to hit Two Birds, One Stone on Diamanté for the victory.
The finish protected Athena while giving the Brawling Birds another important win. That was the right decision, especially with Hayter and Windsor continuing to pursue the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship.
The post-match angle became too crowded.
Divine Dominion attacked the Brawling Birds while Athena and her group targeted HAZUKI. In theory, this advanced two separate rivalries simultaneously. In execution, it became a pile of bodies and competing stories.
AEW’s women’s division has enough talent to support multiple programs. The company does not need to force everyone into one segment to prove the division is busy.
Still, the match itself was strong and gave viewers several future directions.
Match Grade: B+
Rhino and Insane Clown Posse Join the Ice Bucket Challenge
Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly participated in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, with Detroit’s Rhino and the Insane Clown Posse appearing to dump the water.
The segment was harmless hometown entertainment and supported a meaningful cause. The crowd also chanted for Rebel while AEW promoted the upcoming Rebel Heart episode of Dynamite.
Not everything on a wrestling show requires a dramatic storyline purpose. This was brief, entertaining and appropriate for Detroit.
Segment Grade: B
Bang Bang Gang Upset the Death Riders
Juice Robinson, Ace Austin, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn defeated Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, PAC and Wheeler Yuta in a chaotic eight-man tag team match.
The Death Riders controlled Ace Austin for an extended period and repeatedly used their numbers, physicality and Marina Shafir’s presence to isolate him. Once the match broke down, however, the Bang Bang Gang’s speed and unpredictability prevented the Death Riders from establishing complete control.
The finish was especially important.
Juice Robinson avoided Wheeler Yuta’s attack, countered a bite and rolled him up for the victory before the rest of the Death Riders could break the pin.
Yuta taking the loss was predictable, but the Bang Bang Gang needed this victory. They have spent too much time being presented as an entertaining group that rarely wins the matches that matter.
Defeating the Death Riders gives them credibility and keeps their rivalry alive following Redemption.
The Dogs attacked after the match, but Sabin and Shelley returned with steel chairs to make the save. Moxley appeared prepared to confront the Motor City Machine Guns before calling the Death Riders off, while The Gunns eventually dropped David Finlay with 3:10 to Yuma.
This was a smart way to involve Sabin and Shelley without immediately giving away their first match. It also teased multiple directions involving the Bang Bang Gang, The Dogs, the Death Riders and the Motor City Machine Guns.
However, AEW must be careful not to trap Shelley and Sabin inside endless multi-team chaos. Their debut should eventually lead to a focused rivalry rather than months of loosely connected brawls.
Match Grade: B
Kris Statlander Targets Persephone
Kris Statlander quickly defeated Aurora Teves with Saturday Night Fever before directly challenging CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone for Grand Slam Mexico.
The match existed solely to give Statlander a dominant return victory after losing the TBS Championship at Redemption.
That was fine, but AEW continues to rely too heavily on obvious enhancement matches. Collision had enough meaningful content tonight that one squash did not damage the episode, although it added very little beyond confirming that Statlander remains dangerous.
The match with Persephone should carry more substance because Persephone played a role in Statlander losing the TBS Championship.
Match Grade: C
Mike Bailey Takes the International Championship From Kyle Fletcher
Mike Bailey confronted AEW International Champion Kyle Fletcher backstage, questioning whether Fletcher could truly call himself the best version of himself while still standing beside Don Callis.
Fletcher responded by kicking Bailey in the face, causing the fight to spill into the arena.
Bailey eventually sent Fletcher retreating and stood in the ring holding the International Championship while Fletcher watched from the floor.
This was simple but effective.
Bailey does not need a complicated reason to challenge Fletcher. Their styles naturally promise an excellent match, while Bailey’s criticism of Fletcher’s relationship with Callis adds a character layer beyond championship ambition.
The visual of Bailey holding the title established the direction without AEW immediately announcing a match.
The concern is that AEW has several wrestlers chasing championships while too many champions are already involved in unrelated multi-man stories. Fletcher and Bailey need a focused program instead of becoming pieces inside another Casino Gauntlet or tournament.
Segment Grade: B
Komander Defeats Jay Lethal
Komander earned one of the most meaningful singles victories of his AEW career by defeating Jay Lethal.
Lethal’s experience allowed him to position himself perfectly for Komander’s offense, while Komander continued to demonstrate that he has developed beyond being a wrestler who only performs elaborate rope-walking sequences.
The match built around Lethal repeatedly attempting to slow Komander down. Komander eventually created enough separation to hit a rope-assisted shooting star press and secure the victory.
The result places Komander alongside Andrade and Tommaso Ciampa in next week’s Grand Slam Mexico match to determine who receives the number-one entry in the men’s Casino Gauntlet at All In.
AEW sometimes treats Komander like a credible threat one week and an obvious opponent the next. Beating Lethal was necessary if viewers are supposed to believe he has a legitimate chance in Mexico.
Match Grade: B
Will Ospreay Defeats Daniel Garcia in an Excellent Main Event
Will Ospreay defeated Daniel Garcia in the best match of the night.
The match directly followed Ospreay’s decision to leave the Death Riders on Dynamite. Jon Moxley joined commentary while Marina Shafir accompanied Garcia, ensuring that Ospreay remained surrounded by the group he had rejected.
Ospreay started aggressively, chasing Garcia outside and attacking before Garcia could establish his preferred pace. Garcia responded by using Ospreay’s momentum against him, catching him near the barricade and driving him into the floor with a DDT.
From there, Garcia focused on controlling Ospreay through chokes, holds and repeated attempts to slow his breathing. The strategy made sense. Ospreay is nearly impossible to stop when he creates space, so Garcia repeatedly dragged him back into close-range grappling exchanges.
Garcia applied a guillotine choke, rear-naked choke, Dragon Tamer and bulldog choke. Each time Ospreay escaped, Garcia immediately transitioned into another submission.
This was one of Garcia’s strongest performances in months because he did not rely on exaggerated dancing or forced character mannerisms. He wrestled like a desperate, angry member of the Death Riders trying to punish someone who had abandoned the group.
Ospreay eventually escaped another rear-naked choke, created enough distance and struck Garcia with the Hidden Blade for the victory.
Garcia lost, but the match did not make him look inferior. He pushed the number-one contender to the limit and forced Ospreay to survive rather than simply overwhelm him.
Ospreay’s victory was essential.
After spending weeks questioning his choices and allowing Moxley’s influence to reshape him, Ospreay looked decisive again. He did not cheat, hesitate or require assistance. He defeated a dangerous opponent while surrounded by enemies.
The brief acknowledgement between Ospreay and Garcia after the match suggested a level of respect, but AEW wisely did not turn Garcia back into Ospreay’s friend.
Match Grade: A-
The Don Callis Family Leaves Ospreay Alone
Ospreay’s celebration ended when Mark Davis attacked him.
The moment carried more weight because Davis and Ospreay were once united as Aussie Open before injuries and the Don Callis Family separated their careers. Trent Beretta and Rocky Romero joined the assault, allowing the group to overwhelm Ospreay.
Davis told Ospreay that nobody was coming to save him.
That statement summarized Ospreay’s position perfectly.
He rejected Moxley. He rejected Hangman’s offer of help. He no longer trusts Kenny Omega. The people who once considered him family have now targeted him. Ospreay is walking toward the biggest match of his career without a reliable ally.
Moxley watched from commentary but refused to help, saying Ospreay had made his choice.
Ospreay eventually fought back with a steel chair and challenged Davis to a street fight at Grand Slam Mexico.
The segment was effective, but AEW risks overloading Ospreay’s road to All In. His central story should remain Omega and the AEW World Championship. Moxley, Garcia, Davis, Callis, Hangman and several other characters are now orbiting that same journey.
Complex storytelling can be compelling, but too many moving pieces can also dilute the main issue.
Omega does not trust Ospreay. Ospreay no longer trusts Omega. They will fight for the world championship at Wembley. Everything else should strengthen that conflict rather than distract from it.
Segment Grade: A-
The Road to AEW All In London After Collision
Tonight’s Collision expanded the All In landscape in several important ways.
Will Ospreay Is Completely Alone
Ospreay left the Death Riders because he refused to become the person Moxley wanted him to be. Kenny Omega then responded to Ospreay’s assistance at Redemption by hitting him with the One-Winged Angel.
Hangman offered support, but Ospreay rejected it because Hangman remains loyal to Omega.
Tonight, Ospreay defeated Garcia without assistance before being attacked by the Don Callis Family. Moxley watched him suffer and refused to intervene.
Ospreay’s isolation is now the central emotional thread of the All In main event.
He has regained his morality, but doing the right thing has cost him every alliance he had. AEW is building toward a version of Ospreay who must prove that he can reach the top without Moxley’s violence, Callis’ manipulation or Omega’s approval.
That is a strong story.
The problem is that Omega did not appear tonight. After their explosive confrontation on Dynamite, keeping them apart for one show was reasonable. AEW now needs to explain Omega’s perspective more clearly.
Omega believes Ospreay has been corrupted. Ospreay believes Omega betrayed him. Both positions have some justification, which gives the rivalry depth.
AEW should resist turning either man into a traditional villain. All In will be stronger if viewers understand why both men believe they are right.
The Continental Cup Creates a New All In Attraction
The Continental Cup will determine the AEW Continental Champion at Wembley.
Jon Moxley enters as champion, but the single-elimination format means every match places the title at risk. Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong and Nigel McGuinness are already confirmed.
Nigel’s involvement immediately creates speculation about a potential confrontation with Moxley.
A McGuinness versus Moxley final at Wembley would provide a major emotional attraction outside the world championship picture. Nigel does not need to win the championship, but his path through the tournament must feel meaningful.
AEW also needs to make the random draw part of the weekly presentation. The format only feels unpredictable if viewers see the selections happen rather than receiving matches through social media announcements.
The Casino Gauntlet Field Is Beginning to Take Shape
Andrade, Tommaso Ciampa and Komander will compete at Grand Slam Mexico for the number-one entry in the men’s Casino Gauntlet.
The Casino Gauntlet has become one of AEW’s signature concepts, but the company must avoid using it as an excuse to place every wrestler without a storyline onto the All In card.
Entry position matters. A wrestler receiving the first spot has more control over the match but must survive longer. AEW should explain that strategy clearly rather than presenting the qualifier as a generic opportunity.
Ciampa wants the world championship after surviving Jericho. Andrade is the National Champion. Komander enters with momentum after defeating Lethal.
Each man has a reason to win beyond simply appearing at Wembley.
Hangman Page Moves Toward the Trios Championship
Hangman can no longer challenge for the AEW World Championship, so he has turned toward The Demand.
His partnership with Brody King and Bandido gives him a fresh direction while keeping him close enough to the main event story to potentially become important later.
Page’s relationship with Ospreay remains unresolved. Ospreay rejected his help, but Hangman is unlikely to ignore the Don Callis Family or Death Riders if they continue attacking him.
AEW should allow Hangman to focus on the trios titles for now. Immediately dragging him back into the world championship story would make his new partnership feel temporary and meaningless.
The Motor City Machine Guns Could Reshape the Tag Division
Sabin and Shelley’s arrival creates numerous potential All In matches.
A match with the Young Bucks would have the most history. A program with The Dogs would follow directly from tonight. A partnership with the Bang Bang Gang could lead to a larger multi-team match.
AEW should avoid forcing the Motor City Machine Guns onto the All In card simply because they debuted 31 days before the event. Their first major match should feel important, not rushed.
However, if the company can build a focused rivalry over the next month, Sabin and Shelley deserve a meaningful Wembley moment.
What Was Announced for AEW Grand Slam Mexico?
AEW announced or advanced the following matches for next week’s Grand Slam Mexico:
- Will Ospreay vs Mark Davis (No Outside Interference)
- AEW National Champion Andrade vs Tommaso Ciampa vs Komander, with the winner receiving the number-one entry in the men’s Casino Gauntlet at All In.
- The Demand (c) vs “Hangman” Adam Page and Brodido (AEW World Trios Championship)
- The Young Bucks, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs The Death Riders
- Místico, Chris Jericho and Darby Allin vs Kazuchika Okada, Kevin Knight and Hechicero.
- Kris Statlander vs CMLL Women’s World Champion Persephone.
- TNT Champion Kevin Knight, Kazuchika Okada and Hechicero issued an open challenge to three former world champions.
That is an extremely loaded card.
The concern is that AEW is once again attempting to fit too much into one show. Grand Slam Mexico already contains multiple major matches, tournament implications, championship stakes and an Ospreay street fight.
AEW must give the important moments enough time to breathe. A loaded lineup only helps when the show does not feel rushed.
Best Match
Will Ospreay versus Daniel Garcia
Ospreay and Garcia delivered a physical, intelligent main event that advanced both men without relying on interference. Garcia’s submission-heavy strategy gave the match a clear structure, while Ospreay looked focused and dangerous following his departure from the Death Riders.
Best Segment
The Motor City Machine Guns become All Elite
Sabin and Shelley receiving their hometown welcome was the perfect opening. It felt authentic, important and long overdue.
Biggest Winner
Will Ospreay
Ospreay defeated Garcia, survived an attack by the Don Callis Family and continued rebuilding himself as the central figure on the road to All In.
Biggest Loser
Wheeler Yuta
Yuta once again absorbed the loss for the Death Riders. At some point, constantly protecting the other members by sacrificing Yuta stops being useful and simply confirms that he is the group’s weak link.
Final Thoughts
Tonight’s AEW Collision was a productive and entertaining show that successfully continued the momentum from Dynamite.
The Motor City Machine Guns’ debut gave Detroit a memorable opening. The Continental Cup finally received a clear explanation. Hangman Page found a new direction. The Bang Bang Gang earned a necessary victory. Komander gained credibility, while Ospreay and Garcia delivered an excellent main event.
The episode still exposed AEW’s tendency to overbook its television. The women’s post-match attack included too many people. Grand Slam Mexico is becoming overcrowded, and Ospreay’s All In journey now includes almost every major faction in the company.
However, Collision rarely feels this connected to AEW’s larger direction.
The most important development was not another match announcement. It was the continued reconstruction of Will Ospreay.
For weeks, Ospreay allowed Moxley to convince him that becoming colder and more violent was the only way to defeat Kenny Omega. Ospreay has now rejected that path, but AEW is making him experience the consequences.
He is no longer protected by the Death Riders. He does not trust Omega. He rejected Hangman. The Don Callis Family wants to destroy him. Even former friends are standing against him.
All In is no longer simply about whether Ospreay can defeat Omega.
It is about whether Ospreay can become AEW World Champion without losing himself again.
Tonight’s Collision pushed that story forward while also giving the rest of the roster meaningful destinations on the road to Wembley.
Overall Grade: B+
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