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Write Forever: It's Wayne's World on AEW Collision for April 17

Write Forever: It's Wayne's World on AEW Collision for April 17

It's a two-night extravaganza with Spring Break Thru night two on a special Thursday Collision! The crowd was hot last night for a truly insane episode of television. I don't expect tonight to hold up in terms of in-ring quality, but I would be surprised if the crowd didn't push this from being a good show to a great show.

There aren't any matches with major implications tonight; instead, we're getting mostly some story building and teases for the rest of The Owen Hart Cup.

Josh Alexander, fresh off of his debut last night, will team with Konosuke Takeshita against Rocky Romero and Tomohiro Ishii. Elsewhere in the Family, Lance Archer wrestles Kevin Knight. Mercedes Moné and Harley Cameron rekindle their partnership against Julia Hart and Kris Statlander, and Adam Cole lays out the open challenge for the TNT Title.

Motivated Death Riders are interesting Death Riders

The show opened up with an irate Marina Shafir hurling a stagehand around the ramp before the rest of the equally irate Death Riders billowed out of the crowd and into the ringside area. They threw more crew around, broke a camera, and generally made a real mess of the joint. It felt very reminiscent of the nWo taking over Nitro that one time, except it didn't last 40 minutes and kill the entire show.

Mox laid things out plain and simple on the mic – he's pissed at Samoa Joe, the man who made him pass out last night costing Death Riders the Trios Titles. Mox acknowledged that Joe has always been the baddest man in wrestling which was a nice touch. Joe has constantly been put over as a killer and a monster in a way that makes it easy to propel him to the top of the card and also makes it a big deal when someone beats him.

Mox cut to the chase by challenging Joe to a match for the World Heavyweight Title because, to paraphrase Mox, fighting Joe one-on-one for the belt is the only way he knows how to deal with his anger and frustration. I imagine this is our Double or Nothing main event.

This was great! It was all great! It isn't hard to make Death Riders and Moxley interesting. All you need is to let them look a little bit human. Let them lose, let their plans fall apart, and let them be vexed instead of always looking like the strongest people in every room.

The motivation behind Death Riders has always been a bit murky. Mox, at first, said he wanted to make the younger wrestlers step up and take things more seriously. This sort of happened with Private Party and Daniel Garcia, but then that went out the window with the Cope feud. So, the reasons for their methods have not always been consistent.

Give them some real motivation, though, and they can deliver interesting characters and story beats. Lean into this more, please.

ROPPONGI ROPPONGI LIGHTS ROPPONGI ROPPONGI VICE

ROPPONGI VICE IS BACK! Trent Beretta made his long-awaited (by me at least) return after a miscommunication between Rocky Romero and Tomohiro Ishii led to the team's downfall. With Ishii down post-match, the Don Callis Family returned to make things official, or so it seems – RPG Vice is now a part of the Don Callis Family.

Callis handed Trent a big ole wrench which he used to clobber Ishii about the head with. At least we know Ishii won't suffer any neck damage since he legally and medically does not have a neck.

This is a great way to bring Trent back onto TV and a fun thing to do with Rocky, who has always just buzzed around The Conglomeration when needed. Even if the team is short-lived, since who knows how often Rocky will be on AEW TV since he has a real-life job with New Japan, it should lead to some great tag team wrestling.

The Callis Family will certainly need some pruning when Mark Davis and Brian Cage are back, too, which means we could get some easy storyline reasons for cutting some folks out of the group when the time comes.

Wrapping Up

Kevin Knight had another great showing, this time against Lance Archer. It's a shame Cage went down with an injury because Murder Machines were a lot of fun to watch. I'm afraid it's back to spinning wheels for Archer and eating losses until Cage is back in action.

Knight has been impressive and consistent since showing up in AEW and it seems like they know it. He's getting lots of chances to showcase everything he can do, and not just in squash matches like you sometimes get with a new face in wrestling. He's having long, back and forth matches with a lot of really great people. There's no reason to think he can't stay this consistent, and if he does I could see him with the TNT Title before the year is up.

I'd like to formally request more Dramatic Readings of Letters by Tony Schiavone, please. He read an apology letter from FTR, who were suspended for a week without pay for attacking Tony on last week's Collision. I assume we'll get a big babyface moment for some team saving the day for Tony eventually, but who could it be? The Outrunners seem like a fair bet, but maybe Tony needs to call in some favors from the Rock 'N Roll Express or something just to be sure.

Adam Cole won his open challenge for the TNT Title against Claudio Castagnoli, who then went on a rampage destroying the ringside area while Wheeler Yuta and Jon Moxley tried to calm him down. It turns out, the way to make Death Riders interesting was just to make them dipshit losers! It's working!

During his entrance, Claudio haphazardly tossed a chair into the air and it smashed Nigel McGuinness on the knee at the commentary desk. So I guess this means the lines are drawn: Nigel has to get revenge on FTR for what they did to Tony Schiavone and Tony Schiavone has to get revenge on Claudio for what he did to Nigel.

While I tend to not enjoy having ROH stuff popping up on AEW TV, I can't complain about seeing Nick Wayne wrestle Komander – especially with Wayne walking away as the new ROH TV Champion! I'm looking forward to what comes next in the saga of The Patriarchy now that Wayne has done what Christian Cage wasn't able to do: secure a singles title for the group.


Best AEW Matches of 2025

Don't see a match on the list? It's not because I didn't see the match, but because I didn't do a write-up for that show for whatever reason (timing, schedules, etc.). This list is as comprehensive as it can be.

I've also decided to omit squashes from the list since they're just going to crowd space at the bottom.

  1. Toni Storm vs Mariah May: Women's World Title (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  2. Swerve Strickland vs Ricochet (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  3. "Hangman" Adam Page vs Orange Cassidy (Dynamite: January 1, 2025)
  4. Swerve Strickland vs Ricochet (Dynamite: February 5, 2025)
  5. Daniel Garcia vs Mark Briscoe: TNT Title (Collision: January 4, 2025)
  6. Konosuke Takeshita vs Orange Cassidy: International Title (Dynamite: February 26, 2025)
  7. Mercedes Moné vs Momo Watanabe: TBS Title (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  8. Will Ospreay vs Kyle Fletcher (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  9. Toni Storm vs Megan Bayne: World Title (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  10. Mark Briscoe vs Kyle Fletcher (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  11. Will Ospreay vs Konosuke Takeshita (Dynamite: April 16, 2025)
  12. Kenny Omega vs Ricochet vs Mike Bailey: International Title (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  13. MJF vs "Hangman" Adam Page (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  14. Mercedes Moné vs Athena (Dynamite: April 16, 2025)
  15. Death Riders vs Rated FTR: Trios Titles (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  16. Will Ospreay vs Kevin Knight (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  17. Konosuke Takeshita vs Kenny Omega: International Title (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  18. "Hangman" Adam Page vs Josh Alexander (Dynamite: April 16, 2025)
  19. Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta vs Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, & Powerhouse Hobbs: Trios Titles (Dynamite: April 16, 2025)
  20. FTR vs Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  21. Rated FTR vs Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, & Wheeler Yuta (Dynamite: January 1, 2025)
  22. Roderick Strong vs Jay White vs Swerve Strickland (Dynamite: January 1, 2025)
  23. Toni Storm vs Kris Statlander vs Willow Nightingale (Dynamite: January 8, 2025)
  24. "Hangman" Adam Page vs Christopher Daniels: Texas Death Match (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  25. Toni Storm vs Queen Aminata (Dynamite: February 5, 2025)
  26. Jon Moxley vs Swerve Strickland: World Title (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  27. Kazuchika Okada vs Brody King: Continental Championship (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  28. Orange Cassidy, Powerhouse Hobbs, Mark Briscoe, & Will Ospreay vs Bryan Keith, Mark Davis, Lance Archer, & Brian Cage (Dynamite: March 5, 2025)
  29. Private Party vs The Hurt Syndicate: Tag Team Titles (Dynamite: January 22, 2025)
  30. PAC vs Komander (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  31. Will Ospreay vs Buddy Matthews (Dynamite: January 8, 2025)
  32. Komander vs Nick Wayne: ROH TV Title (Collision: April 17, 2025)
  33. Toni Storm vs Deonna Purrazzo (Collision: January 4, 2025)
  34. Women's Casino Gauntlet (Dynamite: January 15, 2025)
  35. Hounds of Hell vs Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher (Dynamite: February 5, 2025)
  36. Bryan Keith vs Will Ospreay (Dynamite: February 26, 2025)
  37. CRU & Nick Wayne vs Top Flight & AR Fox (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  38. Jon Moxley vs Powerhouse Hobbs: World Title (Dynamite: January 15, 2025)
  39. Swerve Strickland vs AR Fox (Dynamite: January 22, 2025)
  40. Daniel Garcia vs Adam Cole: TNT Title (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  41. Will Ospreay, Kevin Knight, Mike Bailey, & Mark Briscoe vs CRU, The Beast Mortos, & Ricochet (Dynamite: April 9, 2025)
  42. FTR vs Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta: Mid-South Street Fight (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  43. Jamie Hayter vs Julia Hart (Dynamite: January 22, 2025)
  44. Cope vs PAC (Dynamite: January 22, 2025)
  45. Jamie Hayter vs Julia Hart (Dynamite: January 1, 2025)
  46. Will Ospreay vs Mark Davis (Dynamite: February 5, 2025)
  47. Konosuke Takeshita & Josh Alexander vs Rocky Romero & Tomohiro Ishii (Collision: April 17, 2025)
  48. The Hurt Syndicate vs The Gates of Agony: Tag Team Titles (Dynamite: April 16, 2025)
  49. The Beast Mortos vs Mike Bailey (Dynamite: March 12, 2025)
  50. Toni Storm & Thunder Rosa vs Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford (Dynamite: March 26, 2025)
  51. Kazuchika Okada & Ricochet vs Brody King & Swerve Strickland (Dynamite: March 5, 2025)
  52. Brody King vs Kyle Fletcher (Dynamite: March 26, 2025)
  53. Lance Archer vs Kevin Knight (Collision: April 17, 2025)
  54. Rated FTR vs The Learning Tree (Collision: January 4, 2025)
  55. Private Party vs Lio Rush & Action Andretti: Tag Team Titles (Collision: January 4, 2025)
  56. Mercedes Moné & Harley Cameron vs Julia Hart & Kris Statlander (Collision: April 17, 2025)
  57. Daniel Garcia & FTR vs Undisputed Kingdom (Dynamite: February 26, 2025)
  58. Daniel Garcia vs Katsuyori Shibata: TNT Title (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  59. Daniel Garcia vs Kyle O'Reilly vs Lee Moriarty: TNT Title (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  60. Bandido & Powerhouse Hobbs vs Big Bill & Bryan Keith (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  61. Men's Casino Gauntlet Match (Dynamite: January 8, 2025)
  62. Cope vs Big Bill (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  63. Mariah May vs Harley Cameron (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  64. Will Ospreay & Kevin Knight vs Blake Christian & Lee Johnson (Dynamite: April 2, 2025)
  65. Samoa Joe & Hook vs Kip Sabian & Nick Wayne (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  66. Swerve Strickland vs Clark Connors (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  67. Kenny Omega vs Brian Cage (Dynamite: January 15, 2025)
  68. Hook vs Christian Cage (Dynamite: January 15, 2025)
  69. Julia Hart vs Queen Aminata (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  70. Daniel Garcia vs Lee Moriarty: TNT Title (Collision: March 8, 2025)
  71. Swerve Strickland & Willow Nightingale vs Jon Moxley & Marina Shafir (Dynamite: April 2, 2025)
  72. Brody King vs Lance Archer (Dynamite: April 2, 2025)
  73. Will Hobbs vs Mark Davis (Dynamite: March 26, 2025)
  74. The Outrunners vs Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  75. Adam Cole, Kyle O'Reilly, & Roderick Strong vs Lee Moriarty & The Infantry (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  76. Julia Hart vs Harley Cameron (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  77. Rated FTR, The Outrunners, & Powerhouse Hobbs vs Death Riders & The Learning Tree (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  78. Cope vs Wheeler Yuta (Dynamite: March 5, 2025)
  79. Mark Davis vs Mark Briscoe (Collision: March 15, 2025)
  80. Chris Jericho vs Bandido: Mask vs ROH World Title (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  81. Hologram vs Dralistico (Collision: March 8, 2025)
  82. Mark Briscoe vs Konosuke Takeshita (Dynamite: March 26, 2025)
  83. Cash Wheeler vs PAC (Collision: April 5, 2025)
  84. Kris Statlander vs Thunder Rosa (Dynamite: April 9, 2025)
  85. Kenny Omega vs Blake Christian (Dynamite: March 26, 2025)
  86. The Hurt Syndicate vs The Outrunners: Tag Team Titles (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  87. Max Caster vs RUSH (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  88. Bobby Lashley vs Mark Briscoe (Dynamite: January 8, 2025)
  89. Private Party & Mark Briscoe vs Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, & MVP (Dynamite: January 15, 2025)
  90. Serena Deeb vs Momo Watanabe (Collision: March 8, 2025)
  91. Orange Cassidy vs Hechicero (Dynamite: March 12, 2025)
  92. Mercedes Moné vs Julia Hart (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  93. Powerhouse Hobbs & Tomohiro Ishii vs Kyle Fletcher & Konosuke Takeshita (Collision: April 5, 2025)
  94. Adam Cole vs Claudio Castagnoli: TNT Title (Collision: April 17, 2025)
  95. Thunder Rosa & Kris Statlander vs Megan Bayne & Penelope Ford (Dynamite: March 5, 2025)
  96. Kazuchika Okada vs Tomohiro Ishii: Continental Championship (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  97. FTR vs Undisputed Kingdom (Collision: March 15, 2025)
  98. The Outrunners vs Premier Athletes (Collision: March 8, 2025)
  99. Adam Copeland vs Claudio Castagnoli (Dynamite: April 2, 2025)
  100. Ricochet vs Katsuyori Shibata (Collision: March 15, 2025)
  101. Top Flight vs CRU (Collision: April 5, 2025)
  102. Toni Storm vs Penelope Ford (Dynamite: April 2, 2025)
  103. Mike Bailey vs Dralistico (Collision: April 5, 2025)
  104. Samoa Joe & Hook vs Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta (Dynamite: April 9, 2025)
  105. Jon Moxley vs Adam Copeland: World Title (Revolution: March 9, 2025)
  106. Mercedes Moné & Harley Cameron vs Athena & Julia Hart (Collision: April 5, 2025)
  107. Jon Moxley vs Katsuyori Shibata (Dynamite: April 9, 2025)
  108. The Hurt Syndicate vs The Learning Tree: Tag Team Titles (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  109. Chris Jericho vs Dax Harwood (Collision: January 11, 2025)
  110. Thunder Rosa vs Megan Bayne (Collision: March 15, 2025)
  111. Wheeler Yuta vs Willie Mack (Collision: March 1, 2025)
  112. Top Flight & Hologram vs The Infantry & Lee Moriarty (Collision: March 15, 2025)
  113. Willow Nightingale vs Penelope Ford (Dynamite: March 12, 2025)
  114. The Acclaimed vs The Hurt Syndicate (Dynamite: January 1, 2025)
  115. Kyle O'Reilly & Roderick Strong vs The Infantry (Collision: March 8, 2025)
  116. Komander vs Dante Martin vs Brian Cage vs The Beast Mortos (Collision: January 4, 2025)
  117. Daniel Garcia vs Adam Cole: TNT Title (Dynasty: April 6, 2025)
  118. Murder Machines vs The Outrunners (Dynamite: February 26, 2025)
  119. The Outrunners vs Chris Jericho & Bryan Keith (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  120. Hologram & Powerhouse Hobbs vs Brian Cage & Dralistico (Dynamite: March 12, 2025)
  121. Taya Valkyrie vs Harley Cameron (Collision: February 1, 2025)
  122. Deonna Purrazzo vs Harley Cameron (Dynamite: February 26, 2025)
  123. Max Caster vs Konosuke Takeshita (Dynamite: March 12, 2025)
  124. Murder Machines vs Top Flight (Collision: January 18, 2025)
  125. Jeff Jarrett vs Aaron Solo (Collision: January 4, 2025)

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