AEW Collision, Battle of the Belts VII Outcomes: Winners, Grades, Response, Highlights
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Battle of the BeltsAEW
Welcome to Bleacher Report’s dwell protection and recap of AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts 7 on July 15 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
AEW put the 2 reveals again to again this week, so we had three hours of wrestling on Saturday evening as an alternative of the standard two.
Three titles have been on the road in the course of the BOTB particular with Toni Storm, Luchasaurus and FTR defending their respective championships.
We additionally noticed the finals of the Owen Hart Cup Event for each the lads’s and girls’s brackets.
Let’s check out what occurred on this supersized evening of AEW motion.
FTR vs. Bullet Membership Gold (AEW Tag Titles)
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- Robinson traded the loud pants he has been sporting for some trunks this week. It one way or the other made him really feel much less unhinged.
- The way in which FTR was showboating early within the match was hilarious. Their Hart household tribute trunks have been a pleasant contact, too.
- Harwood taunting Juice by grabbing the highest rope whereas he had White in an stomach stretch was a enjoyable second between them.
- The way in which Robinson offered a chop from Harwood like he was hit by a baseball bat was superior.
- Kevin Kelly was in Japan for the G1 Climax event in case you have been questioning why Ian Riccaboni was on commentary as an alternative.
- There have been a few near-falls that Wheeler was supposed to interrupt up, however Dax was compelled to kick out as a result of Wheeler was going to be late to interrupt them up.
- FTR’s clothesline and sundown flip combo was a cool spot.
- White teasing Candy Chin Music earlier than locking in a Sharpshooter in Calgary was top-level trolling.
Collision.AEW
Dax Harwood and Money Wheeler kicked off this three-hour particular by defending their AEW world tag titles in opposition to Jay White and Juice Robinson in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match.
They actually took their time getting this match going. Each groups taunted one another and engaged in some thoughts video games earlier than there was any actual physicality at about 10 minutes into the present.
As soon as they obtained going, their aggression kicked into excessive gear. This was a protracted match, in order that they paced themselves by mixing fast sequences with relaxation holds and double-team strikes.
Switchblade scored the primary fall for his crew by hitting Wheeler along with his finisher and getting the pin. The gang erupted because the ref counted to 3, so each groups clearly had their supporters.
All Elite Wrestling @AEW
Dax will get the tag and clears the ring of Bullet Membership Gold!
Watch #AEWCollision on TNT!#AEWWorldTagTeamTitles@JayWhiteNZ | #JuiceRobinson | @DaxFTR | @CashWheelerFTR pic.twitter.com/eUh3qqtWul
The center third of this match was all about BCG controlling the tempo whereas FTR struggled to make a comeback. The challengers had Wheeler remoted for a very long time earlier than he lastly made the recent tag to a contemporary Harwood.
The gang was on its toes as each groups got here near getting a pin a number of occasions earlier than FTR evened the rating at one fall every by hitting Robinson with a Shatter Machine.
We returned from a break to see all 4 males combating across the ring. The announcers stated all hell had damaged free in the course of the business. Harwood and White even spilled over the barricade into the gang at one level.
Each groups introduced their greatest to this match and made it extremely arduous for everybody within the locker room to comply with this efficiency. AEW gave them the primary hour of Collision and so they used each minute to placed on a incredible present for the followers in Calgary.
The ring announcer informed us there was solely 5 minutes left. Each groups regarded worn out after having tried all the things of their respective arsenals. Wheeler and Harwood locked each males within the Sharpshooter on the similar time to pop the Canadian followers, however they could not hold the holds locked in.
Harwood was capable of put Juice within the Sharpshooter yet one more time to get the submission and win the match with barely any time left on the clock.
Winners: FTR
Grade: A+
Notable Moments and Observations
Ruby Soho vs. Willow Nightingale
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- Each ladies had pink and black tribute gear for this match.
- The way in which Willow taunts individuals would work so effectively for a heel, too. If she ever turns, it is going to be numerous enjoyable.
- Willow hit a pleasant enziguiri.
- She additionally hit a operating powerslam that was clearly a reference to The British Bulldog.
Collision.AEW
The finals of the ladies’s Owen Hart Cup Event occurred when Ruby took on Willow within the second match of the evening.
Willow established her dominance instantly by overpowering Soho a number of occasions and knocking her down with a straightforward shoulder deal with.
This was a aggressive match as soon as Soho discovered her footing and found out the way to fight Nightingale’s energy. She was giving up numerous dimension however nonetheless managed to place up a practical combat utilizing her type of offense.
She tried to take a shortcut and handed Willow her spray can to make the ref suppose she was going to cheat. That allowed Soho to poke her within the eye, but it surely wasn’t sufficient. Willow hit her with a Pounce and adopted up with an enormous powerbomb to get the pin and win the event.
Tony Khan got here out to congratulate Willow as she posed with the belt and trophy on the stage. This was effectively performed. It might have been arduous for anybody to comply with the tag match, however they did job of creating this match really feel vital.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
Grade: B+
Notable Moments and Observations
Kings of the Black Throne vs. Two Jobbers
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Kings of the Black Throne.AEW
Malakai Black and Brody King represented The Home of Black this week in a tag crew match in opposition to two native abilities.
If there was a wrestling equal to watching a lion toy with its prey, this was it. You could possibly inform Black and King might have received at any time, however they wished to point out off a bit.
As soon as that they had determined they have been bored with enjoying with their meals, The Kings of the Black Throne scored a straightforward win. Andrade El Idolo got here out to taunt Black because the match was ending. This was longer than an ordinary squash, however not by a lot.
Winners: Kings of the Black Throne
Grade: C
CM Punk vs. Ricky Starks
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- The response to Punk was very combined. Either side have been loud with their cheers and jeers.
- Because the match progressed, you might really feel extra followers turning in opposition to Punk.
- Starks has nice timing along with his counters. Little particulars like that make a match extra entertaining with out most individuals even realizing it.
- There was a bizarre second on the stage with Starks taking the trophy from Jushin Thunder Liger.
Collision.AEW
The principle occasion of the Collision portion of the present was the lads’s finals of the Owen Hart Cup Event between Punk and Starks.
The bell rang and so they instantly locked up so they may begin buying and selling wristlocks and counters. The gang chanted for each males and everybody across the ringside space was on their toes as they continued to commerce takedowns and counters.
Punk and Starks saved issues easy in the course of the first couple of minutes of the match and centered on chain wrestling till the gang calmed down a bit.
Each time Starks obtained the higher of him, The Second Metropolis Savior grew extra visibly upset. They slowly ramped up the physicality all through every of the three segments they got.
Punk performed into the boos as he saved taunting the gang. Starks drilled him with a Spear that despatched him out of the ring. He tried for a second Spear, however Punk grabbed him in a guillotine. Starks barely reached the rope along with his foot to drive a break.
They ended up buying and selling pinning mixtures till Starks was capable of get the pin with just a little assist from a hoop rope. This was a great way to complete this as a result of it is going to give Punk ammunition to complain whereas giving Starks the most important win of his profession.
Winner: Ricky Starks
Grade: A-
Notable Moments and Observations
Orange Cassidy vs. Lance Archer (Worldwide Title)
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- Jake Roberts getting irritated with the way in which Cassidy performs thoughts video games was hilarious.
- Archer exploding from underneath a pile of safety guards was a enjoyable second.
- The counter Archer used for the Orange Punch was superior. The way in which he pulled Cassidy again up for a second elbow strike was so good.
- Doing a DDT whereas staring proper at Jake The Snake was an excellent second.
Battle of the Belts.AEW
The primary of three title matches on Battle of the Belts VII was Orange Cassidy vs. Lance Archer for the Worldwide Championship.
Predictably, Archer destroyed Cassidy till he was capable of make a comeback utilizing his distinctive type of offense. They fought at ringside and even obtained a couple of safety guards concerned within the motion.
Archer is used to having a lot shorter matches in AEW, however he has established repute as a employee in NJPW and different locations, so it was no shock that he and OC have been capable of hold this match attention-grabbing for so long as they did.
Surprisingly, this match resulted in a countout win for Cassidy when he barely beat the rely again into the ring after he and Archer brawled on the apron.
Countout wins are not often entertaining, however one thing about Cassidy’s character makes it work. This sort of protects Archer, too, so it really works for everybody.
Winner: Orange Cassidy
Grade: B
Notable Moments and Observations
Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie (Ladies’s Title)
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- Valkyrie obtained an excellent response from her fellow Canadians.
- It was type of bizarre that Soho did not have anybody from The Outcasts along with her for her match in opposition to Willow earlier, however that may be a minor element that few will care about.
Battle of the Belts.AEW
After a brief promo from The Acclaimed about accepting QTV’s problem and desirous to pursue the trios titles once more, Toni Storm put the AEW ladies’s title on the road in opposition to Taya Valkyrie.
Storm rushed Valkyrie as quickly because the bell rang and began beating on her within the nook. The challenger fired again and cornered her for a stiff chop that despatched Storm out of the ring to regroup with Soho.
Taya had the higher hand because the feed immediately minimize out. After a business break, we returned to see a brief clip of Julia Hart’s match from Rampage. When the present got here again, Ian Riccaboni made a joke in regards to the climate affecting the feed throughout a Toni Storm match.
It feels unfair to grade a match that we did not get to completely expertise. This was an unlucky factor that may generally occur with dwell TV. Truthfully, it is stunning it would not occur extra usually. People are dumb. We make errors on a regular basis.
They by no means actually confirmed who win, however since AEW didn’t announce a title change on social media, it may be assumed that Storm retained or they known as off the match.
Winner: Unknown
Grade: Incomplete
Notable Moments and Observations
Luchasaurus vs. Shawn Spears (TNT Title)
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- Spears had such a cool entrance when he first obtained to AEW. He ought to use that once more. It might recover from so effectively with the gang with him working as a babyface now.
- Scorpio Sky was proven watching from backstage.
- They lastly confirmed us Storm profitable her match with a quick clip after the primary occasion was over.
The ultimate match of the evening was the TNT Championship bout between Luchasaurus and Shawn Spears. As ordinary, Christian Cage was there holding onto the title belt prefer it was his personal.
The match began with lower than 10 minutes left within the broadcast, so we knew we weren’t getting a marathon. This was extra of a dash.
Spears made a comeback in the course of the break as Cage paced round at ringside, but it surely was stopped when Luchasaurus chokeslammed him by means of a desk within the timekeeper’s space.
Regardless of nearly profitable with some assist from a chair, Spears finally got here up brief in opposition to the dwelling dinosaur. Luchasaurus hit an enormous clothesline to the again of Spears’ head for the win.
Winner: Luchasaurus
Grade: C+
Notable Moments and Observations
The Last Phrase
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Whereas a few matches fell brief for one cause or one other, as an entire, this was a straightforward three hours of professional wrestling to look at on a Saturday evening.
FTR vs. Bullet Membership Gold was undoubtedly the Match of the Evening and will have even stolen the entire week. All 4 males needs to be happy with what they did with their efficiency.
Each closing matches within the Owen Hart Cup Event featured some nice motion and the most effective outcomes for everybody concerned.
The Battle of the Belts portion of the present was enjoyable, however not one of the titles felt like they have been in peril of fixing fingers at any level. It might have been a pleasant method to cap off all the things if any person received a championship.
Grade: A-
