AEW Collision Results: Kingston Wins, Will Face Danielson After Draw with Castagnoli

Photo Courtesy: AEW

December 23, 2023
Frost Bank Center – San Antonio, TX

By: John Kleinchester


 

Blue League Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Claudio Castagnoli 

Collision “Holiday Bash” started without its cold open promos that have been consistent over the last few weeks. Instead, we jumped right into the Blue League match between fellow Blackpool Combat Club members Bryan Danielson and Bryan Danielson. Interestingly the hard cam was at a higher angle than we’re used to providing a unique view – not sure if this was a production choice or just the way the arena is set up.

Kevin Kelly noted that these two opponents had faced each other 44 prior times but tonight was different. The announce team also mentioned that Castagnoli cheated to win last week against Andrade. At one point in the match, Claudio caught Danielson running and turned it into the Giant Swing.

The action picked up even more in the final five minutes with Danielson kicking out of the Neutralizer and Castagnoli kicking out of the Busaiku Knee. Castagnoli and Danielson battled into the final minute of the twenty-minute time limit as the crowd audibly gasped at the announcement as Claudio had Danielson in the Sharpshooter. Time expired and the crowd gave the two men a standing ovation and a “holy sh*t” chant as it was announced that Danielson had officially advanced to the Blue League Finals and Castagnoli had been mathematically eliminated. Claudio and Bryan shook hands and hugged after the match. 

Gold League Recap

A video package was shown with the results of the Gold League interspersed with post-match promos. 

https://twitter.com/AEW/status/1738734534923780177?s=20

AEW World Trios Championship

Next up was The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass defending their World Trios Championships against Top Flight and Action Andretti who were coming off an incredible match last Friday on Rampage. Kevin Kelly noted that the champions hadn’t defended their titles in 45 days because of the attack by The Devil and his henchmen. The Acclaimed retained after Max Caster avoided a running shooting star from Action Andretti and rolled him up for the win. Both teams shook hands after the match. 

Hook Responds to Yuta

Hook officially challenged Wheeler Yuta to an FTW Championship match at World’s End aka Hook’s “home turf”.

Meat Match

Next was Brian Cage taking on Keith Lee. The beginning of this match was both men working an almost Lucha style which was impressive for their huge stature. 

Prince Nana handed Brian Cage a cinderblock from under the ring but the momentary distraction was enough for Keith Lee to hit his finisher for the pinfall victory. After the match, Lee got on the mic and said that almost a year ago “someone” took him out with a cinderblock. He said that he has a house to teardown and he’s going to do it brick by brick and will start this week on Dynamite. 

Timeless Toni & Mariah May

Toni Storm continued not to remember Mariah May who said she was cleared to compete and Toni had a message for her World End opponent, Riho.

Daddy’s Home

Christian Cage and Nick Wayne were out next and Christian introduced Shayna Wayne to explain her actions taking out Adam Copeland to a chorus of boos. Shayna said she watched as Adam Copeland smashed a steel chair into her son’s head. She said that the one person who loves and cares for her son as much as she does is The Patriarch Christan Cage.

Christian then called “Mother Wayne” his Matriarch and then accepted Adam Copeland’s No Disqualification TNT Championship challenge for Worlds End. 

Tag Team Champs

Big Bill and Ricky Starks were interviewed backstage where they said that Kenny Omega was afraid of facing them and said Diverticulitis sounded made up. Chris Jericho interrupted and said he would find a partner and he doesn’t know when but he would beat them. 

Blue League Match: Brody King vs. Daniel Garcia 

Next was the 2nd of 3 Blue League matches in the Continental Classic with Brody King taking on Daniel Garcia. Garcia was already eliminated but was looking to play spoiler for Brody who needed to win to stay alive. As has been the case for all of Garcia’s matches, Daddy Magic was on commentary. Brody King dominated the early part of the match until Garcia kicked out of the Gonzo Bomb and then reversed Brody into a pin. This immediately brought out Malakai Black and Buddy Matthews as Daddy Magic attempted to help. FTR then arrived to run HOB off and challenged them to a match but didn’t mention when that would be occurring.

Thunder Rosa Returns

The next match was the unlikely partners of Abadon and Thunder Rosa taking on Julia Hart and Skye Blue. San Antonio’s own Thunder Rosa picked up the win with the Tijuana Bomb on Skye Blue. 

Blue League Match: Eddie Kingston vs. Andrade El Idolo 

The main event of the night was the third Blue League match with Eddie Kingston taking on Andrade El Idolo with both men shaking hands before the match began. The story here was that Andrade would advance with a draw and Kingston was fighting from underneath as Andrade worked Eddie’s knee throughout the match. The crowd was pretty solidly behind Andrade here with chants of “Idolo” echoing throughout the Frost Bank Center. The finish saw Eddie Kingston hit two spinning back fists and a spinning suplex for the win. After the match, Bryan Danielson came out and the two stared each other down ahead of their Finale on Dynamite this Wednesday. 

 

AEW Collision Results:

  • Continental Classic Blue League Match: Claudio Castagnoli/Bryan Danielson – Time Limit Draw
  • Trios Championships: The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass over Top Flight & Action Andretti in 9:19
  • Keith Lee over Brian Cage in 9:55
  • Continental Classic Blue League Match: Daniel Garcia over Brody King in 10:21
  • Thunder Rosa & Abadon over Skye Blue & Julia Hart in 9:02
  • Continental Classic Blue League Match: Eddie Kingston over Andrade El Idolo in 15:29
About John Kleinchester 156 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.