AEW Collision Results: Kofi Makes His Mark, Moxley Battles Doyle & AEW Continues Honoring PAC
AEW Collision rolled into Highland Heights, Kentucky Saturday night with WrestleDream looming, Grand Slam France only days away and an emotional week for All Elite Wrestling continuing after the loss of PAC.
And while Wednesday's Dynamite was specifically dedicated to celebrating PAC's life and career, Collision made sure the love didn't stop there.
Nigel McGuinness and Paul Wight shared their memories of Benjamin Satterley during the broadcast, while the Young Bucks offered another particularly emotional tribute to their longtime friend. Wrestling moves fast. Sometimes almost too fast. Cards change, stories move forward and there's always another show. I'm glad AEW hasn't allowed that pace to rush everyone through something this painful.
As for the wrestling itself, Collision had plenty of it.
Kofi Defeats Lee Moriarty
Kofi's first AEW singles match came against one of the more technically interesting wrestlers AEW could have put across the ring from him: ROH Pure Champion Lee Moriarty.
Moriarty gave Kofi a very different challenge than what we've traditionally associated with him, while Kofi got an opportunity to show AEW fans a little more of what he can do outside the tag and trios environment.
After a competitive back-and-forth match, Kofi connected with his finishing kick to put Moriarty away.
Later in the night, Kofi made it clear he isn't thinking small. Alongside Austin Creed, he said The New Level wants the tag team gold before Kofi turned his attention toward ROH World Champion Bandido and called for a championship match at Grand Slam France.
Apparently "we want it all" wasn't just a catchphrase.
Death Riders Get Their Win
Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta represented the Death Riders against Bang Bang Gang's Ace Austin, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn.
Things predictably became chaotic, with Marina Shafir, Gabe Kidd and Juice Robinson all becoming factors around ringside before Garcia ultimately forced Ace Austin to submit to the Dragon Tamer.
With everything surrounding the Death Riders this week, there was naturally a different emotional weight attached to seeing the group together again.
Queen Aminata Scores A Big Win
Queen Aminata defeated Julia Hart after surviving Hart's Heartless submission and eventually connecting with a kick to the head for the pinfall.
But Aminata wasn't finished.
Backstage alongside Mina Shirakawa, she turned her attention toward AEW Women's World Champion Mercedes Moné and challenged her to a championship match at Grand Slam France.
Elsewhere in the women's division, Moné attacked Thekla backstage after Thekla went looking for her, keeping their own issues very much alive.
Samoa Joe And Jack Perry Aren't Finished
Jack Perry sent another message toward Samoa Joe, essentially making it clear that he was the one willing to call Joe back into the fight.
Joe responded exactly how you'd expect Samoa Joe to respond: by making it abundantly clear Perry may want to reconsider exactly what he's asking for.
Something tells me we're not getting a peaceful resolution there.
Collision Results
Kofi defeated Lee Moriarty.
The Conglomeration — Orange Cassidy, Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong — defeated Aaron Solo, Griff Garrison and Nick Comoroto.
Death Riders — Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia and Wheeler Yuta — defeated Bang Bang Gang — Ace Austin, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn.
Myron Reed defeated Dante Martin.
Divine Dominion — Megan Bayne and Lena Kross — defeated Emily Rose and Joiya Blake.
Queen Aminata defeated Julia Hart.
Mark Davis defeated Adam Priest.
Jon Moxley defeated Jake Doyle by submission in an AEW Continental Championship Eliminator.
Moxley Closes Collision
Jon Moxley and Jake Doyle closed the night in a physical Continental Championship Eliminator.
Doyle had his opportunities — including a powerbomb that nearly put Moxley away — but surviving Jon Moxley and beating Jon Moxley are two entirely different assignments.
Moxley eventually trapped Doyle and forced the submission, preventing him from earning a future Continental Championship opportunity.
Collision went off the air with Moxley standing tall and AEW looking toward Grand Slam France and WrestleDream.
AEW also announced during the show that the AEW World Championship will be defended in a Clockwork Carnage match at WrestleDream on October 17.
After an emotionally difficult week for professional wrestling, Collision managed to accomplish two things at once: move AEW's stories forward while continuing to give PAC's friends the space to remember the man behind "The Bastard."
Sometimes wrestling is about what happens between the bells.
Sometimes it's about the people who shared the ring with you.
This week was very much about both.