AEW returns to Cardiff, Wales, for today’s Winter is Coming edition of Collision at a special start time of 4:30 PM Eastern.
One of the featured bouts is former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland taking on former TNA World Champion Josh Alexander for the first time ever in a match that will likely have implications on this month’s Worlds End.
The Continental Classic will continue with two matches.
Blue league co-leaders Konosuke Takeshita and Claudio Castagnoli will do battle in a clash of the IWGP World Champion and CMLL Heavyweight Champion.
Coming off his highlight reel match against Kyle Fletcher Wednesday, “Speedball” Mike Bailey will look to grab another three points when he takes on tag team partner Kevin Knight in the Gold league.
TNT Champion Mark Briscoe defends against former champion Daniel Garcia.
AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander teams with former champion Jamie Hayter against The Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart & Skye Blue).
**********
AEW Collision opened with a recap of Samoa Joe and Eddie Kingston and Hangman Page & Swerve Strickland vs. Shibata & Will Hobbs, with Hangman making his intentions clear – he wants Samoa Joe at AEW World’s End.
Swerve Strickland (w/ Prince Nana) vs. Josh Alexander (w/ Don Callis)
The crowd was immediately red hot, cheering for Swerve and singing for him. Alexander tried to hit a shoulder tackle on Swerve, but he just shook it off. Alexander went for a leg pick, but Swerve cartwheeled over it and hit a fireman’s carry into the top turnbuckle before hitting a pump kick that drove Alexander into the corner. Swerve hit a big back breaker on Alexander, leading to Alexander going for a takedown, but Swerve hit a snapmare and a knee drop.
Swerve hit a few rolling neckbreakers, working over the previously injured neck of Josh Alexander. Josh Alexander pulled Swerve from the ring and suplexed him knee first on the announce table. That was brutal. Alexander hit a crossbody that sent Swerve to the floor as they went to the ad break. When they came back, Swerve and Alexander were exchanging forearms. Swerve hit an upkick on Alexander but stumbled when he tried to roll onto his feet. Alexander trapped the knee, hit a knee crusher, and then hit a back suplex. Swerve countered Alexander trying to pick him up into a powerbomb into a powerslam before collapsing to the mat selling his knee.
Swerve hit an uppercut off the middle rope. Swerve missed a kick and Alexander pulled his leg over the rope, and then hit a world strongest slam on the apron. Swerve went for the JML Driver, but Alexander rolled him up for a nearfall. Alexander went for a sliding lariat which Swerve countered into a crucifix pin for a 2-count. Alexander went right back after the knee and did a single leg crab that forced Swerve to the ropes. Alexander missed a knee drop off the top rope and Swerve rolled up to his feet and hit a flatliner and hit the House Call that knocked the headgear of Alexander before hitting a JML Driver for the pinfall.
Result: Swerve Strickland defeated Josh Alexander
Josiah MacDonald
Josiah has been writing for WON/F4W for several years now, from initially covering Lucha Underground, to TNA Impact, and now filling in where ever needed.
