The final AEW Dynamite/Collision before Full Gear this weekend, and with four big matches announced, plus the return of Kenny Omega, it’s going to be an interesting three hours of wrestling.
Kenny Omega’s battle with diverticulitis continues to impact his career. Since his return, it’s noticeable, not just with absences. Omega’s persistence and will to continue are to be admired. As seen at All In Texas against Okada, Omega is adapting to a new stage of his career. Reality adds more drama to Omega’s role in AEW.
When the Cleaner returns on Wednesday, don’t expect the Don Callis Family to give Omega space. What has Omega got to say about Josh Alexander? Alexander has taken out two of Omega’s closest friends in Kota Ibushi and Michael Nakazawa. On the weekend, he teams with former best friends and Elite members, The Young Bucks. Are Matt and Nick Jackson going to stand back and watch? Or will Kenny Omega be prepared for the numbers?
The Hangman Continues the Hunt
Ahead of their steel cage match, the AEW Men’s World champion continues his hunt. Hangman Adam Page has one more member of The Opps to eliminate ahead of Full Gear before he can isolate Samoa Joe. Wednesday night, Page takes on Katsuyori Shibata in what’s likely to be a stiff and hard-hitting affair.
This could be a western-style showdown between two wrestlers who are unafraid of bludgeoning heads and tearing skin. The NJPW legend, alongside Samoa Joe and Powerhouse Hobbs, has looked dangerous, but on Wednesday, he is without back-up.
Beyond a victory, you have to imagine Page is looking to take Shibata out of the equation. Given Page knocked Powerhouse Hobbs off a balcony, what’s the Hangman got planned for Shibata? At the same time, Samoa Joe will surely have learned from last week’s failed attack on Page. One big angle may follow.
AEW Women’s Division Dominant
Last week, the women’s Blood and Gut went beyond the promise. In very AEW fashion, they overachieved in the ring, compensating for the storyline inequities compared to the men’s double cage match. This week, we have three potential women’s bangers: two AEW World Tag Team Champions Quarterfinals and an undisputed title match.
Mercedes Mone won her 13th championship over the weekend. Yet the ROH World TV Championship she won at WrestleDream came with the prefix “interim”. The injured champion, Red Velvet, returns and is ready to mix things up. Can Mone collect a 14th title and continue to redefine the belt collector trope? Or will Velvet be able to score an upset?
Elsewhere, “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa are looking past opponents Riho and Alex Windsor. The Timeless Love Bombs are already thinking about vengeance after the finale of Blood and Guts. Yet is this a mistake given their opponents’ individual histories with upsetting the status quo? Maybe.
TayJay may be the women’s division’s longest serving tag team, yet against the newly formed team of Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir, can experience overcome power? Tay Melo thinks that she has the skills to take on Shafir because of her Brazilian jiu-jitsu background. Yet Anna Jay and Melo have never been able to defeat The Goddess. Although the outcome seems clear, this tournament’s opening rounds have given us a few surprises. Why stop there?
AEW Dynamite/Collision Matches Announced
- Hangman Adam Page vs. Katsuyori Shibata
- Undisputed ROH Women’s World TV Championship: Red Velvet vs. Mercedes Mone
- AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Quarterfinal: “Timeless” Toni Storm and Mina Shirakawa vs. Alex Windsor and Riho
- AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship Quarterfinal: Tayjay vs. Megan Bayne and Marina Shafir
Segments Announced
- Kenny Omega Returns
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on AEW Dynamite/Collision and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8 pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube
