The final stop, one night before AEW Revolution, AEW Collision can maintain the hot streak, The increased creative effort put into Collision week to week is making the Saturday show feel more equivalent rather than additional to Dynamite. It’s one of many signs AEW creative is turning the corner that I wrote about earlier this week.
Beyond bangers, Collision is offering weekly highlights of unmissable promos, character development, and palpating story beats. This week, four announced matches offer a bit of everything. Career progression when Harley Cameron looks to rack up another win with her finishing move. One is a women’s match that will educate fans on Momo Watanabe’s capabilities. The other was a demonstration of two future technical workhorse champions. As proven by last week’s TNT championship main event, don’t underestimate the capabilities of a young dragonslayer. Someone may use a little muscle to get what they need.
On Saturday, we get to see Momo Watanabe’s second AEW match. Her first was at Forbidden Door 2024, where she teamed with Kris Statlander and lost to the team of Willow Nightingale and Tam Nakano. For folks unfamiliar with Watanabe, she’s a 24-year-old STARDOM veteran with ten years of experience. She’s been wrestling since age 14 and has a wealth of experience. Previously, she was a former partner and stablemate of the new WWE Women’s World Champion, IYO SKY. Her match against Mercedes Mone isn’t without history. The two previously clashed at NJPW’s Capital Collision last year in Washington for the NJPW Strong Women’s Championship. Against an opponent like Serena Deeb, this is going to be a showcase for Watanabe’s concussive kicks and technical prowess. However, it might not be a cakewalk.
Spell out the inherent history between Daniel Garcia and Lee Moriarty Saturday night. It’s too good for just the sickos to know alone. Like Wheeler Yuta, Garcia and Moriarty were becoming indy standouts when they were picked up by AEW. Stretching back to the formation of the Blackpool Combat Club, it was those three blue chippers that were named by Bryan Danielson as future technicians who needed his and Jon Moxley’s guidance. Yuta and Garcia would be the two spotlighted in the BCC and Jericho Appreciation Society. Moriarty made the best of his opportunity in The Firm before becoming a ROH standout. Moriarty has been the one left behind, yet there’s no denying his abilities. Think about to the three-way TNT championship defence where Moriarty threatened to upset Garcia. Moriarty cannot be ignored. Taigastyle is catching up.
