AEW Collision Results – Aug. 6, 2023 – Punk vs. Starks

Results by Alex Kahrs of Wrestleview.com

August 5, 2023
Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Commentary: Ian Riccaboni & Nigel McGuinness


Quick Match Results

  1. AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) defeated Big Bill & Brian Cage via Big Rig on Cage
  2. AEW TBS Championship: Kris Statlander (c) defeated Mercedes Martinez via jackknife pin
  3. Samoa Joe defeated Serpentico via Coquina Clutch (squash match)
  4. AEW World Trios Championship: House of Black (c) defeated Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson via lariat by King on Martin
  5. Jay White defeated Metalik via Blade Runner
  6. AEW “Real World Championship”: CM Punk (c) defeated Ricky Starks via roll up

Preshow promos from CM Punk, Ricky Starks, Prince Nana on behalf of Big Bill and Brian Cage, and FTR lead us to the intro before pyro kicks us off here at ringside!


AEW World Tag Team Championship
FTR (c) vs. Big Bill & Brian Cage

We’re greeted by the arrival of Big Bill followed by Brian Cage for our opening contest, as they gear up to challenge for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. Out next are the champs FTR heading down the ramp, and moments later this tag title match is underway!

We start things off with Cash and Cage as a “FTR” chant breaks out, with Cash taking leave of the ring to hug his mother at ringside. Cash is back in the ring as he and Cage lock up, with Cash having Cage against the ropes before he’s shoved away. Cage hits the ropes, with Cash dodging an attack until he gets taken down by a Cage shoulder tackle!

Tag made to Dax, who locks up with Cage before trying to knock the Machine down to no avail…as Cage sends him down instead! Cage sends Dax to the ropes and goes for a gorilla press slam, but Dax falls on him instead for a nearfall. Dax takes control now as he gets a waistlock, rolling through for a pinning combination for another nearfall!

Tag made again as FTR clear Cage out of the ring now, but Big Bill has made his way into the affairs with the champs failing to hit a Shatter Machine…and instead, Bill, sends Dax onto Cash hard, laying them both out at ringside as we go to picture-in-picture!

Picture-in-Picture: The challengers continue to dominate as Cage comes back in, driving a knee into the back of Cash before the champ makes it back to his feet…only to get taken back down by Cage! Bill tags in as the challengers wear down Cash, Bill laying in a hard chop that send Cash crashing to the canvas. Bill sends Cash to the outside, beating him down some more as Nana cheers the big man on. Cash is struggling to his feet before Bill lays him out with a punch as we come back!

Bill continues the attack on Cash, enjoying the fact he’s doing so right in front of the champ’s mother as he taunts her…and takes a big slap to the face by Mama Wheeler! Nana intervenes before Bill can go off, and he goes back to going after Cash, bringing him back into the ring before tagging in Cage. The Machine takes Cash down for a nearfall before tagging Bill, who enjoys the “FTR” chants from the crowd and the damage he’s doing to Wheeler before bringing the champ up for a torture rack…but Cash escapes!

Wheeler tries to roll Bill up to no avail, before catching him from behind for a nearfall. Bill responds with a big clothesline before tagging Cage back in, but a double team fails as Cash fights back with a German suplex on Cage! Cash misses an enziguri on Cage but is still able to make the hot tag to Dax Harwood! Dax goes off on Cage and Bill, even taking a bite out of the biggest of the challenger before sending him out of the ring. Cage and Dax exchange strikes before Dax sets Cage up for something reminiscent of the Steiners after a tag to Cash…but it’s only good for a nearfall!

Bill comes into play again and both challengers drop the champs with chokeslams…but Cash manages to kick out! Bill sets Cash up as Cage climbs up, but Dax intervenes…which only leads to the champs being cleared out of the ring, followed by a big dive by Cage! Cage sends Wheeler back into the ring, and right into a big boot by Big Bill…but that only gets a nearfall all the same!

Cage hoists Wheeler up but the champ escapes, and he gets shoved into Big Bill knocking him off the apron as Dax comes in for the Shatter Machine that gets the champs the pin and the win to retain tonight on Collision!

Winners and STILL AEW World Tag Team Champions: FTR

FTR get the mic after the match, with the champs addressing some unfinished business…calling out the Young Bucks for All In at Wembley Stadium!


Backstage: Bullet Club Gold

Backstage, Tony Schiavone speaks with Juice Robinson and Cardboard Jack White, with Juice saying “when you’re hot you’re hot” before the cardboard cutout gets kicked down by the real deal, with Switchblade arriving with the Gunns to taunt Tony a bit before White addresses Metalik. The BC Gold pose up as we head back to ringside!


AEW TBS Championship
Kris Statlander (c) vs. Mercedes Martinez

Back at ringside, Mercedes Martinez makes her way to the ring for our next contest as we see footage from last week leading to this TBS Championship bout. Out next is the champion as Kris Statlander heads down to the ring, before this match gets underway!

Martinez goes on the attack early, but is held off by Statlander with some forearms in the corner. Mercedes fights back until she’s sent to the corner again by the champ, who really lays it in thick on the former ROH Women’s Champion. Martinez starts to fight back, turning things around now as she sends the champ to the ropes to drive a boot against the throat.

Martinez with a butterfly suplex twice over, but the champ fights out of the third attempt before Statlander hits a kick to turn things around. Martinez with some hard strikes to wear the champ down, dropping Statlander for a nearfall before laying in some hard punches to the chest and starts grabbing the jaw of the champ!

Mercedes taunts the crowd before dropping the champ to the canvas, laying in a boot as we go to picture-in-picture!

Picture-in-Picture: The challenger continues to show her dominance over the champ, wearing Statlander down for a nearfall. Statlander makes it back to her feet now, fighting back until she’s sent face-first into the turnbuckle. Martinez taunts the crowd again, looking to stay on the attack as she goes after the back of the champ. Martinez with a chinlock but the champ is fighting out of it…as we go to a slightly unnecessary commercial break!

Back from break, Statlander is back in control as she sends the challenger to the corner for a walloping…and a brief attack from Martinez is not enough to avoid sending her out of the ring thanks to the champ! Statlander leaps off the apron for a cross body, but Martinez evades…only to take a backbreaker from the champ!

Statlander sends Martinez back in the ring as the challenger creates an opening…only for the champ to close it right down for a nearfall. Champ goes up top but is intercepted by Martinez, who drops Statlander to the canvas with a German suplex that ends up getting her a nearfall. Martinez goes for a fisherwoman’s buster but it’s reversed into a nearfall, and the champ retaliates with a little somethin’ somethin’ of her own for a nearfall!

Champ goes for a wheelbarrow, but Martinez smartly counters it and scores another close nearfall as a result before Martinez brings the champ to her feet…but Statlander evades a follow up, stacking the challenger up for the pin and the win to retain!

Winner via pinfall and STILL TBS Champion: Kris Statlander

But there is no celebration here as Martinez lays her out from behind! She continues the attack until Diamante comes running down for what appears to be the save…only to go after the champ herself! The two-on-one goes down until Willow Nightingale runs down to make the save, clearing the ring of Martinez and Diamante.


Backstage: Toni Storm

We cut backstage where Tony Schiavone is with the former AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, who tries not to “freak out” after losing the title at Dynamite…something she fails to do as she snaps at Tony before walking off.


Samoa Joe vs. Serpentico

Serpentico charges at the champ…but is immediately taken down by Samoa Joe, who locks in the Coquina Clutch as Serpentico immediately taps!

Winner via submission: Samoa Joe

After the match, Joe gets a microphone addressing the fact he wants a match at All In before addressing the ‘Real’ World Champion and the fact their last battle ended in a rollup victory for CM Punk…before calling Punk out for a match AT All In! Joe tells Punk he only gets the courtesy of this week to respond, promising something much more violent if he has to wait until next week.


Video: Andrade El Idolo

Video Package: The feud between Andrade El Idolo and the House of Black continues as Andrade wants his mask and respect from Buddy Matthews!


Backstage: The Acclaimed

Backstage, Tony Schiavone talks to The Acclaimed about what happened recently with Billy Gunn apparently retiring. It seems that Billy blames himself for what happened at that trios title match, and the feeling that The Acclaimed failed Billy Gunn on the situation as they try to figure out what’s next. They’re gonna miss Billy, taking the boots with them wherever they go, and thank Billy for everything he’s done.


AEW World Trios Championship
House of Black (c) vs. Action Andretti, Darius Martin & Lee Johnson

Speaking of the trios titles, the champions House of Black make their way out at ringside for our next contest! Out next are the challengers, as Action Andretti, Darius Martin, and Lee Johnson head to the ring, as we get reminders of the House Rules and the announcement of the Dealer’s Choice…with Julia Hart being banned from ringside! Hart looks displeased to say the least, leaving ringside before this match gets underway!

Martin and King start us off with Brody showing off his power against Darius, who shows some of his high-flying prowess before the big man takes him down hard. Darius starts to fight back before taking King to the ropes, climbing up top for a cross body…that bounces right off of Brody! Tag made to Malakai, as the House leader goes after Darius until a tag is made to Andretti. Action gets onto the, well, action until he accidentally sends Darius flying with a dropkick, something Malakai takes advantage of as he sends Andretti to the outside!

Action makes it back to the ring before Malakai sweeps his feet out from under him, setting up for a double team after a tag to Buddy Matthews. Buddy seems to be having some fun as he goes after Andretti and knocks Darius off the apron before we go to picture-in-picture!

Picture-in-Picture: Buddy continues the assault on Andretti with an abdominal stretch as Andretti tries to fight back, but to no avail…until he manages to turn things around with a chinlock on a standing Matthews! Buddy quickly turns it back around on Andretti before driving his knees into the chest of Action…and a tag to Brody King, who really lays it into Andretti before tagging Malakai in for further damage! Andretti starts to fight back as we come back from break!

Andretti with a hot tag to Johnson who lights up like a house ablaze on the trios champs! Malakai and Buddy get taken down, and Johnson follows up with a double springboard cutter on the champs…who are able to turn it right back around with a double-team before tagging in Brody! They clear off the other challengers before hitting some major triple-team offense and Brody makes the cover…but Andretti breaks the pin with a 450 splash!

Tag made to Martin as Andretti and Johnson clear out Black and Matthews, while Martin goes up top for a cover on King for a nearfall. Malakai and Buddy end up making it back into the ring however, and they take down Martin for the pin and the win to retain!

Winners via pinfall and STILL AEW World Trios Champions: House of Black


Backstage: Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall & Harley Cameron

We cut backstage where Tony Schiavone tries to talk to Powerhouse Hobbs before QT Marshall interrupts to have a chat. QT offers a nice little gift, but Hobbs is still looking to do things on his own as he walks off!


Backstage: Christian Cage

Backstage, we see Christian with his (slightly scared? slightly bored looking?) daughter as he up his “victory as champion”…only to be cut off by his daughter asking to hold the title. The uh, kind father that Christian is, he tells her to go find her mom…only to tell security she’s not credentials and to escort her out of the building!


Jay White vs. Metalik

Back at ringside, Metalik awaits the arrival of Jay White as the rest of Bullet Club Gold sit with commentary before this match gets underway!

White goes to work early on against the luchador, but Metalik shows off his agility to fight back! Springboard by Metalik, but Jay catches him with a DDT for a nearfall. Jay sends Metalik to the outside where he’s berated by Juice Robinson before Jay heads out to do more damage, sending him into the barricade before entering the ring.

Metalik makes it back into the ring but is taken down by the BC Gold leader for a nearfall, before Jay locks in a single leg crab…but Metalik grabs the rope to force a break! Jay continues the attack, sending Metalik into the ropes before getting a nearfall. Metalik starts fighting back once again, avoiding a back suplex by White before hitting a slingblade bulldog! Metalik makes it to the ropes for a hurricanrana on Jay White, but Switchblade hangs him up on the top rope!

Jay White is on the apron still, and Metalik catches him to send the Switchblade to the outside! Both men make it back to the ring now as White takes Metalik hitting down, connecting with the Blade Runner for the pin and the win!

Winner via pinfall: Jay White

The BC Gold retrieve Cardboard Switchblade from commentary and pose in the ring before we get a rundown on what’s to come this week.


Video Promos: Hikaru Shida, Anna Jay

Video Package: Hikaru Shida and Anna Jay have history, and they collide on Dynamite for the AEW Women’s World Championship!


AEW “Real World Championship”
CM Punk (c) vs. Ricky Starks

(WWE Hall of Famer Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat the special outside official)

Back at ringside, Jim Ross makes his way to commentary to call the big fight feel of this main event before special guest referee Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat heads to the ring! Out next is the challenger Ricky Starks, looking quite focused as the 2023 Owen Hart Men’s Tournament winner gets to the ring. Out next is the “Real World Champion” CM Punk as he heads to the ring, and moments later this main event is underway!

Big “CM Punk” chant is mixed with a smattering of chants for Starks as the men lock up, with Punk getting the early upper hand before sending Starks out of the ring after a hip toss. Punk offers to open the ropes for Starks to return, but Ricky goes in his own way before they lock up amidst another big, split chant for both men. Test of strength leads to an exchange of holds between both men before Punk gets a one count!

Punk gets a shoulder tackle on the challenger before taunting him with his own pose, firs tin the ring and then on the turnbuckle as Starks gets to his feet. Ricky with a waistlock but it’s reversed, and Punk takes him down again before Starks hits a couple arm drags that forces Punk to go outside for a breather as Steamboat suggests Punk get back in…and Starks taunts Punk’s poses in response!

Punk back in the ring now, but Starks lays into the champ with some hard strikes before sending him to the corner, laying in some punches before being admonished by the ref. The attack continues on the champ, as Starks looks for a Roshambo on Punk…but Punk fights out, before Starks fights out of a GTS! Starks sends Punk over the top rope to the outside, the challenger taking a tumble himself as we go to picture-in-picture!

Picture-in-Picture: Starks is back in control as he brings Punk to the ring, going hard on the champ as he wears Punk down even more with an arm wringer. Punk is able to fight back, sending the challenger into the corner…as we get another unnecessary commercial break!

The champ is back in control as we come back, laying in some hard shots until Ricky turns him around and returns it in full force…but it quickly turns back around in favor of the champ! Things spill out of the ring as Punk sends Starks over the barricade, but Starks returns…only for Punk to mount up on some punches on the challenger!

Steamboat intervenes, which leads to a staredown from Punk before action returns to the ring…much to the favor of the challenger now, who sends Punk off the apron with a basement dropkick! Punk looks hurt on the outside as Starks heads outside, bringing Punk back into the ring for a nearfall! Starks climbs up and drops the champ down for what ends up being another nearfall in the process.

Starks with a grounded waistlock on Punk now as the champ fights to his feet, hitting a couple elbows on Starks…but moments later, it’s Punk that runs into the turnbuckle! Starks takes advantage of the situation, looking to bring things to an end as he sends the champ into the corner with an Irish whip.

Punk gets sent to another corner but catches Starks with a crossbody for a nearfall, followed by a sunset flip…but Steamboat calls out Starks for keeping his hands on the ropes for leverage, before Starks finally lets go. Starks taunts Steamboat about this as we go to picture-in-picture!

Picture-in-Picture: The match gets very close between champ and challenger, with both getting some good offense in before Starks takes Punk down…but Punk intercepts the challenger on the turnbuckle as we come back!

Punk catches Starks with a superplex, sending both men colliding against the canvas in this Collision main event as Punk makes the cover…but Starks gets the shoulder up! Punk lays in some punches as both men are back up to their feet, before dropping Starks with a spinning heel kick! Punk is back in it now as he takes the challenger down but only gets a nearfall!

Punk climbs up top, but gets caught by Starks for a cover and the nearfall! Starks fights out of a GTS but gets stacked up for a nearfall by the champ. Punk looks for a running knee strike in the corner but Starks counters with a powerbomb…but the champ kicks out! Starks looks like he can’t believe that wasn’t enough, but quickly focuses on an attack in the corner as he climbs up the ropes…only to get caught by Punk on the shoulders!

Starks fight out again, this time sending Punk shoulder first into the corner. Starks charges for a spear but is sent into the corner himself by Punk, who takes the challenger down to the canvas for what ends up being another close nearfall. Punk brings Starks up for a piledriver but Starks counters into an overhead slam for a nearfall of his own!

Starks looks for a Roshambo again but Punk escapes, ducking under Starks…who runs into the referee! The ref rolls out of the ring as Steamboat checks on him, and Starks drops Punk for a cover, putting his feet up on the ropes…something the Dragon won’t have any of, as he shoves the boots off the ropes. Starks turns his attention back to Punk, who rolls the challenger up as Steamboat slides in to make the count…and the champ gets the pin and the win in this main event to retain!

Winner via pinfall and STILL “Real World’s Champion”: CM Punk

Steamboat raises the arm of Punk in victory before presenting him the title, a gesture Punk returns in kind by raising the arm of the Dragon to a pop from the crowd. Respect shown between the champ and the special outside official…before Starks shoves Punk out of the ring, before turning his attention to Steamboat!

Starks pulls the belt off Steamboat, whipping the legend with it until the ref tries to get involved. He’s shoved away, but Punk comes sliding in with a steel chair forcing Starks to clear out of the ring and up the ramp. Punk checks on Steamboat, calling for some help as the crowd tells Starks what they think of him. Starks begins walking back to the ring before Punk leaves the ring with the chair, throwing it at him as Starks gets out of Dodge!

Back in the ring is Punk, helping the Doc with Steamboat as we’re left with a very frustrated Punk as Steamboat makes it back to his feet to close the show out.