AEW Collision Notes: Mina Shirakara & Harley Cameron Makes Surprise Return, Ace Austin Makes AEW Debut & Signed with AEW, Nigel McGuinness vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for IWGP World Title Set for Forbidden Door 2025, 8/20 Dynamite & 8/23 Collision Cards

AEW
Aug 16, 2025

Mina Shirakara Makes Surprise Return on Saturday’s AEW Collision Show

Saturday’s taped AEW Collision show featured Mina Shirakawa making her surprise return from injury.

During the show, AEW Women’s World Champion “Timeless” Toni Storm came out to the stage and gave a promo about her bad blood issues with Athena and upcoming match at Forbidden Door. This led to Athena running out to attack Storm resulting in a brawl breaking out with Billie Starkz coming out to help Athena and beatdown Storm tossing her into the ring. Athena grabbed the microphone and proceeded to insult Storm from the stage but before her and Starkz could resume their attack, Shirakawa’s music played and came out to the stage to confront Athena. This led to Storm laying out Starkz in the ring and Athena bailing as Storm reunited with Shirakawa.

This was Shirakawa’s first appearance since this past July’s All In Texas event due to a broken hand injury.

Ace Austin Makes AEW Debut

Saturday’s taped AEW Collision show also featured former TNA Wrestling talent Ace Austin making his official debut for AEW.

Austin competed in a singles match against Ricochet, which was won by Ricochet albeit with some help by the Gates of Agony.

Later in the show, AEW CEO Tony Khan announced on Twitter that Austin has signed an official contract with AEW.

Harley Cameron Makes Surprise Return on Saturday’s AEW Collision Show

Saturday’s taped AEW Collision show also featured Harley Cameron making her surprise return from injury.

Following Kris Statlander defeating Anna Jay, Penelope Ford, and Julia Hart in a $100K Four-way match, a big brawl broke out involving Thekla, Skye Blue, Tay Melo, and Megan Bayne joining in. This led to Cameron running out with a small chain wrapped around a board and chased Bayne, Ford, and the Triangle of Madness out of the ring.

This was Cameron’s first in-ring appearance since this past July’s All In Texas event and has been out of action since this past June due to a nose injury.

Nigel McGuinness vs. Zack Sabre Jr. for IWGP World Title Set for Forbidden Door 2025

Saturday’s taped AEW Collision show also featured one newly updated match for the card of AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025, which takes place on August 24th at The O2 Arena in London, England.

This newly updated match was an IWGP World Heavyweight Championship match of Nigel McGuinness vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (c).

This newly updated match was setup following McGuinness defeating Daniel Garcia, Hechicero, and Lee Moriarty in a #1 Contender Technical Spectacle Four-way match.

Current card for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025:

  • AEW World Championship – MJF vs. Hangman Adam Page (c)
  • IWGP World Heavyweight Championship – Nigel McGuinness vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (c)
  • AEW Women’s World Championship – Athena vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm (c)
  • AEW Unified Championship – Swerve Strickland vs. Kazuchika Okada (c)
  • AEW TNT Championship – Hiromu Takahashi vs. Kyle Fletcher (c)
  • AEW TBS Championship Four-way match – winner of Stardom qualifier vs. Persephone vs. Alex Windsor vs. Mercedes Mone (c)
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship – winner of Eliminator tournament vs. The Hurt Syndicate (Shelton Benjamin & Bobby Lashley) (c)
  • Lights Out Steel Cage match – Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli & Jon Moxley), The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), & Gabe Kidd vs. Will Ospreay, Darby Allin, Hiroshi Tanahashi, & Golden Lovers (Kota Ibushi & Kenny Omega)
  • Adam Copeland & Christian Cage vs. Nick Wayne & Kip Sabian

Current Card for Next Week’s AEW Dynamite & Collision Shows

Saturday’s taped AEW Collision show also featured several new matches announced for the cards of next week’s AEW Dynamite show on August 20th and Collision show on August 23rd at the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, Scotland.

Next week’s Collision show will be taped on Wednesday, August 20th as part of AEW’s Dynamite tapings that night.

In regards to Dynamite, one new match and one new segment were announced, which were:

  • Six-Man Tag Team match – Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, & Jon Moxley) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey)
  • AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page to speak

Current card for August 20th AEW Dynamite show:

  • AEW World Tag Team Championship Eliminator Tournament Finals – FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) vs. Brodido (Brody King & Bandido)
  • Six-Man Tag Team match – Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, & Jon Moxley) vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi & JetSpeed (Kevin Knight & “Speedball” Mike Bailey)
  • Athena & Mercedes Mone vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm & Alex Windsor
  • AEW World Champion Hangman Adam Page to speak

In regards to Collision, one new match was announced which is an International Max Caster Open Challenge Series match of Max Caster vs. mystery opponent.

Current card for August 23rd AEW Collision show:

  • International Max Caster Open Challenge Series match – Max Caster vs. mystery opponent
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