AEW Collision live results: The Continental Challenge Cup begins
AEW Collision is live tonight from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and will feature the start of the first-ever AEW Continental Challenge Cup.
In the first round of the single elimination tournament, Orange Cassidy will go up against Matt Sydal, Jake Doyle of the Don Callis Family will go one-on-one with Eddie Kingston, and Claudio Castagnoli, fresh off having competed at Arena Mexico on Friday night, will take on Ace Austin of the Bang Bang Gang.
In a tag team match, Maya World and Hyan will go up against CMLL World Women’s Champion Persephone and Hikaru Shida.
- Continental Challenge Cup first round: Orange Cassidy vs. Matt Sydal
- Continental Challenge Cup first round: Jake Doyle vs. Eddie Kingston
- Continental Challenge Cup first round: Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ace Austin
- Maya World & Hyan vs. Persephone & Hikaru Shida
Our live coverage kicks off at 8 p.m. Eastern.
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AEW Collision opened with Tony Schiavone running down the rules of the AEW Continental Cup before sending us to an excellent recap video AEW Grand Slam Mexico, including all the major wins, and angles.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Ace Austin in a Continental Cup Match
Castagnoli grounded Austin early on, using power to block the moves of the smaller man. Castagnoli hit a big body slam before sending Austin into the corner with an Irish whip, but Austin moved out of the way of an uppercut. Austin did a fireman’s carry into a Death Valley Driver after a brief exchange with Castagnoli, and Castagnoli bailed to the floor. Austin went for a pescado, but Castagnoli caught him and sent Austin crashing into the top of the guardrail. He then sent Austin into the opposite guardrail with an Irish whip and drove Austin into the apron. Austin did a handstand on the apron to dodge an attack from Castagnoli and hit a kick as they went to the ad break.
Castagnoli blocked a German suplex during the ad break and dumped Austin over the top rope to the floor. Austin made it back in before the 10-count, but was met with a series of stomps from Castagnoli, as the reacted with a mix of cheers and boos. Castagnoli hit a lariat but got a 2-count. Castagnoli was not frustrated and hit an elbow drop and locked on an arm submission as they came back from break on TNT. Castagnoli stopped an attempt to fight back by locking on a sleeper hold, and grounded Austin briefly. Austin tried to hit a back suplex, but Castagnoli hit a punch to the face of Austin and then hit a European uppercut in the corner for a 2-count.
Austin dodged a charge from Castagnoli and he turned into a dropkick from Austin that allowed him to get up. Austin blocked a lariat attempt, hit a kick, and then hit a Saito suplex. Ace Austin went for The Fold, but Castagnoli caught him and set him on the top turnbuckle. Austin fought him off and hit a hurricanrana off the middle rope before hitting a Fosbury flop and then a legdrop from the top rope for a 2-count once Castagnoli was coming back into the ring. Castagnoli caught Austin on another Fold attempt, but Austin slipped out of the pop-up uppercut attempt. Austin tried to hit a springboard kick from the middle rope, but Castagnoli hit a European uppercut.
Castagnoli went for the big swing, but Austin countered into a choke with his legs, but Castagnoli fought out. Castagnoli wheelbarrowed Austin and pulled him up into a powerbomb of sorts with sheer strength. Castagnoli then sent Austin into the ropes and hit a pop-up uppercut and scored the win.
Result: Claudio Castagnoli defeated Ace Austin
This was a fantastic match, with Castagnoli again proving that he is a freak of nature with his strength, and Ace Austin had a great showing as well. Excellent opening match in the tournament.
–A great hype video for Will Ospreay and Kenny Omega aired, and it showed Ospreay cutting a promo after his win on Mark Davis at AEW Grand Slam Mexico, covered in blood, insisting that he was ready for Omega. Excellent promo.
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.