AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts VII: An Unforgettable Night of Wrestling

Welcome to the Don't Say The F Word Podcast's exclusive coverage and recap of AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts 7, which took place on July 15 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

In an exciting move, AEW presented back-to-back shows this week, treating fans to three hours of wrestling on Saturday night instead of the usual two. The stacked lineup included three title matches and the thrilling finals of the Owen Hart Cup Tournament for both men and women. Let's dive into the highlights of this supersized night of AEW action.

FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold (AEW Tag Titles)

(Disclaimer What a Dang Match this was)

The three-hour special kicked off with a bang as Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler of FTR defended their AEW World Tag Team Championships against Jay White and Juice Robinson in a 2-out-of-3 Falls match. The match started with mind games and taunting between the teams, but once the physicality began, the aggression was off the charts.

The back-and-forth battle saw both teams deliver impressive sequences, rest holds, and double-team moves. Jay White scored the first fall for Bullet Club Gold, but FTR evened the score, resulting in an intense third fall. With only five minutes left on the clock, Harwood locked Juice Robinson in the Sharpshooter to secure the submission victory and retain the titles.

Grade: A+

Notable Moments and Observations:

- Robinson's change from loud pants to trunks gave him a different presence.

- FTR's showboating and tribute trunks added an entertaining touch to the match.

- Harwood taunting Juice with the top rope during an abdominal stretch was a fun moment.

- The way Robinson sold Harwood's chop was fantastic.

- Ian Riccaboni substituted for Kevin Kelly on commentary, who was covering the G1 Climax tournament in Japan.

Action: 4

Storytelling: 4

Atmosphere: 5

Innovation: 3

Overall Enjoyment: 5

Overall Rating: 21

Ruby Soho vs. Willow Nightingale (Women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament Finals)

The finals of the women's Owen Hart Cup Tournament featured Ruby Soho taking on Willow Nightingale in a highly competitive match. Nightingale showcased her dominance early on, overpowering Soho with ease. However, Soho fought back and used her unique offense to put up a realistic fight against the larger opponent.

In a clever attempt to gain an advantage, Soho tried to deceive the referee by handing Nightingale her spray can. Although Soho managed to poke Nightingale in the eye, it wasn't enough. Nightingale countered with a Pounce and a powerful powerbomb to secure the pin and claim victory in the tournament.

Winner: Willow Nightingale

Grade: B+

Notable Moments and Observations:

- Both competitors wore pink and black tribute gear.

- Nightingale's taunting skills have the potential for an entertaining heel turn in the future.

- Nightingale executed a fantastic enzuigiri and paid homage to The British Bulldog with a running powerslam.

Action: 4

Storytelling: 3

Atmosphere: 4

Innovation: 3

Overall Enjoyment: 4

Overall Rating: 18

Kings of the Black Throne vs. Two Jobbers

House of Black is a key reason to tune into Collision in my opinion

Malakai Black and Brody King, representing The House of Black, faced off against two local talents in a tag team match. Black and King toyed with their opponents before securing a straightforward victory. Andrade El Idolo appeared after the match to taunt Black, adding intrigue to their feud.

Winners: Kings of the Black Throne

Grade: C

Action: 3

Storytelling: 2

Atmosphere: 3

Innovation: 2

Overall Enjoyment: 2

Overall Rating: 12

CM Punk vs. Ricky Starks (Men's Owen Hart Cup Tournament Finals)

The main event of the Collision portion featured the highly anticipated men's finals of the Owen Hart Cup Tournament between CM Punk and Ricky Starks. The match started with a flurry of technical wrestling exchanges and counters, captivating the crowd and keeping them on their feet.

Both Punk and Starks gradually intensified the physicality throughout the match, with Punk playing into the mixed response from the audience. Starks eventually secured the victory with some assistance from the ring rope, providing him with a significant career-defining win.

Winner: Ricky Starks

Grade: A-

Action: 4

Storytelling: 4

Atmosphere: 4

Innovation: 3

Overall Enjoyment: 4

Overall Rating: 19

Notable Moments and Observations:

- The crowd had mixed reactions to Punk, with fans gradually turning against him as the match progressed.

- Starks showcased excellent timing with his counters, enhancing the overall entertainment value of the match.

- An unusual moment occurred on the stage when Starks took the trophy from Jushin Thunder Liger.

Orange Cassidy vs. Lance Archer (International Title)

The Battle of the Belts portion kicked off with a clash for the International Championship between Orange Cassidy and Lance Archer. Archer dominated Cassidy initially, but Cassidy's unique style of offense allowed him to mount a comeback. The match spilled outside the ring, involving even the security guards.

Surprisingly, Cassidy won the match via countout after barely beating the referee's ten-count back into the ring. While countout wins are typically less exciting, Cassidy's character made it work, and it protected Archer in the process.

Winner: Orange Cassidy

Grade: B

Action: 4

Storytelling: 3

Atmosphere: 4

Innovation: 3

Overall Enjoyment: 4

Overall Rating: 18

Notable Moments and Observations:

- Jake Roberts' annoyance with Cassidy's mind games added an entertaining element.

- Archer's explosive emergence from under a pile of security guards created an exciting moment.

- Archer's counter to Cassidy's Orange Punch was impressive, elevating the overall quality of the match.

Toni Storm vs. Taya Valkyrie (Women's Title)

Toni Storm defended the AEW Women's Championship against Taya Valkyrie in a highly anticipated match. Storm aggressively attacked Valkyrie from the opening bell, but Valkyrie fought back and gained the upper hand. Unfortunately, technical issues interrupted the match, and the feed cut out temporarily. When the broadcast returned, a brief clip of Julia Hart's match from Rampage played, and it was evident that the technical issues had affected the viewing experience. No winner was announced officially, but Storm likely retained the title as no title change was reported on social media.

Winner: Unknown (Presumed Toni Storm retained)

Grade: Incomplete

Notable Moments and Observations:

- Valkyrie received a tremendous ovation from her fellow Canadians.

- Ruby Soho did not have any members from The Outcasts accompanying her earlier in the night against Willow Nightingale.

Luchasaurus vs. Shawn Spears (TNT Title)

The final match of the night was a TNT Championship bout between Luchasaurus and Shawn Spears, with Christian Cage at ringside holding the title. With less than 10 minutes remaining in the broadcast, the match was expected to be a sprint rather than a marathon. Spears gained momentum during a commercial break, but Luchasaurus turned the tables by chokeslamming him through a table. Despite Spears' efforts, Luchasaurus secured the victory with a devastating clothesline to the back of Spears' head.

Winner: Luchasaurus

Grade: C+

Action: 3

Storytelling: 2

Atmosphere: 3

Innovation: 2

Overall Enjoyment: 3

Overall Rating: 13

Notable Moments and Observations:

- Spears had an impressive entrance, reminiscent of his early days in AEW.

- Scorpio Sky was seen observing the match from backstage.

- Toni Storm's victory was briefly shown after the conclusion of the main event.

Final Thoughts:

While a couple of matches fell short due to unforeseen circumstances, the overall three hours of pro wrestling provided by AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts VII made for an enjoyable Saturday night experience. The FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold match stole the show, delivering an outstanding performance that will be hard to surpass. The finals of the Owen Hart Cup Tournament for both men and women also showcased thrilling

By applying the provided rating system, we can better evaluate the matches from AEW Collision and Battle of the Belts VII. The FTR vs. Bullet Club Gold match received the highest overall rating, showcasing its excellence in action, storytelling, atmosphere, and overall enjoyment. On the other hand, the Kings of the Black Throne match received a lower overall rating, indicating room for improvement in various aspects.

Using this rating system allows us to assess each match based on specific factors and provide a more detailed analysis of their strengths and weaknesses. It also enables us to compare different matches and understand why one may have been more enjoyable or impactful than another.