Saturday night in Chicago brought a thrilling edition of AEW Collision, live from the ByLine Bank Aragon Ballroom, just days after the explosive ALL IN pay-per-view. The atmosphere was electric as fans witnessed a night packed with high-stakes matches, heated confrontations, and the seeds of new rivalries being sown. With the Windy City as the backdrop, AEW continues to build momentum heading toward upcoming marquee events, and this show was no exception.
The night kicked off with a heartfelt moment as the newly crowned TNT Champion, Dustin Rhodes, addressed the crowd. Known affectionately as "The Natural," Rhodes soaked in the "You deserve it!" chants, before reflecting on his legendary father's advice to "keep stepping." He spoke emotionally about wishing his late parents could witness his holding the TNT title, a moment that resonated deeply with the fans.
However, the celebratory mood was quickly interrupted by Don Callis and his protégé Kyle Fletcher. Fletcher, brimming with confidence, declared that Rhodes' moment was a farce and vowed to take everything from him, including the TNT Championship. Callis added a psychological edge, praising Rhodes but reminding him of the one demon he has yet to conquer: the title itself. Rhodes, fed up with Fletcher's complaints and excuses, physically ejected the young upstart from the ring, setting the stage for a compelling feud that promises to escalate in the coming weeks.
AEW Collision also featured a video package from The Conglomeration—SussexCoChicken, Willow Nightingale, and Tomohiro Ishii—highlighting their unfinished business following the ALL IN Zero Hour and recent Dynamite episodes. This faction continues to be a critical storyline to watch as tensions simmer beneath the surface.
In the opening match, high-flyers Ricochet and AR Fox delivered an exhilarating contest. Fox, known for his success in prize money matches across AEW and Ring of Honor, brought his signature athleticism, but Ricochet ultimately secured the win after a dramatic sequence that included interference by The Gates of Agony. The match was a showcase of agility and resilience, with Ricochet firing his Spirit Gun finisher to claim victory.
Backstage chaos unfolded as The Death Riders ambushed guest commentator Colt Cabana, choking him with a chain in a ruthless display meant to send a message to AEW World Champion "Hangman" Adam Page. This attack set up a high-stakes match for next week’s Dynamite, where Page will face Wheeler Yuta, a key member of The Death Riders. The tension between Yuta and former allies Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale also deepened, with Statlander acknowledging the fractured friendships and the harsh realities of competition.
In a hard-hitting bout with strict no-ringside interference rules, Megan Bayne continued her impressive singles streak by defeating Tay Melo. Bayne’s power and aggression were on full display as she overpowered Melo, finishing with a running Liger Bomb for the pin. This victory extends Bayne’s undefeated singles record to 8-0, marking her as a rising contender in AEW's women's division.
Alex Windsor, AEW’s newest signee, made a strong Collision debut by submitting Taya Valkyrie with a Sharpshooter. Post-match, Athena appeared from the balcony, proclaiming "Athena Elite Wrestling" and asserting her dominance. This led to a fiery confrontation with AEW Women’s World Champion Toni Storm, who declared herself "the only balcony b---h in this business." Storm added a stipulation that if her protege Billie Starkz defeats Athena next week on Dynamite, Starkz will earn a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship. Athena is set to defend her ROH Women’s World Championship against Windsor on the upcoming Collision, promising an intense showdown.
Backstage, tensions flared between Anthony Bowens and Billy Gunn, culminating in Gunn challenging Bowens to a match to help him regain his momentum. The dynamic between these two promises to add an intriguing layer to AEW’s roster storylines.
The $200,000 four-way tag team match was a highlight, featuring The Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona), The Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn with Juice Robinson), CRU (Lio Rush and Action Andretti), and Big Bill with Bryan Keith. The Gates of Agony emerged victorious after a decisive performance. Unfortunately, Austin Gunn suffered an injury during the match, casting uncertainty over The Gunns’ immediate future.
Max Caster issued an open challenge that was answered by Kyle O’Reilly, now teaming with Roderick Strong amid Adam Cole’s absence. O’Reilly submitted Caster in a quick match, showcasing his technical prowess and shaking up the competition.
In a hard-hitting clash, Rush, accompanied by Mortos and Dralistico, defeated Katsuyori Shibata, one-third of the AEW World Trios Champions. The match was filled with stiff chops and suplex exchanges, culminating with Rush’s Bull’s Horns finisher. Afterward, LFI signaled their intent to challenge for the Trios titles, only for Hobbs to intervene with a chair, scattering the faction and protecting Shibata.
The main event was an eight-man tag team battle featuring The Don Callis Family—Lance Archer, Josh Alexander, Rocky Romero, and Hechicero—against the trio of Bandido, Mascara Dorada, and JetSpeed (Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight). The match was a back-and-forth showcase of lucha libre and technical wrestling. The faces rallied in a spirited comeback, culminating in Mascara Dorada delivering a breathtaking somersault splash to secure the pin and the win for his team. Hechicero, who pinned Bandido earlier in the week on Dynamite, reiterated his intentions to challenge for Bandido’s ROH World Championship, adding further intrigue to this rivalry.
AEW Collision on July 19, 2025, was a night of compelling storytelling and action that set the stage for future battles. From Dustin Rhodes’ emotional TNT title moment and the brewing Callis-Fletcher feud to the escalating Death Riders saga and the women’s division fireworks led by Athena and Toni Storm, AEW continues to captivate its audience with layered narratives and high-quality wrestling. As the promotion settles into Chicago and looks ahead to upcoming events like All Out and Full Gear, fans have plenty to anticipate.
