Boston didn't get a classic last Friday
The July 18 edition of Collision felt like a show running on cruise control. We were packed into the MGM Music Hall in Boston, expecting fireworks, but got a methodical broadcast that felt more like a utility player taking a walk than a home run swing. As PWTorch documented, the card featured plenty of talent, but the energy never quite hit that frantic gear we associate with the best of AEW.
Hikaru Shida defended her TBS championship against Queen Aminata, but the real story emerged after the dust settled. As Wrestling Inc reported, Maya World has effectively punched her ticket for a future challenge. Watching the mid-card churn is fine, but it leaves you wanting a hook that isn't just another name added to a queue.
The Collision hits and misses
Will Ospreay remains the most reliable performer on the roster. Even in a showcase match built for padding, he brings a frantic intensity that makes most of the roster look like they’re wrestling in slow motion. Kevin Knight managed to retain his TNT title against AR Fox, and while the work rate was solid, it didn't feel like a defining moment for the belt.
Then there’s the Mercedes Mone promo situation. When your biggest star gets mic time, you expect them to move the needle. Instead, the segment felt like it was spinning its wheels, lacking the substance required to justify the airtime. Observers noted it was a rare misstep for a performer who usually commands the room. Promoting a match is one thing; giving us a reason to care is another.
Real-world chaos is more interesting than the booking
The most drama in the past week didn't even happen on screen. Darby Allin decided to film a promo that apparently felt a bit too real, leading to actual fire trucks showing up at his house. The optics of filming your own chaos are classic Darby, but it highlights a recurring struggle for the show: the pre-tapes often feel more vital than the in-ring narratives.
The company is celebrating record-setting title defenses, which is a nice pat on the back for internal metrics. However, cheering for a math stat doesn't fix a show that feels like it’s waiting for the fall season to actually begin. With a No DQ match looming on next week's Dynamite, you have to wonder if the creative team is simply saving their best ideas for the Wednesday stage.
The thin line between heat and filler
There is a dangerous tendency here to treat every episode as a holding pen. While Jack Perry and Nick Wayne had a perfectly acceptable outing, nobody is going to remember that match in a month. Being a consistent professional wrestling show is a virtue, but Collision runs the risk of becoming the background noise of the promotion.
We need fewer record-book congratulatory pats and more stories that actually have stakes. When the highlight of your cycle involves a confusion of emergency services at a wrestler's home, you’ve got to ask if the television product is keeping pace with the personalities. It’s time for the booking to match the absurdity of the cast.
