Predicting the AEW Collision Roster | Double or Nothing Predictions

All Elite Wrestling has done something not seen in over 20 years. With last week’s announcement of AEW Collision, they are now the second major wrestling promotion since WCW to offer a second 2-hour weekly show other than their flagship. News broke early this week that Tony Khan has trademarked the term “Transfer Portal” for use on AEW television.

This could only confirm one thing: There will definitely be a roster split of sorts.

While I already discussed the pros and cons of a brand split prior, we no longer need to speculate if it’s happening or not. What we can do, however, is speculate on just how the roster will be split. You’re reading Top 5 Wrestling, let’s get to it:

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Finding an Identity

One of the more important aspects of this brand split is making sure Collision has its own identity. It’s not a stretch to believe that some fans may prefer a slower, old-school pace compared to the sometimes hectic sexy party that is Dynamite.

Not that either “brand” has to be exclusive, but maintaining a chunk of the PWG/New Japan influenced style on one show, and the Crockett inspired, big beefy boys on another, only offers more variety to not just AEW fans, but all wrestling fans in general. (This is what I would do)

It shouldn’t be so exclusive that you’ll never see the likes of a Rey Fenix or Dante Martin on Collision, or Powerhouse Hobbs and Wardlow on Dynamite. But fans of that particular should come to “expect” a certain archetype of wrestler on said brand. This only makes AEW look better in the end with so much variety offered in their products.

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Floating Champions

The worst thing AEW can do is have brand exclusive championships. 

As I have made the case before, having two world championships is outright stupid. For example, when you have a Raw and Smackdown World Champion, they turn into nothing more than glorified TV championships for that brand.

Furthermore, Roman Reigns currently stands as Universal Champion, World Heavyweight Champion, and now we have a new WWE World Heavyweight Champion to be decided on Saturday. So who the hell is actually the true world champion? 

This is the equivalent to playing the AFC and NFC Championships without having the Super Bowl.

The only new AEW championships that should be created are Women’s Tag team Championships. That is literally it. All current champions should float to whichever brand a feud takes them to. However, appearing on one brand more than another is perfectly fine. They just shouldn’t be exclusive to one as a champion.

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Main Pillars

Let’s be honest with ourselves. We all know Punk will be on Collision. It’s far too easy these days to work wrestling fans with internet rumors and gossip. Something tells me that Warner Brothers Discovery wouldn’t have signed on to Collision in the first place without the promise of Punk’s involvement.

Khan will likely announce the United Center tonight; and with that, the second (third?) coming of C.M. Punk.

But who else?

Well, if we’re going with the theme of an old-school, Crockett-style, WCW Nitro-eqse feel. The answers slowly reveal themselves. Let’s dig into the main pillars of the show, as well as the rest…

-C.M. Punk
-Chris Jericho
-Miro
-Bryan Danielson
-Jon Moxley
-Swerve Strickland
-Jack Perry
-Wardlow (TNT Champion)
-Andrade
-Samoa Joe (ROH TV Champion)
-Kenny Omega or Adam Page?*

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Tag Teams

-FTR (AEW World Tag Team Champions)
-House of Black (Trios Champions)
-The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
-The Hardy Party
-The Gunn Club
-La Faccion Ingobernables (Rush & Preston Vance/Dralistico)
-The Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods, Ari Daivari, Tony Nese)
-Mogul Embassy (Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Kaun)
-Jericho Appreciation Society

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Women’s Division

-Thunder Rosa
-Willow Nightingale (NJPW Strong Women’s Champion)
-Athena (ROH Women’s Champion)
-Julia Hart
-Abadon
-Serena Deeb
-Taya Valkyrie
-Kiera Hogan
-Diamante
-Skye Blue
-The Bunny
-Penelope Ford
-The Outcasts (Saraya, Soho & Storm)

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Best of the Rest

-Ethan Page
-Powerhouse Hobbs
-Lance Archer
-Jay Lethal
-Brian Pillman Jr.
-Wheeler Yuta
-Claudio Castagnoli (ROH World Champion)
-Eddie Kingston
-Scorpio Sky
-Mark Briscoe

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Collision > Dynamite?

Would this be a roster you’d watch over Dynamite?

Aside from the current (and floating) champions: MJF, Hayter, Cassidy, FTR, HoB, HOOK, Cargill, Wardlow — Dynamite would still keep a lot of its flare.

Kenny Omega, “Hangman” Adam Page, and the Young Bucks would remain on Dynamite. Even though oddly enough, Page was featured on one of the Collision posters. To be honest, it would be smarter for Page or Omega to find their way to Collision, as both are almost too popular to be two top faces on Dynamite alone.*

Adam Cole, The Acclaimed, Sammy Guevara, Ricky Starks, Darby Allin, Daniel Garcia, Death Triangle, Best Friends, HOOK, The Dark Order, Bullet Club, and Action Andretti round out the rest of featured Dynamite players. For the women, Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Anna Jay, Tay Conti, Jade Cargill, Nyla Rose, Riho, and Maki Itoh (we can only hope?) round that group out. Having The Outcasts stay with Britt and Jamie long-term doesn’t make sense. The feud needs to come to a natural end, with one group shipping out to Collision.

I also think with The Elite and Bullet Club on the same roster, you have a feud ready to go that could bring in talents from New Japan as well. 

So how did I do? Are there clear personalities and identities set in place between these two rosters? Only time will tell, as TK will announce the location of Collision’s first show tonight. The “official” roster split would likely come later. But having a “big beefy boys” on Collision opposite the speedy modern-age wrestlers makes a lot of sense — and represents the best of all shades and styles in professional wrestling.

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Double or Nothing Predictions

A quick rundown of Double or Nothing predictions as well. Just keep in mind, that while it seems like no championships will change hands — statistically, at least one has at just about every major AEW PPV. Chances are that there will be a new champion crowned somewhere on the card this Sunday…

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AEW World Championship
MJF(c) vs. Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara vs. Jack Perry

As much as I would love to see an upset here, it’s just not the right time for anyone in this match not named MJF (though I could make a decent case for Sammy Guevara). As much as I would love to see a Guevara win, I don’t see MJF losing his BBB in Vegas. It also sets up MJF/Cole down the road.

Winner: MJF

AEW Women’s World Championship
Jamie Hayter(c) vs. Toni Storm

We all know what this is. While Hayter and Storm can deliver a MOTY-quality bout, this was put here because Hayter really didn’t have a feud and needed an opponent. I don’t see Storm winning the title (again). Hayter is still super over. It’s not happening.

Winner: Jamie Hayter

AEW World Tag Team Match
FTR(c) vs. Jarrett & Lethal

You know FTR aren’t losing to Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal. Moving on…

Winners: FTR

21-man Blackjack Battle Royal for the AEW International Championship
Orange Cassidy(c) vs. whoever

Cassidy has to retain here. It’s a bit cheap to have him end his impressive title reign in a battle royale. Unless there’s a surprise return (Miro?), I don’t see Cassidy losing this belt. Besides, that JanSport backpack needs something in it.

Winner: Orange Cassidy (Unless MIRO shows up)

Anarchy in the Arena Match
The Élite vs. Blackpool Combat Club

Get ready for shit to hit the fan again! This match should be a joy to watch in all of its coming chaos. If Blood and Guts is still happening this year, then I expect this feud to continue beyond Double or Nothing. So we need another heel turn. Takeshita, perhaps? It’s hard to see Takeshita as a heel, but adding him to the BCC gives them a 5-4 advantage setting up the hopeful AEW debut of Kota Ibushi to side with The Elite. Or perhaps it’s Ibushi who turns on Omega?

Either way, I see BCC winning here, with the Elite getting it back at Blood and Guts.

Winners: BCC

TBS Championship Match
Jade Cargill(c) vs. Taya Valkyrie

Bold prediction, but Jade isn’t walking out of Double or Nothing with the TBS Championship. “Missing” 60-0 is a story in itself. But more importantly, I see Taya taking the championship to Collision. OR… Jade defeats Taya, gets over confident, demands ANOTHER challenge on the spot and then out comes KRIS STATLANDER.

That is if Statlander is healthy. We’re hitting the 9 month window since her injury, which has to be getting close to a clean bill of health. Even in a short surprise victory where she wouldn’t have to do much, she deserves a damn championship; and the fans would more than welcome a new TBS Champion — especially if it’s Statlander.

Winner: NOT Jade Cargill

Unsanctioned match
Adam Cole vs. Chris Jericho

Adam Cole isn’t losing his first PPV match back from injury. This is especially true if Jericho ships out to Collision soon to potentially feud with Punk. Cole with a win here.

Winner: Adam Cole

Six-Man Tag
Hardy Party vs. The Firm

Sans a senseless Jeff Hardy heel turn, nobody really thinks the Hardy Party will lose this match, right? This frees up Ethan Page to be a future star on Collision.

Winners: Hardy Party

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And there you have it. With Double or Nothing and Collision on the horizon, (as well as AEW Fight Forever come June 29th) this is a very exciting time for AEW fans. So with that, enjoy this packed wresting weekend, and be kind to others. It takes a lot of energy to be a dick — use that energy for something else. Like baking, or legos or something.

-T5W
t5wrestling@yahoo.com