AEW Collision Preview (5/22/25) – Double or Nothing Go-Home

It’s Saturday Thursday night, and that means it’s time for AEW Collision. This makes it difficult for me to make my usual Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting reference before the match card!

With days to go until the showdown in the desert, AEW is offering its custom range of action, intrigue, and variety. With only three matches announced it could make this week’s show appear meagre, given previous Collisions have featured seven matches. However, there will surely be more matches and final surprises before AEW Double or Nothing.

Especially with new PPV matches added, like an AEW Continental Championship match where Speedball Mike Bailey challenges Kazuchika Okada. It gives the fun (brutal) encounter between Bailey and Kommander against LFI another element to consider. Before, during, or after the bell, how might The Rainmaker interact with his martial arts specialist opponent?

Elsewhere, the return of Grizzled Young Veterans gives the Brits an opportunity. An underwhelming post-NXT period could change with a strong performance against The Paragon. Roderick Strong is not just the Messiah of the Backbreaker.

His overlooked 2024 run should see Strong rechristened the Messiah of the Banger. For GYV, this is a proving ground match to see if their grit is closer to being transformed into a diamond with some tough hits.

A couple of the sounds that I really like.

AEW Collision Thursday Matches Announced:

• Grizzled Young Veterans vs. The Paragon
• Mike Bailey & Komander vs. Rush & Dralistico
• CMLL Trios match: Volador Jr, Magnus, Rugido vs. Mascara Dorada, Templario and Mistico
• TBS Championship Match: Mercedes Mone vs. Reyna Isis

Segments Announced:

FTR vs. Nigel McGuinness & Daniel Garcia contract signing

Contract Signing

On Dynamite, Stokely Hathaway declared FTR wants to keep things traditional with their Double or Nothing contract signing. No Adobe Acrobat, but good old pen and paper. No ulterior motive or plans for a sneak attack before Sunday…

Since turning heel, FTR, as bad guys, have tried to make every action, word, and segment engaging. Funny and yet dangerous is a lethal combination.

See their opponent, Daniel Garcia’s neck post spike piledriver. Things might get personal tonight with Garcia, a former partner and friend.

Garcia finds himself with another potential mentor figure, with a grudge against FTR in Nigel McGuinness. Hathaway promised this would be the last contract of Nigel McGuinness’ career.

We thought, as fans, we had seen the last of McGuinness before. Somehow, I doubt on AEW Collison Thursday that McGuinness will be as reserved as he has been behind the desk.

TBS Champion Match

On Wednesday night, Jamie Hayter threw some doubt into Mercedes Mone’s mind. After losing her NJPW Championship, Hayter predicts that the self-titled Beyonce of wrestling is destined to lose all her titles.

If Mone lost her TBS championship in the warm-up match to Double or Nothing, it would be an all-time shocker. If that becomes a story thread tonight. An excellent wrinkle heading to Double or Nothing.

Taking on an international opponent in Reyna Isis, a former two-time CMLL Mexican National Women’s Champion and top contender in CMLL, there could be doubt. Isis has competed in Japan. Isis has experience wrestling the best women on the planet, having wrestled the likes of Asuka and Stephanie Vaquer.

La Flor del Desierto also has a string of big wins in ROH. She is not a woman to be overlooked.

Regardless of the result, do not be shocked if, afterwards, we get one final encounter between Mone and Hayter during AEW Collision Thursday. One final exclamation mark.