[2023-07-22-AEW-Collision] CM Punk & Darby Allin vs Christian Cage & Ricky Starks

[corwo]

There’s so much to love about this match. Starks and Cage play the role of the bumbling goons who can’t seem to get on the same page early on, which leads to some fun stooging where they crash into each other. Punk has shown such a knack for tag-team wrestling since his return. The babyfaces tagging in and out as they deliver arm-wringers to their opponent is a classic spot, one I’m sad we don’t see more often. I was grinning from ear to ear as Cage forced Allin to fight for control over a roll-up. Cage also feigned a back body drop on Allin and switched directions while he was going up, which looked particularly painful.

Allin always looks like he’s been shot out of a cannon when he hits a tope suicida. He’s superb at eating crap, which made it oh-so-sweet when he went for a second dive and bounced off Luchasaurus, hitting the floor. Starks running to the opposite corner and pulling Punk off the apron is textbook tag-team wrestling. He and Cage even double-teamed Allin behind the referee’s back as Punk, consumed with fury, desperately tried to enter the ring to assist Darby. Punk finally makes the hot tag and runs roughshod over his adversaries.

Allin tags in and gets into it with Starks. Cage tries to intervene, and Punk goes for a GTS, but gets met with an eye gouge. Punk immediately pulling Cage to the floor and hitting a GTS regardly was an immensely satisfying slice of comeuppance. Allin goes for a Coffin Drop, but Luchasaurus interferes as he’s climbing. Allin manages to muster a roll-up, but Starks reverses and steals another win by holding the ropes. Not only did everyone get to shine, but they furthered the stories of every competitor involved. That they accomplished all of this without half the match being a “finishing stretch” filled with a deluge of nearfalls made it all the more impressive. Great television wrestling.