Saturday night brought with it TNT’s new pro wrestling show AEW: Collision live from the United Center in Chicago, and not only was it the kick-off to the series, but the long-awaited return of CM Punk. So, how did it stack up? Did it disappoint? Did it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into it!

We loved the ‘Collision’ opening to Elton John’s Saturday Night’s (All Right for Fighting) playing against the graphics and the featured wrestling stars.  Then, in a smart move, you don’t waste time, you get to the headliner, and out came CM Punk to address the crowd and the TV audience for the first time in nine months.

This was Phil “CM Punk” Brooks with an edge.  No longer was CM jumping into the audience and into the waiting arms of fans, no, this version had a chip on a shoulder and well, he probably should.  Armed with a red bag supposedly carrying the title he never lost, and some wrestling boots, Punk took to the mic and said that he was tired of being nice.  He goes on to say  that he loves the people, and they love him because he’s unapologetically been himself.  He gloats that his presence makes people feel uncomfortable because he is the truth, and the truth is painful.

In a nod to the backstage brawl with the Young Bucks, Punk said that people can call him whatever they want, but David Zaslav, CEO 0f Warner Bros/Discovery) calls him ‘One Bill Phil’ and that’s because “he is the one true article in a business full of counterfeit bucks.” Ouch!  Punk ended his promo with apologizing for people “who are softer than the wrestlers they like.”  Lastly, he said until someone can fill the boots around his neck, they belong on his feet.  In the end, it made you wonder, will CM turn full heel when he is not wrestling in his hometown of Chicago, or will he remain Punk with an ax to grind?

When it was time for wrestling action, another smart move was at play. Straight out of the gate in the first bout of the new show, a title change occurred.  Luchasaurus with Christian Cage in his corner, faced off with the AEW TNT champ, Wardlow.  In the end, after grabbing a camera from a ringside photographer and smashing it on Warlow’s head, Luchasaurus got the pin and took the title.  Best part: Cage celebrating manically as if he was the one who actually won the damn belt.

Next, in what was the match of the night, it was the in-ring return of Andrade El Idolo (from his torn pec surgery) vs. House of Black’s Buddy Matthews (who also had previous knee surgery).  However, new AEW: Collision announcers, Kevin Kelly and Nigel McGuinness had some problems through the night and one of occurred when Kelly clearly calling Buddy Matthews by the wrong last name.

Back to the action, these men put on a bout that was action-packed, so much so, at one point, it looked liked Andrade had re-injured his pec and Matthews, his knee, as they were attended to by the ringside physicians/AEW officials. This however, occurred during a picture-and-picture commercial break, which was one of the drawbacks of the debut.  In the end, El Idolo got the victory, but we have to say, Buddy Matthews deserves a push! House of Black emerged when the lights went out for a partial additional beatdown of Andrade.

In other bouts, Miro returned and got a huge pop from the crowd in his match with Tony Nese. Chicago-native Skye Blue teamed with Willow Nightingale against the Outcasts, Ruby Soho and AEW Women’s Champ, Toni Storm.  Being we were in Chi-town, Blue scored the pin on Soho with her mother in attendance who slapped Soho and Storm for their ‘shenanigans’. Later, The Acclaimed with Daddy Ass Billy Gunn came to the ring to entertain the crowd since this is where ‘scissoring’ all began.

Courtesy/AEW

The main event featured a trios match-up with FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) teaming with CM Punk (in his first match back after his triceps surgery) vs. Jay White, Juice Robinson and Samoa Joe.  It was a great match that went on for almost 30 minutes and gave all six wrestlers moments to shine.  The pop of all pops occurred when it was Punk vs. Samoa Joe facing off in the ring.  Fans know that these two had a massive feud many years ago, and it has been a long time. almost two decades, since they had been in the ring together and it did not disappoint.  In the end, Punk scored the win for his team pinning Robertson.

All in all, AEW: Collision debut gets an “A” rating from us.  On the things to be fixed: the picture-and-picture commercial break windows looked very small in comparison to the advertisements, and we don’t recall it looking exactly that way on AEW: Dynamite, so at times, it was harder to follow the action.

The new announce team seemed to have some trouble fluidly tossing to breaks. Jim Ross joining the announce team was difficult to listen to, as his voice was nearly gone. and it has been reported he had hurt himself earlier in the day in a fall and was not feeling well. Ross later took to Twitter and shared: “I apologize for the way I sounded tonight. Going to step away to heal. Thanks for your support.”  The crowd in Chicago was super hot, and at times, the audio from the announce team was hard to hear because of it and the production.

When all was said and done, this was a victory for wrestling fans everywhere … to have a new show on Saturday Night’s … which looks like it will be driven by CM Punk as the headliner.

Let us know what you thought of the premiere of AEW: Collision in the comment section below. Then, check out our latest episode of “What’s Up? Wrestling” which streamed immediately following “Collision” where we discussed our immediate reactions to ‘Collision’, Punk’s return and more.