Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the rafters of Titanquisitor Hall, where the candy is plentiful, the monsters are restless, and professional wrestling continues to provide us with more lunatics than your average haunted asylum!
Tonight, All Elite Wrestling celebrates Halloween with a special Fright Night edition of AEW Collision, emanating from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, and airing at 8 PM Central on TNT and HBO Max.
We’ve got an international championship defense, six-man tag team action, two experienced veterans preparing to collide, and a rather unfortunate individual who has been scheduled to wrestle an actual damn beast!
And with Blood & Guts approaching on November 4, several members of the AEW roster have a lot more to worry about than little Johnny showing up at their front door demanding a Snickers bar.
Personally, I’ve always appreciated professional wrestling’s relationship with Halloween. This is an industry where grown men routinely wear masks, monsters roam freely, and people occasionally emerge from coffins to settle personal disagreements.
Hell, compared to an ordinary Wednesday night in AEW, Halloween is practically a family-friendly occasion!
But enough about the holiday. Let’s examine tonight’s advertised action!
Artist of Stardom Championship: Triangle of Madness (c) vs. Hazuki, Koguma & Fuwa-chan
Thekla, Julia Hart, and Skye Blue will defend their Artist of Stardom Championship against Hazuki, Koguma, and Fuwa-chan in a fascinating international encounter that could have significant consequences heading into Blood & Guts.
The Triangle of Madness has developed into one of AEW’s most dangerous factions, combining Thekla’s vicious aggression with the increasingly sinister personalities of Julia Hart and Skye Blue. These three women aren’t interested in making friends, exchanging pleasantries, or participating in some wholesome Halloween costume contest.
Although, come to think of it, Julia Hart probably wouldn’t even need a costume.
Their opponents represent an entirely different challenge. Hazuki and Koguma are accomplished Stardom competitors who understand the importance of teamwork, while Fuwa-chan has already demonstrated that she shouldn’t be underestimated.
In fact, Fuwa-chan defeated Julia Hart during a Stardom event in September, meaning the challengers have already proven that the champions aren’t invincible.
And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, makes this championship match much more interesting.
Thekla, Hart, and Blue also have a rather important engagement coming up when they join forces with Divine Dominion for the women’s Blood & Guts match. They’ll certainly want to enter that encounter with their confidence intact, and losing their championships immediately beforehand wouldn’t exactly inspire fear in their opponents.
Of course, Thekla doesn’t appear to have much difficulty inspiring fear under ordinary circumstances. That woman looks like she’d threaten somebody for breathing incorrectly.
Stinger’s Prediction: Triangle of Madness retains.
I’m sticking with the champions. Their established chemistry and relentless aggression should give them an advantage, although I’m expecting the challengers to provide a legitimate fight. This has the potential to be a tremendous six-woman contest if everyone receives enough time to work. And frankly, with Halloween upon us, I can’t think of a more appropriate evening to showcase three terrifying women beating the hell out of somebody.
Although I’m reasonably certain Thalia has a completely different interpretation of that sentence. MADDIE! Please inform that woman we’re discussing PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING!
Ilja Dragunov vs. The Beast Mortos
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, SOMEBODY CALL AN AMBULANCE!
Actually, better make that two.
Ilja Dragunov will collide with The Beast Mortos tonight in a matchup that could very well produce the most violent encounter on the entire program.
Dragunov has established himself as one of the most intense competitors in professional wrestling, combining technical ability with a willingness to absorb astonishing amounts of punishment. The former NXT Champion approaches every contest like somebody has personally insulted his ancestors, and his matches frequently become exhibitions of physical suffering.
And now AEW has apparently decided that the appropriate opponent for this extraordinary competitor is a gigantic, horned monster who moves with the agility of a man half his size.
BRILLIANT!
The Beast Mortos is one of those wrestlers who immediately commands attention. He’s powerful, surprisingly quick, and capable of executing athletic maneuvers that simply shouldn’t be possible for someone with his imposing physique.
More importantly, he’s an excellent opponent for Dragunov because neither man is particularly interested in avoiding physical confrontation. Dragunov thrives when matches become brutally physical, while Mortos possesses enough strength to make every collision look devastating.
This isn’t likely to be a technical masterpiece built around delicate exchanges of wristlocks and carefully executed headlocks. These two are going to beat the absolute shit out of each other! And I, for one, intend to enjoy every second of it.
Stinger’s Prediction: Ilja Dragunov wins.
Dragunov is the logical choice as AEW continues establishing him, but I wouldn’t dismiss Mortos as merely another opponent being brought in to take a defeat.
He’s too talented for that.
I expect a competitive match featuring some spectacularly stiff strikes, impressive displays of power, and at least one sequence that makes me wonder whether either gentleman understands the concept of self-preservation. If AEW gives them sufficient time, this could steal the entire show.
And if somebody backstage has accidentally booked this match under the impression that Mortos is simply a man wearing a Halloween costume, I’d suggest checking the fine print before either competitor enters the ring.
The Conglomeration vs. The Cut
Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly & Roderick Strong vs. Juice Robinson, Austin Gunn & Colten Gunn
Six-man tag team action takes center stage tonight as The Conglomeration battles The Cut in a contest involving some extremely talented competitors and several personalities who probably shouldn’t be allowed to occupy the same building.
The Cut is becoming an increasingly troublesome presence in AEW, bringing together Juice Robinson and the Gunn brothers as part of a larger alliance that has already attracted considerable attention.
And ladies and gentlemen, whenever Juice Robinson is involved in anything, trouble is practically guaranteed.
Robinson possesses enough energy to power a small metropolitan area, although I’m reasonably certain nobody has ever successfully explained to him the advantages of remaining calm. Joining him are Austin and Colten Gunn, a legitimate tag team with established chemistry and an extraordinary talent for irritating everyone within shouting distance.
Across the ring stands The Conglomeration, represented by Orange Cassidy, Kyle O’Reilly, and Roderick Strong.
Now, I have tremendous respect for the wrestling ability of O’Reilly and Strong. Both are exceptional technical competitors, capable of delivering outstanding matches against a wide variety of opponents.
And then we’ve got Orange Cassidy. A man who has somehow built an extraordinarily successful wrestling career around appearing as though he’d rather be doing literally anything else. I swear, ladies and gentlemen, if somebody informed Orange Cassidy that the building was on fire, he’d probably look around, shrug, and slowly reach into his pockets.
Nevertheless, the man can wrestle, and the combination of his unconventional approach with the technical expertise of his partners makes The Conglomeration a dangerous team.
The Cut, however, brings superior familiarity as a unit through the Gunn brothers, along with Robinson’s unpredictable offense.
With Blood & Guts fast approaching and rivalries continuing to intensify throughout AEW, this contest could easily escalate beyond the confines of an ordinary six-man tag team match.
Stinger’s Prediction: The Cut wins.
I’m taking Robinson and the Gunn brothers to secure a victory, potentially through some questionable tactics that leave The Conglomeration demanding another opportunity.
The Cut needs momentum as an increasingly prominent faction, and defeating three established competitors would certainly provide it.
I expect plenty of entertaining exchanges, some excellent technical wrestling from O’Reilly and Strong, and enough obnoxious behavior from the Gunn brothers to make me question whether their parents ever taught them any manners. Then again, their father is Billy Gunn.
Never mind. Question answered.
Tommaso Ciampa vs. Matt Sydal
Two seasoned veterans will square off tonight when Tommaso Ciampa battles Matt Sydal in what could become one of those understated wrestling matches that ends up exceeding everyone’s expectations.
Ciampa has spent years establishing himself as a ruthless, calculating competitor who understands how to turn a wrestling match into a deeply personal encounter.
The former NXT Champion doesn’t need elaborate theatrics to intimidate an opponent. His intensity, aggressive offense, and willingness to exploit an opening make him dangerous from the opening bell until the final three-count.
Matt Sydal, meanwhile, brings a completely different approach.
Sydal’s combination of aerial offense, speed, and technical precision has allowed him to remain competitive against an extraordinary variety of opponents throughout his career. He’s capable of changing the complexion of a match with a single maneuver, and his experience should help him recognize when Ciampa is attempting to dictate the pace.
The fundamental challenge for Sydal will be avoiding prolonged exchanges where Ciampa can control the action.
If Sydal keeps moving and creates opportunities for his high-flying offense, he could make this an uncomfortable evening for the Psycho Killer.
If Ciampa slows things down and begins systematically attacking his opponent, however, Sydal could find himself in serious trouble.
And as anybody who has watched Ciampa over the years can attest, the man doesn’t exactly approach professional wrestling with an abundance of compassion.
Stinger’s Prediction: Tommaso Ciampa wins.
I’m anticipating a competitive encounter, but Ciampa’s aggressive approach should ultimately prove too much for Sydal.
That said, I sincerely hope these two receive enough time to put together something memorable. Both have spent years perfecting their craft, and sometimes the most satisfying wrestling matches are the ones that rely on experience and psychology rather than an endless parade of outside interference.
Imagine that! Two professional wrestlers competing inside a wrestling ring, attempting to win a wrestling match! WHAT A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT!
The Road to Blood & Guts
With AEW preparing for Blood & Guts on November 4, tonight’s Collision represents another opportunity to build anticipation for one of the company’s most violent spectacles.
The women’s Blood & Guts encounter is especially intriguing, as Triangle of Madness and Divine Dominion prepare to meet the Brawling Birds, Willow Nightingale, and Wrathlander inside that unforgiving structure.
And ladies and gentlemen, if you’ve never watched a Blood & Guts match before, allow me to explain the basic premise.
Take two wrestling rings, surround them with a gigantic steel cage, fill the structure with competitors who absolutely despise one another, and then apparently throw the company’s employee safety handbook directly into a furnace.
That’s Blood & Guts!
Professional wrestling has a long history of using brutal stipulation matches to settle deeply personal rivalries, and when properly constructed, these encounters can provide tremendous emotional payoffs.
But here’s the important part: the violence needs to mean something.
I’m all for blood, steel chairs, broken tables, and somebody getting launched face-first into a cage, provided those moments are the culmination of a compelling story rather than simply an excuse to see how much punishment the human body can endure.
AEW has the talent to deliver something memorable. Now it’s a matter of ensuring that the storytelling matches the spectacle.
Stinger’s View
Ladies and gentlemen, AEW has assembled an entertaining lineup for tonight’s Halloween edition of Collision, and while this isn’t necessarily the most star-studded card the company has ever presented, there’s enough wrestling talent advertised to produce a worthwhile Saturday evening.
The Artist of Stardom Championship match should deliver some exciting international competition while further building anticipation for Blood & Guts. The Conglomeration and The Cut have an opportunity to advance their ongoing issues, while Ciampa and Sydal could provide an excellent veteran showcase.
But the match I’m most excited about is unquestionably Ilja Dragunov versus The Beast Mortos.
Give those two gentlemen fifteen minutes, keep unnecessary interference out of the equation, and let them demonstrate why professional wrestling remains one of the most entertaining forms of athletic competition on the planet.
I want physicality. I want intensity. I want two talented competitors telling a compelling story through their wrestling.
And if somebody happens to get knocked halfway into November, well, that’s just an unfortunate occupational hazard.
As for my predictions, I’m taking Triangle of Madness, Ilja Dragunov, The Cut, and Tommaso Ciampa.
Four matches. Four predictions.
After my recent display of predictive excellence covering TNA, I see absolutely no reason why my extraordinary abilities shouldn’t continue tomorrow night.
Of course, I’ve been informed that certain members of Titanquisitor management believe my confidence has become excessive.
MADDIE! WOULD YOU PLEASE EXPLAIN TO THESE PEOPLE THAT GREATNESS SHOULD BE CELEBRATED, NOT RIDICULED?!
And before anybody asks, yes, I’ve noticed that neither Blake Monroe nor Chantel Monroe is advertised for tonight’s program.
I’m fully aware that they’re not members of the AEW roster. I simply believe that if Tony Khan is serious about improving his television ratings, he should at least consider the possibilities.
It’s called constructive criticism, ladies and gentlemen!
Anyway, wherever you happen to be spending Halloween, whether you’re handing out candy, watching horror movies, or settling in for an evening of professional wrestling, I hope you have a wonderful holiday.
And remember, my friends, no matter how ridiculous this business becomes, no matter how many questionable decisions promoters make, and no matter how many monsters somebody decides to unleash inside a wrestling ring…
Wrestling Matters.
— Stinger, reporting from the rafters of Titanquisitor Hall, where the predictions are fearless, the monsters are plentiful, and management has once again refused to reimburse my scouting expenses.
AEW Fright Night Collision — October 31, 2026
Location: Chaifetz Arena, St. Louis, Missouri (taped October 28)
Broadcast: 7 PM CT — TNT and HBO Max
Advertised Card:
- Artist of Stardom Championship: Triangle of Madness (c) vs. Hazuki, Koguma & Fuwa-chan
- Ilja Dragunov vs. The Beast Mortos
- The Conglomeration vs. The Cut
- Tommaso Ciampa vs. Matt Sydal
Card subject to change. And if it does, don’t come complaining to me. I don’t book the damn show, although judging by some of the decisions we’ve seen over the years, perhaps somebody should consider giving me the opportunity.
