Welcome to Wrestling Inc.'s coverage of "AEW Collision" on July 26, 2025, coming to you live once again from the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom in Chicago,Illinois, where AEW remains in residence for the rest of the month! And unlike the majority of Saturday evening "Collision" broadcasts, this one is actually live, not taped in advance! Praise be to "SharkWeek!"
As of this writing, two championships will be on the line in Chicago tonight. First and foremost, Athena defends the ROH Women'sChampionship she has now held for 959 days against relative AEW newcomer Alex Windsor, who interrupted Athena on "Dynamite" this past week when she seemed likely to cash in her world title contract on "Timeless" ToniStorm. Windor is an underdog, but there's always a chance Tony Khan wants the ROH women's title off Athena as she transitions to the main roster; if Athena wins, she will have successfully defended the championship 30 times since winning it back in December 2022.
In stark contrast, Dustin Rhodes makes his very first defense of the AEW TNT Championship tonight after his surprise win two weeks ago at All In 2025; his opponent is Lee Moriarty, who has now held the ROH Pure Championship for exactly one year, but who has never faced Rhodes in singles action. Additionally, the AEW tag title No. 1 contender's tournament continues on TNT tonight, with Bryan Keith and Big Bill taking on Austin Gunn and Juice Robinson, filling in foran injured Colten Gunn on behalf of the recently returned Bang Bang Gang. FTR became the first team to advance after beating Jet Speed on "Dynamite."Finally, "Collision" will also see the trios debut of the newly-dubbed Triangle of Madness Julia Hart, Skye Blue, and Thekla.
Saturday night's alright for fighting, and we are live!
Dustin comes out first with all his title belts. Moriarty follows him, wearing the Ring of Honor Pure Championship and being accompanied byShane Taylor.
The crowd is firmly behind Dustin as the bell rings. Rhodes extends a hand but Moriarty slaps it away. They lock up, Rhodes applies a hammerlock, Moriarty escapes in cocky fashion. Moriarty applies a hammerlock to Rhodes, who reverses into a wristlock; Moriarty rolls up Rhodes for one, then applies a stretch on the mat.Rhodes reaches the ropes quickly. They get back to their feet and start shoving each other, Moriarty bounces Rhodes off the ropes but gets leveled with a shoulder tackle, then an arm drag.Rhodes clotheslines both Lee and himself over the top rope, then stands up first and gets the ovation from the crowd.
Lee knees Rhodes in the gut and gets onto the apron, but Rhodes blocks the kick and delivers an arm whip that sends Moriarty into the apron. Rhodes then drives Lee back-first into the ringside barricade, following up by driving his arm into it as well.Rhodes sends Lee back into the ring and reapplies the wrislock. Lee escapes and charges at Rhodes, who counters into an arm bar.Rhodes drives his knees into the arm. Lee fights his way to his feet and nails an uppercut, then catches Dustin's foot and hits a dragon screw leg whip off the second rope. Moriarty his a knee breaker on Rhodes' left knee and goes for the cover, but only gets one. Rhodes rolls to the outside and he's limping, walking around the ringside barricade and receiving encouragement rom fans. Rhodes rolls back into the ring but Lee takes him down, kips up, and dances over Rhodes.
Moriarty continues to try and work Rhodes' legs, but Rhodes kicks his face and gets out of it.Rhodes back to his feet but Lee takes him down again. Rhodes fights back into it with crowd support but Moriarty hits another dragon screw, then soaks in the jeers of the crowd as we go to break.
