AEW’s limping into Redemption with a roster in flux. Tay Melo’s gone, Thunder Rosa’s gone, and there’s whispers of seven more names waiting in the wings to sign. Meanwhile, Kenny Omega just won the world title off MJF on Dynamite after Khan yanked the original match off the PPV entirely. Tonight’s the final chance to sell tomorrow’s big show, and they’re doing it from Nashville with the Trios straps on the line.
Hikaru Shida & Thekla vs. Willow Nightingale & Maya
Standard TV tag work, but Shida and Willow have enough history to make it matter. No titles involved, so this is pure go-home positioning ahead of whatever their singles program looks like post-Redemption.
WAW Pick: Shida and Thekla by clean finish. Shida needs momentum heading into the PPV cycle.
World Ladder Match Qualifier: El Clon vs. Lio Rush
Two guys with something to prove fighting for a shot at ladder match glory at Redemption tomorrow. Lio’s got the charisma; El Clon’s got the moveset. This will slap.
WAW Pick: Lio Rush advances. Better positioned in the current booking.
World Ladder Match Qualifier: Nick Wayne vs. [Opponent TBD]
Another qualifier. Nick Wayne’s always solid in these spotfest-adjacent formats. Tomorrow’s ladder match is shaping up as the night’s wildcard draw.
WAW Pick: Wayne moves through. He’s been protected in this cycle.
AEW Trios Championship Match
The title’s being defended tonight on Collision. This is the nuclear option for a go-home angle—putting gold on free TV the night before a PPV usually means either a title change or a screwy finish that bleeds into Redemption.
WAW Pick: Champs retain in shenanigans. Too much heat for a clean victory.
One of those seven free agents (Motor City Machine Guns, Aleister Black, Zoey Stark, Kairi Sane) debuts or gets announced mid-show. AEW’s desperate to create buzz before Redemption, and nothing does that like a surprise signing you can promote for tomorrow’s broadcast.
