In the grand scheme of things, this is really quite simple. Dax Harwood is on the road to Anarchy in the Arena and before that, a Continental Title tilt with Kazuchika Okada this coming Wednesday. This is a rare singles win to position him for those headline bouts, earning “momentum” as it’s known in the wrestling television game. Better yet, Harwood’s opponent is a newcomer with a remarkably familiar face, giving this a little extra punch than your usual star singles win graphic.
It’s a good match too, both getting Harwood that win while also showcasing young Billington. You’d be forgiven for leaving it there, as I’d imagine most will. I don’t do star ratings around here but if I did, this is probably in the 3.25* range, veering a smidge higher at its best. That’s no great outlier in the current landscape but yet, it’s been at the forefront of my mind for most of the day.
There’s a lot here, elements that render that prior rating irrelevant. Some of it is a personal thing, obviously, also indicative of ingredients beyond the match itself. Collision has a very distinct vibe that clearly, isn’t for everyone. I find it very comforting though, and really always have, often feeling like a return to simpler times for the graps game. It’s grounded, simple wrestling that’s rooted in competition. Yesterday’s playbook with today’s, or even tomorrow’s, talent.
If somehow, WCW Saturday Night had lived forever, it feels feasible that this is how it’d look and feel in 2024. That’s a ridiculous statement obviously, for a range of reasons, but I think it’ll make some sense if you’ve ever watched those TVs. In fairness, WCW Saturday Night’s identity sure changed a lot over the years anyway, with Collision often marrying those different eras at its best.
Regardless, the show I’m describing is a perfect host for Billington’s television debut. There’s an immediate nostalgia to his appearance, then being fully unlocked by the throwback nature of his work. I’m never thrilled to type “throwback” if I’m honest, as what I’m really describing is timeless. Harwood and FTR are often framed similarly, but I think that says far more about the industry’s trends than any of these lads having an outdated approach.
Unfortunately, there’s a stylistic homogenisation that’s transformed wrestling over the past couple decades. The in-ring genres overlap more and more with each “well-rounded” prospect. I get it, the wrestling world has changed and that’s life, but it’s overwhelming after a while. Luckily, that leaves many tools on the table for grapplers like these two, even at opposite ends of their career. For that reason, their “throwback” match works a treat on this Vancouver crowd, hooking them with its quality.
It’s not an electric atmosphere at the bell either, with Billington’s lineage seemingly not meaning much to those in attendance. They soon prove that hurdle to be easily overcome however, taking their time early and wrestling, imagine that! It’s scrappy from the first bell, grappling with intensity and fighting for every advantage. Even with lesser technique, that should be the norm. Cold match or not, both lads are presumably hoping to win and that’s immediately present here.
As they go back and forth on the mat, the people are mostly just watching on, almost unknowingly making note of the building blocks being placed. It’s the ideal opening showcase for Billington, who’s clearly capable in that domain. Harwood’s versatility is obvious in that regard, playing Billington’s music in order to highlight his strengths. From there, they simply highlight the obvious dynamics at play, swiftly reiterating Billington’s place as the gutsy underdog.
After being momentarily restrained by Harwood’s own grappling, Billington fires instinctive headbutts. It adds an immediate edge to his presentation, also providing Harwood with the fuel to reasonably up the ante. Billington’s size disadvantage isn’t ignored either, instead being used as the centrepiece at times. Early on, it takes the prospect five shoulder tackles to replicate what Harwood managed with just one. In response, Dax accepts the invite of Billington’s intensity, luring him into a violent back elbow.
Harwood is more Arn Anderson than he’s ever been here, and think of the ground that covers. He leads a control segment through an ad break, operating as the grizzled veteran and firing some sickening chops. Billington’s speed advantage keeps him in the game though, almost frustrating Harwood with his defiance. The more answers that Billington produces, the more aggressively that Harwood asks another question.
As I watched this, it struck me how infrequently we’d seen this side of Dax. So often, the tag team specialist is an underdog in his singles encounters, fighting uphill just as Billington is here. With that in mind, it’s an especially impressive performance, seamlessly ensuring that Billington would dominate the headlines. I don’t say that to frame this as a “carry job” or whatever either, it’s just an inevitable result of the difference in experience.
At one point, Harwood appears to create the motion within his own headlock, getting the people to come up a little stronger for Billington. Speaking of such, “Dynamite” chants soon emerge in Vancouver, happily jumping onboard after merely watching the first few stops. Again, Billington is very much deserving of their support too, making a sharp comeback that includes a couple classic hits. There’s a sharpness to his work, which is imperative considering what he’s striving to replicate.
They attach a brief finishing stretch to close, with Billington scoring a couple quick near falls. It goes just far enough on that front, with Harwood emphatically closing the show before they could overextend themselves. That’s one of this match’s greatest strengths in fact, as it hardly ever feels like a charity case. It’s pretty apparent that Harwood wants to make the most of Billington’s skill-set, but he equally makes him earn it, being selfless in smart spots.
As you can probably tell, I loved this match, and found it to be a very comforting watch. More and more, I’m most enthralled by the in-ring ingredients that are timeless, the kind that with a squint, can be traced back through time. This particular match didn’t even require that squint, in truth, capturing the essence of a hidden gem from yesteryear. That didn’t stop it from earning the investment of a modern crowd that saw frequent thrills though, and I’d hope there’s a lesson in that.
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