#185: FTR vs. Jay White & Juice Robinson, AEW Collision (7/15/2023).
This is a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match for FTR’s AEW World Tag Team Championships.
These two teams had quite the rivalry during the early days of AEW’s third weekly TV show. A week before this on Collision, White and Robinson beat FTR in an Eliminator Match to earn this title shot. That match was really great as well, so the anticipation for the rematch, done under best 2 Out of 3 Falls rules, was pretty high.
The bell sounds, and both teams are talking trash right away. Dax Harwood begins things with Jay White, who quickly powders to the outside of the ring. Back in the ring, Jay and Dax lock up, and Dax also powders to the ring to mock the Bang Bang Gang. Dax and Jay lock up, and Dax takes the side headlock. He shoulder tackles Jay, and tries for an inside cradle for a nearfall. Side headlock takedown by Dax next.
Nice series of arm drags by Jay, and he looks to control the arm now, twisting it and bringing Dax to his corner. Juice tags in, and Dax backs away quickly. Cash Wheeler makes the tag, and he locks up with Juice. Juice takes the side headlock, and Cash rolls out of it and into a side headlock takedown. Juice drives his shoulder into the midsection of Cash in the turnbuckle. Cash catches him in a back slide for a nearfall. Big shoulder tackle by Cash sends Juice to the floor.
Juice takes a moment on the floor to breathe with Jay, while FTR taunt them from the ring. Cash rushes Juice as soon as he enters the ring, and chops him hard in the corner. He headbutts him, and makes the tag to Dax, who pops off a quick elbow. Dax misses a chop, and Juice unloads his own chop. Dax chases him to the floor. Jay makes the tag next, and he takes a cheap shot to Cash, and then powders to the outside. Back inside, Jay takes the side headlock, and he gets a takedown off of it.
Dax gets a nice strike to the midsection, followed by a Side Russian Legsweep for a 2 count. Dax applies the Abdominal Stretch next, as he talks trash to Juice. With the ref distracted with Jay, Dax uses the ropes for extra advantage. Big elbow drops Jay, and Cash makes the tag. Dax lifts Cash up and drops his leg across Jay for a 2 count. Jay dropkicks the knee, and jumps to make a tag to Juice, who comes in and unloads with several jabs, and then the Left Hand of God.
Juice takes the side headlock next, and takes Cash down to the mat. Juice shoulders Cash down, and counters a leap frog attempt into a nearfall. Cash takes Juice down, and gets a high angle bridge for a nearfall. Cash with a body scissors roll up, and Juice kicks out. Cash dead lifts Juice up in the air, and tosses him across the ring. Juice rolls to the outside. Dax makes the tag, and he gets chopped a few times by Juice, before returning to the ring.
Dax chops Juice, and knocks him on his ass. He throws Juice in the corner, and chops him again. They exchange chop attempts, with Dax getting the upper hand. Snap suplex, and a leg drop from Dax gets a 1 count. Dax applies a chin lock next. He chops Juice again, and he has him on his knees. Another side headlock takedown by Dax. Juice gets back to his feet, and sends Dax shoulder first into the ring post. Juice rolls over, and makes the tag to Jay, who is all cocky with his chops to Dax.
Jay’s chops target the shoulder, and he stomps on the same shoulder, too. Jay avoids a splash in the corner, and he pops off a DDT. He gives Cash one as well. Nice uppercut in the corner by Jay, followed by the Spicolli Driver. Cash is able to break up the count, but very slowly. Flatliner by Jay, and he lifts Dax up for a bridging German Suplex, and Cash again breaks up the fall. Dax forces Jay back first into the turnbuckle, and both men exchange hard chops to the chest. Dax with the upper hand, until Jay drives his knee into the midsection. Huge lariat by Dax, as both men are down and looking for a fresh tag. Dax instead gets a small package pin on Jay for a nearfall. Jay gets a roll up nearfall, as Cash makes the sneak tag. They go for Shatter Machine, but thanks to a distraction from Juice, Jay is able to catch Cash in the Blade Runner for the 3, and the first fall!
Score: Jay White & Juice Robinson (1), FTR (0).
Back from commercial, Juice is working on Dax’s hurt shoulder. Shoulder tackle connects, but Dax is able to pop off a powerslam. Juice with a nice hip toss, and he’s right back at the injured arm. Jay makes the tag, and he snaps the arm off of the ropes. Dax with a huge back body drop to Jay, and he makes the tag to Cash. He connects with some uppercuts in the corner, and a lariat. Jay is able to kick out. Jay slips out of a suplex attempt, and hits a nice back suplex.
Juice tags in, and hits a standing senton. And another! He covers Cash, who kicks out. Juice gets a vice grip on the midsection next, followed by a sleeper hold. Cash is to his feet, and he tosses Juice over head. Jay is able to make the tag, and he chokes Cash on the mat, right in front of Dax. Neckbreaker by Jay next, and that gets him a nearfall. Jay rolls Cash to his corner, and stands all his body weight on Cash’s midsection.
Juice tags in again, as Jay catapults Cash throat first into the bottom rope. Juice drags Cash to the floor, and gives him a nasty DDT on the floor. He returns the ring, and instructs the referee to count him out! Cash returns to the ring, only for Juice to drive his knee into the throat. Snap suplex connects, and Cash is able to get his foot on the bottom rope. Jay tags in, and he stomps at Cash’s face. Jay quickly avoids strikes from Cash, and chops him to the mat.
Jay drives his knee into the spine, and pulls back on the chin. Juice tags back in, and we get another standing senton. He taunts Dax, who can only stand there. He goes for another senton, and Cash is able to get his knees up in time. He gets a pin attempt off for 2. Cash knocks Jay off the apron, and shoulders Juice in the midsection. He goes to sunset flip Juice, who’s able to secretly tag Jay in. Switchblade comes in, and rakes the eyes.
Good elbow to the head, and a kick to the midsection. Juice holds Cash up, who’s able to kick Jay away and elbow Juice. He swings wildly at Jay, then dives towards Dax. Jay prevents it by kneeing him in the gut, but Cash hits a head scissors to Jay! Here comes Dax, who’s a house of fire on the Bang Bang Gang. Clotheslines in the corner to Jay and Juice. Big lariat to Jay, and he gets an O’Connor roll on Juice for 2. Springboard crossbody by Dax, and Juice kicks out.
High German Suplex by Dax, and he does another, and Juice blocks a third. Dax back body drops Jay, then hits a brainbuster to Juice, who’s barely able to kick out. The crowd explodes with “This is awesome” chants. Dax tries for the Sharpshooter on Juice, who’s able to kick him away. Jay makes the tag in, and gives Dax a half hatch into the turnbuckle, followed by a cannonball by Juice. Jay makes the cover, and Dax kicks out.
Jay with a big chop to Dax, who won’t back down. He chops Jay next! Dax grabs Jay by the throat, and he gets slapped for it. Dax gets sent to the floor, and Juice looks to help Jay with a spike piledriver. Dax pushes Juice to the outside. Super sunset flip by Dax, followed by a lariat from Cash, and Jay is somehow still able to kick out. Cash makes the tag, and he and Dax do a Razor’s Edge variant of the Redneck Boogie, ala The Briscoes! Cash covers, and Jay kicks out again! FTR can’t believe it. Cash lifts Jay up and places him on the top rope. Dax makes the tag, and FTR take turns chopping at Jay’s chest. Dax hits a super plex to Jay, and Cash follows up with a huge splash, and Jay gets his knees up to block it! Juice flies off the top rope with a frog splash to Dax! Jay makes the cover, and Dax somehow kicks out at the last possible second! Juice makes the tag, and so does Cash, and FTR catch Juice in the Shatter Machine! Cash covers, and they take the second fall! We’re all tied up.
Score: FTR (1), Jay White & Juice Robinson (1).
Back from commercial break, Dax has Jay on the apron, while Cash clotheslines Juice off of a chair. Jay chops Dax, who grabs him and looks for a piledriver. Jay back body drops him onto the hard apron. Dax grabs Jay and looks for a powerbomb, but ends up getting countered, and both men tumble over the barricade. Cash looks concerned for his partner. Dax is back to his feet, and so is Jay. Another hard exchange of strikes between these two!
Dax with a suplex on the concrete to Jay! FTR grab Jay, and give him a double suplex to the floor from the barricade. They grab Juice, and give him a double suplex as well! They return to the ring, and the referee looks to count out the Bang Bang Gang. Jay is able to return to the ring at the last second. Juice makes the tag, as all four men stand in the ring, face to face. The crowd approves of this! The battle lines have been drawn, as both teams exchanging fisticuffs. Cash looks to suplex Juice, and both men go tumbling over the top rope!
Dax and Jay go head to head on their knees. Headbutts, right hands, and forearms! Jay slaps Dax across the jaw, and Dax gives it right back. Big chop by Jay, and one by Dax. Jay avoids a suplex and chop blocks the leg. Dragon Screw Legwhip by Jay, Tanahashi style, and another. Jay locks Dax in the TTO! Juice comes in and knocks Cash off the apron, and then drags Jay closer to his corner, and Dax farther from the ropes!
Juice finds Cash on the floor, and drops him face first on the steel steps. Dax is able to get to the ropes to break the hold. Jay looks for Sweet Chin Music, in Canada? No way, he switches to the Sharpshooter instead! Dax is right in the middle of the ring. Dax crawls to the ropes, and Jay pulls him farther away! Jay has a momentary lapse, and Dax is able to use it to get to the ropes. Dax with a hard chop out of the corner, and another that drops Jay. He avoids a clothesline from Juice, and drops him off the apron with a right hand.
Dax places Jay on the top rope, and hits a high back suplex! Dax landed on the left shoulder coming down – the injured one! We get the five minute call. We are 55 minutes into this! Dax looks for the tag, but Juice pulls Cash off the apron! Then, he throws him into the steel steps. Chop block by Jay, followed by a Regal Suplex into a bridge for a close 2 count. Jay calls for the Blade Runner, but Dax counters it into a double leg takedown into the Sharpshooter! Juice comes in, and Cash puts him in the Sharpshooter as well!
Jay and Juice meet in the middle of the ring, and hold each other’s hands to prevent tapping! Dax’s leg gives out, and he lets go of the Sharpshooter. Juice makes the tag, as Dax pulls his knee pad down. Juice looks for Pulp Friction, and Dax counters out of it back into the Sharpshooter! The knee pad down means he can sit back better in the hold! Juice can’t hold out, and he submits! FTR take the final fall to win and retain the championships!
Final Score: FTR (2), Jay White & Juice Robinson.
You can hear commentary clapping. I love that. Post match, both teams eye each other, and FTR offer their hands out in respect to the Bang Bang Gang. Jay White and Juice Robinson instead spit in their direction. What a bunch of sore losers. FTR continue their celebration in the ring.
One word: Unbelievable. That match is on a short list of the greatest tag team matches of all time. It was damn near the perfect tag team match, with a lot of things going great for it. For starters, commentary were on point for this match. Nigel McGuinness and Ian Riccaboni called this match with such professionalism, and they treated this like it was a PPV quality match, and not a match us sickos were getting for free on TNT.
This has fantastic tag team psychology on both sides, with FTR playing both the instigators and the underdogs at times, while Jay White & Juice Robinson utilized frequent tags throughout, and focused on the limbs of their opponents. Each fall felt like it’s own match, which always helps when watching a 2 Out of 3 Falls Match. The first fall was the slow, technical feeling out period. The second fall was the more exciting, high spot period. The third fall was the chaos period, with everyone throwing shit at the wall and seeing what sticks.
It’s common knowledge that FTR are one of wrestling’s all time great tag teams, but props must be given to Jay and Juice. Despite not being a traditional tag team, they wrestled this match like they’ve only wrestled as a team. Jay White is one of the best wrestlers of the modern era because he wrestles like someone from the past. He makes every move count, he sells, and he has incredible psychology when going toe to toe with people. Juice is the exact opposite of that, a chaotic freight train of a brawler, and that dichotomy works wonders for them, and it helps elevate the chemistry they have with FTR, Southern Wrestling’s favorite tribute act.
The nearfalls in this, and the close calls with the submissions, were extremely well done, and I bit on every one of them. They knew how to build atmosphere, and they knew how to keep the crowd invested as the match wore on. They teased the hour long draw well at the five minute call, and the fact that it ended after 58 excellent minutes was a nice curveball. I only have nice things to say about this match. I loved it the first time I saw it in 2023, and I love it even more now. It’s textbook tag team wrestling.
We live in an era where tag teams are focused on high spots and getting their shit in. Here, these two told a fantastic story – well, three fantastic stories – and managed to make it one of the most exciting tag team matches ever. Real pros are able to pull that stuff off. This was a great combination of old school and new school tag team philosophy. We got this shit on free fucking TV. Wrestling rules.