Shipping Wars | AEWeekly #202

Welcome to the #AEWeekly review discussion where PWM contributors reflect on the highlights of the last week in AEW. The eligibility week always includes the most recent episode of Dynamite and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.

This week’s contributors are Abel [@loza3.bsky.social] covering Match of the Week, Lauren [@sithwitch.bsky.social] exploring a key Story Beat, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] editing and organizing it all.

 A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly

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Mark Briscoe vs Hechicero

"Some Saturday Night Alchemy..."

by Abel.

If you aren't watching Collision weekly, you should be. Every week, Tony Khan will book a match on Collision that is so good that it will keep you honest as an AEW fan. It will force you to watch the replay on Monday, even if you didn't plan to in the first place. The match for this week was TNT Champion Mark Briscoe versus the Alchemist, Hechicero. Both men gave a masterclass in midcard title matches and ramped up the continued elevation of the TNT title by Mark Briscoe.

​The match took place at the Esports Stadium, a new home-away-from-home venue in Arlington, Texas. The venue is intimate, making it feel like AEW is in your literal backyard. The crowd that attends these shows are some true sickos. They add an extra element to these matches and become a living character in these fights. Hechicero vs Mark Briscoe is an excellent example of that, as the crowd appreciated the work from both men, was split right down the middle, and broke out a chant for both in the middle of the match.

​Hechicero’s wrestling style is unique. The Alchemist has a mix of Lucha, with his technical mat prowess, and an added dose of physicality that not many Luchadores have. It's not only that unique combination; there is no one else in the world who works joints, limbs, and the mat as Hecicero does. The pain on Briscoe’s face sold how well Hechicero is able to work down a wrestler's body. Even if we all knew Hechicero wasn't going to win, some points made it seem otherwise. Truly: there's nobody like him.

​Something else that stood out in this match is how well Hechicero blends into the AEW crowd.  While he has always been a crowd favorite, Hechicero now looks comfortable with the crowd, giving it back to them while on the outside. That comfort level will no doubt improve Hechicero’s in-ring work, which is already at an all-time high.

​What else can you say about Mark Briscoe that we haven't already said? He always gives it all in every match. Briscoe is as physical as anyone in the AEW locker room – that spot dropping Hechicero on his head on the ramp is the perfect example. Briscoe wrestles every match with the same intensity, and it doesn't matter if it's a pay-per-view or a Collision. That is what makes him not only one of the best but also a crowd favorite.

​The spot of the match was the Corkscrew spinning leg drop: it looked both painful and spectacular. They say styles make fights, and that spot was an example of that. Hechicero vs. Briscoe was two styles that visually looked pleasing and made sense within the in-ring psychology. The two wrestlers match up well in physicality, which is when Hechicero is at his best. However, the extra layer is Hechicero’s mat work and Briscoe’s ability to sell it. That made it a great match.

​The match ended when Hecichero misjudged Briscoe, hit the ropes in a way I’ve never seen before, and Briscoe took advantage of that unforced error. "Chicken" picked up his second successful championship defense of this TNT reign, and stopped the Don Callis Family from regaining the title. If Hechicero continues to put on performances like this, it will be a matter of when, not if, he holds singles gold in AEW.

Toni Storm, Mina Shirakawa, and Orange Cassidy

"Friendship, relationship, whatever you want to call it..."

by Lauren.

While 2025 started with Timeless Toni Storm wrapping up the doomed affair of a lifetime with Mariah May, 2026 has started with some potential trouble in paradise–and maybe replaying past drama.

Before Mariah's betrayal, Mina Shirakawa – Mariah's former Club Venus teammate and implied love – challenged Toni for Mariah's love. The feud ended when Toni, Mariah, and Mina seemed to decide that a threesome was the solution. When Toni defeated Mariah later, she kept Mina in the divorce. The two began referring to each other as wives and formed the Timeless Love Bombs, becoming a battle couple for the ages.

They did not win the inaugural Women's Tag championship, but they set off on a bloody battle of revenge against the MegaProblems: the duo of Megan Bayne and the Death Riders’ Marina Shafir. Megan and Marina had been tormenting the Timeless Love Bombs, including making Toni surrender during the first ever Women's Blood and Guts match by torturing Mina in front of her. Since then, Toni has had it out for both the MegaProblems and the Death Riders.

But the Death Riders have more enemies, including the Conglomeration. In particular, Orange Cassidy has had it out for them since the days of the Best Friends and the Blackpool Combat Club, when Wheeler Yuta dropped his former mentors in favor of being turned into a vicious weapon. Since then, Orange had opposed them at every turn. Naturally, he stepped in to assist Toni.

“Stepped in” may be the wrong term. The two of them grasped each other in a tango and proceeded to kick some ass, with Toni and Mina both ending up in his arms. Toni seemed intrigued. Mina looked scandalized.

In the weeks since, Toni has continued the flirtation while advancing her feud. Marina Shafir took advantage of it during their singles match on Dynamite, grabbing Toni and throwing her around in a mockery of her and Orange's battle tango. Mina, in the meantime, has been taking it less than well. On Collision, she received a gigantic bouquet of flowers before her match against Lady Frost began, retrieving them again afterwards and repeatedly asking who sent them.

Speculation ran rampant: was it Toni, seeking to assure her that she is loved? Maybe not, since Toni is the type of person to make grand public gestures instead of hints. Could it be Orange, as a gesture of conciliation? Probably not, since that seems like entirely too much effort for Orange to expend. Could they be from Mina herself in order to make Toni jealous?

In any case, the potential polycule continues their fight against the Death Riders. Maybe this time will work better than Toni and Mina's last attempt. Maybe it will blow up in their faces. Or, given that Orange is one of the participants, it could be nothing. Whatever.