AEW Collision on October 24 will feature a major tag team rematch and a singles bout involving one of the company’s most prominent competitors, as FTR meet the Motor City Machine Guns in the second match of their best-of-five series and Swerve Strickland faces Myron Reed.
The tag team contest carries immediate pressure for Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin took the opening victory in the series at AEW WrestleDream, putting the Motor City Machine Guns ahead 1-0 before the series reaches its midpoint. With only five matches available to determine a winner, FTR enter Collision needing to level the score and prevent Shelley and Sabin from moving within a single victory of clinching the rivalry.
Strickland, meanwhile, will put his current winning streak on the line against Reed. The match gives Swerve another singles opportunity on Collision, while Reed steps into a high-profile situation against an opponent who has been building momentum through recent victories.
FTR seek a response after WrestleDream setback
FTR versus the Motor City Machine Guns is a meeting between two teams with extensive reputations as elite tag team specialists. That history makes the best-of-five format especially significant: neither side can rely on one successful night alone, and every result changes the tactical and psychological landscape of the series.
For more background on this topic, read Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander Set for AEW Women’s Tag Team Title Match at Full Gear.
Shelley and Sabin gained that early advantage at WrestleDream. Their win did not end the issue, but it established the Motor City Machine Guns as the team in control heading into match two. A second straight victory would give them a 2-0 lead, meaning FTR would have no margin for another loss in the final three meetings.
For Harwood and Wheeler, the equation is straightforward. A win on October 24 would tie the series at one match apiece and reset the contest heading toward the third bout. It would also reinforce why FTR have long been viewed as one of the most dangerous pairings in any major tag division: they have repeatedly shown the ability to adjust after difficult defeats and thrive when the stakes are elevated.
The announced schedule already gives the series a clear structure. Collision will host match two, and the third encounter is slated for AEW Fright Night Dynamite. That means the October 24 result will directly shape the atmosphere surrounding the next chapter. Either the Motor City Machine Guns will carry a potentially decisive advantage into match three, or FTR will restore parity before the series continues.
The value of a best-of-five series
A best-of-five series demands more than a single strong performance. Teams must prepare for an opponent who has time to study what worked, identify weaknesses, and alter their approach from one meeting to the next. That framework is particularly compelling with FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns, as each team has built its standing on precision, timing, experience, and a deep understanding of tag team wrestling.
The opening result at WrestleDream gives Shelley and Sabin a valuable confidence boost, but it also gives FTR a full match of information to assess before the rematch. Collision therefore becomes more than a straightforward repeat of their first encounter. It is the first major test of who can adapt fastest after the initial battle.
FTR can avoid falling into a 0-2 hole by finding the answer to whatever allowed Shelley and Sabin to secure the WrestleDream victory. The Motor City Machine Guns, on the other hand, have the chance to prove their first win was not simply a one-night breakthrough but the beginning of a sustained edge over their rivals.
There is also the matter of urgency. A 1-1 series after Collision would ensure that both teams have equal footing at Fright Night Dynamite. A 2-0 scoreline would make match three a potential series-clinching opportunity for Shelley and Sabin, while placing FTR in a must-win position. No additional stipulations or changes to the format have been announced, so the focus remains on which team can claim the necessary three victories first.
Swerve Strickland continues his singles momentum
Elsewhere on the October 24 Collision card, Swerve Strickland will face Myron Reed in singles competition. The announcement specifically positions Strickland as entering the match on a winning streak, giving the bout a clear momentum-based story before the opening bell.
Strickland has consistently been a central figure in AEW’s singles landscape, and a winning run can place even more attention on every appearance. His matchup with Reed is an opportunity to continue that streak, but it is also an occasion for Reed to change the conversation with a victory over a major opponent.
For Reed, the assignment is substantial. Facing Strickland means dealing with a competitor whose recent results have made him increasingly difficult to slow down. An upset would immediately become a defining result for Reed, while a Strickland win would preserve the run that AEW has highlighted heading into Collision.
The match also broadens the show beyond the tag team series. While FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns will be working through a long-form rivalry with a scoreboard attached to every contest, Strickland and Reed have a more immediate singles objective. One man is trying to keep his momentum moving forward; the other is looking to make a statement against a wrestler currently riding a streak.
October 24 Collision card
Two matches have been announced for the October 24 edition of AEW Collision:
- Best-of-five series, match two: FTR vs. Motor City Machine Guns
- Singles match: Myron Reed vs. Swerve Strickland
With the Motor City Machine Guns already holding the first-series victory, the tag team main attraction has clear consequences before it begins. Shelley and Sabin can take command of the best-of-five, while FTR can erase their deficit and turn the rivalry into a dead heat.
Strickland’s meeting with Reed provides a separate reason to watch closely. Winning streaks create expectations, and Reed has the opportunity to test whether Swerve can maintain his form when a motivated opponent is aiming for a breakthrough result.
What is at stake on Collision
The October 24 program arrives at an important point for both announced matches. FTR cannot win the series on this edition, but they can prevent the Motor City Machine Guns from building an enormous advantage. Shelley and Sabin cannot yet finish the job either, though they can make themselves overwhelming favorites by leaving Collision with a 2-0 lead.
That dynamic should make every sequence in the tag bout matter. The first match provided the Motor City Machine Guns with proof that they can beat FTR in this series. The second will reveal whether they can do it again after FTR have had time to regroup, or whether Harwood and Wheeler will answer with the type of rebound that has defined many successful teams over the years.
In the singles match, Strickland has a different sort of pressure. A streak is only as strong as the next result, and Reed has every incentive to treat this contest as a chance to secure a memorable win. Swerve will look to keep his momentum intact; Reed will aim to stop it.
More matches and segments may still be added to the October 24 lineup, but the two announced bouts already give Collision a focused foundation. The Motor City Machine Guns will attempt to push FTR to the brink in match two of their best-of-five series, and Swerve Strickland will attempt to continue winning when he faces Myron Reed.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.