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Winners Crowned In AEW Men’s & Women’s Owen Hart Cup Tournaments

By John Canton • Published 15th July 2023
aew collision owen hart cup

The finals of the Men’s & Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments took place on AEW Collision.

At AEW Collision on July 15th in Calgary, the finals of the Men’s & Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournaments took place. It has been called the Owen Hart Cup by some people as well. Calgary is the perfect city to host the finals because that’s where Owen was from.

In the Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, Willow Nightingale faced Ruby Soho. It was a competitive match with Soho, who is part of The Outcasts group, trying to cheat to win. However, it was Willow Nightingale who picked up the win.

Willow Nightingale is the second Women’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. won the inaugural tournament in 2022.

The Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament match was the main event with CM Punk against Ricky Starks. Going into the match, most people likely assumed Punk would win since he’s more experienced and a former two-time AEW World Champion as well.

CM Punk and Ricky Starks, both of whom are usually cheered by the AEW fans, had an even matchup for nearly 20 minutes. There were several nearfalls and near submissions throughout the match. The finish saw them go for pin attempts near the ropes, then Starks had Punk pinned with Ricky holding the middle ropes for leverage. The referee Bryce Remsburg saw Starks holding the rope after counting the pin, but since it wasn’t seen as it happened, the decision stands.

That meant that Ricky Starks is the second Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament winner. Adam Cole won the inaugural tournament in 2022.

On the AEW Battle of the Belts VII show that aired immediately after Collision, Japanese wrestling legend Jushin Liger was on hand in full costume. Liger was there because he wrestled Owen Hart in Japan early in their careers, so Liger was there to present the trophy.

Instead of having a formal, honorable presentation, Ricky Starks went up to Liger and took the Owen Hart Cup out of Liger’s hands, and went celebrating to the back. While Ricky Starks had been a babyface in AEW for quite a while, it appears as though his actions on Collision show that he’s likely back on the heel side again.

Congratulations to Willow Nightingale and Ricky Starks on their big victories as the Women’s & Men’s Owen Hart Cup winners.