AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[RedTwoster]

On 7/4/2025 at 10:16 AM, LaGoosh said:

AR Fox is a guy I'm not a huge fan of. He does some cool stuff but the problem with only being able to do cool stuff is that if you mess any of it up it just highlights how little else you have to offer. He was flubbing his spots left, right and centre here - he was embarrassing

I kind of liked his brief stint alongside Swerve as a heel, but as a babyface he’s not great. And his wrestling style…he feels very much like a lower-level mid-2000s indie wrestler. His moves all feel borrowed, rather than his own. I know that’s true for a lot of wrestlers, but he’s very indistinct. 

I watched a few of his promos on YouTube to see if he had a back for that, but even that felt ‘borrowed’ - with him describing himself as ‘the whole Foxing show’ at one point. For any wrestler to succeed they need an identity, and he doesn’t seem to have one.

[Guest]

Twosters point about Oswerve going after the tag belts got me thinking, and if you decided that you really wanted to sort the tag division out, you could have a division of The Hurts, Osprey/Swerve, Golden Lovers, Protoshita, FTR and The Bucks. Suddenly, you've got the best tag team division in the world. Like a bit of Smackdown Six do you lad? Well have a bit of Dynamite Dozen. 

And the best bit is those tag teams can be a bit informal. Kenny and Ibushi don't have to be on every week, and Kenny can go beat Fletcher for the TNT title to unify that one. The Hurts can challenge the Opps for the Trios titles and Hobbs and Lashley can have a Big Black and Jacked showdown. And in the mean time two of your biggest stars are having great matches with everyone, elevating some guys and eventually facing each other in the final of next year's Owen. All the time building to a Swerve heel turn, if you want one.

[The King Of Swing]

Really fun episode of Dynamite. 

Other than some sloppiness early on, that was probably the most I've enjoyed a Mone match since Statlander. 

Bucks & Takeshita Vs Paragon & Bandido was a cracker. 

Honestly enjoyed pretty much every match, this week. 

Biggest disappointment was The Bucks limo, didn't get trashed and I still don't give a shit about MJF. 

[JLM]

Not sure where else to put this. Kris Statlander was on it so it counts right? 

 

EVE 134: Mean Grrrrls

LIVE SHOW REPORT!

Had a lovely time at this show so thought I'd do a little write up. Had TWO casual fan friends with me, also one of them brought a friend who has never seen pro wrestling at all. They all thoroughly enjoyed it. 

The set up is very impressive for the space they're using. Small enough for the show to be very intimate with excellent views at all ticket tiers, but the ring/production/lighting/pyro is a cut above average small venue indy shows.. Excellent, lively crowd for it too.  Wrestling fans, good few AEW shirts about, also EVE fans who clearly come every month, then a decent smattering of first timers. 

Adding in the burlesque/cabaret aspect to it is a brilliant gateway drug system to add more first timers, makes it an easier sell to people wanting to bring friends along too. The venue, branding and burlesque aspects all hammer home the message that, much like a burlesque and cabaret night, wrestling can be a fantastic night out for an adult audience. As a long-time fan of both wrasslin' and cabaret/burlesque I definitely see the cross overs; they're both live performance art spectacles that can tell stories and elicit a very wide range of emotions, they can both be a silly or as serious as you want them to be, and this can vary from act to act or even flip flop repeatedly during the same act. They both require varying degrees of physical charisma, athleticism, skill and dedication, and are both quite widely misunderstood and underestimated by people who have preconceived notions of what they involve. Combining with burlesque is especially appropriate for a counter culture all women's wrestling promotion too, as burlesque and cabaret nights also invariably have strong feminist/female empowerment messaging. 

Sikisa was an excellent host and ring announcer, belting out the ring intros, not letting the crowd energy drop at any point and generally bringing infectious enthusiasm. 

The show:

Myla Grace vs Skye Smitson

Short and sweet opening match. Skye Smitson had good fire and aggression, I can see why she's a well regarded EVE mainstay. Myla Grace did a good job winding up the crowd with the bratty hot girl schtick.

EVE Title match: Nightshade vs Alexxis Falcon

Disappointingly never got started and was thrown out as a no contest. On the plus side, it was a very well executed one. Scrapping around the ring, scrapping in the ring, both of them taking out a mob of security/refs/anyone who tried to stop them. It was a brilliantly chaotic scene and the heat for it was great. All done to set up the first ever Falls Count Anywhere match in EVE for the next show. Would have liked to see the match, but as no contests go it was an entertaining one. 

Fight to the finish: Nina Samuels vs Safire Reed

I bloody love Nina Samuels. I really thought she'd be one of the NXT UK-ers to make it. She lives and breathes the character, she's a good talker, she draws heat brilliantly and she can have a good match with anyone, can definitely see why she had that belt collector run after leaving WWE. 

Spoiler

Mercedes Eat your heart out! 

Hadn't seen Safire Reed before but have heard good things, also watched the vignettes on EVE's youtube ahead of time to get some context for it. There is much animosity. Cost each other the EVE title, Samuels bullying Safire, Samuels nearly taking Safire's eye out with a chair leg.. They do not get along. Safire has been waiting to get her hands on Nina but we bound by one of those "as long as Nina is champion you're not allowed to challenge for the title again" stipulations. But Nina isn't the champ any more so Safire is getting her chance here.

This was a cracking little hardcore match. Didn't go crazily over the top with it, just chairs, kendo sticks and some really effective use of a chain. But yeah, the heat was there, Nina made sure everyone was firmly behind Safire, and Safire had great fire and intensity about her. Both of them trying to land chain-assisted knee-based finishing blows towards the end made for a really cool and satisfying closing sequence, with Safire getting the big feel good victory in the end. Good stuff. 

Four way match:  Zoe Lucas vs Ollie Fearns vs Sadie Gibbs vs Millie Mckenzie

This match wasn't advertised ahead of time as far as I can see. There was an announcement earlier in the show that Session Moth Martina was being replaced on the card by Ollie Fearns, so guessing Martina was meant to be in this one. Shame not to see her, but Fearns had a fun showing as the under-sized underdog. An unexpected Millie Mckenzie match was a treat, I will never tire of watching her German suplexing people out of their boots, what a beast. Zoe Lucas and Amira Blair's heel double act is hilarious, reminiscent of the Iiconics. Amira Blair in particular is gold on the mic. One note I would have about this show is that there should be more pre/post match in-ring promos. For the first timers, or those who don't watch the online content, it would be very helpful to get the gist of the stories and understand the characters and their dynamics. Also there are sooooo many indy wrestlers who are brilliant in-ring but aren't great promos, so I'd love it if more indy promotions placed emphasis on promos and let people get their reps in. 

This match was a blast. It was only 8 minutes long but was completely action packed. Had comedy, great heel heat for Lucas and Blair's shenanigans, Millie Mckenzie suplexing everyone in sight and some dazzling highspots, including a wild top rope springboard somersault to the floor from Sadie Gibbs. Was brilliant seeing the casual fan friends' reaction to that one. Watching a lot of flippy dude wrestling as I do, it's sometimes easy to forget just how batshit those kinds of spots are. Very fun scramble match. liked it a lot. 

 

EVE Tag Title match: Hard Up North (Harley Hudson and Lucy Skye) vs Big Beefy Bitches (Rhio and Emersyn Jayne)

Hadn't seen Rhio live before but can immediately see why she's become a British Wrestling institution. Good look, great presence and physical charisma and bruising in-ring work. Good heat at the start as the champions ran in and smacked the challengers with the titles before this one started, so Jayne and Rhio were fighting from underneath for the majority of it. Harley Hudson is ridiculously good at 22; she seems to be a total natural at pro wrestling, can see why she's already signed to TNA. Unique look, great in the ring and an excellent wind up merchant. Really classic tag team match this one, built around the babyface hot tags, with Rhio's being particularly strong. Definitely the "business has picked up" performer in this match, with Emersyn Jayne taking more of a beating and drawing good sympathy. Tag team wrestling 101 done very well, which I always enjoy. Also exciting to see the big babyface win and title change! 

 

EVE International Title: Kris Statlander vs Anita Vaughan

The place went NUTS for Statlander, made me very happy indeed. Superstar reaction and the loudest chanting of the night. Vaughan ended up leaning into it too, they started off doing the technical/50/50/evenly matched stuff, but Vaughan eventually started getting a bit more heelish as it went on. This was great! Best match of the night, and no that is not just because I got to see Kris Statlander perform in a tiny venue and she walked right past me. They had great chemistry together, Vaughan clearly willing to hit and be hit hard, turned into a proper slobberknocker and felt like a real struggle for the duration. Went just over 20 minutes, so they had time to build this one. with  the early technical stuff, escalating to some brawling and scrapping around the ring, some teases of submissions and then throwing the big bombs and hitting the big near falls. Definitely a Statlander big singles match, with Vaughan a perfectly game opponent who didn't look out of place going toe to toe with her. Was great to see the CFF reactions to some of Stat's offense, particularly her running knee smash into the ropes and the big spinning fisherman's driver thing she does. Of course the whole thing was elevated for me because Statlander went and won the bloody thing! Your NUUUUUUU Eve  International Champion! Really did not expect that! This was Vaughan's first defense, I assumed this was a one time guest appearance for Stat *and* I'm just conditioned to expect Statlander to lose title matches because she usually does. Was so chuffed with the result, just hope she doesn't end up losing it elsewhere as if she comes back to EVE to defend it I am there. 

Also at some point during the show they dd a lights out deal and aired a vignette for Julia Hart and Skye Blue! Big pop for that one too. They're both booked for the end of August show and I am quite tempted to go again. 

What a fun show that was. Hot crowd, excellent atmosphere, an enjoyable undercard, a belter of a main event and I got to see Statlander win a title live. 

Lastly, on the burleseque front, Amazi's hooping routine is one of the damnedest things I've ever seen. I have attended countless burlesque shows and must have seen two dozen hooping acts at this point, but this was hooping the likes of which I have never seen. She appears to have completely broken all laws of physics, it was utterly bonkers. Making sculptures out of the hoops, multiple hoops on different limbs in different orientations spinning in different directions. At one point she picked up so many hoops she looked like a slinky and my whole group said out loud "there is no way..." and she spun the lot of them. Phenomenal.

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2025 by JLM

[RedTwoster]

AEW must be good right now, I was even happy to see Scorpio Sky!

A trios team with Top Flight? Why not?! They need to have Caster win soon though - there’s more to him than simply being a comedy jobber. Personally, I’m ready for The Acclaimed to realise they’re better together and reunite. 

Shelton Benjamin once again showed that he’s been wasted for the majority of his career. He’s brilliant. People on here often complain about Adam Cole’s physique, and that kind of thing generally doesn’t bother me…except when it comes to Nick Wayne. He’s so skinny that it’s hard to take him seriously. His mum brings a great presence to Christian Cage’s act, but really, it would be better if someone else was in The Patriarchy - Nick Wayne will be a lower card nothing in a few years time, and the right wrestler could have been seriously elevated by an association with Christian. 

Speaking of Adam Cole, although his opening promo was a bit wank, I continue to find him endearing. I’m glad that they’ve gone with a one-on-one rather than a triple threat. Putting the TNT title on Fletcher is the right move.

FTR carried The Outrunners to their best ever match, who’d have thought it was even possible for them to have such an entertaining in ring showing. I really enjoyed that - there are people who are down on FTR, but I think they’re the best tag team on the planet right now. Have they ever had a bad match in AEW?

The Briscoe/MJF feud continues to be entertaining. It feels like Briscoe is having a breakout year. I’ve long been calling for RJ City to win best non-wrestler at the UKFF Awards (and frankly, I still think it was a travesty that Prince Nana won over him last year) but this time round, MVP deserves the prize. He’s breathed new life into MJF, and he’s fantastic every time he’s on screen. What a signing he’s been for AEW.

My main complaint about the show is the women. Tony Schiavone remarked on the talent in the ring during that match - and he’s right. But at the moment, it feels like there’s Storm and Mone, then everyone else. Athena could be and should be a big star. Willow is on the rise, but she should have arrived at her destination a long time ago. Megan Bayne is one of the most promising wrestlers in the company, and Statlander has really discovered her identity as of late. AEW had been doing a great job of featuring female wrestlers at the start of the year - I really hope they don’t slip into their old habit of making that brilliant division a sideshow. Then again, they kind of have. 

[The King of Old School]

Had Collision on in the background this morning, one thing I missed was why was the match between Knight & Benjamin made into a triple threat with Wayne in it?

Last I saw was the beating these lads took on Dynamite by the Hurts to set up a one on one match so was baffled to what Wayne all of a sudden was in it?

FTR/Outrunners was superb, think it's harsh on the young lads to put it all down to FTR carrying them though, thought they more than held up there own in this match.

Was convinced Garcia/Fletcher was going to have some nonsense to set up a triple threat, in the WWE it definitely would have so bravo.

Enjoyed it.

[RedTwoster]

19 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

FTR/Outrunners was superb, think it's harsh on the young lads to put it all down to FTR carrying them though, thought they more than held up there own in this match.

It’s based on their other matches - The Outrunners for me have generally been fun outside of the ring, but not great at all inside it. They may well be improving, but I think credit is due to FTR for being the first team (that I can recall) to have not only a good match with them, but a great one.

22 minutes ago, The King of Old School said:

Was convinced Garcia/Fletcher was going to have some nonsense to set up a triple threat, in the WWE it definitely would have so bravo.

 Me too!! I was bracing myself for the non-finish, or for a dodgy finish, with the focus being on the loser - making it clear this isn’t over. They didn’t right thing, but I’m so used to the opposite, this came as a genuine surprise to me.

[The King Of Swing]

Fans refusing to boo The Best Wrestler Alive, was probably the highlight of a decent Collision. 

Why isn't he on TV every week? There's potential gold in his gimmick.

[LaGoosh]

Opening promo was a bit ropey but very decent Collision otherwise. 

FTR/Outrunners was very, very good indeed. Showed Outrunners have more to offer than people think however I don't think there's another team on the roster they can have a match that good against. Loved it though.

Fletcher/Garcia was excellent. Fletcher is almost there, his gimmick/persona is just missing that one thing to pull it all together but once he finds it he's going to be unstoppable. He's too damn good.

[BomberPat]

On 7/5/2025 at 1:04 PM, RedTwoster said:

I kind of liked his brief stint alongside Swerve as a heel, but as a babyface he’s not great.

As a heel AR Fox had something that's really missing in a lot of wrestlers, which is that he was able to do a lot of flashy dives and top-rope stuff but make it feel like an aggressive attack, rather than a bit of showmanship intended to pop the crowd; PAC was the last guy to really nail that in the same way, that I've seen. It's a shame he wasn't given more in that role.

His style is very much where wrestling was about ten years ago, where the indie style was built on stringing moves together into sequences, and taking three steps when you could take one. It means that while a lot of his stuff is very creative, it often feels overly contrived. At the risk of just comparing two black wrestlers, I would say he's been eclipsed by Kevin Knight in terms of guys who can come up with unique ways to get from one move to the next in ways you might not have seen before.

There's still something there, but he hasn't figured out how best to work with it yet - I'd say that after this long there might be no hope of that, but considering how well Ricochet has reinvented himself, there's still hope for anyone. I feel like he'd be better served as part of a tag team or trio, and I actually wouldn't object to him becoming one of Ricochet's crew.

[organizedkaos]

On 7/5/2025 at 4:49 PM, Duke said:

Twosters point about Oswerve going after the tag belts got me thinking, and if you decided that you really wanted to sort the tag division out, you could have a division of The Hurts, Osprey/Swerve, Golden Lovers, Protoshita, FTR and The Bucks. Suddenly, you've got the best tag team division in the world. Like a bit of Smackdown Six do you lad? Well have a bit of Dynamite Dozen. 

Somehow Oswerve losing the upcoming match and not immediately feuding could work really well for this. They decide to keep teaming and go for the tag belts, win them. Then you can do the division as you said, elevate it through Oswerve whilst giving something for them to do. Heck you can even run back the Bucks match as Titles vs. EVP Titles and also clean up that mess.  Tag team eventually breaks down, Swerve/Osprey feud leading into Osprey challenging for the World Belt at UK All In.

That + the unification match gives you a serious second title held by either Okada or Omega, meaningful tag belts being held by main eventers and then the TNT title can properly be "up and comer belt" assuming Kyle takes it.

Then all Tony has to do is remember there's trios champs and just use that division to bash out by fun party matches on Collision and the mess of titles that is the mens division actually feels somewhat meaningful. Only argument against is that it might slightly dilute the main event scene by spreading out the big stars to other stuff..

[Guest]

1 hour ago, organizedkaos said:

Somehow Oswerve losing the upcoming match and not immediately feuding could work really well for this. They decide to keep teaming and go for the tag belts, win them. Then you can do the division as you said, elevate it through Oswerve whilst giving something for them to do. Heck you can even run back the Bucks match as Titles vs. EVP Titles and also clean up that mess.  Tag team eventually breaks down, Swerve/Osprey feud leading into Osprey challenging for the World Belt at UK All In.

That + the unification match gives you a serious second title held by either Okada or Omega, meaningful tag belts being held by main eventers and then the TNT title can properly be "up and comer belt" assuming Kyle takes it.

Then all Tony has to do is remember there's trios champs and just use that division to bash out by fun party matches on Collision and the mess of titles that is the mens division actually feels somewhat meaningful. Only argument against is that it might slightly dilute the main event scene by spreading out the big stars to other stuff..

I like all of this, except I would have Kenny, after beating Okada, then feud with Kyle to unify that belt in the next evolution in his belt collector gimmick. 2 men's belts, boom, done.

 

The thing is, it doesn't water down the main event scene that much if Hangman's the champion. He shouldn't go into an early feud with Swerve, and arguably shouldn't all year. He could have another match with Osprey, but he's just beaten him. A single match with Kenny would be fine, and you can still do it, because he and Ibushi won't be together all the time. Hangman's got an obvious match again with MJF, he could have a feud with Kyle Fletcher easily, or Okada, he can feud with Christian, give Derby the match he never had. But mostly, we could get Hangman vs Takeshita.

I don't think Hanger holds the belt for a full year, I suspect there will be at least 1 person between him and Osprey in London. 

[Supremo]

Kota Ibushi and The Outrunners delivering belters. I don’t know who Tony Khan sold his soul to in return for the fortune of 2025, but I’m extremely happy he did.

[The King of Old School]

16 hours ago, Duke said:

I don't think Hanger holds the belt for a full year, I suspect there will be at least 1 person between him and Osprey in London. 

I think MJF wins it at some point and faces Ospreay next year at Wembley.

Or if they win the tag match this weekend, maybe Swerve beats Hangman at some point to finally end there feud and faces Ospreay at Wembley sa there last match never had a conclusion and Swerve beat him the time before that.

[TheBurningRed]

8 hours ago, The King of Old School said:

I think MJF wins it at some point and faces Ospreay next year at Wembley.

No thanks. I can’t go through another MJF world title reign.