AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[The King of Old School]

I know it's only facial hair but can't take Juice seriously at the minute.

[RedTwoster]

I really enjoyed Collision, although Nigel McGuinness was grating on me once again after his abysmal performance at All In. Clearly I bear a grudge.

The Rhodes/Fletcher segment was excellent, and Dustin’s promo alone was tremendous. Fletcher doesn’t really need Callis in my opinion, and is more than capable of holding his own on the mic now. This feud could end up being the making of him.

Athena’s mic work was pretty abysmal. Her delivery was good, but there was absolutely no substance to anything she said. It was WWE-like ‘mean girls’ stuff and I didn’t like it. She’s a tremendous wrestler though, so I’m still looking forward to the match with Toni - although I’m no longer convinced that she should win. She quite literally talked me out of that prospect.

I really like the Gates of Agony with Ricochet. I was expecting two smaller, annoying wrestlers to team up with him, but giving him two bulky brutes to hide behind was an inspired choice. If Ricochet doesn’t get a nomination for best heel at the UKFF Awards this year, I’ll be gutted for him. He’s tremendous.

The Moxley segment was fine, but im hoping it’s the beginning of the end for the Death Riders.

Gunn/Bowens was interesting, and for Bowens’ sake, I hope the match next week is with Caster, and we’re heading towards an Acclaimed reunion. Either that, or Caster wins and goes on a bit of a run. The Best Wrestler Alive fluking his way towards a TNT title run could be really fun (sorry Kyle Fletcher)

Bandido continues to be one of the most impressive wrestlers on the AEW roster. I hope they do more with him once his ROH title run concludes.

I don’t actually mind Juice Robinson’s new look. He seemed to be playing a more serious version of his character, so I get the intent - it’s an intentional departure from who he was to forge a new identity. We already know he’s great on the mic, and I’d go as far as to say he’s the best promo in Bullet Club Gold, Jay White included. I think there’s every chance this will work for him. 

Edited July 20, 2025 by RedTwoster

[LaGoosh]

57 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

although Nigel McGuinness was grating on me once again after his abysmal performance at All In. Clearly I bear a grudge.

I'm not a huge fan of the commentary on Collision. I like both men but feel that as great as Schiavone is he doesn't really work as a lead play by play. The commentary generally lacks a bit of energy and I think it hurts the shows. A third person is definitely needed. Someone new and different like Veda Scott would be good.

[RedTwoster]

9 minutes ago, LaGoosh said:

I'm not a huge fan of the commentary on Collision. I like both men but feel that as great as Schiavone is he doesn't really work as a lead play by play. The commentary generally lacks a bit of energy and I think it hurts the shows. A third person is definitely needed. Someone new and different like Veda Scott would be good.

I’ve not heard much of Veda Scott, so I can’t speak for her, but I definitely agree. He’s certainly not a play-by-play guy, but I’m a little disappointed they haven’t made more use of Paul Wight at the announce desk. From what I saw of him on Elevation, I thought he was really good. 

I thought Josh Matthews was a good play-by-play on Impact, and given that he’s with AEW now, it might be worth utilising him in that way.

[LaGoosh]

9 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

thought Josh Matthews was a good play-by-play on Impact, and given that he’s with AEW now, it might be worth utilising him in that way.

I didn't see that run (he may be great now) but that guy has such a mid 2000s WWE stink to me, I want that vibe nowhere near AEW.

On the commentary subject, I love Ricabonni but putting him on the Dynamite squad is a mistake. Him and Excalibur have the exact same role and are too similar, there's no value in having both of them on the same show. Especially as Ricabonni seems to take a backseat to Excalibur when he's on there. 

Edited July 20, 2025 by LaGoosh

[Chili]

Josh Matthews can do a backstage interview now and again, but keep him well away from the comms.

I'm trying to figure out where this Don Callis Family stuff is going and hopefully it's not another hostile takeover deal, and more just him doing a Bobby Heenan classic manager with loads of clients. Because he might have the biggest stable of wrestlers ever. Makes the Hardy Family Office look tiny.

Okada, Takeshita, The Young Bucks, Lance Archer, Josh Alexander, Hechicero, RPG Vice, Kyle Fletcher, Brian Cage and Mark Davis... and he's still sniffing around other acts. 

[Lorne Malvo]

That was a really solid episode of Collision. Other than the 4-way tag which lost my interest, everything else was good to great.

Dustin as the aging gunslinger champion against Kyle Fletcher is already a really strong feud.

The women got 3 segments! As much as I dislike Tay Melo, I thought her vs Bayne was pretty good actually. Alex Windsor looked good (her vs Athena should be a cracker) and Athena vs Toni Storm is already coming along nicely.

I've been quite bored by the Don Callis Family for most of this year but have turned the corner on them. I like that they've turned Don Callis trying to recruit the entire roster into a bit of a recurring joke.

Agreed with the previous comments about the commentary, Big Tone really needs someone out there doing the heavy lifting for him. Although if that someone turns out to be Josh Mathews I'm never watching again.*

EDIT: Forgot to mention Colt Cabana (who I usually like) was really shit on commentary so the Moxley segment was an inspired decision.

*may not be true.

Edited July 20, 2025 by Lorne Malvo

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, LaGoosh said:

On the commentary subject, I love Ricabonni but putting him on the Dynamite squad is a mistake. Him and Excalibur have the exact same role and are too similar, there's no value in having both of them on the same show. Especially as Ricabonni seems to take a backseat to Excalibur when he's on there. 

Ricabonni is wasted being ROH-only, and I think Tony Khan recognises that; but has a loyalty to Excalibur who hasn’t done anything wrong. But you’re right, it’s not a great combination for the reasons you state. Ricabonni seems unable to do Collision, otherwise I’d suggest him over Matthews.

55 minutes ago, Chili said:

Josh Matthews can do a backstage interview now and again, but keep him well away from the comms.

 

Did you ever see him on Impact? He was really good in that role, sometimes having to fly solo which isn’t an easy thing to do. 

My favoured option would be placing Matthews or Veda Scott (I trust @LaGoosh on this one, even though I’ve not heard much of their commentary) on ROH, and switching Ricabonni to Collision, but as I said, I’m pretty sure that’s not an option due to other commitments Ricabonni has.

[Chili]

No, why would I watch impact and especially when it had Josh Matthews on the comms. I will never be won over. Just have an unhealthy dislike for him, his voice is specifically annoying to me. Keep him the fuck away.

[digforvictory]

I've really enjoyed most Collisions this year and this was no different.  I can see why some think they should try and make Collision less of an obvious filler B show but I'm ok with it. 

It feels much more low key than Dynamite and it's rare you get big matches or big time angles on there but it's just an easy 2 hours of wrestling. It's perfect for a  Sunday morning watch. 

 

Edited July 20, 2025 by digforvictory

[RedTwoster]

25 minutes ago, Chili said:

No, why would I watch impact and especially when it had Josh Matthews on the comms. I will never be won over. Just have an unhealthy dislike for him, his voice is specifically annoying to me. Keep him the fuck away.

Well there you go. How many wrestlers and non-wrestlers have switched companies at this point, been dismissed and completely shattered expectations? I wouldn’t dismiss anyone at this point, not least someone who I’ve not heard from in a long time. 

[Chili]

12 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Well there you go. How many wrestlers and non-wrestlers have switched companies at this point, been dismissed and completely shattered expectations? I wouldn’t dismiss anyone at this point, not least someone who I’ve not heard from in a long time. 

Stop trying to convince yourself (I'm taking the piss by the by. I just find him rather irritating old boy)

[Merzbow]

For me at least Josh is emblematic of TNA/Impact at it's absolute lowest while he was a bootleg Heel Micheal Cole. He made an already tepid product unwatchable so I've got that bias against him being anywhere on TV right now.

[CTXRussomark]

20 minutes ago, Merzbow said:

For me at least Josh is emblematic of TNA/Impact at it's absolute lowest while he was a bootleg Heel Micheal Cole. He made an already tepid product unwatchable so I've got that bias against him being anywhere on TV right now.

Yup, couldn't agree more with this.  Would be happy to never hear or see him again after his TNA run and can't see what value he brings in 2025. 

[RedTwoster]

28 minutes ago, Merzbow said:

For me at least Josh is emblematic of TNA/Impact at its absolute lowest while he was a bootleg Heel Micheal Cole. He made an already tepid product unwatchable so I've got that bias against him being anywhere on TV right now.

Yeah, the heel stuff was crap. I’d completely forgotten about that, to be honest. When he was just an announcer, I thought he was decent. When he’s employed anyway, you’re as well as to try him out I’d say. If he’s not cutting it, don’t make a habit of using him in that way.