AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[Merzbow]

4 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

When he’s employed anyway, you’re as well as to try him out I’d say

Apologies to any Ring of Honor fans but I'd say there is as good a place as any to test him out.

[RedTwoster]

7 minutes ago, Merzbow said:

Apologies to any Ring of Honor fans but I'd say there is as good a place as any to test him out.

In an ideal world, I’d move him there, Excalibur to Collision and Ricabonni to Dynamite. Although if Veda Scott is good, I’d be all for a fresh face, particularly one who isn’t male. I’d also be completely in favour of Caprice Coleman getting a shot at one of the main shows. From what I’ve seen of him, he’s an upgrade to McGuinness. 

[Kamran]

3 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

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.

 

2 hours 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.

Totally agree with the above, I couldn't stand his commentary in TNA, it really put me off the product. When I saw him on Zero Hour I was praying he wasn't going to join the commentary team during the All In ?

[RedTwoster]

6 minutes ago, Kamran said:

Totally agree with the above, I couldn't stand his commentary in TNA, it really put me off the product. When I saw him on Zero Hour I was praying he wasn't going to join the commentary team during the All In 

Clearly I’m in a minority here. I should probably edit my posts to read ‘Mike Tenay’ and insist you’re all misquoting me.

[hallicks]

2 hours ago, Chili said:

his voice is specifically annoying

Not just to you! Specifically annoying is the perfect description of it 

[DEF]

I forget where I heard this. Possibly on one of Tony Schiavone's podcasts but Tony asked to be given a go at traditional Play by Play again so TK has put him on Collision as a favour to scratch that itch. I agree that he lacks the energy and urgency needed. I much prefer him between Taz and Ex on Dynamite. Whatever the case I do love having TS around though.

[digforvictory]

I'd heard Schiavone was first put on Collision to do play by play because Kevin Kelly who was supposed to be doing it was absolutely terrible. And then it's just sort of stuck even after Kevin Kelly was rightfully sacked. 

I love Schiavone but I agree he's no longer really up for being the main play by play commentator, he works much better as the third man. Riccaboni would be the perfect choice but he can't do Saturdays apparently. There were rumours a few weeks ago that Collision might move to Thursdays in which case Riccaboni could do it. Think that would work much better for everyone. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

22 hours ago, RedTwoster said:

 

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. 

100% this for me. She was absolutely terrible. Toni is so good she just about saved the segment, but before that it was just embarrassing. If this is the Athena character who’s been getting rave reviews in ROH for the past few years, she can stay there.

Best segment on the show was the Statlander backstage interview that the Death Riders interrupted. A lot of interesting bits happening just in that minute or so.

Edited July 21, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator
Didn’t want to just post a negative so added a good thing (Athena was rubbish on the mic though)

[DavidB6937]

Athena definitely isn't rubbish on the mic, and hasn't been in ROH, but that content was poor and did her no favours whatsoever. Whoever was in charge of that segment needs a talking to.

[Lorne Malvo]

Athena, while really good in-ring, has been fairly ropey for me character-wise since the whole minions stuff with Billie Starkz started around 2 years ago, but I actually thought this Toni Storm segment was one of her stronger promos in a while. She essentially is a mean-girls type, there's not much more depth than that. 

I can't believe Starkz has ended up being an Athena lackey yet again though, what an absolute mess that storyline has been. For those of you who don't watch ROH (and why would you), Starkz has gone from being a lackey, to learning to stand up for herself, faced Athena two years ago, lost, reverted back to being a lackey for a year, then they re-did the 'standing up for herself' thing, face Athena a year ago, lost again, then reverted to being an Athena lackey for a third time! I'm wondering if the whole plan is for Starkz to dethrone Athena at Final Battle this year at the third time of asking, but christ it's been painful to get to that point.

[tiger_rick]

Maybe I was just tired watching early Sunday morning but I really didn't like that Dustin Rhodes promo. Just the same thing we've heard a hundred times. Dusty, Dusty, blah, blah. There was so much more potential in a promo about what it meant to him rather than the same "My old man" stuff. Poor.

Not a huge fan of Kyle Fletcher but this was a pointless diversion. Get the belt on him ASAP.

Agree on the comms. Schiavone isn't a lead PBP anymore. A great voice still but better chipping in. A female PBP would be an incredible step forward.

[RedTwoster]

4 hours ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

100% this for me. She was absolutely terrible. Toni is so good she just about saved the segment, but before that it was just embarrassing. If this is the Athena character who’s been getting rave reviews in ROH for the past few years, she can stay there.

Athena’s strength has been her matches, she’s absolutely incredible in ring, and has quietly been one of the best in ring performers in the world during her ROH title reign.

That’s not really been established on AEW TV though, and I think they should probably do that before putting any title on her. I do worry that Tony Khan assumes people are aware, so he can get away with doing something like this - but we’ll see.

I do think there’s a good story to be told with Athena - under the right circumstances - winning the AEW title and being chased by both Mercedes (who has beaten Athena) and Toni (who would have dropped the title to her, but obviously beat Mercedes) but they need to do a lot more work to establish Athena before something like that happens. 

[The King Of Swing]

6 hours ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

Best segment on the show was the Statlander backstage interview that the Death Riders interrupted. A lot of interesting bits happening just in that minute or so.

I'm starting to think that my joke about Yuta having a crush on Statlander, might not be too far off. 

[organizedkaos]

On 7/20/2025 at 11:37 AM, Chili said:

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. 

I think some of the sniffing around is just cos its an easy (and possibly overused) way of setting up matches. Don offers a face a role and they decline, offence is taken, match setup. They pretty much did it twice that last collision.

The act as a whole is feeling a bit meh at the moment despite how many members are still fun to watch. Im not averse to Callis on TV but his act wears thin when spread this much. He's a good promo but the family thing means the same schtick is used over and over. 

Also, does he ever bump? Can he? It's weird how infrequently a face gets actual revenge on Don given how often he physically gets involved in matches. (The scar thing is the only one I can think of and that's more a backstage segment than the usual "heel manager takes a finisher" spot)

 

 

 

[Merzbow]

Don's had neck issues for many, many years now IIRC. I seem to recall they were exasperated after a fan attacked him too.