AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[RedTwoster]

I’d love for Collision to move to a Thursday permanently, it’s such a great way to kick off a Friday.

I thought Dynamite was decent, but Collision pissed all over it. I really loved that show, even if it did threaten to turn heel on me with a Roddy Strong/Kyle O’Reilly segment part-way through (which - and I’m not exaggerating for effect here - soured me on the show to the point they had to win me back over)

Moxley has been great recently, even if Darby trying to murder him was pretty daft. I really enjoyed their first segment though, and I’m looking forward to their match.

They should do something more with Brody King, he’d getting tremendous reactions and he’s just so fun to watch. If he was better on the mic, he’d be a main event wrestler already, I suspect.

Max Caster was as fun as usual, but they should have pushed forward that little bit more with the face turn and dropped the audience insults. Whatever they were trying to do with the Rush match didn’t work as well as it might have had they taken a slightly different approach. He doesn’t need to go full babyface just yet. But he should drop some of the audience insults to progress things a bit more.

Athena cut her best main roster promo to date, I thought. It wasn’t anything special, but the content wasn’t abysmal, so that’s a step forward. I’ve no doubt that the match at Forbidden Door will be a show-stealer. 

Rhodes/Fletcher was really enjoyable, but it wasn’t anything special still a bit of a shame to see Dustin lose so soon. I’d have liked him to get to Forbidden Door as champion at the very least. 

Thekla oozes star quality - she’s been tremendous so far. Bayne feels very significant too, they’ve built up quite the women’s division. I’d have loved for Mariah May to stay, but it would be nonsense to suggest they’re missing her. What the heck has happened to Deonna, though? I was expecting big things for her in AEW, but they stopped using her really quickly.

Edited August 1, 2025 by RedTwoster
EDIT: see below post, oops!

[burchybabi]

5 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

They should do something more with Brodie Lee, he’d getting tremendous reactions and he’s just so fun to watch. If he was better on the mic, he’d be a main event wrestler already, I suspect.

They definitely shouldn’t do that, people hated that Eddie Guerrero burn in hell stuff ?

[mim731]

I said this when they did it before, I don't like the stabbing stuff. For me it's an escalation where there's nowhere to go from. Just personal feeling, but it takes me out of the moment and makes it a a bit less like pro wrestling. If that's an option, why doesn't everyone just stab their opponents? Or bring a gun? I don't know, for me wrestling should always be at least slightly cartoon-ish or when serious at least within the established rules of the world the match happens within, in the violence because it is in itself an inherently silly form of entertainment rather than feeling like a snuff film. Just wasn't for me. 

Also, watching Dustin walk down the ramp is more painful than anything that happens to him in any match. Don't get me wrong he looks great for his age, but those hips are clearly fucked. I enjoyed them getting his WCW music for this though, that was a very nice touch. 

[Chili]

Dustin resigned for 5-6 years a few months ago so it's a fair whack this is his last go around before he moves into full-time trainer or whatever.

I say that, but it's Dustin Rhodes and he's had more final runs than actual runs I think. 

[The King Of Swing]

There was some good stuff in Christian's promo but it went on way too long and he looked flustered multiple times.

While watching I was actually wondering if there was some sort of production/backstage issue, that forced them to drag it out. 

Weird. 

Anyway outside of that a cracking episode of Dynamite. Definitely ended the Chicago run, on a high. 

Still don't give a toss about MJF and I'm genuinely worried that the Hurt Syndicate stuff is going to turn out to be a LOL we swerved you BRO, moment. 

[LaGoosh]

Shame they did that silly screwdriver spot because up to that point the TNT title match was shaping up to be a TV classic. Really brutal match with great action and heat. Excited for Fletcher's reign, I think it's going to be just what we all need on Collision. 

Brodido vs Gates of Agony and FTR vs Bang Bang Gang were both excellent tag matches. Brody and Bandido gel perfectly together. I loved the spot where Toa tagged in and called for Brody but Bandido refused to tag out and was all like "fuck that, I can take you myself!". Bandido is pure white meat babyface fire, it's crazy how quickly he gets live crowds completely invested. King is a top act in the waiting if they ever want to give him a big push. He's pretty impossible to dislike. FTR and Bang Bang Gang cut the ring in half to perfection to really get the crowd off their feet, they were popping like it was a World title match at times. Austin Gunn is as natural as an underdog babyface as he was a sneaky underhanded heel, what a talent he is. Juice's look may be shit but his big punches look incredible. 

The number of great matches AEW does every week on free TV can be a bit mind blowing sometimes. The fans take it for granted. 

[Kamran]

I like how so many of us were predicting a violent end:

 

On 7/13/2025 at 11:55 AM, Kamran said:

- I was surprised to see Dustin win, it was a nice moment but I'm hoping we get to see Fletcher be the one to take that title from him (brutally). 

 

On 7/14/2025 at 12:06 PM, Chili said:

In a way, if Dustin wasn't aware he was going to win and they all decided to surprise him, I think that makes that result even better. Said prior but it was legit one of my favourite moments of the show. Rhodes just blubbing in the corner probably realising at the moment what they did and why as the crowd what happened and started to pop. Brilliant. I almost love how obvious that Kyle Fletcher will gain even more from winning the title but doing it by ruthlessly battering Dustin up, which will be even better. A tremendous way to get a moment out of a situation from the issues with Adam Cole that is just really incredibly unfortunate. 

 

On 7/14/2025 at 8:08 PM, HarmonicGenerator said:

Adam Cole announcement was really sad, I hope he’s going to be alright. He’d found a groove again recently and it’s just such a shame. Lovely to have Dustin get the win, though I fully expect Fletcher to batter him on Dynamite and take the title.

 

On 7/15/2025 at 1:35 AM, LaGoosh said:

- Poor Cole, I imagine this is it for him. He's had a fair few severe concussions in the past. I've seen online clips of the bump that did it and it's pretty nasty looking. If Cole is comfortable with it, I'd use it to get major heel heat on Fletcher. The match was fine. Sammy Guevara is just sad to watch these days. I was touched by the Dustin win and am looking forward to him having a decent short run of good TV main events with that title. Fletcher absolutely has to get it eventually though. Run a programme and end it with Fletcher vs Rhodes in a bull rope or strap match.

 

On 7/31/2025 at 11:51 PM, JLM said:

Kyle Fletcher vs Danny Garcia vs Dustin Rhodes vs Sammy Guevara

Fletcher has to be livid about this whole situation. Wins a number one contenders match for a singles shot at the TNT title, ends up in a four way match instead along with the guy he beat to become number one contender. Fun little match for a last minute addition. Loved the decision to put it on Dustin. This match felt like a formality to get the belt onto Fletcher, but I think Fletcher's win should be something more definitive than a replacement match. A lovely feel good moment for Texas and Dustin and, more importantly, Kyle can win the title in a much more villainous fashion by murdering Dustin. 

 

I thought the match on Collision was excellent (overall good show too!). As much as I was expecting a brutal match, I agree with @mim731 and @LaGoosh that the screwdriver spot was OTT, they could have done without that. At 56, Dustin was impressive. It's a shame he lost it so soon, it would have been nicer to build a longer feud culminating in a match like this.

Edited August 2, 2025 by Kamran

[Supremo]

Days later and I’m still here. Peak AEW. Funny. Clever. Detail-orientated. When they hit, it’s always the bullseye. 

[Chili]

Have to say besides Caster being a bit too heelish on the mic for an obvious face turn, I'm really enjoying the two contrasting sides of The Acclaimed going solo story. Bowens was the future star and Max was pegged as your new Heath Slater, but they've struck accidental (or well planned) gold with what's occured. Bowens comes back but with all his nicknames and almost an expectation that he's destined to be great and hitting a slump and he's reacting badly to it, getting slightly in over his head and taking it out on Billy Gunn's guidance as opposed to the fact he's just not good enough yet against more established talent.

Then you have Caster, a silly little troll, but he's literally getting his arse handed to him every week but because he's coming back every week to get battered, it's rather endearing and turning him into an underdog. His brilliant chant and everything. Always loved Caster, he's just got great schtick when he's not getting occasionally himself in trouble with it. I still think this has to go with Caster and Bowens facing again with the crowd officially double turning them with Caster somehow finally getting the big win and Bowens to just maul him post match. Then have him batter Billy Gunn too, get the heat on Bowens. Partly because Billy Gunn as much as I love the bloke has IMO reached his sell by date as a character on TV and this would be a good way to get some shine on Anthony Bowens. He's actually got great potential as a heel for me, with a big face run down the line in the future.

[The King Of Swing]

Good episode of Collision, with a hot crowd that was up for almost everything. 

Both tag tournament matches delivered and I was genuinely shocked that Brodido went through. 

Juice really needs to sort his gear out. 

I'm half convinced that the Caster storyline started off as some sort of punishment/rib that has backfired on AEW, because Caster is just a really good little troll and Bowens completely tanked as an up and coming face.

Doesn't feel like anyone has any idea where it is actually going. 

Agree that the screwdriver spot was wad too OTT. Could have stopped after Kyle first went to work on Dustin's knee with it and it still would have been effective. 

Otherwise a really good main event. 

I'm a fan of Thekla, Julia and Skye, but Triangle of Madness just isn't doing it for me.

Add Bayne, Anna Jay, etc. To the mix and it just feels like a thrown together mess, to me. 

Darby/Mox stuff was goofy attempted murder silliness, that I couldn't take seriously. And was better for it. 

[Supremo]

This weekend left me super depressed as a pro-wrestling fan. I really needed this. Look at this man. No-one should be this attractive.

[Statto]

Needs the beardstache back.

Otherwise, no notes.

[Kamran]

Scheduled for Dynamite this week:

[Supremo]

I’m practically certain it wasn’t the original plan, but Brodido should win this tournament. And then they should win the belts. Absolute revelation of a team.

[Tim Healys Chutney Spoon]

Only blot for me is I dont really like the name 'Brodido' but I can see there are limitations and issues around how much they could do with the name.

Bandiking 

Bandidody

 

But yes, cracking team