AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[Statto]

Yeah, the thought crossed my mind after catching up with Dynamite last night - whilst I'm not opposed to Hangman vs Fletcher for a PPV, it does strike me as a match that might well not main event (I'm starting to think C&C vs FTR will go on last) and that'd be the second PPV since Hanger won the belt that he's not been on last.

Obviously there's context to both, but it would start to smack a bit of his prior reign.

[Infinity Land]

You might remember that Death Before Dishonor was originally supposed to take place last night, before TK realised he'd forgotten a wedding he had to attend. Turns out it was MJF & Alicia Atout's wedding. 

Edited September 6, 2025 by Infinity Land

[Supremo]

C&C vs. FTR headlining scares the shit out of me. FTR are a nightmare for going long at best of times. Put them in the main event and they’ll probably be campaigning to go two hours, to cut into WWE’s pay per view time.

[Infinity Land]

6,500+ out for the Manchester show. Should end up with enough interest to cross 10k if properly promoted. 

2,260+ for Cardiff. 

Edited September 7, 2025 by Infinity Land

[LaGoosh]

Danielson is becoming a full time commentator starting this Wednesday! Incredible news!

 

 

[RedTwoster]

26 minutes ago, LaGoosh said:

Danielson is becoming a full time commentator starting this Wednesday! Incredible news!

 

That’s fantastic news!! I wonder if that’ll be at the expense of someone else, or if we’re  looking at a four-person team? Given that Schiavone is pulling double-duty, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a step back and do Collision only, although that would be a shame.

[Infinity Land]

53 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

That’s fantastic news!! I wonder if that’ll be at the expense of someone else, or if we’re  looking at a four-person team? Given that Schiavone is pulling double-duty, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him take a step back and do Collision only, although that would be a shame.

Probably Schiavone and Taz rotating out depending on circumstances. When Taz missed the UK shows it was mentioned future surgeries and long flights can be a bit of an issue since his knee replacement.

[The King Of Swing]

Am I having a brain fart or did Mone defend the TBS Title against Riho, early in her reign? 

[Merzbow]

1 hour ago, The King Of Swing said:

Am I having a brain fart or did Mone defend the TBS Title against Riho, early in her reign? 

That was Yuka.

[The King Of Swing]

2 hours ago, Merzbow said:

That was Yuka.

I remember that one. 

Thought she also defended against Riho, but I'm guessing that I'm wrong.

[Infinity Land]

9 minutes ago, The King Of Swing said:

I remember that one. 

Thought she also defended against Riho, but I'm guessing that I'm wrong.

They've never faced each other. Barely crossed paths. Riho was on the Big Business Dynamite where Mercedes debuted. That might be where you remember an interaction between them, I can't recall. After that there was one random Collision where Riho wrestled Lady Frost and it's been over a year since then.

[The King Of Swing]

Yeah, a total brain fart on my part.

[RedTwoster]

A tremendous Collision, albeit one that has left me with a few reservations.

Firstly, Eddie Kingston is returning. That’s phenomenal news, and I can’t wait. Having him return against Big Bill is a strange choice, however. I’d hoped for an enormous reaction with a surprise return against someone like Moxley. I don’t dislike Bill, but I do dislike the fact he’s the guy to bring Kingston back. 

Secondly, ANOTHER ‘all-star women’s tag match’ featuring - more or less - the same people. Tony Khan has patted his own back saying the improvement in AEW coincided with him taking full control of the booking. Maybe that’s true, but the women’s division and its visibility has taken a few steps backwards as far as its prominence is concerned. Fix that Tony, you might actually have the best women’s division in wrestling as far as talent is concerned - don’t fuck that up. 

Final negative to mention - Roderick Strong. Fuck off, please. Oh, and I guess the absence of Max Caster is another bad point. He needs to appear soon, so that his slow babyface turn doesn’t lose any further momentum. 

That said, this might have been my favourite ever episode of Collision, it was so exciting and fun. Garcia/Moxley was brilliant, and they might be on to something with this version of Garcia. He’s become very good on the mic, and his frustration and self-doubt is very believable. He’s not laying it on too thick, yet it’s been obvious for a while. Not every wrestler could pull off that kind of subtlety, but I think he has. I’ve gone from viewing him as bland and potentially even disposable to thinking he has much more upside than I’d previously thought. I don’t say this lightly - there are shades of Hangman in the way he’s portraying himself. 

And speaking of Hangman, I think Kyle Fletcher is a great option to be his next challenger. Gone are the days of the long, rambling Fletcher promo. He’s focused on the mic, and deliberate. People will view this as a throwaway title defence, but I wouldn’t be against a major, major upset with Fletcher actually winning the World title, throwing everything we thought into disarray - Hangman’s ‘real’ world title win ends sooner than expected to a young upstart, MJF has his title opportunity- what does that mean? And how do Okada and Takeshita feel about this young, brash arsehole becoming World Champion in AEW before they do? And how does Hangman react?

Even if that doesn’t happen - the match against Hangman can be a statement match for Fletcher. Maybe he doesn’t win the belt, but he firmly establishes that it’s only a matter of time before he does.

Stokely continues to prove my old view about him wrong, the chemistry he has with FTR is tremendous, huge credit to whoever suggested that grouping. 

Bowens and Lynn was intriguing, but I hope that wasn’t a hint that charisma-vacuum Lynn is going to be used as his coach or something. 

Mercedes cut a strong promo against Riho. I do like Riho, but it’s been so stop-start for her that it’s impossible to buy in to her chances of winning.

Dalton Castle and The Outrunners should be fun. Super long post here and while I do have more to say, I’ll leave it at that - I really enjoyed this show, and I’m buzzing for All Out even though on paper, it’s a weaker card for AEW. The build has been fantastic. 

Edited September 7, 2025 by RedTwoster

[LaGoosh]

37 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

Secondly, ANOTHER ‘all-star women’s tag match’ featuring - more or less - the same people.

I liked that this was branded "everyone banned from ringside"...everyone was already in the fuckin' match! There was pretty much no-one to ban!

[The King Of Swing]

Good Collision but I missed my usual Collision Boys. Like STP and of course The Best Wrestler Alive. 

Anthony Bowens, has real fuck off heat with me, right now. Can't believe how quickly and far he has fallen. 

Outrunners and Dalton Castle, reunion. Yes fucking please, and don't just shove them on ROH.