AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[organizedkaos]

3 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

. Of course Willow would come out to talk FTR down when they were acting like vile heels and of course Jet Speed would come out to help her out, they are good guys who aren't just going to sit back and let FTR do some devious shit even if they have no prior link to either them or Willow. It's just natural story telling for good guys and bad guys. Now book Willow vs Big Stoke!

I'd argue that this is an example of both the strengths and weaknesses. As you said the interconnectedness is really good and adds a lot to the way I'd engage with the TV show/the idea of the world of AEW. The problem is it's often a bit muddled. 

You have Willow standing with the configuration (?) in one segment, cool, they're connected even if that stable is loose af. She comes out to defend Beth/call out misogyny, also cool. But then instead of her stable coming to back her up it's some other guys, who are good and generally don't sit by but then why remind us of the other stable she's in?

I get there's show don't tell but also fleshing out characters and you know promos that can help. They could've spent a little extra time showing Statlander feeling a bit lost career-wise and tempted by the deathriders (and emphasising the choice of pushing herself to be something she's not [serious] but might help her career vs. the goofy partnership with Harley that's true to what she is and joyful but also might be harming her career). You could pull the upcoming tag tournament into things, maybe she just can't cut it with the world title and she should just go for the feelgood tag team? That way you've got the big unexpected world title win where we're not quite sure if that's her giving in to the darkside or not, you set up the intruige for Dynamite and then the final moment really lands, especially the way it was this slightly silly but realisitic double middle finger that felt very authentic and endearing to the character

Maybe commentary could be selling this stuff better?  

Jetspeed/FTR is a great program. Willow standing up for women is great idea. It just was obvious this was a setup to get there. Heck you could even find some reason for why Mark Briscoe/OC/the other ones didn't help out, "Willow knows her usual backup is out of the picture, she doesn't care cos she doesn't back down, but if FTR try something she might be a bit fucked" sets up the moment Jetspeed come out to help. Instead it's "Oh it's those guys, cool". 

Or maybe i'm being too nitpicky, it's not like these things are actively bad it's just it feels like reading a book where the author hasn't realised that specific, considered choice of language and structure can make a good story great. 

[Statto]

2 hours ago, BomberPat said:

I thought Willow did a great job, but I still have issues with that segment - one is what is it building towards? If Willow isn't going to wrestle FTR, what purpose does it serve? And I love Jet Speed, but why Jet Speed? Willow knows that FTR are dickheads who would have no problem laying hands on her - which also brings up the weirdness around intergender wrestling where if Willow, or Beth Copeland, or any woman takes a move from a man it's a diabolical act, despite the fact that they are also trained pro-wrestlers - so, gender aside, why not have back-up in the first place? We saw Willow earlier in the night hanging out with the Conglomeration, why not have Kyle O'Reilly and Roderick Strong backing her up? 

Where I hope it's leading to is Willow hitting the big Pounce on Stokeley, because that would be very funny. 

The "why are JetSpeed coming out and not Conglomerators" issue immediately crossed my mind, then I realised the likely option from there was Strong & O'Reilly and I was very glad it was JetSpeed (who I think would be great Conglomerators, FWIW).

[Kamran]

Coming up on Collision this week:

 

[RedTwoster]

That was the weakest Collision in some time, very skippable.

Hologram is fantastic in ring, but he’s definitely getting a nomination from me for worst wrestler at the UKFF Awards this year. The clone angle is the stupidest thing AEW has ever done. What’re we supposed to be thinking here, that Hologram is a robot? That magic is going on. Have a doppelgänger show up, fine. But those videos affecting Hologram as they are? I’m amazed that Tony Khan’s judgement has been so poor as to green light this angle.

Further to that, Hologram looks so generic. He’s like the training dummy you’d fight in the old Smackdown games - he’s so bland. His full-face mask doesn’t allow him to show personality, nor does his lack of mic skills. I hate the whole gimmick.

On a more positive note, Anna Jay has come on leaps and bounds on the mic. If she’s able to step it up in ring, there’s definite potential there. That was a decent promo.

Wheeler Yuta is another wrestler who has grown significantly. He’s very good on the mic, he has a much better look to him - I wouldn’t object to them giving the guy a few big wins, he’s detestable in the best possible way. 

Bowens and Caster should remain as singles wrestlers. Bowens has found the right character as a heel, while Caster is a very good babyface. I think Bowens has main event potential, and while the roster is short of a few bodies they could do worse than to elevate him. Everyone expects The Acclaimed to reunite, but Bowens beating the shit our if Caster and perhaps Lynn would be a fun twist. 

I’m not sure what it is exactly, but Jamie Hayter is missing something right now. She’s very good, but I’m struggling to buy her as a character right now. She dresses like she’s been plucked from the 60s, but has no real character or gimmick. It all feels a bit disjointed. She could do with a reboot or heel turn. 

[LaGoosh]

I like the idea of Hologram. A fun flashy undercard superhero for the kids. But his gear is terrible and as masked wrestlers go they've already got Bandido and Kommander who are way better than he is. Additionally random CMLL guys popping in and out all the time further dilutes things.

[HarmonicGenerator]

I’d half-expected that Hologram stuff at the start of the show to lead to something silly like the Clone being Fletcher’s challenger instead of the good Hologram. But I’m guessing he’s legitimately injured? I’m not sure how much they need him, especially if there’s a chance Mascara Dorada might be around more often. Hologram’s just another stop-start character now.

The best parts of this show were the teases for upcoming shows. I’ve been hoping for women’s Blood And Guts, so I’m excited we’re getting it. And Fletcher vs Orange Cassidy should be excellent even if “say my full name” isn’t catching on.

The Acclaimed reunion was a big disappointment mainly because the match went on for sooooo looooong. The story was ‘they’re not on the same page but they still win because despite that they’re better together’. You could have done that in a quarter of the time and we didn’t need an ultra competitive contest with Swirl of all people.

Garcia and Daddy Magic should have had more to it, and maybe it will but I keep expecting them to bloody him up and it keeps not happening. Also has PAC already gone home again? Odd to have him on the PPV and Dynamite but not stick around for Collision.

Dalton Castle and Outrunners together was nice, but they’re still very much two-gimmicks-together rather than looking like a proper trio right now. Not that it matters, the Trios division is completely dead. What’s the plan there? Randoms team with Joe and Hobbs til Shibata’s back and they just won’t ever defend the belts?

Eddie coming out with a microphone, very exciting. Hook nabbing the microphone off him so he doesn’t get to finish his bit? Not so much. Hook getting the win for the team as well. I get he’s probably easing back in, but have they forgotten what they had with Kingston?

Fletcher and OC on Wednesday though - that’s a massive upgrade on what we were going to get. And Toni Storm returns to Hollywood! (Florida).

Edited September 28, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator
Post corrupted by Hologram clones (they should have 30 of them in a big battle royal)

[The King Of Swing]

I thought that was a very fun Collision. Mina Vs. Statlander was s better main event than Hayter Vs. Hart, though. 

Didn't see Women's tat titles and Bood and Guts, both being announced in the same week coming. 

[BomberPat]

Hologram is apparently a gimmick Tony Khan made up as a kid, or used to make on games, that sort of thing. I can see his judgement being completely blinkered by that.

It's a shame if it ends up hampering the "Clone" as a wrestler, because the expectation is that he will be portrayed by Arez, who is absolutely fantastic and one of the most unique wrestlers of the last few years. Maybe Hologram being injured and them having to find a different way to introduce him could work out better for him.

[Supremo]

Absolutely crazy if Hologram is legitimately injured and they don’t feed that into this Evil Clone angle. Of course Hologram is injured! Did you not see those glitches giving him a migraine?! Lad’s probably got a concussion after The Clone pulled out a HDMI cable too quickly!

I’m having a great time with AEW this year. I’d rate it against any year in their history. WWE being mostly shit has really heightened my appreciation for the run AEW is on. But fuck me. They’re terrible at capitalising on the momentum of a big return.

It’s especially frustrating right now, when Hangman is so obviously starved of potential pay per view challengers. You could have staggered the returns of Eddie Kingston, Pac and Orange Cassidy, bringing each in separately and building them up as a top guy. All three could easily fill the slots left by Ospreay and Swerve’s departures. It took less than a week for it to be flushed away. In no time flat Eddie Kingston turned into a random-tag-on-Collision guy, Orange Cassidy is only getting a TNT Title shot because Hologram’s 4G stopped working and Pac has seemingly already flew back to the UK for the Arsenal match. It’s already like none of them had ever left. Madness.

[RedTwoster]

2 hours ago, BomberPat said:

Hologram is apparently a gimmick Tony Khan made up as a kid, or used to make on games, that sort of thing. I can see his judgement being completely blinkered by that.

It's a shame if it ends up hampering the "Clone" as a wrestler, because the expectation is that he will be portrayed by Arez, who is absolutely fantastic and one of the most unique wrestlers of the last few years. Maybe Hologram being injured and them having to find a different way to introduce him could work out better for him.

That makes a lot of sense, given that he looks like he’s been plucked out of a wrestling videogame. He’s a very talented wrestler, but the whole presentation totally prevents him from showing any sort of personality.

I’ve just watched some of Arez, and I find it utterly mad that Tony Khan would consider  putting that guy under a mask to portray a clone Hologram, the guy has a tremendous look. If Tony Khan really must do the clone angle, there are plenty of bland-but-athletic wrestlers he could give that gimmick to - Dante Martin, Action Andretti, Angelico, Matt Sydal - why bring in someone interesting and remove the elements that make them stand out? 

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

12 hours ago, The King Of Swing said:

Women's tat titles

That's a bit harsh TKOS, no one has wrestled for them yet, they might be good. 

[tiger_rick]

I thought it was a super fun Collision. I rarely watch but I was up early on Sunday morning, stuck it on and had a great time. Can't agree it was skippable given it had Eddie Kingston's first TV match, announced Kenny Omega's return, women's Blood and Guts, had a good TNT Title Match and set up another and progressed the Acclaimed angle and the weird Hologram thing.

The Tony Schivone segment advertising the upcoming Florida shows was the best thing on wrestling telly all year. Just MAGNIFICENT.

Agree with the big picture issues. I'm struggling to have a lot of enthusiasm for the longer-term and the promotion itself feels a little bit cold again but that's completely at odds with the fact that every TV show is so good at the moment. It's all a bit baffling. 

[LaGoosh]

I also enjoyed Collision. Loads of great action.

Worth highlighting Daniel Garcia's excellent performance. Too ashamed to even face at Daddy Magic but went in for the kill at the very end. He didn't even look at him when he was pinning him. Then after the bell, he jumps out the ring celebrating with his new friends. Now he's finally winning and he's not looking back.

[RedTwoster]

2 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

I also enjoyed Collision. Loads of great action.

Worth highlighting Daniel Garcia's excellent performance. Too ashamed to even face at Daddy Magic but went in for the kill at the very end. He didn't even look at him when he was pinning him. Then after the bell, he jumps out the ring celebrating with his new friends. Now he's finally winning and he's not looking back.

I thought Garcia was bland as fuck for the longest time, and his time with Jericho’s group did him all sorts of damage I think given that it didn’t allow him to show what he’s actually best at as a character. There are real shades of Hangman Page in his performances - he’s very believable, from his body language right down to how he speaks. He feels like a young man who has made some bad choices - choices that are working out for him at the moment, but there’s either a redemption arc in his future, or a situation where he goes down an even darker path to become a top heel for the company. 

I think I underestimated just how good he could be.

[LaGoosh]

His performance across the entire first Continental Classic was brilliant. A forgotten but brilliant story full of great promos and matches.

He's really good, but a combination of dodgy booking and never finding that next level performance wise has held him back.