AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[Infinity Land]

1 hour ago, RedTwoster said:

They’d have been better off treating it as a three-hour Dynamite rather than splitting Collision in two, I reckon.

It will be a contractual thing. Also the 3rd hour of a 'new' show has tended to hold up better ratings wise. Particularly under the new US tv rating system. Where for the first time the 3rd hour was ranked higher in 18-49.  

 

[LaGoosh]

I thought that was a pretty rough show overall. Generally it feels like there's loads going on at the moment but it's all a bit messy, convoluted, unimportant or rubbish.

I'm used to AEW crowds being dark due to low attendance but when you've got over 10,000 fans maybe you should turn the fucking lights on? The show looked bad. Just dark nothingness surrounding the ring and entrance.

Speaking of looking bad - it makes me sad watching Kenny Omega these days. He's clearly absolutely fucked physically. He's now in this weird spot where he's not a full timer but he's not a special attraction either. I think they really need to move him into the special attraction role as soon as possible. I love Kenny but it's hard to watch him at the moment.

What was up with Willow completely no-selling Athena's finish? She popped up immediately after the pin like nothing happened.

Can't stress enough how much Hangman losing the title has taken the wind out of this company as a whole. Lukewarm unconvincing heel Samoa Joe as the World Champ is such a downer and has made the company feel rudderless. You could basically tell the same story they are telling now with Hangman as the Champion - it'd be more interesting in fact. 

Swerve's new music is such a pop killer. It drags on and on and the worst part of it is it doesn't time up properly with Prince Nana's dance! 

Within 2 minutes of MJF returning I wanted him to fuck off again. I'm just so tired of his boring edge-lord act. He did a decent enough job explaining why he wanted in the match to be fair. Fundamentally I'm so fucking tired of the 10 minute soliloquy in pro wrestling. Everyone standing around like idiots while they reel off cleverly worded insults at each other. It's a WWE trope and it's now accepted as being part of wrestling but also it's almost 2026 - surely it's time to think of new ways to tell stories in wrestling than just having the wrestlers stand in the ring and shout out their thoughts and emotions? It's the most boring, uncreative way of telling a story and AEW should move as far away from it as possible. Even from a character point it's completely unbelievable that Swerve, Joe or Hangman (all violent psycho badasses) wouldn't just fucking lamp MJF in the face. I hate it!

Hard to be excited about that four way title match considering almost every four way match in wrestling history sucks.

A battle royale with two winners who then have to wrestle each other to win a diamond ring and also a World title shot (I think) is just too much.

Creatively everything is such a drab repetitive mess right now with only the Continental Classic keeping me interested.

 

[organizedkaos]

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Speaking of looking bad - it makes me sad watching Kenny Omega these days. He's clearly absolutely fucked physically. He's now in this weird spot where he's not a full timer but he's not a special attraction either. I think they really need to move him into the special attraction role as soon as possible. I love Kenny but it's hard to watch him at the moment.

Kenny Omega clearly has a great mind for wrestling on top of his physical ability. I don't quite understand why he seems set on trying to repeat old spots which whilst seem somewhat cool aren't that impressive (the you can't escape whatsit) in multiman matches rather than say doing a 15 minutes clever match with Josh Alexander that's more mat and heat based. It seems like he can pull of enough stuff to do an exciting/engaging match so why not work cleverly around. Instead he's in matches that try and be big flippy spotfests and that makes him look even more fucked.

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What was up with Willow completely no-selling Athena's finish? She popped up immediately after the pin like nothing happened.

My guess is that it was supposed to still be a bit of "stunned enough for a 3 count" moment. Willow wasn't that beaten down when she took the finisher so I think it was supposed to act more like a roll up? Still a bit unnecessary. Why not have her looking a bit fucked, then she can cut a promo issuing the challenge looking a bit vunerable but angry. Instead it's straight back up, angry, match is announced on twitter 

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Hard to be excited about that four way title match considering almost every four way match in wrestling history sucks.

I mean they did manage a pretty good four way with the "pillars" despite the match build being terrible. There's just enough interesting dynamics in that match that i'm intruiged (much more so than any combination of Joe vs. one of those guys) but not loads of hope. Especially cos they did that other four way with Mox and I can only remember that it happened not anything about the quality, match or story of it. For every pretty good there's a whole load of unmemorable filler ones

[LaGoosh]

6 minutes ago, organizedkaos said:

don't quite understand why he seems set on trying to repeat old spots which whilst seem somewhat cool aren't that impressive (the you can't escape whatsit) in multiman matches rather than say doing a 15 minutes clever match with Josh Alexander that's more mat and heat based. It seems like he can pull of enough stuff to do an exciting/engaging match so why not work cleverly around. Instead he's in matches that try and be big flippy spotfests and that makes him look even more fucked.

I really enjoyed Omega's recent matches with Takeshita and Okada for this very reason. Instead of being the expected huge spotfests they were worked very cleverly around his stomach injuries and the matches were so much better for it.

[Supremo]

On 12/18/2025 at 6:25 AM, RedTwoster said:

I’m a little surprised there’s not been more backlash to MJF comparing the company’s only ever Black world champion to P Diddy - I mean in general, as opposed to on here, I can understand people forgetting after enduring that length of taping. I thought that was an awful thing to say, and not in the way he intended. That should never have made it to air.

I actually appreciated and respected MJF for setting his stall out so early. Don’t be excited by the return. Don’t be fooled by what appears to be yet another hair transplant. Nothing has changed. He’s still the most frustrating wrestler in the business.

In the same way Okada is the funniest man alive, cursed with also being one of the best wrestlers of all time, MJF is the most talented young wrestler in the business, cursed with being an edge-lord loser. Simply cannot help himself. Guaranteed, if MJF wasn’t a pro-wrestler, he’d be in the crowd, inevitably sat annoyingly close to me, shouting bollocks to make his mate laugh, whilst everyone around him thought he was a prick and wished he’d fuck off.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Supremo

[RedTwoster]

1 hour ago, LaGoosh said:

Swerve's new music is such a pop killer. It drags on and on and the worst part of it is it doesn't time up properly with Prince Nana's dance! 

I might be in the minority here, but I think it’s a huge upgrade!

 

[Supremo]

Add me as another who prefers Swerve’s new music. It’s not as impactful at the start, but it screams megastar when he slowly struts out to it. Coolest man in wrestling. The anti-Seth Rollins.

Some bonus thoughts…

This was my first time at the Co-Op Live Arena. I remember reading horror stories when it first opened, which they’d supposedly sorted, but I still found it to be a complete nightmare getting to and then entering. Seemingly hidden behind the Etihad Stadium, difficult to find an entrance, and then endless snaked queues, we didn’t get in until just as Mox and Roddy made their entrances. It was only afterwards we discovered we’d missed a Nigel McGuinness match. Although, in retrospect, the last thing I wanted after this show was more wrestling. I’d more than had my fill.

Kenny Omega is thrashed. As much as I’m completely over Elite Lore at this point, sticking him in a Trios with The Bucks, where they can pick up the majority of the slack, is definitely the best option.

If they’re running out of ideas with The Bucks, I wouldn’t mind seeing Nick Jackson in next year’s Continental Classic. Lad is so fucking good, it almost feels like he’s wasted being in the greatest tag team of all time.

Watching him live, I not only marvelled at Hangman’s beauty, but also his relentless dedication to the character and the craft. Man never stops. Always pacing. Always glaring. Always switched on. Felt like he has working overtime in that contract signing to keep it on the rails. A muddled, mess of a segment, where everyone else was wasting time on shitty dunks like, “LOL, dick tattoo in TNA,” and, “LOL, you were in a faction with Top Dollah,” it was left to my Beloved Cowboy to steer the ship and cling on to the actual story they were trying to tell.

I think that’s why Moxley and Hangman will always be my firm favourites. For better or worse (looking at you, Cat Burglar Mox), those two always keep within the show’s fictional universe. Has Moxley ever referenced his time in WWE whilst on AEW television? Has he ever allowed anyone to bring up Roman or Seth? Has Hangman ever brought up what someone has done in WWE or elsewhere? Those two feel like the most focussed, consistent characters, not wasting their time reading through Wikipedia pages to think of another shitty quip that’ll make the worst subset of fans go, “oooOoooOoohhhhH!” Wrestlers should he fined every time they do it, although that’d probably mean MJF ends up owing AEW money despite his massive contract.

A mate who attended told me his girlfriend accidentally delayed Moxley’s entrance on this show by a solid thirty seconds by standing directly in his way, completely oblivious, eating a Yorkshire Pudding Wrap in the foyer. Made me smile. As if Mox doesn’t have enough on his plate right now! Man’s unravelling!

On that subject, it was positively electric to watch Mox’s promo on the big screen, and then hear the organic cheers and applause that followed. He’s slowly becoming a goodie again! This arc of his is the best thing in the business right now.

Live, I think Pac is the most perfect pro-wrestler. He’s got the, “fucking hell, look at him!” physique, but then he’s the most ridiculously fast, athletic man imaginable. Seeing him bouncing and flying around whilst looking like the Incredible Hulk, it doesn’t seem real. He’s like CGI come to life. Pac vs. Fletcher was easily match of the night. Long live the Continental Classic!

As much as I’m happy the women have their own Tag Division, it does feel like both Toni Storm and Willow Nightingale have been watered down by being put into teams.

A Battle Royale ending with two winners who will then fight next week is the most anticlimactic experience of all time. Literal children were heard exclaiming, “that’s so stupid!” They’re not wrong.

I know it’s nothing new to say, but it’s always worth mentioning how much Orange Cassidy proved everyone wrong. Remember when people would argue he was a one-note joke that would never work in a mainstream promotion? Man’s a superstar. I came dangerously close to buying an Orange Cassidy T-shirt but £40 this close to Christmas and my wife would have killed me. Especially if I responded with a limp thumbs up.

So yeah, if this had just been a two to three hour experience, it would have been brilliant. Everyone could have left on a high. If they insist on recording so much content, they need to figure out a better way to do it.

Despite being just as long, I remember the first All In at Wembley ending on a huge crescendo, fireworks going off, everyone buzzing as they left, making plans for next year. This was the complete opposite. A brutal final hour, with half the arena giving up, ring announcers begging people to keep chanting, Tony Khan begging people to stay so he could thank us at the end. It went from a wild, exciting atmosphere, to the bleakest, most depressing slog. Performers and punters alike, all struggling to get to the end. When I think back about this show, it’ll essentially be this.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Supremo

[Cheeky Boy]

Does anyone else think this diamond ring business is a bit pointless without MJF involved? Since he won it back to back, I thought it would be a pretty big deal when someone stops his run and beats him, let alone by the time he'd won it 4 or 5 times in a row.

Even if the timing isn't right for him to be involved, there's no rush. I don't think anyone was clamouring for another diamond ring battle royal to happen right now. Maybe it leads to something between him and whoever wins, but seems a bit of a downer that he isn't just beaten for it.

Edited December 19, 2025 by Cheeky Boy

[Chris B]

While I don't love MJF being back, nor his 'P Diddy' reference in particular, it's at least logical storytelling, and it is trying to shake up some storylines a little bit. I don't hate it either.

I've also come round more on the Joe character and run. We've all been saying for years that 'older heel feels his grasp getting shaky and starts resorting to shortcuts and different tactics' is something that should be done properly and they're actually doing that with Joe. While the transition to it was shakier than it should have been, and it all happened a bit quickly to be convincing, I kind of like what they're doing with it right now as a transitional thing. And Joe doing his bullying stuff to MJF reminded me just what a good feud that was.

So... yeah, it's all a bit messy, but it was probably going to be as they try and set things up longer term. It could have been a lot worse and has been in the past at times.

[WyattSheepMask]

Apologies for Twitter (couldn’t find it on Bluesky), but this prick needs to be named and shamed 

 

[Supremo]

His name is Jack Perry.

He’s forever causing chaos, even by accident.

[ReturnOfTheMack]

I know its not even slightly the point, but I did find it funny/odd that when referencing a match in which he gave up Eddie Kingston said that he never gives up.

[IANdrewDiceClay]

3 hours ago, WyattSheepMask said:

Apologies for Twitter (couldn’t find it on Bluesky), but this prick needs to be named and shamed 

 

Simon Hill, British wrestling commentator/announcer and also works as an interviewer for Walsall. Hence how shit he put a choke on. Woke up one day, watched some shite wrestling and thought he knew how to put a rear naked choke on some lad.

Did you honestly think some wanker who thinks he's hard didnt work in BritWres? If I was caught on camera fighting over a cheap plush bear at a wrestling show, and I actually worked in the business? You pretty much have go into fucking hiding dont you? Never venture out again.

[AshC]

Did AEW send anyone to Sports Personality of the Year? It's a shame really if they didn't, with it being in Salford the day after they were in Manchester.

[organizedkaos]

12 hours ago, IANdrewDiceClay said:

 If I was caught on camera fighting over a cheap plush bear at a wrestling show, and I actually worked in the business? 

I mean its still shitarse behavior but it looks like he's "defending" the lady. But rather than helping her though he's gone mental attacking the person who was (unintentionally) about to harm her.