AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[Lorne Malvo]

10 hours ago, RedTwoster said:

Hologram

Wasn't sure what had happened with Hologram so I just googled it to find out he's injured. It's quite the indictment of AEW when if somebody disappears off TV, I assume Khan has forgotten about them rather than they're injured.

[Merzbow]

Anytime cutting Angelico is getting slapped up.

[The King Of Swing]

Make Angelico MxM's dance instructor. 

[BomberPat]

there's a lot of people in AEW that I have too much of a soft spot for to cut, and would like to see featured better, and Angelico is one of them. If Wikipedia is correct, he's also on their Spanish announce team now. The problem is where do you find space for someone like him on the current roster, without advocating for a brand split; I kind of hate them, and I think it would be yet another instance of them feeling like they're aping WWE at their lowest points, but that might be the only reasonable way to manage such a large roster, and one that seems to have a lot of interpersonal issues on it (though I doubt it's any worse than at WWE or anywhere else, we just hear about it more).

That said. If I were to cut people to try and make sense of the roster, I'd start here (overlooking a lot of people currently injured, as a return from injury could be an opportunity to reintroduce/repackage them usefully, and the likes of Colt Cabana and Rocky Romero who I don't think add much on-screen, but who have other responsibilities):

Spoiler

Aaron Solo
AR Fox
Ariya Daivari
Bishop Kaun
Boulder
Bronson
Carlie Bravo (I had to look up who this was)
Cole Karter
Dutch
Griff Garrison
Josh Woods
Peter Avalon
Preston Vance
The Von Erichs (just keep them as an unsigned team you're on good terms with, bring them in for a nostalgia pop when you run Texas. No need to have them as regulars)
Toa Liona
Tommy Billington (similar to the Von Erichs; he's somebody to use in Canada or the UK as a local attraction, but has limited value as a regular)
Tony Nese
Vincent
Zak Knight

Diamante
Kamille

Alex Abrahantes
Alex Marvez
 

And people I would try and make better use of by incorporating into tag teams, trios or factions:

Spoiler

EJ Nduka - add him into the Hurt Syndicate as a future prospect; they need at least one new member to get over MVP as a star-making manager. It doesn't do MVP's gimmick good to have him come in and hand out business cards, with nobody accepting them. 

Nick Comoroto - he has a good look; hook him up with someone as a meaty powerhouse tag team, or with a smaller wrestler as a "big man/little man" team, because AEW haven't really had that dynamic since Jurassic Express broke up. Hell, if and when Killswitch is healthy enough to return, turn face, and go back to being Luchasaurus, repackage Comoroto as a caveman and stick them together.

Shane Taylor Promotions in general

Tommy Billington (I know he's in the previous list, but he might be salvageable with the right tag partner, which could also allow him space to grow beyond "remember his uncle?", which is a low ceiling. Also, he should be called The Collision Kid.)

Grizzled Young Vets - just a damp squib since their debut; I don't think they should cut them, but they need to find something for them. Maybe they're a trio with Billington to drag some character out of him, who knows?

 

[Devon Malcolm]

I'm afraid Angelico has to go due to guilt by association with Jack Evans.

[FUM]

3 hours ago, LaGoosh said:

Instead of cutting them all I say BRING BACK DARK! Shove them all on there doing pointless matches for 3 hours each week while Excalibur and Taz talk random bollocks throughout.

Am I right this is actually possible now with the new TV deal and the reason it was axed was due to exclusivity in the deal?

[tiger_rick]

Since I started it, here's my list. I'm shitcanning 57.

Completely accept JLM's point that some of this first group have other roles but they shouldn't be part of the active roster. Just roll them out for a job when needed. Also, I'm not considering ROH at all because it's shit and pointless and needs to die. These range from absolutely useless, to long outlived their usefulness to me just not giving a shit about TK's hard-on for ROH and Japan.

Suckas gots to go. (44)

Aaron Solo, Action Andretti, AR Fox, Angélico, Ariya Daivari, Bishop Kaun, The Blade, Boulder, Brandon Cutler, Bronson, The Butcher, Danhausen, Dralístico, Dutch, Griff Garrison, James Drake, Jay Lethal, Johnny TV, Shibata, Keith Lee, Kip Sabian, Kota Ibushi, Lee Johnson, Lee Moriarty, Lio Rush, Malakai Black, Mark Davis, Marshall Von Erich, Matt Sydal, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Miro, Peter Avalon, Preston Vance, Rocky Romero, Ross Von Erich, Satnam Singh, Scorpio Sky, Shawn Dean, Toa Liona, Tony Nese, Vincent, Zack Gibson, Zak Knight.

Who even are you? (3)

Carlie Bravo, Cole Karter, E. J. Nduka

I hate these lads and would sack them tomorrow but they're clearly even less likely than the above group to go anywhere. Actually, I don't hate Hook, he's just shite.

I hate you. (6)

Adam Cole, Chris Jericho, Hook, Kyle O'Reilly, Sammy Guevara, Roderick Strong

I personally would keep but completely repackage Anthony Ogogo, Dante & Darius Martin and Nick Comoroto, who is a favourite jobber of mine.    

Where even are you? Not canning these guys (though Starks is surely going) but some of the latest people who are just AWOL.

Austin & Colten Gunn, John Silver, Ortiz, Ricky Starks

Women's roster is pretty good overall. There are a few of the Japanese girls who I don't think they put enough time into but just wheel out but I'd keep them. I don't like these or see any value (anymore).

Bye, ladies (4)

Abadon, Diamanté, Britt Baker, Kamille    

Non-wrestling wise, I don't think Jake Roberts, Karen Jarrett, Maria, Mark Sterling or Sonjay Dutt are adding anything any time they're on screen. 

[tiger_rick]

11 hours ago, RedTwoster said:

John Silver

Me and you gonna fall out, Rooster.

[air_raid]

14 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

Lio Rush

I don't even watch AEW but agree that they should let him go. Shitehawk.

[LaGoosh]

21 minutes ago, tiger_rick said:

Austin & Colten Gunn,

One of them is injured, so I'm assuming the other is just waiting around til he's healthy again.

[JLM]

Stop cutting Toa Liona you bastards. He’s the poor man’s Umaga but I mean that as a compliment. 
 

Here he is reading this thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AEWOfficial/s/U6R036QsZl

Dutch is fat and keeps a healthy fear of bossman slams running through the veins of every jobber. If I were a billionaire nepo baby I’d hire someone with that as their only job description. Even if I didn’t run a wrestling promotion I’d have a fat guy to do Bossman Slams on the books. 

Edited January 21, 2025 by JLM

[The King Of Swing]

Dutch would be my HR guy, no doubt about it. 

[Dr. Alan Grant]

I’ve cut 93 people across the men’s and women’s rosters. AEW might be fucked if I was in charge of talent relations. There’s names I’ve never heard of, some who should retire, some who are outright shit, some who could wrestle elsewhere and far too many who should rethink their lives and change careers. Wrestling isn’t for everyone, Kip Sabian. 

[HarmonicGenerator]

I’ve got some time. Here’s my cuts. Not vastly different from anyone else but I’m 100% keeping Toa Liona because he’s great.

Aaron Solo, Action Andretti, Adam Cole, Angelico, Anthony Ogogo, AR Fox, Ariya Daivari, Blade, Bobby Lashley, Boulder, Bronson, Bryan Keith, Carlie Bravo, Chris Jericho, Cole Karter, Dralistico, Griff Garrison, Hologram, Jay Lethal, Johnny TV, Josh Woods, Keith Lee, Kip Sabian, Kota Ibushi, Lee Johnson, Lio Rush, Malakai Black, Mark Davis, Matt Sydal, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Miro, Nick Comoroto, Ortiz, Peter Avalon, Preston Vance, Ricky Starks, Rocky Romero, Sammy Guevara, Scorpio Sky, Serpentico, Shawn Dean, Tony Nese, Wardlow, Zak Knight.

From the women’s roster. I read all of JLM’s ROH reviews and I still don’t think I’ve ever heard the name Viva Van before:

Britt Baker, Diamanté, Emi Sakura, Kamille,  Madison Rayne, Mercedes Martinez, Penelope Ford, Rachael Ellering, Rebel, Riho, Taya Valkyrie, Viva Van, Yuma Sakazaki.

And from the “other on-air personnel”:

Jake Roberts, Maria, Mark Sterling.

 

It’s harsh, but with the exception of Jericho, and maybe Lashley, I don’t think you’d notice if any of that lot didn’t show up again.

Edited January 21, 2025 by HarmonicGenerator
I said 58 last night - I think it’s 61 now

[tiger_rick]

1 minute ago, HarmonicGenerator said:

From the women’s roster. I read all of JLM’s ROH reviews and I still don’t think I’ve ever heard the name Viva Van before:

Me neither but I did read they only signed her this month so I let her stay.

Would have been in agreement on Lashley - I'd never have bothered signing him - but I have now convinced myself that him and Shelton are going to save the Tag division, so I wanna see that play out.