AEW TV 2025 Discussion

[andrew "the ref" coyne]

On 3/17/2025 at 11:29 PM, The King Of Swing said:

Problem is in AEW, the bruisers have a very clear ceiling. Mark Davis, is a solid worker but won't go anywhere.

Brodie King is even better and actually over with the fans, and even he can't really break out from being a tag/trios guy, who occasionally puts over a top singles guy. 

Not a bad spot to be in of course. 

Mark Davis is great. During his time in Australia is was a fun loving big guy (a bit Colt Cabana esque) and came out to "Don't Stop Believing". In many ways it's a shame he got injured when he did because I would love to of seen Aussie Open can a bigger run with one of the tag belts.

He could go far BUT there is a lot of competition as noted of guys his size.

[RedTwoster]

17 minutes ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

@RedTwosterI see your point, but this her 4th reign. She doesn’t need the title for me at this point to be credible and there are lots of women who are deserving of a first or second run themselves with the belt.

I’m with @LaGoosh on this one, I’m afraid. The Toni/Mariah feud has really elevated the women’s world title - and the entire division. Meanwhile, Mercedes has done the same through holding the TBS title.

I want them to get to a point where not every female wrestler gets a turn with the belt, and where very credible female wrestlers go through their entire AEW career without ever holding it, much as you see with the men’s title. Treat the women’s belt in the same way.

I’m not saying that Bayne shouldn’t hold the belt at some point, but I am saying that she shouldn’t hold it now. I feel very strongly that Storm/Mercedes, when it happens, should be for the belt, and a lengthy Storm run with the title should be followed by a lengthy Mercedes run as champ.

[Lion_of_the_Midlands]

Sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot so that you can get a title on someone before the audience realise they are not very good, but Bayne doesn't feel like she needs that. She will be champion at some point but she will be a stronger champion with a big build rather than a rush. 

[Chili]

Won't somebody think of Renee Paquette.

[RedTwoster]

2 minutes ago, Lion_of_the_Midlands said:

Sometimes you have to strike while the iron is hot so that you can get a title on someone before the audience realise they are not very good, but Bayne doesn't feel like she needs that. She will be champion at some point but she will be a stronger champion with a big build rather than a rush. 

Yeah, there was a point when they probably could have done that with Wardlow, but I think Bayne has far more upside than he appears to have. 

They’re in a great position right now too - you have Storm and Mercedes killing it as champions, then a whole host of brilliant contenders including Athena, Mariah, Bayne, Statlander, Starkz, Hayter and Shida among others. They’re spoiled for choice.

And I kind of get Khan drafting in Momo as a contender for Mercedes now too - if the plan is to have Mercedes lose the TBS title and potentially win the World title, you don’t want the World title run to be a rehash of what came before, you need some new contenders. They’ll definitely be able to do that when she does win the belt. 

[Supremo]

“I also heard Mr Shivone had a Hollywood Ending, but had to pay forty five dollars for the pleasure.”

“Now that we’re off air, I can tell you Mr. Shivone, I was very pleasantly surprised to see your name pop up on the JFK files.”

”I’m not afraid of anyone named Bayne. I get my back broken every night of the week.”

”Goodbye, Sugartits!”

Toni Storm is the absolute best. Funniest wrestler alive. My favourite thing in pro-wrestling, where someone clicks on every level, firing on all cylinders, and is so obviously having the time of their life doing it.

Listening to Timeless Toni popping everyone at the desk perfectly illustrated why Charlotte Flair is bombing so hard in her current run. Compare Toni’s performance on commentary here to Charlotte the other week on Smackdown, staring blankly into space or mumbling catchphrases incoherently. Charlotte’s always been a bit crap, but in her absence we’ve had truly special talents like Toni proving just how many leagues ahead they are of her. A never-ending, limitless supply of charm, wit and charisma, constantly developing, surprising and engaging you. A perfect television character. Meanwhile, Charlotte is still trying to dine out on the same tiny box of tricks she learnt at the Performance Center over a decade ago, not once attempting to develop or subvert expectations. The WOAT.

On Moxley, I’ve crunched the numbers. Dean Ambrose’s entire WWE main roster run clocked in at 2346 days. Jon Moxley’s AEW run currently stands at 2127 days. Clearly, this is his shelf life. We can chart out his half-life. He’s Best Before 2,000 days, and then anything after that he goes sour and needs to switch companies to get a fresh start. It is time.

Considering how much Tony Khan loves his traditions and symmetry booking, the only sensible option seems obvious. Bring EC3 in, put him over Mox clean again, and then send him on his way. Get the flack jacket out of the loft.

“Sierra Hotel India Echo Lima Delta…”

“Mike Oscar Xray…”

[RedTwoster]

2 minutes ago, Supremo said:

Listening to Timeless Toni popping everyone at the desk perfectly illustrated why Charlotte Flair is bombing so hard in her current run. Compare Toni’s performance on commentary here to Charlotte the other week on Smackdown, staring blankly into space or mumbling catchphrases incoherently. Charlotte’s always been a bit crap, but in her absence we’ve had truly special talents like Toni proving just how many leagues ahead they are of her. A never-ending, limitless supply of charm, wit and charisma, constantly developing, surprising and engaging you. A perfect television character. Meanwhile, Charlotte is still trying to dine out on the same tiny box of tricks she learnt at the Performance Center over a decade ago, not once attempting to develop or subvert expectations. The WOAT.

There’s part of me that would like to see Charlotte jump to AEW just to see if she has anything more to offer. If there’s something interesting for her left to do in WWE, I can’t think of what that might be - but a move to AEW should force her to step up her game to compete with their top women. But at the same time, I’d be worried she’d mess up the good thing they have going right now. 

[Chili]

10 minutes ago, RedTwoster said:

There’s part of me that would like to see Charlotte jump to AEW just to see if she has anything more to offer. If there’s something interesting for her left to do in WWE, I can’t think of what that might be - but a move to AEW should force her to step up her game to compete with their top women. But at the same time, I’d be worried she’d mess up the good thing they have going right now. 

No, your unwell. Seek a friend or professional. Do not make me stop watching wrestling please. Much love, Chils.

[Supremo]

Absolutely. It’s the same with Randy Orton. We’ve seen and heard enough to know that there’s a far more interesting person behind the one-note character they’ve played in WWE their whole careers. It would fascinating to see them in a new environment, hopefully pushed to try new things.

Before they got divorced, I was always more interested in Charlotte moving to AEW to be with Andrade than Andrade going back to WWE to be with Charlotte. The arrogance and on-screen politics we’ve seen glimpses of from Charlotte, I’d love for her to explore this HBK-in-1995 dickheadery she has. Infinitely more interesting than the boring, paper thing, “Queen,” act she refuses to deviate from.

Side note; genuinely funny that Andrade went from barely being used in AEW, sulking online, to barely being used in WWE, sulking online. Chin up, Andrade. Give it three to six months and the Hardy Boys will be back full-time in WWE. You can go back to mumbling about contracts in a stair well with Matt Hardy.

Edited March 20, 2025 by Supremo

[DavidB6937]

I can't help but feel like there'd be something genuinely sad about seeing Mox back in WWE if he did return. I mean I get it - Punk went back so anything's possible, but I dunno. There's just something about the spirit of Mox that feels like it's better out there in the wider world of wrestling.

It's 2025 and there's obviously every possibility that things would be a lot better for him in WWE now but you'd know it was only really happening because his time in AEW went a bit shit when really it didn't need to. 

Never say never but I do think he'd be happier sticking with AEW, NJPW and all that other business in the long run. He's only a few tweaks away from being back to a must-see act at any point anyway.

[Chili]

Yeah the reactions to Mox on here make me chuckle. He's having a shit run of it but it doesn't mean I'm jamming him in a crate labelled 'Triple H's supplicant door' anytime soon.

[LaGoosh]

12 minutes ago, DavidB6937 said:

I can't help but feel like there'd be something genuinely sad about seeing Mox back in WWE if he did return. I mean I get it - Punk went back so anything's possible, but I dunno. There's just something about the spirit of Mox that feels like it's better out there in the wider world of wrestling.

I agree entirely. When Mox is at his best is when he's like some kind of violent free spirit, clearly enjoying expressing himself however he wishes. The idea of him going back to the stale, streamlined WWE format to do in ring soliloquies would make me very sad indeed.

As for Orton in AEW, I don't want to see it and it'd most likely never happen but it'd be an interesting experiment. After hearing for years from every wrestler about how good Orton is, despite him being boring as fuck for the vast majority of his career, it'd be fascinating to see him in an environment where he'd have to step out his comfort zone.

To be honest, I don't want to see anyone from WWE jump ship to AEW right now. The AEW roster is deep and filled with great talent. Outside of a curiosity or two, I don't think there's anyone there who would bring anything unique or game changing.

Edited March 20, 2025 by LaGoosh

[Mr.Showtime]

I'm so glad I just read the Dynamite results rather than see that Mox thing, maybe it didn't look as bad as it sounded reading it, but I doubt it. It's too much for me, too old for this, etc. It's almost putting me off watching any advertised no-DQ match AEW does just in case the worst happens.

I already can't watch Copeland's matches because it just reminds me how I felt when I shattered my ankle... and I didn't have Gangrel around to keep my spirits up when it happened

[theringmaster]

2 hours ago, Hannibal Scorch said:

It will be a shame for Toni to lose the belt so quick, but it’s Megan’s time to shine.

This is straight out of the TNA Booking book, don't see it happening personally. I think Bayne has HUGE potential but they got to let her grow organically.

All this talk of Mox going back to WWE, to me the biggest worry for AEW is Toni. Yes she had a bad experience there but if she is offered a BIG contract and the chance to be bought in on Main Event level, it may be to tempting. We all love AEW and Toni but lets face it-Timeless Toni at Wrestlemania would be legit big time. 

[LaGoosh]

I really don't think Timeless Toni would work in the WWE environment at all. It would be really, really awful.