Since Tony Khan acquired Ring of Honor in 2021, the legacy brand has struggled to regain prominence. Instead of integrating ROH into a broader wrestling landscape, it has mostly been relegated to the Honor Club streaming service, which draws a limited audience. ROH championships are featured sporadically on AEW programming, primarily around the three major pay-per-view events. This occasional spotlight, coupled with regular appearances of top ROH champions like Bandido and Athena on AEW television, has blurred the lines between the two promotions and weakened the distinct value of ROH titles. There is growing sentiment that for ROH to thrive, Khan should delegate creative direction and recast it as a developmental space akin to what NXT once represented for WWE.
Overabundance of AEW Titles Creates Confusion
In 2025, Tony Khan made significant changes to AEW’s championship landscape, unveiling both the Women’s World Tag Team and AEW National championships, as well as introducing the Unified Title—originally intended to merge International and Continental belts. However, during the Continental Classic, the titles were separated once more, a move attributed to Don Callis, who purportedly wanted to ensure Okada would retain at least one title in a worst-case scenario.
The result has been an overwhelming collection of championships: four secondary men’s titles (TNT, National, International, and Continental), combined with the men’s World Heavyweight, Tag Team, and Trios belts, plus three women’s championships. When including the acknowledgment of ROH belts and those from partner promotions like CMLL (Claudio) or New Japan Pro Wrestling (Konosuke Takeshita), the number of recognized titles balloons further. Even the most enthusiastic fans find it challenging to keep track. Heading toward 2026, there is clear pressure for Khan to consolidate the men’s secondary titles and more clearly define the significance of each remaining championship. Many believe ROH belts should remain on ROH programming, with partner promotion titles only highlighted on special occasions, or else risk overwhelming the audience further.
Rethinking Tony Schiavone’s Role
Tony Schiavone’s return to wrestling commentary was initially celebrated, especially by longtime fans who remembered his work during the WCW years on Turner networks. Taking over play-by-play duties for Collision after Kevin Kelly’s departure seemed like a promising continuation. Yet, by 2025, Schiavone’s place on the commentary team has come into question. With Excalibur providing play-by-play and other talented voices like Bryan Danielson, Nigel McGuinness, and Taz handling color commentary, Schiavone often feels redundant and at times inadvertently detracts from matches. Still, there is respect for his history, and a belief that he could continue to contribute meaningfully backstage as a producer or as an in-ring interviewer on television. Many argue that a reassignment for Schiavone would benefit both his legacy and the evolving AEW product.
Internal Friction and The Hurt Syndicate Controversy
The Hurt Syndicate’s handling of the AEW World Tag Team Championship at Forbidden Door fueled speculation about backstage discord, as Brodido secured the belts in a three-way bout without directly pinning the Syndicate. This outcome seemed to confirm widespread rumors regarding certain members’ reluctance to take losses, particularly Bobby Lashley. Both Lashley and Shelton Benjamin have legendary physical conditioning and remain crowd favorites, but there are increasing concerns about their willingness to support the broader company vision. Khan has previously navigated similar issues with Miro and Malakai Black. Should Lashley return in 2026 after rehabbing from injury, he and the Syndicate will need to demonstrate their commitment, perhaps by endorsing rising talents such as Swerve Strickland, to avoid repeating past locker room challenges.
AEW Faces High-Profile Injuries in 2025
AEW’s athletic, hard-hitting style continues to produce memorable matches but also brings with it a heightened risk of injury. This year, a string of significant setbacks impacted top stars. Adam Cole, following a second major concussion in two years—this time from a clothesline delivered by Kyle Fletcher—was effectively forced to step away from in-ring competition, marking a somber chapter in his career. Will Ospreay required neck surgery after years of strain, temporarily removing another headliner from action.
Veteran Dustin Rhodes needed double knee replacement, and the wrestler known as Hologram also underwent major reconstructive surgery. Swerve Strickland suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for three months, though he made a strong return. Pac faced several months out due to a broken ankle, Jay White missed most of the year with a hand injury, and Colten Gunn re-injured his knee shortly after a previous comeback. While these incidents do not necessarily indict AEW’s wrestling style, they underline the dangers inherent in high-level performance and raise concerns about long-term career sustainability for major stars.
Continental Classic Delivers Show-Stealing Matches
The 2025 Continental Classic surpassed expectations, presenting some of the highest-quality matches in the tournament’s history. The unpredictable twists concluded with Jon Moxley taking home the trophy, a decision met with debate among fans. Regardless, the event elevated wrestlers like “Speedball” Mike Bailey and Kevin Knight, ushering in fresh faces into the main event orbit and offering weeks of must-see programming.
CMLL Partnership Brings New Opportunities
This year, the collaboration between AEW and Mexican giant CMLL expanded both brands’ reach. AEW fans enjoyed performances by Mascara Dorada and Hechicero, with the latter signing contracts with both promotions, and the legendary Místico making key appearances. AEW also hosted Grand Slam Mexico at Arena Mexico, a milestone venue, in June. For CMLL, the partnership brought increased exposure, with some events airing on Triller and a standout match between Místico and MJF that was widely considered a match-of-the-year contender.
‘Hangman’ Adam Page’s Redemption Journey
“Hangman” Adam Page’s storylines captivated audiences throughout 2025, blending personal struggle with professional triumph. Reeling from an emotionally charged feud with Swerve Strickland, he began the year at rock bottom, but a victory in a brutal Texas Death Match with Christopher Daniels—forcing Daniels’ retirement—catalyzed his turnaround. As the months unfolded, Page picked up key wins, including triumphs over MJF at Revolution and Will Ospreay to win the Owen Hart Tournament at Double or Nothing, which set the stage for a title match against Jon Moxley at All In: Texas. Notably, Page impressed with a fully Spanish promo at Grand Slam Mexico and a powerful reconciliation segment with Strickland, bringing his redemption arc full circle as he eventually captured the AEW Men’s World Title. Though he later lost the championship, Page has firmly reestablished himself among AEW’s elite.
Breakout Year for AEW’s Women’s Division
2025 will be remembered as a landmark year for the AEW women’s roster. The high-profile rivalry between Toni Storm and Mariah May reached its climax in a violent, acclaimed bout dubbed the Hollywood Ending at Revolution, widely regarded as deserving of the pay-per-view main event. Meanwhile, Mercedes Moné shattered previous records—including Ultimo Dragon’s long-held milestone—by holding fourteen championships at the peak of her year, earning respect for both in-ring prowess and character work as she began relinquishing titles.
This period also saw “The Megasus” Megan Bayne’s impactful debut, dominating established stars like Toni Storm before encountering her first defeat. “The Toxic Spider” Thekla joined the scene, going after Jamie Hayter and aligning with Julia Hart and Skye Blue to form the Triangle of Madness, adding new layers to the women’s division. November brought the first-ever women’s Blood and Guts match, and Willow Nightingale & Harley Cameron captured the inaugural AEW Women’s Tag Team Championships as the Babes of Wrath. The emotional final scene of 2025 culminated with Willow—now TBS Champion—embracing both her tag partner and longtime friend Kris Statlander, highlighting the deep bonds and stories resonating across the division.
AEW Maintains Poise Amid WWE Scheduling Tactics
This year, WWE made aggressive moves to compete directly with AEW by scheduling major events—such as a Goldberg retirement show and the WrestlePalooza ESPN debut—on the same nights as AEW’s All In: Texas and Forbidden Door. In response, Tony Khan avoided public outbursts, instead strategically adjusting AEW event timings to afternoons, which ultimately boosted viewership. When pressed for comment by Ariel Helwani, Khan offered reserved responses, signaling a more measured approach. This focus on internal development rather than reactionary competition allowed AEW to strengthen its identity, an approach many hope will continue into 2026.
What Tony Khan’s AEW 2025 Decisions Mean for the Future
Tony Khan’s AEW 2025 decisions have brought both excitement and controversy, shaping the company’s direction in profound ways. The challenges of title overpopulation, the integration of partner promotions, roster management, and handling of real-life setbacks like injuries have kept AEW fans invested and vocal. At the same time, strategic partnerships, compelling new talent, marquee storylines around stars like Adam Page and Mercedes Moné, and a measured competitive stance against WWE demonstrate the company’s capacity for evolution. AEW enters 2026 with opportunities to define its championships, develop its brands more distinctly, and balance tradition with innovation, promising another intense and dynamic year ahead.
