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Top 10 Things AEW Needs to Give Us in 2025

Here’s a deep dive into the top 10 things AEW needs to give us in 2025, focusing on key moves that will strengthen the locker room, sharpen storytelling, and keep fans on the edge of their seats. From roster shake-ups to the potential impact of Shane McMahon and beyond, here’s what we need to see from AEW as we move into the future.


1. Trim the Roster Down

Over the past few years, AEW has grown its roster to a level that sometimes feels overwhelming—both for the fans and perhaps even for the company itself. Wrestlers like Rey Fénix, Malakai Black, Keith Lee, Miro, and others have had reported gripes or creative dissatisfaction. While AEW’s willingness to sign big-name free agents was initially refreshing, it might be time to step back and let certain talents go if they’re not a great fit.

Cutting underutilized or unhappy talent follows the old Vince McMahon line of “Gotta have a happy locker room, pal!” If wrestlers don’t want to be there, their negative energy or frustration can spill into the overall morale. By trimming the roster, AEW can reduce tension and refocus on performers who are dedicated, content, and aligned with Tony Khan’s vision.


2. Develop Young Talent

AEW has a golden opportunity with Ring of Honor as a built-in developmental brand. WWE has NXT, where the next generation of Superstars hone their craft, and AEW can do something similar with ROH. Instead of signing yet another established star from another promotion, AEW should invest in wrestlers hungry for a chance to break through.

A prime example of this is when fans get to see a new talent climb the ladder in real time—witnessing their struggles, improvements, and character development. That journey builds an emotional bond between wrestlers and viewers. By forging partnerships with quality wrestling schools and focusing on homegrown stars, AEW ensures a steady pipeline of new talent that fans are genuinely excited to watch debut on Dynamite or Collision.


3. Change the Narrative

We’ve all heard bits and pieces of backstage drama—CM Punk’s tumultuous departure, Cody Rhodes leaving over personal issues, and recent health care concerns involving talents like Rey Fénix. The truth is, only the wrestlers, agents, and AEW employees know the full story. However, these negative headlines leave a black eye on AEW’s public perception.

Tony Khan needs to address these issues head-on. Whether through a statement or a more transparent approach to problem-solving, clarifying the real structure backstage will help quiet rumors. Bringing in seasoned professionals—or leveraging the expertise of existing employees—to handle HR, creative disputes, and performer well-being could be the difference between AEW’s next success story or another messy headline. A stable, clearly defined infrastructure behind the scenes will go a long way toward putting AEW in a stronger position in 2025.


4. Shane McMahon’s Potential Influence

Yes, you read that right—Shane McMahon. Say what you will about Vince McMahon’s son, but there’s no denying Shane has real business acumen and decades of experience in the wrestling world. Tony Khan is, by all accounts, a massive wrestling fan with a passion for the product. Shane, on the other hand, has spent years in a structured corporate environment and understands the nuances of how to run a business side of pro wrestling.

If Shane were to join AEW in any capacity, he could help develop a professional, organized backstage culture. He understands presentation, large-scale event promotion, and how to run big-time wrestling shows. Pairing Tony Khan’s creative vision with Shane’s corporate know-how could be a game-changer for AEW’s growth, credibility, and longevity.


5. Distinguish Your Heels and Faces

One recurring criticism of AEW is the blurry line between who’s a heel and who’s a babyface. One week, Jon Moxley seems like a beloved anti-hero; the next week, you’re not sure if he’s the antagonist. Chris Jericho oscillates between comedic segments and pseudo-babyface runs, leaving fans wondering whom to cheer or boo.

Wrestling storytelling thrives on clear motivations. We need more wrestlers who commit to their alignments. If MJF is going to be a tweener, that’s fine—but we need consistent character beats that don’t undermine his persona. Committing to distinct heroes and villains makes storylines more captivating and helps new fans (and even longtime viewers) understand exactly why one matchup matters more than another.


6. “Heel Cope” – Adam Copeland at His Best

Adam Copeland (formerly Edge in WWE) has openly admitted he’s on borrowed time in the ring due to past injuries. While he can still electrify a crowd, his best work historically came when he embraced his dark side. As a heel, Copeland is an absolute maestro—cutting scathing promos, manipulating storylines, and elevating babyfaces in the process.

In AEW, he could bring his expertise to help younger stars like Will Ospreay or even established names like Kenny Omega reach new storytelling heights. Copeland, as a villain, has a proven track record of pushing storylines to become unforgettable. If AEW leans into “Heel Cope,” they’ll have a dynamic main-event presence who can feud with the top guys, pass on invaluable psychology tips, and ultimately help shape AEW’s next generation of bad guys.


7. Give Swerve Strickland an A+ Opponent

Swerve Strickland is a rare talent who combines high-flying moves, technical skill, and pure swagger. He’s at the top of his game and has shown he can captivate fans—his feud with Hangman Adam Page proved that he can hang with AEW’s elite. Now, AEW must find the next top-tier opponent to further cement Swerve’s main-event status.

Potential matchups like Swerve vs. Jon Moxley or Swerve vs. Claudio Castagnoli would not only challenge Strickland physically but also let him showcase different sides of his character. If AEW truly sees him as a top guy, they need to book him as one. High-stakes feuds, marquee matchups, and ample promo time are all crucial to elevating Swerve’s standing in the company and keeping him there.


8. Tell the Story Through Production

After five years in the game, AEW has a robust library of match footage across AEW, ROH, and even NJPW collaborations. Yet one of the consistent critiques from fans is that AEW’s production often falls short in explaining feuds, highlighting backstories, and guiding new fans through the history of specific rivalries.

Video packages and mini-documentaries can go a long way in making fans care about a story. Look at how WWE uses video packages to draw casual viewers into an ongoing rivalry—they do it masterfully. AEW must harness its vast footage to shine a spotlight on the battles that got us to this moment. Why does Will Ospreay have a beef with Fletcher? What’s the long-standing history between Orange Cassidy and Trent? Properly produced storytelling segments give matches deeper meaning and elevate AEW from feeling “indie” to feeling like a full-fledged major league.


9. Ignore the WWE

AEW was founded on the premise of being an alternative to WWE. In the early days, subtle (and not-so-subtle) shots at WWE felt fresh and edgy, but over time, it’s started to come off as desperate or petty. Focusing on jabs toward the competition can dilute AEW’s unique identity and overshadow the product itself.

The best thing AEW can do is double down on being AEW—focusing on what makes it different, fun, and passionate for both wrestlers and fans. By ignoring WWE and building its own universe of stories, feuds, and stars, AEW will solidify its place in the wrestling world without having to compare itself to anyone else. If 2025 is the year AEW stops concerning itself with “the other guys” and just delivers top-notch wrestling, the entire industry will benefit.


10. Establish a Clear Long-Term Vision

Finally, AEW needs a clearly defined, long-term blueprint. This overarching direction ties all the previous points together—knowing which talents will be centerpieces, how the developmental pipeline will look, who the star-making feuds will revolve around, and what the major pay-per-view arcs will be year over year.

A well-structured plan ensures every wrestler, storyline, and behind-the-scenes personnel move in the same direction. Whether you add Shane McMahon to the brain trust, elevate ROH as a true feeder system, or commit to telling the wrestlers’ backstories via top-tier production, it all needs to serve one broader vision. When fans sense that AEW is cohesive in its storytelling and direction, they’ll invest more emotionally, leading to bigger ratings, stronger live attendance, and an overall brighter future for the company.


Conclusion

AEW has already made tremendous strides as a younger promotion. But as 2025 approaches, these ten key adjustments—trimming the roster, developing young talent, changing the backstage narrative, potentially welcoming Shane McMahon’s expertise, clarifying heel/face alignments, turning Adam Copeland heel, giving Swerve Strickland top-tier opponents, improving production values, ignoring WWE, and cementing a long-term vision—are essential steps to ensure AEW remains a potent force in the wrestling world.

If Tony Khan and his team can pull these off, AEW will solidify its spot as not just an “alternative,” but as a premier destination for professional wrestling fans worldwide.

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