Three Things AEW Must Change in 2025

All Elite Wrestling had a very good 2024. This year was even better than 2023. While the year began on a low, the feeling throughout the year was that it was getting better and better for AEW. At this point right now we have a hot angle with Jon Moxley and the Death Riders taking over AEW. The women’s division has new life and a new television deal with Warner Brothers-Discovery that will keep them televised for at least three more years.

However, as the new year approaches there are changes that must be made for AEW to have a successful 2025. While change is certainly scary, this kind of change might be good for AEW. This upcoming year could very well be the biggest year in the company’s history. With the new television deal starting and a chance to gain new fans, three changes must be made in 2025 for AEW to continue succeeding.

The changes I’m going to suggest are some that wrestling fans have asked for for a while and others that perhaps haven’t been brought up by anyone. But for AEW to succeed and continue to be one of the biggest wrestling promotions in the world they must do these three things, otherwise 2025 could be a long year for AEW.

Run Smaller Venues

This is a suggestion I have seen a lot on social media. If you’ve never seen pictures taken by fans at AEW events, the seats aren’t full. While they’ve already booked two events in big stadiums this upcoming year, it doesn’t mean that AEW shouldn’t run smaller venues.

This decision would save the company a good amount of money in their travels and allow more buildings to be close to having a sellout. They could have shows at college campuses, arenas that may hold up to about 3,000-5,000 fans. These are the type of arenas that AEW must hold their shows in if they want to stay in the discussions of top wrestling promotions.

It’s alright to hold a show occasionally in a venue that can seat at least 10,000 people or more, but the focus should be less is more. Also, with the prices of tickets being high in every form of entertainment running in a smaller venue with a reduced price wouldn’t be a bad idea to promote.  They could make a promotion encouraging fans to come see them as they are the wrestling promotion that’s affordable for every wrestling fan.

If you want to have less posts on social media of wrestling fans taking pictures of wrestlers in arenas where the seats aren’t filled, this is a change that must happen. Running in smaller venues could equal more fans at the show.

Showcase the Women’s Division More Often

A highlight of 2024 for AEW is the Women’s Division in perhaps the best year this division has ever had. From “Timeless” Toni Storm’s fantastic run as AEW Women’s World Champion to Mercedes Mone debuting and making an immediate impact, this division was a bright spot for AEW.

The women have improved in the ring this year and have delivered some of the best matches of the year. Along with breakout performances throughout the year from Willow Nightingale, Kris Statlander, Mariah May, and Anna Jay to name a few, the division keeps getting better as the weeks go on. However, the problem with the division is there isn’t enough time on television for women’s matches every week. But this problem can be solved.

Instead of having a match on Dynamite and a match on Collision, there should be two matches on both shows every week. Four matches on your television shows every week would be a great builder of confidence for the division. Also, rotate the division with the roster they have. Let’s see more wrestlers who either haven’t had the chance to showcase their skills or are coming back from injury. Let’s see Penelope Ford, Leila Grey, Abadon, Athena, and Queen Aminata, on television more often.  They have the potential to make the women’s division the best in all pro wrestling.  It’s time to tap into that potential.

2025 must be the showcase year for the women’s division in AEW, otherwise, it could be a long year for this division trying to come out from the dark and show the world what great talent AEW has to offer.

No Need to Sign Former WWE Wrestlers

This seems like a bug that has plagued every wrestling promotion not named WWE for the last forty plus years. You don’t need to sign every former WWE wrestler to a contract. This year was a big year as far as signing former WWE wrestlers to contracts.

In 2024 they signed Mercedes Mone, Bobby Lashley, MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and MxM Collection to contracts. While so far most of these signings have come off as good deals, it’s time AEW realizes that they don’t have to sign every former WWE wrestler to contracts. Just because they appeared in WWE doesn’t mean they need to be given a contract and put on television which will take time away from a wrestler or a group of wrestlers who deserve the chance to be on television.

TNA had this problem in the mid 2000’s and it nearly killed the promotion in the 2010’s. For AEW to avoid making the mistake every other promotion has ever made, it’s time to focus on signing new wrestlers. Wrestlers who are currently on the independent scene are ready to be seen by a larger audience. I have a few suggestions as to who AEW should sign if they’re looking for new talent.

My first choice is Megan Bayne. She has grown in the last couple of years as one of the premiere wrestlers on the independent scene. Not only does she have the look and ability, but she also has a fantastic gimmick. Known as “The Megasus”, Bayne could instantly be a star in the women’s division and bring more eyes to television every week.

Another wrestler they could sign is Alec Price. Only 26 years old, Price has wrestled all over the country and has a reputation as a future star in wrestling. Fresh young faces are always a thing in wrestling, and I believe Price is ready for a breakout year. If you’re looking for a new tag team, I would attempt to get Violence is Forever. Kevin Ku and Dominic Garrini are a fantastic tag team that combine wrestling and violence into a beautiful art form. This team would give a shot in the arm to the tag team division in AEW that it could very well be needed. Ku and Garrini have quite a reputation as well-oiled machines, and they could be the missing ingredient for the AEW Tag Team Division.

When looking for new wrestlers to sign in 2025, don’t go after the latest wrestler released from WWE. Go to the independent scene of pro wrestling, you’ll find some true diamonds in the rough.

These are the three changes I think AEW must make in 2025 if they want to continue and succeed. Will they take these words of advice?  You never know but if Tony Khan wants to keep AEW relevant in pro wrestling, he will need to make changes in 2025 and hopefully the changes he makes are for the better.