Did you blink and miss it all? Well AYW is right here to give you the recap of all the good stuff from AEW in 2025.
While the internet trolls were busy typing away, AEW kept its head down and delivered where it matters most: between the ropes. From the dominance of The Death Riders and Hangman’s redemption victory, to the drama of The Hollywood Ending, to new stars emerging and claiming their stake, AEW has had a much improved year. This has also been recognised by the latest Sports Illustrated awards in which AEW swept the boards.
So grab a drink, get comfy and celebrate the best of All Elite Wrestling in 2025.
Most Improved
We kick things off with the Most Improved award. There comes a time when a wrestler has to sink or swim. And these are the err, well, swimmers. The ones who have really shone this past year and took it up five gears. Before we get to our winner, two honourable mentions. First, Skye Blue. Skye has been on an upward trajectory for the past couple of years and she has solidified her status within the womens division this year. Unfortunately, injury has hampered her, but she is still improving all the time and her performance in the Blood and Guts match is proof of this.
Another who has had an incredible year is Mark Briscoe. He has gone from strength to strength and has captured the TNT title, as well as being in some hot feuds.
But our winner. Drum roll……
harley cameron
If you told me in 2024 that the “funny girl from QTV” would be holding gold by the end of 2025, I would have told you to lay off the bubbly. She went from being a ringside valet with a puppet to one-half of the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions alongside Willow Nightingale.
The turning point wasn’t just the gold, though; it was standing toe-to-toe with Mercedes Moné during their feud and proving she could actually go in the ring. She has buckets of charisma and has added a mean streak and a technical prowess.
Her tag team titles victory alongside Willow was the icing on the cake for Harley in 2025 and it will be interesting to see what she achieves in 2026.
Breakout star – kyle fletcher
We all knew the potential was there. You don’t get nicknamed “The Protostar” by accident. Stepping out from the tag team shadow of Aussie Open was never going to be easy, but Fletcher has thrived as a singles star.
Under the manipulative guidance of Don Callis, he found a vicious edge that we hadn’t seen before, culminating in that absolute war with Will Ospreay at Revolution that stole the show. Go and check out this match if you haven’t seen it. The image of Fletcher and Ospreay on top of the cage at the beginning of the match is insane.
Fletcher also captured the TNT title this year and had a solid run with the title, before going close in the Continental Classic, losing out in the semi-final to the eventual winner, Jon Moxley. Who knows what Fletcher will achieve in 2026. It may just be a World Title run.
tag team
The tag division has had its ups and downs this year. However, when the division needed a shot in the arm, this unlikely duo stepped up. I’ll admit, I didn’t have this on my bingo card this year. But what a team they make. That’s right! The winners of the best tag team for 2025 are:
Brodido
We’ve seen “big man, little man” teams before, but these two have a chemistry that feels genuine. Brodie stated that Tony Khan didn’t know they were very good friends and got the idea to put them together after seeing their chemistry during one of those all star matches.
Bandido’s unbelievable strength and speed mixed with Brody’s “I will end your life” violence creates a dynamic where you never know what’s coming next.
These two men have been a breath of fresh air for the tag division. Congrats Brodido!
biggest moment – Hangman wins the title
There wasn’t a dry eye in Globe Life Field, or in my living room, for that matter, when this happened. For months, Jon Moxley and his Death Riders had been treating the AEW World Championship like a trophy of war, literally keeping it locked away in a briefcase and out of sight, telling us we weren’t “worthy” of seeing it. It was the ultimate slap in the face to everything the company stands for.
But seeing Hangman Adam Page (the guy who has been the heart and soul of this place since day one) finally force Moxley to tap out in that brutal Texas Death Match gave feelings of pure joy. The real magic though was when Hangman finally cracked open that briefcase and pulled the title out, holding it high as the crowd lost their minds.
It felt like the clouds finally broke and the “old” AEW was back.
event of the year – all in
There was a lot of pressure on this show. Moving All In from the massive Wembley Stadium to Globe Life Field in Texas was a bold move, but man, did it pay off. From top to bottom, this card felt like a heavyweight fight.
We got the absolute war between Hangman and Moxley, that technical masterpiece between Okada and Omega to unify the titles, and Toni Storm proving once again why she’s the “Timeless” heart of the division against Mercedes Moné. The atmosphere was electric, and it felt like one of those “watershed” moments where AEW really found its footing again.
I will say, though, this was a tough one to call because 2025 was actually stacked for PPVs. Forbidden Door at the O2 Arena in London was a technical dream, and Revolution in Los Angeles was a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish (Steel Cage match anyone?!). Even Double or Nothing had people talking for weeks. But when you look at the scale, the stakes, and the sheer “big fight feel” of the night, All In: Texas takes the trophy.
female – ‘timeless’ toni storm
There was really no other choice, was there? While the division is deeper than it’s ever been, 2025 belonged to Toni Storm from start to finish. She kicked the year off by finally putting the Mariah May saga to bed in that bloody, beautiful “Hollywood Ending” match at Revolution—a match that, quite frankly, should have main-evented.
Then, she went and proved she’s the ultimate “big match” player by taking down Mercedes Moné at All In: Texas in front of that massive crowd. What makes Toni the winner here isn’t just the wins or the record-setting title reigns; it’s the fact that she has completely mastered her character.
Every time she’s on screen, you can’t look away. Whether she’s throwing a shoe, delivering a scathing black-and-white promo, or just out-wrestling everyone in the ring, she has carried the women’s division on her back. She’s not just “Timeless” anymore—she’s untouchable.
male – will ospreay
It takes a special kind of talent to miss a chunk of the year with a brutal injury and still walk away as the undisputed MVP, but that is exactly what Will Ospreay did in 2025. Before his body forced him to take a seat, he was on a run that most wrestlers couldn’t touch in a twenty-year career. That match with Kyle Fletcher at Revolution was insane and a strong contender for our match of the year award.
Then he went out and had an absolute slugfest with Hangman Page at Double or Nothing that reminded everyone why he’s considered the best in the world.
Even when he wasn’t 100%, he came back and delivered a masterpiece at All In: Texas, teaming with Swerve Strickland in a “dream team” scenario to take on The Young Bucks. The guy is a walking highlight reel, but in 2025, he showed a level of grit and heart that we hadn’t seen before. He’s the “Billy Goat” for a reason—he raises the bar every time he laces up his boots, and even a mid-year setback couldn’t stop him from being the biggest star in the galaxy. Get well soon Will!
match of the year
While 2025 was a certified “match factory” for AEW, one bout stood head and shoulders above the rest—not just for the moves, but for the sheer emotional weight.
We had the high-octane violence of Ospreay vs. Fletcher in a Steel Cage at Revolution, the visceral Texas Death Match between Hangman and Mox at All In, and the technical wizardry of Ospreay vs. Takeshita. But the “Hollywood Ending” between Toni Storm and Mariah May at Revolution was in a league of its own.
This was the culmination of a year-long, Shakespearean drama that saw Mariah go from obsessed fan to protégé, to the ultimate traitor. By the time they stepped into the ring, it wasn’t about the title—it was about two women who had lived inside each other’s heads for twelve months.
Story
The match was a masterclass in storytelling, blending technical excellence with a level of brutality that felt deeply personal. It was also a bittersweet moment, serving as Mariah May’s final match before her departure from the company. She went out on the highest possible note, leaving us with a feud and a finale that will be talked about for a decade. It was the perfect ending to a perfect story.
And that, as they say, is that! 2025 was a year that tested our patience, our loyalty, and occasionally our eardrums, but looking back at these winners, you can’t deny that AEW delivered the goods when it mattered most.
From the high-flying insanity of Will Ospreay to the emotional rollercoaster of Toni Storm and Mariah May, the “feeling” wasn’t just back—it was evolving. Whether you’re a “die-hard” or a casual viewer, we can all agree that professional wrestling is in a wild place right now, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Thanks for sticking with me and reading all our rants and raves here at All Your Wrestling. You guys make the long nights and the ADHD-fueled writing sessions worth every second. Have an incredible New Year, stay safe, and let’s get ready for another year of absolute chaos.
Big Thanks to Kane Carnage for his input here.
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