AEW NEWS - DECEMBER 2025

[Elsalvajeloco]

Just now, HarryArchieGus said:

Yeah, I’d assume he was in on creative and unable to retain / incredibly lazy and ignorant to the product - as opposed to your original post of him having ‘no clue’ of creative. I’m a huge Heenan fan, but he wasn’t fooling many during that awful later run - not that I disagree that it’s easier to fake color than PBP.

Let me add this: By no clue, I mean he's not involved IN the creative or doesn't know the overall long term direction. The WWE commentators go to all the production meetings but they're not sitting in the writer's rooms or in constant contact with a Paul Levesque, Ed Koskey, Bruce, Hayes, etc. to go over the ins and outs of what was happening next. So you can know sort of the gist of what's happening to do your job a commentator but you don't know everything like Jim Ross use to know in WCW or WWE. JR use to go to Vince's house like everyone else, and they would go over stuff and pitch different things. Before that, he was on the booking team/committee in WCW for a brief time. That gives a lot more insight than "hey, we doing X today with person A and person B" or formatting segments like you would get during a production meeting. Still no excuse to make up stuff or come up with your own spin on things, but he is defaulting towards guessing. 

 Plus, Jim Ross IIRC is one those guys as a commentator who likes not being told what a specific finish or an angle so he can call it as a shoot. 

[HarryArchieGus]

16 minutes ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Let me add this: By no clue, I mean he's not involved IN the creative or doesn't know the overall long term direction. The WWE commentators go to all the production meetings but they're not sitting in the writer's rooms or in constant contact with a Paul Levesque, Ed Koskey, Bruce, Hayes, etc. to go over the ins and outs of what was happening next. So you can know sort of the gist of what's happening to do your job a commentator but you don't know everything like Jim Ross use to know in WCW or WWE. JR use to go to Vince's house like everyone else, and they would go over stuff and pitch different things. Before that, he was on the booking team/committee in WCW for a brief time. That gives a lot more insight than "hey, we doing X today with person A and person B" or formatting segments like you would get during a production meeting. Still no excuse to make up stuff or come up with your own spin on things, but he is defaulting towards guessing. 

 Plus, Jim Ross IIRC is one those guys as a commentator who likes not being told what a specific finish or an angle so he can call it as a shoot. 

I’m well aware of Jim’s history, and I’m sure he was far more invested for those reasons. I can’t imagine the WWE commentary team nor Excalbur and Schiavone aren’t keenly aware of where things are going creatively. Spontaneity of finishes is another thing, but I’m not so sure I fully believe ppl like Jim when they suggest they didn’t know or didn’t want to know something forthcoming. 

[Elsalvajeloco]

3 minutes ago, HarryArchieGus said:

I’m well aware of Jim’s history, and I’m sure he was far more invested for those reasons. I can’t imagine the WWE commentary team nor Excalbur and Schiavone aren’t keenly aware of where things are going creatively. Spontaneity of finishes is another thing, but I’m not so sure I fully believe ppl like Jim when they suggest they didn’t know or didn’t want to know something forthcoming. 

If this was Ross in his late 30s/40s and he had the discipline, it wouldn't be an issue. I think his old school mentality to basically go off what's been done in the past and use a sort of linear logic that worked at one time. TK ain't Vince, and this ain't 1998-2001. Totally different system.

And it's funny cause Ross purports himself to be the guy who always falls in line. Maybe that is the truth, but you wouldn't know it.

[twiztor]

1 hour ago, Elsalvajeloco said:

Ross purports himself to be the guy who always falls in line. Maybe that is the truth, but you wouldn't know it.

i would have to assume that depends on the boss. JR respected Cowboy Watts and Vince, so would do what he was told. I suspect that he doesn't have that same level of trust/respect/(and especially history) for TK and assumes that his (JR's) experience has more weight than Coach Tony K's.  Plus, JR's getting old and as people age, they generally get more and more stuck in their ways.

[Technico Support]

25 minutes ago, twiztor said:

JR respected Cowboy Watts and Vince

You don't need to be Sidney M. Basil to see JR has daddy issues and only respects bullies.

[The Green Meanie]

17 hours ago, The Natural said:

Enjoy as AEW Dark is back for one night only. Miss this show.

(Tazz) "I have a lot of problems."
Miss this show and definitely missed Tazz on commentary.

[Elsalvajeloco]

1 hour ago, twiztor said:

i would have to assume that depends on the boss. JR respected Cowboy Watts and Vince, so would do what he was told. I suspect that he doesn't have that same level of trust/respect/(and especially history) for TK and assumes that his (JR's) experience has more weight than Coach Tony K's.  Plus, JR's getting old and as people age, they generally get more and more stuck in their ways.

 

1 hour ago, twiztor said:

i would have to assume that depends on the boss. JR respected Cowboy Watts and Vince, so would do what he was told. I suspect that he doesn't have that same level of trust/respect/(and especially history) for TK and assumes that his (JR's) experience has more weight than Coach Tony K's.  Plus, JR's getting old and as people age, they generally get more and more stuck in their ways.

His mentors were McGuirk and Skandor Akbar. I mean Leroy McGuirk was the same guy who was planning to kill Ted DiBiase for dating his daughter, and Ross (indirectly) had to stop him from doing that.

He came up when promoters, bookers, and wrestlers could throw their weight around largely unchecked. Burn your bridge one place? Just hop to the next territory and start anew.

[colonial]

https://www.nj.com/sports/2025/12/this-nj-wrestler-declared-im-gay-on-national-tv-pro-wrestling-has-never-been-the-same.html

Front page story on Anthony Bowens from NJ.com (formerly the Star-Ledger)

[Go2Sleep]

JR was fine during the attitude era because attitude era TV was fundamentally different than 2020s AEW. Commentary in the attitude era was about reacting viscerally to everything and being as over the top as possible much like the on-screen product. There was also less emphasis on "rasslin" which eliminated the need to complain about things not being like 1980s Jim Crockett. Also, if he wanted to be a petty bitch from time to time, it fit right in with the vibe, and he was no doubt needled into doing so on occasion. And of course, he also had all his faculties.

AEW was a terrible fit for him for many reasons, but TK wanted that name value I guess. 

[zendragon]

I think the bigger issue with JR is he's just plain gotten old, it seems like his memory is slipping and had trouble keeping up with the other commentators. I understand after Jan's passing this is all he has left but Tony K should think about using him in a way that protects him if he wants to keep him on the payroll. 

[SovietShooter]

11 hours ago, Go2Sleep said:

Commentary in the attitude era was about reacting viscerally to everything and being as over the top as possible much like the on-screen product. There was also less emphasis on "rasslin" which eliminated the need to complain about things not being like 1980s Jim Crockett.

This is a really good point. WWE loves to say they are about "moments", and Attitude Era JR personifies that more than anything. JR had a stock line for any big moment, that when shown as part of a highlight package years after the fact would still resonate.

"By god he is broken in half"

"Somebody stop the damn match"

"The human body isn't meant to do that"

AEW can put five star matches on tv every week, but they dont manufacture "moments" in the same way that WWE does.  So in that sense, JR isnt in a position to be utilized to his greatest efdectiveness.  

At the same time, JR has demomstarted in his NJPW & AEW stints, that he only has one setting now, and cannot turn off that style, which makes him seem even more awkward and out of place  

 

[Shartnado]

On 12/17/2025 at 5:18 PM, The Natural said:

I have a soft spot for Marina Shafir.

I'd be very wary of exposing any soft spots to Marina F'n Safir, though! You know she'll exploit that as a weakness and probably stomp on it with her bare feet with shards of glass on them like she did to Mina in Blood and Guts. You have been warned!

And this goes doubly for @Nice Guy Eddie 

Edited December 19, 2025 by Shartnado
Beware the bare feet of Safir!

[Gorman]

In my announcing career, I've had a lot of times when I knew what was going to happen and a lot of times when I didn't. I prefer not knowing, because I like to have a natural reaction.

However, part of me is happy when I do know what's going to happen because I'm not going to miss something important.

[Dolfan in NYC]

 

 

[ExcellenceofAirPollution]

On 12/18/2025 at 7:51 PM, SovietShooter said:

This is a really good point. WWE loves to say they are about "moments", and Attitude Era JR personifies that more than anything. JR had a stock line for any big moment, that when shown as part of a highlight package years after the fact would still resonate.

"By god he is broken in half"

"Somebody stop the damn match"

"The human body isn't meant to do that"

AEW can put five star matches on tv every week, but they dont manufacture "moments" in the same way that WWE does.  So in that sense, JR isnt in a position to be utilized to his greatest efdectiveness.  

At the same time, JR has demomstarted in his NJPW & AEW stints, that he only has one setting now, and cannot turn off that style, which makes him seem even more awkward and out of place  

 

His yelling, soundbytes and JRisms also made him a perfect commentator for the video games, at a time when newer consoles supported commentary that was more than just "BOOM!" or "GET OVER HERE!".  The wrestling games of the late 90's-early 00's were really popular and him and Lawler were the soundtrack to them.  To a much smaller degree than Madden I think that helped cement him

JR also is/was super memeable, which is one of the reasons he's so fondly remembered on the internet by casual fans.  Back when I made wrestling memes 20 odd years ago I always had fun with him.  People still dub his commentary on sports clips

[zendragon]

I'd argue the JR was at his peak working with Jesse in WCW or his stuff in the NWA when it comes to calling matches and not just MOMENTS

Edited December 21, 2025 by zendragon

[just drew]

Man, Jon Moxley has had such a phenomenal couple months. If he hadn’t wasted 8 weeks trying to get charisma vacuum Kyle O Reilly over, he might be wrestler of the year. I know that might upset @Craig H, but it’s December, and I’m going into the new year with my accounts clear. A couple months ago, I pointed out that KOR couldn’t draw flies if he were dipped in horse shit. I then provided multiple examples of him being the opposite of a draw. My boy Craig said “nuh uh. None of the examples you provided are valid. I disagree, so you’re wrong.” My biggest wish for AEW in 2026 is that they stop trying to get workrate dorks with zero charisma like Mike Bennett and KoR over. O’Reilly repels viewers. The officials at the USA network know that. Never again.

 

 

merry Christmas, you filthy animals…

[Elsalvajeloco]

On 12/21/2025 at 3:50 AM, zendragon said:

I'd argue the JR was at his peak working with Jesse in WCW or his stuff in the NWA when it comes to calling matches and not just MOMENTS

I think it's going to be a preference thing especially based off your taste in wrestling. It also doesn't help that most of those "moments" got replayed ad nauseum. However, I would argue that if you're building an entire promotion at that time around "moments", then you're not going to find a better guy than Jim Ross. I don't think that part can be argued. 

When Ross was in Mid South and then JCP/WCW, he was in pure sports commentator mode and that fit what those promotions were. If they were transitioning away from a Gordon Solie and Bob Caudle (in Mid South, Boyd Pierce), he could inherit the mantle and occupy that position perfectly. The reason I would choose the later Jim Ross outside of just "moments" is I don't think there was the same precipitous drop-off when he left WCW and was replaced by Schiavone like there was when WWF tried to replace JR with Cole and Kevin Kelly. It's not like Schiavone was that magnificent or the latter two were just terrible. Maybe they got stuck in a bad spot just cause they only got Vince out of the seat 1 1/2-2 years earlier, and it made no sense to find someone else. Thing is though they couldn't bring the same gravitas to that role or command that seat like Ross did. I was listening to Ross calling the entrance for the Michaels vs. Taker match at Royal Rumble 98 the other day, and it's sublime how he makes that match feel important even before both performers are out there. Outside of kinda bush league dig at Macho Man and Hogan (which he sorta undid in the line I selected by the way), it couldn't have been better. The line of something to the effect of, "Shawn Michaels may not be entirely in a class of his own, but it doesn't take long to call the roll." is stellar. That's not something Vince or Kevin Dunn or Prichard would feed to him in his headset. That's clearly something he came up with. Whether it was on the spot or something he wrote down before the show that afternoon, doesn't matter. Same with the Bret Hart vs. Stone Cold match at Survivor Series 96. Just from the entrances alone, how he builds it up is amazing especially talking about discovering Austin when he lived in Texas at the time and saw a rookie Steve Austin for the first time at the Sportatorium. That's how you make matches feel important. That's how you make stars. "He ain't no clown...he ain't no trashman... he's a wrestler...so is Austin" lives rent free in my mind still and will forever and a day. When your whole industry is based on storytelling and how you weave in and out of narratives (most of them extremely silly cause wrestling, rightly or wrongly, isn't grounded in reality half the time), you need someone in that seat who can make it feel and look compelling even when it clearly isn't. 

[Nice Guy Eddie]

1 hour ago, just drew said:

Man, Jon Moxley has had such a phenomenal couple months. If he hadn’t wasted 8 weeks trying to get charisma vacuum Kyle O Reilly over, he might be wrestler of the year. I know that might upset @Craig H, but it’s December, and I’m going into the new year with my accounts clear. A couple months ago, I pointed out that KOR couldn’t draw flies if he were dipped in horse shit. I then provided multiple examples of him being the opposite of a draw. My boy Craig said “nuh uh. None of the examples you provided are valid. I disagree, so you’re wrong.” My biggest wish for AEW in 2026 is that they stop trying to get workrate dorks with zero charisma like Mike Bennett and KoR over. O’Reilly repels viewers. The officials at the USA network know that. Never again.

 

 

merry Christmas, you filthy animals…

You lost me calling Mike Bennett a workrate dork. When has Mike Bennett ever been known as anything other than Maria's husband? I disagree about Kyle O'Reilly. He's got charisma in his own quirky sort of way. 

[DreamBroken]

8 hours ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

You lost me calling Mike Bennett a workrate dork. When has Mike Bennett ever been known as anything other than Maria's husband? I disagree about Kyle O'Reilly. He's got charisma in his own quirky sort of way. 

The MIRACLE Mike Bennett in 2016 Impact was his best. Short lived run overall, but I always enjoyed his work since then and hoped for more for him, though that felt like the peak.

[zendragon]

Mike Bennett did a facebook post about being a journeyman wrestler which I think is fair but I have enjoyed him an Taven as couple of meat and potatoes type of guys you can plug into a spot on the card.

@Elsalvajeloco Maybe JR doesn't get enough credit for evoliving from "wrasslin" to "sports entertainment" 

[Craig H]

Just drew has the absolute worst opinions on wrestling.

[Nice Guy Eddie]

I don't mind Bennett and Taven as a team. I would never put the AEW tag titles on them, but they'd be fine for another ROH tag title run. Taven kinda opened my eyes when he had a really fun NO DQ match against Orange Cassidy a few years ago. 

[porksweats]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I don't mind Bennett and Taven as a team. I would never put the AEW tag titles on them, but they'd be fine for another ROH tag title run. Taven kinda opened my eyes when he had a really fun NO DQ match against Orange Cassidy a few years ago. 

They were doing real good work before they vanished this time around.

[HarryArchieGus]

1 hour ago, Nice Guy Eddie said:

I don't mind Bennett and Taven as a team. I would never put the AEW tag titles on them, but they'd be fine for another ROH tag title run. Taven kinda opened my eyes when he had a really fun NO DQ match against Orange Cassidy a few years ago. 

31 minutes ago, porksweats said:

They were doing real good work before they vanished this time around.

They were great in ring in their extremely limiting stooge-y roles. I’d love the challenge of booking them to mean something. Maybe even a proper AEW title run - I trust their talent would back up the pursuit.