Live from the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri, AEW presents WrestleDream 2025 on pay-per-view. The full card is as follows:
PPV: “Hangman” Adam Page vs Samoa Joe for the AEW World title; Kris Statlander vs “Timeless” Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s title; Kyle Fletcher vs Mark Briscoe for the AEW TNT title; Brodido vs Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita for the AEW Tag Team titles; Mercedes Mone vs mystery opponent for the AEW TBS title; Darby Allin vs Jon Moxley in an I Quit match; Jurassic Express vs The Young Bucks; Jamie Hayter vs Thekla; The Hurt Syndicate vs The Demand in a tornado trios match.
TAILGATE BRAWL: FTR vs JetSpeed; Eddie Kingston and Hook vs mystery opponents; Harley Cameron and Willow Nightingale vs Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford; Roderick Strong and The Conglomeration vs Death Riders in an eight-man tag team match.
How to watch
The Tailgate Brawl broadcast will air on TNT starting at 7PM ET and that will be followed by the WrestleDream pay-per-view at 8PM ET.
In the United States, you can watch WrestleDream on HBO Max, Amazon Prime Video, PPV.COM, YouTube, and Fubo while for international fans, the broadcast can be purchased via Triller TV.
WWE Superstars paid tribute to AJ Styles during the second live event in Tokyo, Japan as this was the last time he would be wrestling in the country before his upcoming retirement next year.
Styles was introduced back to the ring by CM Punk following the main event and was given the opportunity to close the show.
The former champion put over the Japanese crowd, telling them that he doesn’t know where he would be without them and he’s sure that he would not have landed in WWE if he never had that stint in Japan.
He then handed a note over to Shinsuke Nakamura which was in Japanese and Styles asked for Nakamura to read it in his native language for the fans in attendance.
The note said that Japan welcomed him with respect and passion and every time he wrestled here, he gave everything he had because they were worthy fans. He said the crowd gave him trust, energy, and love for professional wrestling, something that he will never forget. And while he will leave the ring one day, a part of his heart will always remain in Japan.
The roster who is part of this Japan tour then came out to the ring to honor the Phenomenal one and Styles was carried on the shoulders of CM Punk and Ivar to salute the fans.
Styles wrestled Kofi Kingston on the second match of the show.
AJ Styles got a big farewell at today’s WWE show in Japan, marking his last match there before he retires next year.
The one-hour Collision which aired immediately following the conclusion of Dynamite this week drew 400,000 viewers, up 116,000 viewers from the Saturday broadcast. The show also had a 0.11 rating in 18-49 like Dynamite, up 0.05 from the previous week and charted one place above Dynamite at #8 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
Mercedes Mone will eventually have a match at WrestleDream tonight and the announcement came after she successfully retained the CMLL Women’s title yesterday against Persephone in Mexico.
Up until yesterday, Mone had no match on the WrestleDream card but was going to appear to celebrate becoming the longest-reigning TBS champion in AEW, surpassing Jade Cargill’s 508-day reign.
Standing in the ring filled with confetti and streamers, Mone said that she is issuing an open challenge for the TBS title at the AEW pay-per-view and challenge any champion in the world to show up in St. Louis to try and take her title away.
Dynamite this week drew 534,000 viewers, up nicely by 213,000 viewers from the prior episode which went head-to-head with NXT. The show had a 0.11 rating in 18-49, also up by 0.04 from last week. The show was #9 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
Jacob Fatu was written off WWE television last night on Smackdown and his scheduled match against Drew McIntyre never happened.
Fatu was reported to have a non wrestling-related injury and would be unable to wrestle on the show. WWE kept advertising the match until the very last second when Fatu was shown taken out backstage before his entrance for the main event match.
The popular star was shown under a steel truss, with blood coming out from his mouth with several teeth out as well.
The main event was instantly switched to Drew McIntyre vs Cody Rhodes, with Rhodes wrestling in his suit and eventually losing via disqualification for hitting McIntyre with the title.
While Fatu’s injury remains a mystery, rumors are that he will be out for a few months.
Ilja Dragunov returned to Smackdown last night and answered Sami Zayn’s U.S. title open challenge, winning the title thanks to some unwanted help from Solo Sikoa and the MFTs.
This was Dragunov’s first match in 13 months, with his last match coming in September 2024 in a defeat to Gunther at a non-televised live event match for the WWE World Heavyweight title.
The Russian star suffered a torn ACL and underwent surgery, keeping him out for an extended period.
Dragunov won the title after some distraction from Solo Sikoa, hitting his Torpedo Moscow after blocking the Helluva Kick and then delivering his H-Bomb finisher on Zayn for the three-count.
Zayn, Dragunov, and even Rey Fenix were then all assaulted by the MFTs following the match.
The blue brand crew is back in the United States and ready for a smackdown in San Jose tonight, live on USA Network at 8PM ET and also internationally on Netflix.
There are only two matches advertised for tonight’s broadcast so far, including Jacob Fatu vs Drew McIntyre and Alexa Bliss and Charlotte Flair defending the WWE Women’s Tag Team titles against Sol Ruca and Zaria of NXT.
Plus, Undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes kicks off the broadcast following his loss to Seth Rollins at Crown Jewel.
There are unconfirmed rumors that Fatu is injured so the match might not happen or will in some form take place and he gets written off.
Former NXT Tag Team champions, Hank and Tank, will be traveling to Japan for an event promoted by Pro Wrestling NOAH.
The duo will be facing Dragon Bane and Alpha Wolf at the NOAH Sunny Voyage 2025 which will be held at the Fureai Cube in Kasukabe, Saitama on October 26.
WWE has sent several wrestlers to NOAH over the past several months, with Charlie Dempsey and Harlem Lewis traveling to the Land of the Rising Sun a few weeks ago to wrestle for the promotion.
Shinsuke Nakamura also wrestled on the January 1 event titled NOAH The New Year 2025, defeating Ulka Sasaki in Tokyo.
WWE today announced its annual Live Holiday Tour which will kick off on Friday, December 26 and end on Sunday, January 4.
With Madison Square Garden getting a Raw next month, the annual tradition of holding the Boxing Day WWE event in the arena comes to a close this year, and while New York will get a few shows, it won’t be at MSG.
The December 26 show went to the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore and that is followed by two shows on Saturday, December 27. Those will be held at the Benchmark International Arena in Tampa and the PPG Paints Arena in Pittsburgh. The week is wrapped up with two shows on Sunday, December 28, one in Jacksonville at the VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena and one in Rochester at the Blue Cross Arena.
The new week kicks off with a live Raw from the Kia Center in Orlando on Monday, December 29 and then there are two more shows on Tuesday, December 30. One is at the Hertz Arena in Ft. Myers and one at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit.
Everyone gets the night off on New Year’s Eve but the grind continues on Thursday, January 1 with a live show from Syracuse at the Upstate Medical Arena. On Friday, January 2 it’s live Smackdown from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
There is one show on Saturday, January 3 in Worcester at the DCU Center and one show on Sunday, January 4 in Bridgeport at the Total Mortgage Arena.
Tickets for each live event will go on sale Friday, October 24, at 10AM local via Ticketmaster.com. A pre-sale for all shows will start on Wednesday, October 22 also at 10AM via Ticketmaster using the code WWETIX.
The taped episode of NXT this week on The CW drew 690,000 viewers, up 65,000 viewers from the Showdown special of the prior week which was opposed by AEW Dynamite. NXT scored the same 0.12 rating in 18-49 as it has done in the previous episode. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
Tickets for Saturday Night’s Main Event with John Cena’s final match went on general sale this morning on Ticketmaster.com, with almost the full Capital One Arena open for business.
As you can probably imagine, tickets went flying fast although there are many still available. The bad news is that the cheapest tickets are $424 plus taxes, and those are in the Level 400 of the arena.
Ringside seats go up to $4,637.40 in price and the majority of the Level 100 seating are well over $1,000 plus taxes, more expensive than a lot of seats for the two-night WrestleMania 42.
The show takes place on Saturday, December 13 and will air live on Peacock in the United States and on YouTube internationally.
The mysterious case of Andrade El Idolo has took another twist after further digging was done regarding his WWE contract and no-compete clause.
Reported first by Bryan Alvarez of F4WOnline.com, new contracts drawn up under TKO have a clause that if someone is fired or if they breach their contract, they have a one year no-compete.
In this case, Andrade got fired over multiple Wellness Program violations and due to disciplinary issues, triggering not just 90 days, but a full year.
Obviously, that full year would not be paid and many believe that this would not hold in a court of law as it prevents anyone fired from working for 12 months.
Meanwhile, Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful did get the exact wording of the WWE contract where it relates to the full year no-compete which reads, “(b) Upon termination of this Agreement by PROMOTER for breach of the terms hereof, WRESTLER shall not work, appear, or perform in any capacity for any professional wrestling, sports entertainment, mixed martial arts and/or ultimate fighting organization, promotion or entity not owned or controlled by PROMOTER (or any affiliated or subsidiary company thereof) in the United States for a period of up to one (1) year from the date of such expiration or termination, as specified by PROMOTER in the notice of termination; provided, however, that if no lesser period is specified by PROMOTER in the notice of termination, such period shall be one (1) year.”
In a section further down there is also another entry relating to this saying that if triggered, no party would be liable for any punitive damages.
“12.4 In no circumstances, whatsoever, shall either party to this Agreement be liable to the other party for any punitive or exemplary damages; and all such damages, whether arising out of the breach of this Agreement or otherwise, are expressly waived,” the contract reads.
In the conference call with reporters yesterday ahead of WrestleDream, Tony Khan was asked about the status of Andrade, but he danced around the question, saying he’s excited to see what is next for him and the was all he could comment on the subject.
Another WWE ID talent, Bryce Donovan, has announced he is leaving the program, although he did not specify if he was not renewed or decided to quit himself.
Donovan was originally scouted from the Beyond Wrestling indie promotion in late 2024 and was part of the WWE EVOLVE broadcasts.
“Finale. I will no longer be with WWE ID or Evolve,” Donovan wrote on X. “Thanks for the good time everyone. I’ll let you know what’s happening next when I decide or maybe I won’t idk yet”
Donvan also thanked X-Pac, who he called the best coach anyone could ask for.
The WWE ID program is now down to just 11 indie talent, 10 men and one woman.
Judge Gary White granted former WWE Chairman and CEO Vince McMahon a pre-trial probationary program in his reckless driving case during a hearing this morning at the state Superior Court in Stamford, Connecticut according to Greenwich Time.
The supervised program, which enables offenders to complete certain conditions, like counseling, community service etc, is to avoid consequences of a criminal conviction. In this case, McMahon was ordered to make a $1,000 charitable contribution and only drive if properly licensed and insured. Charges of reckless driving and following too closely will be dismissed in October 2026 if McMahon doesn’t repeat what happened.
The drivers involved in the July 24 crash on Merritt Parkway were not even present at the hearing and there were no objections. Deputy Assistant State’s Attorney Eileen Ornousky did not object either as McMahon was fully covered by insurance.
No one was injured when McMahon was driving his 2024 Bentley Continental in excess of 90 miles per hour and hit a few other vehicles in the process, totaling his car.
McMahon’s lawyer, Mark Sherman, told the court that he sent apology notes on behalf of McMahon to the other drivers.
Vince did not speak in court or to reporters but did sign autographs and posed for photos with fans on the way in and out of court.
After making his return to AEW on the sixth anniversary episode of Dynamite, Andrade El Idolo disappeared from AEW television again and was not mentioned.
There were jokes that maybe he was fired again already and was probably on the way back to WWE, but Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer is reporting that Andrade might have jumped the gun a little bit when returning to WWE.
It is now believed that Andrade did have a 90-day no-compete clause in his release, which means that after he got his marching orders, he could not appear on television or work anywhere. What makes the situation even more puzzling is that Andrade is not getting paid for those 90 days, which is usually the case in all releases. Andrade was fired for several Wellness Program violations.
The news now is that WWE sent a cease and desist letter to AEW after Andrade returned, highlighting the fact that Andrade had the 90-day clause, something which probably Andrade failed to mention, or was not even aware of since he wasn’t getting paid, when he planned his return.
Andrade attacked Kenny Omega on Dynamite upon his return, with many believing that it would lead to a match at WrestleDream.
Speaking at the Joy Forum 2025 held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, WWE President Nick Khan said taking certain events globally was the next natural step for WWE as you can’t be just an American product and call yourself a global company.
Khan used that explanation while discussing how half of WWE’s premium live events now take place internationally and also talked about the Royal Rumble and WrestleMania heading to Saudi Arabia.
“We’re in the eighth year of a long-term partnership with Turki Alalshikh and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. We’re bringing Royal Rumble here at the end of January,” Khan said. “And WrestleMania 2027 will be here in April of that year, first time ever WrestleMania outside of the U.S. or Canada. We’re excited!”
Khan said the company is in its eighth year in the partnership with the Kingdom and believes WWE fans from across the world will be traveling to Riyadh to witness both shows.
“We think viewership is going to be strong. We think people will come to the Kingdom to see our show, and we’re going to put on a spectacle,” Khan said.
When asked why Saudi Arabia was chosen as the first location for an overseas WrestleMania, Khan said that when the Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, expressed interest, they wrapped up the deal after a few meetings and were lucky to be able to announce it in Las Vegas ahead of their first joint boxing event.
WWE is said to be receiving somewhere in the range of $250 million for bringing WrestleMania to Saudi Arabia.
This article dives deeply into whether John Cena’s match with AJ Styles at Crown Jewel 2025 qualifies as the best. It examines the buildup, historical context, in-ring performance, match length, crowd reaction, legacy stakes, and comparisons to other legendary matches.
Historical Rivalry & Build-Up
John Cena and AJ Styles first crossed paths in WWE premium live events (PLEs) at Money in the Bank 2016, a match Styles won. They later met again at SummerSlam 2016 and Royal Rumble 2017, with Styles holding a 2-1 advantage across those three encounters. Their most recent PLE meeting saw Cena defeat Styles at Royal Rumble, earning his 16th WWE Championship and tying Ric Flair for most world title reigns.
Prior to 2025, Crown Jewel had been held six times, all in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The first Crown Jewel took place on November 2, 2018, headlined by D-Generation X vs. Undertaker & Kane. Roman Reigns has the most main event appearances with three and is 4-1 overall at Crown Jewel, 3-0 in main events. Before 2025, John Cena had only one Crown Jewel match (in 2023), where Solo Sikoa pinned him. Styles held a 2-2 record at Crown Jewel, his two wins coming at the first two editions—defeating Samoa Joe in 2018 and retaining the U.S. title against Humberto Carrillo in 2019.
Match Announcement & Backstage Dynamics
John Cena initiated a fan campaign on social media to secure one more match with AJ Styles during his farewell tour. He thanked Triple H for listening to fan demand, saying, “2 posts over 10m views … you will get my everything.” Triple H officially announced John Cena vs. AJ Styles at Crown Jewel on September 23.
Reports revealed that the storyline of Cena and Styles “struggling” to get booked was a gimmick. The match was always scheduled for Australia, but WWE creative framed it as if fan demand had forced the decision. This use of reverse psychology successfully generated buzz, considering Cena’s limited dates left on his schedule.
Match Delivery & In-Ring Execution
The Cena vs. Styles bout lasted 27 minutes and 10 seconds and was considered a “Match of the Year” contender. They revisited rivalries, incorporated callbacks, and told a story that intertwined their shared history. Cena even performed “Sister Abigail” as a tribute moment, earning huge reactions from the crowd.
The match featured smooth sequences, near-falls, and high-impact moves that kept the audience invested throughout. Chants of “This is Awesome” echoed across the arena, and every transition highlighted the chemistry that made their previous encounters special. Critics gave the match an A+ grade, calling it an “instant classic” that represented the history of professional wrestling over the past two decades.
Crowd Reaction & Atmosphere
At the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia, Cena, and Styles electrified the live audience. The energy never dipped; near-falls and signature moves triggered roaring reactions. The intensity of the fans reflected the emotional weight of two legends, wrestling each other for the last time.
Every moment carried a sense of finality and respect. Both superstars gave the impression they were closing chapters of remarkable careers, creating a mix of nostalgia and excitement that elevated the match beyond its technical aspects.
Statistical & Career Context
In 2025, John Cena held a 5–4 PLE record during his farewell tour. His first PLE win of the year came at Elimination Chamber in March, while his most recent loss before Crown Jewel was to Brock Lesnar at Wrestlepalooza.
AJ Styles entered Crown Jewel with a 2–2 record at that event. His previous victories included defending the WWE Championship over Samoa Joe in 2018 and the U.S. title over Humberto Carrillo in 2019. His last PLE win before Crown Jewel came on November 26, 2022, at Survivor Series: WarGames against Finn Bálor.0
Other matches on the Crown Jewel 2025 card were also strong. Seth Rollins defeated Cody Rhodes in 29:41 for the Men’s Crown Jewel Championship with an A+ grade. Stephanie Vaquer beat Tiffany Stratton in 10:05 for the Women’s Crown Jewel Championship with a B grade. Bronson Reed defeated Roman Reigns in 21:04, and Ripley & Iyo Sky overcame the Kabuki Warriors in 19:56. Compared to those, Cena vs. Styles balanced duration, emotion, and legacy impact better than any other match on the card.
Is It the “Best Ever”?
A match is the best depends on innovation, storytelling, crowd engagement, execution, and historical context. Cena vs. Styles scored exceptionally in all these categories.
The emotional storytelling between two icons facing their twilight years added unmatched weight. Their execution was flawless under immense pressure. The crowd’s passion aligned perfectly with the match rhythm, and the pacing—27 minutes and 10 seconds—allowed for buildup without overstaying. While it might not have introduced revolutionary spots or stipulations, its balance of legacy, emotion, and performance puts it among the all-time greats.
Contract, Money & Business Implications
Though WWE did not disclose exact contracts, marquee bouts like this are typically backed by multimillion-dollar guarantees. The match’s worldwide broadcast on ESPN in the U.S. and Netflix internationally drew significant advertising and sponsorship value.
The marketing strategy of pretending Cena and Styles had to “earn” the match was a masterstroke. It increased fan engagement, boosted ticket sales, and made the event trend globally. Tie-ins such as the Caesars promo code were part of the digital promotions that helped monetize viewership and fan engagement across regions.
Legacy Projection & Lasting Impact
For John Cena, this match solidified his farewell tour as one of WWE’s most emotionally satisfying closing runs. It showed that even near retirement, he could deliver elite-level performances.
For AJ Styles, the bout added to his already decorated legacy, proving his ability to perform at the highest level against another all-time great. The shared respect and chemistry between them will define how fans remember this era. The encounter itself will stand as a blueprint for future legend-versus-legend matches—where storytelling, nostalgia, and execution combine to create timeless wrestling moments.
Comparisons to All-Time “Best Ever” Matches
Wrestling’s “best ever” matches often include Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker (WrestleMania XXV), Bret Hart vs. Owen Hart (WrestleMania X), Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada (New Japan), and Steve Austin vs. Shawn Michaels (WrestleMania XIV).
Cena vs. Styles aligns with these classics in emotional depth, crowd connection, and flawless execution. Where it may trail is in innovation and stipulation variety, as it did not break genre boundaries or introduce unprecedented elements. Still, it belongs in the conversation alongside them for its emotional and historical impact.
Fan & Critical Reception Post-Event
Critics called Cena vs. Styles the “crowning moment” of the show, labeling WWE’s highest bar for farewell matches. The match’s A+ grade cemented it as the must-watch performance of the night.
Fans echoed this sentiment online, with many calling it Cena’s greatest farewell performance and debating if it surpassed legendary WrestleMania bouts. Its blend of nostalgia and athleticism gave fans both closure and excitement. Because of its layered storytelling, the match has immense rewatch value. Each callback, each exchange, and each emotional cue rewards repeated viewing, ensuring it remains one of the defining contests in modern WWE history.
Final Verdict
After considering every stat, name, record, and performance metric, John Cena’s match at Crown Jewel 2025 stands as one of the greatest modern WWE matches. It may not unseat every historical masterpiece, but for its era, its emotional storytelling, crowd response, and technical precision make it unforgettable. For many fans, it was not just a great match—it was the perfect farewell moment that reminded the world why John Cena and AJ Styles are two of the best to ever step into a wrestling ring.
Collision this past Saturday drew 286,000 viewers, up 40,000 viewers from the prior week going against MLB and college football. The show drew a 0.06 rating in 18-49, up 0.03 from the previous show and was #12 on the top 50 cable chart for the night. (Ratings credit: Programming Insider)
WWE crowned a new EVOLVE Women’s champion last night on the special episode of the weekly broadcast, titled EVOLVE Succession, which aired on Tubi.
Kendal Grey defeated the inaugural champion, Kali Armstrong, ending Armstrong’s 151-day reign as champ.
This is the first title for the 24-year-old from Las Vegas who has been signed with WWE since January 2023. She is a regular on EVOLVE and at non-televised NXT live events and also appeared several times on NXT Level Up.
“Two years ago today, I walked into WWE not knowing what to expect. Now I can’t imagine my life without it,” she wrote in a post on X after her win was televised along with two photos, one with Shawn Michaels and one with the title. “The memories, the friendships, the lessons — all of it has meant so much, more than I can put into words. Just so grateful.”
Succession is available to watch on Tubi in the United States and on YouTube internationally.
