WWE, AEW mid-year awards: 2025's best wrestlers, matches, feuds and our favorite things so far
So, what has happened in the world of professional wrestling thus far this year? A lot, it turns out. We've seen a John Cena heel turn followed by a record-setting victory over Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania 41, Mercedes Moné continued her global belt-collecting tour and is on the precipice of completely dominating the AEW women's division, and we somehow still don't know who El Grande Americano really is.
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All of that being said, Robert Jackman, Raj Prashad, Drake Riggs and Anthony Sulla-Heffinger — the Uncrowned Horsemen — are here to recap and evaluate what we've seen over the past six-plus months of swerves, victories, defeats and YEETs.
Match of the Year
Sulla-Heffinger: Seth Rollins vs. CM Punk vs. Roman Reigns (WrestleMania 41, Night 1)
Here's what I wrote in the immediate aftermath of the show: "Rollins, Reigns and Punk combined for a masterpiece and showed why they are all worthy of a WrestleMania main-event slot, even without a championship up for grabs. As great as the in-ring action was, the storytelling was even better, with Heyman betraying his former allies in Punk and Reigns and aligning himself with Rollins."
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All of that still rings true more than two months after the event. It's been the best match WWE has had thus far in 2025, with a meaningful result that will factor into the landscape of the promotion for the rest of the year and potentially beyond. Also, CM Punk's intro/entrance was in heavy consideration for my 'Favorite Thing' later on in this roundtable.
Riggs: Anarchy in the Arena (AEW Double or Nothing)
OK, it came down to two for me, and they were both from AEW Double or Nothing 2025, the best event of the year so far, and one of the best ever, quite frankly. They were vastly different matches, and you already know where I'm going: Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Adam Page and the Anarchy in the Arena 12-person tag-team match. Ultimately, I had to side with the latter.
I don't know if I've ever had as much fun and been as entertained watching a wrestling match as I was with this year's Anarchy in the Arena. The closest thing I can think of is maybe one of those early Money in the Bank ladder matches, Kurt Angle and Brock Lesnar's Ironman match, or Chris Benoit vs. Shawn Michaels vs. Triple H. Those all were back when I was a kid, completely geeked out on pro wrestling. As a near-30-year-old man now, Anarchy in the Arena elicited all of those old feelings and then some.
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It. Had. Everything.
The creativity was baffling. From "Bodies" by Drowning Pool blasting on repeat to Swerve Strickland's staple-gun onslaught, it perfectly encapsulated the absurd, wacky nature of pro wrestling at its core. Ridiculousness in the best way.
It wasn't as good of a "pure" wrestling match as Ospreay vs. Page, but man — at the end of the day, it's all about having fun, and Anarchy in the Arena was that on loads of steroids.
Jackman: Street Profits vs. MCMG vs. DIY ('WWE SmackDown," April 25)
You know the old cliche about how the team left everything out there on the field? Well in this case, you could see that quite literally, given the amount of broken tables and other debris cluttering the ring after this lot finished their TLC match on "SmackDown." The match itself was pure old-school TLC carnage, peppered with some stunning high-spots from Montez Ford in particular (a man who has seemingly been on a personal vendetta against gravity for the past five years now). Coming five days after WrestleMania 41, the whole affair showed what a silly decision it was to leave the 'SmackDown' tag division off the 'Mania card in the first place.
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Remember when people used to say that WWE couldn't do proper TLC matches anymore? They weren't saying that after this one.
Prashad: Iyo Sky vs. Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 41, Night 2)
In a match that felt worthy of main-eventing either night of WrestleMania 41, Iyo Sky, Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair executed one of the best matches of the weekend, and perhaps one of the best opening bouts in WrestleMania history.
Triple-threat matches are often structured in ways that emphasize one-on-one battles for extended periods of time, functioning as a pseudo handicap match. This one was outside the box, with Sky, Belair and Ripley remaining engaged for most of the match while retaining a beautiful blend of energy, big moments and false finishes. The structure was impeccable and provided three women at the top of their game the space to shine.
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Feud of the Year
Jackman: Naomi vs. Jade Cargill
Given the bombshell that closed the night, you could be forgiven for forgetting that this year's Elimination Chamber started with a big twist too. OK, Jade Cargill's swerve attack on Naomi wasn't entirely unforeseeable (despite the best acting efforts of Liv Morgan, who did a superb job at selling the chaos), but unlike the Cena shocker, it did set up one of the most satisfying heel turns of the year, as a tearful Naomi went from being abandoned by her best friend to embracing her dark side. Even better, the feud has stacked the deck deliciously for August's SummerSlam, given that both women have a serious chance of leaving New Jersey as the WWE Women's Champion (or, alternatively, having their chances implode in a storm of mutual hatred a la CM Punk and Seth Rollins).
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Riggs: CM Punk and Seth Rollins
This was a somewhat interesting one to narrow down, as there have been some better feuds that were more cohesive, but the issues primarily revolved around their longevity or lack of substance. Between Punk and Rollins, this goes back before 2025 yet continues to reach new heights with no end in sight as the year rolls on. Their first match kicked off the year on WWE's big Netflix debut, and while that was somewhat underwhelming, what's followed in the ring since has only improved and become more layered.
Naomi in action against Jade Cargill during "WWE SmackDown."
(WWE via Getty Images)
Prashad: Naomi vs. Jade Cargill
No program has elevated two stars in the way the Naomi vs. Jade Cargill feud has this year. The Elimination Chamber kicked off Cargill's return to a massive ovation and moved Naomi from a comfortable position as one-half of a tag-team to suddenly the biggest heel in the women's division.
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Cargill went on to have the moment she's been eyeing since joining WWE with a key WrestleMania victory followed by winning Queen of the Ring and a guaranteed title shot at SummerSlam. Naomi has parlayed her momentum into the Money in the Bank briefcase and a title shot of her own whenever she chooses. Something tells me this feud is far from finished.
Sulla-Heffinger: Becky Lynch vs. Lyra Valkyria
I called it 'criminal' that the Women's Intercontinental Championship or the Women's United States Championship were not being defended at WrestleMania 41. I mostly stand by that sentiment, but now that we've gotten two absolute banger title matches between Lynch and Valkyria, I will say there's a silver lining. Lynch is the kind of star who could have immediately demanded to be inserted in the main-event picture upon her return, but she's helped to elevate the status of the relatively new mid-card championship and Valkyria in the process. Now, with Bayley becoming an added wrinkle and headed for an eventual triple-threat match with these two, this run has become precisely what I think we all envisioned when the Women's IC belt was announced last year.
Men's Wrestler of the Year
Sulla-Heffinger: CM Punk
I don't think anyone would fault me for running it back and putting Will Ospreay here as my frontrunner to win this award for the second year in a row. Yet as undeniably great as Ospreay is, I cannot overstate how incredible Punk has been this year. Somehow, even though he isn't at the peak of his powers from an in-ring or promo-cutting perspective, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone on any professional wrestling roster this year who has managed to captivate and entertain more than "The Voice of the Voiceless." From his fight-forever feud with Seth Rollins anchoring the "Raw on Netflix" debut to his 'last time ever' match against John Cena at Night of Champions, we're getting a full taste of Punk that is doing wonders in making us forget how his initial WWE run ended more than a decade ago, his prolonged hiatus and the polarizing/controversial AEW tenure that followed.
CM Punk enters the arena during "WWE SmackDown" in full John Cena cosplay.
(WWE via Getty Images)
Jackman: Jey Uso
I'm also going to tip my hat to Will Ospreay here, who has somehow managed to exceed the dizzying heights of last year. But if we're looking for the wrestler who has improved their lot most in 2025, then it has to be Jey Uso. For my money nothing encapsulates his soaring rise from the fact that he went from a shock Royal Rumble winner to a heavy favorite for world champion within about 48 hours. Sure, the wrestle purists won't be happy, but let's not pretend he hasn't had some excellent moments on his journey too — that brutal segment with Gunther and Jimmy Uso on the Road to WrestleMania, which stunned a sell-out London crowd into silence, for example. I was lucky to be in the room that night and I still get shivers when I see it featured in video packages.
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Riggs: Will Ospreay
Are Robert and Anthony ducking Will Ospreay? Alright, then I'll give out the award to the obvious answer, which is undeniably "The Aerial Assassin." The guy simply doesn't know how not to deliver — and in a way, he's wrestling's version of Ilia Topuria in MMA right now. Two absolute legends in the making, paving out greatness with each next performance that somehow surpasses the previous.
Prashad: Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay is simply untouchable right now. It's a shame AEW's Worlds End was right at the end of the year and we're not taking into account his unbelievable showing in the Continental Classic.
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Ospreay is a workhorse and instantly makes anyone he's in the ring with better. He had what could easily be considered the best match of Kyle Fletcher's young career at Revolution, put on another banger with Konosuke Takeshita on an episode of "Dynamite," and tore the house down with both Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland within the span of roughly two weeks.
Ospreay hasn't won the World Championship just yet, but does he need to? His role right now is simply the best wrestler in the world who is right in the middle of moving multiples stories forward. It's just a matter of time before he's the flag-bearer for AEW.
Women's Wrestler of the Year
Prashad: Mercedes Moné
When I spoke to Mercedes last year, she talked about taking the AEW women's division to new heights and how she felt like this is what she was born to do — to lead the charge, to be the best in the ring, and to bring the women's division along with her.
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Across the board, that's all Moné has done over the past six months is elevate talent, show up everywhere, and be an incredible steward for AEW. She continues to have one of the better runs of her career as "The Belt Collector" and has handed the spotlight left and right to emerging talent. Now, she's set up for the biggest moment in AEW's women's division at All In against 'Timeless' Toni Storm, which projects to be one of the better matches in the promotion's history.
Sulla-Heffinger: Mercedes Moné
There's an excellent case to be made for Moné's All In Texas opponent Toni Storm here, but I'm giving the edge to the CEO. So far in 2025, Moné has put on Match of the Year performances against Athena, Jamie Hayter and Momo Watanabe, and still has maybe the biggest women's match in AEW history looming against Storm. As much as this roundtable/award is meant to be focused on 2025, I can't help but think about how strong Moné's entire AEW run has been (it's only been a shade of 13 months since she made her in-ring debut). Are there moments where her promo work doesn't quite land? Sure, but that can be said about almost anyone. Moné is the total package and is thriving in AEW as she lifts the division — and promotion itself — to higher levels.
"The Belt Collector" is after another one in 2025.
(MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Jackman: Toni Storm
In case her consistent podium finishes in our power rankings slipped your attention, I'm a big fan of Toni Storm, who has consistently proven herself to be one of the most creative forces in the entire history of women's wrestling. Roll back the calendar six months and the dethroned former champ was still rocking her rookie gimmick, somehow convincing us all (well, sort of) that she was suffering from a chronic bout of amnesia that had led her to forget her entire AEW backstory. In time, though, the ruse would be revealed and Storm would go on to execute perhaps the most stunning moment of her career to date, banishing her long-term nemesis Mariah May with that immortal 'Hollywood Ending' at Revolution. There's a good reason people compare her to Mick Foley: The woman is a bonafide genius.
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Riggs: Mercedes Moné
A part of me really leans toward Iyo Sky or even Stephanie Vaquer for this one. Both have gotten over as all hell and are tremendous in the ring. They're two of the very best in the world, if not the best.
Unfortunately, both have lost steam in recent months, specifically Sky, who has suddenly hit a booking standstill despite her champion status. Therefore, that leaves "The Belt Collector" Mercedes Moné, who, similarly to Ospreay, can't seem to miss a beat at the frequency she wrestles. Overall, you could even argue she's better than Ospreay, depending on how you feel about the latter's promo work. Either way, Mercedes is money.
Favorite thing so far from 2025
Sulla-Heffinger: Harley Cameron and Mini Mercedes Moné
Just watch the video.
Jackman: WWE's new partnerships
Aside from the Cena heel turn and the sponsorship logos on the ring, there is at least one other big sign that the Vince McMahon era is truly over: The fact that WWE is happily working with other promotions. Can you imagine the idea of doing a joint PLE with AAA when Vince was in charge or having an ongoing partnership with a competitor promotion like TNA?
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Luckily for the new regime, then, this whole 'extended universe' thing has been one of the surprise hits of the year, giving us classic moments like Joe Hendry at WrestleMania and that superb Chad Gable vs. El Hijo del Vikingo match. It makes the overall product more vibrant and opens up big developmental opportunities for emerging talents.
Riggs: AEW Double or Nothing 2025
Anthony is right. Harley Cameron is the undisputed correct answer, and should realistically sweep up all these categories, but I'll keep the variety alive.
My heart once again wants to praise Anarchy in the Arena here. However, Double or Nothing as a whole was nonstop brilliance, barring maybe the trios match, which was still a good time. It was one of those events where you look back on it (already) and think, "Wait, that match was on there?! And that one, too?! And THAT one?!" I said it at the time: Double or Nothing was on a reignition level of greatness, bringing out the inner child in everyone who loved pro wrestling and all it had to offer growing up.
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Prashad: John Cena's heel turn
OK, before you rip me apart, let me clarify this is not about everything that happened afterward. Let's erase everything we know after that night in Toronto.
In a vacuum, Cena's unexpected heel turn was one of the coolest moments in wrestling history, drawing early comparisons to Hulk Hogan's alignment with the NWO. The fallout that's followed hasn't been in the same stratosphere, but on that night, in that moment, everything that built from the shock of Cena getting eliminated by Jey Uso at the Royal Rumble to him holding the WWE title alongside The Rock and Travis Scott was iconic.
Back when this angle had so much promise.
(WWE via Getty Images)
Wildcard: Anything you want to hammer home about the first half of the year?
Sulla-Heffinger: AEW's women's division right now is remarkably underrated and at least on par, if not better than, any women's division in the history of professional wrestling. There might be an argument made for WWE's current division or when the Four Horsewomen were in NXT together, but when I look at the in-ring talent, depth and character diversity of the women in AEW right now, it's more than just recency bias that's informing my take here. Even after Mariah May made the jump to WWE, there are top-end stars like Storm, Moné and Athena anchoring the top of the card as titleholders, veteran mainstays in Kris Statlander, Hayter and Willow Nightingale, and rising stars in Megan Bayne, Queen Aminata and Cameron. AEW has had an immense 2025 so far, due in large part to the women's division.
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Riggs: It feels like there are a lot more low-key huge stars in the making than there have ever been before. While some are more established than others, I think of people like LA Knight, Karrion Kross, Willow Nightingale, Harley Cameron, Megan Bayne, pretty much the rest of the names Anthony mentioned, Dominick Mysterio, Joe Hendry, Mike Bailey and so on. It's almost the best kind of over-saturation imaginable, at least for fans. Obviously, that makes it tougher for bookers to give so much talent all the time they deserve. That just makes it all the more interesting to watch play out.
AEW's Willow Nightingale has been a breakout star in 2025.
(Etsuo Hara via Getty Images)
Jackman: Regular readers will know I'm not averse to thumbing through TKO's financial statements to get a sense of how the wrestling business is doing. One of the things I've been watching closely this year is the evolution of WWE's live events strategy and, in particular, the focus on turning single PLEs into larger weekend takeovers (as we're about to see in Atlanta with this coming weekend) that allow WWE to extract more money from the host cities. Couple that with the ongoing push to have more events overseas (particularly in Europe, where they can draw a $3 million gate for 'Raw') and you can see why TKO's stock price is so buoyant at the moment.
Prashad: John Cena's final run feels off. While there have been some positives — Ron Cena will always get a pop out of me — this final run has felt clunky in execution.
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It feels like a path was outlined beforehand and despite bumps along the road, aspects of the turn never quite landing, and this run ultimately just not working, there's a refusal to deviate from the journey to get from Cena's heel turn to whenever he drops the belt. With less than six months left on his goodbye tour, hopefully the back half is a cleaner, more appropriate conclusion to one of the greatest careers in WWE history.
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