AEW WrestleDream 2025: Analyzing the Biggest Winners and Losers
AEW WrestleDream 2025 was a marathon of wrestling, even by AEW standards, which leaves us plenty to talk about in the cold light of day. There were title matches, big money matches, and lots of winners and lots of losers. In this article, we will break down who came out of WrestleDream 2025 looking like a winner and who came out looking like a loser.
The following analysis will not focus on the results of the event, as our results crew has already handled that. Instead, we will examine the implications of the outcomes and how they affect the wrestlers involved. We will also avoid discussing what was “good” or “bad” about the event, as that has already been covered by the Wrestling Inc. Staff.
Sometimes a winner is a loser, and sometimes a loser is a winner. For example, Darby Allin might be running out of ways to shock the audience, while Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada had more to gain in loss than in victory. On the other hand, Jack Perry delivered in a make-or-break position, making him a clear winner.
Winner: Powerhouse Hobbs
Powerhouse Hobbs has had a rocky road in AEW, but his tenure with The Opps has seen him remind the audience why he was initially seen as a top prospect. The attack on Hangman Page now makes him the healthiest member of a top heel faction, and he has a chance to prove himself against the Unified Champion or have a more substantial run with the TNT Title.
Loser: Darby Allin
Darby Allin and Jon Moxley told an enthralling story over the last few months, but it feels like we’ve seen enough of them for a while. Darby’s in a tricky situation, as he’s now “The Guy” in AEW, but it’s unclear where he goes from here. Does he really need the AEW World Title? Do titles even matter to a guy like Darby?
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada
Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada had more to gain in loss than in victory, as it made everyone look good. The choice to have the cracks in their bond cost them the AEW tag titles was one that made everyone look good. It’s just wrestling 101 that a loss should make us say, “Man, I gotta see what’s next for those losers,” and Saturday’s tag match did just that.
Loser: Mina Shirakawa
Mina Shirakawa was thrown into the mix with little notice, and it felt unceremonious. The build to the title-for-title match was nil, and it was an open challenge that was announced roughly 24-36 hours before the PPV. It was a good match, but it left us rubbing our chin at the result. I don’t know where Mina goes from here, as she’s technically freed from the Interim Title to do whatever she wants, but she’s got a lot of rebuilding to do.
Winner: Jack Perry
Jurassic Express as a unit won on Saturday, but Jack Perry was in a make-or-break position and came out proving why everyone in AEW is so determined to make him work. Perry is the definition of “a project,” someone who came into AEW with tremendous potential, and who is slowly being molded into a singles star.
Loser: Eddie Kingston
Eddie Kingston seems lost, and it feels like every year could be “Eddie Kingston’s Year,” except for this one. He’s a natural babyface, but AEW seems unable to find a way to truly capitalize on this longtime fan favorite. His return from injury is still new, but it doesn’t change the fact that Kingston seems rudderless at the moment, and AEW can either make that text, and give him a story about being a tumbleweed in the wind or they can give him something to do.
For more information on AEW WrestleDream 2025, check out the full results and analysis Here
