AEW All-In: Texas, held on July 12th, took place at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. This was the first time AEW All-In was held in the United States. This landmark event was attended by over 25,000 fans. It marked AEW’s debut in an American baseball stadium and solidified its status as one of the promotion’s “big five” PPVs. It featured 12 matches, including three on the Zero Hour pre-show. AEW All-In: Texas delivered high-octane wrestling, dramatic storytelling, and significant character developments. It ran for over six hours, making it one of the longest wrestling PPVs in recent history. AEW All In: Texas was preceded by a weekend of fan engagement. It included a karaoke show, the Starrcast convention, a “Texas Tailgate,” and an after-party at Texas Live!. They also had Ring of Honor’s (ROH) Supercard of Honor on July 11th.
Match Recaps
Zero Hour Pre-Show
Sons of Texas (Dustin Rhodes, Sammy Guevara, Ross Von Erich, and Marshall Von Erich) defeated Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Shawn Dean, and Carlie Bravo)
This eight-man tag match featured local heroes, the Von Erichs, alongside Dustin Rhodes and Sammy Guevara. The crowd popped for the hometown team. The match served as a standard opener with minimal storyline impact. A notable moment was Anthony Ogogo’s attempt to bully Kevin Von Erich. It was countered by Dusty Rhodes’ grandsons, Wyatt and Wayne, making a cameo. Dustin Rhodes’ Iron Claw finish was a crowd-pleaser, emphasizing the Von Erichs’ legacy in Texas.
Rating: B- (solid but forgettable opener)
Adam Cole vacating his AEW TNT Championship for injury reasons.
The Conglomeration (Kyle O’Reilly, Tomohiro Ishii, and Hologram) and Big Boom AJ defeated The Don Callis Family (Rocky Romero, Trent Beretta, Lance Archer, and Hechicero)
This match was a chaotic brawl with fun moments. It was highlighted by Big Boom AJ’s spear to Trent Beretta. Beretta shoving the young “Big Justice,” which became a viral clip. The Conglomeration’s teamwork shone, but the match was more about entertainment than advancing major storylines. Big Boom AJ pinned Rocky Romero with the Power Bomb to end it.
Rating: B- (entertaining pre-show fare)
FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) with Stokely Hathaway defeated The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd)
This rematch from a prior AEW Collision episode was slower and more methodical than their previous encounter. It allowed FTR to lean into their heel personas. Turbo Floyd sold a leg injury effectively. A vocal fan’s screams added to the atmosphere. The dirty win with Stokely Hathaway’s inference reinforced FTR’s heel turn.
Rating: B (solid storytelling)
Main Card
AEW World Trios Championship: The Opps (Katsuyori Shibata, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Samoa Joe) (C) defeated The Death Riders (Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, and Gabe Kidd)
This opener set a high-energy tone with Powerhouse Hobbs countering a Doomsday Device into a powerslam on Yuta. It earned a “This is awesome” chant. The crowd was firmly behind The Opps. They were especially behind Hobbs, who drew “Meat!” chants. Samoa Joe pinned Wheeler Yuta after hitting a Muscle Buster. After the match, The Death Riders attacked The Opps. Yuta used a steel chair on Hobbs, and Claudio stomped a chair around Joe’s neck. This led to Samoa Joe’s stretcher exit. This brutal angle heightened the Death Riders’ heel status.
Rating: 3 Stars (good, solid start but not exceptional) The ending would play a part in the main event since Samoa Joe was hurt and couldn’t come to help.
Men’s Casino Gauntlet Match
MJF won by stealing a pin from Mark Briscoe over Ricochet. It featured stars like MJF, Mark Briscoe, Mistico, Bandido, Ricochet, Konosuke Takeshita, Kota Ibushi, and a clean-shaven Juice Robinson (who returned with The Gunn Club). This match was action-packed but dragged at 34:50. Key moments included Ricochet aiding MJF against Briscoe, Mistico saving Bandido, and Takeshita’s double German suplex. MJF’s opportunistic victory reinforced his cunning heel persona. The finish was criticized as anticlimactic.
Rating: 3 and 1/4 stars (fun but overly long)
AEW TNT Championship: Dustin Rhodes defeated Sammy Guevara, Daniel Garcia, and Kyle Fletcher
Adam Cole, unable to compete due to injury, vacated the TNT Championship in a heartfelt promo hinting at retirement. After his announcement, Cole was joined by Roderick Strong and Kyle O’Reilly. Daniel Garcia’s interruption and hug added emotional depth. The four-way match saw high-energy spots, like Garcia and Fletcher trading sharpshooters. The crowd was subdued after Cole’s announcement of the injury and vacated the championship. Rhodes’ win was a feel-good moment for the Texas native. But the match lacked any heat.
Rating: Two and 3/4 stars (emotional but underwhelming in-ring)
Young Bucks vs Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay in Arlington, TX for AEW All-In on July 12th
Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay defeated The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson)
Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay won the match. It forced The Young Bucks to relinquish their EVP status. This match was a highlight of the night. It was driven by the storyline of Swerve and Ospreay’s friendship against The Young Bucks’ heel antics. Swerve’s entrance featured JoJo Offerman (WWE Bray Wyatt’s fiance) singing “Ain’t Nobody.” The Bucks’ over-the-top Founding Fathers-themed entrance drew boos. Key spots included stereo Destroyers and a Superkick Party countered by Swerve and Ospreay’s House Call/Hidden Blade combo. The victory set up potential tension between Swerve and Ospreay.
Rating: Four and 1/2 stars (excellent storytelling and action)
Women’s Casino Gauntlet Match
ROH Women’s Champion Athena won. She earned a shot at the AEW Women’s World Championship. It featured Kris Statlander, Megan Bayne, Thekla, Julia Hart, Queen Aminata, Mina Shirakawa, Thunder Rosa, Syuri (debuting), Alex Windsor (debuting), Tay Melo, and Willow Nightingale. This match was a showcase of AEW’s women’s division. Athena’s dominant performance, including an O-Face on Shirakawa for the win, and standout moments like Thekla and Julia’s upside-down staredown, made it a highlight. Syuri’s debut drew little reaction, but her exchange with Athena hinted at future rivalries.
Rating: Three and 3/4 stars (superior to the men’s gauntlet)
AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Hurt Syndicate (Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin) (C) defeated The Patriarchy (Christian Cage and Nick Wayne) and JetSpeed (Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey)
The Hurt Syndicate’s dominance was the story. Lashley and Benjamin overpowered their opponents. Key spots included Benjamin’s German suplex sending Bailey out of the ring and Lashley’s Spear finish. The match was solid but suffered from overbooking. It had too many teams diluting the focus.
Rating: Two stars (decent but forgettable)
AEW Women’s World Championship: Toni Storm (C) defeated Mercedes Moné
This champion vs. champion clash was a technical masterpiece. It was built through the Owen Hart Cup that Mercedes won. Moné’s grit and Storm’s resilience shone, with a standout avalanche piledriver finish. This was Mercedes’ first AEW singles loss. The match elevated both women. Storm’s victory solidified her as AEW’s top female star and setting up a future clash with Athena.
Rating: Four stars (match of the night contender)
Winner Takes All for AEW Unified Championship: Kazuchika Okada (Continental Champion) defeated Kenny Omega (International Champion)
The latest chapter in the storied Omega-Okada rivalry delivered. Both men showcased their athleticism and chemistry. It was built on Okada’s Continental Classic win and Omega’s return from injury. The match featured high-impact sequences and a dramatic finish. Kazuchika Okada became the first AEW Unified Champion. Some felt it overshadowed Omega’s comeback.
Rating: Three and 3/4 stars (great but not their best)
AEW World Championship Texas Death Match: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Hangman Adam Page defeated Jon Moxley (C) by submission after being choked with a chain
The main event was a brutal, emotional culmination of Page’s redemption arc against Moxley’s “reign of terror.” Interference from Bryan Danielson (in a Blue Panther mask), Darby Allin, Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, and The Death Riders added chaos without feeling contrived. Page’s Buckshot Lariat on a bed of nails and the chain choke finish were iconic moments. It earned widespread praise.
Rating: Four and 1/2 stars (near-perfect main event)
Key Promos
Adam Cole’s Emotional Retirement Tease
Before the AEW TNT Championship match, Cole delivered a tearful promo about his injury. It was speculated that it was another concussion. He hinted at possible retirement. Daniel Garcia’s interruption and embrace added a heartfelt layer. It set up potential storylines around Cole’s status and Garcia’s loyalty.
Storylines and Characters
Hangman Adam Page’s Redemption Arc
Page’s journey to reclaim the AEW World Championship after three years was the emotional core of AEW All-In. His Owen Hart Cup win over Will Ospreay earned him the title shot. The Texas Death Match against Moxley was a violent payoff to their long-standing feud. Interference from allies like Danielson and Darby Allin underscored Page’s transformation from a conflicted antihero to a beloved champion.
Character Analysis
Page’s intensity and desperation shone. The chain choke finish symbolized his willingness to go to extremes. His post-match promo on AEW Dynamite on July 16th cemented his babyface status. MJF’s interference hints at a new heel challenge.
Toni Storm vs. Mercedes Moné Rivalry
Mercedes Moné’s Owen Hart Cup victory set up a champion vs. champion clash with Storm. Their promos and physical confrontations built a narrative of mutual respect and fierce competition. Storm ended Moné’s AEW undefeated streak. Athena’s Women’s Casino Gauntlet win sets up a future blockbuster match.
Character Analysis
Storm’s “Timeless” persona exuded confidence. Moné’s arrogance as a multi-promotion champion added depth. Storm’s victory solidified her as the division’s cornerstone, but Moné’s loss opens the door for a redemption arc.
AEW’s Toni Storm with Luther
Kenny Omega vs. Kazuchika Okada Rivalry
Kenny Omega’s return from diverticulitis and Okada’s Continental Classic win reignited their legendary rivalry. The Winner Takes All match unified the International and Continental Championships. Okada’s victory marked a new chapter. The Elite’s attack on Omega added a layer of betrayal.
Character Analysis
Omega’s resilience as a returning babyface contrasted with Okada’s cold, calculated heel persona. Okada’s win positions him as a dominant force, while Omega’s loss could lead to a revenge storyline.
Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay’s Friendship
Their tag team match against The Young Bucks was built on their bond. During the match, Swerve saved Ospreay from superkicks. The stipulation that a loss bans them from title shots for a year added tension. However, with their win, they stripped The Young Bucks of their executive vice presidents’ positions. It potentially leads to a feud if one eventually turns on the other.
Character Analysis
Swerve’s complex, prickly character and Ospreay’s high-flying charisma made them a dynamic duo. Their victory over The Bucks was a crowd-pleaser.
The Death Riders’ Reign of Terror
Moxley’s faction, including Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta, has dominated AEW’s narrative for over a year. Their after-the-match attack on The Opps reinforced their menace on this PPV. Gabe Kidd’s addition and the stretcher angle with Samoa Joe escalated their heel heat.
Character Analysis
Moxley’s unhinged leadership made him a formidable champion. Yuta and Castagnoli’s brutality has added depth. Moxley’s loss to Page and subsequent attacks suggest ongoing chaos.
What Worked Analysis
Main Event Excellence
The Texas Death Match was a masterclass in storytelling. It blended brutality with emotional payoff. Page’s victory and the interference from Danielson, Allin, and others felt natural. It avoided WWE’s overproduced “Bloodline Rules” style.
Women’s Division Spotlight
The Storm-Moné match and Women’s Casino Gauntlet showcased AEW’s depth. Athena’s win and Syuri’s debut signal a bright future. Toni Storm was cemented as one of AEW’s top stars.
Crowd Engagement
Despite some empty seats, moments like Hobbs’ “Meat!” chants, Page’s title win, and Swerve’s entrance with JoJo Offerman popped the crowd.
Returns and Debuts
Bryan Danielson, Darby Allin, Juice Robinson, and Syuri added excitement. Danielson’s masked appearance was a huge highlight.
What Didn’t Work Analysis
Overlong Matches
The Men’s Casino Gauntlet and TNT Championship matches dragged. The former’s finish felt flat, and the latter suffered from post-promo crowd fatigue. There were too many matches that didn’t belong on this PPV. If the earlier matches had been cut or at least been shorter, then the main events would have been bigger highlights.
Crowd Silence
The large venue led to quiet stretches. Especially in the Trios and Tag Team Title matches, which lacked the intensity of smaller arenas.
Underutilized Talent
Stars like Ricochet, Bandido, and Takeshita shone in the Men’s Casino Gauntlet but lacked clear direction post-match.
Impact on AEW’s Future
Page’s championship win resets the main event scene. MJF is looming as a major threat.
Storm’s victory and Athena’s gauntlet win set up a high-stakes women’s title feud, potentially elevating the ROH Women’s Championship.
Okada’s unified title reign and Omega’s loss could lead to a redemption arc or a shift in The Elite’s dynamics.
The Death Riders’ continued aggression ensures their relevance, with Samoa Joe’s injury angle opening doors for a revenge storyline.
Overall Rating: 8/10
AEW All-In: Texas delivered on its promise as AEW’s biggest show, with a stellar main event, strong women’s matches, and memorable moments. Although the pacing issues and crowd lulls slightly marred the experience.
Conclusion
AEW All In: Texas 2025 was a triumph of storytelling and in-ring action. It reinforced AEW’s momentum in a competitive wrestling landscape. Hangman Adam Page’s crowning moment, Toni Storm’s resilience, and the Omega-Okada classic were highlights. The promos and returns added depth. Despite some flaws, the event set the stage for exciting future storylines.
