The year 2025 brought a mix of highs and lows for WWE. After several years of positive momentum from 2022 to 2024, the overall quality and fan enthusiasm declined as 2025 progressed, casting doubt on some booking choices and business strategies. The year’s premium live events (PLEs) reflected this inconsistency, showcasing a few highly entertaining shows alongside some forgettable ones.
Certain PLEs in 2025 stood out for their match quality, memorable moments, and steady pacing, while others ranked among the worst. For example, Survivor Series 2025 was largely disappointing except for Liv Morgan’s surprising return and John Cena’s Intercontinental Championship win over Dominik Mysterio. The event suffered from weak War Games matches and ended awkwardly with a mysterious masked interference.
Wrestlepalooza was one of WWE’s weakest shows, marked by an overlong tag match featuring AJ Lee’s return and a notably poor squash match where Brock Lesnar dominated John Cena. Night of Champions in Saudi Arabia saw some early promise with Cody Rhodes defeating Randy Orton, but the event declined with several consecutive uninspiring matches and a final main event between Cena and CM Punk that failed to live up to their history.
Money in the Bank continued the tradition of ladder matches, though they lacked excitement. The Intercontinental Title match between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyrie was a highlight, but the main event tag team bout was dull, only saved by R-Truth’s unexpected return. Clash in Paris benefited from an enthusiastic crowd but featured an underwhelming card, including a slow-paced first half and an unremarkable Becky Lynch vs. Nikki Bella match.
WrestleMania 41 struggled with a focus on celebrity appearances and advertisements instead of the wrestling itself, culminating in a disappointing Cody Rhodes vs. John Cena match marred by bad interference. Despite this, there were standout performances like Dominik Mysterio’s title win, exciting triple threat matches, and Becky Lynch’s return. The Royal Rumble matches were typical with some controversies over winners but featured strong individual moments and a brutal WWE Championship ladder match.
Backlash 2025 delivered a solid but unremarkable show with a technical highlight match between Becky Lynch and Lyra Valkyrie. The US Title four-way opener and Gunther vs. Pat McAfee were surprisingly good, and Cena and Orton closed their rivalry on a high note. SummerSlam’s first-ever two-night format included two classic main events—a technical match between CM Punk and Gunther, followed by a five-star Cody Rhodes vs. Cena bout that redeemed WrestleMania’s shortcomings.
Crown Jewel in Australia was a fan favorite, elevated by a passionate crowd in Perth. Despite a relatively weak opener, matches like John Cena vs. AJ Styles and Seth Rollins vs. Cody Rhodes showcased strong in-ring action and paid homage to wrestling legends.
Fan Take: For WWE fans, 2025 was a rollercoaster year that exposed the challenges of balancing entertainment with quality wrestling. The highs revealed the potential for great storytelling and athleticism, while the lows highlighted the need for thoughtful booking and innovation to keep the sport thriving and engaging.
