At the Texas 2025 event, the former WWE personality made his first official on-screen appearance during the Zero Hour Preshow streamed on YouTube. The panel featured Renee Puckett, RJ City, Jeff Jarrett, and Paul Wight, along with some notable guests. Josh Mathews joined the Pre-Show as a panelist for the first time, conducting backstage interviews with Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay.
Josh Mathews was part of WWE from 2001 until 2014, initially winning a spot through Tough Enough’s first season before becoming a backstage interviewer, show host, and commentary figure. He called most of WrestleMania 27 in 2011 alongside Michael Cole and Jerry Lawler. After his release from WWE in 2014, Mathews became the lead announcer for Impact Wrestling/TNA for several years. He married Madison Rayne in 2015, who has been coaching and wrestling for AEW since 2022. Earlier this year, it was revealed that Mathews had taken on a behind-the-scenes role at AEW, describing his job as “shadowing microphone man(s).”
Fan Take: This development is significant for AEW enthusiasts because bringing in a well-known former WWE figure like Josh Mathews adds experienced commentary and backstage expertise that could enhance AEW’s production quality. It also signals AEW’s growing influence by attracting seasoned professionals, which may raise the bar for wrestling broadcasts and storytelling in the sport.
