AEW Full Gear 2025 delivered an event packed with unexpected moments, yet its duration has sparked conversation once again. Including the Tailgate Brawl pre-show aired on TNT, the event lasted nearly five and a half hours, which aligns with the usual length of AEW pay-per-views. WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray discussed Full Gear 2025’s length during a recent “Busted Open Radio” episode, sharing insights from his experience with long shows in ECW. He acknowledged that while long events were common in ECW—catering to the live audience rather than pay-per-view viewers—AEW’s pay-per-view marathon may be pushing limits. He suggested AEW’s shows might ideally be around four hours, noting that sustaining high energy for five hours is challenging and that a four-hour window allows for a compelling, well-paced event.
Bully Ray also compared AEW’s ideal runtime to other events like football games and concerts, which typically hold attendees’ interest for about four hours. AEW Chairman Tony Khan has recently commented on pay-per-view lengths, clarifying that contracts require about a four-hour duration for the main events, excluding pre-shows or extra time depending on the location.
Fan Take: This discussion about the ideal length of AEW pay-per-views highlights the challenge of balancing content quantity with viewer engagement. For AEW fans, hitting that “sweet spot” of around four hours could mean consistently exciting shows that keep energy high and viewers invested, potentially elevating AEW’s status and appeal in the pro-wrestling world.
