Why 2025 Was Best Year Overall For Pro Wrestling Business In Over 2 Decades

A well-known wrestling observer believes 2025 was a huge year for pro wrestling.

There’s a lot of negativity in fandom of any sport or genre in this era. For whatever reason, fans of things they like will point out negative things way more than talking about the great things that exist in the world.

In the wrestling world, if there’s a PLE or PPV with 5 incredible matches, but one match has a botched spot in it, then there will be fans who only magnify the botched spot because it’s as if they want to hate on what they are watching.

In reality, the pro wrestling business is doing very well with WWE signing massive TV/streaming deals, they have huge crowds in stadiums and arenas all around the world, and it’s not just them.

Promotions like CMLL in Mexico had a record 2025 as well, and so did Stardom in Japan had a great 2025 as well.

It may seem like AEW isn’t doing as well, but they still have a strong PPV viewing audience, and crowds are solid, even if their TV audience is somewhat down.

John Cena’s Retirement Tour In 2025 And Other Factors Led To A Big Year

A big selling point for WWE in 2025 was John Cena’s retirement tour that saw him compete in his final Royal Rumble, WrestleMania, SummerSlam, and have his final match last December. Any show that Cena was on did well for WWE, no matter where the show was.

While speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer made the point that 2025 was a monumental year for pro wrestling.

“2025 was, based on my ratings for whatever that is worth, the best year for wrestling matches in the history of this industry. And not based on my ratings, but it was the best year for business in probably two decades plus. You know, as far as like, different companies doing well. I mean, WWE setting records, CMLL setting records, Stardom being the most popular women’s promotion since the heyday of All Japan, and on and on it goes.

It was really, you know, when you look back in the years now over, it was really a monumental year for the business. You know the fact that the matches were great – probably the best year for any company on pay-per-views ever too. But the matches being great, the business being great.

And I don’t think those are both, I mean, I don’t even know that both are related to the other so much. I mean, as much as it’s somewhat coincidental, I mean some of it does carry over. But you know, looking back, now that the year is over, it was really an incredibly monumental year for the industry in a lot of ways.”

The line that Meltzer had about the best year for any company in terms of pay-per-view matches was likely a reference to AEW, since Meltzer rates their matches higher than anybody.

It’s a nice reminder that maybe, instead of being negative about the world of pro wrestling, it’s time to appreciate the performances even more than we do already.

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit original source and h/t with a link back to TJR Wrestling for the transcription.