AEW Women's Division: 5 Reasons To Be Cheerful
Jade Cargill, Britt Baker, and other signs of progress in AEW's improving women's scene.
For all the success AEW has enjoyed since its formation, there has always been one key element holding the company back - its lacklustre women's division.
Current champion Hikaru Shida's reign is emblematic of the problems that have plagued AEW's worst-run division since day one. Despite being the longest-reigning champion in AEW history, her run with the belt has been stymied by a lack of viable challengers (Thunder Rosa excepted) and decent storylines.
Put it this way - if the most notable story surrounding your championship run involves being repeatedly bitten by a woman who thinks she's a zombie, you need to have a word with your booker.
Fortunately, AEW have taken steps to right this particular sinking ship. The recent Eliminator Tournament made the belt feel genuinely important, the new talent brought in has given the flagging division a much-needed shot in the arm, and the company's veteran performers have received some much welcome character development.
With this week featuring the first ever women's match to main-event Dynamite, 2021 looks like it might be the year AEW's women finally stand on equal footing with their male counterparts...
5. The Eliminator Tournament
All credit to Hikaru Shida - if her reign hasn't hit the heights it should've, it's not due to a lack of effort on her part.
Realising that the title's importance was fading fast, Shida and Omega approached Tony Khan and outlined an international tournament designed to find the next competitor for Hikaru's belt. To his credit, Khan told them to go ahead and the result was the recent Eliminator Tournament. (Source via diva-dirt.com)
The decision to host the tournament in two different countries was a masterstroke. As well as highlighting the best female wrestlers in America, it allowed the AEW audience to reconnect with Japanese talent such as Riho and Yuka Sakazaki. It also gave a platform for unfamiliar faces to shine, further deepening the company's talent pool.
Also, the fact Shida was given the go-ahead to produce the matches in Japan shows the incredible level of trust AEW has in their Women's Champion. Can you imagine Vince McMahon giving Asuka the green-light to run a tournament for her belt on RAW? She had to get her teeth knocked down her throat just to get a storyline!