Original Plans For AEW's Women's Division Revealed
AEW's women's division could have looked a whole lot different...
The oft-maligned AEW women's division would have looked a lot different to what it is today had the promotion stuck with its original plans.
Per Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer, AEW was going to push and promote Britt Baker as the company's top female babyface, with officials high on her microphone ability and media-handling skills. This is in line with Baker's presentation before Dynamite's launch (she was the first contracted women's wrestler introduced in January 2019) and during her initial few months on television, though she turned heel when this didn't take.
So high on Baker were AEW that she was being referred to as the "chosen one" backstage. Ultimately, Britt's removal from this spot opened a door for Hikaru Shida, who has since become AEW's top female babyface.
The promotion also had plans for Kylie Rae, indicated by Executive Vice President Cody comparing her to WWE's Bayley in May 2019, though Rae ended up leaving the promotion between Double Or Nothing 2019 and All Out 2019. She returned to the sport with Impact Wrestling but announced her retirement earlier this week.
Shida defends the AEW Women's Championship against Nyla Rose at Full Gear 2020 this weekend, while Baker is currently ranked at number five.