10 AEW Disappointments We Really Didn't See Coming
1. The Britt Baker Problem
Dr Britt Baker is awesome.
The very title of this entry could subjectively scan as a misnomer considering how Baker is comfortably one of the most over wrestlers on the roster, goes down a storm with live crowds, shifts monster units at the merch table and is (as of writing) the reigning and ruling AEW Women's Champion.
But. But but but.
There's an under-the-hood situation going on with this otherwise-awesome act, and it really exposed itself during Baker's disjointed Battle Of The Belts defence against Riho.
Her matches relying on a lot of interference has developed a certain WWE quality, and they're beginning to ask way more of the viewers than they should. Jim Ross can be a curmugeonly old grump when he wants, but few could disagree with his assertions that Rebel and Jamie Hayter should have been sent packing long before the former was for the good of teasing the tension between the latter and the Champion.
It's the same every time too, and it's making babyfaces look stupider for not arming themselves accordingly. That's the other problem too - are the heroes even heroes in Baker's presence? The fans adore the Dr, and she's not so good on defence that this is particularly assuaged in matches that have flailed wildly in quality since her reign began.
Dr Britt Baker is awesome. But some of the above really isn't. Wrestling utopias and all that.