10 Best Wrestling Storylines Right Now

7. The Rise, Fall And Rise Of Britt Baker

Randy Orton Edge
AEW

Britt Baker outshone Adam Cole in the Wednesday Night Wars last week. Imagine writing that in October 2019.

The listening company listened, and abandoned Britt Baker's big babyface push. It was untenable; an insidious marketing tactic masquerading as a Women's division, Baker was a very presentable face with which to present to the mainstream, but did not boast the level of skill required to get over when the bell rang. She was never actively bad - that narrative was unfair - but she clearly wasn't strong or even refined enough to pull off the Ace role.

She was miscast in it all along.

She is a revelation as a heel; turning on the Jericho Cruise, the initial promo was uneven - or jarring, as it turns out. Her next promo, aimed at Jim Ross, was fabulous. Her next promo - a scathing assessment of Tony Schiavone made all the more obnoxious with her pompous use of dentistry jargon - was even more fabulous. She has a very subtle, grating cadence unique to herself, and her ability to orchestrate a graduating crowd reaction is borderline preternatural.

This story, in which Baker, resuming her rightful (entitled) place believes herself to be a role model, has already produced in-ring results, too.

On paper, the curb stomp tooth removal spot was hokey - a challenge to pull off logistically, much less convincingly - but she got it over. Since she was only a prospect on paper, this represents an incredible turnaround.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!