10 Next Steps AEW MUST Take After Double Or Nothing

5. Go All In On Joshi

Cody Dustin Rhodes
Twitter, @shidahikaru

The Elite promised full-on collaboration with other global wrestling scenes during AEW's first press conference back in January. They're already making good on that, with CIMA's Strong Hearts stable and the Double Or Nothing joshi match the first examples, and we can likely expect it to continue, with All Elite using their considerable spotlight to bring in all kinds of exciting guests.

AEW's joshi collaboration is something that needs to go further. Aja Kong, Emi Sakura, Yuka Sakazaki, Hikaru Shida, Riho, and Ryo Miznunami killed it at DoN. Their fast, hard-hitting, all-action clash was the perfect introduction as not only did it allow the performers to showcase their skills with one of the night's best bouts, but offer glimpses of their personalities via their elaborate ring attire too. It was everything it needed to be, and should now become a foundational stone going forward.

Shida will move to the United States to concentrate on AEW full-time later this year. Others should follow if AEW are to deliver on their promise of making this their WCW cruiserweight division equivalent, and it'd be great to see untapped freelancers like Momo Watanabe, Utami Hayashishita, and Kagetsu making guest appearances too.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.