10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW WrestleDream

9. A Strong TBS Title Match

WD Julia Hart
AEW

The gutting thing about Kris Statlander Vs. Julia Hart is that it is impossible to shake the feeling that Julia has had her turn, and that two months of obscurity await.

This is how it works, or rather doesn't work. The women you are asked to invest in disappear because there is no room to accommodate their growth.

And Julia Hart has grown, which this match indicated. So many women's matches are received with a bleak, apathetic silent hum. When this got rocking, fans - and not out of habit - chanted "This is awesome!"

It wasn't blow-away great and will not trouble any MOTY lists, but she and Kris Statlander - who incidentally is awesome as the Ace champion who can elevate anybody to her level - did a remarkable job. Mostly.

The size difference meant that few took Hart's heat sequence too seriously, and this was cursed with a "didn't get all of it" moment when Hart mistimed a senton, but the finishing stretch was awesome. Hart countering an aerial attempt with an overhead belly-to-belly suplex was excellent character work consistent with the House of Black's cerebral strategy, and Statlander slapping the mist out of Hart's mouth was a novel spot perfect for a smart babyface. The fans bought that Hart's awe-inspiring moonsault was the finish, and Statlander's timing, when just reaching the rope with her foot, was acute.

Statlander won with a cool Tombstone/Sunday Night Fever combination. The layout protected Julia, but will her creative do the same in the months to come?

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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!