10 Ways AEW Has Listened To Its Audience

7. Changing Britt Baker

Kenny Omega Don Callis Impact
AEW

Upon the launch of AEW, one of the female talents who instantly caught that eye was Britt Baker.

Having amassed a major buzz for herself on the independent scene, Baker seemed earmarked for huge success in AEW's women's division. With good in-ring skills, a great look and an extremely professional cadence, it seemed as if the Good Doctor was destined to be a can't-miss staple in and around the Women's Championship.

The problem is, insta-smiling, hand-slapping, 'yay, I'm a dentist' Britt Baker fell completely and utterly flat during the early months of AEW. Despite Baker's undeniable talents and a non-wrestling career she should rightly be proud of, audiences just didn't care for the character being delivered to them at that point.

Seeing the blasé reaction to somebody who they'd clearly banked on becoming a star, AEW acted accordingly and turned Baker heel during this year's Jericho Cruise. Since then, the talent hasn't looked back and has gone on to become one of the most entertaining parts of Dynamite on a weekly basis.

Becoming a smarmy, underhand, cowardly, almost neurotic heel who is aiming to pull your teeth out, Britt Baker has done a complete 180 when compared to the fan response she received at the end of last year.

Senior Writer
Senior Writer

Once described as the Swiss Army Knife of WhatCulture, Andrew can usually be found writing, editing, or presenting on a wide range of topics. As a lifelong wrestling fan, horror obsessive, and comic book nerd, he's been covering those topics professionally as far back as 2010. In addition to his current WhatCulture role of Senior Content Producer, Andrew previously spent nearly a decade as Online Editor and Lead Writer for the world's longest-running genre publication, Starburst Magazine, and his work has also been featured on BBC, TechRadar, Tom's Guide, WhatToWatch, Sportkskeeda, and various other outlets, in addition to being a Rotten Tomatoes-approved film critic. Between his main day job, his role as the lead panel host of Wales Comic Con, and his gig as a pre-match host for Wrexham AFC games, Andrew has also carried out a hugely varied amount of interviews, from the likes of Robert Englund, Kane Hodder, Adrienne Barbeau, Rob Zombie, Katharine Isabelle, Leigh Whannell, Bruce Campbell, and Tony Todd, to Kevin Smith, Ron Perlman, Elijah Wood, Giancarlo Esposito, Simon Pegg, Charlie Cox, the Russo Brothers, and Brian Blessed, to Kevin Conroy, Paul Dini, Tara Strong, Will Friedle, Burt Ward, Andrea Romano, Frank Miller, and Rob Liefeld, to Bret Hart, Sting, Mick Foley, Ricky Starks/Saints, Jamie Hayter, Britt Baker, Eric Bischoff, and William Regal, to Mickey Thomas, Joey Jones, Phil Parkinson, Brian Flynn, Denis Smith, Gary Bennett, Karl Connolly, and Bryan Robson - and that's just the tip of an ever-expanding iceberg. Where his beloved Wrexham AFC is concerned, Andrew is co-host of the Fearless in Devotion podcast, which won the Club Podcast of the Year gong at the 2024 FSA Awards.