14 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (20 Nov)

5. Shida Leads The Slugfest

Britt Baker Hikaru Shida
AEW

Britt Baker had her best AEW match so far on this week's Dynamite. She's still a popular target when it comes to criticising the promotion's women's division (though many of the complaints are warranted), but looked good against Hikaru Shida, rising well to meet the Japanese's star's pace.

That Britt's face was busted open within minutes helped. The accidental blood amplified the intensity. Not that the match was lacking this in the first place, but with the announcers putting it over as a consequence of lethal striking and both wrestlers putting extra starch into each blow, it felt like more of a struggle than the average AEW women's match.

Laced with urgency, physicality, and flurries of stiffness, the bout almost concluded when Britt went for Lockjaw. Her finisher is over as a guaranteed killshot at the moment but she couldn't get to the final stage before Shida got to the ropes, recovered, and blasted her broken face with one last running knee for the 1-2-3. A sharp booking choice, particularly as AEW looked to be setting Baker up for another title shot after teaming with Riho on Dark.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.