3 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Deadly Draw: Women's Tag Team Tournament (Aug 10)

Rachael Ellering and Lil' Swole debut, Ivelisse shines, and Dasha wrestles.

by Andy H Murray
Ivelisse AEW
AEW

If it hadn't been already, AEW's divisive decision to host their Women's Tag Team Cup Tournament on YouTube, not Dynamite and TNT, has been proven justified since the first episode aired on 3 August.

Tony Khan books by the numbers. Last week's Big Swole/Britt Baker/Reba segment was Dynamite's biggest viewership loser, dropping close to 100,000 viewers on the previous quarter. Two days prior, the Deadly Draw's matches were far from TV ready, while the upload was a soaring success on AEW's YouTube channel, pulling 547,000 clicks across seven days. This proves it a bigger asset to the promotion's digital platform than Dynamite.

The complaints came from a good place, though the presentation and platform have fit the tournament so far.

Veda Scott returned for another strong stint on commentary this week, strengthening her case for a full-time role as the new female voice in AEW's announce booth. Highlighted wrestlers included familiar faces in Big Swole, Ivelisse, Diamante, and Leva Bates, newcomers Nicole Savoy (wrestling here as Lil' Swole) and Rachael Ellering, and AEW interviewer Dasha, who worked her first bout for the promotion.

The show won't blow your wig off, though the Ups are definitely worth catching. Let's light the fuse...

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.