5 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Homecoming (4 Aug)

3. Another Week, Another Weird Character Dynamic

Red Velvet Britt Baker
AEW

The disconnect with Britt Baker's current character was on full display again last night, as she unleashed a heelish beatdown on Red Velvet to a near-silent crowd.

Live audiences want to cheer for Britt. This has been clear since Double Or Nothing, when her Women's World Title win was framed as a big moment. They pop for her when she comes out, do the D.M.D. call-and-response with her, and hang on every line of every promo. Then, she takes a crutch to a defenceless babyface... and nobody has a clue what to do.

Velvet is a fun challenger for Baker in her Pittsburgh hometown, where she will obviously get the biggest pop of the night. This, however, only highlights the need to clarify her identity right now. That AEW operates on a more fluid face/heel alignment scale than WWE gives them more freedom to play in shades of grey, but it's becoming really, really awkward with Baker.

Britt can veer closer to babyface without distorting the character that got her over too much. All she needs to do is stop beating Red Velvet up with weapons.

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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.