7 Promises AEW Have Made Since Launching (But Haven't Kept)
2. Focused Women's Wrestling
AEW's original Jacksonville press conference saw Brandi Rhodes announce how the promotion would treat women's wrestling. As well as promising that pay would be determined by card position and popularity, not gender, she promised a strong division comprised of the best wrestlers in the world, introducing Britt Baker as the first proper signing and, presumably, a future ace of the scene.
Things haven't worked out as Rhodes promised.
There's plenty of talent on AEW's women's roster. Kris Statlander, Riho, Hikaru Shida, and Shanna are tremendous workers. Baker, Big Swole, Nyla Rose, and Sadie Gibbs are laced with potential. Awesome Kong is a big, marketable name. The pieces are mostly fine and certainly enough to form a solid, three-dimensional division. "Best in the world," though? No.
Presentation is the real issue here. Riho, the reigning champion, is rarely on Dynamite, her Japanese commitments causing scheduling conflicts. The Nightmare Collective of Brandi, Mel, and Kong is the hokiest act in American wrestling. Performers are rarely granted more than one or two segment/match slots a week. Promo time is extremely rare, character development barely even exists, and fans have been given few reasons to invest in these wrestlers and their journeys.
A major reboot is sorely needed. Having a lacklustre women's division in 2020 doesn't cut it, particularly when you consider how well AEW's Wednesday night competition is faring in this lane.