7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite Grand Slam 2022

2. The Best Debut Of The Year

Saraya AEW
AEW

In the post-match, Jamie Hayter revealed that she was still aligned with Britt Baker, and joined in her attack of Toni Storm. Hayter has developed a strong cult following, and if it seemed strange to not follow through with a full turn, the most effective surprise debut in an age acted as an explanation.

Saraya, the former Paige, generated an eruption of a pop.

The surprise factor no doubt informed it - she was thought permanently retired - but Paige was a veritable trailblazer in WWE. The company does not look what it looks like in 2022 without her contribution to it. The fans in Queens recognised that. It's a massive indictment of AEW that someone needs to act as the catalyst for change in a company that formed after the so-called Women's Revolution, but they do. This felt like a game-changer.

AEW hasn't earned the trust of unqualified optimism, but they'd be absolutely stupid - or, much worse, completely apathetic - not to make the division feel significantly bigger with Saraya at the forefront.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!