7 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Anniversary Edition (Oct 14)

5. Shida Gets Past Swole

Hikaru Shida
AEW

A few clunky moments aside (the wrestlers at least did well to recover from them), Hikaru Shida's Women's Title defence against Big Swole was a serviceable TV match that saw the 'Full Metal Champion' take the victory in under 10 minutes.

Swole's in-ring output has been hit and miss. Shida, thankfully, is a good leader, and the title shot was warranted by the rankings. The challenger had been sitting in the top two for what felt like months. Finally, AEW gave her the opportunity warranted by her record, and she was given plenty in defeat, with Shida only escaping a fall via Dirty Dancing by getting her hand on the bottom rope.

An attritional feel came over the bout as they brawled on the outside, Shida hitting her chair-assisted knee strike while Swole was draped over the barricade not long after her opponent had shoved her into a cameraman. They fought hard, nasty, and with urgency.

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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.