7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Dec 18)

2. A Necessary Means To A Greater End

Kris Statlander
FITE TV

Kris Statlander Vs. Britt Baker wasn't a blow-away match, but it was a necessary and reassuring match, and if that reads as faint praise, it probably shouldn't: Baker looked good here, in a further checkpoint of her improvement, but that she still requires far more work renders this result the correct one.

Statlander is far more powerful, and Baker isn't a technical marvel capable of countering that strength in a way that made for a great match, but at various points she lulled Statlander to the mat to apply the Lockjaw in such a way that it never felt too collaborative. It did however feel rough - Baker's sling blade lacks the snap and timing to come off as a believable comeback - but she is improving considerably on offence, and sold Statlander's awesome dropkick like cannon fire.

It's almost impossible to assess Baker from the perspective of a fan or a critic - virtually every online review is written from the POV of an amateur coach - and this in itself underscores that she isn't ready.

AEW claimed that they would listen, and they did.

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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!