7 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dark (Nov 24)

4. The Waiting Room

This is getting better. Slowly.

Britt Baker and Reba followed up on last week's Waiting Room debut by shaving a couple of minutes off the runtime and keeping the roster burns (the best part of the first segment) to a minimum. Tay Conti was Baker's guest this time, with Britt trying to goad the Brazilian into calling her the best competitor in the division. When Tay named Serena Deeb, Anna Jay, Red Velvet, and Hikaru Shida, Britt got in Conti's face, suggesting we might get a match between them soon.

A more interesting use of Tay in this segment would have been Baker asking Conti about her involvement with The Dark Order, which still hangs in the balance. Alas.

The Acclaimed were brought in to spit a few bars and lift the mood as Conti and Baker came close to trading blows, with Tay looking thoroughly unimpressed in the background. Max Caster and Anthony Bowens' arrival contributed to the segment's disjointed feel, as it came out of nowhere.

AEW and Baker are going for a so-bad-it's-good style of cringe-worthy humour that isn't quite connecting yet. That's why The Waiting Room is on Dark, though. Expect the refinements to continue...

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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.