8 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (24 Aug)

7. Solving An Unfortunate Problem

Thunder Rosa Tony Schiavone
AEW

Thunder Rosa's injury isn't a work. The AEW Women's World Champion is legitimately hurt, preventing her from defending her belt, as revealed in an emotional backstage promo with Tony Schiavone. Best wishes to her as she recovers from whatever ails her.

Tony Khan's divisive solution was to announce a four-way match for an interim championship. Britt Baker, Hikaru Shida, Jamie Hayter, and Toni Storm will contest this at All Out. While such temporary belts will never be unanimously popular, the Jon Moxley/CM Punk situation and now this suggests that it will be a go-to response from Khan, whether well-received or not.

Personnel-wise, while rankings-related questions are valid (Athena and Anna Jay are both positioned higher than Hayter and Shida at the moment), AEW could scarcely have picked more appropriate wrestlers from a kayfabe perspective. Three of the combatants are involved in Rosa's current storyline and the other is the most decorated Women's Champion in company history.

Much of this unrivalled around Britt Baker vs. KiLynn King, which was a good television match with a great face/heel dynamic. Baker entered a strong heel performance opposite hometown hero King, whose support levels were brought up as a result. Their contest concluded with an inevitable Britt victory via Lockjaw. Afterwards, a glib Baker promo was cut off by Storm and Shida, who ran the heels off.

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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.