8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (16 Mar)
1. Let It Breathe
#AndNew!!!!!!!!@ThunderRosa22 is your #AEW Women's World Champion after an absolute war against Dr. @realbrittbaker! What an amazing night here at #AEWDynamite #StPatricksDaySlam LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/u85zfRh51D
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 17, 2022
That AEW doesn't give big moments enough room to breathe is a common (and valid) complaint. At least once a week, the promotion will hurry away from something that is to be received as important and impactful, cutting to the back or flipping to the commentators in a breathless blur.
A lot happens on these shows. AEW often fails at letting them settle, minimising their resonance in the process. As soon as the Big Thing goes down, the Big Thing is in the past.
It happened at the end, here, with Thunder Rosa's big Women's World Title win. Following a match perhaps hampered by time constraints, the hometown hero was given only given around a minute to celebrate with the belt she had fought so long and hard to make her own, selling the moment and its catharsis short.
Videos of Rosa's post-show celebrations around friends and family have hit social media:-
THE NEW CHAMP @thunderrosa22 shares this moment with her city, family, friends and @MissionProWres family. WHAT A MOMENT!
We are so proud of you, Champ!!!!! @JoeGalliNews @MissionProWres @briancervantes4 #SanAntonio @tcbinla @ThunderBrosa #AEW #AEWDynamite @WWTalkPod pic.twitter.com/etY2sctay9
— Emily Mae ?? (@emilymaeheller) March 17, 2022
Imagine how bigger this would have felt had the confetti fallen for just a little bit longer.