8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Feb 10)

5. Hirsch & Thunder Rosa Open Tournament With A Banger

Leyla Hirsch Thunder Rosa
AEW

Thunder Rosa's angry promos are great. As fierce as ever in the inset, she set her sights on winning the AEW Women's Title Elimination Tournament, regaining her NWA Championship, and coming after Britt Baker's "big-*ss nose" over the next few weeks before battling Leyla Hirsch in the tournament's first round.

This hit the spot. Starting off with some tight, close grappling, Rosa opened it up with her lucha influence and spent much of the second act lighting Leyla up, striking and stretching her to pieces. Targeted attacks to Rosa's shoulder evened the odds in Leyla's favour, though. The former NWA Women's Champion sold well, her offense diminished as Hirsch got surgical, and a couple of Moonsault Presses almost swung it for the underdog.

Missing the second, Hirsch was in trouble until she masterfully countered a Fire Thunder Driver into a cross armbreaker. These fightbacks gave the match enough dramatic heft to ensure Leyla still looked 'Legit' in taking the L.

A grand start to what should be a grand tournament.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.