8 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (May 20)

4. Nyla Rose Dominates

Nyla Rose
AEW

A couple of rough moments aside (it looks like Britt Baker picked up an injury somewhere down the road), the women's tag was a good bit of business.

It was Baker and Women's Champion Nyla Rose against Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander ahead of their respective pay-per-view matches. Things kicked off with a big brawl after 'The Native Beast' swung her kendo stick at Shida, which the babyfaces took control of. This last only until Rose had eradicated Statlander with an awesome Pounce, unleashing a beautifully brutish assault on 'The Galaxy's Greatest Alien' for a prolonged period, though her partner wasn't keen to get involved. Nyla had to tag herself out, such was Britt's trepidation.

The expected injury took Baker out of the match, with the silver lining being that Rose looked an absolute monster for fending Statlander and Shida off alone. Her pinning the Japanese star was an interesting choice, too, and an appreciated break from the usual "challenger pins champion" trope ahead of Double Or Nothing.

Fingers crossed Baker is okay.

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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.