9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (27 Oct)

3. Is...Is The AEW Women's Division Good Now?

Riho Jamie Hayter
AEW

Jamie Hayter Vs. Riho told a simple, absorbing story and executed it tremendously well.

The crowd weren't red-hot for all of it, which was a shame - this week really felt like it was set to buck a bleak trend - but Hayter was at least received as a star during her entrance and the crowd popped big for her win. This, then, was another small, vital step in repairing a division that has quietly excelled over the last two months. On Dynamite, anyway.

The match was premised on Hayter boasting a death blow of a lariat, if only she could hit it. She failed to do so on several occasions when Riho used her speed and wit to evade into several, super-close pinning combinations and incredulous big bomb moves. Watching Riho power up in such a way is always a joy, and Hayter is one of the best bumpers in the entire company irrespective of gender.

They explored a gorgeous dynamic very well, even if they have something better in them, but whatever happened to Paul Turner tightening up the officiating?

Tony Khan made a rod for his own back there.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!