9 Ups & 9 Downs For AEW In 2022

3. The Women's Division Enjoys Its Best Year Yet

AEW All Out 2022 Jamie Hayter
AEW

Remember the conspiracy that posited AEW being unable to present more than one Women's division match on television under a Warner Bros. Discovery directive?

It's still far more believable than you'd want it to be, so much so that determining whether to mark this as an 'Up' or 'Down' was a close call. Ultimately, the division has improved considerably from last year, even if the lack of representation and parity remains a joke.

Jamie Hayter was a revelation; a brick-stiff powerhouse who charmed the base, all the way to a World title win, with her unreal execution and self-belief. AEW is taking its customary scenic route when mapping out her eventual show-down with Dr. Britt Baker, but it feels more purposeful and organic this time. It feels like a very real albeit complicated friendship is slowly disintegrating. It didn't at All Out, but Hayter's selling of Baker's betrayal was magnificent. She displayed a vulnerability she otherwise masks with her bully wrestling character with the best facial expression of the year.

Toni Storm was on outstanding form restoring the quality and atmosphere of the division as champion, Saraya made it feel bigger and more significant (...if nothing else), and while it sadly didn't happen, Khan had built Kris Statlander very well as the destroyer set to dethrone Jade Cargill.

Athena is getting over, too, and may have generated the biggest pop on Rampage all year with her stunningly executed heel turn.

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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!