AEW Full Gear Women's Championship Match Revealed?

DARK spoilers follow.

by Michael Sidgwick
Emi Sakura Riho
Scott Lesh

Per a report from this week's Wrestling Observer Newsletter, editor Dave Meltzer "believes" Emi Sakura will challenge for Riho's AEW Women's Championship at Full Gear on Saturday, November 9.

Sakura triumphed over Allie, Penelope Ford and Sadie Gibbs on this week's Dark taping to strengthen her claim to the belt. She had taken a submission loss on the second episode of Dynamite, which seems ill-advised in hindsight - but a fortunate byproduct of AEW's apathetic approach to the Women's division is that no other members of the roster have received the exposure to mount a stronger one.

Plot hole: evaded.

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Regardless, this should be a fun, well-worked, and over match: Riho has forged a strong, real connection with AEW's base on the strength of her inherent charm and spirited performances. Sakura meanwhile is a veteran of considerable experience with a real knack for engaging crowds.

Their work on said episode of Dynamite were the highlight of that match - Sakura, dragging Riho by the hair, played the bully very well in lively, brutal sequences - and it's little wonder: Riho and Sakura have worked together stretching all the way back to 2007, and Sakura trained her.

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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!