Dustin Rhodes Wants More TV Time For AEW Women's Division
Rhodes calls for more AEW women's matches on Dynamite and Rampage, calling the situation "unfair."
Dustin Rhodes would like to see AEW's women's division get to the point where it can be featured through two matches on Dynamite or Rampage, admitting that the current state of play is "not fair."
The pro wrestling veteran said as much during a recent appearance on Throwing Down with Renee & Miesha, telling host Renee Paquette that the division was improving (h/t Fightful):-
"It is a big part, they have been denied, and they are getting these opportunities now. That's important. I want to get them to where they have two matches on Dynamite or Rampage. It's not fair, but we're getting there and making leaps and bounds. The female talent coming in are very athletic and in some cases they are just as good, if not better, than some of the guys, and that's awesome. I love that."
Continuing, the elder Rhodes brother unpacked why he enjoys working with members of the division so much:-
"That's the challenge for me that I really like to take on. Not just for the ladies, but I specifically like working with the ladies because they are coachable and understanding and want and are passionate about what we're doing here and who we are growing to be. It's really cool to see them light up and succeed in a way that the guys already do."
Dustin later cited new TBS Champion Jade Cargill as somebody he'd worked with whose hard work and passion is now manifesting as success on television:-
"I love to give back. The payoff for me is not the stardom, the money, any of those things, they are great and necessary, but when I teach them something and they see it and they want to learn it and they are passionate. Jade is a great example of this. I take them under my wing and they want to learn. They are not there yet, but they're getting there, and they want it now. When I teach them how to do something and they do it and you see this smile on their face, that's the payoff for me."
A perceived lack of television time for the women's division has been considerable criticism of AEW since the promotion's 2019 launch. Now, in 2022, the scene is still typically limited to just one match on the average episode of Dynamite, though recent storylines like Hikaru Shida vs. Serena Deeb show the promotion is at least working on content outwith its mainline title programs.
Shida and Deeb's fourth singles match will provide the women's division's sole in-ring representation on tonight's Dynamite.