The Huge Untapped Potential Of AEW's Anna Jay

Anna Jay Red Velvet
AEW

Your writer has watched veteran professional wrestlers who have looped the circuit for years and years - often, to considerable critical acclaim - struggle to hold matches together under its glare. It's the other side of the creative freedom sword; little is rehearsed, little is regulated, and that has manifested with a certain sloppiness at times. Just this week, a big feature match almost completely fell apart.

Anna Jay hasn't worked a match that went 10 minutes, but then she hasn't worked a match that has even came close to "sloppy".

She is always composed. She belongs on that stage. She has worked, per Cagematch.net, 13 professional wrestling matches. It's quite incredible. If there are moments where she seems to pause very slightly to consider her next step, which in a wrestling match feels far longer than the millisecond it is - again, she has worked just 13 professional wrestling matches - she will develop a natural muscle memory over time. Her footwork is down. She works with the ropes when she runs them.

There isn't quite enough snap on her flat-back bumps - there's a delay effect that takes time to iron out normal for her level of experience - but there's damn sure enough snugness in her strikes.

CONT'D...(5 of 6)

Advertisement
In this post: 
AEW Anna Jay
 
Posted On: 
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!