Pro Wrestling: it has changed the lives of many. For some, it has caused the enchantment for their own careers to come to fruition. However, in the U.S., wrestling has lost its spark. Its trailblazing seems to have paused in the last couple of years with lackluster storylines, terrible booking choices, and seemingly pushing the women on the back burner.
However, a certain “T-shirt company,” as the fans so jokingly call it, has risen to the occasion and has, in my humble opinion, matched the hype it has received since its announcement on January 1, 2019. This company goes by the name of AEW, or All Elite Wrestling.
The company that airs on TNT every Wednesday at 8 pm ET, and now including Fridays at 10 pm ET, is the brainchild of an Elite group of individuals who had a simple dream: to change the world. Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson, better known as the tag team of the Young Bucks, along with friends Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes, set out on this quest originally as wrestlers. However, women are the main attraction for one simple reason: they are showcased. Every woman on the roster has the potential and prestige to outshow the guys when given the TV time.
A knock-out match to watch would have to be Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa in a Lights Out, Anything Goes Match (viewer discretion advised). It was the first main event match for the company and the first hardcore match between two women in company history. When I tell you they knocked it out of the park, they knocked it out of the park. They held the attention of television viewers because those women are just that good.
The women of the AEW have done nothing but prove that they can hang with the guys. This includes Diamante, Big Swole, Penelope Ford, Kris Statlander, Riho, Emi Sakura, Anna Jay, Tay Conti, and newcomer, Jade Cargill. They have been making strides and creating cult followings of their own through their skills, impeccable strength, and beauty all while going toe to toe with one another in the ring
Another spotlight would have to go to “The Native Beast” Nyla Rose. She is the first ever transgender wrestler to feature heavily on national television and hold a legitimate title, becoming the second AEW Women’s champion in the company’s young history. She was defeated by Hikaru Shida, who carried the Women’s division during the pandemic era before dropping it to a well deserving Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (Yes. She is an actual, practicing dentist).
However, there are still some kinks: we don’t see the girls as often as we should. Most of the time, we see one or two matches per episode, while the rest of the 2 hour block is completely overrun by the guys. While that’s all well and good, the women deserve to be seen more on television. The company is fighting TNT on this at the moment, and many are hopeful some change will come. For now, we can also see them lay it on the line Every Monday and Tuesday on Youtube for free. I highly recommend watching Big Swole vs. Diamante. This feud had been going on for a few months and this match finished it off like a cherry on top.
Does AEW have some work to do when it comes to its women? Yeah, it does. But, it has ignited a passion for women in wrestling that has been rather stale for some years. I hope they continue to let these women take over, maybe even have their own yearly Pay-per-View somewhere down the line. We’ll just have to wait and see.