AEW Booms/Duds: Britt Baker doesn’t give a you know what

Boom: continued growth of women’s division and Baker, specifically

Prior to the pandemic, I had lauded AEW for their renewed sense of focus and purpose in the booking of the women’s division. The changes brought about by the pandemic did hamper the momentum a little bit, but last night continued a regaining of that momentum that began last week.

I have made no secret I’m a fan of Shida. It was great to see her back last week not only in victorious fashion, but continuing her simmering feud with Baker. Remember, Baker was eating a (rather bland appearing) chicken sandwich during Shida’s match last week, telling Shida it was because her match was boring while also maintaining six feet of social distancing.

To quote a certain puppet, “THAT’S SOME GOOD,” well, stuff.

Last night’s match may have been the longest women’s match in Dynamite’s short history, and while there were some clunky spots (I could do without Baker’s less than stellar superkicks), it was one of the better women’s matches in AEW.

Shida is a great worker and was able to use her experience to garner a good match from the still green but improving Baker. It was a nice back-and-forth match, but really took a turn for the better when Baker was sporting the proverbial “crimson mask.”

While Baker is still a bit green physically, her psychology as a heel as been a revelation. A switch in the match seemed to hit once Baker started bleeding, and it was like she reveled in the blood. I mean, just peep that twisted, menacing smile on Baker’s face as she wipes her own blood.

I actually liked the fact she asked for referee Paul Turner’s glove to apply her Lockjaw submission even though, yeah, the glove was already used. She is a dentist after all, and understands germ theory.

The latter point was only reinforced by Jericho (who was mostly stellar on commentary) reminding us that hey, becoming a dentist isn’t as easy as “ABC,” and takes years of dedication and work…sort of like becoming a professional wrestler.

This should put into context that yes, while she is still growing as a wrestler, her successful journey in becoming a dentist should provide us fans with the understanding that she is as dedicated to this craft as she is her dentistry.

Back to the match, her menacing heel attitude came full circle in her defeat. Throughout the match, Baker kept up with what the AEW on TNT Twitter account called “cocky” poses; they even made a thread from just this match! I especially liked when she taunted the Gunn Club after hitting a Fame-Asser on Shida.

That cockiness cost her in the end as she fell victim to Shida’s running knee/Shining Wizard variant, the Three Count.

Still, what a showing for the women’s division and Baker. Knowing Baker was one of the talents at the extended tapings leaves me wanting to watch to see her continued development, and if Shida will receive another title shot after winning eight of her past nine matches (her only loss coming in a tag match).