AEW: Top 5 best moments in Dynamite’s first year on TNT

#5. Britt Baker’s nosebleed against Hikaru Shida

Britt Baker’s character development in AEW has been among the best in the company so far.

After one of the strangest interviews I’ve ever seen with Tony Schiavone on the Jericho Cruise, her Role Model persona really became something special. So special, in fact, that even when she was injured she was still consistently on Dynamite.

Before that injury, however, she sustained a different one in this match against Hikaru Shida. After a botch resulted in her taking a hit to the face, Baker’s nose started bleeding pretty profusely. However, in a classic case of making the most of an unfortunate situation, she treated the injury as if it was an intentional blading, playing into it and using the blood to amplify her intensity.

Every subsequent spot in the match felt more visceral because of the blood. From the mandible claw attempt to the turnbuckle spot. But it was the sadistic smile on Baker’s bloody face as she put Shida’s mouth on one of the ropes that took the cake. Chris Jericho’s great commentary added a lot here as well.

Hikaru Shida was well on her way to challenge for and win the Women’s Championship at Double or Nothing, and she ultimately got the win here. But Baker definitely got over in the match. She even had a great post-match interview where she again played into the injury.

Rewatching this moment makes me glad that Baker is healed up from her injuries now, and it goes to show just how important she is to the women’s division.