AEW: The importance of the Britt Baker & Thunder Rosa main event

AEW made a historic announcement on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite: Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. will face off against Thunder Rosa on the March 17 episode of the company’s flagship show. This is the first time in the promotion’s young history that the women will main event a show.

In addition to main eventing, the match for the inaugural St. Patrick’s Day Slam will carry an Unsanctioned Lights Out stipulation. This will only be the third match of its kind; the first took place between Jon Moxley and Joey Janela at Fyter Fest 2019 and the second between Moxley and Kenny Omega at Full Gear 2019.

This past Sunday during the media scrum after Revolution, I asked Tony Khan when the women would main event. He answered with “what if I told you that it’s going to happen incredibly soon?” I had no idea that “soon” was just ten days later.

By having the women main event Dynamite, it brings AEW up to par with WWE and Impact, who have had women main event many times. In fact, Impact just had women main event on the March 2 episode.

It shows that AEW has trust and faith in Baker and Rosa, as these two are being entrusted with two huge firsts for the company and the division. Baker has made monumental improvements since debuting for AEW. Thunder Rosa is one of the best wrestlers in the world, let alone AEW’s women’s division. The chemistry between the two is immense. As their story has progressed, an Unsanctioned Lights Out match fits.

Some can make the argument that AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida should be the first to main event Dynamite. It’s true that Shida is the longest reigning women’s champion and has done everything during her historic reign except main event. Another fact: Shida doesn’t have an ongoing storyline like the dentist and “La Mera Mera” do. She wants to main event and, at some point, she will. This is, hopefully, the first of many main events featuring the women. Shida should absolutely be the next woman to do so.

This match also shows that AEW, particularly Khan, are listening to the fans. Should they have listened sooner? Definitely. But, we’re here now. Also, adding such a huge stipulation makes the match feel even more important. It gives it a “big fight” feel and it’s not even a pay-per-view. This match is being given away for free on a stacked card.

They are going all out (no pun intended) in its very first women’s main event. The women deserve it and so do AEW fans and fans of women’s wrestling. There is no doubt that Baker and Rosa will deliver. Their match as headliners should be the first of many. This will be the standard for future women’s matches. It will set the tone for more main events, bigger main events, and women main eventing a pay-per-view.

This opportunity is a huge step forward, but it cannot be the last. It cannot be a special feature or a ratings grab. Women main eventing should become the norm and AEW can make that happen.