Britt Baker should be recognized as a “Pillar of AEW”

The promo battle between CM Punk and MJF has left the wrestling world talking. As of this writing, the video on AEW’s YouTube channel has more than 765 thousand views. There were many quotes to highlight, but the mention of a certain women’s champion caught a lot of attention. Punk mentioned the idea that Britt Baker has surpassed MJF as a “pillar” of AEW as an insult of sorts to his growth and potential. However, the real conversation should be why Baker wasn’t considered a pillar at the onset of the conversation.

Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, Jungle Boy, and the aforementioned MJF are recognized as the “Pillars of AEW.” This may not be an official title, but the company is selling a t-shirt with their likenesses presented in such a fashion, so it’s a title that can be run with.

As AEW pushes into its third year of operation, those four men have been involved in some of the biggest moments in the promotion. Allin’s involvement with Sting, Guevara’s involvement with The Inner Circle, Jungle Boy’s growth in the ring, and MJF’s growth into one of the most hated heels in the industry are all commendable. But Baker’s run at the same time has been just as impactful, if not even more so as she’s the face of the company’s entire women’s division.

Many eyes were rolled when Baker was announced as the first signee to AEW’s women’s division. But she’s taken that position and blossomed into a star for the company that deserves recognition. Even when she was injured in mid-2020, AEW knew that it was imperative to keep her on television. Baker took that opportunity and from her wheelchair became one of the most over characters in the company. That development allowed her to be the force that helped deliver some of the biggest moments in AEW to date. Moments such as the first AEW Rampage main event against Red Velvet, and the Lights-Out match against Thunder Rosa.

This isn’t about removing one of the four men mentioned and replacing them with Baker. Instead, there could have easily been a fifth pillar position that was named to her as well. Calling Baker, the “Pillar of the Women’s Division,” isn’t the same thing either – the solution is to place her performances and accolades on the same footing with her male peers in AEW. She’s just as important to what the company is doing as they are in every sense of the word.

AEW is killing the game when it comes to utilizing performers thirty years of age and younger. It is a fact that will continue to set them apart for years to come. Baker is one of those names that the company can build around for the next decade and she deserved a place among the “Pillars of AEW” from the very start of the discussion.