AEW must shift gears in the build to Thunder Rosa vs Serena Deeb

Thunder Rosa versus Serena Deeb is the type of feud that should get fans excited about professional wrestling. Rosa and Deeb are two of the best competitors in this industry and they are at the top of their game. Unfortunately, something about their current angle isn’t working heading into AEW Double or Nothing. AEW can’t afford to mess up this opportunity with these two at the top of the women’s division, and part of the answer is looking back to how they’ve handled both women in the past.

Thunder Rosa and Serena Deeb excel when they are in action. The believability of everything they do in the ring comes off exceptionally well, and it’s a big part of why fans were so excited about this being the next big feud for Rosa’s time as AEW Women’s World Champion. Look back at the catalog of matches Rosa and Deeb have put together in AEW and you’ll find a resume full of brutal but believable and enjoyable matches that told a story from start to finish.

For some reason, AEW went away from this for Rosa versus Deeb which doesn’t play into their strengths. Take Hikaru Shida versus Serena Deeb. This was one of the best feuds in AEW this year and they’ve given fans a series of matches that should be near the top of any MOTY list. But what didn’t they do? Shida and Deeb did not have long segments talking into a microphone, especially not in front of a live crowd. This is what AEW needs to go back to in order to rebuild this feud before the big PPV.

When Shida and Deeb weren’t beating each other to a pulp in the ring, they were telling their stories in edited video segments that came off much more impactful. Deeb sat down with Jim Ross and gave an impassioned interview about why she’s overlooked and determined to defeat the former champion. That interview segment was supported by additional video packages showing how badly these two women wanted to hurt each other. It worked. It worked in helping fans get invested in both ladies and the matches delivered on that emotion.

AEW must go back to this for Shida versus Rosa. With a few days remaining before the PPV, it’s imperative that this happens and happens quickly. That monologue that Deeb gave to Dustin Rhodes about the trials she went through to get respect in wrestling – make that a video segment showing pictures of her transformation during those points in her career. Thunder Rosa talked about what being a champion means to her – show that through a video interview that doesn’t rely on the crowd hanging off her every word.

This doesn’t mean that Deeb and Rosa must have multiple matches leading to a big match at Double or Nothing. Not at all. But pitting them “against” each other through the matches they are having with other women on the roster is the way to build these two women without forcing them to talk on the microphone each week.

Rosa and Deeb do not have the gift of gab like a CM Punk, MJF, or a Becky Lynch. But they do have the ability to back up their words with their action in the ring. AEW must do a better job using evidence of that action to get fans excited about this match before they lose them and damage Rosa’s run as champion.

Thunder Rosa is the champion that fans wanted to see. Serena Deeb is the woman that fans wanted to see her face. AEW has this moment in their hands and the build to the match at Double or Nothing is in danger of fumbling the prize. AEW should look back to how they’ve built other feuds through video and taped segments to lean into their strengths while hiding their weaknesses and get this angle back on track.