AEW: All Access should’ve been a show for women’s wrestling
During this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan teased an “important message”. Minutes before the main event, Khan had Adam Cole make the announcement. AEW will be getting a third hour of television, AEW All Access.
The unscripted show will follow Cole, Britt Baker, DMD, Eddie Kingston, Sammy Guevara, Tay Melo, Wardlow, Saraya, the Young Bucks, and Khan. All Access will air sometime in March. It will air immediately following Dynamite. Cole made another announcement; he’ll make his in-ring return the same night the show debuts.
AEW needs an all women’s show
Many fans were disappointed by the announcement. The initial response was that the announcement could’ve been a press release (one was released afterwards). TBS likely wanted it to be done on live TV. A lot of fans don’t seem to be thrilled with a reality show, especially one that focuses on established names.
Last summer, AEW trademarked “All Elite Women”. It seemed to be signaling more focus on the women’s division. One of the biggest hopes was that it would be an hour focused on women’s wrestling. The women’s division desperately needs more storylines and character development, especially for those who aren’t the focus on television.
The trademark also had specifications related to merchandise. That includes clothing, dolls, action figures, and even board games. That’s another reason it seemed that AEW was finally putting more focus and effort on the women’s division. Having their own show paired with merchandise would show that AEW does give a damn about the women.
AEW’s continuing struggles with women’s division
Currently the biggest focus for the women is the AEW Originals versus the Freelancers (Saraya and Toni Storm). On paper, it could be an amazing way to showcase the women. It has focused on established stars. Saraya did wrestle Skye Blue this week, but it lasted just three-and-a-half minutes. It’s long been the norm that the women only get one match per Dynamite and Rampage. Having such short matches when they barely getting TV time is extremely frustrating.
The angle has largely fallen flat. The Originals should have a combination of the established women with upcoming women like Blue, Red Velvet, or Abadon. Nyla Rose and RIHO were two of the first AEW Women’s Champions. Where are they? This is why an hour dedicated to the women would be ideal. AEW could utilize more of the division and give them time to flesh out what could be a huge angle, especially if it leads to an all women’s Blood and Guts match.
Another idea about the trademark was that it was going to be reality show a la Total Divas. All Access will feature three women. Two of the three women will be featured with their significant others who are also employed by AEW. The show hasn’t aired yet, so it’s hard to say how the women be featured. Being paired with their husbands seems that they will be portraying them more in the relationships than on the women themselves.
It’s possible that “All Elite Women” was turned down by the network rather than AEW being the one to drop the ball. However, AEW has a track record since the beginning of struggling with the women’s division. Heading out of 2022 and into 2023, it seemed like AEW was on its way to finally firing on all cylinders with the women’s division. Especially with the rumor that Mercedes Moné was going to be Saraya’s mystery opponent.
Unfortunately, we’ve been seeing more of the same as of late. The focus in some of the same women instead of others that generally don’t get much TV time. Emi Sakura had a banger with Jamie Hayter in an Women’s Title Eliminator match. For fans who don’t watch Elevation or Dark, they might know just how good Sakura is. Sakura is the unsung hero of the women’s division and doesn’t get nearly enough credit for what she’s been doing. This is something a show like “All Elite Women” could help with.
Next. Three women who could dethrone Jade Cargill. dark
AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill has mostly gone back to squash matches. Now that she’s surpassed both one year as champion and 50 wins, it feels like they’re stalling with her. Such is the way it goes with the women’s division. For every step forward, it’s two steps back.
It’s hard to stay positive about the women’s division and it has nothing to do with the women themselves. It’s all on the booking. AEW has long had a reputation about not caring about women’s wrestling. While I don’t necessarily agree with that sentiment, at times it does come off that way. More often than not, they give those fans reasons to believe it’s true. There are simple ways to improve the women’s division and having a show focusing on them and allowing them to grow and shine would be a huge step forward and would help build the women’s division to where it should be by now.