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Britt Baker has been a part of AEW from near enough day one, with it being clear that the company saw her as a focal point of the women’s division early on. Over time, she developed into one of the biggest personalities on the show, with her leading the entire division, and becoming a top name within the company. However, in the recent months, some criticism has come her way, which has left some fans wondering if she has lot her place at the top of the card and lost the reputation of being one of the best wrestlers in the AEW.
A Heel Turn Made Britt Baker Into A Star
When Britt Baker made her AEW debut, she was positioned as a top babyface, winning the very first women’s division match in AEW history, at the 2019 Double or Nothing event by defeating Awesome Kong, Kylie Rae, and Nyla Rose. She would then feud with Bea Priestly, as well as challenging Riho early on for the AEW Women’s World Championship, but Baker was struggling to truly get over. She had some fans, but Baker had a lack of personality, leaving her struggling.
Over the months, she developed more of an attitude as she began running down the audience. In her role as a heel, she was clearly more comfortable and natural, with her promo work being much better than it was prior. Although she would pick up an injury, AEW kept her on TV, with her sitting ringside a lot of the time in a wheelchair, getting interviewed by Tony Schiavone, and continuing to develop her character. This created a lot of anticipation for her eventual return to the ring, with her now having a defined personality.
Britt Baker Rose To The Top Of The Women’s Division
When Baker returned, she had clearly improved a lot. Her in-ring work still isn’t perfect, even today, but she knows how to tell a story in the ring, which is arguably more important, especially on a nationally broadcast show. After a questionable feud with Big Swole, she began a rivalry with Thunder Rosa. This became one of the highlights of AEW’s women’s division.
Baker and Rosa battled on an episode of Dynamite in an entertaining match, but the feud didn’t stop there, as they fought in a rematch at the St. Patrick’s Day Slam edition of Dynamite. This match set the world alight, with the pair going to war in a Lights Out contest. It was brutal, violent, and intense, full of big spots and blood. For the first time since AEW began, the women’s division felt on the same level as other divisions. It had taken a long time for women to get the main event spot, with this match fully deserving of it.
Baker’s momentum didn’t slow down, as she began a singles match winning streak, defeating any and all comers on her way to climbing the rankings. At the same time, she continued with her impressive promo work, setting herself apart from most of the other females on the roster who aren’t as good at talking as her. Eventually, she won the AEW Women’s World Title, cementing herself at the top of the division.
Britt Baker’s Momentum Has Decreased Significantly In The Last Year
Over the course of Baker’s reign, some issues began to arise. Her feuds weren’t overly entertaining, even though matches against the likes of Tay Conti and Riho were good. Her promos were falling a little flat and becoming repetitive, with continuous backstage interviews which ran with the same tropes repeatedly. Her act, along with Rebel and Jamie Hayter as back up, was growing stale, especially when they would continually interfere in matches to give Baker the win. After a lengthy reign as champion, fans were ready to see a change, with her momentum slowly running out.
A few months ago, Baker dropped the title to Rosa, though their feud was severely underwhelming. A lack of time, little focus, and by-the-book promos led to the failure of the second part of their rivalry. More recently, Baker entered the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, and though she was positioned as the woman to beat, a victory for her felt too predictable, especially since she had already had a lot of success. However, she won the competition, much to the disdain of many fans who wanted to see someone new. Baker’s role at the top the card currently feels a bit forced, with her act not being as entertaining as it once was. Baker still feels like a star, and with the right storyline, she could find her feet once again, but if AEW continues with how they have been booking her over the last few months, fans will begin to lose interest.