Ruby Soho made her AEW debut to an enormous ovation. Before she even walked through the curtain, fans were chanting her name. Rancid’s Ruby Soho hit, and the capacity crowd erupted! The emotional star took in the moment before heading into a thrilling conclusion to the Casino Battle Royale, a match she won.
The victory catapulted Ruby into a title match with the most popular, crowd-pleasing wrestler on the women’s roster, Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. The intriguing element of this story is that Baker is supposed to be a heel, despite her getting cheered like a babyface at nearly every show since fans have been allowed back in the buildings.
The arrival of Ruby Soho may be exactly what Britt and AEW need to shift Baker into the proper heel role.
Britt Baker’s Heel / Babyface Dynamic
It’s no mystery why Britt Baker is so popular with the fans. She is overflowing with charisma and confidence. She is one of the best promos in professional wrestling and has an effective and creative finisher in the Lock-Jaw. In short, she’s the total package. When she finally won the AEW Women’s Championship from Hikaru Shida at Double or Nothing, she was applauded as if the ultimate babyface had pulled off the impossible.
After her title win, AEW booked her quite suspiciously. Her promo work still read as a heel character, but her first challenger was Nyla Rose, perhaps the biggest heel in the entire women’s division. The heel vs. heel match put Britt even more over with the crowd, leaving many fans and analysts asking, “why don’t they just turn Britt into a babyface?”
The company’s next move for the champ felt like they were heading in exactly that direction. AEW and Britt Baker traveled to her hometown of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she was given a hero’s welcome. Everybody in the audience was waving mock Terrible Towels with her name on them. It was a euphoric and uplifting moment for the young star. However, the feel-good moment sent Baker’s heel persona back even further. On that same show, Baker defender her title against one of AEW’s up-and-coming babyfaces, Red Velvet. Velvet was nearly booed out of the building during that match. And once again - Baker was given a hero’s finish to conclude the debut episode of Rampage. At the height of popularity, it seemed that nothing would be able to turn the women’s champ into a proper heel.
Ruby Soho’s Star Power
The babyface/heel dilemma of Britt Baker underscores the importance of Ruby Soho’s signing. Bringing in a well-known and incredibly over babyface to set up a feud with the women’s champion was not only necessary, but it also appears to be having the desired effect.
Fans are not only familiar with Ruby, but they are also aware of how much her talent was wasted in WWE. Wrestling fans are eager to see the former Riott Squad member in an impactful storyline. Much like Baker, she is the total package; wonderful on the mic, a unique, snappy skill set, and a magnificent in-ring storyteller.
A Babyface Ruby Soho Vs A Heel Britt Baker Is What The Doctor Ordered
On the September 8th edition of Dynamite, Ruby Soho told Tony Schiavone that she was extending an “open challenge.” Soho’s promo was interrupted by Baker, who told the newcomer to “run away to catering where you’ve spent the last four years of your life.” A powerful burn sent shock waves through the audience in attendance and at home.
Later in the show, Ruby Soho was victorious in her first AEW singles match against Jamie Hayter, Baker’s new right-hand woman. Post-match, the women’s champion attacked Ruby from behind. And it was in this moment - that AEW and Britt herself breathed a huge sigh of relief.
A shower of deafening boos filled the arena as Britt Baker continued to attack the wounded and fallen Ruby Soho. Riho and Kris Statlander came to Ruby’s defense, and both ladies received a huge pop as well. Finally, at long last, Britt’s heel character provided the desired effect - a cacophony of jeers. As Britt walked backward up the ramp with a sour look on her face, a visible smirk could be seen behind her eyes.
Time will tell if AEW can capitalize on Baker finally fitting into her heel shoes. If she can successfully defend her championship against Soho, other popular babyfaces in the women’s division are ready and willing for the next opportunity.
Most notably, Thunder Rosa, who has had a long-standing feud with Britt Baker - highlighted by their historically brutal lights-out match in early 2021.
One thing fans can count on is that the Britt Baker versus Ruby Soho feud will be a blast to watch.