AEW Star Urges Fans To Not Change The Channel During Women’s Matches

AEW’s Women’s Division has gotten a lot of criticism since the debut of Dynamite one year ago. Some of it is certainly deserved.

Because AEW debuted on a huge national stage like TNT and has been so incredibly successful with its men’s roster, it is easy to forget this was a new promotion basically starting from scratch. As such, one of their biggest and brightest stars in the women’s division had this to say during an interview with Uproxx:

“Yeah, I definitely think it’s something the company is working on. You know, and we got hit hard—our women’s division, because of the COVID outbreak. Half our roster is international talent, so we immediately didn’t have access to any of those women. Then Kris Statlander got hurt, and I got hurt. And there’s only so much time on AEW Dynamite to start with. I know there are plans to grow the women’s division, but at the same time we need help from the fans at home too! We can’t have the women’s segments being the lowest rated or the lowest views each week. Because at the end of the day it’s a business, and AEW needs ratings.

“It’s no secret we’re in a war every Wednesday night with NXT, so we need the ratings up. So for the fans that are so encouraging and saying ‘We want more women, we want more women! that’s great, but please don’t turn the channel when the women are on TV then! We want everybody to be watching the segments and cheering us on from home.”

One thing not often discussed about AEW starting their promotion and trying to have a women’s division to match its men’s division is the fact that the majority of EVPs who started the company basically came from promotions where women’s wrestling was nonexistent.

NJPW doesn’t have a women’s division. ROH’s Women of Honor wasn’t very successful. So, the Jacksons, Cody, and Kenny had to make connections and get to know the women they had on their roster.

It hasn’t gone great in the first year. However, as they have grown, they have started to figure out some characters who have connected with the fans. Britt Baker has been a shining star. Big Swole and Shida are starting to connect. Thunder Rosa has been a revelation.

So, to Baker’s point, keep watching and hopefully, you’ll see it get better.

Thanks to Fightful.com for the transcription of the quotes.

• Hikaru Shida
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