AEW’s womens division seriously needs to be better.

[polarbearpete]

Nov 17, 2021 14:57:30 GMT -5 eJm said:

Now I know I said not to make this a general women's division topic and this'll be hypocritical but I guess this relates to this specific one so..

Over the last year or so, Fightful has had several inquiries regarding a rumor of TNT only wanting one women's match per show, limiting the level of women's action seen on Dynamite.

Fightful has spoken to sources within AEW and Turner who have indicated that was never a decree made, and a request for more or less women's matches wasn't something that was outlined or passed along to others within the company. Instead, we're told that WarnerMedia is more focused on good content, and particularly enjoy when the program has a good social rating and a television ratings story, as indicated by the press releases they send to media when the show performs well in viewership.

We're looking to learn more about this rumor in general and if there's anything WarnerMedia specifically looks for.

So like usual corporate people, they want "a good social rating", whatever that means, rather than anything specifically mandated. It could be the case that they didn't want any specific match types or something but then I guess we'll find out more at some point?

I’ve always assumed that TNT would not tell them to only have 1 women’s match per show.

[Kalmia]

I can see there being no concrete "only one women's match" rule, but potential other rules where the women would fail. IIRC though, the women's matches and segments generally do pretty well in the ratings or at the very least, don't cause dips.

As for intergender matches, I would like to see them in AEW but with a few additional rules in place. Restrict it to moves that are typical of wrestling and outlaw stuff that are more typical of domestic violence, such as strikes and chokes. That wouldn't need to be a formal rule that results in a DQ, but an unwritten rule that only the wrestlers are made aware of. I think there's a big difference (optics-wise) between a man giving a woman a German suplex and a man punching a woman in the face.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

I do think AEW's comfort zone is gonna need to be tested soon. They have too much good women's talent now where they can afford to have every odd Dynamite have another women's match here and there. You can then get the women over more so and more time on TV which takes pressure off Britt Baker more and builds more women up with the common audience. Whether it be feuds that spin off from Elevation or otherwise.

They have been doing this in some cases with Rampage and using the women's match on that shot to build some undercard feuds which is progress. But at this point Dynamites ratings have proven to be extremely consistent through almost this entire year with no sheer drops for particular matches.

The TBS Title feels like a way to get more women's segments and even potential matches and feuds into the AEW system. So I'm hoping this is the case. As others have said I also don't want this to turn into a general women's discussion thread where it never ends again...so that's just what I hope AEW aims for in the future.

[Mid-Carder]

Ruby Soho v Kris Statlander would have made a great final, it's a shame it's so early in the tournament. Then the winner is attacked by Jade after.

[markymark]

After how Shida got eliminated last night, her and Serena rubber match should determine who challenges Britts next, because no one else has some sort of momentum to be the next challenger outside of Riho.

[asuka007]

I feel like people who hoped that Britt getting the belt would improve how the division was used, have been sorely disappointed.

Her reign has been extremely meh. Even those creative segment that she used to get, are now just the same kind of generic promo these days.

They need to do the Britt vs. Rosa feud SOON!! That’s what fans WANT to see anyway.

[Deleted]

Shida vs Serena feels like it should be for the world title. It's a clear cut heroic face vs dastardly heel, and both matches have been bangers. Meanwhile Britt is cutting the same cool heel promo every week (and making her opponents look weak as hell in the process), and having mediocre matches unless there's a shit ton of gimmickry. Britt is to be commended for her improvement and she's certainly got her character down. But I hoped she'd rise to the occasion as champion, maybe even elevate the division with her, and she's done neither. She's not the cause of the division's deep-rooted problems but she's certainly emblematic of them.

If Jade gets the TBS Title while Britt is still world champ I'm probably just gonna write off the division completely (except for my favorites) until both their reigns are over with. 

[markymark]

Seeing those Kieras comments, It would be bad if more of the midcard talent and below start to get frustrated with the booking of the division...

[Ishmeal Loves Kaseyhausen]

I can't believe I'm thinking this, but I would not be against them getting another hour on TV and just devoting it to women.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Nov 18, 2021 15:07:18 GMT -5 markymark said:

Seeing those Kieras comments, It would be bad if more of the midcard talent and below start to get frustrated with the booking of the division...

Was there another comment she made about AEW? Because the quote that tweet shared solely focuses on her time in Impact and doesn't mention anything about AEW. 

[markymark]

Nov 18, 2021 15:13:44 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

Nov 18, 2021 15:07:18 GMT -5 markymark said:

Seeing those Kieras comments, It would be bad if more of the midcard talent and below start to get frustrated with the booking of the division...

Was there another comment she made about AEW? Because the quote that tweet shared solely focuses on her time in Impact and doesn't mention anything about AEW. 

Ok just found it

"I like the girls in the [AEW] locker room. A lot of girls, obviously my girlfriend Diamante worked there before I worked there so I was there backstage a lot of the times like helping girls do makeup because I do makeup sometimes. I also have a lot friends in the locker room that were excited for me to come over there. They’re like, ‘Are you gonna come over here? I wanna wrestle you, I wanna wrestle you’ like Tay [Conti] and Red Velvet and of course one of my best friends Big Swole, Nyla [Rose], a lot of the girls were just like, ‘We want to wrestle you. I wanna have a bomb match with you because I know –’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I wanna have bomb ass matches with you too.

Okay, so I’m here’ but I feel like, there’s a lot of moving parts going on at AEW right now so I feel like a lot of things are getting lost in the shuffle and I feel like I’m one of those things. But, I’m just trying to just stay positive and just focus on what I can control which is just staying ready for whenever that opportunity does present itself and I’m excited because NWA, I still am able to do indie bookings under my contract and do things that honestly I can do because of my contract so I’m able to still work and go out and things and with the time that I do have off, I’m able to just focus on myself and working out and my move set and going to training or getting bookings. Hopefully like I said, overseas or something with the time that I have off because it’s just — because it’s only a couple of shows and the Dynamite — not the Dynamite, the Dark and the Elevation tapings are kind of sporadic when it comes to filming. I’m not really sure like the next time I do work but I just try to stay ready for like I said, whenever the opportunity [comes]."

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

Nov 18, 2021 15:19:14 GMT -5 markymark said:

Nov 18, 2021 15:13:44 GMT -5 "Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik said:

Was there another comment she made about AEW? Because the quote that tweet shared solely focuses on her time in Impact and doesn't mention anything about AEW. 

Ok just found it

"I like the girls in the [AEW] locker room. A lot of girls, obviously my girlfriend Diamante worked there before I worked there so I was there backstage a lot of the times like helping girls do makeup because I do makeup sometimes. I also have a lot friends in the locker room that were excited for me to come over there. They’re like, ‘Are you gonna come over here? I wanna wrestle you, I wanna wrestle you’ like Tay [Conti] and Red Velvet and of course one of my best friends Big Swole, Nyla [Rose], a lot of the girls were just like, ‘We want to wrestle you. I wanna have a bomb match with you because I know –’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah, I wanna have bomb ass matches with you too.

Okay, so I’m here’ but I feel like, there’s a lot of moving parts going on at AEW right now so I feel like a lot of things are getting lost in the shuffle and I feel like I’m one of those things. But, I’m just trying to just stay positive and just focus on what I can control which is just staying ready for whenever that opportunity does present itself and I’m excited because NWA, I still am able to do indie bookings under my contract and do things that honestly I can do because of my contract so I’m able to still work and go out and things and with the time that I do have off, I’m able to just focus on myself and working out and my move set and going to training or getting bookings. Hopefully like I said, overseas or something with the time that I have off because it’s just — because it’s only a couple of shows and the Dynamite — not the Dynamite, the Dark and the Elevation tapings are kind of sporadic when it comes to filming. I’m not really sure like the next time I do work but I just try to stay ready for like I said, whenever the opportunity [comes]."

Thanks! I just wanted to hear what she had to say herself. 

[Kalmia]

I feel that the TBS tournament has been booked very well. Virtually every match has something more going on in it other than just wanting to advance to the next round. If only that amount of care could be given to the division permanently and over more matches than one per show.

Give me Shida vs. Deeb in a 2/3 falls match as a Dynamite main event, please.

[Jindrak Mark]

Kiera/Fire N Flava were one of the highlights of Impact for the past year or so but her AEW run so far has been disappointing, if you can even call it a run.

When she was squashed in a minute by Jade on her TV debut I figured she was just going to be in a Dark/Elevation level spot mostly going forward.

I hope she's at least being paid better because creatively both her and Impact have been worse off since she left.

[carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army)]

I feel like the issue here is a concentrated version of AEW's roster-bloat problem. Hogan saying "lost in the shuffle" is telling, because on a tightly written show, there ISN'T any "shuffle." But they have too many people and not enough time and not enough desire to either give the women more time or to write more storylines for more of them, even on B-shows.

I also slightly worry that someone... maybe the networks, maybe the bookers... pay just a little too much attention to Asshole Dude Wresling Fans, because they're very loud and so contribute to that "social rating." Y'know... the kinds of fans who'd get mad if they perceive a wrestling show as actively seeking more women viewers.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Nov 18, 2021 15:53:15 GMT -5 carp (SPC, Itoh Respect Army) said:

I also slightly worry that someone... maybe the networks, maybe the bookers... pay just a little too much attention to Asshole Dude Wresling Fans, because they're very loud and so contribute to that "social rating." Y'know... the kinds of fans who'd get mad if they perceive a wrestling show as actively seeking more women viewers.

I think you're right on this, because most of the public responses to complaints about the women's division seem to be addressing the "All of these women totally suck!" crowd, and not, y'know, the people who, in good faith, want to see more of the women who are there.

[asuka007]

It does not help that a lot of women’s matches feel thrown together last minute with little to no heat or story to them. To bring Kiera up again, her last TV match was against Penelope Ford. They had never interacted before, there was no story to the match, and their was zero follow up to it. Nor have either women been hyped as a big deal. So is it any wonder that the crowd wasn’t into it?

Even the TBS tournament still is within TK’s comfort zone since it can be the one women’s match per show, and I have concerns that that’s how the title itself will be used as well. Which would be a waste.

[Zone Was Wrong]

Feels like this topic is Part 2 of the similar previous topic we had on the women's division. I think they are way better now than they were a year ago, but there is still a lack of big storylines on par with, say, Inner Circle/ATT or MJF Darby. Something with huge heat and long segments to highlight them. Shida/Deeb and Rosa/Britt have been the only things even close through out the year.

[Cyno]

Is Kiera fully signed to AEW or on a PPA deal? We never saw the #AllElite graphic for her.

[chrom]

Nov 18, 2021 16:40:49 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Is Kiera fully signed to AEW or on a PPA deal? We never saw the #AllElite graphic for her.

PPA deal