AEW have made a lot of noise about bringing something new and different to the table. Chris Jericho, announcing his signing at AEW’s Jacksonville rally, said “AEW is not here just to change the world. We are going to change the whole universe.” They should put their money where their mouth is by signing Priscilla Kelly.
Kelly is an exciting young talent with an uncommon gift on the mic and an aggressive in-ring style. Her persona as “Hell’s Favorite Harlot” embraces the threat that a young woman’s sexual confidence poses to an industry still struggling to shed a legacy of misogyny. She’s ferocious, fearless and filthy, and more talented than anyone just four years into their career has a right to be. Shine recognized her incredible potential when they crowned her the inaugural Shine Nova Champion, and it’s unfortunate her considerable ability as a performer has been overshadowed by recent controversy.
The reaction to her now-infamous tampon spot showed how close-minded many in the industry remain about the implications of wrestling as an art form. Art thrives through a diversity of approaches, not just styles, but genres, and that necessarily requires that its artists be free to venture into the provocative, even the obscene. Too many people in the industry think wrestling needs to be “respectable” to receive the recognition it deserves as an art form. But other art forms don’t fear contact with grotesquerie: filth and gore and decay have long, honorable traditions in literature, music and film. Kelly’s fake tampon was mild compared to the scatalogical poetry of Jonathan Swift or the orgiastic violence of giallo movies.
AEW want you to believe they’re revolutionizing the wrestling industry. It’s part of the product they’re selling. They should prove it by signing Kelly, a provocative and skilled wrestler willing to stand up for herself and call out hypocrisy when it comes calling. She would be an excellent addition to the roster purely on her merits as an in-ring performer, but it would also be a show of good faith, demonstrating their commitment to challenging the status quo among major promotions.
Who do you think would shine in the AEW women’s division? Check back in with Diva Dirt for more updates on the brand new promotion.
