The week’s show had a cracker of a match advertised beforehand. The match was the team of AEW Women’s Champion, Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander vs. Nyla Rose and Penelope Ford.
This would be the first Shida and Rose would be in the same ring since Shida defeated Rose for the title at Double or Nothing.
As the show starts we see that Britt Baker is back on her wheelchair for her wheelchair, scowling as the competitors makes their way to the ring.
The match kicks off with a big scrap at the bell. Ford chokes Shida in the corner, while Rose does the same to Statlander in the other.
Ford and Rose double team Statlander, but she counters and thows Rose into Ford before attacking Rose with a number of strikes for the first two-count of the match.
After some nice tag team work between Shida and Statlander, Rose evades a missile dropkick and hits Statlander with a big clothesline to regain control of the match.
Statlander manages to even the odds with a enziguri and big clothesline of her own to take Rose out.
Shida and Ford are tagged in and enter the fray. Ford falls victim to Shida’s knee strikes, one in the corner and the second on the apron.
Back in the ring, Ford takes a missile dropkick and a big suplex from Shida. Statlander tags in and delivers beautiful standing moonsault.
The physicality picks up as all four competitors enter the ring. Rose eats a big roundhouse from Statlander, who then gets stunned by Ford, who then falls to another Shida knee strike.
Shida continues the run of excting offence and hits Rose with a huge superplex. Statlander follows up with a nice axe kick resulting in very close fall.
Rose recovers and takes both Shida and Statlander out and executes a brutal diving knee strike to her prone opponants.
Sabian trips Shida. Statlander takes him out with dive but the interference is enough to distract the ref. Rose tosses Ford the women’s championship belt, who then smashes Shida in the face with it. Ford then hits a beautiful Perfectplex for the surprise victory.
This was a good, fun and physical match. All four competitors performed incredibly well and able to play to their respective strengths.
We then got another vignette from Britt Baker. Baker talked of her struggles and called out Big Swole.
Lets get to the winner and losers.
Winner: Penelope Ford
Ford got the surprise victory over AEW Women’s Champion, Hikaru Shida. This was one of Ford’s best performances in an AEW ring. Her manouvres looked clean, crisp and that bridge on the Perfectplex was just beautiful.
Ford is getting better and better every time she is given the opportunity to perform. AEW seem to have confidence in her abilities as she is continously placed into big matches against big opponants. Ford is a star in the making and AEW know it and are beginning nuture that potential.
Ford now has pinfall victories over former AEW Women’s Championship, Riho and current champ, Shida. Wins over opponants like this don’t happen by mistake and show that there are big things ahead for Penelope Ford.
Could the win over Shida lead into a title programme or match? Let’s hope so.
Loser: Allie
Last year Allie inexplicably turned into The Bunny and sided with the Butcher and the Blade. This year The Bunny inexplicably turned back into Allie and sided with QT Marshall.
Back when AEW first started, Allie was a very clever addition to the roster. Fresh off a main storyline in IMPACT, Allie had what no one else in the women’s division had, live television experience and exposure. However, after only a few matches she was repackaged as The Bunny and placed in a managerial role.
Since then she has become QT Marshall’s “girl” and while there is most certainly some devious agenda at play, Allie is deserving of so much more.
Final Thoughts
Another step in the right direction for the women of AEW. Good performances alongside new feuds and storyline build are the right track for any division. Many will be surprised by Shida taking the pinfall but in doing so, AEW gave Penelope Ford a huge boost. Nyla looked great and is consistently improving, as is Statlander. Along with Shanna, Big Swole Britt Baker and the new incoming talent, AEW women’s division has a lot going for it in the coming months.
What did you make of the show? Let us know in the comments below and as always stay tuned to Diva Dirt for all of your AEW news and reviews.
