Britt Baker has appeared to side with fans calling on AEW to make more use of its women’s division.
On the July 26th episode of AEW Dynamite Britt Baker took on Taya Valkyrie and a sign reading “Book the women’s division better” was shown on television. Meanwhile, after a botch in the match, Valkyrie was hounded on social media and sent a torrent of abuse lasting days.
Following the match, Saraya has also seemingly supported the idea that AEW needs to do more with its women, and independent star LuFisto hit out at the “toxic” environment in the women’s locker room.
Speaking to Scott Fishman for TV Insider, Baker has now had her say on the situation and agrees that more needs to be done. However, while support from the stands is one thing, she took aim at supposed fans who abuse the performers involved on social media.
“I see both sides to that because I completely agree. The absolute best matches that come out of professional wrestling come out of storylines you are so invested in. There are weeks and months that tell this beautiful story. It’s something we haven’t been able to invest as much time in the women’s division lately. Again, there are many factors. Injuries, this and that. I definitely want to get to the point where we can get some solid storytelling with the women.
At the same time the fans who hold signs that say to book the women’s division better, that’s great. Then when I go on Twitter it doesn’t echo that. I don’t see the same support. It’s I hate these two wrestlers. This match was too long. This match was too short. If all you see about women’s wrestling is all negative online, it doesn’t add up to what they are preaching. If you want the women to be booked better, support the women,”
Britt Baker Says Constant Criticism Harms Talent
Baker added that it’s fine for fans not to like every match or segment, but a constant stream of abuse and negativity on social media can have serious repercussions.
“You don’t have to like every wrestler and every match. You also don’t have to get on Twitter and preach from the mountaintops how much you hated things. Some stuff, keep to yourself. I can’t tell you how many times I go to a restaurant and I don’t like how my steak is cooked. I don’t need to talk to the chef and take 30 pictures of the steak to tell them I don’t like how this steak is cooked. There is too much invested in the negativity that it does so much harm. I hope people realize one day how much harm it does to not only the individuals and mental health, but to the industry as a whole,”
With AEW’s biggest-ever show just around the corner at Wembley Stadium, Britt Baker has set her sights on a huge rematch with Saraya. The pair first met one-on-one at Full Gear in 2022 as the British star returned to the ring for the first time since 2017.
H/t to Fightful