AEW Is Botching What Could Be Their Biggest Women’s Storyline Ever
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In recent months, AEW has been slowly gaining some more criticisms regarding the quality of storylines and the overall direction of the company, and whilst the shows are still consistently strong, there is one portion of programming in which criticism has been unrelenting since pretty much day one. The women’s division in AEW has been the subject of discourse, with many claiming that it is clear that the division and the wrestlers are far from a priority for Tony Khan. It is true that the storylines have lacked substance and depth when compared to the other divisions, though things could have started to change with a recent storyline involving the likes of Saraya, Toni Storm, Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and more. However, AEW is already messing up what could be their best women’s angle yet.
Saraya & Toni Storm Could’ve Been AEW’s Own “Outsiders”
Saraya and Toni Storm both recently turned heel in AEW, adding more layers to their characters in which it seems like they are using their previous status as WWE superstars to bolster their egos and look down upon the AEW “originals” who are elsewhere on the roster. There were even some fans who loosely compared the two to The Outsiders, Kevin Nash and Scott Hall, in WCW, who targeted the rest of the roster and claimed to be superior due to where they came from. There was also a lot of talk on who their third member would be, and that became a very much talked about thing, building anticipation.
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Similarly, fans are waiting for someone like Ruby Soho to make a decision at some point soon to either remain a face or turn heel and align with her fellow WWE alumni. It is a stretch to say that this could have been close to what the nWo was, especially given the star power difference in those involved, but it could have been at least similar in how it played out, and using the groundwork of the beginnings of the nWo, it could be a great way to influence this story and to make it grow, elevating all involved. That simply has not happened thus far.
The Outsiders Vs Originals AEW Storyline Has Been Progressing Too Slowly
The mistake that Tony Khan has made is also a glaring issue that is cropping up all over the card, and that is a hesitance to pull the trigger on a huge moment or a major angle. He prefers a slower burn approach to storylines, but unfortunately that does sometimes take the sting out of stories. When Saraya and Storm turned heel for instance, it was just a basic beatdown. It should have been so much more than that - it should have been a brutal assault in which they destroyed ringside, the ring itself, and performed a huge move through a table or something similar, and it should have been an angle which closed the show.
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Even after the heel turn happened in a more basic way, the pair should have opened up the next show with a promo, clearly highlighting their motivations instead of brief backstage interviews which only give so much detail. Of course, “showing” rather than “telling” is usually a better approach, but AEW has barely “shown” either with this story.
The most Saraya and Storm have done in terms of something different or unique is pulling out a bottle of spray paint and spraying the letter “L” on their opponents. This screams of stereotypical high school bullies, and it also feels like it's a page right out of the Divas era of WWE. Of course, AEW could be going for that approach due to them being former WWE superstars, but if that is the case, it isn’t very obvious.
AEW Botched A Recent Chance To Produce A Big Angle
On a recent episode of Dynamite, AEW had the chance to push this storyline to the next level, but they botched it. The stage was set for a big moment when Toni Storm, Ruby Soho, and Britt Baker battled in the main event of Dynamite, with Soho stuck in the middle of good and bad. With this closing the show, it was a great chance to fully propel a major angle.
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Instead, Soho won cheaply, and then stood in the middle of both arguing sides before shouting “Enough!” in what felt like a college drama piece. Instead of picking a side, she didn’t pick either, and the show instead ended with a completely flat finish that didn’t progress the story in the slightest. There have been many opportunities to do something groundbreaking or at the very least a little creative with this feud, but everything has been lackluster, and it has gone through the motions like just another standard storyline.
