Britt Baker opens up.
Britt Baker returned to the promotion at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door after being sidelined since September. On the subsequent AEW Dynamite, Baker revealed that she had a transient ischemic attack and was dealing with two herniated disks and an injured hip labrum.
Speaking to Renee Paquette on Close Up, Baker detailed her experience suffering a TIA.
"It was the weirdest thing. I was in Orlando with my hairstylist Amanda, the best in Orlando. I was sitting down and I just remember I felt sick. Something was off and the room was spinning. I was sick, nauseous, sweating. Something was not right. She could tell right away, 'Are you okay?' (She) asked me if I needed water. Definitely needed water. First thing that came to mind was something with my neck. When I had the spinning, and vertigo, it must be something with the neck. She hands me the water, I go to open it, and my right side just doesn't work. It was numb and couldn't work. She noticed it and (opened the water for me). We both panicked at the same time and was like, 'I think you need to go to the hospital.' 'I'm okay, let's just finish my hair,' which we did. Insane. It got worse and worse. As soon as we were done, 'I'm gonna go (to the hospital).' I actually drove myself, it was two blocks away, to the hospital. It was stupid. I should not have done that. When you go to the emergency room, you expect to wait. I'm thinking it's going to be hours before I get seen. They took me in right away. Over the intercom, I hear them say, 'Stroke patient coming back.' They tested some stuff, looked in my eyes, and reflexes, put me in a wheelchair and the next thing I know, I'm wheeled back, they're sticking needles in me and all the stickers to go and get tests. It was very quick. Next thing I knew, I'm in my own room with a pamphlet on being a stroke victim. It felt like a minute had gone by since I was getting my hair done and then admitted to the hospital for a week for a mini-stroke," said Baker.
Baker noted that, while it sounds cliche, she always thought, "This won't happen to me."
She continued, "It was a big reality check of, you have to listen to yourself. When you're stressed and overwhelmed mentally, emotionally, and physically, you have to listen to your body and chill the fuck out sometimes. So many of us fall into, 'We have to go. We have to be there for AEW, Tony (Khan), the fans, this and that.' Every now and again, we have to be there for us, too. We need to chill and relax."
Asked if there are any lingering effects, Baker replied, "Nothing. Total recovery. If anything, it put me in a good mindset to focus on me and my body, my mind, everything. Training like a beast. I've been living in the gym."
Baker credited Dr. Brett Chance in Orlando for helping her with injuries and Diamond Dallas Page for DDP Yoga and Powercuffs.
In her return, Baker came out after Mercedes Mone won the NJPW Strong Women's Championship. The two have had multiple confrontations on AEW Dynamite, but Mercedes won't accept Baker's challenge for AEW All In.
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