Thunder Rosa says AEW's women's division needs to get back to basics.
Former AEW Women's World Champion Thunder Rosa missed over a year due to injury. She returned to the ring in December 2023, and she has since reestablished herself as one of the top competitors in AEW's women's division. Meanwhile, stars like Mercedes Mone and Mariah May have risen to the top.
Speaking on AEW Unrestricted, Thunder Rosa was asked to share her thoughts on the current landscape of AEW's women's division.
“Everybody has their thing, their flavor, their character. Everybody’s different in the division. I still feel very strongly that we need to have really strong babyfaces to go against the really strong personalities that we have as heels. One of the reasons why Willow Nightingale is so popular is not only because she’s good, it’s because she’s a real babyface. She’s been able to take it to the next level. One of the reasons why for me it was so entertaining and so fun to work, not only with Toni Storm, because Toni was becoming a babyface, but when she worked with me, she became the heel, it’s because I was like okay, I have to be a real babyface, and it was a challenge for me because you know how I am. But it’s not about who I am as Melissa, it’s who Thunder Rosa needs to be in the ring for the story," Rosa said.
Rosa also highlighted how Deonna Purrazzo challenged her during her feud. She reiterated that the women's division needed strong babyfaces and strong heels, as this was the basic essence of professional wrestling.
“Every time we were in the ring and every time she’d cut a promo, it was a challenge. I feel that that’s what we need with the women that we have. They’re very strong in the ring, but personality-wise or babyface and heel, we need to get that basic essence of professional wrestling. If you’re really a heel, be the freaking heel. If you’re a babyface, you don’t need to get your shit in. Just take the people on the ride and let them suffer with you," Rosa said.
Rosa then noted that her feud with Britt Baker worked so well because of the babyface/heel dynamic.
Rosa is set to challenge Mariah May for the AEW Women's World Championship at AEW Worlds End. More information is available here.
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