Tony Khan explains what was keeping Big Swole away from the ring.
Big Swole was a major player in the AEW women's division in 2020. Even competing in a cinematic match against Britt Baker at AEW All Out, which would earn her a championship match against Hikaru Shida.
In 2021, however, she has not been featured as heavily. She did, however, recently return on the latest episode of AEW Dark.
Gathered up that whole situation in less than 2 minutes. @SwoleWorld is the black -- of women's wrestling and we ready to see her collect. It's time. https://t.co/bHfy84y77S
— JourneyMANE. (@SugarDunkerton) March 7, 2021
Speaking on a media call after AEW Revolution, Tony Khan explained that the reason Swole has been away was due to a flare-up with Crohn's disease, but he is looking forward to having her back on a more consistent basis.
“She's a great wrestler, she’s got a great personality. I think, in the ring, she's gotten better and she can continue to get better. She had risen up. She had a great record in 2020, and reached the top contender at one point she got a title shot, she didn't beat Shida, but she had a great match and she's had a lot of great matches. I really like Swole.
“In 2021, she has not really been active because she's been sick. She’s had Crohn's disease keeping her out so she has not been ranked. As you know we reset the rankings every year consistently for everybody. As we get deeper and deeper into 2021, each year, as the weeks and months pass the ranking becomes completely dependent on your record in that calendar year and we're at that point now. So, she hasn't wrestled a lot in 2021. The Eliminator Tournament, you know, she was actually out when we started The Eliminator Tournament with her flare-up with her Crohn's. I think as she's getting healthier, hopefully, we can consistently get her available and have her in action on a regular basis and she's a great asset to us.”
Tonight, the women's division was featured in two matches. One was a hard-hitting championship match and the other saw the American debut of Maki Itoh. Learn more about that debut of Itoh here.
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