I love a good, chaotic Casino Gauntlet match, and I love it even more when it’s on the women’s division side of things. Tonight’s match was excellent for so many reasons, and the inclusion of AEW Women’s World Champion Thekla on commentary was such a fun addition. I think she’s absolutely excellent, and her saucy quips are just so good in a “Timeless” Toni Storm-less AEW.
We got a good amount of competitors in the match, with Willow Nightingale being the eighth and final woman. We knew Athena and Maya World would start off the bout, but we also saw Skye Blue, Mina Shirakawa, Stardom’s Rina, Julia Hart, and Thunder Rosa. I expected to see the likes of Kris Statlander and Harley Cameron in the match, so I was surprised we got some faces I didn’t expect, especially someone from Stardom trying to get to Thekla.
I really liked how the heels, the Sisters of Sin, brought weapons into the match. Yes, I’m always one for weapons and a gimmick, but in the gauntlet, it made sense, as I’d imagine you’d want to bring in a kendo stick or a trash can lid to take out your opponents, so you’re the one to get the pin. The heels bringing them, as well as chairs, worked. The whole attacking officials on the outside thing that Hart and Blue did to get their hands on the chairs didn’t make sense, but whatever, they’re heels.
I was glad to see Nightingale back so quickly, as she’s such a bright spot in AEW. I hate that she had to relinquish the TBS Championship and miss out on The Owen due to injury, but if this leads to her dethroning Thekla to get to Mercedes Mone at All In: London, I’m all for it. Nightingale looked great in the match, like she didn’t miss a beat, and I especially loved her big boot to Athena right on time with her entrance music.
I also thought Rosa looked really good in this, which is certainly something of note, as she isn’t often around on “Dynamite.” I also thought she looked great in her Zero Hour tag match alongside Olympia at Forbidden Door, so maybe something’s in the works for her. Athena and World kicking off the match, but neither winning, was a nice touch, as they’re likely to go to battle over the ROH Women’s World title.
On a big show like “Beach Break,” it was nice to see so many women get a lot of time in a really solid match. The AEW Women’s World title picture is looking really interesting heading into Redemption and All In, and I can’t wait for it all.
Written by Daisy Ruth
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