AEW Dynamite recap for October 2, 2019: Dawn of a revolution

Behold The Crown

One of the most highly-anticipated matches of the night came next as Riho was set to take on “The Native Beast” Nyla Rose for the AEW Women’s Championship. The size difference was evident immediately as Rose commanded attention with her entrance and Riho came out smiling and waving.

Rose ran all over Riho in between short bursts of dropkicks and elbow strikes from the young fighter. Riho looked to be gaining the upper hand and went for a stomp on Rose’s back but “The Native Beast” pushed off the ground and knocked Riho off. Rose locked in a nasty facelock which took Riho a long time to drag herself out of. Riho finally got Rose off her and went for a crossbody to the floor but was caught and dropped into a nasty Bane-esque backbreaker.

Rose grabbed a chair and almost hit Riho but the ref saved her. Rose then built a nest of chairs on the floor and set her opponent down on top of them and went for a senton but Riho moved and Rose landed on all the chairs straight up. Riho then went for the death blow and hit a horrific double stomp off the apron onto Rose on the floor. Riho looked to have the upper-hand until Rose locked in a nasty STF. Riho went for a suplex but didn’t have the strength to get Rose up.

Rose seemed to have enough and hit a crazy death valley driver which splattered Riho onto the canvas but still wasn’t enough to secure her the win. Rose went up top in a last-ditch effort but ended up being suplexed off the ropes for her troubles. Riho then went into overdrive and hit two nasty running double knee strikes to finally keep “The Native Beast” down for a super close three-count. Riho is now the first AEW Women’s Champion.

Michael Nakazawa came out to interview Riho but ended up being powerbombed by the incensed Rose. Rose looked to do the same, or maybe worse, to Riho until Riho’s tag partner Kenny Omega ran out and waved Rose off of the downed champion. Rose aggressively and reluctantly walked to the back.

This was the match of the night for sure. Rose looked like more a monster than she has in her entire AEW tenure and Riho made the audience really buy the fact that she could realistically defeat an opponent that much bigger than her. The women’s division has a lot to live up to after that match but that was the exact way to start off the division and legitimize it right off the bat. Rose needs time to hone her craft but Riho is ready to carry the title now and the majority of fans seemed to agree.