AEW Dynamite recap for October 16, 2019: Rise of the Painmaker

By the Skin of Her Teeth

In the first title match of the night Riho defended her AEW Women’s Championship against Dr. Britt Baker.

Baker starts off the match by attempting to ground the champion so her aerial maneuvers would be rendered obsolete. Baker looked to lock in her submission finisher, The Lockjaw, early but Riho was able to get to the ropes.

Riho is finally able to get some space and hits a diving crossbody but Baker rolls through into a cover which Riho escapes with her Matrix get-up. Both women fight for control until Riho hits a victory roll into a stomp and a running knee strike. Riho also hits a diving stomp off the top rope as she looks to firmly be in control.

Baker hits the brakes on Riho’s offensive streak with a clutch slingblade. Baker then hits a TKO and fights Riho into a Fisherman Neckbreaker. Riho fights Baker off and pulls the doctor into a Northern Lights suplex. Riho sits back into a single leg Boston crab on the challenger but Baker gets to the ropes. Riho starts to hit her barrage of running knees but Baker grabs her and hits the Lightning Spiral and attempts to lock in the Lockjaw but she is rolled up into a pin by Riho and is held down for the three count.

Baker tentatively shakes Riho’s hand after the match.

A great title match that was definitely saved by Riho’s ring generalship. Baker seemed lost at certain points in the match and her in-ring timing came off very apparent as clumsy and off-point. She was able to pull off a great match but her weaknesses were very on display here.

Riho has established herself as the top of the women’s division in her last few matches and this title defense just showed how incredible she is as a competitor and a once-in-a-generation talent. What Baker lacks in ring presence she makes up for in storytelling and the story she was able to tell here with Riho was incredible, and fans seemed to really engage with it.