Thunder Rosa Captures the AEW Women's World Championship

On March 16, 2022, All Elite Wrestling aired their second annual St. Patrick's Day Slam episode of Dynamite, and it was main evented by a steel cage match for the AEW Women's World Championship between entering titleholder Britt Baker, and challenger Thunder Rosa. This is the second title meeting between the two rivals in a week and a half; they faced off at Revolution on March 6, but the usual interference from Britt's cohorts, Rebel and Jamie Hayter, helped Britt retain. Thunder Rosa won her way to another title opportunity three days later on Dynamite by defeating Leyla Hirsch in a Championship Eliminator match, and the steel cage environment was made to keep anyone (including and especially Britt's cronies) out.

No surprise, Britt and Rosa pulled out all stops in their main event battle, which saw the use of chairs and thumbtacks. It also saw a second referee instilled, as Aubrey Edwards ended up officiating the rest of the match after the original official was taken out. After the thumbtacks came into play, Rosa delivered a Thunderdriver to Britt, and three seconds later, a new champion was crowned in her hometown in San Antonio.

I was so elated when Rosa won; I figured she would due to the fact that she is one of the biggest and prolific stars in AEW's women's division. I've been a Thunder Rosa fan for a few years now, I had been familiar with her work prior to her time in Lucha Underground, but it was watching Rosa as the evil Kobra Moon on LU that increased my fandom. Thunder Rosa joined the National Wrestling Alliance on 2019, doing so as part of a villainous faction led by Melina, and it was in January of 2020 that Rosa defeated Allysin Kay to capture the NWA World Women's Championship--a title she held for just over nine months until she was dethroned by Serena Deeb.

Thunder Rosa's win comes full circle for both her and Britt Baker. These same two women main evented the first St. Patrick's Day Slam in 2021; a Lights Out match that was won by Rosa. That feud was based on Britt's bitterness regarding Rosa's appearances in AEW, as Britt claimed that Rosa didn't belong there. At the time, Rosa didn't have a contract with AEW, but she signed one on July 22, 2021--her 35th birthday.

Thunder Rosa is the fifth AEW Women's World Champion in the company's three-year history, joining Riho, Nyla Rose, Hikaru Shida, and the aforementioned Britt Baker. She is the first Mexican-born champion in the company's history as well, and is also the first to hold championships in both NWA and AEW. Rosa's win also opens the door for many different feuds; for one, we could see her and Mercedes Martinez at it again. Another possible foe is The Bunny; she's long overdue for a chance. The foe doesn't have to be a villainous one, imagine matches with fellow faces such as Hikaru Shida and Kris Statlander; those would be immensely epic.

Despite saying that, there is one rival I really want to step up with Rosa: Serena Deeb. The history's there. Serena ended Rosa's run as champion in NWA, and that battle was brutal when both were faces. Now that Serena's a ruthless villainess, we could see a truly captivating fight between a pair of hard-hitters. Rosa's big win was long overdue and is a huge benefit to AEW's women's division. I truly hope it's a long reign for Thunder Rosa; I know it'll be an immensely memorable and legendary run.

If you like this story, click the heart; click the subscribe button for more of my stories! Tips and pledges would be greatly appreciated, but only if you want to do so!