AEW‘s women’s division has often been a point of criticism among fans and doubters alike, but Ruby Soho believes the company is making progress.
On Wednesday night, Soho will face Jade Cargill in the finals of the AEW TBS Women’s Championship Tournament on the TBS premiere of the company’s flagship show, Dynamite. In an interview with Joseph Staszewski of the New York Post, Soho described how the tournament and other eye-opening matches, like the brutal street fight on the “New Year’s Smash” edition of AEW Rampage, are helping the division grow each and every week.
“I think we’re on our way,” said Soho. “The amazing street fight that just took place on ‘Rampage’ is one thing that everybody’s talking about right now and those women put on an incredible performance. I think the TBS title is elevating our division past the point we thought was possible at this point. We are taking these strides every single week. It’s not just once in a while, it’s every week we are taking strides and making history and taking steps toward building this division to be the best it possibly can.”
In some ways, Soho has been at, or at least near, the forefront of the growth in the women’s division. Her exciting debut at AEW All Out generated plenty of buzz, and her high-profile match against AEW Women’s World Champion was another step in the right direction. In the interview, Soho compared her match with Baker to this contest with Cargill by noting that she’s had the opportunity to hit her stride in the aftermath of her loss to AEW’s resident dentist. As a result, she feels like she has earned this prominent spot, and Soho called having the chance to be the company’s first TBS Women’s Champion the “culmination” of her career.
“I think I was just getting my bearings when I first arrived here,” said Soho. “I earned the opportunity at the AEW women’s world championship very early but now I’ve been able to get my footing and really show the AEW fans that I’ve earned it because I’ve been through three rounds of the tournament thus far.
“I feel like this means so much more to me. Not only is it the culmination of the three rounds of the tournament, it’s a culmination of 11 years of my wrestling career never having held a major title.”
To elaborate, Soho made it clear that beating Cargill and winning the title would validate every step she has taken throughout her journey in the wrestling world, including every triumph and every setback.
“I have been through a lot of things in my life and my career has been very intense and very fast-paced and very exciting and sometimes difficult,” said Soho. “There’s been so many ups and downs on this roller coaster of my career like many people can say, but to hold that TBS championship above my head Wednesday in Newark … honestly it would mean the world. It would mean every mistake I made, every difficulty I had, every obstacle I faced, everything that I’ve been through up until this point would be worth it because I made it. I did it.”
Soho also praised Cargill’s natural athleticism and predicted that facing the powerhouse will bring out her “best possible fight.”
Fans will have to wait and see whether Soho can win her first championship on a nationally televised wrestling show; either way, the finale of the TBS Women’s Championship Tournament promises to be a thrilling match.
