Thunder Rosa is the new AEW Women’s World Champion.
In the buzzworthy main event of the special “St. Patrick’s Day Slam” edition of AEW Dynamite, Rosa defeated Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. to win the gold. The contest had a big-fight feel from the start, as Rosa was played to the ring by a live all-women’s mariachi band. The Texas native came to the ring carrying the state’s flag, much to the delight of her hometown crowd.
And now @thunderrosa22 is dragging @realbrittbaker's bloodied face across the steel cage! Watch #AEWDynamite: #StPatricksDaySlam LIVE on TBS right now! pic.twitter.com/inwk4kA5U8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 17, 2022
The match quickly became a brutal battle, as Baker was busted open in the opening moments. Later in the bout, Baker bloodied Rosa, too. Both women used the cage wall to punish each other, and Baker brought several chairs into the ring. After the referee got knocked out of the ring, Baker hit an avalanche Air Raid Crash onto several chairs, but Rosa kicked out then referee Aubrey Edwards came to the ring. Baker then set up a tower of chairs and went for another top-rope maneuver, but Rosa sent her crashing onto the steel.
Calling back to their famous Lights Out Match, Baker dumped a bag of thumbtacks onto the mat. She planted Rosa onto the tacks with a back body-drop. The champion went for the Lockjaw, but Rosa avoided it by smashing Baker’s hand onto the tacks. Rosa then powerbombed Baker onto the tacks and hit the Thunder Driver onto the tacks to win the match and the title.
#AndNew!!!!!!!!@ThunderRosa22 is your #AEW Women's World Champion after an absolute war against Dr. @realbrittbaker! What an amazing night here at #AEWDynamite #StPatricksDaySlam LIVE on TBS! pic.twitter.com/u85zfRh51D
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 17, 2022
With tears in her eyes, the new champion celebrated her victory while confetti rained from the ceiling and the hometown crowd cheered her on.
Rosa and Baker previously clashed in the unforgettable Unsanctioned Lights Out Match on the 2021 edition of “St. Patrick’s Day Slam.” Rosa won this bout, and the two foes didn’t face off again until AEW Revolution 2022. There, with some help from Rebel and Hayter, Baker retained the title. Rosa subsequently earned a rematch on the March 9 episode of AEW Dynamite by defeating “Legit” Leyla Hirsch.
Baker won the title at AEW Double or Nothing 2021, where she defeated Hikaru Shida.
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