AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament
Episode 2
Original Air Date: February 22, 2021
Event Date: February ?, 2021
(streamed and archived on YouTube)
Japan Bracket
City: Warabi, Saitama, Japan
Venue: Warabi Wrestle Budokan (Isami Wrestle Arena) (empty arena)
U.S. Bracket
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary (English): Excalibur, Taz
Commentary (Japanese): Hikaru Shida, Haruo Murata
Ring Announcers: Justin Roberts (1, 4), Rikiya Shindo (2, 3)
Video
Dr. Samson checks on Anna Jay as it is revealed that Jay will not be able to compete in the tournament due to an injury. Anna Jay will be replaced by Madi Wrenkowski.
Match 1
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament First Round Match
“The Native Beast” Nyla Rose vs Tay Conti
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Nyla Rose wins via pinfall after the Beast Bomb
Time: 8:46
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Nyla Rose started very strong, and it looked like this was going to be a very short match. Tay Conti got thrown around and slammed multiple times, and a brutal dragon screw leg whip early in the match seemed like it was going to end her night. Conti fought back though, and she built up a nice and believable comeback against The Native Beast. Conti got frustrated though, and that (plus some turnbuckle shenanigans) gave Rose enough time to recover and start destroying Conti once again. This was a fun match that ended like I expected it to, but Conti’s strong performance against the former champ was a nice step for her AEW career. With Anna Jay injured, Conti might have to forge forward on her own for the time being.
Match 2
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japanese Semifinal Match
Emi Sakura w/ Mei Suruga, Yuna Mizumori vs “The Magical Girl” Yuka Sakazaki
(referee: Tommy)
Result: Yuka Sakazaki wins via pinfall with a crucifix pin
Time: 13:47
Match Thoughts
Great match. There was a lot of good back-and-forth action throughout the match, but Emi Sakura took an early advantage with her experience and some cheap tactics outside the ring. Mei Suruga and Yuna Mizumori attacked Sakazaki at ringside while Sakura distracted the referee, and Sakura was able to maintain the advantage that gave her for a very long time. Sakazaki persevered though, and she stuck around long enough to get in some nice attacks and quick pin attempts from time to time. Sakura was dominant though, so tension continued to build since the longer the match went the less it felt like the Magical Girl was going to win. This was another strong match from both women.
Ring Area
After the match, Sakura, Suruga, and Mizumori attack Sakazaki. Hikaru Shida quickly runs to the ring, and Sakazaki’s attackers scatter. Shida checks on Sakazaki as Sakura smirks and walks away.
Match 3
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament Japanese Semifinal Match
“Aniki” Ryo Mizunami vs Aja Kong
(referee: Tommy)
Result: Ryo Mizunami wins via Count Out
Time: 14:45
Match Thoughts
Great match. Both wrestlers seemed to start a little slow, but the fight picked up considerably as the match went on. Mizunami got in some good attacks early, but her posing and showboating antics caught up to her. Aja Kong absorbed a lot of punishment early, but when she started her attacks Mizunami was quickly staggered. By that point though, Mizunami had done a lot of good work on Kong’s knees, so Kong was struggling to move around the ring with any kind of speed. Mizunami repeatedly used her speed advantage, but as Kong’s attacks began to pile up and Mizunami slowed down, Mizunami’s advantage went away. The later parts of the match turned into a strong style strike fest for a while, and that was a lot of fun. Neither woman would stay down though, so they both had to get creative in order to try to win the match. The actual finish is something I’m not always a fan of, but it was done so well and built up to in a great way, so I really enjoyed it.
Match 4
AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament First Round Match
Madi Wrenkowski vs Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. w/ Rebel
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Britt Baker wins via submission with Lockjaw
Time: 5:17
Match Thoughts
Pretty good match. Baker attacked Wrenkowski before the match, and the tandem of Baker and Rebel made an already tough match for Wrenkowski all but impossible. The ringside action last for a couple of minutes before finally making it into the ring, and the match itself wasn’t very long. Wrenkowski had a little offense, but Baker had no real issues putting Wrenkowski away.
Ring Area
After the match, Baker attacks Wrenkowski and holds her down as Rebel draws Thunder Rosa’s makeup on Wrenkowski’s face with a marker.
Show Impressions
This was another fun show. I definitely enjoyed the Japanese matches more than the American matches, but I did like the Rose/Conti match quite a bit as well. The Baker/Wrenkowski match felt like more story than action, and it makes me a little nervous about the rest of the American bracket. Hopefully the Thunder Rosa/Brit Baker feud won’t overshadow the rest of the American matches. The Japanese matches were exciting and well-fought, so I’m definitely looking for to the final on that side of the tournament.
Match of the Night
Emi Sakura vs Yuka Sakazaki
The action was great, and I felt the most emotion in this match. The Mizunami/Kong match was pretty close for me, but overall I think I enjoyed Sakura versus Sakazaki a little more.