Britt Baker Unsure If She Could’ve Carried AEW Women’s Title Through Pandemic Like Hikaru Shida

Britt Baker has a chance to solidify herself as the face of the women’s division on Sunday at AEW Double or Nothing when she challenges Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women’s Title. 

Shida has been the reigning AEW Women’s Champion for over a year, and even Baker admitted that carrying the belt and the division through the pandemic was no easy task. 

“Shida became champion in the midst of the pandemic and it was brutal. We didn’t have fans and didn’t know when we’d have fans or do TV tapings. To carry a title through that period is very difficult and I’ll be honest, I don’t know if I could have done that a year ago. Shida was the perfect person and she’s had a very respectable and honorable…the longest title reign in AEW history, but here I am now. Time’s up Shida. I’ve made myself undeniable. You can’t look away from me. I’m the best in the ring and on the mic. I have everything it takes to be the face of the company except the championship title around my waist. Once I have that, it’s game over. All Elite DMD,” Baker said on Busted Open Radio.

Fans may not know this, but Baker is also a dentist. While succeeding in two difficult fields is admirable, some people use it as a knock against Baker, which only serves to upset and fuel her. 

“I get pissed off when people say I have two careers and that I’m ‘not committed to wrestling.’ No, I am. I’m just that much committed to another career too. I have no time off. When wrestlers are at home for the week and enjoying time with their families and going out, I’m working. I put double the time in wrestling as anyone else and that’s why I’m the face of AEW,” she said. “Dentistry keeps me grounded because the [pro wrestling] world is insane and crazy. Dentistry, I have forever, right not is my time to be a wrestler. I consider myself a full-time wrestler and a part-time dentist.”

AEW will celebrate Shida’s reign as champion on Friday’s AEW Dynamite. 

Baker will look to end Shida’s reign on Sunday at AEW Double or Nothing. 

Fightful will have live coverage of AEW Dynamite beginning at 10 p.m. ET on Friday and live coverage of AEW Double or Nothing beginning at 7:30 p.m. ET on Sunday. 

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