All Elite Wrestling has not been smart in booking their women’s division. For more than a year now, the All Elite Women have been hampered by a lack of time and investment on Dynamite and Dark. Dynamite continues to only put out one women’s match a week in addition to expecting fans to pay fifty bucks for a glorified Discord server marketed as empowerment. The majority of the female roster are top prospects who have tremendous potential such as Dr. Britt Baker, Big Swole, Penelope Ford, and Anna Jay. There are plenty of experienced women veterans that have escaped AEW’s radar that would’ve been a huge benefit for their programming such as Tenille Dashwood or Retribution member Mercedes Martinez. When it appears the division is finally beginning to move forward, the rug continues to be pulled out from under them. The point is that the female wrestlers in AEW aren’t given enough substantial material. However, one female performer has consistently raised the bar in AEW programming. If there is one woman in AEW who consistently shines and is afforded plenty of time and opportunity, it’s none other than the best referee in the company, Aubrey Edwards.
Gearl Hebner
Aubrey has been a consistent highlight on AEW programming. Whether she is in the ring as a fantastic referee, or as co-host of AEW Unrestricted along with the greatest podcaster in the history of our sport, Tony Schiavone, she is given time to show off how good she really is. Aubrey’s personality connects with fans and she is one of the very few referees that got over. On AEW Unrestricted, Aubrey was the correct choice as co-host. Her personality is infectious as she exudes natural chemistry with Tony and the AEW staff who get interviewed. The Daniel Bryan Crying Girl relates to the wrestlers on the roster, having traveled on the independents with them to eventually sign with AEW. The Elite knows they have something special in Aubrey. She is consistently given plenty to do in comparison to the female wrestlers on the roster.
Most referees in wrestling are simply there to call the match. They aren’t expected, or allowed, to perform as a character in the wrestling world themselves. The majority of wrestling referees are blank canvases. They stand in the background and either let the match happen, or call audibles whenever an unfortunate situation occurs. Aubrey adds to every match she is a part of. From kicking the ropes when a heel is cheating, to standing up to Chris Jericho in a fantastic ongoing feud, Aubrey excels by refusing to back down.
Aubrey Edwards, the Character
The only other referees to actively play “characters” were Charles Robinson and the infamous Earl Hebner. The Montreal Screwjob led to Earl Hebner becoming synonymous with the notion that he is a crooked referee. Aubrey, on the other hand, portrays herself in the wacky world of wrestling as someone fans gravitate towards and respect. The only other referee that is as popular as her would have to be Red Shoes Unno in NJPW. Red Shoes made an iconic career out of his red shoes and his trademark jump when counting a dramatic three count. Like Unno, Aubrey represents a force of law and order who takes charge in a very chaotic business.
Selling is one of the most important parts of wrestling. The ability to convince fans of a situation involving injury, pain, fear, anger, remorse, strength, and dedication is a must in this business. No one is saying wrestlers are expected to perform on an Academy Award level. However, it is absolutely essential for a performer in the ring to get the audience invested. Aubrey possesses this quality tenfold. Something as simple as a look of grotesque when Jon Moxley had his eye “injury” at the hands of the Inner Circle, adds to the narrative and gets people into the story. Aubrey doesn’t take away from the performance; she makes it better at every chance. She believes these events are really happening, which makes the audience believe the same.
Player One
Professional wrestling, to some fans, is like a video game. It features over-the-top characters with signature moves, entrances, fighting styles, and character. Wrestlers such as Kenny Omega adopt this mindset. Having been a video game producer herself, Aubrey has learned the most important thing about wrestling as a referee: connection. Considering she is currently involved with AEW’s expected video game, she prides herself on taking more than just an on-screen role. Aubrey is an AEW referee, podcaster, and video game expert, and most wrestling fans respect and appreciate her for it.
While the AEW women’s division continues to be unnecessarily hampered, Aubrey stands on equal footing with both male and female wrestlers. She doesn’t fade into the background; Aubrey brings the match center. Aubrey is one of the very few women who are afforded an opportunity to show their personality, character, and general info about themselves that what make fans care about them.
In addition, she receives a regular role on TNT that makes her more familiar every week. Some women in AEW will go weeks without appearing on Dynamite or Dark. With Aubrey however, she is a consistent presence and thorn in the side to heel wrestlers. Ninety percent of the AEW women’s division is still relatively unknown to wrestling fans. While these issues are long overdue and need of fixing, Aubrey has been given the right amount of time to show how capable she really is.
Aubrey Edwards, In Closing
While Bryce Remsburg refereed the five-star match between Invisible Man and Invisible Stan, and Rick Knox has been hilarious on Being the Elite, Aubrey Edwards is far and away the definitive referee and female performer in AEW. She embraces the larger than life world of professional wrestling rather than stand in the background. Aubrey is consistently a force to be reckoned with on AEW programming. She is one of the few women who AEW regularly invests in. Thus, she is easily the most recognizable and popular female performers out of the Elite. Considering all she has accomplished in one year of AEW Dynamite, it’s fair to say Aubrey Edwards has knocked it out of the park.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TNT and AEW DARK Tuesday nights at 7 PM ET on YouTube.
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