The rumours flying around in the days leading up to last night’s AEW Dynamite in Toronto were all about one woman, Taya Valkyrie. The former WWE and IMPACT star was expected to answer the challenge put forth by undefeated AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill, and while it didn’t quite play out that way, we did see the arrival of the former Franky Monet.
It was actually indie legend Nicole Matthews who answered the call, giving fans a little bit of a swerve, until Jade Cargill took care of business proceeding to lay out the challenge once more by asking if it was the best that Canada had to offer.
Taya’s music hit and her name was up on the screens for all to see, as fans positively reacted to the news of their compatriots’ arrival. Tony Khan would later confirm that Taya Valkyrie was “All Elite” via Twitter with the customary AEW new signee graphic.
It looks like Taya will be going straight into a program with Jade Cargill, but will she be the one to end her incredible reign as champion? Time will tell. Taya had made it known she was keen to nail down a long-term contract in 2023, after her WWE run didn’t pan out the way fans had hoped.
This feels like a great opportunity for AEW’s women’s division to benefit from a talent like Taya, but it’s also a great platform for the veteran to solidify a place in the conversation for the best women’s wrestler in the world, with the chance to become one of the faces of a growing division in one of the biggest wrestling company’s in the world.