My First Media Scrum: AEW Dynasty

We don’t gatekeep over here at Black Girl Wrestling, so let’s de-mystify the experience of being credentialed media at a wrestling show. On the day of AEW Dynasty,  those with media credentials were supposed to be there by a certain time but due to a chronic case of CPT and insane St.Louis traffic, I ended up having to get out of the car and running the last few blocks to Chaifetz arena. Starting off a nerve-racking new experience with an elevated heart rate and sweat forming on my brow certainly didn’t help with the anxiety. Once inside, I was able to collect my credentials in enough time to be able to secure a Danielson vs. Ospreay shirt (that I turned into a cute crop top as soon as I got home)

Once seated in the media section, no one spoke to me before or during the show but I chalked that up to us just being strangers tbh, and maybe next time I’ll have the courage to be more proactive in introducing myself to people. My sisters and co-founders of Black Girl Wrestling, B and Allison were sitting in a different section, heading up the friendship bracelet distribution while I tried to hype myself up for the post -show scrum I knew was to come. 

When the show began, it was a little odd to me that many in the  media section were not  reacting to some of the greatness we were witnessing within the ring. Okada and PAC killed it, Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm went crazy and Danielson and Ospreay put on an all timer?? Get up??? Ultimately, I  think it's important to balance professionalism and an interest you might have in the topic you are covering . I don’t really understand why you would want to cover wrestling if you…don't like wrestling. Then again, I would say that is one of the biggest benefits to having Black Girl Wrestling, I don’t answer to anyone, this is our platform, nobody gets a say in how visibly enthused I get to be during a show (or at any point really). I have nothing to prove and no one to impress, what a joy to be able to show up as your authentic self.

After the show ended, they rounded up the media and off we went. While I was actually back there in the media room I was terrified. I'm not someone who really struggles with social anxiety but i was so nervous for so many reasons, one being because this is just like a hobby for me, but also because I was the only black woman in the room and by far the youngest I sat in the first chair in the second row, right next to the camera set up so that I would be visible and also so I could not give myself an out, I wasn't going to chicken out I came all this way and dammit I was going to ask a question. 

I introduced myself to the camera guy to be polite and decided I would live-tweet a little bit instead of speaking to the people next to me as we waited for it to start (even though I eventually discovered that they were super kind). Then I got scared because three people said “hey dani” and I very much did not recognize them, then I realized that the internet is public. Like, we are being perceived by people we don’t know, how terrifying. Though, it is also fully possible that I had met these people before I was so nervous I probably wouldn't have even told you my own name at that point. 

After a few moments, they brought out Tony Khan and then the first talent, the new AEW world champion, Swerve Strickland. Unfortunately, I didn't get a chance to ask him a question even though I had my hand up, but it's probably for the best that I was able to sit back and observe the way the others were formulating their questions and gauge the reactions that the wrestler was having to aid questions. As a result, that part of the scrum felt like it passed in the blink of an eye.

Next thing I knew, they were bringing the new TBS champion, Willow Nightingale, out here, and they were handing me the mic, even though I very much did not have my hand up. I panicked and asked her about the looming prospect of facing Mercedes Mone, who has already called her shot for the TBS title at AEW Double or Nothing on May 26. I'm honestly proud that I was able to even formulate those words because I highkey thought I would vomit. She responded by saying that while she planned on still being champion come then, she would be focusing on her impending title defenses before that and that in the meantime, she just wanted to celebrate having won the title itself.

I was satisfied with my own question, especially considering that I went completely off the script I had written for myself, but not thrilled, especially with my own delivery. I just feel like I lacked some of my trademarked confidence. It was cool though for Willow to shout out all the female journalists in the room, noting that the first 3 questions for her were asked by women. That truly gave me a boost of confidence that helped me to take a deep breath and realize this would be okay.

Then, they brought out the AEW women's world champion, Toni Storm, who read a prewritten statement attesting to her own excellence and challenging the media to dare to ask her any follow-up questions. There was a tense silence in the room for a few moments, and it genuinely looked like no one was gonna ask the world champion a question, but that doesn't work for me, brother. But I didn't come all this way to sit here, and I'm not sure what I was going to ask her, but I was gonna figure it out, dammit. But alas, and probably for the best, when she was asked a question about Mariah May challenging her for the world title, she stormed off, a whirlwind of tulle from her dress in her wake. But honestly, it was a perfectly predictable reaction.

Next, they brought out Will Ospreay, who I was by far the most nervous about speaking to before the scrum. He is one of the best wrestlers of all time and has been one of my favorites for years. Add on that he had just had one of the best pro wrestling matches in history, and yeah, I was nervous. Honestly, though, I can't explain it, but once he started talking, it just felt the most casual, and it made me feel so much more comfortable. He too started with a statement, beginning his section of the scrum on a solemn note and addressing the ending of his match with Danielson, apologizing for the injury it seemed Bryan had suffered and announcing that he would be retiring the Storm Driver finisher as a result. He then fielded questions about his jab toward Triple H, his opinion on Swerve Strickland becoming the AEW world champion, and his support for SGW Uganda.

I was beginning to believe I wasn't going to get a chance to ask him a question, which massively bummed me out. Also, side note, I had tweeted that I was going to ask him if the accent was a bit, and I was fully considering doing that, but I figured it was a good way to ensure I wouldn't get media credentials, but in retrospect, I 100% think I could have gotten away with it, and later, Amanda Huber would tell me she saw my tweet and had been looking forward to his reaction. Sorry for letting you down girl, I hope the friendship bracelet can make up for it. Luckily though, I got to ask Will Ospreay his last question of the night, and he's a super animated guy who just comes across as so genuine. When they handed me the mic, he leaned towards me and said a gentle "hi there" and a smile. I think because I was a new face he didn't recognize and because I was the youngest in the room. This moment was the highlight of the whole experience for me though. I felt seen, in a room where it felt like people had been moving around me. I don't know why that moment meant so much, but it really did, and that combined with Willow's acknowledgment of all the women in the room, I could feel myself quickly feeling like me again.

I introduced myself and noted I was from Black Girl Wrestling, then complimented his all-timer of a banger he and Danielson had just put on and asked about the stories he would tell himself about this match and where he ranked this performance among some of his other outstanding work. He said, “in terms of performances, this is probably the best one I've ever done.” He said that he “had been thinking about it, and he had honestly never felt more joy of performing at that level with a guy that he grew up watching.” He then went on to tell a story about his dad trying to understand the teenage version of Will and buying him tickets to all-star wrestling, and that he will never forget this moment for the rest of his life, seeing an 8-man tag featuring René Duprée, and then out walks Bryan Danielson wearing baggy blue pleather pants waving a pirate flag, and he had never felt like that before, like you're reachable. Will Ospreay said he remembers thinking “You’re reachable” when seeing Bryan Danielson as a teenager, and I’ll say that though I'm not a teen anymore (what's everybody getting me for my 22nd birthday) and I don't plan on ever getting IN a ring, I can say that night at AEW Dynasty, that is what Will Ospreay made me feel. His authenticity and excitement about wrestling Danielson were palpable. It felt good to get Ospreay talking about something that genuinely made him feel so much.

I think what I realized most with this media scrum and that moment with Ospreay, in particular, was that I might not want to be a journalist. I have no interest in chasing headlines or rushing to get the scoop on things. I want to hear people's stories, what made them who they are, why they care so much, how they perceive themselves and their performances and those around them, and the people, places, and things that poured into them, challenged them, distracted them on their journeys to get here. I want to talk to people, and have conversations, not just get a statement; that's the future I want for my career and Black Girl Wrestling I think.

So, this scrum was a great experience for me overall. I was satisfied with the way I carried myself even though I was so nervous I wanted to puke, and everyone generally kept to themselves but seemed to be pretty kind at least. Thanks for supporting us in helping us get this opportunity, especially as we try to find our way, carve out our niche, and make our own lane in wrestling and later sports media as a whole, hopefully, this is the first of many media scrums.

 One more time: Massive shout out to @lyricwrestling, SNME Radio, and Bodyslam.net.