WRESTLING NEWS
Facts About Britt Baker Only Hardcore Fans Know
By BRIAN HOGLUND
Balancing Two Priorities
AEW’s Britt Baker not only put the effort into training to become a professional wrestler, but also juggled the challenges of medical school simultaneously. In 2015, Baker debuted with International Wrestling Cartel, and shortly after that, she also began her studies in Dental Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh, maintaining both responsibilities together.
Baker’s Trainers
While studying, Baker joined Absolute Intense Wrestling, in Cleveland, Ohio, to hone her skills, where she was trained by Johnny Gargano and Candice LaRae. Baker credits Gargano and LaRae for pushing her to keep training despite being in medical school and making the long drive to training sessions.
Baker’s Inspiration
Baker chose Sasha Banks and Bayley as her inspiration while training, given how the two women were changing the game in women’s wrestling by main-eventing “NXT” TakeOvers and stealing the show. Regarding Banks and Bayley, Baker fondly said, “That was when the tides were turning and they kind of paved the way for my generation of wrestling.”
WWE Didn’t Hire Her
In 2015, when Baker was asked for a second physical while trying out for WWE, she felt that she had made it to WWE. However, it was her first year of dental school, so Canyon Ceman, the Senior Director of Talent Development for WWE, told her, “You're going to be a dentist. I want you to finish that” — this news was heartbreaking for Baker.
An Enhancement Talent
Baker was an enhancement talent against the newly-drafted Nia Jax on a 2016 episode of “Monday Night Raw.” She couldn’t get any hits in and instead received a huge leg drop, had her nose busted open, and obviously lost the match. Rumors circulated that she was heated with Jax for busting open her nose, but Baker shut the rumors down.