Brittany Ann Baker (born April 23, 1991) is an American professional wrestler and dentist. She is signed to All Elite Wrestling—being the first woman to join its official roster when it launched in 2019—where she performs under the ring nameDr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
A former AEW Women's World Champion, Baker has been recognized as one of the best female professional wrestlers in the United States.
Early life
Brittany Ann Baker[3] was born in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania on April 23, 1991 to elementary school teacher Mary Ann and healthcare executive Sam Baker. She has a younger brother named Dane. She had an athletic childhood, participating in basketball and track and field.[4][5][6] She studied behavioral medicine with a minor in human development and family studies at Pennsylvania State University, graduating in 2013.[4][7] In 2014, the same year she began training as a professional wrestler, she enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine[8] and graduated in May 2018.[9]
Professional wrestling career
Early career (2015–2018)
Baker in 2017
Baker began training as a professional wrestler in June 2014 when she enrolled at the International Wrestling Cartel (IWC) training academy in South Hills, Pennsylvania,[7] training under the tutelage of Super Hentai and Marshall Gambino.[10] She also trained under Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae at Absolute Intense Wrestling in Cleveland, Ohio.[10] She made her debut at an IWC event in August 2015.[10] She appeared on WWE Raw as a jobber in 2016, losing to Nia Jax in a squash match.[11] On December 10, 2016, she became the inaugural IWC Women's Champion when she defeated April Sera, Marti Belle, and Sonya Strong in a four-way elimination match.[12] She was defeated by LuFisto for the title in July 2017.[13] On September 1, 2018, Baker competed in a four corner survival match against Madison Rayne, Chelsea Green, and Tessa Blanchard at the All In pay-per-view event, which was won by Blanchard.[14] She regained the IWC Women's Championship by defeating LuFisto and Ray Lyn in a three-way match in October, only to drop it again in November to Katie Arquette.[15]
All Elite Wrestling (2019–present)
AEW beginnings (2019–2021)
On January 2, 2019, it was reported that Baker would sign with newfound promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW),[16] officially signing the following January 8th as the company's first contracted female wrestler.[17] She made her debut for AEW on May 25 at its inaugural pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, where she defeated Nyla Rose, Kylie Rae, and Awesome Kong in a four-way match.[18][19] On July 13, she competed in a tag team match alongside Riho at Fight for the Fallen, where the two were defeated by Bea Priestley and Shoko Nakajima.[20] Baker suffered a legitimate concussion due to a kick by Priestley during the match,[21] which incited a storyline rivalry between the two.[22] On August 31, Baker competed in the Women's Casino Battle Royale for an opportunity at the AEW Women's World Championship at the All Out pre-show, during which she eliminated Shazza McKenzie, ODB, Brandi Rhodes, Mercedes Martinez, and Priestley before she herself was eliminated by Nyla Rose.[23] Baker went on to defeat Priestley in a singles competition at the Full Gear pre-show on November 9.[24]
At Double or Nothing on May 30, Baker defeated Shida to win the AEW Women's World Championship for the first time.[39] On the premiere episode of Rampage on August 13, Baker held on to the title by defeating Red Velvet, after which she introduced Jamie Hayter as her ally.[40] Baker successfully defended her title for the fifth time when she defeated Tay Conti at Full Gear.[41] At Revolution in March 2022, Baker debuted a new AEW Women's World Championship belt and retained the title over Rosa.[42] On Dynamite later that month, Baker lost the AEW Women's World Championship to Rosa in a steel cage match.[43]
Baker participated in the 2022 Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, winning over Maki Itoh in the first round and advancing to the finals by defeating Toni Storm in the semifinal round.[44][45] At Double or Nothing in May, Baker defeated Ruby Soho to become the tournament's inaugural female winner.[46][47] At Revolution in March 2023, Baker began a feud with Saraya, Toni Storm, and Ruby Soho after the trio attacked her and Jamie Hayter after Hayter successfully retained the AEW Women's Championship, turning face for the first time since 2020. On the July 5 episode of Dynamite, Baker competed in the Owen Hart Foundation Women's Tournament, losing to Ruby Soho in the quarterfinals of the tournament.[48] She later competed for the AEW Women's title in four way matches at All In London and on the September 13 episode of Dynamite. Following an unsuccessful challenge for the TBS Championship on the September 16 episode of Collision, Baker took a step back from performing due to a back injury, later stating "I listen [...] A lot of [the fans] said, 'We want less Britt Baker.' So, if that's what they want, that's what they'll get. Let me take a step back, here are the rest of the women."[49]
Return from hiatus (2024–present)
On June 30, 2024 at Forbidden Door, Baker made her return after over nine months from hiatus by interrupting the TBS and newly crowned Strong Women's ChampionMercedes Moné.[50] On the following episode of Dynamite, Baker stated that she had initially been sidelined by two herniated disks and a torn hip labrum, before suffering a transient ischemic attack in November that further sidelined her for the first half of 2024. She would then be interrupted by Moné, who Baker would then challenge to a match on August 25 at All In but was rejected.[51] On July 24 at Blood & Guts, Baker defeated Hikaru Shida in her first match since October 2023. After the match, she would be interrupted once again by Moné and attacked by a debuting Kamille.[52] Following a brawl during AEW's panel at Comic-Con the next day, AEW president Tony Khan announced that Baker would challenge Moné for the TBS Championship at All In.[53] On August 2, it was reported that Baker had been suspended after a backstage altercation with MJF and his girlfriend Alicia Atout.[54] On August 25 at All In, Baker was defeated by Moné.[55]
Professional wrestling style and persona
Baker performing her finishing maneuver, Lockjaw
Baker's legitimate profession as a dentist is often referenced as part of her character in AEW, so much so that Pro Wrestling Torch observed that "it became a parody".[56] The character was originally described as "happy",[57] but following her heel turn, has been described as "too proud" and "delusional",[58][59] referring to herself as a "role model".[60] Using the name "Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D." in AEW, Baker says she intentionally incorporated "Dr." and "D.M.D." despite the tautology of employing both to enhance "her character's obnoxiousness".[61][62] Her finisher is a scissored armbarmandible claw called Lockjaw.[63] She associates with commentator Tony Schiavone, whom she calls one of her best friends, and fellow wrestler Rebel, who accompanies her in matches.[2][64] She named Bayley and Mercedes Moné as among her inspirations in wrestling.[65]
Baker was in a relationship with fellow AEW wrestler Adam Cole from 2017 to 2024.[2] In October 2024, Cole confirmed in an interview with Sports Illustrated that he and Baker were no longer together, but remain friends.[69]
In addition to wrestling, Baker is a member of the American Dental Association[9] and is employed as a dentist at a private practice in Winter Park, Florida,[70] with whom she has an agreement for it to remain closed on Wednesdays to allow her to travel for AEW Dynamite.[71] She said in 2018 that dentistry was her "forever dream job" and that she intended to continue practicing it during and after her wrestling career.[72]
^Barrasso, Justin (January 6, 2022). "The Top 10 Wrestlers of 2021". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved February 2, 2022.
