Athena & Billie Starkz
If chequered pasts are to be the ideal blueprint for scripting the story of AEW‘s first Women’s World Tag-Team Champions, then Athena and Billie Starkz’ intriguing relationship could certainly be the one to rival the variegated association of Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander.
This on-screen alliance has not only experimented with themes of mentorship and manipulation, but has also paralleled compelling tropes such as Starkz’ rebellion, eventual independence, and reconnection.
As compelling backstage as they are in-ring (both individually and as a tandem), this partnership would not only be a viable choice to hold the AEW Women’s Tag-Team titles, but in doing so, it could also send a message to the ever-growing AEW/ROH roster of the importance of representing both brands.
Largely operating within the confines of Ring of Honor over the last two-years-or-so, AEW fans have recently been exposed to this complex ‘master and apprentice’ partnership on both Dynamite and Collison, as Ring of Honor’s ‘forever’ Women’s World Champion Athena introduced herself into both the Women’s World and TBS title pictures.
Moreover, both ladies’ presence has also been felt at two of AEW’s pay-per-views, with Athena becoming victorious at AEW All In: Texas in the women’s Casino Gauntlet, and also during her cash-in title attempt versus Toni Storm at Forbidden Door in London.
With Athena being presented as more than a credible opponent for both singles champions Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm, respectively, her on-screen partner Starkz has also proved to be a handy accompaniment in this venture.
Both Starkz and Athena have had an impressive assimilation into AEW television over the last few months, and what better way for this to continue this than by vying to become the initial AEW Women’s Tag-Team Champions.
While ‘forever champion’ Athena approaches a monumental 1000-day reign as ROH Women’s World Champion, the tag-team title scene could be the perfect catalyst for Athena to bounce back from the two championship-challenging defeats.
What better way to truly cement herself to the AEW audience as a key player in their women’s division than by uniting with her ex-Minion-in-Training protégé Billie Starkz, putting their cavernous history aside, and proving their fierce chemistry on national television.
Their ‘master and apprentice’ storyline has not only continued to provide prevailing intrigue for multiple years now, but the fact that their partnership has now intriguingly traversed promotions signifies a consistent and continued interest in their creative output as a wrestling tandem.
Would winning the AEW Women’s Tag-Team Championships be the ultimate endgame for this coalition, or could it actually serve as a handy creative pivot to simultaneously assist in Athena’s return while also catapulting Starkz to stardom? Regardless of what you think, their victory would undoubtedly continue to draw fans back into their compelling, evolving story.
However this develops, what is clear is that the 20-year-old Starkz will not to be hindered by her young age. So far, her tender years have not merely relegated her to cannon fodder as Athena’s quest for AEW gold continues, highlighted by her own incredibly impressive showing against Storm on the July 23rd edition of AEW Dynamite.
This performance showcased to the AEW faithful not only why she was installed as ROH’s inaugural Women’s TV Champion (more on this later), but it also showcased why Athena chose her as a partner in the first place prior to their AEW involvement.
Just as her ex-Minion Billie Starkz ‘graduated’ M.I.T (Minions in Training) on ROH, does Athena’s continued presence on AEW television now insinuate that she too has ‘graduated’ ROH? (Shout out to Lexy Nair for her involvement in that storyline, by the way!)
If this is to be the case, Athena and Starkz certainly provide AEW with a solid pairing to explore and expand on the women’s tag-team division.
Ring of Honor
TO BE CONTINUED…
