Britt Baker grew up in awe of the warriors of the wrestling ring similar to Bryan Danielson and would grow to be additional impressed by feminine grappling pioneers like Sasha Banks, Bayley, Charlotte, and Becky Lynch.
Then, in 2019, she started to blaze her personal path because the dual-career famous person who grew to become the primary ladies’s wrestler ever signed to the rising All Elite Wrestling Promotion. Since then, Baker has continued together with her skilled profession as a dentist, and has additionally held a world title in AEW: “I nonetheless get requested, to this present day, if I’m really a dentist,” shares Baker, who had a stellar 12 months in 2021 (she was Professional Wrestling Illustrated’s “Girl of the Yr” no much less).
However with maybe her largest match ever looming on Saturday; in opposition to Saraya on the AEW Full Gear pay-per-view, now appeared like the proper time for Baker to sit down down with M&F for a large ranging chat about her unimaginable drive, evolution as a performer, and the way she makes probably the most of each second with such a busy schedule.
Britt Baker, now 31, was by no means beneath any illusions that creating an expert profession in dentistry whereas following her dream of turning into a professional wrestler can be straightforward. “I had executed 4 years of undergraduate faculty and I studied biobehavioral well being, and household research, however then once I was enrolled within the precise dental faculty, I swear, these very same couple of months is once I began coaching (to be a wrestler),” says Baker. “And, it’s a few seven-month-to-a-year coaching course after which they set you out into the wild (unbiased wrestling scene), the remaining is as much as you. They provide the instruments to achieve success, to have your first match, however then all the things else is as much as you. Personally, I wished to continue to learn and so I might drive to (wrestling faculty in) Cleveland twice every week from Pittsburgh, which is a about two and a half hours, a technique, after dental faculty, twice every week, simply in order that I may study from two of my favourite wrestlers on the time, (present WWE stars) Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae. Simply because, I assume, I’m ceaselessly a nerd. I at all times wanna continue to learn and finding out.”
Britt Baker at all times finds time to progress together with her passions
“I must deliver my [dental studies] word playing cards with me in all places as a result of, particularly when you’re a trainee [wrestler], you might be anticipated to pay your dues. So, you’re those establishing the ring, establishing the chairs within the venue, serving to all people, anytime we’d get a two-second break I might pull my word playing cards out of my pocket and be finding out for dental anatomy or biology or no matter my check was gonna be,” laughs Baker. “Typically, on the drive house I’d be so drained that I must pull over onto the facet of the highway. However, I needed to actually map all of it out and calculate as a result of I needed to guarantee that I used to be again in time for 8 a.m., to get to my dental class.”
When All Elite Wrestling was fashioned in 2019, Britt Baker was the primary feminine wrestler to be signed by the corporate, however with a love for each professional wrestling and dentistry, she wished to carry on to each careers. “That was the primary query I requested,” says Baker. “Earlier than I requested about cash, or what number of days every week I used to be going to be on the highway, or if we have been going to be on TV, the primary query I requested was ‘can I nonetheless be a dentist?’” Happily, AEW’s Chief, Tony Khan inspired her to proceed with dentistry as a result of it was one of many issues that he liked about her within the first place. “If there’s a sure flight that I’ve to take, AEW doesn’t hesitate to click on the button to get me on the earliest flight out of there, to guarantee that I get to my workplace on time,” she shares. And there’s a mutual profit to having a real dental skilled onsite at AEW reveals. “Anytime there’s like a medical, tooth, or mouth associated harm the medical doctors really name me to the medical room,” says Baker. “The workforce medical doctors have me go take a look at the tooth. I have to, like, renegotiate my contract now that I take into consideration that as a result of I’m just like the on-call dentist,” she laughs.
Focuse on small targets in order that the lengthy phrases targets can take care of themselves
“I’m very cussed about it,” says Baker. “Lots of people, I don’t know why, there’s a false impression that I want dentistry financially, like Tony Khan isn’t paying me sufficient, which is totally not the case. It’s very a lot that I adore it. At this level, it’s actually not serving to me financially, in any respect, as a result of I’m solely within the workplace a few days every week but it surely was such a journey; the eight years of education and half 1,000,000 {dollars} in scholar loans. There have been so many days the place I simply didn’t know the way I used to be gonna get via the day, however I simply put one foot in entrance of the opposite and acquired via. And, that actually taught me the mentality that I now use each day in my life. You’ll get to that long run aim in the event you give attention to the little ones.”
Britt Baker likes to combine up her coaching
“I’m, admittedly, a really late-night exercise lady,” shares Baker. “I’m on the health club, normally at 10pm, ending up round 11.30pm or midnight. That’s simply the way it works for me now as a result of that’s the one time I can slot in. After I’m house, in a typical day, I get up, go to the dental workplace and I’m there generally till 7pm, come house, eat actually fast, say hey to my boyfriend (who simply occurs to be fellow AEW famous person; Adam Cole then I am going to the health club.” On a Tuesday, Baker winds up on the dental workplace and catches a flight to a distinct city every week with a view to prepare for AEW’s top-rated flagship tv present, “Dynamite” on TBS, however she is going to nonetheless handle to slot in a exercise between her flight touchdown and attending to mattress!
“I’m actually massive on Pilate’s too,” says Baker. “It’s one thing I’ve acquired means higher at within the final 12 months or so. I really work with a stretch therapist twice every week simply to assist with my flexibility as a result of I’ve had my justifiable share of accidents. I believe one factor that’s actually essential on your physique is mobility.” By no means one to sit down nonetheless on the highway, Baker is at all times looking out for a technique to whereas away the hours via train. “I like to combine issues up,” she says. “Once we are in cities, I at all times wish to discover a class that I can take, and one which I discovered just lately is ‘Stable Core,’ which is like the toughest Pilates class on the planet, it’s so tough! It’s simply a kind of issues the place follow makes excellent. My core is on fireplace, I really feel so tight and toned and that’s my favourite factor to lookout for now.” Conventional workout routines such because the squats and deadlifts, are additionally a staple which can be by no means removed from her routine. “At the least 4 days every week, I’m within the health club, selecting a physique half, whether or not it’s legs or glutes or arms, shoulders. That’s fairly normal. We don’t have to reinvent the wheel,” she says. “I’m a giant, massive advocate on incline strolling for my cardio. I broke my leg, I’ve dangerous knees, so operating simply doesn’t work for me anymore, so I positively love the incline strolling and the stair grasp and, once more, any kind of HIIT health class, like F45.”
Britt Baker likes to take management of her diet
“I’m just about at all times proper on observe with my macros,” says Baker. “After I’m at my busiest, I’ll have the pre-packaged meals that let you know precisely what all the things is. It’s not so good as a house cooked meal however when it’s a must to go, you continue to must eat.” Fortunately, when time and circumstances do enable for it, Baker relishes the prospect to indulge her candy tooth (sparsely, after all, says the dental skilled!). “If there’s a bit of cake in entrance of me, or sweets, I’ll positively eat these sweets. I’m not going to torture myself with meals as a result of I don’t assume meals must be used as punishment or reward. If I wish to eat one thing I’ll, however on the identical time, I like to remain wholesome, I just like the wholesome meals.”
Britt Baker has honed her craft as a professional wrestler beneath Elite firm
Legends similar to Chris Jericho, who Baker seemed as much as whereas developing within the wrestling enterprise, at the moment are having a direct impact on the evolution of her presentation. “Chris Jericho is all about supply,” she enthuses. “He at all times says it’s not what you say, it’s the way you say it. He actually confirmed me that you just don’t have to wrestle to win followers over.” One other optimistic affect has been the “American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes helped me a lot. He sat down with me and helped me write out promos till I used to be adequate to do them alone. I’ll ceaselessly be grateful to Cody and Chris.”
Prepared and in Full Gear
At AEW Full Gear, Baker will face her hardest check when she battles Saraya (previously Paige in WWE) in her extremely anticipated return match, however the inaugural girl of AEW is able to make an announcement. “I imply, Saraya laid the muse, even earlier than the ‘4 Horsewomen’ did, if we’re being sincere,” says Baker. “She is a part of the group that acquired the ball rolling for (WWE administration to permit for) the longer matches, and the ladies to be revered extra (by eradicating the ‘Diva’ label from the division), or for the ladies to be seen simply as equal as the boys, and nobody can ever take that away from Saraya, that’s one thing she is going to at all times have within the historical past books, however what I can take away from her is the primary match again from her (neck) harm… as a result of she’s not going to win that one. The fairy story ending is just not going to pan out this time. But it surely’s nonetheless nice. She thought she was by no means going to wrestle once more, and now she is, it’s great, however she picked the incorrect lady as her first match again. You don’t begin on the prime; you’re employed your means as much as the highest.” The self-confidence that Baker has gained via sacrificing her personal blood, sweat, and tears places her in little doubt as to who the higher wrestler is. “If we wanna lay our matches out collectively, I believe far more folks would be capable to select a few of their favourite Brit Baker matches than their favourite Saraya matches,” says Baker. “This can be a totally different time and a distinct period, and I hope she will be able to go. That’s all I’m gonna say to her.” AEW Full Gear can be broadcast dwell on November 17 on pay-per-view and in chosen cinemas.
Comply with Britt Baker on Instagram @realbrittbaker.
