Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Robert DeFelice, Ben Guest, and Jordan Chaffiotte will be giving their thoughts and predictions on the historic all women's Royal Rumble match!

It’s a first time ever that we never thought we would see in our lifetime, an all women’s Royal Rumble! Who’s going to win? Who is going to show up? Let’s discuss…


CHAFFIOTTE: Since I now watch wrestling on Hulu delay, I watched this segment at my work desk during lunch and DEFINITELY didn't cry a little. It was what we had been waiting for and it didn't quite happen last year, so the moment meant a lot to me. I want my wrestling to feel good, so I loved watching the girls' faces change as they realized what was going on. To the point of it being blatantly out of character, I'll concede I would've been just as happy to watch it on a WWE24. Certainly, I prefer it when these things feel more natural to the storyline and when they stop trying to create magic, but I liked it all the same.

As for the match itself, I'll always stand by the position that literal equality is a good place to start. I do want a more filled out roster, more consistent screen time and stories, and more main events. Royal Rumbles, Money in the Banks, Hell in a Cells, these are all really important to presenting the women as equal. Does it always have to be symmetrical? Of course not, and honestly, y'all can keep the Andre The Giant Battle Memorial. But the Royal Rumble is special and having a women's version matters.

Also cut Stephanie a break. Has she been an ideal advocate for women's wrestling? No, but she's put up with a lot of the sexism herself too and I believe she genuinely wants this. I'll take her breaking kayfabe over Shane dancing down to the ring to make the announcement any day of the week.

GUEST: I thought it was great and even though the roster might be spread a bit thin by a 30 woman match and a 20 woman match seems too secondary, I think it’s about time for this match and there’s no time like now to have it.

I understand why people are hesitant about the match and I think it could easily be made to look gimmicky or happening for the sake of happening, but I think it’s better to start it now and take the complaints before filling the roster out for next year to make it better.

DEFELICE: I’ll probably get a lot of flack for this, but I see no hope in the execution of this concept. I love the idea and I think this is the best roster to accomplish it, but I have no faith in the outcome of this. Really, for me, all of this women’s revolution stuff really comes off like desperate cries for notoriety on behalf of WWE. Much like that one really toxic, aging friend that you have on Facebook that is totally racist and sexist but goes out of their way to try and prove that they’re all for equality by giving backhanded compliments to whomever they’re accused of being prejudice towards, WWE is trying so hard to undo their past and get rid of the stigma that WWE women’s wrestling is essentially softcore porn.

Thanks to every female that has earned the right to be showcased in this first-ever matchup, I truly believe that stigma no longer applies. However, for me, there’s nothing more annoying than when a group of women are fighting and everything stops and turns into hugs and kisses because they just found out that they’re going to be given the chance to make history. Really? Every single woman was fighting, and they literally just stopped and became overjoyed and filled with love. That segment really could’ve ended with We Are Family playing in the background. It really annoys me that WWE wants to act like they’re at the forefront of progression when really they are way too late to the dance. As for Steph, I don’t really have much to say. Her character is supposed to be a total bitch, but when she comes out for the women, she becomes a voice of the modern-day empowered female. She’s just a talking head here. Meh...

Congratulations to every girl that worked their ass off to get here. Congratulations to every pioneer who is putting in the work when nobody believed in them. I love that we’ve come this far, but I worry that they’re going to try to let this match rest on its historic value alone. Remember Money in the Bank? I’m worried we’re gonna get that to the extreme. It is my sincere hope that whoever is put in charge of the creative process for this has a true love for these women and what they are trying to accomplish.


DeFELICE: The Bellas, especially Nikki, are the female Cena counterpart, so they should be in it. I totally see a Ronda Rousey entry and even a possible victory. I would also like to see some of the entrants from the Mae Young Classic this past summer, namely Candice LeRae and Nicole Savoy. I think former divas like Michelle McCool and Beth Phoenix also deserve spots. They were small glimmers of hope in an absolutely dead division and their contributions should be recognized with a spot in this match.

Speaking of which…

Trish Stratus and Lita deserve to not only be a part of this but to have a small exchange just for them. They were the only two hybrid divas. What I mean by that is in a time where bra and panties matches were the highest honor for divas/women wrestlers, these two were allowed to main event raw. That sort of thing happens quite often now, but back then it was a complete rarity back then, and it didn’t even happen again for another 12 years.

It will never happen, but I would lose my shit if AJ Lee managed to enter this match. The true pioneer of all of this. When it was literally a Barbie doll/pro model roster, she was talking about how it was her dream to wrestle. I often wonder if she’s proud of herself and if she regrets not being with the company today.

Regardless of whom, I do hope we get some surprises because that is a huge part of the Royal Rumble and the women deserve no different.

CHAFFIOTTE: I'd be really excited to see the Iconic Duo make their debut via this one. Billie Kay was talking about how excited she was on Twitter and while it's probably just because she's excited it's happening, I'll hold onto some hope. There might be something really big waiting for them on the main roster, I've heard suggestions that they join the Miztourage as Maryse's own henchwomen when she returns. They were born to be flunkies and they're so delightfully obnoxious.

Last year I was calling Emma to win the Rumble that never was, I suppose this time it's a little out of the question. Nikki Bella, though, could be a serious addition to the match. Her neck will always be a concern, but she's been getting back into ring shape and might do just fine on a part-time Cena-esque schedule. While we're talking about Bellas, Brie could also be a possibility, as she's also been working to get back in the ring. It could further whatever story they're working with Daniel Bryan that he gets her a spot in the Rumble.

GUEST: Ronda Rousey, Ember Moon, Kairi Sane, Peyton Royce, Billie Kay, a few of the women from the Mae Young Classic, maybe even Trish Stratus or Lita. I think there are endless possibilities for this, especially if they go for a 30 woman match.

Ronda Rousey or Shayna Baszler are my best bets if they are going to do the 4 Horsewomen vs 4 Horsewomen match at WrestleMania. It is also a good way to test Kay and Royce on the main roster before calling them up either immediately or after Mania


GUEST: It HAS to be Asuka for me. Losing the Rumble would somewhat jeopardize her winning streak and you can’t leave her out of it. It also keeps her out of the title picture for Elimination Chamber before giving her a big moment on the big stage.

Giving the win to Sasha Banks could also be a great option as she and Charlotte have really been the driving force behind the ‘women’s evolution’ and it would be great symbolism to have one of them win the Royal Rumble and have them both walk out of WrestleMania with titles.

CHAFFIOTTE: Paige. Paige. What's that? Paige.

And for anyone who is crying about any pictures or videos, I kindly invite you to tell Xavier Woods he can never be a Tag Team Champion again. That's what I thought.

Paige was my girl back when I first got into women's wrestling and it's always seriously bummed me out that she never seemed to soar after that first night. It may have been the pressure at such a young age, or just the utter lack of creative direction, but this is her chance to take back her legacy. She needs to face Asuka at Mania, and she needs to win, but getting there, we need to watch her struggle. Maybe Absolution starts to crack under the pressure, maybe Paige has bitten off more than she can chew, or maybe she's just downright nervous. She's such a great heel but that doesn't mean she can never show some heart. You could also potentially do a double turn provided the WWE Universe gets solidly behind Paige and all she's accomplished. I don't think Asuka will take too well to losing her undefeated streak.

There's a story to be told here. Everything she's been through over the last few years, the rollercoaster of her career, her huge injury, her comeback, her break up (divorce?), the aforementioned invasion of her privacy, there's so much emotion in all of that. I want to see what Paige looks like when she pours all of that heartache and pride into her matches. The result might be stunning.

DeFELICE: This is hard. This actually has a lot to do with why I don’t have faith in the execution. How do you pick a winner? The case Jordan presents for Paige is admirable, however, Paige just returned with a new heel stable, and I don’t think it’s worth throwing all that away, even if the redemption story is great. Personally, I think Asuka is way too obvious. Also, she shouldn’t win here because this is one match where she can lose without actually being defeated and they can even set up a WrestleMania story for her if they want. Nia would be great, as I always hate when the biggest competitor in the match brags about their advantage and then loses quite easily. However, she’s not at her toughest as she’s tied up with Enzo, so she’s a no go.

Then, of course, there is Ronda Rousey. While nothing is confirmed, she is heavily rumored to be a part of this. To have her win would be another travesty to everyone involved. "Congratulations on all your hard work, here is this real celebrity to take your spot on our biggest show of the year. Don’t worry though, we’ll be needing you for Battleground."

Here’s my philosophy: keep it simple. Give the win to a Horsewoman. They have the story, the passion, and all the history that is needed to create a moment like this. For my scenario, I’m going to choose Sasha Banks. Sasha wins the match and then goes on to jump ship to SmackDown Live, where she can challenge Charlotte for their Women’s Championship. Both girls have a history with each other and the kind of chemistry that is needed to be the first female main event of WrestleMania. I think they can do it and I think that’s what they should build to.