Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of WOMEN'S WRESTLING WEEKLY—a rundown of the events which have transpired in the world of women's professional wrestling over the past several days not just with the Superstars on WWE programming, but with TNA's Knockouts, Lucha Underground's luchadoras, and even a glimpse at the women on the independent circuit.



Alexa Bliss & Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks & Bayley

Bliss and Banks’ rivalry has turned out to be surprisingly fun and intense. This match, while predictable and cookie-cutter to an extent, was decent action-wise, but also pointed out a larger problem with Raw’s women that Creative will need to deal with:

Their feuds are all connected with the title scene. And I’m not convinced that in a three-hour-long broadcast, they don’t have room to build stories independent from the championship. Forced tag matches wear out potential storylines very quickly. Jax is clearly being primed for a title shot someday, but if rumors are to be believed, it might not be for a while yet. That being said, she was impressive in this match and sold the bear hug well. She has a unique kind of charisma that meshes well with the likes of Banks and even Bliss.

It’s truly a shame, however, that Bayley is so directionless right now. Something needs to change before she loses ALL momentum. She has charisma and a good moveset. All she needs is a well-executed underdog story. Which is easier said than done, of course, but still. They’ve done it before and should be able to do it again.

I expect a fun slug-fest between Banks and Bliss on Sunday, if they are given the time. They’re both crisp in the ring and very intense, so if given the chance, they WILL deliver.

Winner: Sasha Bans & Bayley
Rating: 2.5/5



Naomi vs. Lana (WWE SmackDown Women’s Championship match)

Sunset flip, submission, done.

GOOD.

After the match, Tamina joined Lana and led her from the ring. Looks like she is once again working as a bodyguard, which works for her, I suppose. Lana losing very definitively was absolutely the right decision. She is still excessively green, and it makes no sense for her to be a match for Naomi in the slightest.

Winner: Naomi
Rating: 1/5



Rebel vs. Sienna (GFW Knockouts Championship match)

After a strong round of offense from Rebel, Sienna took control of the match back when KM caught her after a crossbody and delivered her into the ring for Sienna to take out with a sleeper.

I’m not a huge fan of Rebel, but this match served its purpose, giving Sienna a signature win while allowing Rebel to look decent even in defeat.

With the brand merger, I expect the Knockouts to have plenty going on in the coming months. Hopefully, TN-I mean, GFW doesn't fall into the trap of using its women for the sake of having them on a card, and gives them something truly substantial story and time-wise.

Winner: Sienna
Rating: 2/5




This section includes recaps of matches from around the world in various lesser-known independent promotions throughout the week.

RISE and SHIMMER

I'm going to switch things up a little for this week, because SHIMMER and RISE both held phenomenal events over the weekend and I cannot stress enough how much good they do for women on the independent circuit.

Shotzi Blackheart is someone I was lucky enough to see live, and as Phoenix of RISE Champion, she is charismatic and engaging in and out of the ring. Similarly, in SHIMMER, Mercedes Martinez has defended her title well and done a phenomenal job elevating all of her challengers while doing so.

These companies give women a platform to show their talent and hone their skills. SHIMMER has given us athletes like Ember Moon, Bayley and has even played host to Asuka in her independent days. Their DVDs chronicle their storied histories, and as RISE gains traction, I expect women's wrestling in the United States will only grow.



No women on NXT this week, so I'm in a bit of a bind. I wasn't fond of many of the matches I saw on television this week, but since I have to choose, I guess I'll go with Raw's tag match. The women work well together (probably because they wrestle ONLY each other) and put on a fun match that served its purpose.


I said most of this above, but I will repeat: the women in both of these promotions are the future of women's wrestling. I implore all of you to look at local indie promotions in your areas and see if any members of these rosters are booked. They are athletes and performers who put on amazing matches, and will continue to do so for years to come.

So there you have it, the breakdown for the week in women's wrestling. What were some of your favorite and least favorite moments from these women? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!