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 GFW's Knockouts, Lucha Underground's luchadoras, and even a glimpse at the women on the independent circuit.


Mickie James vs. Nia Jax

Um, so is there a reason or explanation for Alexa Bliss and Nia jax making up? Have we forgotten that Jax literally and figuratively dropped Bliss because she wanted the title? No? Okay, good, now that we've covered THAT... Mickie hunted down Bliss to demand a match, but Bliss put her up against Jax instead.

With Bliss at ringside (I can't get over how lazy this is, FIGHT ME), Jax started off the match in almost complete control, but James managed to rally twice with elbows and kicks. However, both times, she was cut off. On her third rally, James looked to be gaining the serious upper hand, so Bliss ran in to intervene, giving James the win via DQ. James then proceeded to drop Bliss at ringside.

I don't get the whole "Mickie is old" thing, considering she's a year younger than AJ Styles and three years older than Natalya and we don't see them in age-related storylines. But you know, women in their upper thirties clearly lose all attractiveness and are therefore useless, so I shouldn't be surprised, shouldn't I? Is my bitterness showing? I hope it is.

Winner: Mickie James
Rating: 3/5

Sasha Banks & Bayley vs. Emma & Alicia Fox

A fairly even tag match between Raw's favorite besties and most underrated talents ended with Emma walking away from Fox and Bayley taking advantage by hitting the Bayley-to-Belly for the pinfall victory.

Rumors are flying of a heel turn for Bayley, but I really and truly hope they don't go down that route. bayley is a tailor-made babyface who just needs a proper storyline and decent booking to succeed. If anyone should turn heel, it's Sahsa Banks, who is vastly limited as "the boss" by being a babyface and is growing stale.

Winner: Sasha Banks & Bayley
Rating: 3/5



Charlotte Flair & Becky Lynch vs. Carmella & Natalya

Nattie and Carmella both made good work of Charlotte and Lynch with underhanded tactics, much as anyone would expect. A briefcase shot on Lynch distracted Charlotte enough for Natalya to lock in the Sharpshooter for the victory.

...that means Charlotte's winning on Sunday, right? Right?

Winners: Natalya & Carmella
Rating: 2.5/5



Ruby Riot & Nikki Cross vs. The Iconic Duo

Have I ever mentioned how much I love reluctant tag teams? All the time? Oops, my bad, guys, well, I'll just repeat it: I love reluctant tag teams, and Ruby Riot and Nikki Cross' partnership is an absolute delight to watch. For most of the match, Riot was on her own (as is tradition), and took a fair share of a beating before Cross finally arrived and brought her unique brand of fury to the match before Riot tagged back in for a pinfall.

This is a great way to build Riot and Cross up while the two wait for the top of the women's card to clear a little for them. Cross is handling her babyface status very well and hasn't changed what makes her so much fun. And Riot is as reliably fun as ever, her cheery brand of anarchy proving a fantastic foil to Cross' unpredictability.

Winner: Ruby Riot
Rating: 3.5/5


Kairi Sane vs. Aliyah

THE PIRATE PRINCESS IS HERE!

Following a fun, albeit short, match against a surprisingly competitive-looking Aliyah, Kairi Sane walked away with her first victory in an NXT ring with her signature spear and Insane Elbow from the top rope.

To absolutely nobody's surprise, Kairi was an instant hit with the Full Sail crowd. Her adorable sweetness and wild strikes are the perfect combination. She's a star, and we are all lucky to bask in her light.

Yeah, that's cheesy. But it's Kairi so trust me, it's accurate.

Winner: Kairi Sane
Rating: 3/5



Sienna will be defending her title against Allie, Taryn Terrell and Gail Kim at Bound for Glory, which for some reason means that Rosemary and Taya won't be in the title picture. Huh. Maybe they'll face each other?



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

Westside Xtreme Wrestling

Match: Toni Storm vs. Viper
Winner: Toni Storm

Pro-Wrestling: EVE

Match: Sammii Jayne vs. Debbie Sharpe
Winner: Sammi Jayne

WCPW

Match: Kay Lee Ray vs. Bea Priestley (WCPW Women's Championship match)
Winner: Kay Lee Ray

PROGRESS

Match: Charli Evans vs. Jinny
Winner: Charli Evans



Like I said earlier, reluctant tag teams make me happy. Billie Kay and Peyton Royce continue to prove themselves not only entertaining, but also reliable in the ring as devious heels. They have great chemistry with Riot and Cross both, who have proven to be more entertaining together than anyone could have predicted.


She made Charlotte tap and is about to set two records at Hell in a Cell. It could only be her.

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! Also, come back next week for a full breakdown of the Mae Young Classic's first round of episodes and matches.