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

Sorry that this sucker is a bit late, I've had a wild finals week but now I'm on the other side! So let's talk this week in women's wrestling!



Nia Jax vs. Alexa Bliss (Raw Women's Championship match)

The buildup to this match was pretty uneven. Before Mania, it gained a lot of steam, but the foundation of this feud was so tired and shallow that really, it couldn't last forever. And boy, after Mania? There was nothing left to do.

There were a few fun moments in this match, including Jax catching Bliss as she attempted her high-flying finisher, but in the end, there was little to help this match be anything more than a bumpy end to a bumpy feud.

Jax is great, though.

Winner: Nia Jax
Rating: 2.5/5

Carmella vs. Charlotte Flair (SmackDown Women's Championship match)

Carmella is a brilliant character whose ring work has improved significantly. That said, this match also unfortunately suffered because the entire point of Carmella is that she avoids doing fun stuff. That's not to say I didn't enjoy watching it. It was amusing, and I'm a huge fan of Carmella. But having her go over "clean" still feels strange.

That said, it sets up a great arc for both Charlotte and Carmella. Charlotte certainly has something to fight for, and Carmella's "I beat Charlotte!" schtick is already a lot of fun.

Winner: Carmella
Rating: 2/5



Sasha Banks vs. Ruby Riott vs. Ember Moon (MITB Qualifier)

This was basically last week's match plus Ember Moon, but for once I'm not complaining. These three women have fantastic in-ring chemistry. The match was full of high-flying stunts and incredibly delightful striking, exactly the kind of quality wrestling one should be used to expecting from these three workhorses.

The Riott Squad tried interfering, but then Bayley emerged to make the save for Banks. However, Ember Moon capitalized on the chaos, hitting the Eclipse on Riott for the victory.

Ember Moon will be a thrill in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Her finisher practically begs to be hit from the ladder. However, I have to say this: Bayley and Sasha's feud is way too confusing to be fun anymore. I mean honestly, what even is going on? Are there any good guys? Is friendship a lie? Will this feud actually be given the story it deserves?

The world may never know.

Winner: Ember Moon
Rating: 3/5



Charlotte Flair vs. Peyton Royce (MITB Qualifier)

The IIconics are an absolute delight, but not even the antics of Billie Kay in the service of her life partner Peyton Royce would be enough to take down a Queen with a chip on her shoulder.

After a very fun, fast-paced match, Charlotte Flair took down Peyton Royce with a Figure Eight to secure herself a spot in the Money in the Bank ladder match. Charlotte looked every bit the resilient juggernaut that we've grown to adore, and it will be a lot of fun seeing her tear it up in a ladder match.

Word has it that Flair will be out for a while, as she needs to get surgery on a ruptured breast implant. Apparently, she's been wrestling through this injury for months. Good lord, that woman is an absolute beast. Tough as nails. Best wishes to her, and i hope she's able to come back soon! It should only be a few weeks, so hopefully she'll be ready for her ladder match!

Winner: Charlotte Flair
Rating: 2.5/5

Mandy Rose vs. Becky Lynch

There was a time when Becky Lynch was the first SmackDown Women's Champion and a thrilling fan favorite. Now, she's losing matches to Mandy Rose.

To be fair, Rose had to use a schoolboy to win, but still. Life is strange.

Winner: Mandy Rose
Rating: 1/5



Dakota Kai vs. Vanessa Borne

So, here's the good news, Dakota Kai fans: she won her match with her beautiful kicks and overall sense of adorable perfection. Now, for the bad news: immediately after this, Shayna Baszler emerged from backstage and positively demolished her. It's like she has a mental hold over poor Kai, who plays the part of the bullied victim to perfection.

Backstage, the bullying continued, and an ominous Nikki Cross just watched, like a predator stalking her prey.

Winner: Dakota Kai< Rating: 2/5



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

Pro-Wrestling: EVE

Match: Charlie Morgan vs. Charlii Evans (Pro-Wrestling: EVE Title match)
Winner: Charlie Morgan

STARDOM

Match: Hazuki & Kagetsu vs. Io Shirai & Momo Watanabe
Winners: Hazuki & Kagetsu

Making Towns Classic

Match: Kylie Rae vs. Allie Kat vs. Jordynne Grace vs. Samantha Heights
Winner: Kylie Rae



Though perhaps not the most significant match of this week, it was certainly the one I enjoyed the most. I could watch these three wrestle forever. This match was Raw at its best: physical, fun, and it actually had something at stake! What a novel concept!


Jax is on a roll. Even with a subpar feud, she continues to grow in popularity. And though her mic work is still a bit shaky, her message is profound and relatable. It's an absolute pleasure to watch her continue to grow as she settles into her role as champion.

It can be hard to go toe-to-toe with Impact's best character and still look wildly interesting, but Su Yung has absolutely delivered so far in her rivalry with Rosemary. I can't wait to see where they take it next.