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, ROH's Women of Honor, and even a glimpse at the women on the independent circuit.



Lacey Evans vs Natalya

These 2 appear to have a mini rivalry on Raw as this was their second match in 2 weeks, however this contest didn't feel much better than last week's offering. The match itself wasn't offensive, however it wasn't interesting as Lacey Evans doesn't have the best move set or ability in the women's division.

Natalya tried her best to make Evans look good, however the finish of the match had Evans submit to Natalya's Sharpshooter after little effort to wear Evans down. WWE has an issue with 50/50 booking and this match is a perfect example of this, as Evans' victory last week should have been capitalised on, rather than giving Natalya an opportunity to get even. They will most likely have a third match next week, however it is not a contest I am looking forward to watching. This match was however a lot better than some of Evans' recent efforts, with a short match like this one hiding her lack of ability.

Winner: Natalya
Rating: 1.5/5


Becky Lynch & Charlotte vs Sasha Banks & Bayley

The Four Hoursewomen are the shining stars of the women's division, and for good reason. They perform at a consistently high level whilst captivating the imagination of fans, and the current storylines going into this match were a perfect example of this. Bayley is fresh off a heel turn, whilst both Becky Lynch and Charlotte were looking for retribution from last week's attacks by Sasha Banks and Bayley.

Lynch and Charlotte started the match by taking out Banks and Bayley in a brawl on the floor, which added to the intensity of the match and effectively put over the idea of Lynch and Charlotte being hungry for revenge. Both teams had periods of dominance, with everyone being able to shine and show just how good they are. The finish of the match had Charlotte hit a Natural Selection on Bayley for a clean victory, which was not the anticipated finish to the match with Clash of Champions coming up this Sunday. This decisive victory allowed Lynch and Charlotte to look dominant going into their respective matches at Clash of Champions, whilst giving Banks and Bayley a reason to tap into higher level of performance to be victorious.

This match was a perfect example of why WWE's women's division is a delight to watch at times, which also gives fans a reason to look forward to Clash of Champions. I really enjoyed this match, and I hope that we have more quality women's matches like this over the next few weeks on Raw.

Winner: Becky Lynch & Charlotte
Rating: 4/5



Nikki Cross vs Mandy Rose

This match followed Mandy Rose explaining how she would be embarrassed to look like Nikki Cross, which in itself is a poor way to promote a match. That issue aside, this match was actually interesting as Cross was able to overcome Rose for the victory, whilst Alexa Bliss was able to mitigate the interference of Sonya Deville. Cross won with a Cradle for the pinfall victory after a missed High Cross attempt.

Cross not only took the victory, but she also gave herself and Bliss the momentum going into Sunday's Women's Tag Team Championship match at Clash of Champions. Cross carried herself well in this match, however Rose continued to struggle as she seems out of her depth in a singles match. I don't have high hopes for Sunday's match, however Bliss and Cross are an entertaining team that could make a short match look better than it actually is.

Winner: Nikki Cross
Rating: 2/5


Bayley vs Ember Moon

Since Bayley's heel turn last week, she has yet to evolve her move set in the ring to reflect the change in her personality. Her moves remain the same as those she was using as face, and this issue was present in this match, however the match itself was good.

This contest was fairly even, with neither wrestler able to establish an extended period of control, however the finish came when Bayley managed to avoid the Eclipse and respond with a Bayley to Belly for the pinfall victory. Bayley winning was the right call as she needed a victory going into Clash of Champions, although credit has to be given to Ember Moon for putting in a better performance here than she did at SummerSlam against Bayley.

Winner: Bayley
Rating: 2.5/5



Tenille Dashwood vs Kiera Hogan

This was Tenille Dashwood's in ring debut for Impact Wrestling, and thankfully for the Knockouts division, Dashwood put in a great performance. Kiera Hogan held her own in the ring with Dashwood, however the talent and experience of Dashwood showed as she absorbed all the damage inflicted by Hogan, whilst effectively wearing Hogan down with a series of strong moves.

The finish of the match came when Dashwood was able to hit her signature Spotlight kick for the pinfall victory, which looked very impressive. This victory underlined what Dashwood can bring to the Knockouts division, and it won't be long before she sets her sights on the Knockouts Championship. On this performance alone, Dashwood will be an effective challenger, and no doubt will also be a star of the division.

Winner: Tenille Dashwood
Rating: 3/5



Tegan Nox vs Shax

Welcome to Squash City. Tegan Nox introduced herself to the NXT UK audience with a dominant 30 second victory over Shax in which she hit a Head Kick, Fallaway Slam and a Shining Wizard for the pinfall victory. This put Nox over as an absolute beast in the best possible manner, however you do need to feel sorry for Shax acting as the sacrificial lamb here. In terms of squash matches, this was one of the finest I have seen in a long time.

After the match, Kay Lee Ray arrived to criticise Nox and complain about how no one is talking about her NXT UK Women's Championship victory at NXT UK TakeOver: Cardiff. This led to Nox saying she would be ready for a match with Ray, which is admittedly an interesting prospect. It will be interesting to see how their match is built towards in the coming weeks.

Winner: Tegan Nox
Rating: 3/5



Shayna Baszler vs Rhea Ripley

The excitement level for this match was off the charts, especially as Rhea Ripley seems to be positioned as the wrestler to finally defeat Shayna Baszler for the NXT Women's Championship. The match started off with Ripley trying to gain control and work on Baszler's arm, only for Baszler to counter with her own arm offense. Neither wrestler was able to take control for an extended period, however Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke arrived to interfere before being taken out by Ripley. This led to Baszler grabbing a chair to hit Ripley with, however Ripley hit Baszler instead for the DQ finish.

As a first time encounter, a DQ finish works well as a longer and more decisive match can be built towards. A lot of the excitement for this match still remains, and undoubtedly the promos and interactions for their next contest will be compelling viewing. Ripley was presented as Baszler's equal here, and despite losing by DQ, Ripley's burgeoning reputation has been enhanced. For a weekly NXT match, this contest was highly effective at building heat and anticipation for this feud.

Winner: Shayna Baszler
Rating: 2.5/5



The IIconics vs Dana Brooke & Sarah Logan

Finally, Main Event shows some modicum of variety, however this was not an interesting match. The Main Event formula was evident in this match as it felt inconsequential, with wins and losses seemingly meaning nothing. Dana Brooke and Sarah Logan also failed to gel as a team, with no real reason provided for why they would be teaming up to face The IIconics.

The match trundled along with no real advantage for either team until Brooke accidentally took out Logan with the Back Handspring Elbow, which allowed The IIconics to hit Brooke with a Double Knee Strike for the pinfall victory. The IIconics didn't gain anything in victory, whilst the series of matches between Brooke and Logan appears destined to continue following Brooke accidentally taking out Logan. Unfortunately, Main Event continues to be a chore to watch.

Winner: The IIconics
Rating: 1.5/5


This match was simply a great preview of the matches at Clash of Champions, with each of the Four Horsewomen putting on a great performance. This match was also interesting because rather than have a count out or DQ finish, there was a decisive winner which was refreshing to see. These 4 remain the best performing women on the main roster, and this match is a perfect example of why.


Tenille Dashwood made her in ring debut for Impact Wrestling this week, in a match that put her over perfectly as a threat. Dashwood is a skilled wrestler, whilst also being a name that can enhance the reputation of the Knockouts division.

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!