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.
WWE Monday Night Raw
Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke vs Naomi & Lana
Rather than be an entertaining bout between two teams that actually care about battling for contention in the quest for the Women’s Tag Team Championship, this came across as a vehicle for Asuka’s return.
Dana Brooke managed to hit a Spinning Neckbreaker for the pinfall victory, but this match never really got out of first gear.
Winner: Mandy Rose & Dana Brooke
Rating: 2/5
Asuka vs Shayna Baszler
How to ruin a return in one night? Just use this match as a blueprint. Not entertaining at all.
Winner: Asuka
Rating: 1.5/5
AEW Dark: Elevation
Big Swole vs Skyler Moore
Big Swole defeated Skyler Moore in a fair contest, hitting a Dirty Dancing to secure the the spoils. The issue with this contest is the fact Swole should have enjoyed a squash victory here, but at least the match was entertaining enough.
Winner: Big Swole
Rating: 2/5
Tay Conti vs Ashley Vox
Tay Conti once again excelled, defeating Ashley Vox with ease. As fun as it is to watch her dominate, she needs to do something with more substance on Dynamite.
Winner: Tay Conti
Rating: 2.5/5
Dani Jordyn vs Red Velvet
Dani Jordyn and Red Velvet didn’t put on much of a match here, with both women failing to make a positive impression. Red Velvet won following Just Deserts, but in all honesty, I just did not care for these two.
Winner: Red Velvet
Rating: 2/5
Ray Lyn vs Abadon
Abadon. Squash. Entertaining.
Winner: Abadon
Rating: 2.5/5
Diamante vs Layla Grey
Diamante. Squash. Mediocre.
Winner: Diamante
Rating: 2/5
Riho vs. Maki Itoh
Serving as the main event for the first ever episode of AEW Dark: Elevation, both Riho and Maki Itoh put on a splendid contest. The action was frenetic and entertaining, whilst also displaying some of the more hidden talents in AEW’s women’s division, considering how little they have featured on the product as of late.
Riho won with a Double Knee Strike, but both women can come away from this match with their reputations enhanced.
Winner: Riho
Rating: 3/5
Impact Wrestling
Tenille Dashwood, Deonna Purrazzo, Susan, Kimber Lee & Fire 'N' Flava vs Jordynne Grace, Jazz, Havok, Nevaeh, ODB & Alisha Edwards
This match featured way too much chaos to find it interesting, but it served as a way to get multiple storylines featured on the show.
Jazz submitted Kimber Lee with an STF to give the faces some real momentum, but with more time and better direction, this could have been a much better contest.
Winner: Jordynne Grace, Jazz, Havok, Nevaeh, ODB & Alisha Edwards
Rating: 2/5
AEW Dark
Leyla Hirsch vs Savannah Evans
Leyla Hirsch once again displayed her submission talents as she easily put away Savannah Evans. Hirsch was great to watch here, whilst Evans didn’t put a foot wrong in defeat.
Winner: Leyla Hirsch
Rating: 2.5/5
Tesha Price vs Penelope Ford
This was a match that existed. It neither stunk out the joint or came across well, but at least Penelope Ford didn’t let Jim Cornette get to her.
Winner: Penelope Ford
Rating: 2/5
Kilynn King vs Jazmin Allure
This too was a match that failed to make a real impression, with Kilynn King securing the pinfall victory in rather unremarkable fashion.
Winner: Kilynn King
Rating: 2/5
Vertvixen vs Madi Wrenkowski
Madi Wrenkowski put in a much stronger effort this week, defeating Vertvixen in the most competitive women’s match of the night. Vertvixen didn’t look bad, but this was all about Wrenkowski.
Winner: Madi Wrenkowski
Rating: 2.5/5
AEW Wednesday Night Dynamite
Jade Cargill vs Dani Jordyn
This was 110% a trip to Squash City. Jade Cargill impressed as she easily defeated Dani Jordyn, looking like a real threat to the rest of AEW’s women’s division.
Winner: Jade Cargill
Rating: 2.5/5
Britt Baker vs Thunder Rosa
This. Match. Was. Amazing!
I genuinely believe this was the single greatest women’s match in AEW history, featuring a high level of violence that actually justified the use of the Lights Out stipulation. Both women bled, but Britt Baker bled in such a manner that her facial reactions are now iconic.
Thunder Rosa finally secured the pinfall victory by sending Baker through a table in a sick bump, signalling the end to the best women’s match of the year so far. The level of brutality here was matched by perfect in ring psychology. If you haven’t watched this match, do so now!
Winner: Thunder Rosa
Rating: 5/5
WWE NXT
Dakota Kai vs Zoey Stark
Dakota Kai reinforced just how talented she is in the ring this week by elevating Zoey Stark. Both women worked hard to create a hard hitting bout, but it was Kai who looked unbeatable, racking up a pinfall victory following a Go To Kick.
Winner: Dakota Kai
Rating: 3/5
WWE NXT UK
Meiko Satomura vs Dani Luna
Meiko Satomura regained her momentum here with a swift victory over Dani Luna, who offered no tangible resistance at all.
Winner: Meiko Satomura
Rating: 2/5
WWE Friday Night SmackDown
Sasha Banks vs Nia Jax
This was an awful match, with Nia Jax once again looking reckless in the ring. Sasha Banks retained her SmackDown Women’s Championship, but it almost came at the cost of her health.
Winner: Sasha Banks
Rating: 1.5/5
Bianca Belair vs Shayna Baszler
Serving to make Natalya and Tamina look dangerous, this was a piss poor excuse of a match. Both women deserve much better.
Winner: No Contest
Rating: 1/5
WWE Fastlane 2021
Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler vs Sasha Banks & Bianca Belair
Although this contest was not flat out bad, it was certainly a huge disappointment. However, I didn’t expect much from this contest, so maybe I should go easier on both teams.
Shayna Baszler stole the victory by capitalising on the capitulation of Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair. Despite WWE having the opportunity to make fans care about the SmackDown Women’s Championship feud, this match failed to make anyone care about that feud or the Women’s Tag Team Championship.
Winner: Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler
Rating: 2/5
MATCH OF THE WEEK:
Britt Baker vs Thunder Rosa
This was certainly the best women's match of 2021 so far.
WOMEN OF THE WEEK:
Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa
Neither woman can be separated by how strong their performance was this week, and after the brutality of the match left it's mark on them, both women deserve this week’s accolade.
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE WEEK:
Sasha Banks' feud with Bianca Belair
Simply put, WWE has dropped the ball on what should have been a fairly easy feud to book.
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!
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