WWE has really been focusing on the women when it comes to its specials as of late. We recently had Chronicle episodes from both Lana and Bayley as well as a Liv Morgan documentary. Next up is Bianca Belair who is certainly a rising star and one to watch for 2021. This journey for Belair’s … Read more
Bayley will be the next guest on Steve Austin’s Broken Skull Sessions. In case you haven’t watched this show on the WWE Network, Hall of Famer Steve Austin sits down with a guest to talk about their careers. The last guest was WWE Champion Drew McIntyre. This episode is set to air on Jan. 10 … Read more
Trish Stratus has been in the news recently in regards to helping out in NXT. Although the Hall of Famer says there hasn’t been the right time for any of that to occur, there is still some unfinished business when it comes to Sasha Banks. Stratus and Banks came face to face at the first-ever … Read more
There isn’t anything concrete but it is being mentioned that former two-time WWE Women’s Champion Molly Holly may be involved with the upcoming RAW Legends Night. The event will be the first RAW of 2021 on Jan. 4. According to Fightful Select, Molly is on a list of additional names that haven’t been announced for … Read more
The rumors/spoilers have been flowing but WWE officially has announced the Women’s Tag Team Championship match for this Friday’s SmackDown. As the spoilers depicted, Asuka & Charlotte Flair will be defending their Women’s Tag Team Titles in a triple threat against Bayley/Carmella and Bianca Belair/Sasha Banks. It will be an elimination match and this will … Read more
A huge match was revealed tonight for the first show of 2021 for NXT: New Year’s Evil. We will see the two powerhouses, Rhea Ripley and Raquel Gonzalez, go at it in a Last Woman Standing Match. These two women have had a rivalry that has spanned over the past few months. The thing about … Read more
Mercedes Martinez hasn’t been seen in NXT since the beginning of September when she lost to Rhea Ripley in a steel cage match. Since then, Martinez was part of the stable RETRIBUTION on the main roster but was removed prior to her moniker being mentioned. She has been missing ever since….until tonight. The return came … Read more
Tonight’s NXT has a scheduled match between Rhea Ripley and Dakota Kai. This will be Kai’s first match and appearance since WarGames a few weeks ago. As for Ripley, she was bested by Toni Storm last week. The fight also appears to be far from over between Raquel Gonzalez and Ripley. The two exchanged words … Read more
The Slammy Awards returned this year for the first time since 2015. The awards ceremony took place earlier today and several female WWE Superstars took home the much-coveted awards. The show was hosted by R-Truth and several WWE legends presented the awards. Trish Stratus presented the award for “Female Superstar of the Year” which went … Read more
Candice LeRae, along with seven other women, put on a hell of a WarGames match just a few weeks ago. Stemming from that match was several speculations on injuries including a broken arm to LeRae and another injury to Dakota Kai. It was cleared up that Kai wasn’t injured and that she has been kept … Read more
Another year is coming to a close, and Evolution 2 remains nowhere to be seen. This year was the second anniversary of Evolution, WWE’s first-ever all-women pay-per-view. The event was a resounding success as it featured WWE Superstars, legends and trailblazers all involved. Matches such as Trish Stratus and Lita versus Alicia Fox and Mickie … Read more
Trish Stratus spoke with Women’s Wrestling Talk and the idea of her working behind the scenes in NXT was discussed. She has mentioned that she has spoken several times with NXT Head Trainer, Matt Bloom. Although Stratus has concluded that she is finished with in-ring performing, she has mentioned the idea of writing or producing … Read more
It was announced last night during RAW that the Women’s Tag Team Championships will be defended this Friday on SmackDown. The newly crowned champions of Charlotte Flair & Asuka will have to defend their titles they won at the TLC pay-per-view against a team that has not been disclosed. This will be the first time … Read more
During RAW tonight, it was advertised that in two weeks we will be getting a RAW Legends Night. Advertised during the video included the following women: Beth Phoenix Torrie Wilson Jacqueline Ivory Melina Alicia Fox Mickie James This will be the first RAW of the new year. The last time an event such as this … Read more
With only a couple of RAW’s left for 2020, tonight’s episode will see the fall out from the TLC pay-per-view. Charlotte Flair made her return at last night’s event. This was her first time back in the ring in six months. Her return was as the mystery partner for Asuka, which was highly expected. The … Read more
WWE’s final event of 2020, Tables, Ladders and Chairs is over and all the dust has settled. The two women’s matches were both excellent encounters and had a huge impact on their respective brands. It will be very interesting to see in which direction the company will take as we close out the year and … Read more
For the past several months there was a big build for Lana. She certainly has had a whirlwind of a year. She has gone from losing every match she was put into to then becoming Soul Survivor at Survivor Series. From that victory at Survivor Series, she started to win matches with Asuka and even … Read more
Charlotte Flair made her return to the ring tonight at the TLC pay-per-view as Asuka’s mystery partner in the Women’s Tag Team Championship match. This was her first match back in six months. The match originally was planned to be the champions Nia Jax & Shayna Baszler against the RAW Women’s Champion Asuka & Lana. … Read more
The final WWE show of 2020 is here and what a crazy ride it has been! Tables, Ladders and Chairs gives us two women’s matches to look forward too. Sasha Banks vs Carmella for the SmackDown Women’s Championship. This match was on the cards ever since Carmella returned and attacked Banks every chance she got. … Read more
It has been just about a year since Liv Morgan interrupted Lana’s wedding to Bobby Lashley and revealed that she and Lana were past lovers. The two had a couple of matches as a result earlier in the year. The storyline, however, was rarely touched upon. WWE has always been scrutinized for LGBTQ storylines and with valid reasons.
Morgan recently spoke to Inside the Ropes where she said she would be open to revisiting that storyline.
“I would love to touch on that story again because I think it’s so important just to show not different people but, you know, ‘Hey, maybe I love this girl,’ you know, like, I think it’s important just to show that. But I don’t think you ever can say never in WWE. I think anything and everything is open to being visited again. Is that happening? I have no idea. But would I like it? For sure.”
She further adds in some of the criticism that was received from portraying a lesbian character. Morgan says it was a mixed reaction. There were people who were happy she was back on screen regardless whereas there were others who felt the a lesbian should have portrayed that role.
“I think it was definitely split half and half and I think that’s because… I think people today, they want real representation. They want like… Characters are characters, but they want people that are really, maybe, experiencing these things to represent these characters. So I feel like, in that aspect, maybe it didn’t go over so well towards some people that felt like Lana’s secret lover could have been someone else that was maybe really into women, you know, but then on the other spectrum, this was my re-debut after like eight months off. So people were excited to see me and they were happy for me.”
A lot of the criticism came from the fact that this was a rumored storyline between Sonya Deville and Mandy Rose prior to this which obviously never came to light.
Lana previously mentioned she would love to revisit this as well. Right now both superstars are on opposite brands so don’t expect this to come to fruition anytime soon if it were to be brought up again. Lana has recently been receiving the most time she ever has in the ring. She was recently pulled from a tag title match for the TLC event after a kayfabe injury.
Although representation does matter, what would you think about them revisiting this? Leave your thoughts below.
Ding Dong! Hello! – We had another SmackDown where the women of the brand were well represented throughout. Three cohesive storylines A big match between Bayley and Bianca Belair was had along with Billie Kay finding her partner of the week while Carmella looking strong heading into the TLC pay-per-view. Let’s get into it!
First, we have a match between The Riott Squad and Billie Kay with a partner of her choosing. Last week Kay had found Natalya to be her partner through heavy research and her qualifications listed on her resume. Although she had the veteran on her side, the two would fail to pick up a win. This week, Kay challenged the squad again and said she had a new partner in place.
The Riott Squad defeated Billie Kay & Tamina
Billie Kay found herself her partner this week as Tamina. This wasn’t a huge surprise as Tamina is really the only woman left on the roster who is currently active. The Riott Squad shows some great teamwork as always with them isolating Kay at the end of the match by knocking Tamina off the apron. Liv Morgan would pick up the pin on Kay.
My thoughts are still firm that breaking up The IIconics to just have the two of them put in random tag teams was a bad idea. However, at least with Kay, this highlights her humor. Not sure how much longer they can continue this week after week partner idea unless they finally move some women from NXT up to the roster. If this somehow brings up the Robert Stone Brand I wouldn’t be mad at it.
Following this match, we had the Champagne Toast segment by Carmella.
During the toast, Carmella says she knows that she already has Sasha beat. The SmackDown Women’s Champion got herself disqualified last week according to Carmella because she felt her precious title slipping from her grasps. She adds that Banks always has to be the best and once she wins the title from her on Sunday, she won’t know what to do. As she ended her promo, Carmella snapped her finger for her assistant to give her a glass of champagne. She called it cheap and frantic, just like Sasha Banks.
Once Banks had heard enough, her music hits. Carmella’s assistance leaves the ring to cut off The Boss on the ramp. Banks however wasn’t coming from the back. She showed up in the ring and threw a champagne glass at Carmella and then took her down. Banks tried to lock in the bank statement but Carmella fought it off as her assistant came back into the ring and pulled Banks off. Banks would then slap her assistant and go for a backstabber.
Much like last week, Carmella smashes another champagne bottle over the back of the SmackDown Women’s Champion to end the segment.
Let’s pause for a second and admire this attire….
Lastly, we have the advertised match between Bayley and Bianca Belair. This was a highly anticipated match to see these two finally go at it. A new rivalry that will go on a bit longer with Belair hopefully getting the last laugh.
Bayley defeated Bianca Belair
What I will say about this match is the athleticism from Belair, my lord! but we already knew that. It just impresses me every time. The final moments of the match saw Bayley attempt to cheat by using the ropes for leverage to get the pin. The referee saw it and Belair countered it into an excellent pin of her own but Bayley kicked out.
Moments later, Belair would stack Bayley up and get a near fall. She went to lift her up and the shoulders fell again for a near fall. Belair finally got Bayley up but Bayley raked the eyes without the referee seeing it. She then delivered the Rose Plant to pick up the victory.
I thought this was a solid first match between the two. It is far from over and eventually, I see Bayley helping Belair get over and elevate her. What I felt was good about this match is I could have seen it going either way. The way it went was done well and I am excited to see more from these two. I wish they were on the upcoming pay-per-view.
Let’s get into the Winners & Losers of the week for SmackDown.
WINNERS: The Riott Squad
It is good seeing them stringing some wins together. As the new year approaches they need to be next in line for the tag titles and win them. I can see that happening either way after the Women’s Tag Team Title match on Sunday at TLC. If Nia and Shayna retain then I can see the Riott Squad finally getting the win over them. If Asuka and her mystery partner win, I can see it being a short reign.
WINNER: Carmella
Carmella certainly has the upper hand going into the pay-per-view. Week after week she seems to get the better of the exchange with Sasha, for the most part. I give it a very slim chance that she will take the title from Sasha on Sunday, so it is good they are letting her shine heading into that match.
I am a big fan of her entrance, theme, etc. I may be in the minority with that, but I dig it.
They put on a solid first match between the two and did it in a way of me wanting more and I appreciate that. These two have good chemistry I feel both in-ring and with their promos. It makes sense for this to continue to at least the Royal Rumble, if not further.
As for the losers this week, I don’t really feel as though anyone would be in that category. The blue brand has been delivering pretty well. I feel that with Billie Kay, this new partner weekly is at least humorous and she is doing well with it. I will hold judgment to see how it continues next week.
What did you think of this week’s SmackDown? Who were your Winners & Losers? Speaking of Winners, check back in with Diva Dirt this weekend to see the results of the Fan Awards!
TLC takes place this Sunday as well, so check back in with Diva Dirt for that discussion post and any news, rumors, and results.
Tonight’s SmackDown is the last stop before the TLC pay-per-view this Sunday. The match from the blue brand represented at that event will see SmackDown Women’s Champion Sasha Banks taking on Carmella. The two battled one-on-one for the first time last week on SmackDown in the main event. That match ended up in a disqualification … Read more
On this week’s episode of NXT UK, a huge number one contenders match for NXT UK Women’s Championship was announced. The match between Jinny and Piper Niven will take in three weeks time on Jan, 7. Jinny and Niven have been on a collision course ever since the “Fashionista” cost Niven a chance at the … Read more
Dakota Kai has been missing from NXT programming ever since she was part of the hellacious WarGames match nearly two weeks ago. She hasn’t been seen on the past two episodes of the black and gold brand. The original report stated that she was out due to an injury. She put her body on the … Read more
Advertised for tonight’s NXT is a match that fans haven’t seen in a while. This fight dates back to their time in NXT UK and that is Rhea Ripley vs. Toni Storm. The history between these two women will certainly not be forgotten and it will be exciting to see them go at it on … Read more
Raquel Gonzalez has been tearing through NXT as of late. In a recent interview, NXT’s biggest rising star spoke about the match she believes put her on the map. Speaking about the match with Wrestling Inc, Gonzalez said; “It opened a lot of people’s eyes. It opened their eyes to something I already knew, which … Read more
