WWE is notorious for only paying attention to their top tier of wrestlers. Lately, if your name isn’t John Cena, Randy Orton, or Roman Reigns, chances are you aren’t even on the radar. Take for instance the recent release of A+ wrestler-or should I say A Double, Austin Aries. By all accounts a superb wrestling technician. Many fellow wrestlers have stated what a loss for WWE. Of course, Aries’ height worked against him. He was by no means a large man at 5 feet and 9 inches tall when WWE wants to push guys like “7 foot tall” Big Cass-more like 6 foot nine.
It just goes to show that WWE cares less about real talent than it does a certain look. Amazingly though, a lot of the smaller athletes are highlighted. They even have their own show, 205 Live. And while the smaller wrestlers have a cruiserweight championship and their own color ring ropes, that’s it. No tag titles, not even tag teams to compete in the tag divisions. But they aren’t the bottom rung.
I don’t consider Total Divas to be an extension of the wrestling product. It’s a reality show along the lines of Real Housewives. It enforces all the stereotypes. Stereotypes where women throw punches and suplexes. What’s the old saying of women wrestlers? It’s not sugar and spice, it’s piss and vinegar.
I had high hopes when it was announced that the Diva’s title would be gone and a WWE Women’s World championship would be unveiled. Finally! A Women’s WORLD Championship. That one word meant a lot. Up to now, it’d just been the women’s championship or even worse, Diva’s championship. One night after the debut and “world” was dropped. How disappointing.
The women wrestlers don’t even have their own show like 205 Live. There are two titles, Raw and Smackdown, but really, there should be a World Women’s title and another 2nd tier belt, as well as a Women’s tag title. WWE is missing the big picture. It’s great that they feature the women wrestlers, even in the main event sometimes, but the variety on each show comes down to about six wrestlers. I know…I know, about the amount Vince can apparently juggle in his mind when it comes to storylines. I get it…John Cena, Randy Orton, Roman Reigns, Brock Lesnar, uh…jobber 1, jobber 2, jobber 3, etc.
Despite featuring a singular hand full of female wrestlers on both brands, WWE should have a women’s network show. How is this not even a thing? A full hour, at the minimum, devoted to the women of (WWE) wrestling from both brand extensions and NXT. Hold on to your hats now, I’m talking about a throwback to the old regional days. Remember when the NWA champion would travel from territory to territory? Imagine a Women’s WORLD Champion that not only was the feature of a weekly Women of Wrestling show on the WWE Network but also featured on both (that’s right! Gasp!) brand extensions.
Of course, this would eliminate the red and blue Raw and Smackdown women’s champions. Honestly, which ever title isn’t used for the World championship should be doubled for a Women’s Tag Championship. And they could also feature the NXT Women’s championship (which could be argued is more prestigious than either Raw or SD title currently). It’s time WWE started taking the women wrestlers seriously. They’re more than glamor models now. Many are long time wrestlers that have paid their dues like Asuka who once faced Minoru Suzuki in a super uncomfortable match to watch to show how tough she is. (MiSu twice beat Ken Sharmock in Pancrase. Legit.)
With a women’s roster together of Alexa Bliss, Alicia Fox, Bayley, Dana Brooke, Emma, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Tamina, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Carmella, Charlotte, Lana, Naomi, Natalya, Allyah, Asuka, Billie Kay, Ember Moon, Liv Morgan, Peyton Royce, Nikki Cross, Ruby Riot, Mandy Rose, and the recently returned Maria. Whew…so quite a few to say the least. The up and comers would do well to be in the ring with veterans even if they have to job for awhile. The hour long show would allow storylines to be developed across the platform whether on the Network show, NXT, Raw, or Smackdown. Plus it gives them more ring time, more video footage to use, and the ability to use that air time more effectively.
Let’s be honest, WWE Main Event has two matches and is a recap show which is exactly what the shows after RAW and Talking Smack are for. Even from a business stand point, it would make the most sense. Get your money’s worth WWE. And give the fans something worth watching.
