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.

Hello from a hotel room in scenic South Dakota, where the Wi-Fi is sketchy and the temperatures are in the single digits! Sorry for the delay, folks, but hopefully this is worth the wait. Let's dive in!



Ronda Rousey & Sasha Banks vs. Nia Jax & Tamina

Much as one would expect, Sasha Banks is still red hot after being thrust back into the spotlight and title scene. She and Rousey teamed up to take on would-be challenger Nia Jax and her tag partner Tamina. The match was fairly quick and standard, with Banks locking in theBanks Statement on Tamina, but the aftermath was of interest.

Rousey took to the mic to express her excitement at facing Banks, but a slip of words, coupled with Rousey's naturally annoying demeanor, led to Banks storming out of the ring and Rousey following her in distress, desperate to explain herself.

I guess all feuds start somewhere.

Winners: Sasha Banks & Ronda Rousey
Rating: 3/5

Bayley, Natalya & Nikki Cross vs. The Riott Squad

Bayley and Natalya disagreed over who should be blamed for the rift between Sasha Banks and Ronda Rousey, but luckily for them the enemy of an enemy is always a friend. After being antagonized by the Riott Squad, the pair teamed up with none other than the maniacal delight that is Nikki Cross.

WWE's method of double exposure before actually settling the new callups down is interesting and definitely new, but I don't mind it. It makes Nikki feel like the big deal she is and helps ease her into people's minds. This match was a fun showcase for Cross, who got to play hero at one point and was given plenty of character moments, but other than that felt pretty routine. Bayley pinned Liv Morgan after a brutal assist from Cross knocked Liv to the ground.

Winners: Bayley, Natalya & Nikki Cross
Rating: 3/5

Okay, so the tag titles...

...are BEAUTIFUL. Seriously, I think these belts are stunning, and I love that they are unique from the mens' titles. Bring on the feuds!



Becky Lynch vs. Peyton Royce

Bex opened the show with a promo that was actually a delight, saying that Asuka was finding out just how difficult leading a division is and, essentially, that she did it better. Asuka then came out and the pair exchanged words until the Iconic Duo joined the fray.

You can probably guess where this went.

Despite some heelish teamwork from WWE's closest thing to the Golden Lovers, Becky Lynch powered her way through the match, recovering from a brief momentum shift to tap Royce out with the Dis-Arm Her. Becky did not have much time to celebrate, as Asuka entered the ring and barraged Lynch with a furious Japanese promo before pulling Billie Kay into the ring.

Winner: Becky Lynch
Rating: 3/5

Asuka vs. Billie Kay

Billie Kay was not ready for Asuka.

Winner: Asuka
Rating: 1.5/5



Jordynne Grace vs. Allie

I know I say this every week, but Jordynne Grace, the undefeated queen that she is, is a bonafide star. She's physical, fun and easily draws crowds into her matches. What I love about this pseudo-feud is that Grace isn't faking a personal connection; she just wants to fight and win matches. And win she did.

Su Yung came to pick her dark apprentice up after the loss, but then Rosemary appeared, quite literally, out of nowhere, replacing Su Yung with a grin. Allie, to my chagrin, ran away in terror.

Impact deserves more credit for the quality, interesting stories they are producing with their top female talents week to week. These aren't simple catfights; they're slow burning and complex. WWE could take notes. Take Tessa Blanchard, for example, who tried to choke a female producer backstage who caught her at the wrong time before absolutely BRAWLING with a furious Gail Kim. What an awesome clash of the titans. You go, Impact. You go.

Winner: Jordynne Grace
Rating: 3/5



Bianca Belair and Shayna Baszler faced off and Bianca slapped Shayna, so NXT was, obviously, a success.



Hello, Total Bellas fans. I'm back, and I still hate reality television. Alas, nobody else is recapping this for SOM, so I'm here. Huzzah, or whatever. Here are some quick notes I took while braving this genre I am not equipped to analyze properly:

• Why is this show as obsessed with Ronda as Total Divas?
• Nikki doesn't need to be set up on a blind date. Why can't she just tango with Artem forever?
• It makes me sad that Brie feels lesser about herself because of her breasts. She's a beautiful woman, no matter what her cup size is. I fully support a woman's right to do what she wants with her body without being judged by society, but it breaks my heart that she's feeling insecure.

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

STARDOM

Match: Kagetsu vs. Jungle Kyona (World of STARDOM Title match)
Winner: Kagetsu

SHINE

Match: Allysin Kay vs. Ivellise (SHINE Title match)
Winner: Allysin Kay


Blanchard was unhinged this week, singlehandedly making a backstage brawl segment more exciting than any match. She choked out a producer, elbowed a guard, and stood toe to toe with Gail. Freaking. Kim. This brawl was a blast to see, and I cannot wait for more.


I dare you to tell me someone who can deliver a better opening promo on SmackDown.

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!