The Backwards Evolution of Women's Wrestling

The women's evolution or "revolution" started like this amazing roller coaster ride.

Fans were able to see women climb the ladder and do things in wrestling that were unheard of.

When I started watching wrestling, women were not considered the stars they are today. They were sex objects who had bra and panties matches, mud wrestling, pillow fights and the degrading list goes on and on.

Now, don't get me wrong, The Attitude Era did have some of the best female wrestlers, Chyna, Trish Stratus, and Lita. But they were never given opportunities like women are being given now.

With the rise of NXT, we were able to see a whole new level of female talent. While it still wasn't on the main roster, it certainly was generating a lot of buzz.

Introducing women like Paige, Bayley, Sasha Banks, Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, and Asuka to the WWE universe slowly give them the respect and credibility they so rightfully deserve.

The females in NXT were putting in work and in turn made the main roster women want more. Sasha and Bayley had the first ever women's iron man match, and to this day it is still talked about.

#GiveDivasAChance started trending globally, when women on the main roster were given squash matches, or 30 sec matches on RAW.

While the Bella Twins weren't, and still aren't, the best female wrestlers, they did serve their purpose in this women's evolution. They had a lot of star power and a large social media following. They truly were one of the main factors behind this movement. They took their power and ran with it. Their online media presence allowed this to trend for days, causing a stir backstage and giving the universe the much deserved Women's Evolution.

At WrestleMania 32, the god awful term Diva's Champion was finally dropped and women were given a brand new title. The women's championship belt was born. It wasn't pink, it didn't have a damn butterfly on it, it looked exactly like the men's championship belts. The women were no longer referred to as "Diva's" but as the superstars they are.

There was a triple threat match to crown the new champion, between Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks & Becky Lynch.

This match was the precedent for what was to come. It was proof that not only could the women share the grandest stage of them all with their male counterparts, but that the WWE universe wanted them there.

Soon after we were getting, first ever women's Hell in a Cell match, first ever women's Royal Rumble, first ever women's Elimination Chamber match and fans were loving it.

WWE did a live show in Abu Dhabi and for the first time, women actually wrestled.

“Right before I went out, I just started crying … I just thought about how huge this is, and … it’s bigger than me,” Banks said. ““The moment I walked out there, and the moment the announcer announced that this was going to be a Women’s match, you can hear the crowd care. The moment I stood out there and saw … little girls … it made everything worth it, because this is what I feel I was put on this Earth to do. I want to make a change in the world, I want to empower women, and I want them to know that their dreams are endless and they can achieve anything.” - Sasha Banks via wwe.com

Going from a "Diva" to a recognized superstar is more than wrestling. The women in WWE today prove that.

Yet somehow it feels as though we are moving backwards in the evolution. Becky Lynch had been overlooked for years, and only recently she turned on Charlotte (once best friend) and is seemingly taking what she deserves.

She is the current SmackDown Women's Champion, but somehow she was left off of the Evolution PPV poster. One of the most talented and loved by fans superstar, who holds the belt, the woman with the only logical storyline going wasn't put on the poster. How does that make any sense?

The outrage was justified for Becky Lynch, but what I am shocked over, is how everyone is virtually silent for what they are doing to Asuka.

This woman had the longest undefeated streak in ALL of WWE history, including men!

She went 914 days without being beat. Yes, obviously someone had to beat her, and Charlotte Flair was the only one that really made sense to do so.

But how do you take someone like that and do absolutely nothing with them?

Right now they have her teaming with Naomi, not that I don't love Naomi cause I seriously think she is one incredible athlete, but they are two very different superstars.

Where is Sasha and Bayley? Why haven't they been in any picture? They had a decent storyline going, with being friends, then turning, then going to therapy only for it to abruptly stop and now they are hardly seen on TV.

Ronda Rousey entered Raw and quickly became the women's champion. She is a great athlete and an even bigger draw for the WWE, but at the same time she is a superstar that doesn't need a belt to draw those people in to watch (similar to Brock).

Rousey has been all over Raw and because of this I feel they are forgetting about a lot of other superstars. There has been months of these 6 women tag matches, where they throw 3 women together to take on the Riott Squad. Ok sure once or twice I can understand, but week after week of just pointless matches, it is frustrating to watch.

So now here we are, a couple weeks away from the first ever ALL Women's PPV Evolution.

And honestly for something so historic, I am not even close to being excited about it.

What should be this amazing moment for women seems like a consolation prize for the fact that the women aren't allowed at the Saudi PPV's. What really threw me off of this PPV, is the main event. Nikki Bella vs Ronda Rousey....What?? Why was this even a consideration? It's not that I don't think Nikki deserves to be on the PPV, but she definitely doesn't deserve the main event against Ronda, the baddest woman on the planet.

What would have made sense is have the Bellas face the IIconics. Have them pave the way for the new wave of superstars, without taking away from the main event.

None of that booking makes any sense.

As of now, Sasha, Bayley, Naomi, IIconics, Asuka, Riott Squad, Mandy Rose, Sonya Deville and Alicia Fox are all not scheduled to appear. But Nikki Bella is main eventing, let that sink in.

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