WWE TLC: Women's revolution continues with constant evolution

Barnaby Read 18:27 04/10/2016
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  • Sasha Banks reclaimed the title on RAW.

    It has been one year, two months and 22 days since the women’s revolution began in the WWE, ushering in a landmark moment for female wrestling in the company with the debuts of Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks on July 13, 2015.

    The rising stars of NXT were promoted to the main roster, the Divas tag associated with the women in the locker room removed.

    Gone were the pin-up focuses of the division and in its place were a raft of hungry, talented individuals which set the bar higher and higher every time they stepped in the ring.

    The journey has been a remarkable one [the WWE Network’s 24 documentary on the revolution is a must watch], not only for the wrestlers but also the company, its focus and the incredible appetite the WWE Universe now has for these athletes.

    And on the 450th day, the evolution continued apace this Monday night.

    Banks are Charlotte faced-off once again on this week’s broadcast in the latest edition of a feud that steals the spotlight at every turn.

    A perfect reflection of this was seen on Twitter as #WomensTitle trended worldwide and in the UAE, the sentiment of those tweets vastly positive as RAW’s main event unfolded.

    Granted, it was not on the same level of their previous encounters but this was remarkable for its ingenuity.

    Once again, the pair pushed boundaries and served up a match that, despite its regularity and the fact  the title has changed between them three times since the build-up to SummerSlam, continues to keep the Universe interested.

    The key to that is not only the storytelling in the promos [both are improving with each they cut] but also in the ring.

    They are able to come across as storied foes, their history evident but their match-ups fresh due to their determination to test the water with new combinations that they then deliver when it comes to showtime.

    It is clear why these are the two standout competitors on Monday Night RAW but that Bayley and Nia Jaxx are also waiting in the wings will not see them rest on their laurels.

    Couple that with the weighted deck on SmackDown and the division’s growth can be put into real perspective.

    Over on the blue brand, former Divas champion, and still face of the locker room, Nikki Bella isn’t in the title picture. Instead, she is battling it out with the hugely impressive Carmella.

    It is champion Becky Lynch who sits at the top of the pile with Alexa Bliss next in line and the likes of Naomi and Natalya joining Bella and Carmella as figures waiting to step out of the shadows.

    As with the bulging male rosters leading the WWE’s New Era, the women making a real difference have stepped off the NXT conveyor belt with aplomb.

    It is these former NXT Superstars who continue to shape the landscape of WWE at the very top with The Miz the only non-NXT wrestler to currently hold one of the nine WWE titles across the two brands.

    It is there that the women who continue to defy the odds carved out their craft but it is on the big stage that they are thriving.

    WWE set the bar by giving women more air-time and redefining the division with its revolution, while the evolution has been relentless since.

    Now such brackets for the women are not required, their brilliance well and truly the norm.

    The future is very much bright and there is no ceiling to where these women can take the division should they carry on at this rate, but for now it is nice to have a final reflection on just how far they have come.

    Need an example? Just watch Banks reclaim her women’s title on this week’s RAW.

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