Killing the Women's Revolution
As fan of professional wrestling for over 30 years, I fully understand that this business is about much more than just what happens in the ring. Characters are developed through promos, great storyline arcs, charisma, presentation, and connection with the audience. During much of my time growing up watching American wrestling, male performers have always been the major focus of the product and females were used mostly as valets/managers, love interest, or simply sex symbols. Sure, we had a few good women matches here and there, but there was nothing promoted as a high priority.
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In the mid 80's WWF, we had Rockin Robin and the Fabulous Moolah, with Sherri Martel sprinkled in there, working a program for the women's title. But that quickly fizzled and was nothing to take serious. Then in the 90's, Madusa came to the WWF and worked as Alundra Blayze, taking on Bull Nakano (Aja Kong) and Bertha Faye. It was some good sprinkled in there from time to time, but soon enough they were always pushed to the side and treated like they were not important.
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So much so that Madusa left WWF with the Women's title, and threw it in the trash Live on WCW Monday Nitro. She jumped ship, went to WCW and they did nothing with her nor any of the women down there. Women's wrestling just wasn't the priority in the U.S. major promotions.
Then suddenly in the late 90's, as WWF was beginning its edgy, "Attitude era", women became a major focus of the product. But this time, it was all about sex appeal. Vince Russo and Vince McMahon decided to push the envelope further than they ever had before, and they began selling the sex appeal of women such as Sunny, Marlena, and their biggest breakout stars, Sable and Chyna.
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We started getting the women not only wrestling in thong bikinis and doing scantily clad provocative dance routines, but the matches themselves turned into gimmicks to sell more sex appeal. We got bra and panty matches, mud wrestling, pillow fights, pole dancing features and anything else they could do to move away from actual wrestling. The company hired so many models, strippers, and dancers with no wrestling experience or training, and just started featuring them on TV. All because they had the sex appeal the company was promoting. And many of us were watching because we were young and horny!!!
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The worst part is, there were actually some pretty good women performers that emerged doing this long Attitude/Ruthless Aggression period. You had people like Jacqueline, Trish Stratus, Lita, Mickie James, and Victoria who were able to shine through and be solid workers. There was period there where we did get some good, yet short, matches from the women. But on the whole, the matches were never the focus nor workrate highlighted.
So when WWE decided it would go back to a more "PG" approach, and cut back on the edgy Attitude era portrayal of the women, it was faced with a new problem. Now you had an audience that was conditioned to seeing women for their tits and ass, and suddenly that was gone. In addition, many of the women were only there because of their looks, and didn't know how to really work a good match!! So you had a bunch of models who couldn't flaunt their assets, and were being asked to actually perform like they knew what they were doing. Sure there were a few who worked hard, and actually became pretty good workers, but the majority were amateurs, who lacked real training and relied on sex appeal to be over. So they tried to be sexy, but not too sexy? And call them Divas....
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So what happened? The Diva matches became a buffer or intermission between major men’s matches. And they had to be kept short, or the crowd would quickly turn on it and start heckling. They were used to cool off the crowd, and give fans time to go the bathroom or go buy popcorn before the next match that actually matters. Workers like Natalya and Mickie were wasted.
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The game changed for the women's division with the creation of NXT and more importantly the Performance Center. Here, young women learned to hone their craft and gained valuable ring time and practice that many of the models who were hired in previous years just were not afforded the opportunity to receive. Paige and Emma were the original standouts, and while they learned elsewhere before coming to NXT, they set a standard that everyone that came after them had to follow in. And it was all about in ring work.
Soon the standard became that hard hitting, athletic, and serious in ring work was a must, not just in the men's matches, but in every women's match. Even the good workers from the main roster, wanted to come down to NXT and wrestle matches they couldn't do on RAW or Smackdown.
Soon the standard became that hard hitting, athletic, and serious in ring work was a must, not just in the men's matches, but in every women's match. Even the good workers from the main roster, wanted to come down to NXT and wrestle matches they couldn't do on RAW or Smackdown.
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When Charlotte and Natalya collided at the first Takeover show, they created an excitement about the future of women's wrestling that hasn't existed often. NXT promised a future where the women's division wouldn't just be filler or eye candy; it would be a showcase of warriors. And there was core group of women that clearly were pushing hard to make wrestling matter.
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At the heart of the rise of this women's revolution we now look back upon, has to be four women who took NXT and WWE women's wrestling to another level, Charlotte Flair , Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, and Bayley; The Four Horsewomen. And you have to give a lot of credit to Natalya for helping to cultivate this women in training sessions at the performance center.
Their in-ring skills and charisma were undeniable; the quality of matches unlike anything women had ever done in WWE; and the chemistry between them was electric. All four were different, but brought out the best of their opponents and could work with anybody.
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Sasha Banks says that they pushed each other harder because they knew the others had the desire to be the best and put on the best matches. Every time they were in a match they wanted to outshine the guys, and have the fans raving that ‘they stole the show.’ No longer were the women just filler. They took the sport of wrestling seriously, worked hard to be the best they could possibly be, and it helped transformed NXT.
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This is not to say women such as AJ Lee, Paige, Naomi, Natalya, Nikki and Brie Bella and others weren't working hard on the main roster. But the Four Horsewomen were given a platform to tear the house down and blew away anything else WWE women ever did.
When it comes to women's wrestling, the fact is the United States has been far behind the rest of the world in how the performers were presented. In Japan especially, I recall watching All Japan Women's matches with the greatest athletes ever which include greats like Manami Toyota, Aja Kong, Akira Hokuto, Kyoko Inoue. These women not only pulled off athletic moves that were better than what the men were doing at the time, but they wrestled a stiff, believable style that was so entertaining.
Nothing in the United States could compete, because in Japan, the women wrestling was treated as equal to the men. Sure, they had sexy outfits on and they promoted their swimsuit calendars, but when it came time to wrestle, it was all business, and the fans knew it.
Nothing in the United States could compete, because in Japan, the women wrestling was treated as equal to the men. Sure, they had sexy outfits on and they promoted their swimsuit calendars, but when it came time to wrestle, it was all business, and the fans knew it.
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So with NXT now bringing that same mindset to its women's matches, and putting a greater spotlight on the presentation of the women as real athletes and not "Divas", it highlighted that this was not happening on the main roster. On Raw and Smackdown, the women were still getting nothing.
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Who could forget the whole #GiveDivasaChance movement after the fans started voicing how poorly the women were represented on the main roster, in contrast to how they were presented in NXT. It was obvious that seeing what the Horsewomen were doing, was making the vets jealous and envious of that freedom they had.
But the bottomline is the best measure of a person's worth to WWE is the amount of time given to them on a TV show. With wrestling being more of what the crowd was becoming interested in, matches under five minutes were not cutting it anymore. Especially after watching Sasha Banks and Bayley tear the house down on NXT shows.
But the bottomline is the best measure of a person's worth to WWE is the amount of time given to them on a TV show. With wrestling being more of what the crowd was becoming interested in, matches under five minutes were not cutting it anymore. Especially after watching Sasha Banks and Bayley tear the house down on NXT shows.
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A lack of TV time was a clear indication that unlike in NXT, where HHH is the boss, on the main roster, Vince McMahon does not give a shit about watching women wrestle.
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And that's where the story takes a turn. Seeing the popularity of the women on NXT, WWE decided that it needed to brand it and make it a creation on the main roster. And they have been slowly killing it, botching, and devaluing it ever since.
Here you have four women who changed the perception of women's wrestling in NXT and could easily bring that same energy and match quality to the main roster, and to a much larger audience. But instead of presenting them in the same or similar fashion that they were in NXT, these idiots decide to break the group up into different factions, and leave Bayley down in developmental all together. What? And instead of making a splash right away, and making one of the Horsewomen the champion, sparking a new feud, Nikki Bella was champion for 301 days, and we got a three way faction feud, where nobody got over.
Charlotte and Becky were put with Paige, which made no sense, as these three could have done far more as opponents for eachother. Then you have a team of Nikki and Brie Bella, and Alicia Fox, none who are known for putting on great matches. Then the final team of Sasha Banks with Naomi and Tamina. What? Naomi is a natural babyface, trying to play heel, Tamina has no talent and Sasha is the classic heel who the crowd loves. The booking to spark this was terrible.
All the while, the people were chantimg "We want Sasha", at the heel, Sasha Banks.....every..... week.
All the while, the people were chantimg "We want Sasha", at the heel, Sasha Banks.....every..... week.
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There was hope when Charlotte was crowned champion at Night of Champions 2015, three months after they three Horsemen were called up. Charlotte turned heel and had her father, Ric Flair by her side, and it honestly made her into the a major superstar. Charlotte became a major presence, male or female, and a true star.
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At Wrestlemania 32, the Divas Championship was to be retired and replaced with the brand new Women's Championship that resembled the World Championship for the men, just with a white strap. The women were no longer "Divas" - they were finally called Superstars.
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For the first time, WWE truly seemed committed to forging a path for the women, as this match for the Women's title - Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks vs Charlotte Flair was a true testament to all the work they put on display in NXT, and they earned a chance to put on a show on the grand stage.
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The key was, these women earned their spot by busting their ass and working hard to get a chance to be more than just a "Diva". They earned their spot by being great in the ring and complimenting that with a character, not vice versa. That's why its so frustrating to see what has happened to the women's division over the past three years, since Charlotte won the women's title in September of 2015.
No question, the greatest women's feud of any on the main roster, maybe ever, has been between Charlotte and Sasha Banks. Charlotte and Sasha had a series of matches in 2016 that were some of the best WWE women's matches ever, and it also saw Sasha never beat Charlotte on PPV. It became a streak all in itself. Sasha would get a win on TV, and then lose the title right back in a big PPV match. And unfortunately, this really hurt The Boss persona and cooled down her growing popularity.
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At Hell in a Cell 2016, they had one last final encounter, the first women's Hell in a Cell match, and it was excellent. Of course, Charlotte won again, but the bigger issue was the company not capitalizing off of the easy booking choice. Put one on Raw and one on Smackdown, as heels.
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Sasha Banks' gimmick was a natural heel, that got cheered because she was so great as a character and in the ring. Turning her face, was forced upon them, but once she lost so many times to Charlotte, the right move was to turn her. But they didn't do. Instead, she floundered. The best move was to have two of your best workers as key heels on both brands. But no.
Now here is where a lack of common sense booking really destroyed the women's revolution. Bayley and Sasha Banks had two of the greatest women's matches ever in NXT, and logically the assumption by many was that once Bayley came up to the main roster, that matchup would play out on a larger stage. This would be an example of the great action that helped spark this women's revolution to begin with. But no. More on that later.
On Smackdown, Becky Lynch became the first women's champion of the new brand split, and she was so deserving. Many times, Becky gets treated as an afterthought or the bottom of the totem pole of the Horsewomen, because she never really got a great run as champion and was always the underdog who worked great and come up short in the end.
But Becky's run was short lived, as the company decided they wanted to get over another performer who has recently been called up from NXT, Alexa Bliss. Much more on her later.
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On RAW, instead of repeating the dynamic that worked so well at Mania 32, which was a triple threat with Charlotte, Sasha, and Becky Lynch. Instead of swapping in Bayley for Becky, it couldn't end there. The match was watered down with the terrible Nia Jax. This was a clear sign the focus changed.
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Bayley retained the title at Mania, and soon after Charlotte was drafted to Smackdown to join Becky Lynch, Natalya, and Naomi. While Sasha and Bayley were prime for the feud we had been waiting for all along on RAW.
But then, the revolution died.
But then, the revolution died.
People ask, who killed the women's revolution, and without question, its the booking of Alexa Bliss. Bliss is a very good talker, who lacks the in ring skill of any of the Four Horsemen. Yet, she's been booked harder, stronger, and more consistent than any woman on the roster, even better than Charlotte, who too was booked super strong. The difference is, Charlotte has the goods to back it up in the ring. Alexa is a weak champion and watching her beat everyone up, makes them look weak and the whole thing becomes a joke.
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First, Becky Lynch's ttle run on Smackdown fell victim to the non-stop Alexa Bliss train. Then Alexa came to RAW and immediately beat Bayley, taking the title from her as well. Not only did she beat her, but the matches were horrible and she was booked like she was HHH in 2003. She even beat Bayley in a kendo stick on a pole match. Gimmicks.
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The kendo stick beating was the final nail, but it was the Bayley: This is Your Life segment on Raw, where Bayley was given dialogue to look and sound like a goof and Alexa was given all the best material to make Bayley look stupid, that ultimately has killed Bayley dead. The crowd turned on Bayley, because she was buried to no end, and then she got hurt in the process wrestling the inexperienced Alexa. And she's never really recovered.
The irony in all of this, and really, the shame in all this is that Alexa was essentially given Sasha's heel gimmick! The Boss was the cocky heel who ran things, told people she was better than them and backed it up, until she lost the big match. But along the way she gave every opponent a great action packed match. It was a win win for all involved. But WWE instead decided to stall on turning Sasha and feuding her with Bayley, and instead pushed Alexa in that role. And the result was, she looks great, talks great, bad wrestling matches.
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With Bayley out hurt, they plugged in Sasha for a Summerslam match, where they surprised everyone and she beat Alexa for the title. Only for Alexa to win it back a week later, continuing a theme that Sasha can never defend the title. And to make matters worst, of course Alexa was given all the mic time in the world to bury Sasha all the way.
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In a matter of two months, Alexa had killed her two biggest competitors dead, and then we were left with the exhilarating matchup of Alexa Bliss vs Mickie James in September. Then she would not defend her title again until February. The women's title, which was elevated to a high level of inportance by Charlotte and Sasha, was now defended zero times in four months. Pathetic.
All while the Horsewomen are on the main roster trying to replicate what they were able to do in NXT and meeting great resistance due to terrible booking, down in NXT, the path they paved was being walked down by the Japanese phenom, Asuka. Asuka was a major star in Japan going by the name of Kana, and was recruited to NXT. Her in ring ability is the best of any woman in the company given the importance in ring had become in NXT. Asuka was a perfect piece to replace those callups.
Then HHH took it one step further, and created the Mae Young Classic, which featured women from all over the world, and various promotions. This was the ultimate salute to just how much of an impact the Horsewomen had on HHH and his opinion on women's wrestling. Never in a million years would Vince McMahon think of putting people on his TV without them being under contract, let alone signing women for inring work, opposed to sex appeal.
The tournament allowed them to scout the best of the best women, and replenish their women's roster. Clearly, the Horsewomen opened eyes to just how big women's wrestling could be if treated seriously and given a proper spotlight.
The tournament allowed them to scout the best of the best women, and replenish their women's roster. Clearly, the Horsewomen opened eyes to just how big women's wrestling could be if treated seriously and given a proper spotlight.
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Asuka was so dominant in NXT and she went undefeated through her entire run, while having great matches with Bayley, Ember Moon, and actually a decent match out of Nia Jax. So fans clamored for her to move up to the main roster and face the best workers, the Horsewomen.
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But that's not the path the booking team decided to take on the main roster. Instead, the plan was build a title program that would go from the Fall of 2017 all the way to this present day between Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax. Clearly, wrestling wasn't important.
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On the Smackdown side we got long title runs by Naomi and Natalya, and then in the first ever women's Money in the Bank ladder match, Carmella came out with the victory, and automatic title shot at anytime of her choosing. At the time, the win fit the character of a heel, but to win, Becky Lynch was again screwed over and lost another big match. The overwhelming sentiment was that Carmella was winning because of her looks, and not her in ring ability. Let's face it, she sucked in the ring, but looked great.
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In a different era this wouldn't have been a problem, but when you brand yourself as the women's revolution, and say that your putting the spotlight on serious competition in the ring, the people you choose to give pushes to matters. Carmella found a nice character for herself, but in wrestling there are many great characters. That doesn't mean they need to be at the top of your card. Putting these performers on top sends a message.
The serious spotlight placed on serious wrestling is what sparked the interest of the biggest female athlete in all of sports, UFC star Ronda Rousey. The fact is, had women continued to be featured as Divas, which were not much more than sex symbols, this move would have never been made by Rousey to come to WWE. But I believe seeing the real competition sparked her interest, plus it helped that her closest friends were also big fans.
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The Four Horsewomen of MMA, which were Rousey, Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke and Marina Shafir were once the talk of the fighting game. Basically it was Ronda and her friends and they had goals running the female MMA game. But we also found that they were all huge fans of pro wrestling, especially Shayna Baszler.
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So when things didn't quite work out for Baszler, she decided to become a full time pro wrestler, and this interest peaked her friends interest as well. Baszler earned a WWE contract after her performance in the Mae Young Classic, and Ronda often appeared to cheer on her friend at all her big matches.
And of course the natural thing fans immediately wanted to see was the Four Horsewomen of WWE vs the Four Horsewomen of MMA. It made perfect sense and it was easy marketing. Your best workers could carry this star power filled group to a huge match, that could possibly not only headline a show, but possibly Wrestlemania!!!
Why not do it? Why not bring Ronda in and use her star power to get over these great women athletes that helped draw her to the product in the first place. Why not?
Because the women's revolution is bullshit, that's why.
Why not do it? Why not bring Ronda in and use her star power to get over these great women athletes that helped draw her to the product in the first place. Why not?
Because the women's revolution is bullshit, that's why.
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Instead of bringing Ronda in to work with young talented women that could get over as stars, she came in and worked with the boss, Stephanie McMahon, who needs no help at all. Sure, the tag team match at Mania was good, and Ronda looked great, but why not use that spotlight on someone who could use the rub, while working a great match.
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This was about Stephanie getting the shine, not the women wrestlers who have been busting their ass to elevate the women's division. Because in WWE, it's about sticking to the story you know. And the story they know is Authority figure vs babyface. They put so much attention on characters they feel will draw heat from the audience, which isn't always good heat, and not enough attention on actual workers like Charlotte, Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Sasha Banks who put on matches that have impact. Excellent example is what happened at Mania 34.
Asuka had yet to lose a singles match in NXT or WWE, though her WWE run on RAW was anything but special. She was watered down so much, as the focus was constantly on Alexa Bliss and Nia Jax. But Asuka did win the Royal Rumble and had her choice of which title she would challenge for at Wrestlemania. Which set up a huge fantasy match with Charlotte at Mania.
The match was an instant classic, and an example of what we get when two great athletes are allowed to go out on a major stage and have a great match. Magic. And to top it off, Charlotte actually defeated Asuka and retained her title. It was great, and sparked actual debate on who should have won a wrestling match. The talk was about actual interest in the outcome of great match between two greats, not about stupid stuff.
But it was soon wasted.
The match was an instant classic, and an example of what we get when two great athletes are allowed to go out on a major stage and have a great match. Magic. And to top it off, Charlotte actually defeated Asuka and retained her title. It was great, and sparked actual debate on who should have won a wrestling match. The talk was about actual interest in the outcome of great match between two greats, not about stupid stuff.
But it was soon wasted.
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Not even a month after Charlotte ended Asuka's historic undefeated streak, Carmella cashed in her Money in the Bank contract and defeated Charlotte for the women's title! What a waste of a win by Charlotte right? Even if you excuse it away, and say, well its a quick heel win, via cheating. Charlotte will get it right back.....
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Nope, they doubled down and Carmella beat her again at Backlash, but this time it wa clean!!!!! Then the next month, after weeks of telling us how much of loser Asuka was since her undefeated streak was snapped, Carmella beat her too!!! Sure, people will say James Ellsworth helped, but it doesn't matter!! Carmella beat Charlotte and Asuka back to back.
What exactly was accomplished by doing this? Sure Carmella gets some heat and the thought is the babyfaces will eventually get their revenge and payback. But when Charlotte or Asuka comes back to beat Carmella, will they be looked at as any better for overcoming a heel that nobody thought was good enough to be in the ring with them in the first place? So what Asuka gain by beating Carmella? The only result is those two are less special by losing to inferior talent. Asuka now is just another woman in the bunch.
What exactly was accomplished by doing this? Sure Carmella gets some heat and the thought is the babyfaces will eventually get their revenge and payback. But when Charlotte or Asuka comes back to beat Carmella, will they be looked at as any better for overcoming a heel that nobody thought was good enough to be in the ring with them in the first place? So what Asuka gain by beating Carmella? The only result is those two are less special by losing to inferior talent. Asuka now is just another woman in the bunch.
Which is also important when it comes to the decision to program Ronda Rousey with Nia Jax and Alexa Bliss. For weeks it was looking like they were setting up a teacher versus student angle between Ronda and Natty, but clearly plans changed to build to Ronda vs Alexa at Summerslam.
Given everything that has happened, and how strongly they have booked Alexa over the last few years, it makes sense. Compared to Alexa, everyone else is a geek and jobber. Alexa being humbled by Ronda will draw a lot of interest and heat. But the match won't be any good. Alexa is not a good wrestler and booking her to have competitive matches with Nia Jax has always looked stupid. So can you imagine her getting the upper hand on Ronda?
Given everything that has happened, and how strongly they have booked Alexa over the last few years, it makes sense. Compared to Alexa, everyone else is a geek and jobber. Alexa being humbled by Ronda will draw a lot of interest and heat. But the match won't be any good. Alexa is not a good wrestler and booking her to have competitive matches with Nia Jax has always looked stupid. So can you imagine her getting the upper hand on Ronda?
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Now before people accuse me of being a Bliss hater, let me explain my frustration. Wrestling is about stories and clearly character is important. Alexa has a character that they positioned as bully, but there has to be realism for me to buy that this worked scenario could actually happen. It was so utterly unrealistic seeing Bliss dominate everyone that it turned me off of the product. She rarely defended the title and when she did the matches were horrible. Gone were the days were fans were treated to great in ring matches on RAW. And mind you, on RAW all along was Sasha Banks and Bayley!!!
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Ahh yes, that Sasha Bayley feud. I truly believe the biggest travesty in all of this has been the booking of Bayley and Sasha Banks. In order to highlight the strengths and hide the weaknesses of just how green and pisspoor Alexa and Nia have been, Sasha and Bayley were buried. The writers basically decided, Alexa and Nia are breaking up, so we can't do two breakup storylines on the same show.
So the feud was start, stop, start stop. At one point we were told that these two would be facing each other at Wrestlemania. Sasha threw Bayley out of the Royal Rumble, knocked her off of one of the pods at Elimination Chamber, the two beat the hell out of each other backstage. And after each scene, they were just put back together. The fans gave up on it because they were booked like shit and nobody cared anymore. They had go away heat.
So the feud was start, stop, start stop. At one point we were told that these two would be facing each other at Wrestlemania. Sasha threw Bayley out of the Royal Rumble, knocked her off of one of the pods at Elimination Chamber, the two beat the hell out of each other backstage. And after each scene, they were just put back together. The fans gave up on it because they were booked like shit and nobody cared anymore. They had go away heat.
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Plus things gott confusing. Sasha was always the obvious heel. But then they had Bayley acting like the heel. But then Sasha Banks was clearly the one causing trouble. Except Bayley was lashing out physically. So the fans not knowing who to cheer for decided to care about neither.
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And that's where we are with the story of the women's revolution. None of the four women most responsible forit, are being booked correctly. None have any momentum, and none regularly given time to have great matches on TV. Basically everything that worked, has been undone. The focus has returned to the cute blondes we were calling Divas.
And that wouldn't be problem, had we not already saw how great things could be when the women are treated seriously as competitors. Smarter fans want champions who can deliver in all components. There is a place for these characters who can't put on great matches, and with the right story, they can be great. But they should not be booked stronger than your legitimately talented women. It's not like the men, where you have the world title, the IC title and tag titles. The women have one belt per brand and the championship should mean you are the best.
And that wouldn't be problem, had we not already saw how great things could be when the women are treated seriously as competitors. Smarter fans want champions who can deliver in all components. There is a place for these characters who can't put on great matches, and with the right story, they can be great. But they should not be booked stronger than your legitimately talented women. It's not like the men, where you have the world title, the IC title and tag titles. The women have one belt per brand and the championship should mean you are the best.
Signing a major female athlete like Ronda Rousey should have elevated not only the women's division to another stratosphere, but the entire company. But in many ways I believe they have mishandled this entire situation from the jump. Choosing to go back to the crutch female characters of the past to face Ronda, instead of positioning her against legit competition, has been a major misstep.
The visuals alone of her being dominated by Stephanie Mcmahon were a complete joke. Not beating Nia Jax, whom real fans know can't wrestle a lick, was not good. And then nobody in their right mind expects Alexa Bliss to stand a chance against Rousey at Summerslam, because we know she's not a legit threat to Rousey. Therefore, how exactly does booking the match help your women's division? How is this the best use of Rousey? If anything, the level of competition she's being paired witj makes the women's revolution look like a complete fraud and thing of the past. It's really a damn shame, because they have talented women who deserve so much more.
The visuals alone of her being dominated by Stephanie Mcmahon were a complete joke. Not beating Nia Jax, whom real fans know can't wrestle a lick, was not good. And then nobody in their right mind expects Alexa Bliss to stand a chance against Rousey at Summerslam, because we know she's not a legit threat to Rousey. Therefore, how exactly does booking the match help your women's division? How is this the best use of Rousey? If anything, the level of competition she's being paired witj makes the women's revolution look like a complete fraud and thing of the past. It's really a damn shame, because they have talented women who deserve so much more.