For years now, have has been so many matches in the WWE women’s division that have been forgotten. Whether they’re random TV matches, people focusing on men’s matches instead, or just fans simply underrating what they’ve just seen.
The likes of Nikki Bella, Becky Lynch, Ronda Rousey, and so many more, have proved why the women’s ‘evolution’ was inevitable. So here are 10 underrated WWE women’s matches.
10. Paige vs. Nikki Bella – Main Event (January 6, 2015)
Despite criticism of both Bella Twins’ wrestling ability over their 10 year WWE run, Nikki Bella’s record-setting Divas Championship reign proved why she has become such a mainstream star.
Her heel character started the ‘women’s revolution’ alongside the likes of AJ Lee, the Four Horsewomen, and her opponent here, Paige.
As many know, Main Event is a show used to give wrestlers some TV time. It’s hardly advertised, and not many people watch it due to the already hectic WWE schedule. However, occasionally there are great matches that are pay-per-view worthy.
When this aired, there was a lot of buzz at the effort both women put into this 15-minute match.
While June 2015 was just one month shy of the introduction of Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks, and Charlotte Flair, women were still underused within the company. We were past the ‘bra and panties’ matches, but three-four minute matches per show were still the norm.
Both Bella and Paige proved why the women deserve to be at the top of the card. The Bella Twins’ heel work opposed the underdog Paige perfectly, and the match included so many fun and unique moves that have yet to be seen by the ‘Divas’.
9. Kelly Kelly vs. Beth Phoenix – Night of Champions 2011
Similar to many other women during this time, Kelly Kelly was regarded as not the best of in-ring performers. While this isn’t necessarily incorrect, Kelly’s feud against Beth Phoenix created some decent matches for the time.
“For the time” is the important phrase in this entry. While this Night of Champions match doesn’t compare to the women’s matches of today, it was much better than the two-minute squashes that the ‘Divas’ were getting.
With Beth Phoenix being from the arena’s location, New York, the fans were loud for the match. The mixed-up face/heel dynamic made for a bit of confusion, but also added so much.
Phoenix’s strength with Kelly’s athletic background allowed the women to create some unseen spots, most notably a Superplex as well as a Military Press dropped onto the top rope.
Despite the difficult and rowdy New York crowd, the women put so much effort into proving ‘Divas’ deserve more credit.
8. Alexa Bliss vs. Bayley vs. Emma vs. Nia Jax vs. Sasha Banks – No Mercy 2017
This is the first multi-woman match on this list, but certainly not the last. Over the past five years, women have killed these stipulations.
Whether it’s the Royal Rumble, Elimination Chamber, Money in the Bank, or this sort of match, it’s hard to believe that these are relatively new for the division.
While the men were given the opportunity to have multi-man matches, women only had pillow fights. As an all around message for the list, it is a great thing that we see the women getting more opportunities.
With the success of the five-pack challenge at Backlash a year prior, it was the Raw division’s chance to prove itself.
Five of the best women on the brand, putting full effort into creating a great match. Bliss was the champion, Banks and Bayley were the team, Nia Jax was the unstoppable force, and Emma?
People forget how good Emma was as she was dancing with Santino Marella for most of her run. Her NXT heel turn, and final few months before leaving, were really good. She had a new ‘all about me’ attitude as said in her theme song, and proved why she should’ve been given so much more.
The multiple stories and characters all worked together perfectly. Despite the different heel and face wrestlers, they would have to work together to stop Nia Jax.
This led to the most memorable part of the match when Jax is dropped on her neck from a powerbomb. Banks and Bayley also showed some dissension in their friendship which wouldn’t pay off for another three years. It was brilliantly produced and is well worth a re-watch.
7. Natalya vs. Naomi – SummerSlam 2017
Following Naomi’s killer past year on the SmackDown brand, the winner of this match seemed clear. However, to the surprise of many, Natalya came out of this holding up a women’s championship for the first time since 2010.
Fans were initially confused by this win which is why the match gets forgotten in regards to great women’s matches. Despite Natalya’s wrestling ability and heritage as part of the Hart Dynasty, WWE placing her as a background name made people forget how good she truly is.
As previously mentioned, like many matches, the finish made people forget how many great spots were pact into this
Naomi proved why she is regarded as one of the best athletes in the company, with multiple high-risk manoeuvres, such as a Blockbuster on the outside of the ring and a Russian Leg Sweep from the middle rope.
This match is free on WWE’s YouTube channel, so I recommend giving it a watch. Starts a little slow, but really picks up and I would say the shock win adds so much.
6. Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss vs. Carmella vs. Naomi vs. Natalya vs. Nikki Bella – Backlash 2016
It’s crazy to think these six women were the only women on SmackDown Live when the brand split returned. Despite this, these early days are remembered so fondly.
All six women had a story to tell within this match. 2014-2016 were Nikki Bella’s best years, therefore a recent face turn to go up against the fresh Carmella was genius. That feud began a few weeks to before this show and was furthered here with Mella shockingly eliminating the favourite to win, Bella.
Naomi recently began to ‘Feel The Glow’ with her heel Team Bad character staying behind after a return from injury. She was embraced by the fans and put over, rightly, as the best female athlete in this division.
Following a feud with Lynch prior to the draft, Natalya played a heel character perfectly fine and was necessary alongside Nikki Bella to get viewers from Total Divas to watch SmackDown.
Alexa Bliss, similar to Carmella, was the third member alongside a male tag team in NXT. However, she instantly proved with great heel work, and amazing Harley Quinn gear, that she is a future champion.
Finally, Becky Lynch. While Charlotte was instantly into the Divas Championship feud, and Sasha Banks was back and forth from the NXT Women’s Championship and higher up in the main roster card, Lynch didn’t get that instant push.
Nevertheless, she was the first-picked woman overall in the draft and was the first SmackDown Women’s Champion. She is now possibly the most over woman still performing in WWE.
These six characters were slotted into this match, and it was brilliant. The fans loved it, and it’s fair to say that they over-performed spectacularly for a ‘B’ pay-per-view.
5. Nikki Bella vs. Natalya – SmackDown (February 21, 2017)
Both Nikki Bella and Natalya have featured prominently on this list which may prove themselves as the most underrated women wrestlers. This match shows why they should be remembered as some of the greatest alongside the likes of Trish Stratus, Lita, and the Four Horsewomen.
Surprisingly, there have only been four women’s Falls Count Anywhere matches in WWE history, with this being the third. Bella gave it her all despite the well-known neck injury history, and Natalya who has always been a safe hand didn’t hold back.
Some of the best spots include a spinning kick off a barrier onto concrete, a notably horrible looking Alabama Slam onto the announce table, and finally Bella throwing Natalya head-first through a mirror.
Furthermore, the match set up the Total Divas fantasy match, Miz and Maryse vs John Cena and Bella.
The only criticism for the match is a lacklustre finish, and that it wasn’t longer! It left fans wanting more between the two, and as I’ve said so many times in this list, women can do it the same as the men.
4. Rhea Ripley vs. Shayna Baszler – NXT (December 18, 2019)
This is what long booking can build too. After 416 days of Shayna Baszler being the dominant NXT Women’s Champion, Rhea Ripley, who became loved by the fans naturally, stepped up and defeated Baszler.
It’s almost difficult to watch this match back, seeing Full Sail in full capacity makes you long for fans. The raw excitement through the whole of the match is exactly why NXT is what it is today.
Ripley entered this match as the future of the WWE and left proving herself a star already.
With Baszler having her goons in Marina Shafir and Jessamyn Duke at her side throughout, the match perfectly encapsulated the old school underdog having to rise to the occasion.
Ripley was at a constant battle with three women and managed to slowly outweigh the odds despite the injuries she gathers throughout.
The match is perfectly booked to make the fans think Baszler has it won again. With Ripley picking up an arm injury early on, to the referee getting taken out, to finally when Baszler gets the Kirifuda Clutch. That moment when Ripley is about to fade and grabs the referee instead is gold.
This all leads to an incredible Riptide from the top rope, finishing the match.
The celebration after is one of the most memorable NXT moments ever, but can sometimes make people forget the match. Furthermore, Ripley’s relatively short run means her title reign as a whole can be forgotten.
We can only hope ‘The Nightmare’ goes on to big things at WrestleMania.
3. Ember Moon vs. Nikki Cross vs. Kairi Sane vs. Peyton Royce – NXT TakeOver: War Games
There are three things guaranteed in life… death, taxes, and the NXT women putting on a stellar performance at TakeOver.
With Asuka recently relinquishing the NXT Women’s Championship due to injury, this match was set. Four of the most popular women on the black and gold brand battling it out for the vacant title.
When watching the match back, all four superstars are unbelievably over with the Texas crowd. Royce gets the loudest pop of the bunch, showing how great she could be now if used correctly.
Cross enters as an underdog while representing SAnitY who will later enter WarGames. Then Sane and Moon are the clear favourites, with the fans chanting conflicting “Let’s go Kairi” and “Let’s go Ember.”
With just under 15 minutes worth of a match, it is jampacked. Suicide dives, a Tower of Doom superplex, a double InSane Elbow, and the most memorable spot, the double Eclipse. This is the nonstop while also using the fans buzz to get the women more over then they entered.
The crowd-pleasing finish of Ember Moon finally gaining that championship is wonderful to see. The hard-fought battle to the top is paid off while also helping the three other competitors to look strong in defeat.
The only downfall of this is that arguably, all four women have been some of the worst treated on the main roster. Sane has gone, Moon is back in NXT, Royce has gotten lost in the shuffle, and Cross’ new theme song says it all.
Seriously, this is awesome, and had me out of my seat and talking out loud about how good it is.
The pay-per-view being based around the first WarGames puts it onto the list of underrated when it should be near the top of the simply best women’s matches.
2. Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella – Evolution 2018
Nearly half of this list includes Nikki Bella proving how much she improved from her initial criticism. Alongside Ronda Rousey who picked up the art of professional wrestling faster than any mainstream star to wrestler, this match was guaranteed to be great.
With both women being possibly among the most famous female sports stars in the world, the whole show was built around this face-off. Despite this, it’s often forgotten when naming some of the greatest women’s matches.
The simple reason for this is that it followed Becky Lynch vs Charlotte Flair, which for me, is the greatest women’s match in WWE history.
The match before made it difficult to follow, but they did it and it was fantastic. The obvious criticism prior was ‘how can a reality star compete with a UFC champion’ which was easily resolved with the handicap dynamic.
Brie played the heel manager really well, and she doesn’t get enough credit for her ringside antics.
Furthermore, Nikki’s previously injured neck made some of the spots look horrible to watch knowing her history and Rousey’s power.
The most notable moments included Rousey’s reversal off the top rope into the armbar, Nikki dodging a cross body, and the double Rowdy Buster.
Both women gave it their all to cap off the first-ever all women’s pay-per-view.
Despite the difficulties of following Becky vs Charlotte, the crowd and the competitors stayed electric. This deserves to be praised amongst the best of women’s wrestling, it was brilliant.
1. Becky Lynch vs. Ronda Rousey vs. Charlotte Flair – WrestleMania 35
Becky Lynch versus Ronda Rousey seemed to be the clear direction for WrestleMania 35. The Man taking on The Baddest Woman on the Planet, this was a dream match. In a fantastic segment following Becky’s Rumble win, Lynch chose Rousey and the dream was reality.
However, McMahons, suspensions, apologies, Charlotte, a knee injury, and the SmackDown Women’s Championship later… this simple feud became overly complicated.
Nevertheless, three of the best women’s wrestlers in the world, in a groundbreaking first-ever Mania main event was still exciting.
The match was filled with great and unique spots, with it being heavily focused on building on the storylines between the three over the last year. It was rightly hard-hitting and was produced to show the desperation each woman had to end the night holding both titles.
Sadly, this match is remembered for the build, some badly timed moves, and the finish. After a year of building Rousey and Lynch, it ended up in a simple roll-up. It felt unbelievably lacklustre and many questioned if it was a botched finish.
More to this, there was about five hours of wrestling prior, meaning people were desperate to go home.
Despite the match being remembered for the wrong reasons, it is a lot of fun. It deserves so much more credit rather than criticism and is monumental for the future of women’s wrestling.
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