What NXT knocks out of the park as WWE Raw, SmackDown and AEW continue to spin on | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours
4 mins read

What NXT knocks out of the park as WWE Raw, SmackDown and AEW continue to spin on | News, results, highlights, stats and rumours

Credit: WWE.com

There is no better women’s division in professional wrestling than what Shawn Michaels has put together in NXT.

The success of the brand has to do with the composition of the roster and its different backgrounds, disciplines and background styles, but how they are used.

Unlike Raw, SmackDown and AEW Dynamite, the NXT brand has multiple ongoing storylines and isn’t afraid to load up with matches and segments devoted to the division during its two-hour runtime.

On Tuesday’s show alone, fans were treated to the first ever Casket match in women’s division history as Tatum Paxley defeated Wendy Choo to end their ongoing rivalry.

Kelani Jordan defeated Nikita Lyons, sparking a feud between the latter and Adrianna Rizzo, who sought revenge for a backstage attack at last week’s show.

From there, Zaria made a lasting impact with her one-sided victory over Brinley Reece, then joined Jordan, Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia and former TNA Knockouts Champion Jordynne Grace in a confrontation with Roxanne Perez, Cora Jade and Fatal Influences Jacy Jayne, Jazmyn Nyx and North American women’s champion Fallon Henley.

The final segment set up a massive 10-woman tag team match for next week’s hugely hyped broadcast from the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, the former home of ECW.

Add to that a video package that houses Lola Vice vs. Jaida Parker for Philly and you have a show that features at least five ongoing storylines with the women of NXT.

However, Raw had just over six minutes of ring time for the women’s division and little else when Ivy Nile defeated Zelina Vega.

On SmackDown, Naomi picked up a Bayley-assisted win in over eight minutes against Candice LeRae.

Wednesday’s Dynamite saw Kris Statlander defeat Kamille in 6:28 seconds, a half-hearted beatdown by Mercedes Mone afterward, and a video package celebrating Anna Jay vs. Mariah May for Saturday’s clash.

Women’s wrestling is stronger than ever before, with international talent in both WWE and AEW, but it’s NXT that has been most committed to presenting it in truly meaningful storylines.

Not just a once-in-a-lifetime show to hit a quota or to keep fans from griping about the lack of attendance, it features the division’s stars in legitimate rivalries that pay off in high-profile match-ups, both on premium live events and in weekly televised main events .

Michael’s commitment is to develop the list and prominently present it while improving it. In one fell swoop, he and WWE chief content officer Triple H signed Vaquer, Giulia and Zaria to bolster the roster and drive home the importance of the women’s division to the third brand.

More importantly, the introduction of these women, along with the talent already in NXT, as well as Raw and SmackDown, there’s an argument to be made that it’s time for WWE to dust off Evolution’s premium live event and reintroduce it to the schedule.

There is enough talent in NXT alone to hold an all-women event and still have competitors over.

When you factor in Rhea Ripley, Bayley, Liv Morgan, Nia Jax, Naomi, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Chelsea Green, Piper Niven, Meta-Four’s Jakara Jackson and Lash Legend, Pure Fusion Collection, Natlaya, Vega, Nile, Kayden Carter and Katana Chance, and all the other female main eventers, WWE has more than enough talent to bring that event back and give it another shot, six years after the first one.

NXT has laid the groundwork for WWE’s other two brands and Tony Khan’s AEW for how to really go all-in with women’s wrestling and present it in a way that lets fans know that what the talented stars are doing is just as important as what the men are.

The talent is there. The consistent commitment is not.

It’s time for Triple H and Khan to survey the landscape and realize that a match, with a video package or a brief backstage vignette, doesn’t maximize the division’s talent or present it in a way that will allow women’s wrestling to thrive in 2024.

Follow NXT’s lead, develop characters and stories, then let the women cook.

Chef Michaels knows what’s up. Now is the time for the other most powerful executives in the industry to take note and follow suit.