WWE is on the verge of making history with its women's division once again.
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
According to Pro Wrestling Sheet, the company is considering hosting an all women's show later in 2018, though there is no word yet exactly what the event would entail:
WWE officials are internally discussing the idea of presenting an all women’s event for main roster talent in the fall...The idea of an all women’s show taking place in late September or October is seriously being kicked around by higher-ups.
It’s unclear if the event would additionally feature some of the women on the NXT roster, outside talent or former stars… because the show hasn’t been set in stone just yet.
While Impact Wrestling once hosted a women's only wrestling event in 2013, WWE has yet to do so in its storied history. Now more than ever, though, the company finds itself in prime position to break the mold and host a live event or pay-per-view that will exclusively feature its female superstars.
Here are five reasons why the time is right for WWE to hold its first-ever all women's wrestling event.
Ronda Rousey
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
It stands to reason that one factor in WWE choosing not to host an all women's pay-per-view in the past is the lack of a true mainstream draw.
But Ronda Rousey has changed that. Even though WWE has done a fantastic job of spotlighting incredibly talented female stars, like Charlotte Flair, Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks, who are developing into attractions in their own rights, WWE has never had a female superstar with the widespread appeal that Rousey possesses. In addition to Rousey being called one of the biggest draws in UFC history and generating at least one million PPV buys on more than one occasion, ESPN also ranked her as the world's most famous female athlete in 2017, when she was the seventh most googled athlete and the most searched female athlete.
In other words, Rousey is a draw the likes of which WWE hasn't seen in the past and may never see again in the future, making it clear that the timing of reports of an all women's event isn't just a coincidence. Although WWE tends to focus on building up its brand rather than individual superstars, the company also reportedly views Rousey as a PPV draw, and it's a safe bet that, among the current female superstars in WWE, she's far and away its top attraction.
Thus, with Rousey recently joining an already star-studded women's roster that could potentially join forces with some of the world's top independent wrestlers for an all-female PPV, it's quite obvious that the extra boost Rousey adds to the thriving women's wrestle scene is just enough to put it over the top and make an all women's event, quite frankly, a no-brainer for WWE.
It Is A Necessary Step For The Women's Evolution
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Over the last few years, WWE has had a number of history-making moments with its women's division.
Some of the highlights include Flair and Banks becoming the first women's match to ever main event a PPV at Hell in a Cell in October 2016, the inaugural Mae Young Classic women's tournament as well as the first women's Money in the Bank, Royal Rumble and Elimination Chamber matches. Those unforgettable moments weren't just a small step for WWE, they were a giant leap forward for the women's evolution in WWE.
WWE has spent the past several years transitioning women's wrestling from a poorly portrayed sideshow act to a focal point of its programming, one that highlights the incredible athleticism, agility, in-ring ability and star power of what is probably the most talented women's roster of all-time. Although the consistently tremendous performances of WWE's female superstars have earned them a bigger role on SmackDown and Raw, it's clear that WWE's women's division still isn't always depicted to be on a level playing field with the men.
But if WWE can have a full-fledged Cruiserweight division and CW-exclusive show despite the lack of true mainstream draws and once abysmal WWE Network viewership, then the women's division certainly deserves an all-female show as a necessary next step in the company's quest to ensure that the women are portrayed as equals to their male counterparts.
The WWE Network Needs More Original Content
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
The WWE Network is sorely lacking in the original content department, especially when it comes to shows that focus on in-ring action.
While WWE has recently upped the amount of non-wrestling shows, such as Table for 3 and Something Else to Wrestle With, there really isn't much in the way of in-ring shows beyond NXT and 205 Live. Even when you throw in one monthly PPV and the occasional televised live event, it sure seems like WWE could increase the amount of actual wrestling shows on the WWE Network, especially at a time when it's been reported that NXT could eventually make its way to FS1 in the not so distant future.
That would leave the WWE Network with only 205 Live as a weekly wrestling program, and the Cruiserweight-only show isn't really meant to appeal to the masses in the same way that the women's division is. Should WWE host an all women's pay-per-view on the WWE Network, however, that could, in the short-term, give the WWE Network another major show that would be appealing to potential subscribers, all while setting the stage for future opportunities for the women's division on the WWE Network.
You have to think, after all, that a successful all women's event that generates strong overall interest and impressive WWE Network viewership could potentially lead to a weekly (or monthly) all women's show, one that could presumably be a more attractive program to consumers than 205 Live, Table for 3 or other original WWE Network content.
To Make Up For The Greatest Royal Rumble
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
Pro Wrestling Sheet noted the following in its report: "As you may recall, women were not allowed to participate in WWE’s Greatest Royal Rumble event earlier this year in Saudi Arabia. Sources tell us the company might make up for the controversial decision, however."
WWE would reportedly "make up" for that gaffe, which received its fair share of public backlash and criticism, by hosting the all women's event. Of course, that still won't change what many are calling a questionable decision made by WWE to host the Greatest Royal Rumble in Saudi Arabia, which reportedly may have earned WWE somewhere in the ballpark of $100-200 million for one show alone. That resulted in many of WWE's male superstars earning a massive payday for the event, including Chris Jericho, a non-contracted talent who was paid so well for a short appearance in the 50-man Royal Rumble match that he couldn't believe it.
While WWE will never truly be able to make up for that snafu and Triple H did the best he could to explain why WWE still chose to go to Saudi Arabia despite external opposition to the decision, WWE could and should do what it can to provide its female superstars with an opportunity to make up for both a missed payday and the added exposure of competing on such an historic event. Thus, it's only fair that WWE would do so by hosting an all women's event that could indeed put its female stars on the grand stage of a first-time ever PPV that would potentially bolster their paychecks substantially.
Is it a perfect solution? No, of course not. But it's surely better than seeing WWE's women's division being left off one of the company's biggest shows ever and then the vast majority of them never getting a chance to perform as the focal points of a show on such a massive stage.
The Women's Division Draws
Credit: WWE.comCredit: WWE.com
When speaking at Fortune's Brainstorm Tech conference last summer (h/t WrestlingInc), Triple H said "that the women's TV segments are often the highest-rated segments across the board, almost on a weekly basis."
Likewise, the inaugural Mae Young Classic generated strong viewership on the WWE Network (even consistently topping 205 Live) while names like Bliss, Banks and Bayley appear to be selling more merchandise than many of the company's most popular male superstars. To put that into layman's terms, WWE's women's division draws. Period.
While WWE doesn't release specific ratings, WWE Network viewership or merchandise sales numbers to the public, the information that we do have paints the picture that the company's female superstars are improving TV viewership, attracting new subscribers and selling merchandise at a rate that is on par with the men. So, what's that mean for a potential all women's show? Well, it should tell WWE officials that putting on such an event isn't a risk at all.
Judging by their effect on TV ratings, the positive reception to Rousey and viewership for the Mae Young Classic, just to name a few, pro wrestling fans are craving more content that focuses on the women's division rather than just using it as an ancillary piece to the men's division's headlining act. Thus, WWE should feel confident in the drawing ability of Rousey, Bliss, Flair, Banks, Bayley, Asuka and all of the other female talent in the company.
And chances are, those female superstars would make an all women's show a rousing success, whether as a one-time thing or a regular occurrence.
Blake Oestriecher is an elementary school teacher by day and a sports writer by night. He’s a contributor to @ForbesSports, where he primarily covers WWE. You can follow him on Twitter @BOestriecher.
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