The Best WWE Women's Division Extreme Matches

THIS POST WAS PRE WRITTEN BEFORE MY BREAK 

Throughout the month of July wrestling fans have been celebrating the five-year anniversary of the women’s evolution and here on my blog, I have been getting involved in the special month. Today we look to continue discussing all things women’s wrestling, again focusing on the WWE however, this time we will specifically be looking at times the division got extreme! Over the years stipulation matches haven’t always been booked well or at all for the female talent and it's only in recent years we have seen that change but it must be noted that throughout history we have seen women occasional been given the chance to work more “hardcore” style bouts and we will be discussing some of those encounters today. With the Extreme Rules PPV also taking place last week the timing does feel damn good! Remember you can get involved by leaving a comment below or by tweeting me at @TezangiVictoria.

 

Becky Lynch vs Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell 2019)

Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks have always worked incredibly well together having visible chemistry and their Takeover Unstoppable bout remains an underrated contest in the careers of both women but in two thousand and nineteen the pair met again upon Banks return and this time they would do battle inside Hell in a Cell. With the RAW women’s championship on the line the two kick-started the PPV in what would go down as a career highlight, one of the best matches of the evening and a standout of the entire year. This was a physical contest that had some of the most creative and unique spots I have ever seen in a wrestling match up especially inside hell in a cell. These two women took a match stipulation we have seen several times over and made it incredibly different from what we have ever seen before.  The creativity behind the use of kendo sticks and chairs made for seriously entertaining viewing and the risky and technical wrestling involved made this a match for the ages and while I may not have been a fan of the end result this remains arguably Lynch’s best title defence of this reign.

Trish Stratus vs Victoria (Survivor Series 2002)

A rather underrated rivalry within the history of the women’s division has got to be Victoria vs Trish Stratus. The two worked numerous bouts and title change were seen between the pair including at the Survivor Series PPV back in two thousand and two. With Stratus defending the women’s championship in a hardcore bout this was noted as the first women’s division match in over three years that involved a hardcore stipulation, the previously taking place in nineteen ninety-nine. Now, this match of course under ten minutes and the commentary and attention given to this match was a clear indication at the lack of respect female talent received that the time as well as fair booking but Stratus and Victoria made do with the time they had and put on a rather entertaining contest massively underrated considering the era it took place in. There was basic but effective storytelling as well as the use of a kendo stick, trash cans, and a fire extinguisher, fans also saw Victoria busted open slightly before winning the title pinning Stratus.

*The two also done battle in another hardcore style match up on RAW back in 2003

Tag Team Elimination Chamber Match

The year two thousand and nineteen was yet another historic one for the WWE Women’s division as the company introduced tag team titles for its female talent. The first-ever women’s tag team champions were booked to be decided inside the Elimination Chamber and went down as one of the best matches of the year! Nia Jax and Tamina, The IIconics, the Riott Squad, Banks and Bayley, Fire and Desire and Carmella & Naomi all looked to make history in February of twenty nineteen and what we saw was an incredible chamber match up. Intensely physical the entire Chamber was used as a weapon and we saw some brutal spots making this massively entertaining! Fans witnessed Nia go through a pod, the faces of Banks and Bayley pushed against the cage and brutal moments and high-risk spots that were so well done! This is a match we do not see spoken about all too much but is more than worthy of being discussed!

*This year’s women’s Elimination Chamber can also be noted another example of the division going extreme! Natalya and Ruby Riott’s use of the area outside the ring as well as intense spots from Logan and Baszler brutality are unlike anything else, we have seen before!

 

Dakota Kai vs Tegan Nox (NXT Takeover Portland)

One of my favourite matches of the year so far has without a doubt been the street fight between Tegan Nox and Dakota Kai taking place right at the start of the year. Halfway through this match I just knew this was going to be making the list of some of the best bouts of twenty twenty for so many reasons! The chemistry and history between these two women added to what made this so special. The emotion was clear from both women and Nox really connected with fans and the match made for a career highlight and turn around moment for both women. Now, what made this contest in particular so standout for me is that unlike some of the other matches we may be talking about today the use of objects didn’t feel forced or overdone, we had an excellent mixture of simply fantastic wrestling and well-timed spots involving props such as a chain, chairs, and a trash can. We did not see as many items used but this was still a barbaric, extreme match up highly entertaining.

The Kabuki Warriors vs Beck Lynch & Charlotte (TLC 2019)

The Kabuki Warriors vs Becky Lynch and Charlotte is a match I consider to be extremely underrated and that is partially responsible for the weak reaction from the live audience, however, this remains one of my personal favourites of 2019 and I recently mentioned this as one of my favourite WWE Asuka matches. What I loved about this bout was in the depth storytelling and the unique spots. This told a classic tale of arguably the best female tag team in WWE history and two women who have such an intense history and simply cannot get along and like each other. What was clear throughout this contest was just how well Asuka and Sane work together, it was a standout for the women’s tag team division and a bout that highlighted them as the best champions to date. We saw plenty used in this match from a fire extinguisher to kendo sticks, tables, chairs and of course ladders and the bout made for a fitting choice to main event the TLC PPV. There was so much history between all these women and what we got was an incredibly entertaining contest. We saw well-executed and times tables spots, chairs used effectively, a rope come into play well and a very unique spot involving Lynch being tied to a ladder.

* Let's not forget Asuka vs Lynch vs Flair from the year prior.

Mia Yim vs Candice LeRae (NXT July 08 2020)

Up next, we have the most recent match on the list, the street fight between Candice LeRae and Mia Yim. Now, the conflict had been building between these two women for weeks and so this intense contest was simply inevitable and catered to the experience and background and styles of both women. Fans of LeRae know she is no stranger to more extreme contests especially during her time prior to signing with the WWE and as for Yim her attitude and style catered to this contest massively! The chemistry between the two women was evident and throughout we saw some great spots including LeRae being drop-kicked through a table, a fire extinguisher used and of course chairs. What made for the most shocking and impressive moment of this match was the finish. With both women on top of a table balancing from the top tope LeRae executed her finishing move from the table up high and both women crashing into the sea of steel chairs bellow them. The spot was so risky but was executed perfectly finishing up and an intense and physical contest.

 

*Asuka vs Nikki Cross competed in one of the best women division hardcore matches when they competed for the NXT Championship in the first, last woman standing match.

Now, there, of course, were so many other matches I could have included such as the two previous MITB ladder matches, the first womens Elimination Chamber match and the Championship collision between Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair at the Evolution PPV which remains one of my all-time favourite Becky Lynch match-ups! The women’s division has come so far and I am delighted to see intense stipulation matches used more! Let me know what you would have included in this list over on twitter at @TezangiVictoria.

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