10 Best Matches From The First Five Years Of WWE’s Women’s Evolution

8. Ronda Rousey Vs Nikki Bella (Evolution)

Ronda Rousey Charlotte Flair
WWE.com

It takes an actual big fight to be a big fight, but an even bigger one to follow one of the best women's matches of all time.

In Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella, WWE had the perfect main event for their first ever all-women's pay-per-view thanks to both women having lashings of bona fide star power on top of what they were able to bring to the ring. Which, for this clash at least, their level best.

The inch-perfect obnoxiousness of The Bella Twins was a marvellous sight to behold. In the build-up and execution of 'The Baddest Woman On The Planet's highest profile title match to that point, both sisters had their fingers on the pulse of the fanbase as heels. As per the demands of the role, they did everything they could to be skilfully sycophantic or sinister after a return alongside (and then against) Rousey that felt suspicious and unwelcome.

The twins may not really belong as deep in the conversation of the real women's revolution as they or WWE would like, but this match - and Nikki's work in particular gaining some control despite being obviously overmatched - again proved how they were able to form a unique part of it's dynamic recent past as well as the darkest Diva days.

 
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Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett