10 Times Wrestling GENUINELY Tried To Be Progressive
8. The WWE Women's Division (2016)
Finally grasping some of the nuances that made NXT's golden era so successful, WWE's hard reset of their failed first try at credible women's wrestling in 2015 was an unqualified success. Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch were given all the tools to steal the show at WrestleMania 32, but didn't deserve less credit for doing so all the same.
Countless clashes on the 'Show Of Shows' have flattered to deceive, but their three-way was a thrilling rebirth for the Women's Title that comfortably outperformed the lumbering bouts featuring The Undertaker, Shane McMahon, Roman Reigns and Triple H.
Flair in particular took enormous strides forward as a performer, ditching her Dad's scene-stealing presence at ringside to help elevate Dana Brooke to engage in a lengthy title-trading war with Sasha Banks. Their Hell In A Cell main event arguably underperformed, but the raised expectations perhaps poisoned the bout before the bell rang. The Iron Man war that closed out their series was a strong and satisfying conclusion to the feud, with the belt and both performers infinitely better off than they were battling over a butterfly a year earlier.