10 Ups & 12 Downs For WWE In 2020 (So Far)

6. Stuck In The Middle With Who?

Bayley Sasha Banks Tamina Naomi Lacey Evans
WWE.com

The imbalance in Raw and SmackDown's women's divisions is odd, given this is one of the fantastic NXT scene's greatest strengths. The level of talent has never been in doubt and the likes of Sasha Banks, Asuka, and Charlotte Flair deserve to be mentioned amongst the best in the world. This isn't the problem: the presentation of the midcard wrestlers is.

Lacey Evans, Tamina, Naomi, and 2020's undercooked version of Carmella have all mounted unconvincing, uninvestable challenges for Bayley's SmackDown Women's Title. None looked sufficiently threatening for the spot. Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville offer adjacent hope thanks to their feud's slow, concerted build, but where has this effort been with the rest of them?

Bianca Beliar was forgotten about within weeks of arriving on Raw. Shayna Baszler's on again/off again presentation is equal parts frustrating and bewildering. Natalya, Liv Morgan, and Ruby Riott drift in and out like passing thoughts.

It's rubbish. The people are there, though the promotion looks reticent to push more than a couple at the time, even with the absence of Becky Lynch leaving a gaping hole that needs to be filled.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.