10 Ways WWE Has Screwed Up Its Women's Division

No matter how you slice it, the biggest strike against WWE’s women’s division during the past two years has to be the sheer volume of talented wrestlers who have been jettisoned.

The mass exodus we’ve seen in 2020-21 has been staggering: Mickie James, Ruby Riott, Lana, Santana Garrett, Chelsea Green, Billie Kay, Peyton Royce, Zelina Vega, Kairi Sane, Sarah Logan, Deonna Purrazzo, Serena Deeb, Taynara Conti and Vanessa Bourne.

You could easily build a solid women’s division in another company with that list, and the proof is in the fact that Deeb and Conti are getting plenty of screentime in AEW right now, while Purrazzo is the Impact Knockouts Champion. James, Green, Riott, Royce, Kay and others will likely surface as soon as their 90-day non-compete clauses expire.

If you look back at this list of problems with the women’s division through the past two years, several can be traced to the misuse – or in some cases non-use – of many of these women. Splitting up the IIconics was an obvious mistake. Solid hands like James, Garrett and Logan could have been used as veteran mid-carders and potential title challengers. WWE gave up on Conti and ditched Deeb, and both women have shown they have plenty to offer on AEW.

Meanwhile, WWE has been touting the return of Eva Marie as if she’s a coup for the company. Not to knock her, but when you look at what WWE has cut loose this year alone, it’s hardly a fair swap. It says more about WWE’s priorities, their missteps, and their dysfunction than anything else.