18 Biggest Wrestling Stories Of 2017

8. June - Ellsworth Claims Women's Money In The Bank

Money In The Bank Carmella James Ellsworth
WWE.com

Over the past two years, WWE have made an enormous public song and dance about how they've personally 'revolutionised' (or maybe, er, 'evolutionised') women's wrestling, starting with the decision to reel back years of gratuitous objectification and gross indignity of their own making. Female wrestlers were treated like a joke, dontcha know, before matriarch Stephanie McMahon gave the beleaguered lot a chance.

Admiration is hard to find for someone who saves people from a fire they caused, but that's the line. The outcomes, if not the motives, should be celebrated at least.

The latest came this past June, as SmackDown's women were given another huge opportunity to shine in the first ever Money in the Bank ladder match specific to the gender. The six-way tussle was widely promoted as an historic moment for women's wrestling, and quite right. On the night, one of the sextet would write their names in the record books.

But then James Ellsworth, a man, claimed the briefcase for his belle Carmella. One cat. Pigeons everywhere. The outcome set social media astorm, with even the company's own roster (pretending) to be irate at the result. The stunt certainly got people talking - but was it worth undermining such a potentially significant occurrence for it?

Editorial Team
Editorial Team

Benjamin was born in 1987, and is still not dead. He variously enjoys classical music, old-school adventure games (they're not dead), and walks on the beach (albeit short - asthma, you know). He's currently trying to compile a comprehensive history of video game music, yet denies accusations that he purposefully targets niche audiences. He's often wrong about these things.