25 Worst Wrestling Moments Of 2023

Going in, the SummerSlam 2023 encounter between Ronda Rousey and Shayna Baszler felt like both of these women needed it to be something monumental. These badass women had seen their reputation as 2 of the toughest members of WWE's roster take an almighty hit because Vince McMahon had no idea how to book strong women.

Shayna Baszler was a killer in NXT. Choking women out over the top rope like she was conducting a public execution, her trademark snarl and gumshield combo was as fierce a visual as WWE's women's division has ever created. When she hit the main roster, Vince's need for femininity meant that he was never going to understand that primal violence is what made Shayna stand out so brilliantly. The image of her being scared of Alexa Bliss's doll, Lilly, is going to be a stick to beat her with forever.

Meanwhile, Ronda Rousey's credentials need little introduction, but after disappearing from WWE screens without a trace after her loss in the WrestleMania 35 main event, it was nonchalant of McMahon to think he could just expect fans to consider Rousey a danger to the roster when their last impression of her was watching her sulk in the shadows.

Both women were capable of war, so SummerSlam's affair could and should have been a battle for the ages. Instead, the match took place under 'MMA Rules', alienating WWE's core audience and putting on something that would never pass the eye test for UFC fans the match seemed designed to court.

The result was that both continued to flounder at a time when WWE could have used their individual skill sets in much more beneficial ways.