5 Most Insane Things Happening In Wrestling Right Now (March 16)
4. Fabulous Booking
When WWE does something brilliant, we should recognise it. When WWE does something almost unprecedented, we should recognise it all the more.
The meme surrounding the booking of the Women's division, since WWE dispensed with the stupid Gang Rulz formula that worked so well in 1997, is that Creative is unable to book storylines outside of the title picture. In this WrestleMania 34 season, there are no less than three very good feuds featuring the females of the red brand, one of which in turn allows Asuka to depart for SmackDown to challenge Charlotte Flair in the most legit Women's match currently at WWE's disposal. This is great, layered stuff actually informed by the recent past.
Ronda Rousey didn't as promised appear on this week's RAW, but let's gloss over that. The heat between Sasha Banks and Bayley continues apace. It's simple storytelling, but hopefully effective enough to reset its players as, respectively, a confident heel and a battling babyface.
The Nia Jax Vs. Alexa Bliss programme began in earnest this week, and WWE must be applauded for building this thing over the course of several months. Moreover, WWE finally did something to not portray its Machiavellian heel schemers as complete f*ckwits by filming the segment under the pretence that live cameras and boom mics were not inches away from their faces. When it transpired that Jax did hear Alexa Bliss and Mickie James poke fun at her weight and IQ, she went on a believable and emotional rampage to telegraph the title match. If the body shaming aspect of the feud makes you uncomfortable, just remember that WWE wouldn't dare make light of such a sensitive issue without providing fans a happy ending on the "season finale" of WWE TV.
Well, they did at WrestleMania XIX, and they repeat the same mistakes all the time, but it'll probably be fine.