The WWE Half-Year Awards 2018

2. Best Female Wrestler: Ronda Rousey

WWE 2018 HALF YEAR
WWE

It may seem there's been an arithmetical error in calculating WWE's best female performer of the year so far, considering Ronda Rousey has wrestled half the paltry four matches of Brock Lesnar, who swept home in the worst male category on the basis of his feather-light schedule.

It's the context, not the criteria, that counts.

Yes, the MMA émigrée has contended just a couple of contests - seemingly not enough to qualify her for this accolade. But look what she has accomplished in those two matches. Her opponents - non-wrestler Stephanie McMahon and barely-wrestler Nia Jax - have been no great shakes, yet in each Rousey has drawn the best from them, displaying instincts for the industry far eclipsing most of her new colleagues, let alone those expected of a complete rookie.

Heavily rehearsed? Sure - but what great performer doesn't practice their lines? Old-school snobbery about 'proper workers' shouldn't detract from the fact that in just two matches, Ronda has already dazzled, bringing positive mainstream spotlight onto WWE in the process.

Runner-up: Charlotte

From a purely technical point of view, the Flair-ess has no equal in the company. A true superstar, Charlotte nearly stole the show opposite Asuka at WrestleMania, and played a big hand in the women's successful MITB bow. Couldn't draw anything out of Carmella at Backlash - but that was always an impossible brief.

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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.