Why WWE’s Women Aren’t Drawing

It doesn’t help, either, that the level below the top can only be located after a significant gulf. There are several women, as the hot mess that was the opening two thirds of the Women’s Rumble match indicates, that dilute the message WWE is transmitting. Equality is a marketing buzzword. Without shaming these performers, several of whom were prematurely promoted to the main roster in a transparent attempt at spin, there is a reason why the singles matches on a typical WWE pay-per-view are not divided equally by gender.

We are happy to shame WWE’s creative staff, and the man who essentially renders them redundant. The writing is putrid, the direction equally so; with every roll of the eyes, every exaggerated clearing of the throat, every disingenuous bait and switch, WWE depicts far too many of its women as teen movie archetypes. Of course, the men of WWE fare little better.

But.

To take an anecdotal approach, this should be working, should it not? In this Becky Lynch Vs. Ronda Rousey programme, WWE has hit upon an engaging dynamic—the most engaging dynamic. In one corner stands a household name, a prodigious, fresh pro wrestling talent who, in addition to her ability to render crowds slack-jawed, comes equipped with a meta heat: she didn't dedicate her life to this. Becky Lynch however did, and in doing so defeated the most formidable heel in all of wrestling: the WWE machine. This is big time, this is a perfect storm, this is every manifested cliché WWE can throw on the poster to sell tickets. But tickets aren't selling; there is no swarm to Ticketmaster, one that would signify that this attraction is undeniably bigger than all others.

But why?

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