Women in Wrestling Weekly Roundup – November 5 to 11, 2023
By Miss Peacockery on 13th November 2023
Happy Monday and welcome to another exciting week of women’s wrestling. Last week our big three companies gave us 22 matches with women. What will happen this week with no pay-per-views or special events?
Note that I’ve added a little more of a scoring system for the categories of each show. I’ll be ranking each show’s three categories – matches, other developments, and talent used – on a scale of ten. Then I’ll average the three together to give it a final 1-to-10 score. This gives a little more weight to storyline developments on weeks where the matches might be light but big things are happening.
Monday – WWE Monday Night Raw
Matches:
#1 Contenders Battle Royal – Zoey Stark wins in 16:00. Also in this match were Chelsea Green, Indi Hartwell, Ivy Nile, Katana Chance, Kayden Carter, Maxxine Dupri, Natalya, Nia Jax, Nikki Cross, Piper Niven, Raquel Rodriguez, Tegan Nox and Shayna Baszler. Becky Lynch and Xia Li were written out during introductions as Xia attacked Becky to continue their stories. We do get some storyline moves within the match. Nikki continues her “staring into space and maybe possessed” thing. We also get the usual “everybody eliminates Nia” spot. Zoey is a good choice to win this one and she’ll have a fun match with Rhea Ripley.
Other Developments:
Really there wasn’t room for too much with everyone crammed into one match. We get some backstage confrontation between Becky and Nia eyeing their past, as well as a Natalya video package and Ivy Nile signing her Raw contract along with the Creeds.
The Stats:
Of the matches on the show, one of six matches involved women for 16:00. It was the second longest match of the night and was presented with importance. 14 women had a match compared to 15 men.
The Score:
Matches 6/10 (showcase match, good time)
Other Developments 5/10
The Stats 7/10
Overall: 6/10
Tuesday – WWE NXT
The Matches:
Tiffany Stratton defeated Fallon Henley in an Iron Survivor Challenge qualifying match in 10:30. That would be the multi-person match they have upcoming at the next NXT special. For storyline purposes, Shawn Michaels let Mick Foley pick this match for reasons I guess. This is a good match with the right result, as Tiffany needs to be in the picture and Fallon has time.
Roxanne Perez and Kelani Jordan defeated Lola Vice and Elektra Lopez in 4:39. Fast paced but kind of just a match as the wheels are spinning. Roxanne needs something going on, Kelani is on the rise and our Breakout Tournament winner Lola shouldn’t be losing a four minute tag match a week later. Arianna Grace appears before to wish the competitors luck and attack the winners after but is stopped by Karmen Petrovic.
Other Developments:
Lyra Valkyria gets her first big segment of champion, declaring Becky Lynch as her hero and being interrupted by Xia Li. Lyra says she is ready for her. On site at Chase U, Jacy Jayne receives a letter for Andre Chase which is apparently shocking. We also learn Lita will be appearing to announce more Iron Survivor qualifiers on a future NXT. A down week for women’s developments really compared to most NXT, but there are still 4-5 stories going and that’s a good thing.
The Stats:
Two of six matches tonight included women for a combined 15:12. Tiffany/Fallon was the second longest match of the night. Six women had matches compared to eight men.
The Score:
Matches 6/10
Other Developments 6/10
The Stats 5/10
Overall: 5.6 out of 10
Wednesday – AEW Dynamite
The Matches:
Julia Hart defeated Red Velvet in 8:27. This is Velvet’s return after nine months of injury. It’s a good little match and Julia continues being a key player for the women’s divisions. Skye Blue keeps Julia from further attacking Velvet, while Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale keep Julia and Skye separate. I like to think this is leading to a four-way match being added to Full Gear, but we already have one women’s match and we know how that goes.
Other Developments:
A pretty big development actually happens with Mariah May appearing backstage in an interview with RJ City, screaming her excitement to meet Toni Storm. Mariah is a hell of a hand if AEW uses her correctly. Earlier in the show, Toni and Shida have a sit-down interview in black and white and sign their Full Gear contract.
The Stats:
One out of seven matches involved women and was the third-shortest match of the night for 8:27. Two women competed compared to sixteen men.
The Score:
Matches 4/10 (will we get get two?)
Other Developments 7/10
The Stats 2/10
Overall 5 out of 10
Thursday – Impact Wrestling
The Matches:
Tasha Steelz defeats Deonna Purrazzo in 9:24. With their tag team falling apart, I think these two put on a really enjoyable match. Probably the match of the week up to this point. Unfortunately it’s the only women’s one Impact decided we needed this week.
Other Developments:
Sonny Kiss appears backstage and issues a challenge for the Knockouts Title. Trinity responds and says she will see what she can do. I’m excited for that one. Jordynne Grace is confronted backstage by KiLynn King as Jordynne talks about her impending Knockouts Title shot.
The Stats:
One of six matches involved women this week, a low number for Impact, for 9:24. Two women competed versus twelve men.
The Score:
Matches 4/10 (more please)
Other Developments 6/10 (title stuff happening)
The Stats: 3/10
Overall: 4.3 out of 5
Thursday – Ring of Honor on HonorClub
Matches:
Athena defeats Heidi Howitzer in a Proving Ground match in 3:33. Heidi is one of the more unique, appealing characters in the indies… so of course Athena beats them in three minutes. Then beats them down more after the match. A waste of Heidi, frankly.
Leyla Hirsch defeats Charlette Renegade in 3:45. The Renegades never win so this wasn’t in doubt, but was mostly a setup for a future Renegades vs Leyla & Rachel Ellering match.
Billie Starks defeats Rachel Ellering in 7:49. A little more competitive than the other matches, this one has Billie continuing her turn towards being more Athena-approved. Leyla saves Ellering from a post-match attack, so that’s another tag match we’re sure to see soon.
Other Developments:
It’s the Athena show as she’s interspersed throughout. Billie gets promoted to Minion from Minion-in-Training, while Lexi Nair is demoted from her spot as Bestie. Maria Kanellis-Bennett, who has been doing managerial things on ROH, offers Ellering and Hirsch a spot with her crew.
The Stats:
Three of ten matches were women’s matches for a combined 14:45 or so. Six women competed versus 22 men as even ROH continues to feature less women’s action.
The Score:
Matches 4/10
Other Devlopments 6/10 (all Athena)
The Stats: 2/10
Overall: 4 out of 10
Thursday – WWE Main Event
Matches:
None
Other Developments:
We view parts of the women’s battle royal from Monday as well as the Natalya video package.
The Stats:
Zero women’s matches this week with zero women competing versus six men.
The Score:
Matches 0/10
Other Developments 2/10
The Stats 0/10
Overall 0.66 out of 10
Friday – AEW Rampage
Matches:
Red Velvet defeats Ruby Soho in 8:04. We’re live tonight and it’s a decent match as Velvet continues getting back into it. Ruby is delivered flowers from a secret admirer (it was me), which distracts her long enough to lose. We’ll see where if anywhere that goes.
Other Developments:
Saraya accuses Angelo Parker of sending the flowers. Yep, that is the sole other development involving the women.
The Stats:
One of four matches involved women tonight for 8:04. Two women competed versus a total of ten men, also known as “yep, this must be AEW.”
The Score:
Matches 4/10
Other Developments 2/10
The Stats 3/10
Overall 3/10
Friday – WWE Friday Night SmackDown
The Matches:
Asuka, Bianca Belair & Charlotte Flair versus Bayley, Iyo Sky & Kairi Sane went to a no-contest in 8:16. With Kairi officially joining Damage Ctrl, we expected a good match and got it. Kairi especially looked good. Asuka dodged Bianca’s tag, misting her and kicking her for the referee to call for the bell. She joins Damage Ctrl to the bewildered delight of Bayley and the full delight of the others. Post-match, Shotzi tries to save Charlotte and Bianca from attack. A masterful segment. WarGames appear imminent.
Other Developments:
We get an in-ring segment prior to the match Kairi officially joining Damage Ctrl. Bayley rightfully questions why Kairi would want to team with her and Kairi says she forgives her and wants to work with her. Bayley sells it all very well with facial expressions and the turn on her is going to work so well. Also a masterful segment. Elsewhere, B-Fab watches Bobby Lashley wrestle.
The Stats:
One of four matches involved women for 8:16, but it was the main event and the story leading to it was woven through the show. Six women competed compared to six men.
The Score:
Matches 7/10 (felt important)
Other Developments 7/10
The Stats: 8/10
Overall 7.3 out of 10
Friday – NXT Level Up
Matches:
Gigi Dolan defeats Stevie Turner in 4:48. An actual bit of story here for once as Stevie has been harassing Gigi on the bird app about her Halloween Havoc match. It’s a sprint of a match but the crowd enjoys it.
Other Developments:
We don’t do that here.
The Stats:
One of two matches involved women for 4:48, about two minutes less than the other match. Two women competed versus four men.
The Score:
Matches 4/10
Other Developments 0/10
The Stats: 6/10
Overall 3.33 out of 10
Saturday – AEW Collision
The Matches:
Julia Hart defeats Willow Nightingale in 12:01. The women get a little time in their one match on the two-hour show. Julia is coming into her own and poor Willow just can’t get any kind of consecutive wins in AEW.
Other Developments:
Kris Statlander tells Willow backstage that she should get a title shot. We learn the winner of tonight’s Julia/Willow and next week’s Red Velvet/Skye Blue match get a triple threat match with her at Full Gear. Tony Khan has a fever, folks. I’d be shocked if Skye doesn’t win because the spooky girls rule the division. CJ Perry did some stuff with Andrade and Miro too which continues to not be really captivating.
The Stats:
One of seven matches involved women for 12:01. The Collision comparison is bad as usual, with two women competing versus 18 men.
The Score:
Matches 4/10
Other Developments 4/10 (match building!)
The Stats 2/10
Overall 3.33 out of 10
The Overall Numbers
Over 8.5 hours of programming, WWE presented five women’s matches out of the 20 matches aired for approximately 45 minutes. There were 28 spots for women in matches versus 39 for men. If you exclude NXT, it drops to two matches, 24:30 minutes and twenty women.
Over 7 hours of programming, AEW presented six women’s matches out of the 28 matches aired for approximately 43 minutes. There were 12 spots for women in matches versus 66 spots for men. If you exclude ROH, it drops to three matches, 28 minutes and six women’s spots with Red Velvet wrestling twice.
Over 2 hours of programming, Impact presented one women’s match out of the six aired for 9:24. Two women competed versus twelve men.