The future of Women’s wrestling in WWE is arguably the most valuable appeal to the company right now. Raw’s male division has struggled with injuries and a part-time champion dooming the show. The women of Raw have become the top draw by proxy as WWE now books three storylines for the women on the longer show. SmackDown’s men have done a good job, but the ladies have taken the top spots away from them by delivering even better work. Ronda Rousey, Becky Lynch, and Charlotte Flair are arguably the top three stars in WWE right now regardless of gender. The other ladies like Ruby Riott, Sasha Banks, Bayley, Carmella, Naomi, and others have become consistent standouts as well to add great depth which was needed for the movement.
There are quite a few potential storylines out there for the near future. NXT changes and call-ups constantly impact the company as the ladies there take their game to another level. The Women’s Tag Team Division is expected to come in 2019 as the company has already started teasing it in promos. Everyone wants a major match at WrestleMania, so potential stories will always be booked there. Some wrestlers could just use a heel turn or splitting from a partner. We will look at all the possibilities out there about the future of the division. These are ten good potential storylines for the Women's Evolution and ten to avoid.
20 Storyline: Banks and Bayley winning tag titles
The payoff to the long storyline of Sasha Banks and Bayley fighting to keep their friendship alive would be perfect if they had a historic win on the biggest stage. Banks and Bayley have been secondary ladies in the Raw Women’s Division for the past year.
The only relevant storyline either woman has had in recent memory is the on-again/off-again friendship of them turning on each other before making up. It will mean nothing if they don’t become the first WWE Women’s Tag Team Champion. Banks and Bayley being the first winners of a new important title at WrestleMania 35 would make them relevant again.
19 Avoid: Trish and Lita winning tag titles
The flip side of potential storylines for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship would feature nostalgia winning out. Trish Stratus and Lita are clearly the top two female legends in WWE history when looking at their impact at a time when it was needed.
WWE having Trish and Lita oppose Sasha Banks and Bayley would be fine in general. However, there’s no way the legends should get the win. It would be a feel-good moment, but the rub of being the first-ever ladies to hold such an important new title would be wasted in a month or two when they leave the company and re-retire.
18 Storyline : Mandy Rose turning on Sonya Deville
WWE clearly has hope for both Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville to become stars on the main roster. Their tag team has struggled to find relevance or momentum. Rose has teased turning on Deville multiple times, but they remain together as WWE is still waiting for a more ideal time.
The split up must come as Rose and Deville clearly have passed the point of becoming a successful duo. Rose turning makes sense as she plays a natural heel, as seen with the extra promo time she has received in recent weeks. Sonya would likely thrive better as a face looking to have a fight with the other ladies of SmackDown, including Mandy.
17 Avoid: Becky Lynch vs Nia Jax
WWE often likes to book feuds based on reality which makes a lot of sense. It usually leads to great content if the wrestlers have chemistry. The issue between Nia Jax and Becky Lynch is reportedly gaining traction for a potential WrestleMania match.
Jax injuring Lynch with a reckless shot to the face led to fans booing Nia with intensity. WWE is trying to use this to make Nia a stronger heel. The potential of a Lynch vs. Jax match seems fine on paper, but it would be a huge waste of Becky’s momentum. Unless it’s a small moment like Lynch eliminating Nia from the Royal Rumble or something similar, we have no need for such a storyline playing out.
16 Storyline: Bianca Belair becoming face of NXT division
The NXT Women’s Division is still in a transition period. NXT currently has the other three members of Ronda Rousey’s Four Horsewomen there with NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir playing a heel faction as others try to challenge them.
Bianca Belair is one of the rising stars that is gaining momentum and is scheduled to have a major 2019. The potential of Belair being the one to dethrone Baeszler in storyline makes sense. Belair is good enough to carry a division and needs the spotlight to get to the next level. NXT could thrive even more with such a talent holding gold.
15 Avoid: Stable of secondary Raw ladies
Recent weeks have featured the lower-card women on the Raw roster like Mickie James, Alicia Fox, and Dana Brooke attacking Sasha Banks and Bayley on behalf of Alexa Bliss. The angle would make sense if Bliss was wrestling and the others just did her bidding.
Alexa playing an authority figure takes away from the luster as the secondary ladies just don’t have the popularity as the other women on Raw. Brooke, James, and Fox come off like a lower tier group that holds no threat to Banks, Bayley or anyone with the slightest credibility on Raw. WWE should drop the angle before it’s too late.
14 Storyline: Riott Squad sticking together for strong 2019
The Riott Squad have had a great run together as a faction that remains united. This trio of all-new talent debuted the same week as Absolution late last year. There were many variables in play, but the differences in the two groups playing out show how well Riott Squad works together.
Ruby Riott has specifically thrived as the leader of the faction and one of the top singles stars in the division. The Riott Squad is expected to become a huge part of the Women’s Tag Team Division when it does finally become part of WWE. Time will tell if they can run with the ball, but the best bet is on the three ladies continuing to thrive together.
13 Avoid: Four Horsewomen dominating NXT
The new faction of Shayna Baszler, Jessamyn Duke, and Marina Shafir has started in NXT, with the hopes of becoming a major part of the main roster. All three ladies could have major roles given the importance of Ronda Rousey as a huge draw for the Women’s Evolution.
Some NXT fans are unhappy with the three ladies already dominating the Women’s Division there over the other talented, more experienced ladies. It would be a bad move if the Four Horsewomen minus Rousey dominated NXT for more than a couple of months. The risk of growing stale could doom them before they even join the main roster.
12 Storyline: M.Y.C. winner earning main roster spot
The Mae Young Classic has been a great addition to the WWE Network over the past two years. Numbers show that fans are interested in the tournament of the top international female wrestlers from all over the wrestling world. Past winners Kairi Sane and Toni Storm would ride their success to NXT and NXT UK respectively.
It may be a wiser move to have the next winner immediately join the main roster to make the most of the momentum. Chances are the wrestler to win the MYC will never have a better chance at debuting with credibility to the new audience. The bigger prize of a Raw or SmackDown spot would even add more interest in the tournament.
11 Avoid: Tamina and Nia Jax becoming dominant team
Nia Jax and Tamina uniting as a heel tag team has already seen them getting strong booking support. Jax has always been a favorite of management in WWE, but Tamina has struggled to find a role. The pairing of two of the more powerful women on the roster has them dominating most of their opponents so far.
Fans do have a problem with the act as Jax and Tamina are considered two of the least talented in-ring performers. The expectations for the Women’s matches are stronger than ever before, but Nia and Tamina just can’t keep up with most of their peers. Any planned storylines of them dominating Raw should be scrapped before it hurts the planned tag division.
10 Storyline: Carmella's third MITB win
Carmella is already tied with CM Punk in the WWE record books for most Money in the Bank match wins. The controversial finish to her first win made Carmella had to win the match a second time to keep the briefcase. It led to her cashing in and having a run as SmackDown Women’s Champion.
Following a face turn, Carmella has become one of the more popular ladies on SmackDown again, thanks to her association with R-Truth and their wacky dance breaks. A third Money in the Bank win would put her at the top of the record in WWE for most MITB wins. It also would cement Carmella as an upper-level woman on the roster.
9 Avoid: Bellas coming back for WrestleMania season
The Bella Twins had a short return this year working from SummerSlam to Evolution before leaving again. Brie and Nikki will likely never be full-time wrestlers for the company again, but they do have an open door for short returns, given their star power.
The problem is the Bellas seem out of place in today’s WWE. Brie’s matches were a disaster and it led to her developing a negative reputation. Meanwhile, Nikki did not come off as a credible top star when trying to portray a threat to Ronda Rousey’s Raw Women’s Championship reign. The Bellas returning for WrestleMania season would be a bad idea for all involved.
8 Storyline: Kairi Sane and Io Shirai getting called up
One potential new tag team that should be considered for the upcoming division would be the NXT duo of Kairi Sane and Io Shirai. Both ladies became best friends throughout the years wrestling for the same promotions in Japan. Their great work would land them each the opportunity to join WWE.
The chemistry for them together along with the individual talent could make Sane and Shirai the perfect duo to get called up and join the Raw or SmackDown Women’s Division. Sane and Shirai vs Sasha Banks and Bayley or Asuka and Naomi already jumps out as fun dream matches.
7 Avoid: Zelina Vega splitting from Andrade Almas
Andrade Almas has been missing from television for quite some time now. The former NXT Champion getting called up with manager Zelina Vega felt like a great move, considering how well the two work together. However, the strange outcome has seen Vega getting more matches than Almas lately.
The Women’s Division needing another heel for team matches or battle royals led to Zelina getting more matches on SmackDown than she did in NXT. Almas, meanwhile, struggles to get a storyline. The potential of them splitting and being separate singles wrestlers seems possible, but it would just hurt both in the long run. More call-ups coming will limit Vega’s wrestling opportunities and the managing of a potential star is a huge bonus to have going for her.
6 Storyline: Nikki Cross saving SAnitY
SAnitY has been a huge disappointment since getting called up after WrestleMania. Eric Young, Killian Dain, and Alexander Wolfe are currently on the SmackDown brand despite not getting much attention at all.
The faction had one short program with New Day and has done nothing of note since. NXT female star Nikki Cross was a huge part of SAnitY’s success in NXT, but there was a desire to keep her there longer. Cross returning to SAnitY when joining the roster full-time would showcase her importance, as well as help the other members get on television again before it’s too late.
5 Avoid: Natalya turning on Ronda Rousey
WWE has reportedly been considering having Natalya turn on Ronda Rousey since the summer. Their friendship formed out of the blue with the assumption being that Natalya would turn on Rousey sooner than later. The unfortunate passing of Nattie's father, WWE legend Jim Neidhart, led to the plans changing.
Natalya remains friends with Rousey all these months later. The turn is still expected to come either before or after WrestleMania season. This just doesn’t come off like a major match, as Natalya doesn’t have the same level of credibility as the top ladies on both divisions. The two wrestlers remaining friends for team matches will help both out rather than them facing each other.
4 Storyline: Asuka turning heel
Asuka has been lost in the shuffle since her undefeated streak ended to Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 34. WWE would have Asuka lose multiple matches to Carmella and move into a tag team with Naomi that features them barely getting television time.
Asuka getting a spot in the TLC Match with Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch does give hope for things turning around for her. One rumor of Asuka turning heel would be a great storyline to unfold. The arrogance Asuka showed in NXT towards the end of her run worked well and could add to new success on the main roster.
3 Avoid: Alexa Bliss becoming full-time Raw GM
The Raw General Manager spot is up in the air regarding who will have the power. Baron Corbin currently has a temporary role, with Alexa Bliss having a spot in charge of the women. Kurt Angle was sent home by Stephanie McMahon, but there’s been no mention of him returning any time soon.
Bliss has become the top name in rumored plans for the future of the Raw GM. WWE was unsure about her wrestling future, but Mark Henry recently revealed Bliss passed her tests and can wrestle again. It would be a waste of her prime to have Alexa in the GM role rather than continuing her wrestling career.
2 Storyline: Becky Lynch vs Ronda Rousey at WrestleMania
The dream storyline to play out at WrestleMania would see Ronda Rousey face Becky Lynch in the main event. Rousey and Lynch had an incredible moment on Raw with the moment of a celebrating Lynch with blood dripping off her face created something special.
Fans of Becky clearly want her in the big match at WrestleMania 35. The story is perfect with a dream match set if WWE goes through with the storyline. Lynch losing the SmackDown Women’s Championship at TLC without getting pinned and then winning the Royal Rumble to challenge Rousey is such a perfect scenario that has unfolded for WWE.
1 Avoid: Charlotte Flair vs Ronda Rousey at WM
The only threat to the Ronda Rousey vs Becky Lynch WrestleMania match is Charlotte Flair. An incredible match and post-match attack featured Flair destroying Rousey and proving she could have a tremendous story on the biggest as well.
Fans are aware that Vince McMahon clearly has viewed Charlotte above Becky throughout the years. The momentum of Lynch is too strong right now for McMahon to once again choose Flair. It could become another Daniel Bryan/Roman Reigns moment where fans sour on Charlotte and heckle the main event due to Becky getting snubbed. The storyline of Flair challenging Rousey is too much of a risk to become the first female WrestleMania main event.