WWE Needs Women’s Mid-Card Titles

WWE Needs Women's Mid-Card Titles

As a woman who has spent years watching and admiring the strong and talented women of WWE, I wholeheartedly agree that it’s high time for more opportunities for them to shine equally with their male counterparts. The idea of introducing mid-card titles for women is not just groundbreaking, but long overdue.

In the hit movie Barbie from 2023, America Ferrera delivered an unforgettable performance as she addressed the struggles of being a woman. A particularly striking line in her powerful speech was: “Always remember to express gratitude, but never lose sight of the fact that the system is biased. Somehow manage to acknowledge this reality while still remaining thankful.”

Over the past ten years, I’ve been thrilled to see the evolution of women’s wrestling in WWE. From scantily clad matches that felt more like spectacle than sport, we’ve progressed to steel cage brawls and grueling last woman standing contests. Even the Royal Rumble now has its female counterpart, stretching from brief eleven-second moments to twenty-to-thirty-minute classics. It’s a fantastic journey, but it’s also clear that there’s still room for improvement – the system isn’t quite fair yet.

While WWE has taken significant strides in portraying female superstars as equals to their male counterparts, it remains evident that there’s still room for improvement. Each Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, and Becky Lynch represents a step forward, but behind them are Indi Hartwells, Candice LeRaes, and Kiana James – talented women eagerly waiting for their spotlight. The narratives of many female superstars aren’t given the time to develop as deeply as men’s stories, which is something WWE needs to address. As it expands globally and becomes more accessible, WWE should explore creative methods to increase the representation of women on television and set an example that reflects the change young girls and women aspire to see. Implementing more mid-card titles for women could be a key step in achieving this goal.

Gives Spotlight and Opportunity to Hard Working Women Superstars

WWE Needs Women's Mid-Card Titles

WWE boasts an abundance of exceptional female performers, yet much of their talent often goes unnoticed because it isn’t showcased frequently or in prominent roles. Introducing more women’s championship belts could serve as recognition for these hardworking athletes who contribute significantly to the mid-card and are on their way up the ranks.

Consider, for example, Zelina Vega, who was once the Women’s Tag Team Champion in WWE and the first Queen of the Ring. Since joining the Latino World Order (LWO), her prowess in the ring has significantly improved, and her popularity outside wrestling has expanded with her roles in video games, anime award shows, and similar events. Vega has also demonstrated her value on the microphone through her quick wit and straightforward approach from New York, which often leaves her opponents off-balance.

Mia Yim, also known as Michin, is another skilled athlete who has demonstrated her versatility by competing alongside top stars on SmackDown, as well as emerging talents like Jaida Parker and current Women’s North American Champion Kelani Jordan in NXT. Interestingly, both these women share the experience of being granted occasional Women’s title matches without a prolonged feud. A mid-card championship could provide an opportunity for performers such as Yim and Vega to strive towards a goal that could significantly boost their careers. These dedicated individuals who are always working to hone their skills deserve recognition, and a women’s mid-card title could do just that.

Better Creativity and Authenticity in Women’s Wrestling Storylines

WWE Needs Women's Mid-Card Titles

One advantage of having mid-card titles for women in WWE is that they can help create more diverse and genuine narratives. For instance, in recent times after the introduction of Women’s Tag Team championships, those not involved in major title rivalries have been paired briefly with other individual wrestlers to engage in a tag team feud over the titles. However, this arrangement usually lasts for just a few weeks before they switch to another short-lived program together.

Though that seems to be changing in the Triple H era of WWE, there are certain women who could have benefitted from feuding instead of remaining in a tag team. Candice LeRae and Indi Hartwell falls under that category. When LeRae seemed to take a darker turn earlier this year, Hartwell seemed to have conflicting feelings about it until she ultimately joined Candice. What if WWE’s creative team decided to have Indi stand on her own? And what if a mid-card title was in the mix? Imagine if Hartwell challenged LeRae as an Intercontinental champion. The title would give their rivalry a bigger platform and up the ante for a young star like Indi to prove herself against a seasoned veteran like LeRae.

Having mid-level championships available can pave the way for more genuine tales to be crafted by women, about women. Increasing the number of female producers and writers can offer a truer depiction of how women navigate the contemporary wrestling world. While male writers may understand and appreciate women, it is crucial that those who have personally experienced the journey lead in shaping narratives for female athletes. In wrestling, women are not just about feuds over men or petty looks-based arguments; they represent much more than that. With mid-level titles at play, we could see narrative and rivalry development akin to Bloodline’s, catering to an often overlooked audience.

Centers WWE As a Place Where Women Can Thrive Equally to The Men

WWE Needs Women's Mid-Card Titles

In the last two years, WWE has experienced a remarkable resurgence, characterized by consistently packed houses and widespread praise across various pop culture outlets. Once dubbed “the revolutionary force in sports entertainment,” it’s now thriving in its cool phase. As we’ve discussed before, rising stars like Jade Cargill, Rhea Ripley, Bianca Belair, Tiffany Stratton, and others have benefited greatly from this period. However, one might wonder about the other aspiring women looking to elevate their status alongside their male counterparts. In this era of WWE, we’ve witnessed the Men’s Intercontinental and United States championships being transformed into stepping stones for future success.

Instead of only focusing on top-tier titles, if WWE were to introduce mid-card championships for women, it would foster an environment where female performers could have equal opportunities for growth like their male counterparts. The approach that boosted Bron Breakker’s career after his Raw signing and his subsequent domination in the Intercontinental Championship competition could be replicated for a rising star like Kiana James. Similarly, the way the United States title has been used to elevate a superstar such as LA Knight can be utilized for someone like Naomi who is finding her footing in a different company compared to the one she left two years ago. Essentially, any female champion holding a mid-card title could share equal limelight with their male counterpart at events and press conferences, enhancing visual appeal and creative diversity. Moreover, introducing women’s mid-card championships would not only address the longstanding inequality in wrestling but also help WWE attract more diverse talent and offer them greater career incentives.

Women in wrestling have shown that if given the ball, they can run with it. Even when the odds are stacked against them, they find a way to jump over the stack. WWE has created a larger platform and system that can benefit the growing pool of women talent. But it can only do that if more opportunity is given to them. With more women’s titles in the landscape of WWE, it would prepare and propel women’s wrestlers into future stars and create stories that the fandom will invest in and remember forever. There’s a lot of space for women to take up and giving them more titles will do that. WWE may have been a man’s world, but it is nothing without its women.

2024-08-21 18:15

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