10 key women’s matches that have led to the first ever women’s main event at WrestleMania

When WWE confirmed that WrestleMania 35 will mark the first time there will be a women’s main event on their flagship pay-per-view, it proved that women’s wrestling has come a long way since they started.

A look back at women’s wrestling at WrestleMania is hardly something to be positively remembered, as many of the matches were short filler matches, with a few of them even featuring the women being subjugated and wearing provocative clothing.

For example, at WrestleMania XX, Torrie Wilson and Sable faced Miss Jackie and Stacy Kiebler in an evening gown match and at WrestleMania 22, Torrie Wilson was in another match where she was eventually stripped to her underwear in a Playboy pillow fight against Candice Michelle.

However, for all of those matches that set back women’s wrestling, there have been a number of female wrestlers that have continued to move women’s wrestling in the right direction when given the opportunity. There are a number of matches that have slowly built towards this historical pay-per-view but these are the ten key classic matches in chronological order that have eventually led to the first ever women’s main event at WrestleMania.

---

#10 Lita vs. Trish Stratus - WWE Women's Championship Match (Raw, December 6, 2004)

Both Lita and Trish Stratus are now in the WWE Hall of Fame

This match is one of the many reasons why both Lita and Trish Stratus are in WWE's Hall of Fame. This match may not be the first ever all women’s main event on Raw – that honour goes to Lita and Stephanie McMahon, who fought four years earlier. However, even though Stephanie and Lita contested for the Women’s Championship, the match ended up being more focused on the rivalry between Kurt Angle, Triple H, and the special guest referee of the match, The Rock.

However, in the case of Lita’s second ever main event on Monday Night Raw, there was no need for any involvement of male wrestlers, as the WWE Universe was purely invested in her and the then Women’s Champion, Trish Stratus. These were the two women who were heads and shoulders above the rest of the women’s division, and when this match took place, were at the peak of their careers. On the night, they delivered an unforgettable match that will cement its place in WWE history, not to mention successfully headlining a main event on a weekly show.

Despite it would take over a decade before women would solely main event Raw again, it is now not uncommon for women to close the show on Raw and SmackDown. Whilst WrestleMania 35 will mark the first ever women's main event in WrestleMania history, it is safe to confirm that this match was the first stepping stone that proved that female wrestlers had the ability to be at the top of the WWE.

#9 Beth Phoenix vs. Melina - I Quit Match (One Night Stand 2008)

Beth Phoenix and Melina prove to the WWE that women can wrestle in matches with respectable stipulations.

Both Beth Phoenix and Melina were among the stronger female wrestlers throughout the Divas era so it shouldn’t be a surprise they both were part of the first ever women’s ‘I Quit’ match at One Night Stand. The fact that there was no Championship on the line between the two wrestlers in this match is a clear indicator that the WWE wanted to take a risk on women’s wrestling with such a stipulation.

This match ended up becoming the only respectable women’s match that took place throughout the four One Night Stand pay per views – one year earlier at One Night Stand 2007, Melina competed against Candice Michelle in a pudding match.

The ‘I Quit’ match was significant to building the Women’s Revolution because this match stipulation is one the WWE very rarely uses, so the thought of two women competing during a time, when other women’s matches like ‘Extreme Makeover’ or ‘Bra and Panties’ were also around, was unfathomable.

Even though the quality of the wrestling may not be on the list of the best women’s matches in WWE, this match was still important in proving that women can wrestle in a concept match that doesn’t have to involve them taking off their clothes or rolling around in pudding.

#8 Bayley vs. Sasha Banks – 30 Minute Ironwoman match (NXT TakeOver: Respect, October 2015)

First ever women's 'Match of the Year'

Despite being the inaugural and current WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions, Bayley and Sasha Banks weren’t always on the same side. Whilst they had notable issues with each other last year, they had problems long before they were both on the main shows back when they were both competing in WWE’s developmental show, NXT.

They had an on-off feud for several years before it culminated in a 30 Minute Iron Woman match at NXT Takeover: Respect. This match broke several records in the WWE. It was the first time that a women’s match headlined a major NXT event, it was the first time the WWE had a match with this stipulation involving two women, and it ended up being the longest women’s match in WWE history at the time.

Whilst it’s not uncommon for an Ironman match to have moments throughout the match slowing down due to the amount of time the wrestlers have to compete in, this didn’t apply to these two women as this match was packed with non-stop wrestling. In fact, the match was of such a high quality that Pro Wrestling Illustrated voted this as ‘Match of the Year’ in 2015, the first time for a woman’s match.

Even though Bayley remained NXT Women’s Champion after the match, the result paled in comparison to what they both achieved steering the women’s revolution.

#7 Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch - WWE Women's Championship Match (WrestleMania 32, April 2016)

Charlotte, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch show that women's matches at WrestleMania can steal the show

It’s hard to believe that it was only three years ago when Charlotte and Becky Lynch made their WrestleMania wrestling debut competing for the Women’s Championship, replacing the Divas Championship. Three years on, they are now competing for the first ever women’s main event at WrestleMania in another Triple Threat match, with the only difference being Ronda Rousey being the third participant instead of Sasha Banks.

This match was significant in women’s wrestling for a number of reasons. Firstly, prior to WrestleMania 32, women competing at WrestleMania were usually a ‘filler’ match. Regardless if there was a Championship on the line, the majority of these matches were very short and usually ended up becoming somewhat of an afterthought. This wasn’t the case at WrestleMania 32, as Charlotte, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks arguably had the match of the night in front of the WWE Universe.

The other reason why this match is important for the women’s revolution was the retirement of the Divas Championship. With the greatest of respect to the talented female wrestlers that predominately competed the Divas era, including Natalya, Beth Phoenix, and Paige, the reality suggests that the quality of women’s wrestling wasn’t of a high standard and their feuds weren’t much of a talking point to the WWE Universe. The Divas era along with the Championship ended here, and the female wrestlers now had a Women’s Championship to contend for.

#6 Charlotte vs. Sasha Banks - Hell in a Cell Match (Hell in a Cell, October 2016)

Charlotte and Sasha Banks are the first female wrestlers to headline a pay-per-view

Prior to this match, both Charlotte and Sasha Banks had already won the Raw Women’s Championship twice, and it was clear that they were willing to put it all on the line when they agreed to face each other in a Hell in a Cell match.

Whilst it is noteworthy to mention that it was the first (and only time to date) that female wrestlers competed in a Hell in a Cell match, it’s more important to note that this was the first time in WWE history where a women’s match was the main event of a pay-per-view.

Global superstars including Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins not to mention, the Universal Championship were all playing a supporting role as they were all on the undercard, whilst Charlotte and Sasha Banks were the headline act.

This match may not be remembered for the quality of the wrestling itself, but this match proved to be the catalyst to more women headlining pay-per-views, a trend which continued at Royal Rumble 2018, and now at WrestleMania 35.

#5 Asuka vs Ember Moon – NXT Women's Championship Match (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn III, August 2017)

Asuka and Ember Moon deliver one of the best women's matches in WWE history

When the majority of the four horsewomen got called up to the main show in July 2015, there was unquestionably no doubt there was a huge hole in the female roster at NXT. During the same time, Asuka was just starting the longest ever undefeated streak in WWE history, whilst Ember Moon still hadn’t made her in ring debut in the WWE.

Fast forward two years later; Ember Moon became one of the top female wrestlers in NXT whilst Asuka was holding the NXT Women’s Championship for well over a year. Whilst they also had a memorable match at NXT TakeOver: Orlando six months earlier, it was the one at Brooklyn III that sticks out more.

This was easily the match of the night and one of the best ever WWE women’s matches to date, but it also proved that the WWE didn’t put all their hopes in the four horsewomen steering the women’s revolution. This match confirmed that the WWE was investing in more time on other female wrestlers, including ones they were training in the WWE Performance Centre, making it a key match that kept driving the women’s evolution forward.

#4 Alexa Bliss vs. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley vs. Mickie James vs. Sonya Deville vs. Mandy Rose - Elimination Chamber Match (Elimination Chamber, February 2018)

Alexa Bliss wins the first ever women's Elimination Chamber match

One of the most important things about introducing a new concept match is to keep the match exciting enough to the point that the WWE Universe will want to see it again. The first Elimination Chamber match was introduced back at Survivor Series 2002 which ended up becoming a themed pay-per-view just over seven years later.

Despite a number of classic matches took place between the years of 2002-2017, there was one thing that was missing from all of these matches – a women’s Elimination Chamber match. It would take a total of sixteen years before women stepped inside such a sadistic structure and marked another key moment in the women’s revolution.

This match not only marked another first for women’s wrestling, but it also showed that women had the ability to perform no matter what type of concept match they were given. The following year, the women fought in the structure again to compete to become the inaugural WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions.

#3 Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte - Last Woman Standing match (Evolution, October 2018)

An absolute brutal but classical Last Woman Standing match

When Becky Lynch blindsided Charlotte at SummerSlam 2018, it led to a series of matches between them towards the end of the year. One match that stands out among the rest is the first ever Last Woman Standing match they had at WWE Evolution, the first ever all women’s pay per view.

History suggests that the WWE have usually prevented female wrestlers from fighting each other in such extreme settings. Even though prior to this match, WWE already held women’s steel cage matches and three Money in the Bank ladder matches, it is without a doubt that this match is one of the most brutal matches the WWE Universe has seen in women’s wrestling.

These women used everything from kendo sticks, steel chairs, tables, and steel steps to walk away with the SmackDown Women’s Championship. This effectively proved that female wrestlers are capable of just being as ruthless as male wrestlers in such a match.

Whilst there was a triple threat match with the two wrestlers and Asuka at TLC two months later which was also just as brutal, the catalyst that demonstrated how brutal women’s matches could be came from this match. It showed that if the women are willing to do anything to walk away victorious, they’re probably willing to sacrifice anything else for the opportunity to headline WWE’s flagship pay-per-view, WrestleMania.

#2 Ronda Rousey Vs. Nikki Bella - Raw Women's Championship Match (Evolution, October 2018)

Ronda Rousey celebrating with other female wrestlers for the success of their first ever all women's pay-per-view

When WWE announced their first ever all women’s pay-per-view last year, it was clear that the main event had to involve one of the WWE Women’s Championships. Whilst there are solid arguments that Becky Lynch and Charlotte should have been the main event (considering they were key wrestlers of the Revolution), there is also a plausible argument for it to be Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella.

On paper, Ronda Rousey and Nikki Bella are different in every single way. Nikki Bella was a glamorous looking wrestler that was predominately part of the Divas era, whilst Ronda Rousey joined during the women’s revolution even though she had already had an accomplished career in mixed martial arts, including becoming UFC Champion.

This was clearly defined on the 15th October 2018 episode of Raw when they were comparing careers where the Bellas was more focused about the exposure they got as celebrities, where Ronda Rousey said she was knocking down doors in a number of different mixed martial arts promotions, without the need for looking glamorous.

The match itself was of a solid standard, but it was the fact that Ronda Rousey won the match that is more important. This is because it showed that a key wrestler from the Women’s Revolution defeated one of the key wrestlers from the Divas Era, showing that the Divas Era was truly buried and the women’s revolution was continuing to grow, ultimately leading to the first ever women’s main event at WrestleMania.

#1 Women’s Royal Rumble Match (Royal Rumble, January 2019)

Becky Lynch finally eliminating Charlotte from the Royal Rumble match

There is a very strong argument that can be made for the Women’s Royal Rumble match from last year leading to the first ever women’s main event at WrestleMania 35. Some of the notable reasons include becoming the second ever women’s main event at a pay-per-view and the first time women have headlined a big four pay-per-view. However, whilst that match was historical, Asuka’s victory was completely overshadowed by the surprise entrance of Ronda Rousey arriving to the WWE.

However, this year’s women’s Royal Rumble match definitely played more of a part that lead to the first ever women's main event at WrestleMania, and not just because of the obvious reason that Becky Lynch won it and chose to face Ronda Rousey.

The first Royal Rumble match was more of a nostalgic match, as a third of the competitors were former wrestlers who weren’t part of the WWE anymore. However, this year’s Royal Rumble was predominately focused on all female wrestlers on the roster itself.

When Lynch stepped in to replace the injured Lana and managed to overcome all the odds by winning the Royal Rumble match, it became the biggest talking point of the night, eclipsing Seth Rollins’ victory at the Men’s Royal Rumble match.

Lynch eventually announced to the world that she had unfinished business with Ronda Rousey after being unable to fight her at Survivor Series due to a legitimate injury, which will now lead to the first ever all women’s main event at The Show of Shows.