5 mistakes WWE made with SmackDown Live in 2017

#4 Women’s wrestling becomes a group affair

2018 needs to see WWE build strong individual rivalries for these talented performers

Over the past decade, women’s wrestling was nothing more than a mere afterthought in the minds of the WWE creative team, and that unfortunate trend was set to continue for the next decade, but along came a brand that has been a saving grace for WWE. NXT had revolutionised women’s wrestling in WWE. From pointless pre-show matches to being referred to as divas, women wrestlers were changing the perception one match at a time.

The return of the brand split sent the WWE Women’s Title to Raw, leaving the blue brand's women division without a World title. Thus, WWE created the Smackdown Live Women’s Title, giving the women’s division an opportunity they would never have received on Raw. Becky Lynch was finally given a chance to rise above her fellow horsewomen as she won the exclusive Smackdown Live title.

Although having one title means every Superstar's goal is to become champion, individual feuds are important to ensure a division's success. From having arguably one of the best wrestlers on the roster in Charlotte Flair, to skilled veterans like Natalya and Tamina, WWE still subjected the women’s division to multi-woman matches all year round.

From six-pack challenges to lumberjack matches, the Smackdown Live Women’s Title slowly became synonymous with multi-woman matches. Although WWE had countless chances to build new singles feuds, it wasn’t long before they created the pointless Welcoming Committee, a group that increased the volume of tag team matches.

Defining programmes such as Lana’s evolution from the “Ravishing Russian” to a professional wrestler, Natalya struggling to keep her place as the respected veteran, and a much-needed character shift for “the Irish Lass Kicker”; a plethora of unique angles could’ve ensured the success of the women’s division in 2017.