WWE Needs Its Anchors Back for Women’s Division to Return to Glory

WWE Needs Its Anchors Back for Women’s Division to Return to Glory0 of 5

Women’s wrestling in WWE has taken a slight step back in the absence of these two established stars.Credit: WWE.com

Purely from an in-ring standpoint, the WWE women’s division is deeper than it has ever been. The collective talent across all three brands is unmatched and has ushered in an exciting era for women’s wrestling in the company.

Even still, there is much work to be done in getting the division back to the heights it was once at. But that can’t be accomplished until Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair are again in the mix.

Alongside Sasha Banks (now Mercedes Moné in All Elite Wrestling) and Bayley, Lynch and Flair have served as two of the anchors of the WWE women’s division for the last decade. A great deal of the promotion’s progression with women’s wrestling can be attributed to the success of the Four Horsewomen.

Their overexposure in the late 2010s and early 2020s resulted in fans demanding more variety. Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair were subsequently called up from NXT and gained significant stardom, yet the scene is not quite at the level it should be.

The imminent returns of Flair and Lynch are pivotal to the process of rebuilding and restoring the division to its former glory.

Women’s Wrestling in WWE Was Most Prominent with Four Horsewomen on Top1 of 5

In 2015, WWE was essentially forced into featuring its women more prominently and appropriately on the main roster after Triple H had done so with the women’s division in NXT, a burgeoning developmental brand at the time.

The initial Divas Revolution was hardly anything special, but it did see Charlotte Flair, Sasha Banks and Becky Lynch all promoted to the Raw roster simultaneously after years honing their craft in NXT.

They were less than a year into their main roster runs before they were the focal point of division, specifically Flair and Banks. Lynch didn’t break out as The Man until 2018, and Bayley’s rise was even slower.

Collectively, though, they dominated the women’s ranks on Raw and SmackDown for several years and accumulated countless championships and accolades.

Their above-average in-ring abilities combined with their organic connection to the crowd not only made them household names but also opened many doors for the females of WWE: first-ever gimmick matches, main events, increased television time and more.

Ronda Rousey, Asuka and Alexa Bliss had their respective parts to play in the evolution of women’s wrestling in WWE, but The Four Horsewomen were always the appointed measuring sticks for success.

There was a noticeable shift in the portrayal of the women on WWE TV when Lynch, Bayley, Banks and Flair either took time off or left the company, and things haven’t been the same since.

When Are Charlotte Flair and Becky Lynch Expected Back?2 of 5

Banks departed WWE at the end of 2022 and eventually made her way to AEW as Mercedes Moné, where she has reigned as TBS champion for over 180 days.

Bayley missed a year of in-ring action with a separated shoulder from 2022 to 2023 and hasn’t been able to maintain momentum long-term despite winning the women’s Royal Rumble match and the WWE Women’s Championship earlier this year.

That has left Flair and Lynch as the two remaining potential “saviors” of the division, and thankfully, both are expected back sooner rather than later.

Flair has been out with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus since December 2023. She revealed in an Instagram video back in July that she had returned to training at the Performance Center, but there have been few updates on her status other than a recent cryptic X post:

Charlotte Flair @MsCharlotteWWE💎💎💎 pic.twitter.com/YDFcc8tPA5

Lynch, meanwhile, opted not to re-sign with WWE following the expiration of her contract on June 1. During a recent interview at Vulture Festival 2024, she made it known that getting a cage door slammed in her face by Dominik Mysterio isn’t how she intends to go out.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider also indicated The Man could resurface on Raw as early as the Netflix premiere on Jan. 6, which would be a big boost to the red brand’s women’s division just in time for WrestleMania season.

Lynch reporting to Raw while Flair stays on SmackDown would make the most sense to ensure both brands benefit.

The State of Raw Women’s Division Without Lynch3 of 5

The Raw women’s division wasn’t exactly firing on all cylinders even when Lynch was around earlier in the year, but there has been a drastic drop-off creatively with the way it’s been utilized and portrayed on television since her departure.

Prior to WrestleMania 40, The Man was largely removed from the title picture yet remained relevant in rivalries with Trish Stratus, Xia Li and Nia Jax. She briefly held the NXT Women’s Championship and elevated Lyra Valkyria by dropping the belt to her at Halloween Havoc 2023.

Although her latest run as women’s world champ didn’t last long, she did pass the torch—and the title—to Liv Morgan ahead of her exit. Morgan’s rivalry with Rhea Ripley has taken center stage on Raw in Lynch’s absence, but their storyline has slowly lost steam and nothing else in the division has been remotely as interesting.

The Women’s World Championship itself has taken a backseat to the Ripley-Morgan drama where Dominik Mysterio has basically become the prize worth fighting for. With Iyo Sky earning the next shot at the strap, Morgan vs. Ripley doesn’t appear to be on the verge of ending anytime soon.

Lynch being back would automatically raise the profile of the division and perhaps give it some much-needed direction as well.

Where Flair Fits into Current Landscape of SmackDown Women’s Division4 of 5

Flair was treading water long before getting injured in December 2023. She had been embroiled in a tedious feud with Damage CTRL for many months and needed another hiatus to freshen up her stagnant character.

The only intriguing program on the horizon for her at the time was with Bianca Belair. The EST of WWE has since moved on to teaming with Jade Cargill, but SmackDown would still be the best fit for The Queen upon her return.

Not only is that where husband Andrade currently works, but there are also plenty of compelling opponents for Flair to work with who would give her a clear-cut path to WrestleMania 41 if she’s cleared to compete by then.

There’s a ready-made story there with WWE women’s champion Nia Jax, who won the 2024 Queen of the Ring tournament and would take exception to Flair calling herself “The Queen.” Jax’s right-hand woman, Tiffany Stratton, is another ‘Mania-worthy adversary for Flair, especially if the title was on the line.

If Flair was reintroduced as a heel, Naomi and Belair are available options as well. She wouldn’t necessarily need to be back at the forefront of the championship picture, but her just being around will provide tremendous depth to the division.

WWE Can’t Make New Stars Without Established Ones5 of 5

It isn’t imperative that The Four Horsewomen are constantly competing for championships and shoved down the throats of viewers. They have plenty more to offer in the ring before they call it quits, but at this stage of their careers, they are far more valuable in helping form the foundation for the future.

Ripley and Belair are prime examples of stars whose stocks skyrocketed after working with—and defeating—Flair and Lynch. Ripley in particular became the face of the Raw women’s division following back-to-back WrestleMania wins over the multi-time champs.

Belair has spent far too long in the tag team ranks this year, but otherwise she has cemented her status as a main event-caliber competitor.

The same can’t be said for the rest of the roster. The likes of Lyra Valkyria, Michin, Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai and Candice LeRae all possess the necessary skills to break through to the level but aren’t over enough with the audience because they’re primarily programmed with each other.

They gain little from beating anyone other than established commodities such as Flair and Lynch, whose immense credibility allows them to sustain any number of losses. WWE can’t create a new crop of Four Horsewomen without first using the modern-day pillars of women’s wrestling to push the next generation forward.

Consequently, their presence is paramount.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham “GSM” Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.