Alexa Bliss Winning The Title Makes Sense Because It’s About Ronda Rousey
Money in the Bank was one of the most exciting pay per views of the year in WWE, but Alexa Bliss winning both the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match and the Raw Women’s Championship became a controversial storyline. But when you think about the circumstances surrounding her victory, the pieces start to fall into place.
Ever since she won her first title in WWE, the SmackDown Women’s Championship at TLC 2016 against Becky Lynch, Alexa Bliss has been at the top of the totem pole. By winning the Raw Women’s Championship last night at Money in the Bank, Bliss became a five-time women’s champion, tying Charlotte Flair as essentially WWE’s top woman.
Bliss’s path to the title took mere hours. Despite the fact that she was on the periphery for most of the Women’s MITB Ladder Match, Bliss swooped in and stole a victory away from Lynch (again) to become Ms. Goddess in the Bank.
She wasn’t done yet. Bliss interrupted an absolute banger of a match between Ronda Rousey and her nemesis Nia Jax to cash in on Jax and become the Raw Women’s Champion. If you recall, Bliss lost to Jax at WrestleMania 34 and Backlash in title matches, and it appears a third match between these two is on the horizon.
The fact that Bliss won Money in the Bank and her fifth title in the same night has not been received well by most WWE fans online. While the fans in the crowd cheered Bliss when she grabbed the briefcase and when she cashed in, other fans believe that Bliss has been in the title picture for too long and has won too many titles over the past two years.
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I understand those criticisms, and, on some level, I agree with them. But I also know that WWE cares less about this kind of stuff and more about moving things forward. And when it comes to the current landscape of the Raw Women’s Division, Bliss’s shocking title victory last night makes plenty of sense.
Because it’s all about Ronda Rousey. Surprise, right? Rousey is the centerpiece of not only the Raw Women’s Division, but WWE as a whole.
She cemented this last night with her dazzling performance in the ring, as she and Nia were putting on an instant classic before Bliss so #rudely interrupted the back-and-forth action. Rousey is WWE’s biggest name, she’s a natural in the ring, and she showed that she can be the Raw Women’s Champion with her display last night.
I have a feeling WWE wants Rousey’s title win to have the most positive reaction possible. They want people to go nuts when Rousey eventually rips the arm out of her opponent. They want the crowd to be begging, just on the edge of their seats waiting for Rousey to submit the heel who holds the Raw Women’s Championship. Given the sudden nature of Nia’s “turn” (if that was even the case), Jax didn’t fit the bill as this opponent.
Bliss, however, does. There are people who absolutely hate Bliss, and I can’t blame them. She is a coward who will cut every corner, turn against every “friend”, and insult anyone who crosses her. This is a woman who takes the easy way out wherever possible and who uses the most rudimentary wrestling moves in order to prevent crowds from cheering her.
There’s no doubt that people will cheer when Rousey gets her hands on Bliss. And there’s no doubt that when Rousey finally causes the goddess’s world to come crumbling down, the fans will absolutely rejoice and be 100% behind Rousey. Bliss will do whatever she can to “duck” Rousey, as she always does, and it will make the build-up to this eventual title match even sweeter.
It’s all about finding matchups and generating the biggest reaction possible, especially when someone as important to the company as Rousey is concerned. This is her first title, and WWE wants to make it feel special. So what makes more sense? Bliss vs. Rousey with Rousey getting cheered like crazy at SummerSlam? Or Rousey winning the Raw Women’s Championship at Money in the Bank?
Natalya was another alternative, but would the crowd react as strongly against Nattie as they would against Bliss? And if a fan favorite like Sasha Banks were the option, would WWE really want to run the risk of some fans cheering for Sasha over Rousey?
Next: Money in the Bank Highlights And Grades
You may not like the fact that Bliss is a five-time women’s champion, but that’s precisely why she won. Because it isn’t about what you want. It’s about making Rousey’s first title win the most special moment possible, and this can only mean good things for the Raw Women’s Championship (a title that hasn’t felt like a big deal since 2016) going forward.