WWE Women’s Wrestling Weekly: Final Hype for TLC Triple Threat

Credit: WWE.com

TLC is going to be a big night for the women of WWE. The Raw Women’s Title is being defended in a match between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax, and the SmackDown Women’s Title is likely to headline the show when Becky Lynch defends the gold against Charlotte Flair and Asuka in the first ever women’s TLC match in WWE history. Lest we forget, Natalya will also have a chance at revenge when she faces Ruby Riott in a tables match.

It will be the tenth annual Tables, Ladders and Chairs pay-per-view and the biggest in the show’s entire run for the women’s division. That’s saying a lot considering there has been a women’s match every year since TLC became its own event. WWE has spent a lot of time building up all three of the women’s matches taking place this year, and this was the final week for hype. With only days to go until the final pay-per-view of the year, which group of women did the best job selling their marquee match?

WWE Omits Raw’s Best Segment from Hulu

I’m going to be completely honest here: this stuff between Natalya and Ruby Riott has taken me completely by surprise. Obviously, Natalya and everyone in the Riott Squad involved are amazing, but this is hitting me as one of those rare moments when WWE strikes gold.

The only unfortunate part is that WWE doesn’t even seem to know what they’ve got. I usually watch the abridged version of Raw on Hulu and catch the filler that was cut out of that version later on WWE.com. Hulu’s version of Raw this week only had the match between Ember Moon and Tamina Snuka representing the women, so imagine my surprise when I click over to WWE.com and see this outstanding promo work by Natalya and Ruby Riott.

The best part of Raw this week was completely left out of the Hulu cut, which is absolutely criminal and someone at WWE – whomever makes these edits and determines what is must-see – needs to get real, because while the Raw Women’s Title is slumming it in lackluster segments between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax, Natalya and the Riott Squad are totally killing it in material that’s getting left on the cutting room floor.

With all due respect to the main event between Seth Rollins and Baron Corbin and WWE’s attempt to add some spice to their stale Monday night product, Natalya and Ruby stole the show. Nattie has been laying down some of the best character work of her legendary career. Similarly, Ruby Riott is proving she can be a fantastic heel and laying the foundation for one heck of a future in the women’s division.

Credit: WWE.com

This story is personal and I’m certain the true-to-life nature of Nattie defending her father’s honor has played a huge part in its success. Ruby unveiling the table with Jim “The Anvil” Neidhart’s likeness was a low blow and gets her a lot of heat. I fully believe this tables match will far outperform the title match between Ronda Rousey and Nia Jax at TLC in both technical and emotional quality, and that prediction is backed up by the fact that Natalya has been the TLC MVP for the women’s division over the last decade.