WWE Raw: Women’s Gauntlet Main Event Is The Type Of Change We Need

Vince McMahon made his return to WWE Raw to shake things up, and while that seemed to be the main reason to tune in to the show, it was the Women’s Gauntlet Match in the main event that made Raw worth the watch.

We’ve seen a number of quality gauntlet matches on WWE Raw this year, and Seth Rollins’s epic performance, pinning Roman Reigns and John Cena in back-to-back matches, helped lead to more fans getting behind him as a possible future Universal Champion. But in terms of overall impact, tonight’s Gauntlet Match for an opportunity at the Raw Women’s Championship was even more noteworthy.

Ronda Rousey successfully retained her title against Nia Jax at TLC, to the surprise of absolutely nobody. Though she wanted to defend the title immediately after on the following episode of Raw, everyone woman wanted a piece of her, so Stephanie McMahon organized a Gauntlet Match. The winner of the eight-woman battle would get their opportunity at Rousey next week on the special Christmas Eve episode of Raw.

Alicia Fox and Bayley, familiar opponents, began the match in style, and Bayley quickly re-captured the hearts of the WWE Universe with 21 minutes of solid wrestling action. A fan favorite and an excellent NXT Women’s Champion in the past, Bayley showed her skills before being eliminated by Mickie James.

It didn’t take long for James to be bounced out of the match, though, as the electrifying Ember Moon dispatched her with another tremendous Eclipse. Few wrestlers sell that move better than Mickie, whose chemistry with Ember cannot be understated.

Moon’s “high” after defeating James again was short-lived, as Natalya eliminated her with a surprise roll-up before defeating Ruby Riott again despite interference from the Riott Squad. Natalya defeated Ruby in a cathartic and grueling Tables match just a night earlier, yet the veteran performer had enough in the tank to put away two of WWE’s brightest young stars.

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Nattie’s stiffest test would be saved for last, as the ever-popular Sasha Banks stepped out to stand toe-to-toe with the powerful “Queen of Harts”. Banks nearly had the match won on multiple occasions, fighting out of a devastating Sharpshooter before locking Natalya into a Boston Crab and her own submission finisher, the formidable Bank Statement.

However, Natalya wouldn’t be denied, as she fought off the Bank Statement, kicked out of a Meteora, and locked in a second Sharpshooter to seal the victory over a worn-out Banks.

While it was disappointing to see Banks, the much fresher competitor, tap out to Natalya, the final Gauntlet battle itself was absolutely fantastic, which isn’t a surprise when looking at the caliber of the two performers in the ring. It was nail-biting, elite technical wrestling from two of wrestling’s premier story-tellers, and, as always, Sasha’s selling was next level. She rolled around, folded herself in half on suplexes, and sold agonizing pain when locked in Natalya’s sharpshooters.

But in the end, of course, the dream match between Sasha and Ronda would have to wait, as Natalya picked up a highly impressive victory for a second straight night. Nattie will get to face off against her close friend for the Raw Women’s Championship on Christmas Eve next week, and although Rousey paid Natalya respect following the Gauntlet Match, all of that will be surely out the window when the bell rings and the title is on the line.

While the Gauntlet Match itself was breath-taking action from start to finish and closed the show wonderfully, particularly the work between Natalya and Sasha, the larger statement this eight-woman match made shouldn’t be lost on fans.

Vince McMahon, Stephanie McMahon, Shane McMahon, and Triple H addressed the WWE Raw crowd with promises to listen to the fans and shake things up. Aside from the announcement of six NXT call-ups, nothing dramatic was announced as a means of shaking things up, but rather WWE stated that they’d do a better job of delivering for fans.

Actions speak louder than words, and by allowing eight incredibly gifted women to main event Raw and shine in a well-booked Gauntlet Match (Sasha losing may not have been popular, but it was likely best to have Natalya win now and save Sasha vs. Ronda for later when fans can buy more into a Banks win), WWE made a legitimate gesture of good faith. They showed that they are willing to back up the talk and give the fans what they’ve been asking for, which is excellent (women’s) wrestling like this.

So if you missed the main event of Raw or tuned out of the show entirely this week, it’d be wise to make an attempt to watch what all of these women did in the main event. That Gauntlet Match did more to uplift the WWE Universe than anything Vince, Stephanie, Shane, or Triple H said. And hopefully, WWE can follow up on this by giving fans more of the same.

With a Natalya vs. Rousey title match set for Christmas Eve that will surely blow the roof off the place, WWE may just be on the right track, even if it will take more than just one promising episode for fans to buy in again. (The Revival’s victory and Tyler Breeze’s Intercontinental Championship match didn’t hurt either.)