The weekend shook the landscape of women’s wrestling in North America

Memorial Day Weekend left women’s wrestling in AEW and WWE looking a lot different than it did heading in for both companies. 

Women’s wrestling in North America changed during Memorial Day weekend. Four dominant champions walked in, and only one left with her championship in her grasp. Also, NXT crowned a champion that many consider a foundational piece for WWE’s future women’s division. It was an interesting shift in women’s wrestling that creates opportunities for both WWE and AEW.

Bianca Belair rode a 419-day run as the WWE Raw Women’s Champion heading into Night of Champions. There, she lost to Asuka in a rematch of their WrestleMania match that was muddled with a lackadaisical build. The build to this match was improved, but many are pointing toward Asuka finally being booked as a smart heel finding a way to get a victory in the end.

Asuka is a multiple-time champion that has won every accolade available in WWE. Yet, there’s still a loud contingent of fans that her runs were marred with being booked beneath women like Belair and the Four Horsewomen. With this win at Night of Champions, WWE has the opportunity to build momentum in what could be a career-defining run for Asuka.

Jade Cargill, another dominant champion, was also defeated at AEW Double or Nothing. Her 500+ day run as TBS Champion came to an end when the returning Kris Statlander – after getting a win over Taya Valkyrie minutes earlier.

While opinions over how Cargill lost that match would swing wildly, there’s no denying that she is the biggest homegrown star on the AEW roster. Fightful Select reported that Cargill is scheduled to take some time off and undergo a character change. It will be interesting to see how AEW utilizes her in the future, as she’s someone the company is already presenting as a superstar so it would be difficult to keep her out of the main title picture.

Jamie Hayter’s injury forced AEW’s hand to have her drop the championship to Toni Storm. While Storm’s work in the ring is always among the best in wrestling, her character doesn’t always hook in fans as some others on the roster. Hayter was a shining light in the AEW women’s division, as her rise was truly organic and one that fans got behind.

Now putting the title on Storm creates some opportunity with what happens between her, Saraya, and Ruby Soho. Do they stay together with a champion in their midst, or does this lead to a rift of some sort? This storyline has run long in the tooth and it’s time for the company to revisit how it’s being booked, and a blowoff sooner, rather than later. Putting the belt on Storm creates a potential opening to do so.

Last, but certainly not least, is the crowning of Tiffany Stratton. Stratton defeated Lyra Valkyria to win the vacant NXT Women’s Championship. It was a victory that everyone expected, crowning a woman that many think can be the future of women’s wrestling in WWE. The company has built a very strong roster of young performers and Stratton is one of the top characters to watch as this develops. NXT has a strong women’s division around her and it will be a joy to watch them all grow together.

Fans want to see great action in women’s wrestling and that occurred in many ways for both AEW and WWE. Now the question becomes whether each company will put a concerted effort into building these two divisions because fans want to see more from the women, regardless of the show. These outcomes help set the divisions in a direction that could lead to excitement.