Maxxine Dupri picked up a big win at Madison Square Garden. She defeated one of the most important performers in the business, pinning Becky Lynch to capture the WWE Women's Intercontinental Championship. It is a career-defining moment for Dupri, but one that also shows how WWE is taking smart risks in the women's division that are paying off.
There's a stark difference in what WWE is doing with its women's division compared to the men's division. The current slate of champions on the main roster include Jade Cargill and Chelsea Green on WWE SmackDown, and Stephanie Vaquer and Maxxine Dupri on Monday Night Raw. While this is Green's second tenure with the WWE Women's United States Championship, these are four relatively "new" faces in prominent positions on the main roster.
The steps taken to create new stars in the women's division are paying off. Not only are these women becoming top names, but look at the rise of performers like Roxanne Perez and Lyra Valkyria, two other names who will most likely be champions in the future. This is what a wrestling promotion is supposed to do, build toward the future with young talent who can be around for years.
This is unfortunately not happening in the men's division. The main event segment featured several older names. Brock Lesnar and Roman Reigns were big returns. CM Punk, The Usos, and Drew McIntyre were there. Logan Paul and Bronson Reed are both at least 30 years old, while Bron Breakker is the only name in the main event still in his 20s. Fans are hoping individuals like Je'Von Evans and Oba Femi can break through to become top stars, but the process seems to be much longer for men than it is for the women's division.
Regardless, what is happening in the women's division is working. The picture is even brighter when taking a moment to look at WWE NXT, where there are several names who are showing the potential to be big stars for the future. Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, Izzy Dame, Tatum Paxley, Kendal Grey, and Kali Armstrong are just a few who fans are watching closely. The cupboards are far from bare and that's a positie stance to take.
Taking risk to crown young performers is a step that WWE needs to take more often. Becky Lynch played a major part in building up Maxxine Dupri for her big moment on Monday Night Raw. The risks are working in the women's division and it would be great to see them applied to the men as well.