As the hype around WrestleMania 40 grows, don't forget the women's division

There’s a lot of talk about what is set to happen at WrestleMania 40. Speculation swirls about The Rock, Roman Reigns, Cody Rhodes, and more. But there hasn’t been a lot of talk about what the women are set to do for the big showcase. One thing is clear, WWE cannot downplay the importance of this part of the roster, especially in an important year with free agents popping up left and right and fans pushing for more inclusion in their favorite promotions.

WWE closed out 2023 with a continued push to better position the women’s division. This included featuring more women across each show, whether that was as an individual or within a tag team. The champions are well highlighted and there are some midcard angles slowly developing. That momentum must carry through WrestleMania and can happen in a few different ways.

On the main roster, the discussion about women’s wrestling in WWE begins and ends with Rhea Ripley. She’s finally getting the opportunity to be the central piece of the division in a way many believed she would while she was still in NXT. When WrestleMania gets here, Ripley will have held the Women’s World Championship for more than one year.

But expectations are that she will face Becky Lynch and that should be the moment that Ripley drops the championship. Lynch versus Ripley has the star power to headline Night One of Mania. Will that be the case? Uncertain with how things have shifted with the top names in the men’s division. Ripley dropped the championship to Lynch should be the final piece in the crumbling reign of The Judgment Day on WWE Raw.

Over on SmackDown Damage CTRL remains the central faction. IYO Sky is the most present champion of the brand. The story to tell should highlight a babyface Bayley finally getting her WrestleMania moment. Whether it was injury or shotty booking, Bayley has received the bad end of the stick when it comes to the biggest annual showcase in professional wrestling. That should change on either one of the WrestleMania 40 nights.

How that happens is a different story. Does Bayley go in and topple Sky by herself? Should Damage CTRL as a faction completely break down? There are a few separate ways this angle could go, but Bayley standing with the WWE Women’s Champion is the only acceptable outcome.

Under Shawn Michaels, WWE NXT has done a great job highlighting the women’s division for more than a year. That group should not be left out when it comes to WrestleMania. Perhaps it is time for another Women’s Battle Royale to open one of the shows. If that does occur, Tiffany Stratton is a perfect name to see get her hand raised as an introduction to the main roster.

It will be interesting to see if the tag team division is also featured at WrestleMania. The group is slowly getting some traction, as Kayden Carter and Katana Chance are poised to be fighting champions. WWE would have to find a way to build some new teams between now and then. Perhaps this is another opening for NXT to fit into the equation.

The WWE Women’s Division continues to grow in the best ways possible. Fans have long wanted to see them get better booking across the promotion. With WrestleMania 40 a few short months away, that can’t be ignored as the men gain momentum heading into this event.