WWE Raw is on the road to WrestleMania 41. After a jaw-dropping Elimination Chamber event, where John Cena sold his soul to The Rock, the March 3, 2025 edition of Raw showcased another shocking event. Surprisingly, that shocking event did not involve CM Punk, who is scheduled to battle Seth Rollins in a steel cage match next week on Raw. That shocking event actually pertained to a major World Title Match between Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky in the main event, where a title change occurred.
Usually, in the world of professional wrestling, booking 101 would tell the common viewer that there should not be a title change in the main event scene weeks before the biggest show of the year (i.e. WrestleMania) once the champion and the challenger have already been established. While Rhea Ripley solidified her spot as the champion after finishing her long term story against Liv Morgan, Bianca Belair won the Elimination Chamber to solidify her spot as the number one contender.
Although Rhea Ripley vs. Bianca Belair was a marquee match that casual fans would be excited for on the surface level, there was something very important that was missing from that anticipated match: storytelling. Granted, Ripley and Belair have history from NXT, but they have not planted any substantial seeds throughout the calendar year to give a hint or even a glimpse of foreshadowing for this potential match up. For a match of that magnitude, it definitely deserves more justice.
IYO Sky deserved better booking leading into this title run
Since WWE has a 7-week build for Mania, WWE actually had the opportunity to still build up this match with some storyline. However, they neglected to do so. Instead, they booked a title change to distract the fans from their abysmal booking of the women's division. Granted, this is not intended to throw shade at Iyo Sky or belittle her accomplishment. Iyo Sky has been a workhorse in the WWE and unquestionably deserves to be the World Champion, as she is a constant in the main event scene.
However, WWE did not treat Iyo Sky as such on this road to Mania until now. Iyo Sky was inserted in the IC Title Tournament to unncessarily lose to Lyra Valkyria. Iyo Sky got eliminated in the Royal Rumble way too early when she should have been in the final four. Iyo Sky did not even qualify for the Elimination Chamber Match. And now, WWE has the audacity to do a shocking title change in favor of Iyo Sky on a random Raw after killing her momentum and credibility as a top star week after week.
Unpredictability is good in professional wrestling, but it must be substantiated with long term booking. Surely, the fans are happy for Iyo Sky, and they should be happy for her. However, the inconsistent booking of Iyo Sky and the fact that there was no storyline reason for Sky to dethrone Rhea Ripley made this title change a distraction from an even bigger problem: the fact that WWE clearly did not have a legitimate plan for the women 's world title on the road to WrestleMania 41.
Ripley and Sky did not have a story. Ripley and Belair did not have a story. Sky and Belair do not have a story either. Now, they will likely participate in a triple threat match at Mania that still does not have a story. It now makes so much sense why the women in WWE are frustrated with lack of creative opportunities and inconsistent storytelling. This title change was merely reactive when it should be proactive with long term storytelling for the diligent and talented women in that locker room.
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