Tiffany’s SummerSlam 2019 Takes: Women’s Division Grand Slam

The women’s division had four matches at WWE SummerSlam 2019. Did they deliver? Tiffany’s Takes tells you now!

It’s been no secret that the despite the Women’s Evolution of the last four years, WWE still hasn’t given the Women’s Division anything close to the same amount of PPV time as the men’s division, usually confining the women to one or two matches, usually title matches or maybe putting a no-stakes tag match on the kick off show. This year, that looks to change. WWE is not only putting own two potentially show stealing Women’s Title Matches, but also a non-title dream match between two women who have declared themselves ‘Queen’. Plus, after languishing on the sidelines of importance, Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross put their titles, and their friendship, on the line against the fuming former champs, the IIconics.

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match: Alexa Bliss and Nikki Cross vs The IIconics

So, there really isn’t a lot to say about this match’s build since it was announced a couple of hours before SummerSlam’s kickoff show, but I’m glad the IIconics are getting their rematch.

Okay, I really hate whatever it is Billie Kay is wearing on her head. The one problem I’ve had with the IIconics’ run as Women’s Tag Champions, other than them almost never being on TV, was the way they were booked to look so stupid in the ring, which was a disservice to both of them because Billie Kay and Peyton Royce are incredibly talented women, but the gimmick definitely needs a remake. I’m not surprised Bliss and Cross retained, but I’m sad the IIconics are out of the title picture for now.

Charlotte Flair vs Trish Stratus

This was a dream match from the start. Charlotte Flair has been calling herself ‘The Queen’ for a couple of years now, but Trish Stratus still holds the title of ‘Queen of Queens’. The build has been pretty quick, relying on just the idea of the two women locking up to be the hook and with Trish Stratus promising that this would be her absolute final match, it promised to be a show-stealer.

It wasn’t quite a show stealer, but it wasn’t godawful. Trish Stratus hasn’t been a full time performer in 13 years and hasn’t had a match since Evolution last year, so ring rust was bound to happen, but she still did a good job of handling Charlotte, who did everything she could to cover for Trish. However, we got to see most of Trish’s Greatest Hits and then some. I’m not stunned Charlotte won, but, in my eyes, she’ll never be the Queen Trish Stratus has always been, she merely follows in Trish’s footsteps.

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match: Bayley vs Ember Moon

This match I wasn’t really as stoked about. I love Ember Moon getting a title shot, but the way the match was built was a little odd with both woman doing heelish things to each other without provocation. However, given Bayley’s change of attitude, that might not have been a bad thing.

This match was actually better than I expected. Neither woman was pulling any punches, which is exactly how it should be done. That said, there did seem to be something missing, like they weren’t quite clicking together, which is sad. I wasn’t really surprised that Bayley won, but I am surprised by how much I enjoyed the match overall. Bayley has never had a singles match at SummerSlam, so this was a really good debut for her and for Ember.

RAW Women’s Championship Match: Becky Lynch vs Natalya – Submission Match

This match is the one with the most history behind it. Nattie and Becky had a really good feud back in 2016 when Nattie was a heel, though not a very good one, and Becky was a super over babyface, but the feud ended before Becky became the first SmackDown Women’s Champion and we never got to see them brawl for the title. Now, three years later they’re facing off again and it’s The Man vs the Queen of Harts in the first Women’s Submission Match in WWE history.

I was really jacked for this match because it would be another first for the Women’s Division and because Nattie and Becky are both submission specialists on the Main Roster, so watching the Dis-Arm-Her vs the Sharpshooter was a lot of fun. The match didn’t go as long as I expected but it was very good and the myth that Canadians never lose in Canada was hopefully put to bed forever when Nattie tapped out. Yes, the Man is still the Champ and good luck stopping her.

Final Thoughts: So, how did the women do in the first all-roster PPV where they had more than two matches? Overall, I think they did really well. No, most of the matches weren’t barnburners, but the women made a statement that they should be given more space on PPVs than just the two WWE usually gives them. So the guys don’t get as many slots on PPV, I’d rather see the card divided up more evenly between the men and the women than the women not get the time because WWE decided to put a no stakes match up for the guys just to fill time while a women’s feud, title or not, only gets seen on TV. It’s time for the Women’s Evolution to be more than just lip service.