{"id":105963,"date":"2021-12-14T12:00:30","date_gmt":"2021-12-14T17:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=105963"},"modified":"2021-12-14T10:28:28","modified_gmt":"2021-12-14T15:28:28","slug":"wwe-womens-division-best-of","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/12\/14\/wwe-womens-division-best-of\/","title":{"rendered":"WWE Women\u2019s Division: Best of 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>As 2021 winds down, so too does another year of accomplishments for the women of <em>World Wrestling Entertainment.<\/em> Since the Divas division underwent an overhaul into the more athletically driven women\u2019s division in 2015-16, the women of WWE have continued to forge ahead into previously uncharted territory. Although not without missteps, the women\u2019s division and its performers still managed to land a few critical blows to the glass ceiling with some pivotal moments and stand out performances in 2021<\/p>\n<h2>Best of 2021 &#8211; WWE&#8217;s Women&#8217;s Division<\/h2>\n<h3><strong>Breakout Superstar<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a id=\"XI_vo5k-SMln928WHMbFEg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ie\/detail\/1236034350\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'XI_vo5k-SMln928WHMbFEg',sig:'Lk_HMQgKRP-LDnySC-49kKDR6MsOvf7Odev9c3NPseY=',w:'594px',h:'396px',items:'1236034350',caption: true ,tld:'ie',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p>When <strong>Eva Marie <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/06\/14\/wwe-raw-card-6-14-21\/\" target=\"_self\">returned to WWE<\/a> after branching out to carve a new niche on social media as an influencer, many in the pro wrestling industry were skeptical. What could the comedic performer, whose act trades largely on finagling her way out of matches, have to add to a division that had transformed drastically since her days accompanying <strong>The Bella Twins?<\/strong> When her return to <em>Monday Night Raw<\/em> in June 2021 came, Eva Marie did not come alone but was accompanied by a surprise enforcer <strong>Doudrop<\/strong>. Known to WWE audiences previously as <em>NXT UK\u2019s <\/em><strong>\u00a0Piper Niven, <\/strong>Doudrop made a splash on her first night on the \u201cred brand\u201d, easily squashing <strong>Naomi <\/strong>in a controversial match. Eva Marie professed herself to be Doudrop\u2019s \u201cmentor\u201d, but it was plain to see that she was hiding behind Doudrop\u2019s superior talents in the ring. As Doudrop gradually realized this and turned on Eva Marie, she became a more sympathetic figure. Her nuanced comedic timing and vivacious personality, considerable talents in-ring and instant connection with fans made with Doudrop all helped elevate her and Eva Maries\u2019 showdown at <em>SummerSlam.<\/em> While there has been not entirely unwarranted criticism of her character\u2019s name and presentation, Doudrop makes the most of every moment she\u2019s been given on WWE\u2019s main roster, selling a character that could have been a fail with sheer talent and palpable charisma.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Inspirational Moment<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Nikki A.S.H. becomes Raw Women\u2019s Champion after Charlotte Flair vs. Rhea Ripley: Raw, July 19, 2021\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/aFY7eVySlB8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The build-up to the women\u2019s event at 2021\u2019s <em>Money in the Bank<\/em> seemed to indicate that <strong>Liv Morgan <\/strong>was a shoo-in to hold the coveted briefcase. However, in one of WWE\u2019s few and far between genuine surprises, it was <strong>Nikki A.S.H.<\/strong> who scaled the ladder. Formerly known as Nikki Cross, her gimmick floundered considerably with tag team partner Bliss off exploring her dark side in the funhouse. So, A.S.H. took matters into her own hands, drafting a perky superhero concept and floating it by the powers that be at WWE: a perky superhero who charmed fans with her eye-catching costume and monologues about making your dreams come true.<\/p>\n<p>As inspirational as it was when she won MITB, A.S.H\u2019s true inspirational moment came in July 2021. Another face-off between <strong>Charlotte Flair <\/strong>and <strong>Rhea Ripley<\/strong> was coming to an end in Raw\u2019s closing minutes, and as it did A.S.H. ran dramatically down the ramp, briefcase in hand. A.S.H cashed in her contract for a shot at the Raw women\u2019s championship, and secured it with a flying crossbody and cover on Flair for a pinfall victory. From moribund, underutilized tag team player to Ms. Money in the Bank, and then Raw women\u2019s champion: with her rapid rise to Raw\u2019s top women\u2019s prize, Nikki A.S.H made good on every word she had uttered about making dreams come true.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best Babyface<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a id=\"7UjM4f-ISYl9iseRazIIgg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ie\/detail\/1330385807\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'7UjM4f-ISYl9iseRazIIgg',sig:'tZuCz940hxAIDpsUdAliC3EzebAqIUlHwpkbjzfNr-g=',w:'594px',h:'415px',items:'1330385807',caption: true ,tld:'ie',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n<p><strong>Seth Rollins <\/strong>once said of portraying a babyface, \u00a0while speaking to Ryan Satin of the podcast <em><a href=\"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/seth-rollins\/id1559678933?i=1000515813934\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Out of Character<\/a>, <\/em>\u201c\u2026It is hard to keep people liking you.\u201d <strong>Bianca Belair<\/strong> doesn\u2019t seem to have that problem. Her title reign as SmackDown women\u2019s champion began at <em>WrestleMania 37, <\/em>in a match that <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/07\/11\/sasha-banks-bianca-belair-win-espy\/\" target=\"_self\">made pro wrestling history<\/a> as she and <strong>Sasha Banks<\/strong> became the first African American women to headline the event in a match against each other. Belair\u2019s refreshing and relatable character made it easy for fans to warm up to her, while her prodigious strength and past as a decorated collegiate athlete gave credibility to her in-ring talents and the championship she held. Fans and pro wrestling pundits alike were puzzled and outraged when Belair lost the SmackDown belt in a diminishing squash to <strong>Becky Lynch <\/strong>at <em>SummerSlam, <\/em>but the loss didn\u2019t hinder her from topping <em>Pro Wrestling Illustrated\u2019s<\/em> annual ranking of the industry\u2019s 150 most notable female pro wrestlers. While her place in the food chain of WWE\u2019s women\u2019s division may be up in the air, her talent and charm make her a perennial favorite.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best Heel<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Charlotte Flair humiliates Toni Storm with a pie to the face: SmackDown, Nov. 26, 2021\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eUVYwbONcKM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>This is a category in which WWE is spoiled with choices, but its most effective heel of 2021 was <strong>Charlotte Flair. <\/strong>The scripted material presented to her is not always on Charlotte\u2019s side, but no matter how inane the words are Flair makes up for it with energy. A skilled in-ring performer who can comfortably switch up between aerial feats and floor grappling submissions, Flair also courts and wields disdain skillfully, inviting the abuse of live audiences and fearlessly returning it with a profane gesture here, an off the cuff, kayfabe piercing retort there. She and the audience have turned their tension into a double act of vitriol that she balances with an aplomb <strong>Cody Rhodes <\/strong>could take note of: Charlotte isn\u2019t determined to be liked, she has embraced the hate and it gives her heel character dimension, feeding the tension carefully and channeling it back into her in-ring performance.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Best Underdog<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-104916\" src=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/11\/queen-zelina-carmella-wwe-womens-tag-champions.jpg\" alt=\"Queen Zelina Carmella WWE Women's Tag Team Champions\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/11\/queen-zelina-carmella-wwe-womens-tag-champions.jpg 600w, https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2021\/11\/queen-zelina-carmella-wwe-womens-tag-champions-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Zelina Vega<\/strong>\u2019s history with WWE has been a rocky one, and 2021 seemed to continue that trend as the midcard performer suffered what appeared to be a cruel slight. Vega\u2019s match at SmackDown\u2019s September 10 SuperShow at Madison Square Garden <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wrestlinginc.com\/news\/2021\/11\/zelina-vega-says-vince-mcmahon-apologized-for-nixed-bout-before-9-11\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">was canceled<\/a>. This came on the eve of the 20<sup>th<\/sup> anniversary of her father\u2019s death during the September 11 terrorist attacks. However, perhaps in rectitude, at October 21\u2019s <em>Crown Jewel<\/em> she got to become an indelible part of WWE history as its first <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2021\/10\/21\/zelina-vega-queens-crown\/\" target=\"_self\">Queen of the Ring<\/a>. The long-awaited Queen\u2019s Crown tournament had its flaws, but Vega\u2019s victory over Doudrop in the finals cemented her historic achievement. Since taking the honor and donning the titular crown, Vega has taken to feigning Received Pronunciation in a campy, cosplay inspired \u201cevil queen\u201d act. Vega always injects her appearances with splashes of otaku fun, such as comic book and video game references and kitschy theatrical mannerisms. Vega takes her small allotted time on WWE tv and makes the most of it, always leaving an impression, and her tragic personal history make her accomplishment feel earned and deserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As 2021 winds down, so too does another year of accomplishments for the women of World Wrestling Entertainment. Since the Divas division underwent an overhaul into the more athletically driven women\u2019s division in 2015-16, the women of WWE have continued to forge ahead into previously uncharted territory. Although not without missteps, the women\u2019s division and [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3715,"featured_media":83648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25,26,4],"tags":[163,1445,403,7821,4442,217,406,7872,3041,76,1747],"class_list":["post-105963","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raw","category-smackdown","category-wwe","tag-becky-lynch","tag-bianca-belair","tag-charlotte-flair","tag-doudrop","tag-eva-marie","tag-liv-morgan","tag-naomi","tag-nikki-a-s-h","tag-rhea-ripley","tag-seth-rollins","tag-zelina-vega"],"modified_by":"Alex Richards, LWOF Editor","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105963","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3715"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105963"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105963\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/83648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105963"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105963"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105963"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}