Top 5 WWE Women of 2017
Somehow, Tamina did not make the cut.
Around this time of year you always see a lot of lists. Best songs of 2017, best movies of 2017, best TV shows of 2017. Well, I love a good list as much as the next guy, so I am going to give you a mini power ranking of my own: Top 5 Superstars of the WWE Women’s Division.
I want to preface this by saying Asuka and the members of Absolution and the Riott Squad will not count because of their limited time with the main roster. Let’s get to it.
5. Carmella
Sure, she spent a lot of this year with James Ellsworth, who I’m sorry, was insufferable. Sure, he helped her win the first Women’s Money in the Bank, but the insanely flawed logic of having Ellsworth retrieve the briefcase for her was not her fault. Also, she won the MITB do-over, anyway, so all’s well that ends well. If we had gotten a cash in already, the Princess of Staten Island would likely be a few spots higher. Her dynamite superkick delivered to Ellsworth alone warrants her presence on this list.
4. Bayley
The rise of Bayley has really been stunted. She had a two-month title reign in February, which was the highlight of her year. Still, she was around the main event much of the time whether it was as number-one contender or vying for that spot. Unfortunately, she was due for a title shot at SummerSlam, but a shoulder injury sidelined her. Since her comeback, she was pinned in a fatal five way, had to qualify for the last spot on the Raw women’s team at Survivor Series, and was the first member of Team Raw eliminated. I suspect that she gets the title back at some point in 2018. Or maybe we get a long awaited feud with No. 3…
3. Sasha Banks
The Boss should 100% be either number one or two on this list. The reason she isn’t is because WWE books her like a moron. She is the best wrestler in the women’s division, yet look at her record. She is a four-time Women’s Champion, an impressive feat no doubt. But do you know how many days she has held the title?
82.
82!
Eighty-two total days of holding the championship in four different reigns. That is insulting. It is a travesty that she has not had a prolonged title reign. 2016 was the year of The Boss. 2017? Not so much. She did have a title reign, for all of eight days. Since then, she has been relegated to feuding with Nia Jax – who I’m sorry, I just don’t think is very good, and Alicia Fox.
Are you kidding me with the Alicia Fox stuff? How is it possible that Fox even has one victory over Sasha Banks?
So why did I keep her at 3? Despite her mediocre booking, she still manages to put on mostly good performances. She had a decent, albeit short, feud with Alexa Bliss, slayed Jax on multiple occasions and is arguably the most popular female superstar on the roster.
2. Charlotte
Charlotte has essentially been in the main event since she was called up to WWE. This year was no different – she started 2017 as the champ and will finish 2017 as the champ. After she lost the title to Bayley on Raw, she never recaptured it, but after the Superstar Shakeup, she became the centerpiece of the Smackdown Women’s division. Even though she didn’t win the Smackdown Women’s Title until November (she was often away from the ring due to her father’s health problems), she was constantly the star. Becky Lynch is great, underrated actually, but Charlotte is where the money is on Smackdown. Could we see Charlotte vs. Ronda Rousey this WrestleMania? Only time will tell.
1. Alexa Bliss
There could be no other answer here. Alexa Bliss has been as consistent as they come since she became champion late last year. She is another case of starting and finishing 2017 as champion. Bliss is a great heel champion; her current reign of 130+ days is the longest in the history of the Raw Women’s title. Plus, she was the first woman to become both Smackdown and Raw Women’s Champion, which is a terrific accomplishment. I’m sure 2018 will be a big year for her as well, despite the fact that her run in with Asuka is inevitable.
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