As WrestleMania 42 approaches, WWE’s women’s division is poised for unprecedented prominence, signaling a potential turning point for female wrestlers on the main roster. Despite criticism over the build-up to this year’s event feeling disjointed, the increased visibility of women’s matches throughout the WrestleMania season points toward significant change, emphasizing the WrestleMania women’s showcase like never before.
While fan frustration is high due to how the overall card is taking shape, the women’s division remains a consistent highlight on weekly shows such as Raw and SmackDown. The depth and talent within the female roster suggest their role at WrestleMania 42 will be crucial in shaping the event’s success and the future direction of WWE’s women’s wrestling.
Breaking New Ground with a Record Number of Women’s Matches
WrestleMania 42’s confirmed lineup already includes major bouts such as Stephanie Vaquer challenging Liv Morgan for the Women’s World Championship and Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women’s Championship against Rhea Ripley. Reports indicate the event could feature six women’s matches—setting a new record compared to the five matches at WrestleMania 36. This expansion signals WWE’s commitment to elevating the women’s division on its biggest stage.
The women’s tag team scene is also expected to shine with a multi-team contest for the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championship, featuring The Irresistible Forces, The Bella Twins, Bayley and Lyra Valkyria, and Charlotte Flair alongside Alexa Bliss. In addition, AJ Lee and Becky Lynch are poised to resolve their rivalry over the Women’s Intercontinental Championship, adding further star power.
Emerging talent such as Iyo Sky and Asuka are likely to be spotlighted, building on their ongoing storyline, while Giulia’s United States Women’s Championship defense against Tiffany Stratton presents another exciting matchup. WWE could feasibly fill much of the night with women’s wrestling action, but a slate of six matches already represents notable growth.
Highlighting New Faces and Future Stars
Rather than opting for a predictable championship clash, WWE gave Rhea Ripley the opportunity to challenge Jade Cargill by winning the women’s Elimination Chamber match, demonstrating confidence in Ripley’s rising status despite limited prior history between the two. This choice underscores WWE’s push to elevate newer names within the women’s division rather than relying solely on established stars like Charlotte Flair.
Similarly, Liv Morgan’s pairing with Stephanie Vaquer in a significant WrestleMania singles match reflects the company’s willingness to back fresh talent. Morgan has built herself into a dependable figure over the years, yet this marks her first major WrestleMania spotlight, while Vaquer’s debut in such a high-profile role highlights WWE’s faith in her potential.
Iyo Sky’s organic popularity surge further cements her place on the card, especially in the absence of stars like Naomi and Bianca Belair due to injury. While male draws such as CM Punk versus Roman Reigns and Randy Orton versus Cody Rhodes dominate much of the billing, the women’s top title matches possess the strongest long-term implications for WWE’s future.
Need for More Compelling Storylines Behind the Matches
From a technical and performance perspective, WWE women’s wrestling is stronger than ever, with ample in-ring time and a deep roster of capable athletes. However, this period cannot yet be considered the most engaging era for women’s wrestling in WWE due to inconsistent storytelling and relatively limited opportunities.
Although women frequently headline episodes of Raw and SmackDown, their presence as main events on premium live events has not been regular since the peak of Ronda Rousey’s run from 2018 to 2019—an era that notably elevated the prominence of female wrestling, including the main event of WrestleMania.
Currently, key matches like Morgan vs. Vaquer showcase talent but lack strong narrative foundations to fully capture audience investment. More interestingly, greater tension exists between Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez than in her storyline with Vaquer. Similarly, the feud between Ripley and Cargill has struggled to gain momentum, with their initial social media rivalry failing to translate into compelling promos or story arcs on WWE programming.
For six women’s matches to make a meaningful impact at WrestleMania, WWE must commit to weaving engaging, consistent storylines for each bout, on par with the depth of storytelling presented in male matches.
Potential for the Women to Main Event WrestleMania’s First Night
With WrestleMania expanding to a two-night format, the prospect of a women’s match closing either night has become viable. The last single-night WrestleMania in 2019 famously featured a historic women’s Triple Threat main event, and WrestleMania 37 Night 1 spotlighted the SmackDown Women’s Championship contest between Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair as a strong contender for a main event slot.
Since then, although several women’s matches have had main-event potential, WWE has consistently chosen male matches to close both nights. WrestleMania 42 offers an opportunity to change this tradition. While Cody Rhodes versus Randy Orton is currently expected to finish Night 1, having Ripley versus Cargill headline instead would send a strong signal that women’s matches belong at the top of the card.
Given Ripley’s popularity and in-ring skill, she is more than capable of carrying a WrestleMania main event, which would reflect not only on her status but also on WWE’s willingness to fully embrace women’s wrestling as an equal showcase.
Advancing Toward True Equality in WWE’s Women’s Division
Historically, women’s wrestling in WWE has been overshadowed by the men’s division, often treated as a supplementary attraction rather than an equal component of the programming. Most WWE events feature only a few women’s matches, often accompanied by minimal storytelling.
In contrast, NXT has demonstrated for years that its female performers can match the men’s quality and intensity. This growing momentum within the women’s division has started to impact the main roster, challenging long-held production norms.
The appointment of Alexandra Williams as lead writer for Raw offers hope for improved storytelling and greater focus on women’s storylines, potentially resulting in more impactful narratives and higher-quality matches.
Women have consistently stolen the spotlight at multiple WrestleManias since 2021 and regularly provide the best moments on WWE television. As overall fan engagement with WWE’s product declines, capitalizing on the popularity and quality of the women’s division appears to be a critical strategy for the company.
WrestleMania 42 could be a watershed event where the women’s matches alone elevate the entire show, and their success might redefine WWE’s presentation and treatment of female wrestlers moving forward.
