Batson's Blog

WWE's Evolution pay-per-view / WWE Network live event is this Sunday. It's the first ever all-women WWE event, so it's been hyped up for several weeks. Considering the hype, you'd think that WWE would've done a better job shaping the card. Take a look at what it is right now:  -    Last Woman Standing match for the SmackDown women's championship: Becky Lynch (c) vs.        Charlotte Flair  -    Raw women's championship match: Ronda Rousey (c) vs. Nikki Bella  -    NXT women's championship match: Kairi Sane (c) vs. Shayna Baszler  -    2018 Mae Young Classic finals: Toni Storm vs. Io Shiari  -    NXT U.K. women's championship match: Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Isla Dawn  -    Trish Stratus and Lita vs. Mickie James and Alexa Bliss  -    Sasha Banks, Bayley and Natalya vs. The Riott Squad  -    Women's battle royal fea...

So, what did everyone think of this year's Rumble? I was curious to see a few things: how the pay-per-view would feel with two Royal Rumble matches on the same night, if Ronda Rousey would show up, who the women's Rumble surprise entrants would be, if they would put the Universal Title on Strowman and if they'd give Roman Reigns another Royal Rumble victory. Pre-show match: Bobby Roode vs. Mojo Rawley I came in halfway on this match, so I didn't see much of it.  Seemed like a throw away match to get Roode on the card (surprised he wasn't in the Rumble, itself).  Mojo is as good an initial opponent as any I guess. Handicap match for the WWE Heavyweight Title: A.J. Styles (champion) vs. Sami Zayn and Kevin Owens What can you say?  It was a good match.  Styles always delivers.  Sami and Kevin are both good workers themselves.  Great match.  Great athletic showing -- if not a bit of a spot fest.  Good match though. 2 out of 3 falls match...

There are always some surprise entrants in the Royal Rumble, but there are sure to be surprise entrants in the first ever women's Royal Rumble. If you look at the rosters, you've got 21 women on the roster. Raw: Alexa Bliss (champion), Alicia Fox, Asuka, Bayley, Dana Brooke, Mandy, Mickie James, Nia Jax, Paige, Sasha Banks, and Sonya DeVille Smackdown: Charlotte Flair (champion), Becky Lynch, Carmella, Lana, Liv Morgan, Naomi, Natalya, Ruby Riot, Sarah Logan, and Tamina Inactive (pregnant): Maria, Maryse Take away 2 of those women (the champions) and you've got 19 women on the active roster. That leaves 11 open spots to fill in the first ever 30 woman Royal Rumble. So who does WWE use? Outside names not signed to the company? Former wrestlers? NXT standouts? Yes, yes and yes. Here are some of the women I'd like to see show up, some of the women who are likely to be in the match and some of the women who WWE should not utilize in this match. Li...

It was announced recently that, after her outstanding performance against Asuka at Takeover: Toronto in NXT, Mickie James has signed a new, 3-year contract with WWE and will be assigned to the Smackdown brand. Mickie is one talent who has only gotten better with age. She was a good wrestler when she first signed a developmental deal with WWE in 2003, but since then she's refined her skills, expanded her move set and truly lives in the moment during her matches.  As a result, her matches have psychology and lack the rehearsed feeling that sometimes even Sasha Banks and Charlotte end up having. I'm very happy, as a longtime Mickie fan, that she's getting a second shot in WWE and will, hopefully, end her tenure on a better note. I see a Hall of Fame induction in her future. Meanwhile, there's another former Diva who I hope will attract some interest from WWE: Melina . For several years after being released back in August of 2011, Melina kept a relativ...