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What’s the story?
In case you were wondering why four of the company’s top female names currently find themselves without major singles titles, Cageside Seats might have your answer.
The site’s rumour roundup is speculating that Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Sasha Banks and Bayley are expected to be “kept away from their respective brand’s title scenes while their program with the MMA Four Horsewomen plays out.”
In case you didn’t know...
An angle involving the MMA Horsewomen and WWE Horsewomen was set up at July’s Mae Young Classic tapings. Charlotte Flair, Beck Lynch and Bayley were at ringside for the show and were approached by Shayna Baszler, who’d just faced Mia Yim in the tournament’s second round. Baszler tauntingly threw up the four-finger salute, prompting some back-and-forth between herself and the WWE girls.
Meanwhile, Marina Shafir, Jessamyn Duke and Ronda Rousey — who, alongside Baszler, have been dubbed the Four Horsewomen of MMA — were conveniently sat in the crowd directly opposite, which led to an impromptu shouting match between the two sides.
Going in depth
Various outlets are suggesting that this Horsewomen vs. Horsewomen business could lead to a match at Survivor Series in November. In that case, while keeping any titles off of Charlotte and co. may not be the most popular of decisions, you can see the company’s logic.
Why put the belts on girls who are wrapped up in another angle and therefore wouldn't be able to defend those titles at one of the bigger shows of the year?
What's next?
The final of the Mae Young Classic tournament is currently set for Sep 12 in Las Vegas, where some, if not all, of the Horsewomen are likely to be in attendance. Don’t be surprised to see something go down between the two groups that night, with one eye on that potential Survivor Series date.
Author’s take
As questionable as it may be that Flair, Lynch, Banks and Bayley aren't getting a decent run with the title at present, with the added context of these Horsewomen plans, it starts to become a little more understandable.
And in some ways, a high-profile match with potential crossover appeal is arguably a much bigger deal than competing for either of the company’s women’s titles, especially with the way they’ve been hot-potatoed as of late.
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