WWE women main event holiday house shows in Chicago and MSG

We saw it with the low key introduction of the division’s new tag titles earlier this week, but it’s still refreshing to see WWE doing something historic for and with their women’s roster without telling us how historic it is.

That happened on Weds., Dec. 26 in Chicago and New York City. Women main eventing would be noteworthy almost any time (it’s something Kevin Owens suggested several years ago as a key step in what was then still called the Divas Revolution). But the after Christmas house shows are some of WWE’s biggest non-televised events every year. Allstate Arena and especially Madison Square Garden are iconic buildings for Vince McMahon’s company.

Both shows closing with women’s matches is a big deal. And a sign that the WrestleMania 35 main event is very realistic for Ronda Rousey and whichever woman or women WWE chooses to put against her at MetLife Stadium next April.

In Manhattan, it was Rousey defending her Raw Women’s title against Nia Jax, then closing a faces vs. heels melee with a dive before the heroes took a curtain call:

In Chicagoland it was, what else? Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. SmackDown Women’s champion Asuka. The fans weren’t explicitly informed the ladies would go on last, however, and the lack of an announcement caused some to make for the exit after Daniel Bryan successfully defended his WWE title in a steel cage match against Miz & Mustafa Ali.

The best part? This isn’t shocking, or stop the presses. It’s great, and significant, but we actually expect women’s wrestling to be showcased this way.

That’s progress. Can’t wait to see where we go from here...