WrestleMania 38 came to a peak in Arlington this past weekend: Bianca Belair strikes gold, Sasha Banks and Naomi are crowned new tag team champions, Taya Valkyrie returns to IMPACT Wrestling, AEW continues its Owen Hart Cup qualifiers and more! Let’s break it down in this week’s edition of Women’s Wrestling Wrap-Up!
WrestleMania 38 Results
The most stupendous WrestleMania took place last weekend in Arlington, Texas at AT&T Stadium, featuring three high-profile women’s matchups on the card. Two singles championships were defended on night one, while the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships were at stake on night two.
Firstly, “Big Time Becks” Becky Lynch defended her RAW Women’s Championship against “The EST” Bianca Belair in a stellar matchup. Going into the intense matchup, Lynch and Belair found themselves as the only two women in history to win in the main event of their respective WrestleManias. Lynch had previously defeated Ronda Rousey and Charlotte Flair at WrestleMania 35, while Belair outlasted Sasha Banks last year.
Lynch made a shocking return to professional wrestling last August, stunning Bianca Belair with a twenty-six-second victory over her. But now, the tide has turned in favor of Belair, who finally regained some gold after landing an impressive KOD to become the new RAW Women’s Champion.
Per WrestleZone’s Night 1 results, the closing moments of the matchup can be read here:
Belair picks Lynch off the top for a KOD. Lynch hooks the ropes. Belair sends Lynch flying over the top rope. Lynch rolls in the ring and out the other side. Lynch grabs Belair’s hair and sends her into the ring post. Manhandle Slam on the ring steps by Lynch. Belair is almost counted out. Lynch rolls up Belair but Belair kicks out. Lynch tries another Manhandle Slam but Belair does a backflip and lands on her feet. Belair hits a leaping KOD for the win!
Also featured on night one, “The Queen” Charlotte Flair raised her Smackdown Women’s Championship on the line against “The Baddest Woman on the Planet” Ronda Rousey. Rousey previously won the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble to earn herself a title shot against the champion of her choosing. In the end, Rousey opted for a familiar foe in the form of Charlotte Flair. These two had previously met in singles action at Survivor Series in 2018, where Flair infamously wielded a kendo stick against Rousey.
Rousey teamed up with Naomi to defeat Flair and Sonya Deville at Elimination Chamber in February, before trading fierce words in the weeks leading up to WrestleMania. Many expected Rousey to prevail with the Smackdown Women’s Championship, but it was Flair who emerged victorious after a devastating Queen’s Boot,
Per WrestleZone’s Night 1 results, the closing moments of the matchup can be read here:
Rousey slams Flair to the floor with another armdrag. Flair tosses a charging Rousey into the barricade with an exploder. Rousey and Flair get in each other’s faces. Rousey hits another Piper’s Pit. Flair gets her foot on the bottom rope. Rousey argues with the referee. Flair hits Natural Selection. Rousey kicks out. Flair is livid. Flair tries another Figure Eight. Rousey kicks Flair away but she accidentally spears the referee in the process. Rousey locks Flair in the Rousey Armbar. Flair taps out but there is no referee. Rousey helps the referee up. Flair lands the Queen’s Boot for the win!
Lastly, the WWE Women’s Tag Team Championships were on the line at night two of WrestleMania 38. Queen Zelina and Carmella walked in as the champions, competing against the teams of Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan, Sasha Banks and Naomi, and Natalya and Shayna Baszler.
In the end, Banks and Naomi walked out of Arlington as the new WWE Women’s Tag Team Champions after pinning Carmella. This victory marks Sasha Banks’ first WrestleMania win overall, and Naomi’s first championship since 2017. The following night on RAW, Carmella and Zelina officially separated, with Zelina blaming Carmella for the loss. In addition, Rhea Ripley and Liv Morgan also appear to be at risk after Ripley disappointingly walked away from Morgan following their loss on Monday as well.
Per WrestleZone’s Night 2 results, the closing moments of the WWE Women’s Tag Team Title match can be read here:
Ripley breaks up the pin. Carmella lands a ranna off the top. Ripley falls out of the ring. Vega takes out Ripley with a moonsault. Naomi and Banks land double Eat d’Feet. Morgan and Ripley both land tower of doom spots in opposite corners. Morgan and Ripley hit their finish on Naomi. Banks breaks up the pin. Natalya and Banks set up a Hart Attack but Carmella and Vega break it up. Carmella lands multiple superkicks but Naomi keeps kicking out. Banks lands a splash but Carmella kicks out. After a series of reversals, Banks, and Naomi hits a wheelbarrow into a lung blower for the win.
AEW Owen Hart Qualifiers, Toni Storm Is All Elite
Three competitors have been granted a spot in the upcoming women’s bracket of All Elite Wrestling’s Owen Hart Cup. In addition, another slot will soon be fulfilled tomorrow on AEW Rampage.
Firstly on the March 30th edition of Dynamite, The Bunny kicked off with an Owen Hart Cup matchup against a mystery opponent, who simultaneously served as AEW’s newest signee to the women’s division. That woman was revealed to be former WWE NXT UK Women’s Champion, Toni Storm.
Storm and The Bunny demonstrated a strong showcase, but in the end. Storm landed Storm Zero for the victory. Therefore, Toni Storm joined the Owen Hart Cup, and is officially All Elite.
And #ToniStorm is victorious in her #AEW debut and also qualifies for the #OwenHart Foundation Women's Tournament! #AEWDynamite is LIVE on @TBSNetwork right now! pic.twitter.com/M9aZJ8xtIb
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 31, 2022
Next on the April 1st edition of AEW Rampage, Jamie Hayter battled Skye Blue for a chance to qualify for AEW’s Owen Hart Cup. Both competitors engaged in a back and forth bout, but Hayter successfully hit a clothesline on Blue to secure the win. As noted by commentary, Hayter was not accompanied by Britt Baker since Baker will not return until April 20th in Pittsburgh.
And that is IT! @jmehytr victorious tonight over @skyebyee and advances into the #OwenHard Foundation Women’s Tournament! Watch #AEWRampage right now on TNT! pic.twitter.com/y3tgJNONMU
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 2, 2022
Most recently, Hikaru Shida faced Julia Hart this past Wednesday on Dynamite in another qualifying matchup. Shida impressed by landing a Falcon Arrow to gain the victory over Hart. After the match, however, Serena Deeb arrived with a steel chair, engaging in a fierce staredown with her rival, Shida.
The next qualifying matchup for the Owen Hart Cup will take place this Friday on Rampage, featuring Red Velvet and Willow Nightingale. Nightingale recently competed for the Interim ROH Women’s World Championship against Mercedes Martinez at ROH SuperCard Of Honor, but fell short. Now, she receives an opportunity to qualify for the Owen Hart Cup against Red Velvet. Eight women in total will compete in the Owen Hart tournament beginning May, before the finals conclude on May 29th at AEW Double or Nothing.
RELATED: AEW Rampage Spoilers For 4/8
Taya Valkyrie Returns To IMPACT Wrestling, Challenges Deonna Purrazzo
Last Friday at IMPACT Wrestling’s Multiverse Of Matches event, Taya Valkyrie returned to the company for the first time since January 2020. There, she confronted an old rival, in the form of AAA Reina De Reinas Champion, Deonna Purrazzo.
The same night, Purrazzo laid out another Champ Champ open challenge, where she was met by Faby Apache. Ironically, Apache was the woman that Purrazzo had beaten last summer to become the Reina De Reinas Champion. In a fantastic showing by both competitors, Apache and Purrazzo pushed each other to the limit. In the end, it was Purrazzo who once again successfully retained her AAA Reina de Reinas Championship.
After the match, Purrazzo acknowledged that although Mercedes Martinez was crowned the Interim ROH Women’s World Championship earlier in the night at SuperCard of Honor, Martinez was simply a “paper champion.”
Before Purrazzo could go on, Taya Valkyrie’s familiar music blared and shocked the audience. Valkyrie earned her spot as number one contender for the AAA Reina de Reinas Championship in February at the AAA Rey de Reyes show. Now, Valkyrie has cashed in her title opportunity to face Purrazzo at IMPACT Rebellion on April 23rd.
Now, Purrazzo and Valkyrie will meet once again in just over two weeks at Rebellion with AAA Reina de Reinas Championship on the line.
.@thetayavalkyrie is back in @IMPACTWRESTLING and will face @DeonnaPurrazzo at #Rebellion!?!
WATCH NOW: https://t.co/WGrSww2v9I#MultiverseOfMatches #IMPACTWRESTLING pic.twitter.com/ztMSxKOYUp
— IMPACT (@IMPACTWRESTLING) April 2, 2022
Also featured on IMPACT Wrestling’s Multiverse of Matches:
- Ultimate X Match for the X Division Championship: Trey Miguel (c) defeated Jordynne Grace, Blake Christian, Rich Swann, Chris Bey, and Vincent
- Mickie James & Nick Aldis defeated Chelsea Green & Matt Cardona
- Knockouts World Tag Team Championships: The Influence (c) defeated Gisele Shaw & Lady Frost, Tasha Steelz & Savannah Evans, and Decay
READ MORE: IMPACT Wrestling Multiverse Of Matches Results – 04/01/22
INTERVIEWS
Rhea Ripley spoke with WrestleZone about her music and horror movie influences, the WrestleMania main event she’d like to have and more.
Independent star MJ Santana appeared on the Hot Tag Hooligans Wrestling Podcast Show to discuss her career, the college life, her rivalry with Mia Friday, Lion’s Pride Productions and more.
Former RAW Women’s Champion Rhea Ripley spoke with Ring the Belle about winning the WWE RAW Women’s Championship from Asuka last year, her Elimination Chamber gear, her WrestleMania 36 match with Charlotte Flair, and more.
Former IMPACT Knockouts Champion Mickie James joined The Wrassingh Show to discuss the upcoming Impact Wrestling Multiverse of Matches, teaming with Nick Aldis against Matt Cardona and Chelsea Green, and more.
Former RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch spoke with WrestleZone about being a student of the game and her WrestleMania 38 match against Bianca Belair.
Lynch also spoke with Denise Salcedo about fashion, Bianca Belair, WrestleMania 38 and more.
AEW Women’s World Champion Thunder Rosa chatted with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful about Mission Pro Wrestling, new talent in pro wrestling, her new projects, and more.
Former WWE Women’s Champion Lita joined Chris Van Vliet to talk about returning to WWE at the Royal Rumble, her match with Becky Lynch at Elimination Chamber, how she got back to being herself again, and more.
