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Ranking WWE's Best 25 Women's Matches Ever
Bleacher Report's next big rankings have arrived.
In celebration of the major role women have taken on WWE television in 2026, with a potential record for the number of matches on this year's WrestleMania card, and in honor of Women's History Month, B/R's Erik Beaston and Graham Matthews ranked the 25 best WWE women's matches ever.
An emphasis was placed on the following:
Women's wrestling is as good now as it has ever been, thanks to a crop of talented performers who can tell stories, back them up with incredible feats of strength and athleticism, and get fans to emotionally invest in them and their journeys.
Since 2015, the dawn of the women's revolution, the quality of matches has consistently been higher than anything fans had previously been exposed to. It is for that reason that the modern era is represented in spades, but that does not discount the work of Hall of Famers such as Lita, Trish Stratus, Alundra Blayze, and Bull Nakano, all of whom have a presence on this countdown.
Let's start with some honorable mentions.
Honorable Mention
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Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch (NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable)
Before the Four Horsewomen of NXT became known as just that, Lynch didn't have anywhere near the same star power as the other three. It was in this May 2015 thriller that she cemented her status as a future great.
Banks was the perfect foil for the scrappy Lynch, who fought with every ounce of her being to become champion. She ultimately fell short but gained way more in defeat than she arguably would have had she won.
Stephanie Vaquer vs. Iyo Sky (Wrestlepalooza 2025)
La Primera's coronation came in front of a worldwide audience in WWE's first premium live event broadcast on ESPN. If that was not already a big enough deal, the classic encounter with The Genius of the Sky should have been.
An excellent match that had fans in Indianapolis invested in it from the start, it confirmed what fans already knew: Vaquer was a breakout star capable of contributing immediately and Sky was as elite an in-ring performer as there is.
Beth Phoenix vs. Melina (One Night Stand 2008)
Stipulations for WWE's "Divas" (as they were labeled for the better part of a decade) were far and few between, unless it was the notorious Bra and Panties match or the always-agonizing pillow fight.
Phoenix and Melina's 2008 feud was fierce enough to justify an "I Quit" stip and they more than made the most of it.
They pushed each other to their limits, culminating in Phoenix bending Melina over backward in a brutal submission hold to force her to utter the two demeaning words.
Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey (WrestleMania 35)
How is a match of this significance only an honorable mention?
The match quality disappointed and the way-too-long WrestleMania 35 burned out the crowd before Lynch, Flair, and Rousey ever set foot in the ring, a disappointing development for the women's first main event at the biggest show of the year.
Still, there is enough in this one to justify its inclusion in the honorable mention section, if for no other reason than Lynch's coronation as the biggest star in the world, Rousey's first pinfall loss in WWE, and the pomp and circumstance surrounding the historic contest.
Charlotte Flair vs. Natalya (NXT TakeOver 2014)
Paige and Emma set the tone for NXT's women's excellence at Arrival, but often forgotten about is the gem Flair and Natalya produced at the brand's subsequent special, entitled TakeOver, to determine the inaugural NXT women's champion.
This was back when Flair was an unproven commodity and Natalya was portrayed as an afterthought on the main roster. Both just needed an opportunity to show what they could do, and their wonderfully wrestled bout established that women's wrestling had officially arrived in WWE.
Chyna vs. Ivory (WrestleMania X-Seven)
Sometimes, the best matches are the ones that make sense narratively. Case in point, the WrestleMania X-Seven showdown between Chyna and Ivory, which was the conclusion of a months-long story that had to end with The Ninth Wonder of the World obliterating the loud-mouthed villain of the Right to Censor stable.
And she did.
At a brisk 2:38, it accomplished all that was needed. Furthermore, it created an opportunity to get one of the most influential and important women in pro wrestling history, Chyna, onto this list.
Asuka vs. Ember Moon (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn II)
This was the better of the two bouts Asuka and Moon had against each other in 2017, both ending in The Empress of Tomorrow reigning supreme.
The aura of the undefeated Asuka was on another level during her NXT run, but by the end of her year-long reign as NXT women's champion, it was believable that she could be dethroned at any moment.
Moon was the biggest threat to her title by far, and the magic they made whenever the bell rang was always electric. This was the peak of Moon's WWE stint, as well as the NXT swan song for Asuka ahead of her main roster call-up.
Stephanie McMahon-Helmsley vs. Trish Stratus (No Way Out 2001)
The No Way Out 2001 match between McMahon-Helmsley and Stratus is not a classic, but what it lacks in technical skill and raw athleticism, it more than makes up for in storytelling, character work, and a brilliant finish that propelled the narrative.
The contest was laid out by Triple H and booked like a men's match, with all of the story beats to go along with it. A red-hot crowd in Las Vegas went along for the ride, cheering the crowd-pleasing spots, then booing commissioner William Regal as he intervened, laid out Stratus, and assisted McMahon-Helmsley to a victory.
It proved how a match with a strong story can get over, even if the in-ring work is only passable.
25. AJ Lee vs. Kaitlyn
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Date: June 16, 2013
Winner: AJ Lee
WWE hardly emphasized the actual wrestling during the "Diva" days of the division, but there were a few matches that stood out for being way better than expected.
Lee was better known for her character work than for matches, largely because she was kept out of the ring as she became a big star in 2012. Once she started wrestling more frequently in 2013, she was clearly a step above most women in what she was capable of, and working with longtime friend Kaitlyn further highlighted her abilities.
The white-hot Chicago crowd that night provided an electric atmosphere as Lee bested her former bestie for her first Divas Championship.
The two were treated to almost 10 minutes (a rarity for the women at that time in WWE) in a fun, spirited sprint.
Why not higher? A contest of this caliber would be considered average at best by today's standards, but for the time, it was an eye-opener. WWE wouldn't give the women more time for their matches for another few years, but Lee did what she could with what she was given every time.
24. Paige vs. Emma (NXT Arrival)
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Date: February 27, 2014
Winner: Paige
The inaugural pay-per-view on the OG WWE Network was not WrestleMania 30 but, rather, NXT Arrival, a card packed with the best of the best in WWE's development program under Triple H.
The women's division was represented that night by champion Paige, defending her title against the woman she defeated to win it, Emma.
An intense matchup centered on presenting the challenger as someone other than the fun-loving caricature she had become on the main roster, it saw Emma unleash an aggressive side of herself that fans of the black-and-gold brand had not seen before. She dominated the action, but ultimately, it was the champion's ability to weather that offense, deliver her trademark Paige Turner finisher, and tap the Australian out with a rarely utilized Scorpion Cross Lock.
This bout was the first taste of the NXT women's division that would ultimately revolutionize the industry. It wowed viewers on the debut WWE Network telecast and proved women in pro wrestling's most prominent promotion were capable of more than the abbreviated matches on Raw and SmackDown every week.
Why not higher? Though historically significant, it is the lesser of the two high-profile matches between Paige and Emma, and the in-ring quality is not up to that of the matches ahead of it.
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23. Charlotte Flair vs. Ronda Rousey (Survivor Series 2018)
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Date: November 18, 2018
Winner: Ronda Rousey by disqualification
WWE managed to generate impressive hype for Rousey's match against Becky Lynch at Survivor Series in 2018. The Raw vs. SmackDown story evolved into much more than that through their Twitter exchanges, and almost overnight, it felt like a WrestleMania-worthy encounter.
Days out from the event, Lynch broke her face (courtesy of Nia Jax) and had to be replaced by Flair at the last minute. At one point, they had been penciled in as WrestleMania opponents for the following spring, which is why WWE went with the disqualification finish in this last-minute matchup.
Everything prior to that point was hard-hitting and captivating. Rousey was on a roll with the top-notch matches she was delivering during her rookie year, and even without any stakes, this was one of the best bouts she ended up having.
Why not higher? This would have been infinitely more special had it been built up (and followed up on) accordingly. The disqualification was logical yet underwhelming, and their 2022 feud was nowhere near as exciting.
22. Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus (WWE Payback 2023)
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Date: September 2, 2023
Winner: Becky Lynch
A months-long program that began with Stratus and Lynch as allies, before a shocking heel turn by the Hall of Famer ignited a rivalry that culminated in a steel cage match in Pittsburgh at Payback 2023.
Despite Stratus's attempts to escape the cage early and avoid the vengeance-minded Lynch, she slowed the pace and controlled the middle portion of the contest. The Man battled back, punished Stratus for her betrayal, and fended off interference from Zoey Stark to win the match following an avalanche Manhandle Slam from the top rope.
Arguably the best match of Stratus' iconic career, it proved that she was still an elite in-ring performer, some 17 years after she retired from full-time competition. It also enhanced the babyface's growing legacy as the greatest of all time, all in front of a red-hot crowd who ate all of it up.
Why not higher? The quality is there, but compared to the others that follow it on this countdown, it lacks the historical significance of those still to come. Still, it features two extraordinary showings from two of the best to ever lace a pair of wrestling boots.
21. The First Women's Royal Rumble (Royal Rumble 2018)
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Date: January 28, 2018
Winner: Asuka
Of the many milestones the WWE women's division has had in the last decade-plus, the first-ever women's Royal Rumble match felt like the biggest deal.
It meant there was enough depth in the division to stage an entire 30-woman Rumble and have it taken seriously.
In addition to the active roster, the bout featured promising prospects from NXT and familiar faces from the past, most notably WWE Hall of Famers Trish Stratus and Lita. Their interactions with Sasha Banks, Bayley, Becky Lynch and the rest of the top-tier talent of tomorrow made the match a smashing success.
Asuka, who had only just debuted on the main roster three months earlier, punched her ticket to WrestleMania 34 by eliminating Nikki Bella for the historic win. Ronda Rousey popping up afterward to signal her own arrival was simply the icing on the cake.
Why not higher? WWE has had plenty of memorable multi-woman matches over the years, but none quite had the historical impact that this did. That said, the matches higher on this list are more must-see for their above-average action and the stories told.
20. Becky Lynch vs. Tiffany Stratton (No Mercy 2023)
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Date: September 30, 2023
Winner: Becky Lynch
Lynch has made a career of helping to elevate talent and in the Fall of 2023, then-NXT Superstar Tiffany Stratton was no different. They had clashed before they took to the squared circle for their Street Fight in the main event of the No Mercy premium live event, but it was their brutal, physical battle that would have the longest-lasting effect on the young, former gymnast.
Stratton took a beating, showing a toughness that had not been part of her presentation before. The fans bought into her as more than a spoiled-brat, Barbie-doll wannabe. Instead, she was a legitimate championship contender who hung with the best in the business, was accepted by the audience via loud "this is awesome" chants, and was legitimized in the biggest match of her career.
A crowd brawl, weapon use, and a few high spots, including a swanton bomb by Stratton onto Lynch, through a table, helped make this one a memorable battle and suitable main event for the marquee NXT spectacular.
Why not higher? It is too early to determine how big a star Stratton will eventually become to elevate this higher based on historical significance.
19. Becky Lynch vs. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks (Crown Jewel 2021)
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Date: October 21, 2021
Winner: Becky Lynch
WWE was fresh off returning to the road post-pandemic in the latter half of 2021 and some of WWE's best bouts around that time were coming out of the women's division, specifically anything involving the likes of Lynch, Belair and Banks.
The SmackDown Women's Championship was up for grabs in this Triple Threat match, where both Belair and Banks aimed to get the belt back after losing it earlier in the year. Their off-the-charts chemistry made for a highly entertaining affair and kept the crowd invested from start to finish.
There's something to be said for the fact that only a few years earlier, WWE was barred from featuring women at its Saudi Arabia events, yet it was the women who stole this show in Riyadh. This match sent the message that they weren't to be overlooked ever again, regardless of where they were.
Why not higher? For as tremendous a Triple Threat as this was, it didn't have any significant storyline implications, and all three women had better singles matches together at various points.
18. Team Ripley vs. Team Baszler (NXT War Games 2019)
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Date: November 23, 2019
Winners: Rhea Ripley, LeRae, Tegan Nox, and Dakota Kai
In the historic first War Games match, Rhea Ripley and Candice LeRae faced an uphill battle amid a severe numbers disadvantage. After Dakota Kai shockingly betrayed and brutally attacked Tegan Nox, the Eradicator and Poison Pixie were left to battle Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Io Shirai, and Kay Lee Ray by themselves.
Despite enduring tremendous punishment that would be understandable in a four-on-two beatdown, they fought through the pain, capitalized on some tension within the heel team, and earned a grueling victory.
The crowd was red-hot and the competitors fought with an intensity befitting the match type and its rich history as one of the most physically demanding feud-enders. Ripley continued her ascent up the ranks in WWE, Shirai further laid the foundation for the star she would become, and Belair continued to showcase the traits that would make her a breakout star over the next year and a half.
Why not higher? The first Women's War Games bout remains one of the best of that match type in modern WWE history, but one can only imagine how much better it could have been with even sides. Still, Kai's heel turn mid-bout is unforgettable and should have led to more for the competitor.
17. Sasha Banks vs. Bayley (Hell in a Cell 2020)
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Date: October 25, 2020
Winner: Sasha Banks
Fans waited several years for Bayley and Banks to rekindle their classic rivalry from NXT on the main roster, and although there were countless teases, it wasn't until late 2020 that the feud finally materialized after The Role Model betrayed The Boss following a year-long evil alliance.
The circumstances weren't ideal, right in the middle of the pandemic era, with the crowd filled with TV screens of fans watching and reacting virtually, but Banks and Bayley delivered the best bout possible by excelling at storytelling.
They were super smooth in everything they did in the ring and even incorporated other weapons to add to the intensity. This marked Banks' first major win over Bayley in WWE and the first time she had clinched a title on a main roster PPV.
Why not higher? It's difficult to rank almost anything that happens in front of no fans because the atmosphere is everything. This match deserves to be recognized for its greatness, but realistically, WWE should have had them run it back at a WrestleMania with a capacity crowd when it had the chance.
16. Alundra Blayze vs. Bull Nakano (SummerSlam 1994)
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Date: August 29, 1994
Winner: Alundra Blayze
Before there were Divas, butterfly belts, revolutions, or women headlining WrestleMania, Blayze and Nakano took to the squared circle at SummerSlam 1994, tasked with revitalizing a women's division that disappeared from WWE for all intents and purposes five years earlier. They responded, delivering a match unlike any the company's fans had ever seen from two women's division stars.
The contest was physical and grueling. Nakano dominated the action, stretching hand-picked champion Blayze and contorting her body in ways most did not know the human skeleton could bend. The Japanese-born competitor overpowered the babyface and looked to have things well in hand, especially thanks to some interference from Luna Vachon, but ultimately missed a top-rope leg drop that would allow Blayze to recover, pin her, and retain the women's title.
A match that was ahead of its time, thanks to the strong, physical style and in-ring work from Blayze and Nakano, which was better than that of most of the men's roster. The women's division failed to take off, thanks to a lack of genuine investment by Vince McMahon to make it a valued part of the show, but this was a banger of a match that serves as one of the highlights of the combatants' Hall of Fame careers.
Why not higher? As great as this was for its time, it would be rather pedestrian in today's wrestling landscape. Still, that is a testament to Blayze and Nakano's skill during an era that did not appreciate it enough.
15. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (Survivor Series 2021)
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Date: November 21, 2021
Winner: Becky Lynch
From the best of friends to the worst of enemies, Lynch and Flair's respective and collective career trajectories have always intersected over the years.
Lynch and Flair had already feuded ad nauseam in WWE, but there was something about their rivalry in late 2021 that was just different. Both women were firmly established as heels, so there was nothing for fans to cheer, but their apparent real-life falling-out spilled over onto the screen in ugly fashion.
Their confusing belt-swapping on SmackDown that October set the stage for their fantastic match at Survivor Series, where they repped their respective brands. The heel vs. heel dynamic rarely works in wrestling, but it clicked in this instance because every blow they traded made their bad blood feel real.
Why not higher? Similar to Rousey vs. Flair at Survivor Series three years prior, these brand supremacy matches never had much value or amounted to anything in the long run. This was no exception, so its historical significance is minimal, but it's an excellent outing, nonetheless.
14. Trish Stratus vs. Mickie James (WrestleMania 22)
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Date: April 2, 2006
Winner: Mickie James
After months of storytelling that began with James as an overzealous fan of Stratus and concluded with her as an unhinged enemy, the two clashed on the grand stage in the red-hot wrestling city of Chicago.
What resulted was the elevation and coronation of James.
The challenger targeted Stratus's knee, gleefully punishing her former friend and idol, all while the fans in the Windy City unabashedly rooted her on. So favored was James by the audience that Jim Ross questioned their sanity while the challenger beat down the typically beloved champion.
Stratus fought back, but the damage to her left leg had been done. Thrown off by the somewhat vulgar mind games of her opponent and unable to support herself due to her injured limb, Stratus succumbed to a Chick Kick following a badly botched Stratusfaction attempt, and James captured the gold.
The length and creative investment in the story helped make the Stratus-James war one of the most anticipated on that year's card. It proved that there was an appetite for women having a bigger role, with more to do, than the one-dimensional shlock they had typically been allotted.
Why not higher? The noticeably disjointed finish hurts. It also felt like James and Stratus rushed toward a finish, derailing the steady, solid pacing of the first two-thirds of the contest. It laid the foundation for great matches to come, but pales in comparison.
13. Becky Lynch vs. Sasha Banks (Hell in a Cell 2019)
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Date: October 6, 2019
Winner: Becky Lynch
The 2019 installment of WWE's Hell in a Cell event is infamous for its atrociously-booked Hell in a Cell main event between Seth Rollins and "The Fiend" Bray Wyatt. What should be remembered, however, is this incredible clash inside the structure between Banks and Lynch.
Banks had returned to her roots as her heelish Boss character and immediately targeted Lynch upon resurfacing on Raw. Following failed feuds with Lacy Evans and Natalya, Lynch desperately needed a high-profile program to regain some of her steam and these two undoubtedly brought the best out of each other.
Lynch reminded the masses why she was, in fact, The Man with her stellar performance, while Banks was very much in her element as well. Lynch, to avenge her loss to Banks from four years earlier at NXT TakeOver: Unstoppable, put her on track to continue her ascent to super stardom.
Why not higher? Although this is the best women's Hell in a Cell match in WWE history, Lynch and Banks had many more career-defining matches with other opponents later in this list.
12. Asuka vs. Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 34)
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Date: April 8, 2018
Winner: Charlotte Flair
Asuka spent 914 days undefeated in WWE competition, dating back to her iconic run in NXT, so it was only logical that most expected The Empress of Tomorrow to pay off her Royal Rumble victory and defeat Flair to capture the top prize in the women's division in grand fashion.
Imagine the surprise, then, when The Queen proved that she was, in fact, ready for Asuka and defeated the Japanese star to retain her WWE Women's Championship.
The match was hotly contested, with each exploiting and targeting one of the other's limbs. Submissions, counters, reversals, and near-falls kept fans on edge until Flair caught Asuka in the Figure Eight and forced the stunning, jaw-dropping tap-out finish.
While some eagerly applauded the victor, there was a considerable amount of disbelief, if for no other reason than Asuka had been the most protected star in the company, regardless of brand, and her submission loss was genuinely stunning. That it happened in the same stadium where The Undertaker's streak ended four years earlier only added to the moment.
Why not higher? The outcome. As great as the match is, one cannot look back at it as anything but a missed chance to make Asuka a true main roster phenom.
11. Lita vs. Trish Stratus (Raw, December 6, 2004)
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Date: December 6, 2004
Winner: Lita
Stratus and Lita are considered pioneers for women's wrestling in WWE and rightfully so. They did more to elevate the division than anyone in the 2000s by not only being compelling characters but also by consistently showing out inside the squared circle.
A majority of their matches together were enjoyable, but their most memorable came in December 2004 when they became the first women to headline Raw on their own. With the WWE Women's Championship on the line, they proved why they belonged in the coveted spot by risking it all and holding nothing back.
This outing was instrumental in inspiring the next generation of women's wrestlers and planting the seeds for a revolution that wouldn't take shape for another decade.
Why not higher? Most match-ups on this list are considerably superior from an in-ring standpoint, but the historical significance of this first-ever occasion puts it near (but not quite in) the top 10.
10. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (NXT TakeOver: Respect)
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Date: October 7, 2015
Winner: Bayley
To understand the enormity of Bayley vs. Sasha Banks II, the 30-Minute Iron Man Match from TakeOver: Respect, one must simply listen to the overjoyed chants of "main event" as the two women stood across the ring from each other.
After a classic encounter in which the Role Model and her top rival gave fans a taste of what the future of women's wrestling in WWE would look like, demand was so high for a rematch that there was no choice but to deliver and, perhaps more importantly, to give that match its rightful spot in the marquee position on the card.
Bayley and Banks ratcheted up the intensity, delivering a suitable follow-up that captivated the fans and never relented. Borrowing from their previous encounter, Bayley inflicted considerable damage to Banks' hand, payback for a similar injury that she suffered in Brooklyn. Late in the match, with pressure maxed out and time ticking down, the score tied at two falls apiece, the champion trapped her challenger, pulled back on her fingers, stomped down on her head, and forced a submission to retain her title.
A post-match show of respect from the locker room, Triple H, and Stephanie McMahon only added gravity to the moment. A contest that started with chants of "women's wrestling" and "you deserve it" gave way to Banks' final dance in NXT and Bayley's first chance to step out of the Four Horsewomen's shadow and become the unquestioned face of the brand's women's division.
Why not higher? It is the lesser of Bayley and Banks' two matches that year and, at least once, felt like the competitors were stretching to hit 30 minutes rather than organically getting there, a typical issue with many Iron Man match-ups.
9. Bianca Belair vs. Becky Lynch (WrestleMania 38)
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Date: April 2, 2022
Winner: Bianca Belair
The writing appeared to be on the wall for Belair when she was swiftly squashed by the returning Lynch in under a minute at SummerSlam 2021. As quickly as she rose through the ranks, her time at the top was already over, and she had to climb back up the card all over again.
Thankfully, WWE revisited the story in time for WrestleMania 38. It was a must-win situation for The EST, and just as she did a year prior against Sasha Banks, she rose to the occasion and again emerged victorious following a banger of a bout with Lynch to claim the Raw Women's Championship.
Lynch deserves equal credit for her heel work leading up to and during the matchup, successfully turning the crowd against her at every turn. She and Belair have never had anything less than a terrific match, but this was their finest work.
Why not higher? This match would have been suitable as one of the main events of WrestleMania and could have used a bit more grandeur than it received in the undercard. It's still spectacular, as were their many other encounters.
8. Bayley vs. Iyo Sky (WrestleMania 40)
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Date: April 7, 2024
Winner: Bayley
By the company's own admission, Bayley had always been the one member of the Four Horsewomen who was cast aside, forgotten, or underutilized by WWE. Triple H admitted as much moments after she won the 2024 Royal Rumble to cash her ticket to WrestleMania 40 and a shot at the championship of her choosing.
On the grandest stage in professional wrestling, in front of 70,000-plus rabid wrestling fans ready to watch her climb the mountain and enjoy the moment she long ago earned, Bayley challenged for Damage CTRL teammate Iyo Sky for the WWE Women's Championship.
An ultra-competitive match full of counters and reversals, between two women who knew each other extremely well, had the fans in Philadelphia engrossed in the action. The champion worked over Bayley's injured right leg, not just taking her base away, but also damaging her dominant limb.
Forced to fight from underneath, with a limb that limited her offense, the Role Model demonstrated the guts and fortitude that made her a fan-favorite early in her NXT days. She absorbed everything Sky threw at her, fought through it, and eventually turned her inside out with a lariat before ending her night and title reign with a Rose Plant for the win.
Why not higher? Based solely on the manner in which WWE Creative fumbled Bayley's big moment, this lacks the historical significance of the others ahead of it. In the ring, however, it is a damn fine match and more than deserving of its placement.
7. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (Evolution 2018)
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Date: October 28, 2018
Winner: Becky Lynch
The first-ever installment of Evolution served as a strong showcase for the stacked women's division WWE had in 2018. It also allowed them to take center stage without having any of their match times cut short.
Ronda Rousey vs. Nikki Bella made sense as the main event, as the show likely wouldn't have been possible without Rousey's involvement, but Lynch vs. Flair was the true show-stealer of the night. Their Last Woman Standing clash was as barbaric as could be, with a wide variety of weapons used and personal animosity behind every blow.
Both women were trying to not only walk away with the SmackDown Women's Championship but also solidify their spot atop SmackDown's women's scene. The Man became more than a nickname for Lynch after putting down the second-generation star in this all-out war.
Why not higher? For several years, this was widely considered by fans to be the best women's match on the main roster ever, but other matches that have happened since then have been just a bit better and slightly more important to the division long-term.
6. Sasha Banks vs. Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 32)
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Date: April 3, 2016
Winner: Charlotte Flair
It is not hyperbole to suggest that if the Triple Threat match for the WWE Women's Championship at WrestleMania 32 had been a failure, the women's revolution in pro wrestling's most prominent promotion would not have happened.
That was the pressure facing Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair and Sasha Banks as they stepped out into the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas in front of 100,000 fans for the biggest match of their young careers.
With the weight of the wrestling world and the future of women's wrestling on their shoulders, they showed up and showed out, delivering a match that lived up to expectations, crowned a new champion, and set the stage for every major accomplishment and historic first that followed it.
Banks was the fan favorite but had her championship aspirations snuffed out by Ric Flair, who accompanied his daughter to the ring and prevented The Boss from interrupting his daughter's submission finish.
After a grueling match of close calls and near-falls, in which all three competitors threw caution to the wind in pursuit of history and championship gold, Flair applied the Figure Four, bridged up into the Figure Eight, and forced a tap-out from Lynch as she emerged victoriously, with championship gold, pomp, and circumstance defining her first appearance at the Showcase of the Immortals.
The most memorable match from that year's show exceeded expectations and dared all that followed to try and top it.
Why not higher? The Triple Threat formula in WWE reared its ugly head and limited how many times all three combatants were in the ring at the same time. While still great, unfortunately, it was those moments in which this one truly shone.
5. Bianca Belair vs. Sasha Banks (WrestleMania 37)
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Date: April 10, 2021
Winner: Bianca Belair
From the moment Belair debuted in WWE, her match with Banks was seen as a "dream match" for many. It would have been easy for it to be randomly booked on an episode of Raw or SmackDown without much fanfare, but the higher-ups wisely held off on it until The Grandest Stage of Them All in 2021.
Belair, who had won the women's Royal Rumble at the onset of the year, was riding a massive wave of momentum but needed that statement win to make herself a star. Banks mastered her role as the gatekeeper of sorts of the division and making everyone she shared the squared circle with look better.
On the eve of WrestleMania 37, they were announced as the main event of Night 1, and they didn't feel out of place in the slightest. Banks and Belair pulled out everything in their arsenal to give WWE's first crowd in over a year something special.
This was less about making history than it was about reinforcing what was already apparent: women in the main events were the new norm.
Why not higher? For a babyface vs. babyface match, Banks vs. Belair was tremendous, but suffered from not having a stronger story. The build to their 'Mania matchup left a lot to be desired and was never fully explored when their rematch at SummerSlam later in the year was called off.
4. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Naomi (Evolution 2025)
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Date: July 13, 2025
Winner: Naomi
Rhea Ripley entered the main event of the second-ever all-women premium live event, Evolution 2025, as one of the biggest stars in professional wrestling, despite having never defeated Iyo Sky in one-on-one action.
Not only did she have the chance to right that wrong, but she also had a shot at regaining the Women's World Championship that Sky had defeated her for months earlier.
The champion, on the other hand, selected Ripley as her opponent with the intention of beating the wrestler she considered the best in the division at the historic event.
What ensued was a back-and-forth battle, with each woman growing increasingly frustrated at their inability to keep their opponent down for the count. There was a brawl into the crowd, a high crossbody block from Sky from the stands, and a double stomp for good measure. Ripley responded by kicking out of the Over the Moonsault, refusing to give in. An avalanche Spanish Fly had both women reeling late when the one-on-one, instant classic exploded into immortality with the arrival of Ms. Money in the Bank, Naomi.
Her body still beaten and battered from her loss to Jade Cargill earlier in the night, Naomi cashed in her guaranteed title opportunity, dumped Ripley on the floor, and delivered a split-legged moonsault to Sky to win the title in an electrifying moment.
A brilliant match that blends elements of an Attitude Era brawl with a shocking conclusion to the broadcast, making it an essential top-five encounter and one of the best of any of the competitors' careers.
Why not higher? There is a three-way matchup also featuring Ripley and Sky from a few months earlier that may lack the surprise of the cash-in, but is simply better.
3. Rhea Ripley vs. Charlotte Flair (WrestleMania 39)
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Date: April 1, 2023
Winner: Rhea Ripley
Although Rhea Ripley spent most of 2022 as a background player in the women's division, she was simultaneously finding her footing as a character by embracing the dark side again. In turn, the audience embraced her.
The only thing left for her to do was settle her score with Flair from three years earlier. Flair humbled Ripley by beating the brash rookie for the NXT Women's Championship at WrestleMania 36, but Ripley had since become a force to be reckoned with and was ready to dethrone Flair as the top dog in the division.
They needed to hit a home run for Ripley's crowning moment to live up to the hype, and they did not disappoint. Ripley had an answer for every offensive maneuver Flair threw at her, and being one step ahead of her archnemesis earned her the gold in the end. The Eradicator, now one of WWE's hottest commodities, male or female, never looked back.
Why not higher? WWE hasn't had the best track record of telling proper stories with the women going into WrestleMania. That was also the issue with this match, which is why it didn't close out the event on either night as it should have. Then again, that had to have given them the motivation they needed to put on the all-timer that they did.
2. Rhea Ripley vs. Iyo Sky vs. Bianca Belair (WrestleMania 41)
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Date: April 20, 2025
Winner: Iyo Sky
Three of the defining women of this generation of professional wrestling squared off under the bright lights, and amid the pomp and pageantry of WrestleMania, with the Women's World Championship at stake as Rhea Ripley and Bianca Belair challenged Iyo Sky at the 2025 Showcase of the Immortals.
What ensued was an instant classic, Match of the Year that highlighted the three different styles of the competitors involved, their status as the standard-bearers for professional wrestling in the 2020s, and the fact that women's wrestling has, in many ways, consistently eclipsed its male counterpart.
With the eyes of the wrestling world watching, they jam-packed nonstop action into a tight, 15-minute window, concluding with Belair whipping Ripley with her braid and delivering the Kiss of Death, only for Sky to soar from out of nowhere with her Over the Moonsault to the EST for the win and title retention.
Three women who previously defined an era of NXT women's competition proved they had risen to an all-new level, one in which they did not ask for permission to be the best match on the show but, rather, grabbed that notoriety from their peers and demanded they try to top it.
Instantly, one of the greatest WrestleMania matches of all time.
Why not higher? The match may be the best, bell-to-bell contest on this list, and it is easily one of the best WWE matches of the last 20 years. Still, it lacks the historical significance of the women's revolution in professional wrestling that the No. 1 selection on our list carries.
1. Bayley vs. Sasha Banks (NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn)
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Date: August 22, 2015
Winner: Bayley
WWE's "Give Divas a Chance" movement in early 2015 can primarily be attributed to NXT's women's division catching fire at the time and changing the perception of what women's wrestling could be on the main roster.
But no match was more monumental in signifying that shift than Bayley vs. Banks from TakeOver: Brooklyn. It's a simple story of Bayley feeling overlooked in favor of the other Horsewomen, coupled with the brilliant attention to detail and record-setting NXT crowd in the Barclays Center, which made it an instant classic.
It's practically the perfect match. Beloved babyface Bayley was the epitome of everything an underdog in wrestling should be, and the dastardly heel Banks was willing to do whatever was necessary to retain her title, even if it meant resorting to nefarious means.
Current standouts such as Indi Hartwell, Roxanne Perez, Elayna Black and Britt Baker all decided to break into the business because of this bout. Never before had it been quite as clear in WWE that women were capable of shattering glass ceilings and reaching heights that were once thought to be unattainable.
In addition to setting the standard for every woman's match in WWE, Banks and Bayley created the blueprint for what women's wrestling could become across the industry.
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