WWE Raw debuted in January of 1993, and on the latest broadcast of the red brand on January 23rd, the show celebrated its 30th anniversary.
Ahead of the show, it was advertised that Becky Lynch would take on Bayley inside a steel cage on the night. The two have been embroiled in a bitter feud ever since Lynch returned from injury ahead of Survivor Series WarGames, where she scored the pinfall victory for her team by pinning Bayley’s Damage CTRL teammate Dakota Kai.
However, when it came time for the cage match, Damage CTRL launched a brutal attack on Becky Lynch, eventually locking themselves in the cage with Lynch to inflict further damage. WWE authority figure Adam Pearce cut the door’s lock and The Man was deemed unable to compete, meaning the cage match did not take place as advertised.
According to a report from PWInsider, the match was meant to go two segments and see Becky Lynch victorious before being beaten down by the members of Damage CTRL, but the match was cut due to The Bloodline‘s segment in the show’s first hour running very long.
#WWEWomenDeserveBetter Is The Latest Hashtag To Trend As WWE Fans Call For More Women’s Wrestling
While Raw is XXX did feature one women’s match as Bianca Belair defeated Sonya Deville following a confrontation with Charlotte Flair, many fans were angry over the advertised cage match being cut from the show.
The Bella Twins added fuel to the fire by calling out the sports entertainment giant for not featuring any content about the Women’s Evolution, the name given to the movement that saw an increased focus on women’s wrestling in the company after years of focusing on women’s looks and presenting them as eye candy. According to Nikki and Brie, there are certain names WWE doesn’t want to mention, including Mercedes Mone and Saraya.
Brie and Nikki Bella were advertised to appear on Raw’s anniversary celebration, but they didn’t end up being featured despite being in the area. According to PWInsider, the two attended a matinee performance of Wicked on Broadway on Monday afternoon instead, possibly due to creative disagreements over their planned segment. The only female WWE Legend involved on the show was Alundra Blayze, whose role saw her involved backstage in a poker tournament segment involving JBL and Baron Corbin.
Twitter was flooded with fans using the hashtag #WWEWomenDeserveBetter, echoing the Bellas’ feelings about the Women’s Evolution being subbed as well as taking the company to task for not cutting a less consequential match from the broadcast.
Fans also pointed out that D-Generation X was given plenty of time for their own reunion segment, despite having just reunited on the October 10th season premiere of Raw.
Full results from Raw is XXX can be found here, and some of the tweets calling out WWE over the Women’s Evolution can be seen below.
like i don’t get it, like any of these girls could have came back last night but they completely made the show about men! and they continue to shit on the women’s division. we honestly need another women’s revolution. #WWEWomenDeserveBetterpic.twitter.com/c0MfpfTtQY
— cell✨ (@celltheman) January 24, 2023
This was all a LIE, the Women were totally overlooked last night and it was embarrassing, that photo was the only recognition they got, @WWE showed they don't give a d*mn about their Women's and history through all these years, they DESERVE better #WWEWomenDeserveBetterpic.twitter.com/2P7qlgN47A
— Gon Knight (@gdiezaros) January 24, 2023
In a show celebrating 30 year of RAW, WWE decided to snub the countless women made this show what it is now #WWEWomenDeserveBetter
— DS Ring the Belle 🔔 (@ringthebelleds) January 24, 2023
This 🙌🏻
I didn’t not need the longass DX segment to setup a match, sure as hell did not need Hogan, or the APA reunion 🫠🫠🫠 https://t.co/RdJjXTzWGu
— мαgι (@justMagi17) January 24, 2023
Out of all of the matches on the show they could’ve easily cut one of the billion men’s matches or segments.
It’s the fact that one of the few women’s matches got cut out of everything that doesn’t sit right.
That’s the whole point. Don’t be ignorant. #WWEWomenDeserveBetter— Helena (@_duhhh_its_me_) January 24, 2023