WWE EVOLUTION 2018

NIKKI BELLA DEFEATING RONDA ROUSEY AND 5 BAD BOOKING DECISIONS

WWE Evolution 2018 is the company's first-ever all women's pay-per-view, a stacked show with a star-studded slate of matches, including Becky Lynch vs. Charlotte Flair, Nikki Bella vs. Ronda Rousey and a tag team dream bout pitting Alexa Bliss and Mickie James against Lita and Trish Stratus.

Although the buildup to the special event has been lacking in part due to WWE's focus on Crown Jewel and the show had also been plagued by slower-than-expected ticket sales (fore Rousey and Nikki turned that around), there is still plenty of excitement regarding what could be a memorable show that continues the advancement of women's wrestling. Evolution will highlight a who's who of women's wrestling that includes major names from the past, like Lita and Stratus, while also showcasing many of the company's top acts and rising stars, ranging from Flair to Rousey to Kairi Sane.

There is hope that a women's tag team division could soon be on the horizon, while there has long been speculation that we could be getting an all-women’s show in the mold of 205 Live. Thus, Evolution will be perhaps the most important pay-per-view in the history of the women's division as WWE's incredibly talented female performers will be presented with the rare opportunity to be the stars of the show rather than serving as role players on an event that also features male superstars.

So, how should the pay-per-view be booked? Well, let's take a look at five bad booking decisions WWE must avoid at the historic Evolution event.

PRIORITIZING RETIRED STARS OVER WWE'S FULL-TIMERS

WWE, of course, has a history of putting part-time stars over full-timers, which explains why the company has had difficulties creating truly mainstream star in recent years and why the WWE Network subscriber count consistently decreases every year after WrestleMania when the company's part-time stars tend to go away. At Evolution, WWE will undoubtedly be tempted to have stars like Lita and Stratus pick up big victories as "feel good moments" that help celebrate the history of the women's division, especially given reports that they could be sticking around for big future shows.

However, that will only exacerbate the problem and the perception of WWE's current talents as inferior to stars from previous generations. It's no secret that this is one of the biggest issues currently plaguing WWE, especially in the men's division, where stars like Triple H, The Undertaker, Shawn Michaels and Brock Lesnar are portrayed to be bigger names and better talents than WWE's current crop of performers. WWE's women's division is arguably the most talented in history, but if stars like Lita and Stratus win at Evolution more than a decade after retiring from WWE, will fans know it?

NO SURPRISES

With the WWE Network subscriber count recently hitting a record average, it stands to reason that Evolution will have a massive audience that could, quite literally, put more eyes on the women's division than ever before.

That should make Evolution a very newsworthy show, one filled with major moments and big surprises. In 2018, WWE has pulled off some shockers when it comes to the women's division, with the end of Asuka's undefeated streak at WrestleMania 34 and Becky Lynch's heel turn immediately coming to mind as unforgettable moments involving WWE's female superstars. Moments like these have played a big role in the women's division becoming a big draw for WWE, with Ronda Rousey in particular developing into arguably the company's top attraction.

There is nothing that can immediately increase interest and intrigue quite like a surprising creative decision that comes like an RKO out of nowhere, whether that be an unforeseen heel turn, an astonishing return or an astounding match outcome or reunion. At Evolution, there will be a plethora of big matches that set the stage for one or more of those things to happen, including a possible turn for someone like Bayley or Sasha Banks that fans have been clamoring for.

CHARLOTTE FLAIR DEFEATS BECKY LYNCH

Fans have slowly but surely been turning on Charlotte Flair, not so much because they can't stand her but more so because she's been viewed as a forced babyface who is holding back Becky Lynch from truly reaching that next level.

Lynch's popularity has absolutely exploded in 2018, when she's been praised as a "Stone Cold" Steve Austin-like anti-hero, who is both a world class in-ring performer and a master on the microphone. Indeed, WWE has struck gold with Lynch and must capitalize on all of the momentum she's built up this year, which can disappear in the blink of an eye if and when WWE doesn't ensure that she continues to be pushed as the face of the women's division like she should be.

WWE, of course, has shown an obsession with pushing Flair as champion (she's already held it seven times) even it ruins the push of others, and that's a mistake that can't be made with Lynch. Fans are absolutely begging for Lynch to remain at the top of WWE, similarly to Daniel Bryan in 2014 when the WWE Universe revolted and made sure they got their way. Lynch is on such a roll right now that she's on the verge of giving WWE another truly mainstream female superstar to build around, which is why the creative team must ensure she's solidified as such with a definitive victory over Flair in the first-ever Last Woman Standing Match, which could do wonders for her career.

NIKKI BELLA DEFEATS RONDA ROUSEY

The ultimate goal of Nikki Bella vs. Ronda Rousey main-eventing Evolution? Well, that was to garner more mainstream media attention by pairing the company's top two female stars in a feud with one another.

That has certainly worked to an extent as sites like TMZ have picked up on the feud and given WWE some added exposure because of it. Perhaps just as importantly, though, the rivalry between Rousey and the Bella Twins has allowed the typically stoic Rousey to develop more of a personality and improve her promo abilities in a major way, reaffirming her undeniable connection with the WWE Universe in the process. With Rousey clearly making strides as an overall performer and continuously progressing as an in-ring worker, there is no reason to prematurely end her Raw Women's Championship reign.

Especially with the Bella Twins seemingly only back for a brief run and not being committed to a full-time schedule, Rousey will continue to be the top attraction in the women's division, and based on recent YouTube data, perhaps the biggest draw in the entire company. As such, Rousey should remain the face of women's wrestling, despite any backlash she might receive for it, and as a better overall talent than either Bella, there is no real logic behind Nikki defeating her at Evolution.

The long-term money is in Rousey having an extended title reign and for a rising star to ultimately be the one who defeats her, which could potentially create another top draw in the women's division.

DOING NOTHING OF NOTE IN THE BATTLE ROYAL OR WITH ITS WINNER

WWE is taking the easy way out and avoiding creating undercard storylines by throwing most of its female stars in what will probably end up being a meaningless battle royal just three months before it will attempt to market the 30-women Royal Rumble as a match of importance. No surprise here: That didn't sit well with many female superstars, who took to Twitter to voice their frustrations with the decision.

In its recent history, WWE doesn't have a great track record of doing anything worthwhile with big battle royal winners. Asuka, who won the first-ever women's Royal Rumble, has fallen off substantially since winning that bout just 10 months ago, while Naomi, who won the women's battle royal at WrestleMania 34, has been a complete afterthought since then. So, naturally WWE has a ton of very talented female superstars set to participate in the battle royal at Evolution, including Asuka, Ember Moon, Nia Jax and even the returning Torrie Wilson.

WWE will, of course, push this battle royal as if it's a big deal, but as demonstrated by the lack of follow-up to Naomi's supposed big win at WrestleMania 34, what are the chances that a victory here ultimately leads to nothing substantial for the star who wins it? The good news is that there is at least something on the line in this battle royal, a future women's title shot, but the bad news is that the match itself may not do anything to further develop a few storylines in the women's division or actually ignite a push for whoever the victor turns out to be.

Many of WWE's female superstars have already expressed their disappointment with being stuck in a battle royal. The last thing WWE needs is for that battle royal to turn into a farce that accomplishes nothing in the long run. Instead, it should be used a means to elevate a deserving star, someone like Ember Moon, to women's title contention.