In the wake of Rhea Ripley’s unfortunate injury sidelining her from WWE action, the company announced a Battle Royal to determine the new Women’s World Champion on the latest episode of SmackDown.
While this move was made out of necessity, wrestling veteran Dutch Mantell expressed his discontent with WWE’s approach.
Rather than arranging a traditional championship match between top contenders, WWE opted for a Battle Royal to fill the vacant title spot.
Mantell voiced his dissatisfaction with this decision, suggesting that simpler match formats might be more effective.
Mantell criticized WWE’s reliance on gimmick matches like Battle Royals, arguing that they have become overused and less exciting due to their frequent occurrence.
“What happened to the simple matches? Simple wins. Take it to the Pay-Per-View, and then work your angle. I think they are trying; what they have done so far is very good, excellent. But I think when you get in that Gimmickville land, kind of just stay there. The more gimmicks you’ve got, the more space you’ve got to screw it up. The Women’s Battle Royal, like the four-way we had tonight, it doesn’t excite me, because they have done it so many times.”
With Rhea Ripley out of commission, contenders like Becky Lynch, Liv Morgan, and Nia Jax are poised to vie for the coveted Women’s World Championship in the upcoming Battle Royal.
