This past week in professional wrestling felt like a storm of flashpoints—some inspiring, others infuriating, all of them signaling that both WWE and AEW are standing at pivotal crossroads. From Liv Morgan’s unfortunate injury to Goldberg’s controversial return, and a red-hot women’s wrestling movement begging for consistency, here’s my take on a week that was in AEW & WWE..
Liv Morgan’s Injury Exposes WWE’s Misuse of the Women’s Division
Liv Morgan’s freak shoulder injury couldn’t have come at a worse time—not just for her, but for a WWE women’s division getting ready to embark on their standalone PLE Evolution. Liv was scheduled to have a high profile match with WWE Hall of Famer Nikki Bella. Her work with Roxanne Perez and the Judgment Day was adding a spark of chaos in a division often devoid of nuance. WWE’s women’s booking has been patchy at best post-Mania, and Liv was one of the few genuine stories fans cared about.
With Liv on the shelf, WWE has no choice but to rewrite not only the Evolution PLE but the entire women’s division. This is a chance to elevate new talent and they plenty of it in Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia, Roxanne Perez, Jade Cargill and Lyra Valkyria. Why hasn’t the Women’s World Champion Iyo Sky been prominently featured as of late? She’s the best wrestler in the division.
As much as I love Bianca Belair and Rhea Ripley, WWE can’t afford to constantly lean on them along with Becky Lynch & Charlotte Flair in the title scenes. Tiffany Stratton is right there. Naomi’s heel character is white hot. WWE needs to develop non-title related stories they can tell with what is really a stacked women’s division. If they waste this moment, it’s on them.
Goldberg Returns… to Take a Title Shot? Seriously?
Look, nostalgia is powerful. A Goldberg pop is undeniable. But what in the actual hell is WWE doing giving him a title shot against Gunther? GUNTHER? The man who carried the Intercontinental Championship for 666 days and is now the 2-time World Heavyweight Champion, is now reduced to a potential two-minute squash match to satisfy a 58-year-old’s legacy? Goldberg is clearly hobbled as he had trouble just making it to the ring on Monday Night RAW.
This isn’t just disrespectful to Gunther—it’s disrespectful to the fans who have bought into the long-term storytelling that Triple H supposedly champions. We’ve seen the Goldberg act. It’s over. It’s been over since 2003. Let him show up, spear someone at a show, and disappear.
Naomi’s MITB Cash-In Must Succeed—Or WWE Misses the Moment Again
Naomi holding the Money in the Bank briefcase was not only the right call but a chance to tell a cool story of an unhinged Naomi. It’s a signal that WWE is (maybe) finally ready to right some wrongs. But it must be booked carefully. No failed cash-in. No last-minute bait-and-switch. This has to be Naomi’s moment of redemption and validation. Her heel character, both on-screen and on social media has been must see.
She walked out back in 2022 for herself and Sasha Banks during a time when WWE’s women’s division was being used as filler. Her return needed more fanfare than it got—but the briefcase is a second chance. If WWE fumbles this? The backlash will be swift and justified. The online jokes of HHH not beating the allegations will gain more steam if the cash-in is unsuccessful. Keep in mind no woman has failed a cash-in since the women’s division had their own MITB briefcase which started in 2018. Fans want more than hashtags—they want real elevation for women who have paid their dues.
Toni Storm & Mercedes Moné: AEW’s Chance to Finally Get It Right
AEW’s women’s division has lived in the shadows of WWE’s women’s division for far too long. Toni Storm continuing her masterful “Timeless” character arc has been the best thing in women’s wrestling for the past 2 years meanwhile Mercedes Moné’s Thanos’ like collection of belts has made her the villain AEW needs. Their interactions so far in the lead up to their match at All In has been engaging and entertaining.
Storm and Moné aren’t just former champions—they’re two of the best-rounded performers in the world. AEW must let them lead, not just exist. That means consistent storytelling, main-event matches, and investing screen time beyond five-minute segments before the main event. Their upcoming match at All In on July 12 has the makings of an all-timer if the story is told right. If AEW fails to build around these two women, it says everything about their priorities—and they’ll deserve every bit of criticism that follows.
Cena Channels CM Punk… and It Was Absolutely Electrifying
In one of the most surreal moments in recent WWE memory, Undisputed WWE Champion John Cena invoked CM Punk’s legendary 2011 pipe bomb promo during SmackDown, ironically following a match with R-Truth. There was Cena sitting on the top of the turnbuckle, in nearly the same tone, calling out the same issues that fueled the Summer of Punk back in 2011. It was meta. It was deliberate. And it hit hard.
At a time where some fans were questioning whether John Cena’s heel run was working, enter CM Punk to inject fuel to help make Cena’s last run matter. This was the type of promo fans have wanted from Cena since he first turned heel back at Elimination Chamber. Cena was on fire Friday night and lit into CM Punk’s hypocrisy the very same way Punk did 14 years ago.
Whether this is a build toward Cena vs. Punk at SummerSlam or just a passing nod to the past, it reminded fans why Cena remains one of the most compelling figures in the business. His ability to take history and weaponize it into something current is unmatched.
Final Thought: Wrestling Is Boiling Over—But Who’s Paying Attention?
From Liv Morgan’s absence to John Cena’s pipebomb prom, from Goldberg’s outdated spotlight to AEW’s chance to put their women front & center, this is a rare moment where every major promotion is being asked to evolve. The fans have seen the smoke and mirrors. Now they want real progress.
The question is: will WWE and AEW listen? Or will they keep giving us the same tired booking wrapped in a fresh logo?
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