How a Survivor Series invasion changed the landscape of women’s wrestling

A highly anticipated marquee match, a chaotic series of events and “Irish war paint” became the catalyst to a movement that changed women’s pro wrestling, and quite possible the entire industry.

There’s been many notable invasions in pro wrestling over the years including the recent assault from WWE NXT on their counterparts from Monday Night Raw and Friday Night SmackDown. But one powerful visual that came on the eve of Survivor Series 2018 when SmackDown invaded and assaulted Raw and changed history.

Then-SmackDown Women’s Champion Becky Lynch was slated to face Raw Women’s Champion Ronda Rousey in a brand-versus-brand, champion-versus-champion, armbar-versus-armbar match at Survivor Series. To say the match was highly anticipated would be putting things lightly. Lynch and Rousey had both been doing their part to hype the match during promos and on social media. Fans wanted to see what would happen when The Man met The Baddest Woman on the Planet.

But on Nov. 12, 2018 just one week removed from the big match Lynch headed up an invasion as the SmackDown Women’s locker room who brought the attack to Raw. Chaos ensued as both brands brawled inside the ring and then Lynch took a punch from Nia Jax that would change everything.

The right cross from Jax connected with enough force that it knocked Lynch off her feet the hard way. She came up bleeding from the nose and would wind up later being diagnosed with a concussion and a broken face. At the time she got struck Lynch continued with the planned assault on “autopilot” as if nothing had happened. But something did happen and as eyes were glued to their screens everyone saw it unfold that very night in real time.

Lynch climbed the arena stairs to the top of the concourse and paused to look back at Rousey still down in the ring. Knowing the camera was still focused on her, Lynch postured and mouthed off. Blood dripping down her face, arms outstretched in a “come at me bro” type of stance it became an iconic shot that people still reference to this day.

Reminiscent to “Stone Cold” Steve Austin dripping blood as Bret “Hitman” Hart held him in the Sharpshooter during their match at WrestleMania 13, the shot of Lynch cemented her as a badass and one of the top stars in the division. But it didn’t stop there. Because of her concussion Lynch was pulled from her match with Rousey.

Undaunted, Lynch went back to the platform of social media to plead her case and rally the fans. A frenzy began in which the demand to see Rousey v.s Lynch take place grew so strong it wound up becoming the main event of WrestleMania 35. Along with Charlotte Flair in the mix, it would be the first time women would ever main event a WrestleMania.

One invasion changed the course of history for women’s pro wrestling and the business at large. As we head into Survivor Series 2019 the rumblings have already begun. With NXT being added to the mix this year they’ve already taken it upon themselves to inject their talent into both Raw and SmackDown. Members of Raw, The O.C. retaliated by heading into NXT territory. Current SmackDown Women’s Champion Bayley crossed over into Raw to attack both her opponents Lynch and NXT Women’s Champion Shayna Baszler. Fortunately, this time Lynch remained unscathed.

It only takes one moment in time for the tides to shift and momentum to fill the sails of a WWE Superstar who’s ready to capitalize on the situation and ride it to greatness. It happened for Lynch; who will it be this year?