Does the IWC Need to Re-Evaluate How They Treat Women in Wrestling?

In an era where conversations around gender equality have penetrated nearly every primary industry, professional wrestling is no exception. The in-ring product may have evolved—women now headline WrestleMania, main-event pay-per-views, and hold their own in deathmatches and technical showcases—but the broader online wrestling community, known as the Internet Wrestling Community (IWC), often lags in its treatment and evaluation of women in the sport. This disconnect raises a fundamental question: Does the IWC need to re-evaluate how it treats women in wrestling?

The Duality of Progress

From the outside looking in, women's wrestling is thriving. Promotions like WWE, AEW, STARDOM, TNA/Impact, and indie circuits like GCW and Pro Wrestling EVE offer increasingly diverse roles and visibility for female performers. However, this evolution often clashes with the commentary and discourse that dominate fan forums, Twitter/X /X threads, Reddit boards, and YouTube reviews.

Despite groundbreaking performances, women wrestlers are frequently subjected to a different set of expectations and critiques than their male counterparts. While male wrestlers are praised for their character work, storytelling, or ring psychology—even in defeat—women are often critiqued primarily on their appearance, "marketability," or social media persona.

Performance Versus Perception

Take, for example, the disparity in how "botches" are treated. When a male wrestler makes an in-ring mistake, it's often contextualized as part of a tough match or an off night. When a woman does the same, it's frequently used to discredit her entire skill set. This kind of commentary doesn't just harm individual careers—it perpetuates a systemic bias that undervalues the work women put into their craft.

Moreover, fan engagement with women's wrestling too often veers into objectification. Comment sections under match clips or promo videos are littered with inappropriate remarks and dismissive language. This doesn't reflect a lack of talent on the part of the performers, but rather a cultural hangover from decades when women were seen as "eye candy" rather than athletes or storytellers.

Gatekeeping and the "Workrate" Debate

One of the most subtle forms of bias in the IWC is the weaponization of "work rate" or "technical ability" as the gold standard. While it's valid to appreciate wrestling technique, this criterion is often inconsistently applied. Women's matches that emphasize story, character, or emotion over high spots are quickly dismissed as inferior, even though those same elements are praised in classic men's matches from legends like Dusty Rhodes or Mick Foley.

This gatekeeping narrows the lens through which women's wrestling is judged, making it harder for diverse styles and storytelling forms to be appreciated—unless they mirror what's historically worked for male performers.

What Can Change?

The IWC is not a monolith. Many fans and creators work tirelessly to uplift women's wrestling, offering fair critique and highlighting underrepresented voices. But systemic issues require a collective reckoning. That means:

• Valuing women's wrestling for its storytelling, psychology, and emotion—not just physicality.

• Challenging sexist or reductive takes when they appear online.

• Supporting promotions and platforms that give women meaningful airtime and creative control.

• Listening to what female wrestlers themselves are saying about their experiences—both online and in the ring.

  
  

Final Bell

Wrestling has always mirrored society's values and struggles, functioning as both entertainment and cultural commentary. As women continue to break barriers in the ring, the IWC has an opportunity—and a responsibility—to evolve alongside them. Re-evaluating how women are discussed, critiqued, and celebrated online isn't just about being "politically correct"—it's about recognizing the whole humanity and talent of the performers who help keep this art form alive.

Until that happens, no amount of main events or title runs will be enough.

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