The Diva’s Revolution – Problems and Suggestions on How to Fix It!
So, last year at Wrestlemania, AJ Lee had her final match, a
tag team match, with Paige, Nikki, and Brie Bella. Paige and AJ won, thank God, but it was
hardly a fitting send off for AJ. She
retired a few days later. Good for
her. Live your life and be happy! Make cute short babies with CM Punk.
But I think that was the last time I was actually excited
about a Diva’s match in a long time. AJ
had a natural charisma. It’s something
the division was missing after she left.
That’s not to say the ones that were still there didn’t have what it
took to be on top. But was Nikki a Trish
Stratus or Lita? No. She’s a much better heel than a face. But there was so much missed opportunity with
the Diva’s division.
Meanwhile, in NXT, the Women’s Division was setting the
world on fire! You had truly athletic
women fighting for a belt that didn’t look like a butterfly but actually looked
like a belt! And it wasn’t called the
Diva’s division. They were women and
they were making their voices heard!
Charlotte, Becky, Bayley, and Sasha had a helluva four-way match, then
Charlotte and Sasha had a great title match!
I’ll never forget the image of Sasha slapping Chartlotte with a blond
hair extension! CLASSIC.
And while this was happening, the Diva’s division on the
main roster languished. Matches between
Paige and the Bellas were dull. Naomi
turning heel was a surprise, but not one big enough to really matter. And then the WWE did something surprising,
they brought three of the four women to the main roster. Introduced them as part of the Diva’s
revolution.
Charlotte, Becky, and Paige (Team PCB); Naomi, Tamina, and
Sasha (Team B.A.D); and Nikki, Brie, and Alicia Fox (Team Bella) were all set
off against each other and they actually had the new ladies put Team Bella in
all of their finishing moves. It was a
sight to behold.
But here’s the problem, you left out Nattie. One of the few women who actually had
credibility as a wrestler. True, she
didn’t fit on a “team” and her husband was injured, but the truth is she was
probably ready to go at a moment’s notice.
Nattie never has received the recognition she deserves as a
wrestler.
And let me say this: fuck
the term “Diva”. That term may have fit
for the likes of Michele McCool but it doesn’t work in today’s terms. Diva has a negative connotation. Doesn’t matter what you call your stupid
reality show, it’s negative. Most women
would not like to be called a Diva. In
fact, to me it’s as insulting as the word Bitch. I don’t think “Total Bitches” would sell as
well as “Total Divas”. Do you?
Back to my point: it
was a nice idea, but these women never needed to be paired up. They were excellent individually. And when Team PCB started to crumble, I was
relieved. I can only see so many tag
team matches that I want to stab my eyes out.
So, here’s my suggestion on how to fix the problems:
- Drop the term Diva. It’s as antiquated as Vince’s balls. Women. Women’s Title. Women’s Division. It still amazes me that Vince seemingly has such a disdain for the fairer sex, yet he pushes his daughter out into the lime light as this bastion of virtue. She’s a great philanthropist. She’s a great heel. But, I don’t think she would appreciate being called a Diva. And if she does, then that’s your fault, Vince. She deserves better. All these women deserve better.
- That title is ridiculous. Change the belt. Why are the women walking around with a belt that looks like a butterfly when the men aren’t walking around with a belt that looks like a barbell or a steroid shot. Make it look like a real title belt.
- Have the announcers actually show respect to them. They don’t call their moves. They don’t even really pay attention to the match! In at least once instance during every women’s match, Michael Cole gets at least one of their names wrong. That’s unacceptable. I realize Michael Cole isn’t the best announcer example, but he’s the lead one for Raw. Mauro is actually great. He calls moves, he’s into the match, and he pays attention.
- I don’t care about what happens on Total Divas and none of the shit that happens there should have any bearing on what’s happening in the ring. Considering that “Total Divas” is shot MONTHS in advance of what we’re actually seeing, it makes no sense why these women are clashing months after that shit happened. I don’t care if Alicia Fox and Paige had an argument on Total Divas. If I did, I’d watch it! Tell the story on Raw or Smackdown. You have three hours of Raw to fill. Are you telling me you can’t craft storylines there?
- Sasha is over as hell. She needs to be out there more, but not so in your face that you groan when she does come out. Have her on the mic! She’s brilliant. Have Becky stop making puns! And why is she dressed like a Steampunk Stripper?
- I’m tired of the motivations for these women fighting to be catty reasons. I like the current story with Sasha, Becky, and Charlotte right now in that Becky and Sasha wants the belt. But the Sasha break up with Naomi and Tamina is just…sad. It should have happened a long time ago and Sasha should be getting more mic time.
- Get rid of Flair. I understand that people love Ric Flair. But…I don’t want to see him grabbing one of these young women and laying a kiss on them. That’s assault, brother! This is not the 50s or even the 80s. There is no reason for him to be out there, forcing himself on someone. It’s not funny! It’s gross. Poor Becky!
- Have the women fight over the belt, not petty shit. Have them fight because they like the competition and want to prove they are the best (much like Sasha is going after Charlotte). It’s nothing personal, it’s just business. I’m ok with that. I don’t like it when you make women look petty and small and just catty with each other.
Those are just my simple suggestions. I kind of hope they make the match at
Wrestlemania Charlotte vs. Sasha vs. Becky.
But I want Sasha to pin Charlotte clean.
I want those ladies to have a true Wrestlemania moment, and then the
next night, I want to see Bayley debut and go after Sasha for the belt as she
was the one that dethroned Sasha in NXT.
That’s a storyline.
Suggestions for the other ladies? Nikki comes back around Summerslam (if she’s
physically able) to challenge Sasha for the belt. I would be willing to watch Nikki get her ass
handed to her by Sasha. But I do feel
like, eventually, Becky should get the belt.
She’s a great baby face! Give her
a run with it, maybe between Sasha and Bayley or something.
Becky could even go and feud with Paige. Paige kind of gets lost in the shuffle of the
new women coming into the division, but I don’t think she should be forgotten
and I think that’s the angle you use.
She could be a power heel if you have her start sneak attacking the new
girls. All of them. Sasha, Charlotte, and Becky and even Bayley
once she gets called up. Have her really
heel it up. Attack people in parking
lots or during their entrances. Have her
shoot on people cheering her when she arrived but they turned on her once the
others got there.
Alicia Fox is still decent enough to put others over. Give her some time with quality matches and
let her actually bring them into their own.
Have her win a few matches to build her up. You could even have her attacking others from
behind or maybe trying to thwart Paige in her attacks against the others. That would set up a good feud with Paige with
Paige eventually coming out on top. But
the only way that works is if you build Alicia up, first, before letting her
get beat. Maybe she turns on Brie
because she lost against Charlotte.
Maybe she gets attacked by Naomi and Tamina and put out for a while so
she makes a huge come back save for someone, but makes it clear they are not
friends. She’s simply out for revenge.
As for Nattie, she’s still awesome in the ring. She can still go and she’s fun to watch and
the fans are mostly behind her. If the
others can use Ric against Charlotte, use her uncles and father against
Natty. Have Natty prove herself in the
ring. Eventually Emma will be back (at
least I hope she will) and Asuka will be called up (because she’s fucking
amazing!) so you have opponents that need women that can go in the ring and
Nattie is one of those! She can sell and
she needs to win a few to look powerful.
It’s the same with Alicia Fox. It
only works if their victories are important and in a line.
So, all in all, there are adjustments to be made. I think Wrestlemania will make the “Diva’s”
division stand out. Women are capable of
putting on excellent matches. Watch
Bayley vs. Sasha in Brooklyn and then watch their Ironman Match. They’re awesome. They can go.
Give them the time and the writing to let them shine. Get some writers to actually just be dedicated
to coming up with storylines for them.
That should work. Hell, something
is working in NXT and there seems to be a huge disconnect.
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