WWE Royal Rumble 2016 preview

At this point it's pretty much a tradition that the Royal Rumble "poster" feature a bunch of guys from the entire roster, most of whom have no hope of winning the match and headlining WrestleMania. It's a simple way of reminding everyone of the titular match's basic premise in a way that harkens back to the old "anything can happen" slogan. On a simpler level it gives the posters a bit of variety by featuring guys who'd otherwise never make it onto them.

This year that tradition has been sidestepped. Instead of twenty- or thirty-odd names we have Roman Reigns, WWE world title belt slung over his shoulder and a smouldering pout playing on his lips. This vision keeps Reigns strong, always a priority for WWE these days, but it also makes it tough to predict anyone but him winning the Rumble.

And it's at this point that I acknowledge that, yes, Reigns is the champ. Yes, the champ doesn't usually fight in the Rumble, what with the winner of the Rumble being awarded a world title shot at WrestleMania and all. This year that's been changed. The match is no longer for the right to challenge for the title, it's for the title.

In reality I imagine this has been done to keep the product lovely and interesting. If that's the case it's a move that's failed. WWE has become so dry and tiresome to watch that it's going to take a concerted long term plan and a great deal of effort to bring about the changes needed. Quick hits like altering the purpose of the Rumble or booking a Brock Lesnar appearance aren't enough.

In kayfabe the change was made by Vince McMahon as part of his feud with Roman Reigns. Because Roman won't conform to The Authority's idea of what a champion should be they're determined to get the title off him by stacking the deck against him. Sound familiar? It should. This is the format WWE's been using to establish main event faces since it worked with Steve Austin. The problem with it is obvious: Roman Reigns is not Austin. I don't mean this in terms of promo skills, ring work or personality (although it applies to all of them), I mean it in terms of character. The entire point of Austin was that he hated how he'd been held down by the business in general and the Mr McMahon character was the perfect foil for that.

Roman doesn't really have much of a character to speak of. There's nothing for him to be bitter or frustrated about. He has very obviously and openly been fast-tracked to the top of the company. He hasn't overcome any major setbacks and he hasn't had the real life fight to get his spot that Austin had. Which means presenting him as an underdog against malicious ol' Vinnie Mac won't get anyone anywhere: people can't accept Roman as the underdog we're told he is.

Because it's the established formula Roman seems like the only possible winner. As the babyface champion who the heel authority figures are out to screw over he is, ironically, the favourite to win. Because WWE's top lads always overcome the odds. Got to let the kids know they can believe in their heroes, right?

In fairness it's worth mentioning that had Reigns not been added to the Rumble the match it would have been decidedly light on star power (because he and someone else would have had a separate singles match). Rollins, Cena and Orton are injured. Not many people would have wanted to see the latter two win but they would have been credible contenders. That's what you want with a match with thirty participants. In addition to them Cesaro is injured. He wasn't going to win but he was popular enough to merit a lengthy stay in the match.

I have other predictions for the Rumble match that don't pertain to the winner. I expect the Wyatt clan will be responsible for Lesnar being eliminated, possibly after he's mown through all or most of them (if it's most then Bray will be the guy to survive). Kofi Kingston's annual "OMG did you see how he survived elimination?!" spot will likely involve his New Day tag partners. Maybe he'll stand on their shoulders or run across their backs or Big E will catch him or something. AJ Styles will debut to a good reaction because the Rumble is big enough to attract the sort of crowd that will know who he is and care. I can see him lasting long enough to get all his big moves in (though probs not the neck-breaking Styles Clash) before being eliminated, something the crowd will loudly boo even though 'The Phenomenal One' clearly isn't going to win the WWE world title on his first night in the company. I'm also confident not enough will be done with the comedic potential of Curtis Axel being in the Rumble.

The rest of the card is made up exclusively of title matches, which seems somehow appropriate for what has become the second most important card on the WWE calendar. Kevin Owens and Dean Ambrose will continue their run of PPV singles outings with a Last Man Standing match. It's rare for a stip like this to be busted out for the IC title these days. It's nice to see here. It can only help restore some of the lustre that's been lost over the years. It should also play to the brawl-heavy strengths of KO and 'The Lunatic Fringe'. It could end up being the best entry in their feud. Either could win because it feels like this is a rivalry of equals where either guy could win on any night, but I'll pick Ambrose to retain because he's not had the title too long.

Becky Lynch will challenge out-and-heel Charlotte 'Don't Mention Her Surname' Flair. Everything here is set up for the two women to succeed. Charlotte is playing the arrogant, snarky heel she's far better suited to at this point in her career and Lynch is established in a plucky underdog role, almost the main roster version of Bayley. They're more familiar with one another than a lot of other combinations the women's division could throw up, handy for the still-relatively-inexperienced 'Nature Girl'. And the setup of the Rumble card means that they should get plenty of time to have a good match.

A Lynch victory isn't out of the question but I think Charley retaining is far likelier. If WWE want her to be one of the key players for the Divas scene for years to come she needs to be established as someone who wins a lot. A lengthy first title reign wouldn't hurt there. She's currently at three months and while that's not insignificant it's not anything special either. A run until WrestleMania or beyond is what Charlotte needs to set her up as a somebody.

The last two matches are Kalisto challenging Alberto Del Rio for the United States championship and the Usos challenging New Day for the tag championship. Kalisto had a one day reign a few weeks ago (three in TV time) when he won the belt from ADR before losing it back ok SmackDown. Why he lost it back so soon (or at all) is a bit of a mystery. Perhaps it was to make things unpredictable. Whatever the reason I think Kalisto will get the belt again here and keep it this time. 

Match quality between Kalisto and 'The Essence of Excellence' will be questionable. They've not clicked in previous meetings. They'll need to switch things up to make a good impression here. The tag title match, meanwhile, should be very good. New Day are always on form and the Usos have become one of WWE's most reliable tandems. I don't want to see a title switch but I think we might. New Day have had the belts since SummerSlam and I suspect management will be itching to changes things for change's sake.

No matter how well the undercard matches do it's the Rumble that will determine whether this show is remembered well or not. With it looking about as predictable as the last two years' have (and let's pause for a second and note that Roman Reigns has been involved in fan backlash in the closing moments of the Rumble in both of those matches) I won't be getting my hopes up on Sunday night.

***

Predictions summary:

Roman Reigns to win the Royal Rumble and retain the WWE championship
Dean Ambrose to defeat Kevin Owens to retain the Intercontinental championship
Charlotte to defeat Becky Lynch to retain the Divas championship
The Usos to defeat New Day to win the tag team championship
Kalisto to defeat Alberto Del Rio for the United States championship

Turning the Paige

On the Monday 21 September episode of Monday Night RAW is WAR, TV's longest running episodic action adventure soap opera (or something), Paige cut a scathing promo. Or, if you prefer, she dropped a pipebomb. Personally I don't prefer, finding the term trite and irritating when applied to anything other than the segment which originated the phrase, CM Punk's show-closing hijacking of RAW on June 27 2011.

Paige cut her promo during the in-ring celebration of new Divas champion Charlotte (let the record show she'd defeated Nikki Bella for the title at Night of Champions the previous evening). After claiming she was the one who'd made the upturn in women's wrestling in the Fed possible, calling the interaction between Charlotte and her pa Ric patronising, and reminding everyone that she'd won the Divas title on her first night on the roster Paige laid into every member of the roster. Alicia Fox was labelled a third wheel. All three members of Team BAD were written off as all flash and no substance¹. Natalya was sarcastically referred to as MIA. Charlotte was called a placeholder champ, Lynch irrelevant, and there was heavy implication that storyline Paige believes the Bellas only got to and keep their spots because of who they're romantically linked to². It was good stuff, believable, relatable and understandable. Charlotte's response was slightly disappointing because she undersold the betrayal she should have been feeling and simply lashed out angrily. But it was at least spiritied.

Paige there, working herself into a shoot.

It's not the specifics that are important here, it's what Paige's words set up. And they set up a lot. There's the obvious Paige versus Charlotte match for the title. It also created issues between Natalya and Paige and Becky Lynch and Paige, the reasons for each being pleasantly different. Natty has been positioned as the old guard whom 'The Anti-Diva' considers irrelevant/past her prime, which Natty will clearly want to prove wrong.

Meanwhile Becky was labelled "the least relevant" woman on the roster by Paige. Since Monday she's taken the initiative (or been ordered to follow up on the verbal assault) and launched a series of pun themed insults at Paige on Twitter. The pun aspect isn't doing anybody any favours but 'The Lasskicker' firing back as opposed to meekly accepting Paige's low blow or waiting until the next TV show to assert herself is absolutely the right thing for everyone involved. It creates an issue between two wrestlers that gives them a reason to have a match that doesn't involve a championship. That's rare in WWE, especially in their women's league.

In a little under a week WWE have set the decidedly non-progressively named Divas up to have an interesting, layered division. Charlotte has a rematch with Nikki to come as well as her fresh issue with Paige to resolve. Paige has matches ready with both Natalya and Becky, which could both be run through before she gets her title shot opposite 'The Nature Girl' (no way Nikki's getting the belt back for a while). Sasha Banks has also been quietly set up for a larger role with TV wins over Paige and the emphasis on her being an established rival of Charlotte from NXT.

Whether the writing team follows through on any of this is something else. History tells us they'll mishandle things and deliver an uninspired sequence of matches revolving around the Divas title. But thanks to Paige's promo and the work that's been put into the division we can dare to get our hopes up that the MSG Network special or the Hell in a Cell PPV could feature Charlotte v Nikki and Paige v Becky, instead of the standard issue lone title match.

***

¹ The only one that could possibly apply to is Naomi, although I think it would be an unfair statement. Tamina has neither flash nor substance while Sasha Banks has both.

² The irony here is that until a few weeks ago that seemed to be a largely unfair statement. Then rumours started doing the rounds about Big Match John pulling strings to extend Nikki's title reign.

NXTweet 26.08.15

In addition to broadcasting the Takeover: Brooklyn special live on the WWE Network the NXT crew also recorded a selection of matches for an extended TV episode over SummerSlam weekend. Of the four matches on offer the four-way women's match was, predictably the best of the bunch. It not only featured some of the most over wrestlers on the roster but some of the most motivated and talented too. Becky and Charlotte presumably understand they won't get to wrestle the sorts of matches they've become accustomed to for much longer and made the most of it here.

Of the other three matches the eight man tag was the standout, mostly because it was so busy that there was plenty for the guys to pack in. It didn't hurt that super-over (not actually) hometown boys Enzo and Big Cass were involved either. Eva Marie v Carmella got time to be good and wound up as inoffensive, which all things considered is probably quite the accomplishment. Meanwhile Bull Dempsey versus Elias Samson was a peculiarity more than anything else, featuring the newly slimmed down Bull Dempsey looking exactly as big as he was before he was handed his humiliating overweight lad gimmick and Elias Samson debuting a character out of the blue. Okay, it wasn't much of a character but it was something that could get him somewhere at some point.

Intro

Tweet 1: Going to watch the NXT hour-and-a-half regular episode spesh.

Tweet 2: Considering the extended time I'm going to try and pace myself. Not sure how that will work out.

Enzo Amore, Big Cass, and the Hype Bros v Scott Dawson, Dash Wilder, Jason Jordan and Chad Gable

Tweet 3: That Enzo pop was something else though.

Tweet 4: Not crazy about Zack Ryder and I actively dislike Mojo but it is nice to see that they've got themselves actual team gear.

Enzo's sock game.

Tweet 5: Enjoying Dawson and Wilder essentially being the New Brainbusters here.
Tweet 6: Incredible to think that Ryder is the veteran of this match.
Tweet 7: 'The New and Improved Real Double J' Jason Jordan wrestling in those ankle-height amateur sneakers exposes the business.
Tweet 8: Heart that one arm monkey flip from top lad Chad Gable.
Tweet 9: Why isn't the crowd booing Mojo please?
Tweet 10: That was a fun match. Gable and Enzo made it work.

William Regal talks about the Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic

Tweet 11: #Regalpop

Tweet 12: Regal rocking up to remind us about the Dusty Tag Classic. 'Don't Call Me Adrian' Neville rudely interrupting to ask for a spot.
Tweet 13: Then they did a little handshake. #CodeofHonor
Tweet 14: Wish there had been a time in the mid-00's when Regal was free to hit up ROH. That could have been excellent.

Emma hype video

Tweet 15: Recap of Emma embracing the dark side of the force here.

Tweet 16: Her new look and new music are both great. Just saying.

Devin Taylor talks to Charlotte and Becky Lynch

Tweet 17: Good lord this Charlotte and Becky promo is bad. They're delivering poor lines poorly. Just let them be themselves, lads.

Tweet 18: Love that Dean Cain's career has become such a mess that he's starring alongside Big Show in WWE Studios straight-to-DVD films.

Becky Lynch hype video

Tweet 19: "What makes Becky Lynch special is personality" - Becky Lynch

Tweet 20: If you're a submission specialist in WWE it basically means your finisher is a submission hold.

Eva Marie v Carmella

Tweet 21: Eva Marie's been pilfering Ric Flair's wardrobe again.

Tweet 22: Looking forward to Eva swerving us with a twenty minute classic here.
Tweet 23: No idea how people don't find Carmella's character massively irritating. If she was on a Made in Chelsea type show she'd be a heel.

Textbook lockup. Eva Marie is a future all-time great.

Tweet 24: That the whole MIC shtick is her gimmick should make her a heel here.
Tweet 25: Good moonwalking skillz though.
Tweet 26: Eva shrilly working the crowd while being out of breath. Brilliant.
Tweet 27: Leonardo Marie winning with the Sliced Bread No. 2 there. Some of the people in the crowd seemed to want to pop for that.

Tyler Breeze announces that he has a challenge for William Regal

Tweet 28: Breeze calling out Liger for having to still wear a mask. Except in pictures with Kevin Nash, obvs.

Devin Taylor talks to Emma and Dana Brooke

Tweet 29: Emma talking about being dominant. Oh my.

Tweet 30: Why isn't the four-way just a tag match? Wouldn't that make a lot more sense?

William Regal talks about the Dusty Rhodes Tag Classic... again

Tweet 31: Regal again. Still talking up this Dusty Classic.

Tweet 32: Barry Corbin in the tournament. My word. All the big names.
Tweet 33: Calling it now: Tyler Breeze will wrestle either William Regal or Doug Williams at the Takeover in London.

Bull Dempsey v Elias Samson

Tweet 34: What is this gimmick on Elias Samson?

Tweet 35: This has "lower card ECW guy" written all over it.
Tweet 36: Hilarious that the Brooklyn crowd didn't pop for Bull Dempsey until the ring announcer reminded them he's actually from Brooklyn.
Tweet 37: Bull Fit could be the new DDP Yoga.

Bull taking a breather because he's still a big lad.

Tweet 38: Nice that WWE are making the most of the extra half hour on this episode. Everyone wanted to see Elias Samson versus Bull Dempsey.
Tweet 39: Bull Hulking up there. That doesn't mean he's being racist.
Tweet 40: Polite applause for hometown winner Bull Dempsey.

Devin Taylor talks to the BAMF

Tweet 41: "You're here to ask them how they feel?" - Alexa Bliss to Devin Taylor, after Devin had just asked that

Tweet 42: Blue Pants v Alexa Bliss has potential. Needs Blake, Murphy and the 'villains at ringside for max shenanigans.
Tweet 43: Strip out the ads and the majority of the hype videos and this could have been a regular length NXT episode.

Emma v Dana Brooke v Becky Lynch v Charlotte

Tweet 44: Dana Brooke's entrance needs more flips.

Tweet 45: Surprised by the rowdy reaction for Becky Lynch. Not because she's not over or anything but because it didn't happen at SummerSlam.
Tweet 46: Imagine how different Charlotte's act would be if she patterned herself after her husband instead of her dad.

Worth mentioning the indy lighting WWE went for. It was good.

Tweet 47: "You wanna be a Barbie?!" - A seemingly outraged Dana Brooke to Charlotte
Tweet 48: Has Charlotte expressed an interest in being "a Barbie"? Doesn't seem like her vibe tbh, Dana.
Tweet 49: The heels are teasing a fall out? WHO COULD HAVE SEEN THIS COMING?!
Tweet 50: Emma v Dana happens... not now.
Tweet 51: Loling at the amount of posing in Dana's act.
Tweet 52: Becky Lynch v Eva Marie won't be happening any time soon. Because women in WWE aren't allowed to share hair colours.
Tweet 53: Unless they share a surname, like the Bellas. Then it's fine because of genetics.
Tweet 54: That ending looked a bit botched. Don't think it was though.
Tweet 55: Right decision having Emma win. She's the one staying in NXT and should make a good challenger for Bayley. Plus she's better than Dana.

"This is Emma" said Drake Younger.

Tweet 56: Is Dana's name a rib on Dana White?
Tweet 57: Charlotte and Becky tapping out the heels after the bell. I get keeping the audience a happy and everything but they look like sore losers.
Tweet 58: Very good show that, considering the pre-show nature of it. Good hustle, everyone.

NXTweet 12.08.15

Is NXT as good as it was six months or a year ago? I don't think so. If Twitter and wrestling news (by which I mean gossip and rumour) sites are anything anything to go by a fair number of people are with me. The trouble is that the show has lost a lot of its key players over the last few months. Sami Zayn and Hideo Itami went out to injuries. Adrian Neville got promoted. Kevin Owens is still around for the time being but he and Finn Bálor seem to be having their developmental appearances rationed, presumably to make us appreciate seeing them that bit more.

This isn't a problem. The point of NXT is to provide a platform for less experienced wrestlers to get better, and veterans with less experience of wrestling in a TV environment get comfortable in that environment. The likes of Baron Corbin, Enzo and Cass, the Vaudevillains, and Alexa Bliss are the ones who should be benefitting from NXT.

Owens, Zayn, Itami and the rest are there to draw us in as viewers. Their absence is disappointing but understandable. And it's not like the show is entirely bereft of indy darlings. Bálor and Owens are still there. The former Uhaa Nation will debut at Takeover. Tyler Breeze is pretty much an honorary former indy standout at this point thanks to his stellar work over the last year. NXT may not be as good as it has been but it's still a must-watch show that focuses on using pro wrestling as a storytelling means. Which, personally, is what I want form a wrestling show as much as great matches.

Intro

Tweet 1: You want tweets about NXT? YOU GOT IT!

Tweet 2: That was a Frank Costanza reference done badly.
Tweet 3: Last week Billy Regal was asked about giving the title match at Takeover a ladder stip. He made the stip seem special and dangerous.
Tweet 4: Contrast that with Main Roster WWE doing ladder themed PPVs because they're too lazy to give us interesting booking.
Tweet 5: Big fan of Regal being like "Nah, not making it a ladder match" then making it a ladder match.

Tye Dillinger v Solomon Crowe

Tweet 6: Remember when Solomon Crowe was a hacker? Now he's a man the commentators tell us "thrives on chaos". My word.

Tweet 7: Tye Dillinger is a solid 7 at best.
Tweet 8: Solomon Crowe is now the guy who faces the newly gimmicked lads. He needs to disappear for a bit and come back repackaged.
Tweet 9: I've said it before, I'll say it again: he should have stuck with the shirt and tie look.
Tweet 10: Your tattoo of a big cat is not a perfect 10, Tye.
Tweet 11: Exposed knee alert. This is about to get real...

Not 10.

Tweet 12: Tye Dillinger looking genuinely amazed that he won clean there.
Tweet 13: I bet Dillinger didn't even make that sign himself. What a phoney!

Zack Ryder and Mojo Rawley talk about Mojo being hyped backstage

Tweet 14: "I been blowin' you up all night!" - Mojo Rawley to Zack Ryder

Barry Corbin v Axel Tischer

Tweet 15: What's up with all this screen time for Barry Corbin lately?

Tweet 16: Barry Corbin wins via star tattoos and wolf magic.
Tweet 17: "I am the real deal!" - Barry Corbin, who isn't
Tweet 18: I do like him putting over his finisher though. Too many wrestlers just chat about being generally great.
Tweet 19: Samoa Joe versus Barry Corbin. Do we have to?
Tweet 20: Joe's taken his towel off. He means business.

Barry's got another big lad fight coming his way and he's probably losing it.

Tweet 21: Legitimately amazed at the booking of this confrontation. Corbin being booked to smack Joe around for a bit is so un-WWE.
Tweet 22: Normally the heel would run off. Corbin wasn't made to look cowardly before getting Joe'd.

Bull Dempsey workout video

Tweet 23: I'm going to miss the hoss version of Bull Dempsey.

Finn Bálor v Marcus Louis

Tweet 24: I'm still such a fan of Marcus Louis' unhinged gimmick. Basically the NXT version of Kane.

Tweet 25: I hope Marcus is still in NXT in ten years, being thought of exactly like Kane is on the main roster.
Tweet 26: The please retire mentality.

Baby Kane with his egg head.

Tweet 27:  Marcus Louis' head is very egg-like. How about doing something with that?
Tweet 28: Do a story where he believes himself to be a mutated ostrich egg. The twist comes when it's revealed HE ACTUALLY IS.
Tweet 29: Intrigued that Finn continues to use the Kliq hand sign so prominently. That could be some foreshadowing for something years away.
Tweet 30: Almost certainly isn't though.
Tweet 31: Kevin Owens attacks Finn Bálor. They have a ruck at ringside then Finn gets power bombed in the ring.

Title change coming? Naaaaaah...

Tweet 32: Imagine if this set up a storyline back injury for Finn and they did a title change.
Tweet 33: I wouldn't be against a title change tbh. Can't really see it happening though. Finn seems like the future focus of NXT.

The Vaudevillains get slapped by Alexa Bliss

Tweet 34: Don't worry, lads, the Vaudevillains have A Plan.

Tweet 35: Is the woman the Vaudevillains are bringing in Rock's most recently signed cousin? I'm voting yes.

Apollo Crews hype video

Tweet 36: Apollo Crews v TBD. Should be an excellent match.

Number one contenders match: Bayley v Becky Lynch

Tweet 37: Pumped for Sasha Banks on commentary.

Tweet 38: Byron Saxton staring around like a textbook #creep here.

Look at that selling though. So pro.

Tweet 39: I like this look Becky Lynch has had since the last Takeover but what is she meant to be? Actually what?
Tweet 40: Saying steampunk is all well and good but that's not an answer. She's not a steampunk.
Tweet 41: Is she just meant to be really into steam or something?
Tweet 42: Fan of steam, Becky Lynch.
Tweet 43: Strong chat between Graves and Banks. Proof that Graves is the man holding that commentary team together I reckon.
Tweet 44: Jay Z is part-owner of the Barclay Center? I don't know why but I find that really funny.
Tweet 45: Becky with some absolutely devastating running leg drops there, brother.
Tweet 46: I wonder what Hogan's up to right now. "Something unsavoury" seems a safe bet.
Tweet 47: Really hope Hogan crops up on 5's Celebrity Big Brother in a week or two. 4 wouldn't have touched him after this racism thing. 5 might.
Tweet 48: Liking the story of this match. Becky's going after Bayley's arm because she knows her finisher is killer she will get her a win.
Tweet 49: Bayley's just trying to survive.
Tweet 50: Desperation rollup as Becky tries to lock in the armbar gets Bayley the win. Good, logical end to the story. Thumbs up.

'The Boss' versus 'The Hugger', coming soon.

Tweet 51: Another number one contender for the women's championship, another episode ending with Sasha standing on a table.
Tweet 52: Good episode, everyone.

Double the Butterfly, Double the Fun

Over the last few years there's been intermittent talk about a Divas tag team division being introduced to WWE. Much of this talk has come from the Bella twins in interviews with various non-WWE organisations, websites and magazines (and, for what it's worth, it tends to be more Nikki than Brie). The recent renovation of the Divas division has, predictably, led to the Bellas making another push for it.

Potential tag team champions.

In principle I think it's a good idea. A singles belt and tag belts would help the division to feel more like a rounded, competitive division rather than a bunch of wrestlers swapping one championship amongst themselves. It would also make sense considering the prominence of tag wrestling in general these days.

The trouble is that it feels far too early for the Divas division to be heading in this direction. Right now the focus should be on establishing that this really is the best Divas line-up we've had in years. That means continuing to highlight Sasha Banks,  Becky Lynch and Charlotte (Flair) as women every bit the equals of their more tenured peers. It also means continuing to give women's matches the time to impress and satisfy, as well as making the singles championship currently carried by Nikki Bella feel like a prize worth winning. The introduction of tag titles would detract from this process and it would throw the focus of the division off kilter.

It would also highlight the lack of depth to the roster. Yes, the additions of the three NXT stars is welcome but it only brings the number of active wrestlers up to nine. Throw in Natalya (who's currently taking time off to help husband Tyson Kidd recover from an injury) and that's enough for five teams, hardly enough for a thriving division despite what large stretches of the last decade of WWE's men's tag division would have you believe.

Stick Charlotte in a singles title feud with Sasha Banks,
have Paige and Becky as a tag team.

The good news is that there are two pairings that are obvious for carrying a Divas tag scene. One is the Bella twins. You really shouldn't need me to explain why but I will: they're sisters and therefore a natural tag team. The other is the pairing of Paige and Becky Lynch. Their shared background on the British indies provides a logical reason for the two to form a regular team (because they feel a kinship). Their real long-time friendship dating back a decade could be referenced to make their journey to the tag team titles seem more special and heart-warming, more of an achievement.

 

A third option worth touching on is the "family" connection between Naomi and Tamina, although Tamina's limited in-ring ability would make them a poor choice to carry the division.

If the Divas' roster can stretch to twelve or so strong (a perfectly achievable goal considering the number of women in NXT) then a Divas tag division would be entirely justifiable. Emma and Dana Brooke are a logical pair of call-ups to make should tag straps be introduced. Alexa Bliss could find someone to team with. The two newcomers who I won't name because they're currently rotating through various handles could be introduced as plucky underdogs. Bayley and Charlotte's friendship from NXT would be the good basis for a call-up and a title chase. The division just needs time to get its singles work right. Post-WrestleMania next year things could, and should, be very different.

Eva Marie for Champ

With the promotion of Sasha Banks, Charlotte and Becky Lynch to the main roster it's almost inevitable that the quality of the NXT women's division is going to take dip. Along with Bayley, Banks and Charlotte have been the core of the division since 2013 and Lynch has played a significant role over the last year. The main roster's gain is definitely developmental's loss. 

The best two workers left in the division once Banks and co leave for good (and that will surely happen within the next month or two) will be Bayley and Emma. No matter how good they are or how good they work together they won't be able to maintain the high level of quality alone. A large part of the reason for the division's success over the last year or two has been the variety of match-ups on offer. That's something two wrestlers can't provide. It doesn't help that they've been feuding since Emma's return to the show in January.

Dana's good but she's not the one (yet).

Emma and Bayley are, of course, not alone in the division but the rest of the crew have less experience and are less established as competent wrestlers. Dana Brooke has been quickly established as a heel, but the success of that is at least in part due to the regular Full Sail audience being all too willing to see her as undeserving and unprepared for the spot she's in. Cassie seems competent but has no discernible character beyond plucky babyface, and that simply won't cut it considering the calibre of the women she's replacing. The same goes for Jessie.

Alexa Bliss has been constantly improving and has seemed very capable in a number of matches, including a particularly good title challenge against Banks in February. But her management-slash-valet duties with the BAMF (a fittingly poor name for such a generic team) seem to be taking precedence right now. Carmella is similarly tied up being the second for Enzo and Cass, although she doesn't yet have any good matches to her name and it seems unlikely she's made the drastic improvement necessary to be an asset to the women's division since she last wrestled a singles match on TV.

There's a pleasant number of women signed to contracts who have yet to debut. Among them are Jasmin and Savelina 'Lina' Fanene. Without having seen them wrestle it's impossible to know how good they are, although the fact that they've not appeared on TV yet should indicate they're not near the level of Banks and Charlotte.

I think the best way to handle this new look women's division is to embrace the fact that the new roster is less revered (which is not to say they are less capable). And nobody on the NXT roster has that "less revered" tag more than Eva Marie. Personally I don't think she's looked bad during her recent run: she's avoided any major mistakes and has demonstrated a confidence she didn't have in her 2013 or '14 matches. But short of something miraculous occurring she will forever be known as the woman who was signed primarily to appear on Total Divas. Her status as a Total Divas cast member with little wrestling ability (no matter how inaccurate that perception of her may be) makes her ideal to play an "unworthy" champion.

Eva defeating the popular Sasha Banks for the championship would get her heat at any time. Doing it so soon into her first proper run as a full-time regular wrestler would increase that. As would her being the figurehead to follow on from the Charlotte-Banks era. Whether she's any good or not she won't be on the level of the women who have left yet and as such could be presented as an unworthy successor. Which would set her up nicely to play the arrogant lead heel.

This idea would rely on there being babyface challengers around who are clearly good enough to maintain the high standard set for women's champions in NXT. Bayley is the obvious person to point to there. She is very clearly the person best suited to beating Banks for the gold. If she failed, at Takeover: Brooklyn for example, only for Eva Marie to succeed in a fluke, at the following set of TV tapings perhaps, then she could continue to chase the title for a while longer. That's a role she's well-suited to.

The future of the NXT women's division?

Carmella isn't up to a Takeover title match yet but she could work challenging on a regular TV episode. Jessie and Cassie are still new enough to be steamrolled as a sacrifice to the almighty heel champ. The same would be true of Jasmin. It would be an exercise in time-killing, Eva very clearly ducking her one and only true test: Bayley.

This idea could work with Dana Brooke too. She's seen as undeserving, like Eva, and may actually have more heat on her right now, what with Eva seemingly having won over a portion of the NXT crowd with her botch-free match on the July 22 show. But Dana has less experience than Eva and is still learning to handle herself during her matches (part of the reason she's been paired up with Emma is so that Emma can help her through her matches). She also lacks the Total Divas tag, which I think could really turn the crowd on Eva Marie again if pushed right.

Sadly, I don't think this is something that's likely to happen. From what we've seen it seems as though WWE is keen to establish Eva as a babyface. She's been shown to be humble, earning herself a TV match by impressing William Regal, capable in the ring, and possessing a drive to become the best. The last may sound like a heelish trait but it's really not. Banks and Charlotte both exhibited it and they got over strongly enough that both hear cheers on the main roster.

Revolutionising the Divas Division

The July 13 RAW saw the main roster debuts of Sasha Banks, Charlotte and Becky Lynch. Hardly breaking news at this point I know, it's taken me a while to get a post together on the call-ups. Not doing a post simply wasn't an option: the significance of the three women being promoted from developmental simultaneously cannot be understated.

Paige and her NXT allies, the unofficially dubbed Powerbuff Girls.

Moving a number of women from NXT's women's division is a sign that WWE management recognise change is needed in the way women are presented by the company. Having them be three of the four best wrestlers (the fourth, to clarify, is Bayley) is a sign that this isn't just a case restocking a depleted division but a drive to improve quality. Had the former been what the company desired they simply could have gone with utilising existing bit part players Alicia Fox, Cameron, Summer Rae and Rosa Mendes. That wrestlers who have been receiving critical praise were chosen to join the division tells us that creating a competitive, layered and compelling division is the goal.

As does, of course, the manner in which the three were promoted. They were introduced by Stephanie McMahon. Having a McMahon hype you up before your first appearance is a big deal, because they're the owners of the company and if they're going out of their way to talk you up it sends the message that you're worth attention¹. Te same goes for interacting with a champion in your first segment. Basically everything about the way the women were introduced was designed to let anyone unfamiliar with them know they're a big deal and reassure people who've enjoyed their work in NXT that they'll get the same kind of opportunities on RAW and SmackDown.

Naomi versus Banks could be great. Just saying...

Since the call-up the company has stuck to its guns on the revamped Divas scene. Charlotte, Banks and Brie Bella wrestled an eleven and a half minute three-way at Battleground. The following evening's RAW saw Charlotte defeat Brie in a nine minute match and Naomi and Banks topple Lynch and Paige in a little under fifteen minutes. The July 23 SmackDown saw a thirteen minute tag match, and the Monday 27 RAW a fourteen minute singles match between Paige and Banks. The newcomers haven't been booked to steamroll their more established counterparts but they have been made to look competitive, an intelligent approach that considers the long-term future of the division.

I'm not claiming the matches have all been classics. They haven't. The only one that can accurately be said to be n above average affair was the Banks versus Paige match, and that was at least partly due to Banks being the reigning NXT women's champion and 'The Anti-Diva's' history in the developmental league (and with that title) making for an interesting background to the meeting. But they have been longer than the average Divas match of the last few years, and they've been wrestled like the people involved have something to prove, presumably because they do.

The decision to form three factions is what I like most about the restructuring of the division. It keeps things simple and gives each Divas match a reason for happening. Going by the numbers there are now twenty-seven singles matches, eighteen tag combos, three six women tags, and the obviously climactic three-way trios collision that can be cycled through. That's easily enough to keep the division feeling fresh and exciting for months. If things are paced properly and the story is told right WWE could do something special with Nikki Bella edging closer and closer to becoming the longest reigning Divas champion ever².

Can Nikki Bella become the longest reigning Divas champion ever?
A strong maybe from me.

Whether Nikki achieves this feat or not, and personally I think she will because she seems liked within the company and the people that run the company are vindictive enough to want to take the chance to take an accolade away from AJ, she'll lose the title at some point. When she does it will be to a member of a rival faction, because these are the women who will form the focal point of the division for the foreseeable future. When that happens it opens up longer term stories of rivalries between people who are currently allies. Charlotte winning the title could set up a friendly series with Paige, for example, while Banks and Naomi seem destined to clash over "leadership" of their BAD stable.

It's taken WWE far too long to get back around to presenting its women wrestlers as athletes who have the same athleticism and competitive drive as their male counterparts but at least they got to it eventually. It was at least worth the wait as the situation they've created by going with three promotions at once has given us the most promising Diva line-up in years and dozens of potential storylines, matches and feuds. If they can meet half of the potential they'll be doing okay.

***

¹ we will at this point overlook the fact that Steph, while great on the mic, is nowhere near the level of her dad, the one and only Vinnie Mac.

² As things stand right now she will surpass AJ Lee's current 295 day record on September 15. That's the Tuesday before Night of Champions. It seems reasonably safe to assume that if Nikki leaves August's SummerSlam with the butterfly belt she'll make it NOC as champ, breaking Lee's record.

That RAW Recap 13.07.15

In my opinion the July 2015 edition of Monday Night RAW deserves to go down as one of the best episodes of recent times. As usual it featured both good things and bad but unlike usual the good things outweighed the bad and, more importantly, when things were good they were really good. And things were never better than when Brock Lesnar and Seth Rollins faced off and when the Divas division finally got the shot in the arm it's needed for what seems like years.

Lesnar and Rollins was great because everyone involved knew exactly what was expected of them and made sure they were on top form. The pair were given the standard  issue WWE trope of a contract signing to play with but got to do something different with it. Rollins played the cocky heel who claimed to have a plan to take down his more dominant foe. Lesnar played the super-cool face not at all rattled by Rollins' bravado. Both were excellent, as were their respective seconds Kane and Paul Heyman.

I still love Lesnar even though they're going OTT with this Suplex City stuff.

What made the exchange truly great was the brawl (because there's always a brawl). Rollins tried to sneakily palm a weapon he'd stashed under the desk. Heyman noticed and called him on it. 'The Future' denied the accusation, playing up the affront for all it was worth. Lesnar's response was to flip the table over and pull out the stick¹ Rollins had hidden there. He then calmly placed it on the table and sat back down, gesturing for Rollins to make his move.

Rollins showed caution but did make his move, beaming with pride after he'd grabbed his stick back. He began taunting 'The Beast' but didn't get far before Lesnar sprang to his feet and lobbed the table in Rollins' face. A German suplex followed before Kane got involved, briefly helping Rollins to give Lesnar a kicking. Naturally this didn't last: Lesnar would shrug off Kane's efforts and F5 him outside the ring before smashing his ankle with the ring steps.

Once Lesnar had left Rollins would return to the ring and cut a promo on him, promising to "slay" him (because he's a beast, y'see) at Battleground. He then turned his attention to Kane, telling him he was nothing and stomping on his injured ankle.

Rollins left this segment looking like an opportunistic coward who people should be desperate to see receive his comeuppance. Lesnar left looking like an unstoppable juggernaut. Which is exactly what he should be. Along the way we were reminded that Lesnar is not just freakily strong but impossible to intimidate and smart, all excellent qualities in a take-no-prisoners type babyface. Basically it's stuff like this that reminds you just how great Lesnar is.

As good as the Lesnar-Rollins stuff was it's the stuff with the Divas².

Let's start with (an attempt at) a succinct summary with what happened. Divas champion Nikki Bella strolled out with her sister Brie and Bella groupie Alicia Fox. The usual routine of Nikki talking about being a strong champion only to be interrupted then played out. Paige being one of the people interrupting was not a surprise. Stephanie McMahon being the other, however, was.

Steph, inexplicably playing babyface³,  talked about Paige wanting to bring about a revolution in the Divas division and made it clear she thought this was commendable (and in fairness she couldn't have done this as a heel). She then introduced NXT stars Becky Lynch and Charlotte as Paige's allies. Charlotte, being the daughter of Ric Flair, naturally got the louder reaction of the two but not by a huge amount. That this can be said of Lynch shows how far she's come since she was entering to stereotypical Irish music and doing awkward jigs in the ring.

As Paige and her designated pals had a staredown with Team Bella the entrance music extravaganza continued and Naomi, the forgotten woman of the division, sauntered out with Tamina. Naomi said she had unfinished business with both Nikki and Paige before being told, almost patronisingly, by Stephanie that she absolutely deserved to be in the ring. Sasha Banks was then introduced as the new playmate of Naomi and Tamina and joined them in the ring to face off with Team Bella.

Finally, an exciting Divas scene.

Which is where things broke down. Nikki, Brie and Alicia turned around only to find they were also being confronted by Paige, Charlotte and Lynch. A brawl broke out. It was lengthy and a bit sloppy but it drew the audience in and it made it clear that all nine women were equals. It also ended exactly as it needed to, with Lynch trapping Brie in the armbar, Charlotte applying the figure eight leg lock to Alicia, and Banks giving Nikki the Bank Statement. It was the perfect introduction for the three women from NXT, and it was particularly nice to see women's champion Banks paired up with Divas champion Nikki.

What made all of this work is that WWE have spent so long getting around to it. It's would be misleading to say that they've done a slow burn build because they've have an awful main roster women's division for much of the last decade, but they have taken a more deliberate pace over the last few months. Team Bella has been built up as a dominant force ruling over a stagnant division. They've played on the fact that their women's division is weak as well as the common view that Nikki and Brie "don't know how to work" and written in a sensible story about a lone crusader, Paige, trying to instigate change.

With just one fifteen minute segment WWE made their main roster women's division interesting. There are so many directions they could take and matches they could present. I'm excited about the Divas division for the first time in years. And for that alone this episode will always be memorable for me.

***

¹ That it was a stick, albeit a very nice one (by which I mean it was nicely smoothed and had some varnish on it), was the only disappointing thing about this segment. With the current story being that Rollins is becoming increasingly like his on-screen mentor Triple H it would have made far more sense for him to have hidden a sledgehammer under the table.

² Look, I'm aware of how unprogressive it is to refer to women as Divas. I think we all are. But that's the label WWE (by which I mean Vince McMahon) has chosen for its female wrestlers so I'm going to use it. I'm nothing if not accurate when it comes to this sort of meaningless stuff.

³ To be fair Steph rapidly switching between heel and face is not new. She was doing it as long ago as 2003 during her time as GM of SmackDown, where she would happily play both good and bad on the same show. At least these days she tends to have the good grace to leave a few days between her turns.

NXTweet 01.07.15

One of the most packed NXT episodes I can remember. Guys at the Bull Dempsey and Jason Jordan end of the scale get time. Baron Corbin continues getting slowly built up into something (though we're yet to find out exactly what). And the main event features Finn Bálor, Samoa Joe and Kevin Owens. This is, as has been said before, how do you a one hour wrestling show.

Intro

Tweet 1: I am watching NXT.

Tweet 2: Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor v Rhyno and Kevin Owens is epic apparently. Hard to argue that, to be fair.

The Vaudevillains v Maybe-Not-The-Mechanics-Anymore

Tweet 3: #Vaudevillainspop

Tweet 4: Have they got new music AGAIN?
Tweet 5: They have. Why can't they just have their original music? You know, the good music!
Tweet 6: Have Dash and Dawson dropped their sur- and first names respectively? If so, why? Vince whim?
Tweet 7: They seem to have dropped the Mechanics names too. Damn shame.

I'll miss the Mechanics name. It was lol.

Tweet 8: The commentators are chatting about Dawson looking like a young Arn Anderson. Rubbish. 'Double A' was never young.
Tweet 9: Remember when Aiden English was a massive heel because he dared to share his singing voice with the world?
Tweet 10: That was a nothing match. Nice to see The Vaudevillains though.

Devin Taylor talks to Becky Lynch

Tweet 11: Becky Lynch broke her hip. Tried to no-sell it but she couldn't pull it off.

Tweet 12: Ric Flair no-sold a plane crash. #justsaying
Tweet 13: Becky's motivated by this injury. Reckons she'll beat Sasha for the belt. I shall remain unconvinced for now.

Tucker Knight v Baron Corbin

Tweet 14: 'Wolf Shaman' Barry Corbin coming out wearing a vest with ALL HAIL written on it. No sign of his usual wolf motif. Maybe he retired it.

Even without his wolf powers Corbin pulled out a win.

Tweet 15: Fans chant "Corbin sucks!" Corbin wins. Fans clap politely.
Tweet 16: I liked the big lad physique on Tucker Knight.

William Regal announces a number one contenders tag match

Tweet 17: #Regalpop

Tweet 18: Gotch is chatting all over this show. Remember when he was a mute strongman?

Finn Bálor video

Tweet 19: This is Finn Bálor: Part the Third.

Tweet 20: Shot of Mojo Rawley sprawled on a couch looking decidedly unhyped there.
Tweet 21: Mojo again, this time in the ring. Lad's all over this doc.
Tweet 22: Triple H saying every entrance is a movie. I bet he believes that too. Ponce.
Tweet 23: I'm still expecting this to end with Owens smashing up one of Bálor's Lego creations.
Tweet 24: Imagine if Anderson and Fale ran in on Bálor v Owens and helped Bálor win.
Tweet 25: Really strong documentary that. Hope it goes up on the Network as a standalone thing at some point, if it hasn't already.
Tweet 26: Cut to an add conforming it's on the Network tonight, natch.

Eva Marie does a practice wrestle

Tweet 27: Earlier today... Eva Marie did some basic ring work and William Regal watched. This deserves air time.

Tweet 28: I reckon Eva Marie's going to blow everyone away when she's back. Not like that...

Emma v Carmella

Tweet 29: Love that heel theme for Emma.

Tweet 30: If they really want to get Dana Brooke over they'll have her gorilla press Big Cass during this match.
Tweet 31: Corey Graves needs to start referencing the pay window.

"Bah gawd, lookit that torque!"

Tweet 32: Enzo and Cass dashed out of Regal's office earlier because they said Carmella had a match. So where are they?
Tweet 33: Reverse X Factor. Absolutely devastating. But it wasn't enough. Poor Carmella.

Bull Dempsey slobs about backstage

Tweet 34: Bull Dempsey is being booked to cut promos on snack machines. They're sending you a message, Bull mate.

Tweet 35: If this were the 90s we'd be getting a newsagent or something for Bull to feud with.

Devin Taylor speaks to Jason Jordan

Tweet 36: Hey, remember last week when Jason Jordan lost?

Tweet 37: "I know you're not a loser!" - Chad Gable to Jason Jordan, who'd just lost a match

Tyler Breeze v Tye Dillinger

Tweet 38: #Breezeswoon

Tweet 39: The audience are into this perfect 10 thing of Dillinger's. Pretty good as it's not really been on TV.

Tyler Breeze doing a spot of facesitting there.

Tweet 40: Not the greatest gimmick though tbh. Didn't help him win, did it?
Tweet 41: The crowd are into it but the perfect 10 stuff won't be enough to net Tye a push.

Emma, Dana Brooke and Sasha Banks agree to a tag match

Tweet 42: Oh noes!! Emma and Dana want Sasha's title!!

Tweet 43: Throwaway skit to set up a tag match but everyone there was bringing their A game.

Samoa Joe and Finn Bálor v Rhyno and Kevin Owens

Tweet 44: The crowd would lose their minds if Cyrus came out with Rhyno. #justsaying

Tweet 45: I want Joe to change his name to So Cal Joe and adopt the look and mannerisms of So Cal Val.
Tweet 46: I'm assuming this is from the end of the tapings because this crowd has died.
Tweet 47: Not even Rhyno doing squats mid-suplex got a reaction. Sickening lack of interest.

Crisp.

Tweet 48: I'm hoping that was some kind of reference to Bálor's squat-heavy dojo background.
Tweet 49: Rhyno looks like a man who loves his squats. #demlegs
Tweet 50: "Whadda senton!" - Rich Brennan on a perfectly average senton
Tweet 51: Busting out the finishers always gets a crowd going.
Tweet 52: Rhyno missed the Gore on Bálor and hit his own partner. Such a WWE spot. Love it here though.
Tweet 53: Nice replay of the bungled roll around before the pin. Stay classy, editing guys.
Tweet 54: Good show everyone. Good hustle.