Will the Divas Ever Headline a PPV?
In a recent interview with TalkSport.com, NXT Women’s Champion Charlotte gave an impassioned vision of her brand growing in stature in the near future. However, the main story to come out of the interview was her keen desire to headline a PPV one day. The daughter of Nature Boy Ric Flair firmly believes that due to the immense talent of the women in NXT and some of the excellent divas on the main roster, it is only a matter of time until she and the others women in the WWE are closing out the biggest shows of the year.
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Charlotte’s passion and confidence is certainly to be admired, and something you’d expect from the daughter of a 16-time world champion and Hall of Famer. And this isn’t misplaced; Charlotte, Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch and Bayley in particular have really excited the fans down at Full Sail University, leading many to suggest that they are leading a revolution of women’s wrestling. Alongside the likes of Paige, AJ Lee, Natalya and the Bella Twins, these talented wrestlers could put together matches worthy of the main event. However, is the suggestion that they will one day headline a PPV fanciful in the world of professional wrestling?
Frankly, only one divas match has even had the honor of being deemed the main event of an episode of RAW – a Women’s Championship match between Trish Stratus and Lita on December 6th, 2004. It has been over a decade since that occasion and it has yet to be replicated. This has been a ridiculous situation for far too long, considering the talent of the women that have competed for the company in those years. Of course, a number of divas have fit into the stereotypical model framework, with a great look but minimal wrestling skills. But names like Stratus, Lita, Victoria, Molly Holly, Mickie James, Melina and Beth Phoenix always impressed between the ropes, yet were consistently overlooked.
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Despite the improvement of the Divas division in recent years, there has been a longstanding tradition that the headliners of the professional wrestling industry are the superstars. Whilst the women are heralded as champions of the Attitude Era and the revitalization of the wrestling industry, they are often focused upon for their sex appeal and not ring work.
The WWE Championship is a title that headlines most PPVs, and since Chyna is the only woman to have received a shot at that belt, it would seem unlikely that two women would ever compete for that prize. The Divas Championship deserves to be considered on similar footing, but sadly is not given anywhere near that recognition.
Of course, the WWE Championship need not be the main event of every PPV, and that certainly hasn’t been the case in recent months with the sporadic appearances of Brock Lesnar. In these circumstances, the duty of headlining the premier shows of the month are afforded to either the hottest feud at the time or the match with the most potential to leave the fans going home satisfied. This has in the last year been given to some of the up-and-coming stars of the industry. Is it possible that Charlotte and the other ladies in the business could transition into that role?
A Deserved But Impossible Dream?
If NXT is anything to go by, they could certainly match their male counterparts in the ring. Charlotte in particular in matches with Natalya, Bayley and Sasha Banks has demonstrated a remarkable aptitude for professional wrestling, something I’m sure her father is very proud of. Whilst she is not yet the finished article, she is very rapidly becoming one of the most exciting prospects in the developmental territory. Banks also is immensely talented and charismatic. Bayley is an extremely lovable underdog that is improving match by match. They would be trusted explicitly to main event any episode of NXT, and it wouldn’t be out of the question for them to be the last bout on a Takeover special. The WWE is a slightly different proposition.
There is an undoubted expectation that the main event will be contested for by superstars, not divas. Unfortunately, before divas can even consider taking the main event by storm, they will have to first overcome the perception that they are the customary bathroom break match on shows. This already is a ridiculous concept today, with matches between Paige, AJ Lee, and the Bella Twins in particular a great deal better than they are given credit for. Even at the past Royal Rumble, I much preferred the divas tag team match to the Ascension vs. New Age Outlaws, but it still was given minimal attention.
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This will rely on the new Divas coming into the fold from NXT not only carrying over their audience and producing quality matches, but also be involved in effective storytelling. I mean, how many time has Alicia Fox flipped from face to heel with no adequately explained reason? Rather than the Bella Twins getting into repetitive feuds with other divas based on their looks or weight, why don’t they actually build some genuine animosity like they do for the men? It’s almost as if the creative team consider it too easy to book divas matches: “We’ll just have one call the other ugly and it will go on from there… who wants lunch?” It is too lazy, and although people might scoff at the soap opera nature of the Bella sisters feud towards the end of 2014, it was a step in the right direction. Poorly executed, but a start.
Another element that they will have to overcome is having a match that lasts longer than it takes some people to tie their shoelaces. This is not a criticism of their ability, as the ladies in NXT have shown a capacity to tell a compelling story in a match for an extended period. The only issue is that today, main events are expected to last around twenty minutes at the minimum. Whilst I am confident the athleticism of the women in the business today can manage that expectation, it is whether those in control have the same confidence that they not only can grip the fans into their feud, but keep them entertained for a lengthy contest. That is a mantle that many superstars aren’t capable of, and once again it is up to the ladies to prove up to it.
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The NXT women have a humongous task on their hands, but if anybody will be capable it is this group. They are not here for the paychecks and posing for the cameras; they have a hunger to go out there every night and steal the show. That fire will hopefully catch on in the WWE Universe like it has done for the smaller NXT audience, as these ladies are consistently proving to be as entertaining and worthy of the spotlight as the hugely impressive superstars on the roster. The main event of a WWE PPV is a hefty goal to reach for, but one I support fully. Even if it doesn’t ever happen, and sadly the realist in me sees that as the likely outcome, the wish to make that dream a reality will push them to new heights and earn them the respect of the crowd in no time.
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