WWE Raw: Don’t Overlook Nia Jax’s Improvement

After teaming up with Emma to defeat Alexa Bliss and Sasha Banks on an episode of WWE Raw, Nia Jax now has an opportunity to obtain the Raw Women’s Championship for the first time.

Michael Cole constantly reminds the audience on episodes of WWE Raw that Nia Jax is the most dominant woman on the main roster, yet she’s never been given a shot to win the Raw Women’s Championship. Last week, we saw Nia turn on Alexa Bliss, who successfully recaptured the title from Sasha Banks, by dumping her onto the canvas after parading her friend on her shoulders. It represented a turning point for Jax, who, despite her size, had been all too willing to allow her dominance to go unrewarded.

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Perhaps no longer sent into the purgatory of matches with Banks or squash matches with the likes of Emma, Jax finally has an opportunity to win the Raw Women’s Championship. Thanks to her leg drop to Banks, Nia and Emma defeated the uneven pairing of Bliss and Banks. This allows them to be inserted into the Sept. 24, match at WWE No Mercy. It will be a Fatal Four-Way for the championship, and it represents Nia’s best chance at the title to date.

On last night’s episode of Raw, Jax looked like a star. Her opening sequence with Banks was excellent, and it was confirmation that her chemistry with “The Legit Boss” is excellent. The two have been paired in so many odd matches that they know how to work together, and these consistent reps with Banks have clearly yielded significant results for her.

Afterwards, her “screaming” spot with Bliss after being slapped was one of the highlights of the night. Most of that credit goes to Bliss, but the moment reenforced the idea that Nia has become much better at portraying herself as a true monster. At the end of the match, she got revenge on Emma for stealing the pinfall from her finisher, pretending to hi-five Emma before wrecking her with a Samoan Drop.

For all the complaints fans have had about her lackluster character work, mediocre promos, and frequent botches (people still hold that match with Charlotte Flair against her), she’s made improvements in all facets over the past few months. In fact, her transformation into a credible wrestler and discernible character has been quietly flying in the background as one of the better stories of 2017. After being the source of jokes online to start the year, Jax could be in a position to win the championship by the end of it.

At the risk of jinxing her, Jax has looked much safer and crisper in the ring, which will only help her case backstage to finally winning some championship gold. I’m no longer worried about her, say, dropping someone on their heads. When Jax was drafted to Raw, everyone knew she was green, so her current work on the main roster represents all the hard work that has transpired during those months. There is always work to be done, sure, but watch one of her backstage segments in the past two weeks and tell me she isn’t infinitely more comfortable with cutting a promo.

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The time has come for a new champion in the Raw Women’s Division, and it doesn’t have to be a continuation of Bliss’s hold at the top, nor does it have to be another brief reign for Banks. The WWE has given many opportunities for the “Four Horsewomen” to shine – and for good reason. But for a change-of-pace from the usual suspects, look no further than Nia, whose current work merits a championship that is befitting of her hype as the most dominant female superstar on the main roster. I believe Bliss will retain her title at No Mercy, but I would be among those ecstatic if Nia were to get her first chance to hold the Raw Women’s Championship.