Is WWE Turning Nia Jax Babyface After Her Latest Loss?
The second-generation star has spent her entire WWE existence as a heel. Was Nia Jax’s post-match applause on Monday Night a sign of a change in attitude?
On RAW last night, Nia Jax once again tussled with the undefeated number one contender to the RAW (or SmackDown) Women’s Championship, Asuka. The bout went the same way every Asuka/Jax match goes: Jax used her strength and size to overwhelm Asuka, while Asuka relied on her strikes, wrestling acumen, and Rolodex of holds to keep her opponent at bay.
In the end, “The Empress of Tomorrow” forced Jax to tap out to a cross armbreaker–keeping her unblemished record intact–but that wasn’t the main talking point once the final bell sounded. Rather, it was the defeated Jax and her saunter up the ramp clutching her “injured” arm that stole the spotlight.
WWE kept the camera on Jax after the match and then panned out to an appreciative Milwaukee, Wis. crowd applauding Jax for a valiant effort. They didn’t do anything too overt, but WWE planted the seeds for a Jax babyface turn in the near future.
Strong in defeat
WWE always books Jax strongly in defeat, but something was different during her battle with Asuka last night. Toward the end of the match, Asuka trapped Jax in a cross armbreaker, later transitioning into a triangle choke and back to the armbreaker.
“The Irresistible Force” tried to power her way out, but the 2018 Women’s Royal Rumble winner maintained her grip and scored the submission win. Jax was in both holds for at least several minutes, but she displayed a fighting spirit that is usually reserved for top babyfaces (and mid-2000’s Triple H). Jax’s attempts to strongarm her way out Asuka’s clasp put her over as a courageous fighter who can withstand a tremendous amount of punishment–it took everything Asuka had to put her away.
The postmatch angle also helped move Jax over to the light side. Again, WWE usually saves those moments for vanquished protagonists, not monster heels. There are exceptions to the rule; sometimes the hard cameras show an embarrassed or fired heel taking the walk of shame. But more often than not, the company uses that trope to allow the face to soak in the fans’ cheers after a hard-fought encounter.
WWE used that small storytelling device to show Jax earning respect from the crowd, but they weren’t finished there.
Not like most girls
If there was any ambiguity with WWE’s intentions with Jax, they wiped that away later in the show. During a backstage segment, Jax–still nursing her injured arm–received a “pep talk” from RAW Women’s Champion Alexa Bliss. The champion “comforted” Jax with her usual brand of feigned sincerity and passive aggression, pointing out that Jax wouldn’t compete at WrestleMania, that it was “embarrassing” to tap out to Asuka, and saying that people have viewed her as an “outcast” due to her size. Jax even managed to produce some tears to add more emotion to the segment. At that point, I thought to myself “Yep, Jax is a babyface”.
Alexa/Nia at WrestleMania
WWE might string this out for another week or two, but Jax is definitely turning face. This development lines up with the projected WrestleMania Women’s title matches: Bliss vs. Jax and Charlotte vs. Asuka. It explains why Asuka ran through the entire RAW women’s division in a matter of weeks (which makes it look a little weak). It also explains why Mickie James turned heel out of the blue the previous week. Bliss/Jax seems inevitable for WrestleMania. I’m curious to see how WWE books both ladies in the coming weeks.
I hope WWE has more in store for these two than another retread “Mean Girls” type storyline. Not to say that it couldn’t work, but WWE has proven with “Piggie James” (ironic that James may take part in the Bliss/Jax story as a heel) and Molly Holly’s “junk in the trunk” that they don’t possess the necessary tact for these angles.
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That said, Bliss is excellent in the weasely, “Queen Bee” type role, even if it has gotten a bit stale. She’s the perfect foil for a no-nonsense, babyface Nia Jax. This turn can give Jax a persona that fans can latch on to, and a possible WrestleMania moment.