We take a look at three of the benefits from the newly drafted Liv Morgan going solo on SmackDown Live after being moved during the WWE Superstar Shake-Up.
The WWE Superstar Shake-Up has come and gone. As with every WWE Draft and Shake-Up as we’ve seen them over the years, the 2019 edition changed the landscape of both brands and broke well established teams up. One of those teams drastically changed from the Shake-Up was The Riott Squad, which has lost Liv Morgan.
Ruby Riott, Liv Morgan and Sarah Logan were all called up together from NXT back in 2017 post-Survivor Series to form a new heel stable. The faction decimated the women’s division on SmackDown for the remainder of the year and for much of early 2018. This all culminated in the leader of the group facing Charlotte Flair for the SmackDown Women’s Championship at Fastlane 2018. Riott would lose her title match, but she put on a valiant effort.
The rest of 2018 would see the group move to Monday nights on Raw. Their 2018 – which mostly saw them face off in losing efforts against the Boss ‘N’ Hug Connection – on the red brand was far less eventful, although it was highlighted by a personal feud with Natalya. Similarly to the year before, the totem head of the Riott Squad received a World Women’s Title shot on one of the pay-per-views before Mania. Unlike the year before, Riott was less than impressive after getting squashed in under a minute. The group’s final highlight saw Sarah Logan be the runner up of the WrestleMania Women’s Battle Royal.
Less than two years after their debut together, The Riott Squad is no more. Logan and Riott will be sticking around on Raw while Liv Morgan got herself drafted to SmackDown. Fans of the group are mourning their disbandment, but there are few more things to rejoice about the breakup than to mourn. Especially in Liv Morgan’s case.
3. Blessing for Everybody
It goes without saying the last year of WWE television was not a good one for the Riott Squad. In fact, it was downright dire for the group as they lost just about every match they were in on Raw. Every talent in the stable is better than being used as enhancement talent and carry a greater potential. Now, they get to prove it in singles competition.
While it is unclear as of now whether Ruby Riott and Sarah Logan will continue as a tag team on Raw or go their separate ways, Liv for sure looks like she’s going to be a singles star going forward. Truthfully, after the year they had, the Riott Squad would be better off apart than together. Maybe they can regroup a year or so from now, but for now, they need to make names for themselves away from each other and re-build themselves as credible title challengers.
Previously, the trio were rarely ever the focal point of Raw women’s division storylines as they were on SmackDown. Now, as separate acts, they all have the opportunity to rebrand themselves with a fresh start. In short, things can only go up from here for everyone involved.
2. She’s got the personality of a Superstar
A lot of wrestlers struggle with character work both on the main roster, in NXT and quite frankly, throughout the wrestling business. There are so many phenomenal in-ring competitors in this industry but few who understand character work. Many Superstars have a hard time getting a grasp of a character, finding a personality or if they have a personality, struggle to bring it to the screen. Liv Morgan actually seems to have a good handle on a character.
One of the reasons why The Riott Squad succeeded early on was because each member of the trio was charismatic enough to showcase a unique character that stood out compared to the rest of the roster. Ruby Riott was the tough as nails leader. Sarah Logan was the viking-esque powerhouse. Liv Morgan was the flamboyant goofball in a similar vain to Harley Quinn. There’s no doubt that each woman can accentuate those same exuberant characters as singles stars.
Even better, Liv has been able to highlight her unique personality in interviews and press runs. She has a genuine likable, fun personality. She’s been able to exaggerate that personality into an entertaining character; something that the best wrestlers have been able to do throughout their careers (i.e. Randy Savage, Stone Cold). Whether WWE decide to turn that character into a face or keep her heel on SmackDown, she will surely grab the audiences attention.
1. She has what it takes to shine
As was previously mentioned in that last slide, Liv Morgan has the personality to truly shine as a WWE Superstar on the blue brand. We cannot possibly neglect the fact that she also happens to be a good hand in the ring.
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On her way to the main roster from NXT, Liv carried this reputation that she was the furthest thing from a stellar wrestler. She wasn’t terrible, but she wasn’t setting the world on fire. That should be obvious giving her rookie status at the time, but you know, fans can be cruel when they see a botch or two. Thankfully, after two years of working with veterans on the main roster, Liv has improved vastly into a solid worker.
Her in-ring style and prowess were not highlighted much as part of the Riott Squad – she was usually used as the fall gal whenever the group need to lose a tag match together – but when she did have the time and booking to show her stuff in the ring, Liv Morgan always proved to be a decent worker. Her selling especially is tremendous; hence why she was always the fall gal in matches. In terms of offense, Liv Morgan wrestles uniquely.
That is the true beauty of Liv Morgan and what is going to help her succeed on SmackDown Live. Right now, nobody looks like Liv Morgan, sounds like Liv Morgan, moves around the ring like Liv Morgan, sells like Liv Morgan, has a blue tongue and occasionally pink hair like Liv Morgan. In short, she stands out as a character and she stands out as a wrestler. Standing out against a stacked roster is half the battle in itself and Liv’s already won that half. If she keeps it up, she’ll be a star in no time.