Like the UFC, the WWE have seen dollar signs in improving the promotion of their female talent, but attempts to push these women on a larger platform have fallen flat. The ‘Divas Revolution’ as the WWE is calling it has failed to capitalise on the momentum generated by the same performers who regularly stole the show down in developmental. How can the WWE fix what should have been one of 2015’s biggest, and most lucrative initiatives?
1. STOP CALLING IT A REVOLUTION.
There is nothing revolutionary about what viewers are seeing each week on Raw. There isn’t even really anything revolutionary about what we’re seeing down in NXT. Women have always been able to wrestle, it’s just now that the WWE are beginning to transition back to pure performers rather than glamour models and actresses. The term ‘Divas Revolution’ has come from Vince McMahon and Kevin Dunn’s need to market every organic component of their product, and the term is now used so gratuitously that it’s basically lost meaning. Stop talking about a revolution, arguing over who started it, and just get on with the damn thing. Once this happens the real progress should come naturally. Book it.
2. SPLIT THE FACTIONS AND ISOLATE THE TALENT.
I never understood the whole gang war introduction. The strength in numbers gimmick actually undermines all the hard work most of these performers put in to get where they are now. There are no Divas tag titles, so surely everyone should be out for the only piece of gold (silver?) available? Sure, the WWE have clear creative issues (a gripe for another time perhaps), and the idea of creating more than three or four storylines is beyond them, but it’s got to be better than the weird three way faction mess that we’re being subjected to at the moment. Split the factions up. Build Charlotte, Paige, Becky Lynch and Sasha Banks by having them crush the lesser talent, and keep them away from each other on the weekly shows if possible. Triple H, The Rock and Stone Cold were never part of the same faction whilst simultaneously competing for the WWE title. Book it.
3. DEFINE FACE/HEEL PLAYERS, AND STICK WITH THEM.
For some odd reason the WWE doesn’t treat their female talent with the same logic as the men in terms of set face and heel roles. Total Divas might be a problem here with Nikki and Brie frequently portrayed as the show’s ‘hero’ characters (I’ll get to this), but that shouldn’t stop them from being able to properly establish who’s good and who’s bad. Define the heroes and the villains and don’t switch unless it serves as part of a meaningful programme. The Bellas, Paige and Alicia Fox have all suffered through way too many turns over the last couple of years, and it’s confused the audience. Give us characters we feel safe to root for, and rivals that won’t switch allegiance every week. Book it.
4. EITHER END TOTAL DIVAS, OR INCORPORATE IT.
Sorry WWE but as hard as you try, you will always be, primary, a wrestling organisation. Total Divas may bring its female talent to a new and potentially non-wrestling audience, but it’s detrimental to the in-ring activities of its stars. If they won’t pull the plug on the show, and given its success that’s rather likely, at least make more of an effort to align the show with the primary product. Alicia Fox and Paige are best friends on the show, so having them act as bitter rivals the following week on Raw only serves to confuse the audience and weaken both products. Oh, and please use Natalya better. No one deserves better booking more than the long-suffering Canadian. Book it.
5. DON’T FORCE IT.
The women’s division in NXT didn’t get to the state it’s in overnight. Years of slow, calculated building have seen developmental talent go from afterthought prospects to main event superstars, but this is all in front of a highly receptive audience. Doing the same thing on the main roster will take just as long, and given the much larger fanbase, probably even longer. The WWE’s strategy has been to transplant the NXT women’s division and graft it onto its existing Divas division and expect immediate results, but this just won’t work. A large number of close-minded fans have been subjected to years of terrible women’s matches, so it will take time for these new and improved segments to be taken seriously. If the ‘Divas Revolution’ is to truly succeed, patience will be required. Only give these talented performers time if the material is good enough. Rome wasn’t built in a day.
How would you improve the ‘Divas Revolution’? Did I miss anything? Leave your suggestions and comments in the section below.
