In this edition of Glitter And Slam we're going to look at the lost art of the non-finish, and how the women's rosters of Raw and Smackdown Live have been set up for the first-ever women's Survivor's Series match.
(A burning desire to get the crowds excited has resulted in Lynch becoming the best true baby face in the women's division-- and Bliss attaining new heights as the sociopathic rival. Source: WWE.com)
On the November 8 edition of Smackdown Live, Lynch vs. Bliss was considered the main event, and booking showed serious resources behind building them up. The Lass kicker continued to build up--even after medical issues kept her out of No Mercy--as a happy-go-lucky fighting champion. Instead of making Bliss take the cowardly route, she demonstrated no shame in mixing it up and wanting to hurt the champ physically and mentally before ultimate victory. That's why the very end of their match is a head scratcher.
(A flavorless finish dampened what was otherwise a solid bout that was Bliss' best in-ring work to date. Source: WWE.com)
Bliss tapped out to the Disarmer but her foot was on the rope. For over 20 years WWE has trended toward making sure nearly every big match has a definitive finish, whether clean or not. It's obvious that they are looking forward to Lynch/Bliss #3 at TLC, and the prospect of them making the most of the show's namesake props. Booking this match with a weird ending was actually a good idea, but they took the lazy route. A non-finish, whether by double count-out or disqualification, when done correctly can floor an audience.
(A violent double-count-out or DQ would have best served the smash mouth story between champ and challenger. Source: WWE.com)
Lynch and Bliss could have thrown down outside the ring, oblivious to the ref's count. Bliss could have gained the upper hand and loomed over the downtrodden champ, furious that the prize eluded her, but secure in her knowledge she demonstrated superiority. Another good non-finish could have involved Bliss snapping and grabbing a kendo stick, chair or other foreign object from under the ring and her standing tall after a vulgar display of power, leading to a DQ.
You'll notice either alternative involves the heel showing dominance. Having Bliss get screwed by poor officiating isn't a good way to facilitate a wrestler building negative heat. Bliss has become the top female heel on Smackdown, but she is still building her legacy. This hardly means the feud can't be repaired or that post-Survivor Series we won't get a good build, but the current booking route doesn't help either woman cement their standing. Time will tell if WWE is willing to think outside its own box as they did with the women's Hell in a Cell match. In light of this speed bump, we have seen that Team Blue has showcased all their women better than Raw to this point.
(Naomi isn't even booked in a feud, but she gets frequent opportunities to show her appeal and athleticism. Source:WWE.com)
If you didn't see it before, it's obvious after this week in WWE television that every woman on Smackdown Live has been given a chance to shine in some way. Natalya lost a match to Nikki Bella for the captaincy of Team Smackdown Live, but even she has been shoehorned in to get some face time.
The team coach angle is rather silly but Natalya has gotten a solid rub making visible friends with Carmella, plus she's gotten the opportunity to wrestle solid matches most of the year.
The Staten Island Princess has been locked into a somewhat pointless feud at this point with Nikki Bella. Beyond the storyline, WWE wants to keep Bella, a reality show star, on TV as much as possible. They smartly took the opportunity to give a rub to new talent as well with this rivalry--even if it is meandering.
(WWE is making sure they leech as much off Nikki Bella's aura as possible--but not at the expense of new talents in need of guidance such as Carmella. Source: WWE.com)
Finally, the best example Smackdown Live has in keeping all the women as interesting as time will allow is Naomi. She has no feud and is pretty much just Happy Girl in Neon, but showcasing her as the brand's resident airborne talent plants a crucial seed with the audience. Every time the black lights come on and Naomi dances to the ring, WWE wants you to know you're about to see something cool. The only woman out of the loop right now is Eva Marie, who recently finished filming the movie "Inconceivable" after serving a 30-day wellness violation suspension. Even she will come back to a solid booking niche that may make the most out of her heat and negligible ring skills.
(It was more evident even in the brief scuffle, that all six women on Smackdown have been given crucial face time, while Raw is the Queen/Boss show. Source: WWE.com)
On the Raw side, you have the top female face in Sasha Banks and the top heel in Charlotte. As mentioned in my previous article reviewing Hell in a Cell, the booking options are slim, in part due to injury, but also in tunnel vision booking.
Emma is poised to return soon with a makeover, possibly as another baby face. Bayley's path to ascension is clear but cashing in on her headband sales with championship gold should wait until WrestleMania season. After Survivor Series, Sasha Banks has a rematch and, should it happen, it will be the fifth straight title match involving her and Charlotte. Dana Brooke is still the female Virgil, and too green to break away from the champion's side. Brooke at least has benefitted from the creative team making the most of her strengths while hiding her weaknesses.
Nia Jax is simply the Large Angry Woman. Jax has made strides in the ring, but she's not at a point she can take maximum advantage of her size and strength. The only thing she's done is beat on the most neglected woman on Team Red, Alicia Fox.
(Whether Lynch retains or not, Smackdown Live is laying a more solid foundation for future title feuds than their Monday night counterparts. Source: WWE Network)
Fox can go, there is no doubt about that. She has always been a bit of a sidekick, siding with the Bellas during the initial Divas Revolution, and then in Team B.A.D. Now, there has been little effort in showcasing her until the recent Survivor Series buildup.
This doesn't mean the development of the Team Blue ladies has been perfect. There's no good reason for Nikki Bella to be team captain instead of the champ Lynch. Natalya's quoting one hit wonders and corny whistle thing doesn't stack up as her finest hour.
I already mentioned the flat finish to the November 8 title match and the lack of foresight in perpetuating Nikki Bella's feud with Carmella. Even in light of this we were treated to six already-distinct personalities on Talking Smack after the show. WWE wants you to get to know these women better.
This opens the door for more engaging title and personal feuds going forward.
In the next installment of Glitter and Slam I will look at what TLC has in store as well as how Raw will proceed around injuries and booking pitfalls after Survivor Series.
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