GLITTER and SLAM Edition 5

In this edition of Glitter and Slam we'll see why Chelsea Green, aka Impact Wrestling's ‘Laurel Van Ness’, is the kind of adrenaline shot Raw needs to get its women's division back on track. We also look at this column's match of the year with The Boss and The Queen – along with how this converges with Bayley's journey going into 2017.

It is no secret that beyond Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair, Raw has not done a very good job building up the rest of its division compared to Smackdown Live. The secondary women's feuds have been uninspiring and injuries limit booking possibilities for an already thin women's roster.

Paige would have provided the best option a good rivalry outside the title chase. She is recovering from neck surgery and will be out until probably spring. Summer Rae is also sidelined with neck, back and elbow problems. Tamina is set to return but we don't know when. Emma could be the Red Show's best heel outside of Charlotte, but her return from injury is up in the air, even though she is ready to go.
Raw needs someone in the short term who can make for entertaining feuds outside the title picture en route to WrestleMania and that woman is TNA's Laurel Van Ness, who also wrestles under her better-known real name, Chelsea Green.

(The smarkiest will remember Green's turn as Daniel Bryan's kiniesiologist Megan Miller. Source: WWE.com)

Green first appeared on WWE television in 2014 as the kiniesiologist on the take Megan Miller during the Jerry Springer-saturated Brie Bella/Stephanie McMahon feud. Stephanie paid off Miller to claim on camera she had a torrid love affair with her patient, Brie's husband Daniel Bryan.

(Green made a strong showing on Tough Enough, eliminated in week 7. Source: USA Network)

Trained by Lance Storm, 2015 saw her make the final 40 for WWE's revival of Tough Enough. Green did not make the cut, but eventually landed on the show when Dianna Dahlgren quit early in the contest. The only trained pro wrestler on the show, she was cut after Paige used her judge's save to keep GiGi Piscina in the contest in week seven. Piscina and eventual winner Sara Lee were the only women left.

(Red makes green, even in Canadian dollars. Chelsea vs. Nicole Matthews in WPW. Source: Vancitybuzz.com)

In January of 2016 she was signed by TNA, debuting in a loss to Jade. She hit the road in the US, her native Canada and abroad, including two tours of Japan. During her first excursion to the Far East she broke her collarbone in India, but would return to action once again in Canada for WPW as the Girls Gone Wrestling champion. One notable bout featured her fighting through a legit cut on the side of her head against WPW heel Nicole Matthews.

She would return to Japan for another tour, the highlight of which was a solid 15 minute match against Kairi Hojo. She also teamed with Santana Garrett in the Stardom's tag team tournament.

(Suicide dive in perhaps her best match to date against Kairi Hojo. Source: Stardom Wonder Ring)

In August, she emerged prominently on TNA television under the name Laurel Van Ness while continuing to take independent bookings. Her persona became the prototypical rich mean girl and she has drawn solid heat in the Knockouts division. It is surprising to this point she hasn't landed on NXT television, as her peers Daria Beranato and Mandy Rose have. This could make a solid plot point to bring her to Raw on an interim basis to add a hot secondary feud between now and WrestleMania.

(Charisma, constantly improving ring skills and a Keebleresque silhouette stature are a compelling case for getting on WWE programming. Source: Stardom Wonder Ring)

This is the reality era, so I suggest having her debut under her real name, angry that she was snubbed for WWE programming when so many around her debuted on NXT or started training at the Performance Center. Also, her persona on TNA is too close to Charlotte, Chelsea could debut with a run-in, sporting a steel chair and a bad attitude. This could give Alicia Fox something to do other than faun over Cedric Alexander and/or a short program with Sasha Banks, although the latter may be in deep with Nia Jax until WrestleMania. Have her cut a blistering, enraged promo afterward saying she'll let her violent actions show she belongs in WWE. The feud would culminate with a match reminiscent of John Cena's 2002 debut, in which he gave Kurt Angle everything he had in a tough loss. Have her head full speed into a rocking 10-15 bout with Sasha Banks or Bayley, or the returning Emmalina.

Chelsea Green's storytelling and strikes are good and she can chain wrestle at a medium tempo as demonstrated in matches mentioned above as well as with the likes of Gail Kim in TNA. I suggest a change in finisher as her curbstomp to the back of her opponent at times looks gawky.

(Laurel Van Ness is TNA Impact Wrestling's resident mean girl. Source: Threw Minds Eye Photos)

WWE has shown they prefer to train experienced wrestlers before putting them on TV full time and this has worked to perfection with numerous women from Sasha Banks to Bayley, Paige, and current NXT stars like Peyton Royce and Billie Kay. NXT may be the milieu she is needed the most. In Asuka City, only Ember Moon is ready to give Asuka a solid match for the title as others continue to develop. Her charisma and sex appeal along with her constantly improving ring work makes her a good second contender for the NXT Women's Championship.

BOOK IT!

GLITTER & SLAM WOMEN'S MATCH OF THE YEAR: SASHA BANKS (C) vs. CHARLOTTE FLAIR VI
(source: WWE.com)

I publically declared a few weeks ago on twitter that nothing could beat Asuka vs. Mickie James. The last big show of 2016 made me a liar. 30 minutes plus overtime gave us great technical wrestling, stiff violence and more drama than their previous five encounters combined. I did not think that was possible, but they did it and set yet another new standard for the women's division. I could drone on for a few more paragraphs but feast your eyes and ears on this battle that should have headlined Roadblock: End of the Line. The ending was sublime, even if the Boss couldn't retain in the final chapter of title ping pong. The story ended with Sasha Banks screaming in agony, her nose and mouth saturated with blood as she had no choice but to tap out or possibly suffer a career-ending knee injury. Come what may their place in wrestling history is secure. Onward, time will tell if the Road to WrestleMania will be as compelling.

(Nia Jax shortly before making the hobbled Banks fly. Source:WWE.com)

I don't know if WWE deserves credit for the symbolism in Sasha Banks' appearance on Raw, but it was evident. Since the brand split, Raw has used Banks and Charlotte Flair as a crutch while they figure out what to do with everyone else. A shockingly humbled Boss tearfully said to the crowd that she didn't feel like a Boss anymore and that she lost to the better woman. After calling for Charlotte to come down to the ring to congratulate her, out comes Nia Jax, who proceeded to call the former champ a broken little girl and kick the crutch out from under her. The first real secondary women's feud on Raw began as Jax threw her across the ring and tossed the crutch away. There are strong hints of a character driven arc for Sasha en route to WrestleMania and if WWE does not screw it up The Boss may be able to lift up the rest of the division as Charlotte feuds with Bayley.

(A cavalier Bayley states her case for a title match with her third win over Charlotte. Source: WWE.com)

Later in the show Charlotte came out to gloat and out came a confident Bayley who challenged the four-time champion to a non-title match. I know I'm not an insider who has booked pro wrestling for decades or anything, but maybe if you want an underdog to sneak a win over the champ – for the third time no less – she should pay the price for it. Reminding the world that Bayley has the chops in the ring is good, but afterward, instead of Bayley all smiles going up the ramp, Charlotte making her pay with a face plant on steel would have set a more compelling tone for 2017. Bayley is poised to be the top female baby face in the women's division, but booking must show she earned it in a trial by fire.

The next edition of Glitter and Slam will unveil the 2016 WWE Woman of the Year as well as assessments of the company's female talent. So in the meantime, Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa and the happiest New Year to everyone.

Follow me on Twitter @weskozalla #wrestlementary #glitterandslam.

Dave's Battle Axe: THE A-LISTER

Ever since the brand split happened in the WWE this year, the general consensus has been that Raw has been more conservative and has lagged behind Smackdown’s 'fun factor.’ I would argue though that the driving forces behind the successes each side has had comes from 2 veterans. On the Raw side, Chris Jericho is doing some of the best character stuff in his career and despite being on a month-to-month contract is delivering the goods inside and outside the ring, with or without Kevin Owens. It wouldn’t surprise me if after this amazing run, he hangs up his boots and moves on. Nothing like going out on top after all.

Over on Team Blue, there can be no doubt that it is The Miz who has provided the entertainment value as the brand’s top heel. Mike ‘The Miz’ Mizanin has been a lot of things in his constant time in the limelight since 2001, evolving from brash reality show maven to world champion and beyond.





Thru longevity, career ebbs and hutzpah, The Miz is in a career renaissance in 2016

unlike anything he’s ever had before. After a brief stint as a baby face in the company after Money In the Bank 2012 (admittedly, my zealous cheering for him at that event probably emboldened him to make that poor choice), the arrogant Miz of old returned in 2014, the year the A-Lister was born.

By turning his straight-to-video success with “The Marine” movie series that he took over from John Cena and Ted DiBiase, Jr. into a head-swelling belief that he is in the same pool as Brad Pitt, The Miz became hissable again. With his new partner, Damien Mizdow in tow, the hissing became a shtick that everyone loved.

And that’s really the key to what makes The Miz great, his ability to play off people and help put them and in turn, himself, over as something the fans either hate or love. From John Morrison to The Big Show to now, his lovely wife and new valet Maryse, The Miz is always better with someone around to play off of. In the case of Smackdown Live lately, he’s had his pick of the litter.

His genuinely prickly relationship with Smackdown GM Daniel Bryan has led to an epic feud with Dolph Ziggler of all people. Wasn’t it just last year that these two were reduced to having a pumpkin match for laughs? Well times and fortunes have changed dramatically since then as these two have elevated this feud to a level rarely seen in WWE anymore.

By bringing real prestige back to the Intercontinental Title for the sixth time in his career, The Miz is riding a wave in 2016 that I bet few people would’ve expected. Can he keep it going and continue to make the ‘B Show’ must-see TV? Or is he a loss away from calling his agent to push for ‘Santa’s Little Helper 2: The Reckoning?’ Either way, 2017 will surely be a big year for Cleveland’s Original World Champion.

Just remember, NO AUTOGRAPHS, PLEASE!

Glitter & Slam Edition 4

In this edition, The Boss and The Queen steal the show once again and we look at what's going on with the Smackdown women going into TLC.

This edition of Flair/Banks had no business being better than Hell in a Cell. It had no business happening now as the fifth consecutive title bout between the alpha females of the Raw brand. It had no business topping everything these women have done before. The reality is that this match was the best fight they've had since Sasha Banks and Charlotte Flair first locked horns in NXT.

(The Queen retained via double count out, before GM Foley decided they should main event Raw for the second time later that night. Source: WWE.com)

Prior to Monday night's big showdown, Sasha Banks seemed on unsure footing in her promos as a baby face unable to show her trademark swagger balanced with giving back the love that WWE crowds have given her. That balance was finally attained starting with social media video bytes of her arrival and up through shushing Bayley when the latter talked about the heat between her and Charlotte after Survivor Series. It was all about the Boss and on the other side it was all about the Queen – in her hometown no less.

The initial bout was solid and ended with a double count out as fisticuffs spilled outside the ring. Charlotte radiated her customary glee as it was clear her plan worked, but Mick Foley came out and decreed the best women's rivalry in WWE this year, and perhaps ever, was going to end with a real finish to main event Raw.

(Props for their use of props: Banks and Flair got mega miles out of one kendo stick. Source: Sky Sports)

We were treated to same high intensity and memorable storytelling this feud had given us since their first title bout on the July 25th Raw. The major difference that made this better than Hell In A Cell, or the technically spotty match at Summerslam, was the polish and timing have never been better between them. It was all the more fitting that the match finally end with the most painful-looking Bank Statement ever around a hand railing amidst an electric crowd.

(The Queen left it all on the floor once again, this time with an astounding moonsault off the announce table. Source: WWE.com)

I was surprised Charlotte did not retain moving forward, given the title Ping-Pong that has been a feature of this rivalry since July. In most cases, match-by-match title changes are counterproductive, but this pair have been presented as two sides of the same coin and on any given night we know either one could be counting ceiling lights for three seconds at the end.

(Accolades from the Nature Boy capped perhaps the greatest women's rivalry in WWE history. Source: Sky Sports)

I mentioned in previous articles various booking challenges after Hell In A Cell that could best be met by a heel champion. A lengthy reign of terror for the Queen culminating in a WrestleMania showdown with her polar opposite Bayley, seemed like the clear path.

With Paige and Summer Rae out with injuries, the women's roster is thin and hard pressed to offer good matchups for a baby face champion. Nia Jax got to finally show some real power moves in the fun, if sloppy, Survivor Series match but the pressure is on to be the antagonist Sasha Banks needs as WWE looks to keep her and Charlotte separate.

Whatever the future holds, including the tantalizing possibility Banks turns on Bayley at some point, the bar for all women in WWE has been set very high leading into Smackdown Live's upcoming TLC pay-per-view.

(Five Feet of Fury strikes again. Source: WWE.com)

We finally got an official stipulation for Becky Lynch vs. Alexa Bliss-tables. That is after Bliss fought off a top rope Bexplex and made the champ kiss particle board. Ol' Five Feet of Fury is the most improved worker in the women's division since her call-up from NXT and has been the catalyst for Lynch to find balance between her likeability and vocal intensity. The champion has been the blue brand's resident ring general in the women's division and her work with Bliss has been smash mouth fun since the feud's inception. This will continue into a great match in which I predict Lynch goes over in a hard fought victory.

(Princess Mella didn't moonwalk, nor mince any words on this week's Smackdown. Source: WWE.com)

The other women's bout breaks new ground for veteran and ingénue alike as the Nikki Bella/Carmella feud looks to reach its apex in a no-DQ match. The self-proclaimed Princess Mella has relentlessly gone after Nikki ever since she arrived and hasn't let up even after the reality star beat the Princess of Staten Island at No Mercy. Nikki Bella has stepped up her game, able to make her antagonist look credible as she hones her skills.

Prior to returning from neck surgery, Bella was usually the one who needed the more experienced hand as her opponent to maximize her talents. So far, this has made for a credible secondary feud among the women on the blue show. The high bar set by the aforementioned Banks/Flair feud indicates we're going to see some fun violence, if not a great match per se, out of Carmella and Nikki.

(Nikki can't wait for TLC. Source: WWE.com)

My prediction, in light of Nikki Bella standing tall at the end of their go-home segment, is Carmella notches her first pay-per-view victory.

In coming weeks, I will evaluate the women of WWE programming and where I think they're heading into 2017 as well as analyze what they're giving us as 2016 winds down.

As always, follow me on Twitter. @WesKozalla, #GlitterAndSlam, #Wrestlementary.