Jan 13 2009
Raw Diva Notes 1/12/09
There was no real diva match tonight. There is the satisfaction of knowing all the Raw divas were used.
Layla was with Regal. Shocking, isn’t it?
Stephanie McMahon showed her power over Chris Jericho in the middle of the ring, firing him. I loved that. Stephanie looks to be in a little better shape as well. She is still wearing the black for a clear reason, and is not back to her 2002 self, but still nice to see that they do not have to use camera tricks to hide her bottom half. Too bad Vince may ruin it next week.
Candice Michelle and Mickie James were in the same boat tonight. Candice was talking to CM Punk tonight before his match, or talking to his back at least. Candice seems to have a new look. I will not say more about that, draw your own unbiased opinions of her. Mickie James was talking to Cody Rhodes about the blizzard outside. It is interesting that they had a casual face-heel interaction like that, but it was probably partially to raise doubt on which side of the fence Cody would be later in the night, as well as give Mickie a few seconds on camera. Do not start any rumors of Mickie possibly joining Orton’s Legacy or valeting for Cody because of that segment. And do not try to raise questions about Candice dating, or trying to date, Punk or the same between Mickie and Cody, either in the storyline world or in real life. A segment is just a segment sometimes, no matter how hard you dream of Candice and Mickie being used better. I am with you there. Useless backstage segments is treating these women right? What a waste of talent.
Speaking of a waste, what happened to Kane/Kelly/Orton? Kelly Kelly was not out at all during the match, did not have a segment concerning it whatsoever, and it was only mentioned in passing by the commentators. I honestly thought they were going to go somewhere with this. Kane seemed to be used just as a jobber tonight to put over Orton, who could then have his segment with Manu, Snuka, Rhodes, and Dibiase. I was correct in predicting that Orton might feud with Snuka and Manu, but I figured they would pace the plots out better so that the Kane/Kelly/Orton angle would have a close in relation to where Kelly went. Looks like the stable angle trumped that, and the return of Dibiase just added motivation. Good to see him back, though. Orton has a clear role now. And it seems that Kane does too. The ref messed up and ended the match even though Kane had his shoulder up, planned ending I believe. They may take it to an angle where Kane repeatedly gets into messes because of this ref and it turns into a match. There is a TNA reference there, and I cannot wait to see Kane jobbing to a ref. What else can the WWE do to ruin him? They could not throw him a bone in Kelly Kelly as a valet? I may be speaking prematurely, as they may continue the angle again next week. However, the finish to that match just seems to signal a new direction for Kane.
As for Kelly Kelly, she was supposed to tag with Melina to take on Jillian and Beth. I was hoping this match would be better than the same match that happened last month, where only Kelly and Jillian saw time in the ring. I am too hopeful at times. I should know the WWE better after all the years I have watched them. THERE WAS NO MATCH! Melina gets attacked by Rosa Mendez (Roucka) during the entrance. Security takes Rosa away, but Beth and Jillian take down Kelly Kelly and Melina further. Some nice trash talk by Beth, mocking Melina with a camera, spoiling the match further, and Jillian praising her finally lead to Beth getting some good heat since I do not know when. It only took Beth almost 2 years to figure it out. We will see if she gets it to last. She still has more work to do to truly get over without a comedian coming out with her. At least now the WWE seems to realize the true spot her character should be going, a serious tone, not comedic.
One last note. I have brought up the point that this Beth/Melina/Rosa angle is imitating an angle a decade ago between Sable/Luna/Tori. Do some research on youtube or a good pic site. The obsessed stalker fan attacking her hero’s enemy during her entrance has been done before. I am not talking about during Mickie/Trish. The same thing happened a decade ago. The WWE is going by the book in imitating it. I was hoping they would do more to add a new take on it, but I have to wait until next week to find out.
I have to ask, are there people who like this Mendez angle? Everybody know it is overdone, why continue (or start, for that matter)? Nobody have more original ideas?
But I am petty here: finally, Beth acting as a heel! Jillian gives a beating! There was no match, and that is a shame, but those divas (along with Melina) were used correctly.
I still want to see Mickie James and Candice in better roles than backstage talks. At least they are not forgotten.
I really liked when they tagged together few times, maybe it will happen more in the future.
Whether people like the angle or not, it will give them something to talk about concerning Rosa, Beth, and Melina. That is what the WWE wants to promote right now. I am just questioning why they don’t try to add a little more originality. I keep waiting and waiting, but what happened last night was just like a decade ago. The younger fans will not know about this, of course. Rosa will get a little attention by this, but I hope she does not end up wasted as Tori was.
At the same time, no one will really talk about Candice or Mickie backstage talking for a few seconds. If you do not foster popularity when someone has it, and devote resources in getting other people over, the person who was originally popular will lose that fanbase. I already see it happening to Mickie. Her fans are already finding it hard to have anything new to say about her, while there is more and more you can say about Kelly, Melina, Beth, and Rosa. Her fans may mention how hot she looked for 10 seconds, or even say, “She looked so cool talking to Cody Rhodes!”, but I doubt they will even go that far. The same can be said for Candice.