killeroflegends

Mickie James and Rosa Mendes may have been the two women left out of anything for Raw, but they ended up in the main event of Superstars. Mickie teamed up with the current United States Champion, Kofi Kingston, to take on Rosa and Carlito. The match was shorter than the average diva match on Raw, but it still had some time to it. There was a small catfight between the two women before the match officially got underway. The men were in most of the action. For the short time the divas did go at it, the action was solid. Nothing too new, but given the time they were in there and how experienced Rosa is not, it will do. Mickie did a strong selling of the double-headbutt. In the end, it seems the women may have been just extras in a brewing feud between Carlito and Kofi. Carlito did end up pinning Kofi. I am still not happy about Mickie being stuck with such a short amount of time in the ring with a limited opponent. I may have made it sound passable, but this is the stuff all the criticism of Mickie James is made of. Carlito/Rosa defeat Kofi/Mickie.

If you pass by a certain rumor site out there, you may come across a fancy headline about Jim Ross blogging about “The Next Trish Stratus”. His blog entry can be found here. When I first read the report from the rumor site and saw the diva he was talking about, I immediately questioned what definition of “The Next Trish Stratus” he was using. As I have said before, my definition revolved around a diva who enters as an inexperienced beauty, becomes credible before the eyes of the fans, and is handed the booking support. Obviously, JR simply means the next credible diva to be the absolute top star of the WWE. His exact words never actually use the headline the rumor site used. JR specifically uses the term “Stratus-like” to describe the diva. I do not see JR as going as far as saying that the diva he has in mind really will be the next Trish Stratus. The diva will simply blaze her own path to the top, WWE support pending. There is a distinction there.

Putting a name to the mystery, if you have not already read what JR said, Gail Kim is the woman. If this was a discussion based on my definition of “The Next Trish Stratus”, Gail was obviously not a model with the looks to get into the WWE without wrestling skill. She has a unique look, but what does that have to do with being the next Trish? I already said that she did not have the look of a model or is even the next blonde in line. Trish’s look, and the look of many of the divas people are always questioning whether will be the next Trish, are never that unique. Gail Kim has the skill, but her skills are obviously more honed than that of Trish Stratus, even on arguably Trish’s best day. Gail Kim can be like Trish Stratus in terms of being a credible wrestler, earning the fan support, and getting the booking to support her, as I think Jim Ross is really saying. However, I do not believe Gail Kim can actually be “The Next Trish Stratus” in terms of having the qualities Trish had that earned her the fan support and strong booking, contrary to how the rumor site wants to word it. Repeating what I wrote not too long ago, I do see a distinction.

Is this a good sign for Gail? A sign of things to come? She got some praise from Jim Ross, and he does see potential in her. In his mind, she is marketable. Like I hint at now and then, that is what one of the chief goals is. What will draw the fans? Obviously, she is not there yet. What is stopping her from getting the booking support? Strong fan support. What is holding her back from getting the fan support? Among other things, her character is not strong enough. How do you solve that? More rich storylines for her would help. I do like how JR mocks the WWE’s diva motto. I do agree with him about the divas needing time in the ring to get the fans to care, but there is more to it than that, as I just pointed out. The majority of wrestlers, male or female, cannot get over by just wrestling talent alone. Nevertheless, JR sees something in Gail Kim. If only there was a diva who was a credible wrestler, had a unique look, and has earned the fan support to warrant the WWE to support her with the type of treatment Trish Stratus had.

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