Former WWE writer Kevin Eck has posted a new blog at SportsBlog.com about the state of WWE’s Divas division and the recent #GiveDivasAChance movement.Â
In recent weeks, we have seen Divas matches getting more time on WWE television, despite the fact that NXT’s female wrestlers truly do get a chance to practice their craft in the ring and put on competitive, entertaining matches. Eck argues that the retirement of AJ Lee, the absence of Paige (off shooting a movie) and the heel turn of Naomi has left the Divas division without a hero for fans to get behind.
He then shed some light on how WWE instructed the writers to portray the Divas during his time a creative team member.
“During my time on the WWE creative team, we actually were told that there really are no babyfaces or heels in the Divas division. It was strongly implied that the Divas are all just a bunch of catty chicks, most of whom are mentally unstable.
A perfect example of that philosophy was the booking of the program between AJ and Paige last year. Instead of establishing a babyface and a heel, both characters acted heelish.
Their “frenemies” angle was more confusing than compelling. Thus, the rivalry between one of the most “over” Divas of all time and a heralded newcomer to the main roster wasn’t nearly as good as it should have been.
The audience needs someone to root for. It’s really not that complicated.”
He also wrote about the Bella Twins’ blood feud / unexplained reconciliation from last year. Nikki told her twin sister that she wished she would have died in the womb and continued to berate Brie for a month. At Survivor Series, Brie helped Nikki retain the Divas championship in a baffling example of WWE’s shoddy storytelling. Eck explains how he would have made the angle make sense – and pitches a scenario for how Sunday’s Divas Championship match between Nikki and Naomi should play out.
