It’s official: this is where women’s wrestling is at. SmackDown, in my humble estimation, is now the premiere series to be watching if you are looking for women’s wrestling on your televisual boxes. That was never more evident than tonight’s episode, where despite not even having a match, SmackDown proved that it is the show that everyone should be watching. Compelling storylines, well written characters and great performances — it’s hard not to do double-take. This is WWE, right? Despite the recent years of fluff and disappointment, WWE have delivered perhaps one of their strongest Divas storylines in quite some time and this week’s show is a seminal moment in what I expect will be a turning of the tide. There’s nothing Diva-y about this week’s SmackDown, to spin the old line used by WCW — this is where the big girls play.
Beginning this week’s Divas action, we saw the debut of Serena Mancini in what may go down as one of the most memorable debuts in Diva history.
PART 1 PART 2 Serena appears as a fan jumping the barricade during another scintilating straight edge promo from CM Punk, claiming she needs him. He says she knows he needs him. Honestly, the initial dialogue was as cheesy as a Twilight movie and I was expecting Punk to throw in a “You are my life now” at some point. That said, it did get better and Punk is golden at his whole shtick. We see Serena willing to make the ultimate sacrifice and denounce her life of addiction etc. and has her shaved head in the name of her saviour, Punk.
All in all, I think this was a good segment and Serena played the cult-like psycho very well. It’ll be interesting to see how she’s used from here with her bald head. I hope this works out for her, it’s a great sacrifice to make but she’s in the big leagues now. I hope she didn’t sacrifice this just to be the glorified bald manager for Punk’s Straight Edge Society. The setup of that group doesn’t really suggest to me that it’ll have a typical manager/wrestler dynamic ala Hart Dynasty. I expect we’ll see Serena actually getting nitty-gritty and I look forward to it. Perhaps she herself could target a Diva and try to ‘help’ them?
Next up, Mickie’s ‘going away’ party:
Not since the days of Trish [you know, when WWE actually cared about writing for the Divas] have we seen a promo as elaborate as this. The Divas got to be part of an in-ring segment complete with props with the red carpet and table of food and also received plenty of time for their spot. What the Divas accomplished in this segment, I feel, is much more than what could be accomplished in a standard Divas match that we see every week. As I wrote earlier in the column, I feel this was a seminal moment for this feud but also for the WWE Divas. WWE has shown here that they can write good stuff for the Divas because this was extremely strong.
PART 1 PART 2 Michelle & Layla decide that tonight is Mickie James’ last night on SmackDown and throw her a going away party and we see some funny banter between them before Maria hits the ring. I have to hand it to Maria, I thought this was the promo of her career — she was extremely convincing and didn’t come across as the ditzy girl or the unlucky in love girl, but a strong female.
Mickie then comes out and cuts the promo we have been waiting on for weeks, telling Michelle and Layla that all women of all different shapes and sizes are beautiful. If only WWE believed that. Mickie’s promo, again was well spoken but I have to say, I preferred Maria’s.
Mickie goes after Layla and then Michelle as all hell breaks loose before the Glamazon, Beth Phoenix hits the ring and chooses Team Lay-Cool after weeks of ‘will she turn face?’. Disappointing as I had hoped Beth would move away from being a stoic heel as she has been in the past few years.
The moment when Michelle hit Mickie in the face with the cake and then dumped the bowl of punch on her, this for me was a turning point. In that moment, I felt like I could feel Mickie’s emotions and that kind of empathy is so hard to write in scripted television. It really did give me chills, Mickie in tears so convincingly — broken down and battered by Michelle and Layla finally. It’s hard to believe that a scene like this could have been written by the same people who have shafted us for so many years but they were always capable of it. The connection that WWE has created between Mickie and the viewer after the end of that scene is golden. I’d have to think that after that, even the most casual fan would want to see where this goes next and want to see Mickie get her revenge.
This is perhaps the best written scene WWE has pulled out for it’s Divas in years and it’s not just them, kudos to all the women involved for pulling it off so effectively. All five played their parts well and sold the drama to the viewer. Each of them were convincing and so congrats to them.
All of the topics covered here on SmackDown this week have been a greatly welcomed move away from the stupid storylines based around jealousy or looks as has been the status quo for the past few years. From Serena and Punk’s straight edge cult to Mickie standing up for her femininity, the subject matter here is gritty and it’s intriguing. Easily one of the best nights for the Divas in quite some time.
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80 Comments
This weeks SD! is what wrestling in general is all about. Excellent performance (whether it be wrestling or in mic work), comedy, an entertaining storyline and something that helps you connect with the superstars in a good or bad way (hating or liking them). I loved everything about the Mickie/Michelle and Co segment. They all performed well, the props made the segment a lot better and then Mickie’s acting at the end was nothing short of outstanding. Her mascara or whatever it was running down her face thanks to tears was sad to watch, even though we all know of the scripted nature of wrestling. Truly spectacular episode of SD!
Best Performers: Mickie and Layla
These two excelled in their mic work tonight, with Mickie being passionate and believable and Layla being completely funny as. Great stuff.
Serena’s “debut” was good also, but where the hell did it say she was a new member of SD!? It didn’t. Ok, she’s a new member of the straight edge society, yet so were the other two blokes with their heads shaven. I hope this isn’t a one time thing for Serena.
AHHHH! This week’s Smackdown was awesome.
I actually couldn’t stop smiling throughout Serena’s debut – despite the head-shaving orgasm was a little scary – and I’m so glad she’s on the main roster. I was getting major Mickie James psycho flashbacks. I hope they use her in a feud with another diva.
The LayCool-Mickria(I couldn’t think of a good Maria/Mickie name combined…) segment was genius. I genuinelly felt sorry for Mickie at the end. All the divas played their roles brilliant, even Beth as the torn tweener. I loveddddd it :)
“what an emotional night of TV. I don’t know how to feel right now.”
tweeted by Beth after the show……it´s curious and can mean something…or not.
Melanie Reply:
January 23rd, 2010 at 4:05 pm
redsoul, I think perhaps Beth was talking about the Haiti telethon that was on last night?
That comment by Beth- oooh!!
SmackDown was just so good this week. It was one of the best in ring promos for a while imo. Mickie was the ultimate face and the girls were really good in the heel role.
The boos came right at the beginning of the segment, before they started to talk.
I was thinking of Bryan Danielson when I said that, not Nigel McGuinness, sorry.
It’s official, SmackDown is where the divas are at people. =P From the memorable debut of Serena to the truly fantastic OVER 10 MINUTES promo by Lay-Cool, Maria, Mickie & Beth. I have never felt so sad for Mickie within her entire WWE career. =( She better ‘take McCool back to school’ on the Royal Rumble, and somehow … I have a feeling she’ll win the title.
Here’s my theory, at this moment, even though she help in Mickie’s ‘going away’ party assualt with Lay-Cool, I still consider her natural. And what will happen on the Royal Rumble is McCool will be accompanied by Layla & Beth, Mickie MIGHT have Maria with her, and towards the end of the match, something will happen involving Lay-Cool and Beth. Mickie about to win when like Layla distracts Mickie & McCool hits her finisher or something. But Maria breaks the pin-fall and Layla tries to take out Mickie somehow, but all of a sudden … Beth will just go nuts on Layla and attack her. McCool will be like WTF?! Mickie does her finisher on McCool, wins the title and Mickie & Beth will properly shake hands in the ring or something. I hope to God this happens, because THIS is entertainment. =)
Zephyr5326 wrote:
“Serena’s “debut” was good also, but where the hell did it say she was a new member of SD!? It didn’t. Ok, she’s a new member of the straight edge society, yet so were the other two blokes with their heads shaven. I hope this isn’t a one time thing for Serena.”
The other 2 guys (James and Trevor) weren’t wrestlers (as far as we know, and if they are they arent from FCW). Serena is however, and i dont think they would ruin Serena (their top female wrestler in FCW) just for 1 appearance.
Great! I hope they’re gonna put the same effort on Raw now…Even if I don’t believe it will happen…Maria,Layla and Michelle were the best,in my opinion…Well done Mickie and Beth tooo…=)
I don’t know what to say. I’m kinda bipolar in this storyline. I don’t like the example their showing to young girls, but at the same time it helped improving their characters, Layla’s wrestling abbilities and Michelle’s mic skills.
About Serena, I must say that this segment kinda make me laugh…the cheesy marks, the “I’m like Jesus” attitude of Punk, the happiness in Serena’s face, it seemed something taken out of an Adam Sandler movie. It was really, really funny. I’m sensing and Hart Dynasty vs Straight Edge Movement, but I hope Serena doesn’t become just another valet. She deserves more than that.
what a great segment….OMG all of them did very good
its better than throwing another match just like mel said…plus im sure everybody is excited to know wht will happen in the match…who will win ,wht will beth do???
Not sure how I feel about Serena’s debut. It’s good she’s in the big leagues now, but at the same time I wish it wasn’t with Punk because the straight edge angle is really annoying (but that just may be my liberal outlook on life talking). In any case I’ll be watching her.
And the for the biggie. Wow. Just wow. They hit that right out of the arena! Everything was done so well. Mickie cut that very emotional speech and really was the archetype of a strong babyface heroine and then she was knocked off, just like that. The sad part of this program is that this is the climax, so you know everything that will come after will never match the emotion of last night. Also, this final humiliation of Mickie (I don’t think Laycool will do anymore) solidifies her title win. After all, what will it say if Mickie suffered the worst kind of treatment and doesn’t come out on top in the end? That being the good girl doesn’t pay off? Great job all around!
After watching SmackDown last night i was very interested in Beth’s reaction.All Diva’s did a great job.With both sides having 2 diva’s apiece,it puts Beth in the best
possible position .She ,Beth being a “tweener” can go either way.Last night she stood
they’re for a couple of seconds before decideing to help mIchelle and layla.She went right after Mickie and did a great job getting Mickie some Beth treatment.Beth being the most Dominate Diva on SmackDown can chose who she wants to help.Now I would have to say if Mickie really wants to get even she needs Beth’s help.And that could form a very interesting tag team.I don’t think Beth would have any problem going after Michelle and layla.Beth has the best chance of teaching Michelle and laya the lesson that Mickie would like to teach them.But she’s gonna need the one Diva that they fear Beth “the GlamaZon” Phoenix.
I hope Serena’s hair grows faster than the speed of light because she doesn’t look good bald, this whole head shaving has made me upset because now i’m afraid WWE will release her once they don’t like her look anymore
Serenas Debut was kinda HUH? I mean she didnt even think or seem to look like “ahh crap im bald” but she seemed happy!
I had a thought though, I thought that her debut would of been better if she came into WWE through the Mickie/Michelle/Maria/Layla/Beth segment… When Mickie said the bit about real women I thought Michelle should of went over to the crowd and pointed at Serena and said you call this a real women with Serena attacking Michelle blah blah blah.
But Maybe its good to seperate Serena from the Divas storyline for now….
I felt so sorry for Mickie she looked so nice and beautiful and Michelle ruined it!!!
Poor.. I just hope that Mickie wins this title at royal rumble and the piggy jestures come to an end!
“”The boos came right at the beginning of the segment, before they started to talk.”
I hear a dead crowd, but if you disagree, that’s cool. No point in arguing about it
Melanie,i think she was talking about the SD show,in her own way/character.she wouldn´t give clear clues and be direct about that.
and look at her new tweet:
“the blessing of strength comes with the responsibility of carrying others when they are weak. “.
like i said it can mean everything or nothing at all,but at least it´s curious.
Don’t mean to ruin it all but wining back the title shouldn’t be enough. Like at the Royal Rumble they should let Mickie beat the hell out of Layla and Michelle with a steel chair. It would be so cool to see Layla and Michelle bleeding all over the place and basically unpretty.
SereneAndTranquil – Watching 2 women get hit by a chair so that they bleed all over the place is “cool” ? People complain that what Laycool does to Mickie sends the wrong message to the fans, but senseless violence sends the correct message?
SereneandTranquil: Yeah right…the WWE would definitely satisfy the kids parents, if they did that.
Don’t forget…now WWE is PG
Btw, what happened to the list of well and bad dressed? Because that Maria top, with paint stains really needs some commentary xD
And I forgot, Maria really showed AMAZING mic skills…she usually only does the Im dumb thing, but she ruled O.o
And Mickie already lost some weight. She looked pretty. Many women would wish and die for bodies like that. She’s a real women, with CURVES.
Best women’s segment ever. I watched this I don’t know how many times. The Punk segment was awesome too. I so want to be part of the straight Edge society. Actually I just want to be near CM Punk.
I really hope the Raw writers learn a thing or two from the SD! ones. Like I said I really liked this and I think that some of the Divas on Raw have the potential to do well too if actually given the chance instead of the pointlessness and stupid “comedy” acts by the guest hosts. I really hope Raw steps it up if they really want that to be the A show. Loved both segments. I really was just so annoyed with Lay-Cool and was happy Maria was sticking up for Mickie and really really happy Mickie stuck up for herself and the rest of the world. :D
Is it just me or did mickie james and maria look extremely hot, like more than normal
Forever PIGGIE JAMES!:D
Serena really rocks that shaved head look.
Not since the days of Trish and Lita have I enjoyed a Divas segment like this. Props to the Smackdown writers for nailing everything, and MOST importantly, props to the Divas for making Diva fans proud. :)
This is why I watch SD! Everything was awesome! Serena rocks! Maria really amazed me last night tbh. LayCool = hilarious (as usual). Everything Mickie said was inspirational and all, but she sounded weird, like she was trying to hypnotize Lay Lay & Michelle. What entertained me the most was LayCool. I might be the only one, but I’m still rooting for McCool @ RR.
to be honest i only enjoyed what came from layla and mccool because it made me laugh. but i did not feel comfortable watching mickie james cry at the end because i feel like those tears were real. it was a good segment but i didnt enjoy watching some of it.
I really, really think that Gail Kim and Melina should both be on SmackDown now as well. SmackDown really cares for its Divas, and it provides the stuff you just can’t get on Raw, like these kinds of ‘Seminal Moments’. SmackDown is officially THE place to find a top Diva, and ironic as it may seem, while Mickie was initially ‘demoted’ to SD, it actually only turned her into the otherwise. I’m sorry for Melina, that she had to suffer all those humiliating matches on Raw since October that were supposed to make her the real ‘Top Diva’, but then again, she did provide us with appetizers last year that could only have led to the main course. And the main course? It’s this segment right here. Now if only we could get her back on the blue brand with Gail too…