We dust off ‘Diva Draft’ for a one-off special to tie in with the closure of ECW. The Land of Extreme will be no more in two weeks time and leaves behind quite a legacy for the Divas who’ve passed through its doors. No, I’m not talking about Jazz or Francine or any of those girls — why bother when we can value such contributions as Kelly’s Expose or Extreme Expose?
But for the three Divas remaining on ECW, they’re going to need new homes because as mentioned by ECW Champion, Christian on Raw, all of the ECW stars are now free agents for Raw and SmackDown. We weigh in or where the Divas should go:
Rosa Mendes
Moving from Raw to ECW in the big Diva Trade of October 2009, Rosa managed to find a spot on the show rather than drifting away as we had originally assumed. Aligning herself with the annoying Zack Ryder, the duo quickly became the ‘it’ couple of ECW and Rosa has been on the arm of Ryder for his many matches since. The manager role suits Mendes, who wasn’t much of a wrestler during her time on Raw — she’s easy to look at and has the whole ‘spoiled rich girl’ gimmick down to a tee. Her and Ryder fit pretty well together as the proverbial king and queen of the prom. There’s no reason to break up this team and have Rosa flounder in the Divas division until she’s eventually released. I’d keep her with Ryder and move the duo and their gimmick over to SmackDown. Ryder seems a perfect fit to be elevated into competition for the Intercontinental Championship against the likes of John Morrison, Drew McIntyre, Matt Hardy and others. Their gimmick could also easily fit in on Raw which seems to be more about gimmicks and characters than wrestling, but when you have The Miz over there, it may be too similar. Either way, I expect Ryder — and ergo, Rosa — will be a staple of WWE Superstars so it doesn’t matter too much which brand they’re on.
More after the cut:
Savannah
Here’s a young talent that has an extremely bright future and it isn’t in ring announcing. Sadly, it’s incredibly likely that Savannah will stay on the NXT brand as a ring announcer but she is just what SmackDown could use right now. With Mickie James and Maria, who is more often unused than used, as the lone babyface Divas on SmackDown, the brand is in need of some fresh blood to battle the evil Lay-Cool and Glamazon. Savannah has this ‘put her in your pocket’ appeal about her that just screams babyface, she’s always so smiley and happy-looking that she should easily be able to pull off the role of the lovable Diva. Her small size and stature works to her advantage too as a scrappy young underdog — something Mickie James once considered. It’d be conceivable that the new Women’s Champ would take this young talent under her wing, seeing herself in her. Sure, she’d likely be used to even the numbers in tag matches etc. but I can totally see Savannah as an ‘ultimate underdog’ ala Rey Mysterio for the Divas division. Ideally, I’d love to see her debut on SmackDown in shock fashion — picking up an upset win over a top Diva i.e. Michelle perhaps with a distraction from Mickie. From there you could tie Savannah into the main storyline with Michelle wanting revenge against Savannah, calling her win a fluke and have her eventually begin teaming up with Mickie.
Tiffany
Outgoing ECW General Manager, Tiffany is a hard one to predict. She could easily find her way into the Divas division but when you’ve played an authority figure, becoming ‘just another Diva’ seems like a downgrade. I’d say keep her as the new GM of NXT — after all she is young and part of the ‘next generation’ that the show stands for. Already known for her work in FCW, it wouldn’t be a stretch to have her as GM for the Superstars and Divas of that brand, most of whom will be coming in from FCW. Keep her where she is.
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22 Comments
Rosa to NXT
Tiffany to RAW, Looking for the Buttefly
and Savannah to Smackdown :D
Hmmm, I have to agree with a lot of these, either that or they’ll all stay on NXT given the fact that Rosa and Savannah remain on the FCW roster, whilst Tiffany is an authority position on the axed brand, whilst the new brand would need a new leader, though the fact they said all talents will become ‘free agents’ might mean that their roles beforehand don’t necessarily matter, it could be cheap way of taking the girls out of their former roles.
Rosa will no doubt go where Zack goes and who knows, she could also sink back into the protoge/ally role of Beth, though Layla seems to be laggying around Michelle already, so it’d be unlikely they’d introduce another one on the same aligment. Savannah as I just said will no doubt stay where she is, which is a shame seeing as her talents being opressed- I remember plans years ago to call her up as Cryme Tyme’s valet- even that would’ve been more desirable than Lauren Mayhew’s fill-in. I too could easily see Savannah being picked on by Beth, Michelle or Layla and ending up in a match she doesn’t want to go into, picking up the win in a rather Yoshi Tatsu like fashion.
Tiffany, well she’s alright in the ring, if she were to move I think she’d have an easier time on SD character wise, she’s good looking and has built up more character than Savannah, meaning she’s more bankable in terms of fan support (though that in itself is limited) she could easily work her way up the chain there, because I think to be honest Tiffany surpasses Maria in the wrestling department, plus they could easily explain how she got there through her connections with Theodore Long. Then again, she could also fit in well on Raw, where Divas are just used for anything, regardless of personality or charisma, I am one of few who’d prefer to see her wrestle than GM, I just don’t find her a believable General Manager. Someone who has more heat like Abe Washington would be a better successor, plus it means his show might get axed.
I’m not holding my breath for NXT when it comes to the Divas, especially with its reality aspect, I think it’ll be like the early ECW revival in the fact it will all be a nit niche and just include the guys, if the Divas are involved, again it will be limited as it was to ECW with possible random bikini contests or an interviewer.
well, at a recent house show, (smackdown) savannah actually got involved in the match that featured Mickie Vs Michelle w/ Beth Phoenix as ref, she pulled beth from the ring to help mickie win the match
Like I said, Savannah’s interference means very little, house shows follow the televised storylines not the other way round. If Savannah was used it is more than likely an arc used in house shows only, we don’t hear very often of action that happens at house show sunless they involve title changes, plus they change it all around so often, Katie Lea and Rosa both tagged with Mickie in matches after Savannah had in an almost identically schedule, they’re fillers- so I wouldnt read into it all that much.
Saying that I thought there would’ve been a Hurrican/Savannah vs. Zack Ryder/Rosa Mendes match, following the fours spat in the ring, however that bizarre little segment faded away rather quickly.
Also I remember in that massive Diva tag match they a year or two ago, Tiffany got a roll-up in her first and only match in WWE, I thought this meant they were going to push her but she was then made GM of ECW. There might’ve been original plans for Tiffany considering the fact she was made GM because Vickie Guerrero accepted the offer to govern Raw, calling Teddy Long back to SD, a decision that was accepted by Vickie in real life (I’m not one of those people who believe everything that happens is real :P)
As long as Rosa NEVER wrestles again, I’m all good with her. She should be a valet. It’s what she’s best at. As for Savannah I think she should move to Smackdown also, she could be the missing piece in the puzzle that is the Smackdown Divas storyline. As for Tiffany I hope she stays on NXT but a possible disappearance from television and return as the future permanant GM of RAW would also be a feezable option.
I dont think the new show is going to have GMs.
Rosa can go anywhere Zack goes, she is a good valet, just keep her out of the ring.
Savannah should go to Smackdown. She is a great talent, but she is still a rookie, i dont think she is ready for a live RAW show where you are under a lot of pressure to perform well. And with Gail on RAW i doubt they put her there. The WWE crowd is too stupid to be able to distinguish 2 asian women from eachother.
Tiffany should stay in FCW to train, and maybe become a valet if they really want to use her. But i am not very excited to see her wrestling on the main roster.
I don’t want them ruining SmackDown or making Raw worse.. Leave them on NXT please.
I Agree with all the moves but not Tiffanys. I think she would be better on Raw sinc its more about Characters there than Wrestling. But i agree with Looking Glass on not seeing Tiffany as a believable GM.
I agree with sending Rosa wherever Ryder goes. She’s a great valet and not bad on the mic.
Tiffany I still find annoying. She can’t read lines to save her life. Much like Rosa, I don’t think wrestling is her future. I’d keep her on NXT, away from the big two.
Savannah is a question mark because no one’s really seen her wrestle outside of FCW, so she could go anywhere. Likely SD if they feel dumb people will confuse her with Gail on Raw. But I don’t put it past management to keep her as the NXT announcer.
Savannah should go to Raw and to replace Lilian.
Tiffany should go to Raw and be come GM. Enough with the lame Guest GMs!!!
Rosa doesn’t really matter with her being Zack Ryder’s valet. She’s just eye candy.
i think that they should move tiffany to raw and have her as the permanent general manager on raw.im kinda getting tired of this guest host stuff.she did a real good job as general manager of ecw.and she’d do a good job as general manager of raw.who agrees with me?as for rosa mendes and savannah,it doesnt really matter which brand they get moved to for me.they both would be good fit on either brand
Rosa to Raw. Savannah to SD.
Tiffany to SD. I’d love to see her get into a GM rivalary with Vickie Guerrero over who’s the best advisor to Teddy Long. Ha.
I don’t care much about Tiffany.
Rosa can go with Zack anywhere, they’re a good pairing.
Now Savannah, the girl NEEDS to go to SmackDown. She’s so promising and they need another face Diva.
Savannah would be a good choice to SD,because they need one or two more face Divas.Rosa to Raw,and Tiffany…..i don´t really know….
I really like Tiffany she’s improved so much in the ring so I wouldn’t mind her heading to Raw or smackdown, same with Savannah. I don’t care where Rosa goes
“The WWE crowd is too stupid to be able to distinguish 2 asian women from eachother.”
lol@Mikas – Unfortunately that is oh so true. :P
And though I may be in the minority, I do not like Savannah’s ring announcing at all. I know that Lillian wasn’t perfect when she just started out and that she made her mistakes, but I can’t get into the voices/cadences of the ones they’ve tried out since. :\
@Mikas ‘The WWE crowd is too stupid to be able to distinguish 2 asian women from eachother’
Lol! That is VERY true.
I hope she goes to Smackdown and has matches with Layla at first, along with tag matches with McCool and Phoenix. I would like to see Savannah hold a title in the next 2 years though, so hopefully she is used.
With ECW finishing the WWE should have a complete shake up, by getting rid of dead weight. There is far too many male and female wrestlers, that are not getting enough ring time, which effects the matches as they look rushed.
well savvanah is the only one i’am pulling for. she is sos great. my favorite diva was candice. after she got released i never had a real favorite. eve was always there. so was mickie, melina, michelle, maryse, maria, beth phoenix, natalya, layla, kelly, gail kim, kaite lea and alicia. but no real favorite. savannah i always liked her and i see easily becoming my favorite. she should be on sd! look at her she is beautiful and can get down in the ring. i also can say she could be an underdog. maybe team with mickie for awhile. after mickie loses her title. she could surprisngly beat the champ. who most likely will be beth. and get a shot. and later on do it again and beat her for the title. yay savannah the new womens champion. plus houseshows. do mean something. they are test out matches. rosa and katie have played face in houseshows as recent. but it didn’t workout. they didn’t get over with the fans. now savannah did was a test. i’m sure wwe saw the buzz and got a plan for savannah to continue. so thats just my opnion.
Agree sounds good, Savanna possibly a backstage reporter on Smackdown Rosa and Zack annoying but good characters on Smackdown and keep Tiffany were she is she has come a long way in her acting chops.
They should turn Tiffany into the consultant of the host of RAW. A role like Vickie has. It would make sense, since supposedly the hosts shouldn’t know well the rivalries and things like that, so Tiffany would be great as a constant.
Rosa should go with Ryder to SD!, and maybe also become Beth’s ally again. Being with a diva like Beth would make wonders for her, like Layla has improved under Mccool’s wing.
Savannah also should go to SD. They need more faces and Mickie James needs an ally that is a more decent wrestler than Maria.
I just wanna’ see Savanna kick Layla’s ass after Layla practically man-handled her in a previous Lumberjill match with Melina and Michelle.