Big FCW post for you… we’ve got a fan report, pictures and video footage from Friday’s FCW live event in Fort Myers. Diva Dirt reader Bobby Lea Burchill sent us the following:
Before the show, I got to meet Christina Crawford, Isis the Amazon and Ricki Vaughn (formerly known as Celeste). All three were very nice and friendly, Christina especially. As reported earlier, Isis asked if it was alright before she took pics with fans, but she was nice about it. Ricki looks really good, and she shared the ring announcing duties for the night, not doing a bad job at all. Christina looks almost identical to Alicia, just with a darker color to her hair.
Onto the show, the Divas match was the third match of the show, and it was announced as a tag match. When Ricki introduced the team of Naomi Night & Aksana, I thought they were gonna run around the ring and slap hands, etc… but they came out in full on heel mode. They scowled at fans, refused to slap hands, and posed as they walked around the ring. Not only that, but Night ditched her braids and had purple bangs. And then out came Liviana and AJ Lee, to new music (no more Trinity theme), who were faces. This had me wondering if they really are being groomed for NXT, because AJ has been changed back to a face for the show, and more boldly, Naomi didn’t have her braids, but changed it to a normal hairstyle for Divas.
More after the cut:
The match went very well, and even Aksana who I thought would be a little green, was on her A-game. The heels took turns working over AJ for a majority, which even had Aksana toss her outside and ram her into the ring apron. But not only that, she grabbed AJ by the hair and ran over to the announce table where Ricki & Matt (the announcers) were sitting, and slammed AJ’s head into it which made a huge sound. Naomi also locked in some cool submissions to AJ, which I managed to get pics of. The match ended with Liviana getting the hot tag into the ring and cleaning house on Night and Aksana. I really am surprised by Liviana as before I went to FCW in June, I didn’t think she was up to par, but the past 2 shows I’ve been to, she’s really shown some great moves and fire. Liviana tossed Naomi into the corner and ran off the ropes with a charging bulldog to take the 3 count and win for her team. During the match, Aksana kept turning around and asking the fans, “is dees good?” “cheer for naomi”. She really has some comedic presence to her as it kept me laughing since I was on the side she turned to. After the match, Aksana checked on Night and Liviana helped AJ to the back.
One thing I found a bit cool was that when the match started, they weren’t being taken to very well by the crowd, but when the match ended, I heard comments like “the women are more technical than the men” and “bring the girls back”.
Overall a great night, and since he’s engaged to a member of Diva Dirt, just wanted to add that Kristin Astara’s fiance, Ryan O’Reilly got to wrestle following the divas and also got great comments from the crowd.
Check out Bobby’s pictures below:
Finally, a video has surfaced on YouTube of the match. Check it out below:
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35 Comments
These ladies are ready for NXT! I’m really impressed with aksana. I thought she did a good job as a heel and she really give me this trish stratus vibe.
Livianna sucks. Sorry but she does. Those elbows to Naomi when she came in, didn’t even touch her head & that bullbog looked very weak & unworthy of a 3 count. I think that if these girls are actually for NXT, then Aksana needs to go face & Livianna as a heel b’cos Livianna is better as a ground worker. But the faces in a match mostly get to show of the flashy moves & Naomi is better as a face but with AJ Lee as a face for the show, it looks like that Naomi will be stuck with her cringeworthy(in a good way) submissions.
Did anyone else get a Nicki Manji vibe from Naomi with the new hair.
wow FCW seem really kool, i hope Isis is signed, they have very diverse group of diva down there, all hvaing there own gimmick and style, i wonder were Jamie was, and it was good match cant wait for NXT now
LOVE Naomi.
Well these girls don’t suck, I’ll tell you that. But it seems like because they cant train anymore once their in the WWE, they start to suck. Liviana DOES need alot more training but because there’s no other Diva to take her place, they had to choose her. WHERE’S COURTNEY!!!!!!!! Courtney x(, why did they release you??
That was pretty good I’m looking forward to seeing Naomi progression… Aksana was also pretty good I was a bit surprised… I’m looking forward to NXT
Livianna needs a lot of work but it was a good effort. She showed a lot of intensity. I’m sure she will be fine with some more training. The other women were good.
Liviana needs more training. Aksana too. AJ is good, we all know that, but Naomi is amazing. She is wrestling for such a little time and she improved very quickly. Since the NXT members continue on FCW for awhile (with the exception of Bryan) they will probably improve more.
This is how I see their gimmicks in the WWE:
- Aksana, a Maryse type role. The normal conceited blonde heel.
- Naomi, a ghetto version of Alicia. Or an female version of R-Truth, but heel and hopefully without rap.
- AJ, the Gail Kim type of face. The one who will job and barely speaks. People say she looks like Melina but her physique and her in ring style is way Gail Kim like.
- Liviana: Rosa Mendes number two. Probably going to cheer somewhere in her career for a guy like Alberto del Rio.
I hope those options doesn’t happen, but I got this feeling it will be something like this.
First off thanks Diva Dirt for posting the recap & pics, and thanks to the couple with the video xD The bulldog looked better from where I was sitting, but overall I still think it was a good match. Before the video was mostly Naomi and Liviana doing some nice counter wrestling and then both tagged out and that’s where the video begins. I marked when they brought the action outside right in front of me, and then the spot with the announce table was a great touch.
I think it’s best to keep Naomi and AJ as different dispositions because each is the stronger wrestlers of the four, so teaming them together might make the matches lessen in quality.
Bobby Lea Burchill,
1) While I realize the answer is probably no I was wondering were you able to ask Christina Crawford and Ricki Vaughn did either of them have any wrestling training before joining the WWE, if so how much training?
2) Are you close with anyone that works behind the scenes at FCW, if you are can you please try and get an update on Jemma Palmer’s status with the WWE the next time you see him or her?
alexl467
ya i would really like to know when Jemma is gonna debut as well, and also I was watchin Memphis Wrestling, and Su Yung was there wrestling and the announcers talked about how Su was signed by WWE and everything,
Naomi continues to impress. And I must say that her body is sick!
@alexl467
1) I didn’t, but my guess would be no previous training. FCW trains them pretty well from the ground up though, so they shouldn’t be bad when they begin. Ricki already looks to be working out imo as she looked very lean as opposed to the first time I saw a pic of her after signing. Christina has an athletic look already, much like Alicia.
2) I’m not xD Just a fan who goes to a few shows when they come near. I have no clue about when Jemma is going to come to FCW.
Liviana & AJ look so alike and would make a nice tag team.
I rather would of wanted to see courtney taylor over aksana and savannah over livianna it would of been less sloppy. The only thing im really hoping for is we have inter gender matches over mix tag team matches because then people would actually watch.
Wtf, Aksana’s forearms look like shit.
Btw, Naomi seems really well ring conditioned. I seriously can’t wait until we see both her and AJ on WWE programming!
I actually see wwe pushing Aj very well. In about three or so years I see Aj,Naomi,Kelly and hopefully Tiffany as the new go to girls.
@imj1995 what do you mean by go to girls?
Naomi and AJ Lee are both definitely ready to be on t.v.
I’m not a fan on Liviana at all- I agree with whoever said they’d rather have Savannah (Angela Fong). She was a REALLY good wrestler, and it’s a shame WWE Universe didn’t get to see it.
I think Aksana will do pretty well, but I wouldn’t think she’s quite ready for NXT.
Now that we have so many Divas debuting, I wonder if WWE will bring in a Divas Tag Division- I doubt it would happen, but I think it’d be a great idea
–(especially if you established teams on NXT: Like AJ Lee & Melina, Aksana & Maryse, and with Lay-Cool and the Bella Twins already on the roster)
I think ‘Go-To-Girls’ is the equivalent to Melina, Michelle McCool (allegedly), Natalya (who doesn’t get used enough, or to her potential), Jillian (see Natalya’s note), etc…that can put on a great match or that WWE takes a liking to.
they r ready keep working girls !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
i watch a house show match between Liviana and Naomi and trust me Liviana is ready, she is good, but with these four divas debuting, i kind of hope they sign more divas, cause that will only leave Christina and Celeste down in FCW, that hasnt debuted
“i watch a house show match between Liviana and Naomi and trust me Liviana is ready, she is good”
I was at that one too. I agree, anyone doubting Liviana in this vid, check out Naomi vs. Liviana from 06-18 and you’ll see she can go in the ring.
the people talking in that Crowd *rolls eyes*
Naomi is so impressive in the ring
Livanna is really good but shes alot better as a heel than face. This doesnt do her justice.
A good pairing would be Naomi/Maryse, where Naomi is face and her and Maryse have a styles clash and Naomi and Maryse have a Miz/Bryan esque feud.
Gail Kim would be AJ Lees pro and become best freinds.
Aksana is a heel and is partnered with the Bella Twins and the duo help Aksana win matches.
Liviana and Melina would be good with Liviana having a cocky attitude and that costs her sevreal wins and Melina tries to mentor her and Liviana resists and have a tense relationship.
My vote to win NXT would be Naomi Night but im perfectly fine with AJ Lee winning as well.
i love Naomis hair lol
haha i kinda like Aksana has a heel shes really funny.
so with 4 divas leaving for nxt i think two will make it to the main roster somehow. Aj lee of course and hopefully naiomi knight. The rest of them kinda suck..sorry. Im am looking forward to su young, Isis the Amazon and Jemma Palmer debuting the have different looks and would be most interesting.
I think if only TWO makes it to the main roster, then I think it’ll probably be AJ and Aksana. I think AJ can offer a great sense of talent and can get the crowd really behind her, she has spunk in her matches — but a flat personality, which she probably will be able to really show sense in FCW, she mostly did matches and some backstage segments. Aksana on the other hand, has good charisma (especially, as a heel). I think it’ll be AJ on Smackdown and Aksana on Raw. But I think all three of them (AJ, Aksana + Naomi) should go on brands. Naomi could fit on either brand, but I think they should send her over on SD to feud with AJ. Right now, I think AJ, Aksana and Naomi all have something to offer.
Not to down Liviana, but I think with AJ’s popularity, Akasana’s looks/charisma, and Naomi’s skills, Liviana doesn’t stand out nearly as the other two – which will be her downfall. If nothing stands out, then the crowd isn’t going to vote or get behind you. People are going to love AJ just because she’s AJ, and Naomi is going to be appreciated for her skills in the rings by critical fans as to where Aksana will probably get looked over and voted for basically because her looks, which is okay because she’s gorgeous. I don’t know where that leaves Liviana, I hope she has one hell of a mentor…
Btw, Aksana is a awesome heel, I honestly didn’t expect her to be on her A-Game. I think if Trish and Maryse ever had a baby together, it would be Aksana! Lmfao. Aksana could have a Trish-like career because WWE will probably be high on her just for the fact she looks like and has the same background as one of their most sucessful Divas and the crowd is already behind Aksana (not, nearly as much as AJ, though :/ ) so Aksana needs to just work on her ring work. Or at least put her up against women like Gail Kim, and NATALYA, who can make anyone look good. Aksana isn’t Maria bad, but even as a friend, some moves she does is really week. But I’ll give her the time and chance to improve. <3 Aksana ftw.
* but even as a fan*
I’m the only one who doesn’t
find Aksana attractive? My little
opinion doesn’t matter because I’m
not a guy and not voting but the other
three girls looks better. Aksana is so fake
looking and weak looking in the ring compare
to Aj and Naomi.
Those the two divas who really going
to be big in WWE. I really can’t wait to
see them on nxt.
…You’re all wrong, Isis the Amazon will show up mid way during NXT season 3 and destroy them all! She will then declare herself winner, why you ask? Because she can!
As with others, I was not impressed with Liviana’s in-ring skills in this match, yet it’s only one showing, and she wasn’t in the ring much so, I’m not going to judge her fully yet. i think this is the best she has ever looked though in my opinion, she suits her hair like that. Aksana is someone who seems to be more of a character than a wrestler and this match proved it. For someone who used to be a bodybuilder, she doesn’t half look small. AJ and Naomi are awesome so, if they do appear in NXT, they’ll be the ones to go all the way. :)
That match was not that great at all. I think Liviana works better as a heel and Naomi as a face, but I like heel Aksana and face AJ Lee. If WWE want to send these girls to NATIONAL TELEVISION they need to use them correctly.
@Ryan1919 i actually like that idea of Isis attacking the girls of NXT and maybe the guys too. She could say that wwe denied her the oppurtunity to be on NXT because of the way she looked. That would be a decent storyline. Too bad wwe’s creative isn’t so creative.