How WWE's Divas Division Went Forward & Backwards Within 24 Hours

I was in a GREAT mood after Sunday's Tables Ladders & Chairs Pay-Per-View event, with both AJ Lee and especially Naomi getting notable pushes that evening. I was preparing to do a write-up on the event overall, but my instincts said, "Wait until you see Monday Night RAW..." And what do you know? I was right. WWE drops the ball, as usual.

I'm really starting to lose hope on the WWE Divas for the most part. There's still hope for the girls on NXT of course, but let's go over what happened over the span of 24 hours.

What Happened At TLC

#1 Contender "Santa's Little Helpers" Diva Battle Royal: Layla El, Aksana, Natalya, Tamina Snuka, Rosa Mendes, Kaitlyn, Alicia Fox, Cameron, and Naomi. 

It was reported earlier this year that Naomi had one of the best Diva matches in recent memory against Natalya at house show, but no one has managed to upload the footage. It was surprising that WWE never took the ball and rolled with it from the buzz that this matter caused and gave her proper push. Well, the stars have smiled on Naomi tonight as she walked out as the winner of this YouTube exclusive Pre-show match.

WWE Divas Championship Match - Eve Torres (champion) vs. Naomi

Naomi continues to turn heads in this chance of a lifetime opportunity to dethrone reigning Divas Champion Eve Torres. At one point, it seemed that Naomi would capture the gold, but a costly mistake by Naomi with a high-risk maneuver from the top rope proved to be her downfall as Eve quickly capitalized to retain.

I have been saying it since NXT Season 3 that Naomi has potential to be a strong competitor in the division. For the record, she was my first pick to win NXT Season 3, followed by AJ Lee taking second. I love watching her work it as much as any other warm-blooded male when her and Cameron accompany Brodus Clay to the ring, but she can be used for so much more.

Somebody Better Call My Momma when she gets a Divas title reign!

Main Event: John Cena vs. Dolph Ziggler - Ladder Match for Money In The Bank Briefcase

At first glance, it seemed like AJ Lee was coming out to Cena's aid to save him from the wrath of Vickie Guerrero, who was armed with a steel chair. AJ puts Vickie's plans to a screeching halt as she takes her out with a flying clothesline and delivers Cena's own signature Five Knuckle Shuffle. She then urges Cena to set up the ladder and grab the briefcase while both Vickie Guerrero and Dolph Ziggler were out of it. Cena began to climb to the top of the ladder while AJ skips around the ring with glee in anticipation of his victory. To the entire WWE Universe's surprise, AJ shoves the ladder over, knocking Cena down to the floor and allows Dolph Ziggler to retain the Money in the Bank briefcase. 

I was completely overjoyed that AJ stabbed Cena in the back. There was no need for Cena to have Money in the Bank. He already cashed in and failed earlier this year, so why give him a second chance? But back on topic, heel AJ Lee opens the door to so many new opportunities to her character. 

What Happened On Monday Night RAW (12/17/2012)

AJ Lee interrupts the Slammy Awards to seduce Dolph Ziggler with a "Ho-ski" oriented kiss that just digs her deeper into this label of being WWE's resident whore. Vickie Guerrero watches from a distance shouting "NOO!!!" reminiscent of Darth Vader at the end of Star Wars: Episode III - Return of the Sith.

Later that evening, AJ teamed with Dolph Ziggler against the team of Vickie Guerrero and John Cena. AJ seemingly abandoned Mr. Ziggles only to return with "Big E" Langston from NXT, who quickly makes short work of Cena to end RAW.

Meanwhile, back in the Divas division, Kim Possible -errr Kaitlyn, gets a non-title match against Eve Torres. She manages to pull an upset victory over the Divas Champion, which will more likely put her back into the #1 contender saddle.

Where does that leave Naomi Knight then? She was seen back to her usual routine, escorting Brodus Clay, along with Cameron, to the ring for one of his weekly scheduled squash matches. Yeah, she's watching the action from the outside rather than being a part of it.

Really, WWE? It's as if last night was in Bizarro World and we're back to Earth Prime tonight. Why can't the WWE Divas have good things? It's bad enough that they are still using that butterfly belt as the main representation of the women of the company. 

I know how you feel, Vader. WWE always finds a way
to screw up the Divas one way or another.

Naomi Knight's push could have carried over onto tonight's show, granting those who didn't have the chance to see her excel at the PPV, could do so in a non-title rematch on RAW. Kaitlyn has had multiple opportunities to take the gold from Eve, and has failed on every occasion. WWE needs to drop her back down to NXT to hone her skills if they ever want to groom her to fill in the rather big shoes that Beth Phoenix has left behind. Why WWE's creative team continues to have such high hopes for her is a mystery all on it's own.

Here's another plot hole that no one seems to remember about - Tamina. I thought Vickie Guerrero had her groomed as hired muscle to deal with AJ Lee? Tamina has suffered a few fluke loses to AJ over the last month or two, but those victories for AJ Lee don't merit the means for her just to move onto the next best thing. Tamina could easily be groomed as a constant roadblock in AJ's way - regardless of her being heel or babyface. Tamina can just simply express she doesn't like anything about AJ. That being said, this would be a proper platform to prove AJ has more to offer WWE than just being a typical horny teenage girl who just happened to have a job in WWE and is traded off in the locker room like baseball cards.

If AJ Lee's only asset to the company is being its resident whore that's traded off to every Superstar on the roster then I would rather that airtime be devoted on the other Divas on the roster gaining a more recognized and regular role on WWE programming.

The Aftermath on LIVE Super Smackdown (12/18/12)

A huge brawl between AJ Lee and Kaitlyn broke out backstage. It seems that WWE are trying to take this angle with AJ Lee's heel turn down the road of familiar territory seen in both Lita and Stephanie McMahon's heel turns. AJ attaches herself to the next pending 'next big thing' in the main event scene and hopes to garner more interest because she's attached to it. At the end of the day, this is a repeat of her involvement with Daniel Bryan, only that she's heel here instead of babyface.

Divas Championship Match - Kaitlyn vs. Eve Torres

Kim Possible fails to topple Eve Torres yet again. Are we surprised? Not in the least.

If WWE are gung-ho about keeping Kaitlyn, Eve, and AJ as the focal points of the Divas Division then focus on that, instead of AJ having her hands into everything. I will elaborate more on my distaste of Dolph Ziggler assembling a mock faction prior to obtaining the World Heavyweight Championship after cashing in Money in the Bank in-depth on a later date, but I will say this - thank god that he finally has dropped Vickie Guerrero as his manager. He's been needing to drop her for a LONG time now.

What WWE needs to do to step the Divas Division up in 2013 is realize that they have more than just 3-4 girls. Tamina can easily fit into the mold of a monster heel type, modeling herself much like how Jazz was during the Invasion storyline. For the love of all things holy, call up Paige or some of the other NXT Divas (Summer Rae notably) up to the main roster to liven up things while allowing Natalya, Naomi, and Cameron to compete regularly as well. It's clear that Layla and Aksana are quietly easing back into more backstage roles, but they can be still used as filler in tag team matches and battle royals.

You can't call Trish Stratus and Lita back to save it at this rate. Any 'return' of either of those Divas will drag this division back down farther than it already is. Let's not forget that Trish Stratus doesn't know the meaning of putting people over. Want proof? Look at how she killed Beth Phoenix's momentum during her initial title run with Glamarella. I don't even want to see neither of them back for a piss-break of a Divas Match at WrestleMania either. WWE, heed my words: Much like your Superstars, focus on grooming the NEXT generation, instead of has-beens and veterans who are working injured or walking extremely close to retirement just because WWE as a company is too lazy to put in the effort to establish new homegrown talent.
If anything good comes out of the feud between AJ and Kaitlyn, it would possibly be the first Divas-related storyline to have an actual build-up to WrestleMania in last several years. Otherwise, WWE has to take the time and rebuild the Divas Division from the ground up - give some of the girls waiting on the sidelines and on the bench a chance to shine and allow the veteran Divas to step back a bit and allow them to build up newer faces.