On Raw this week, the WWE decided to have one of those "Beat The Clock" things to determine the new #1 contender. RVD won that. And I don't like it. I don't have a problem with RVD getting a title shot. I have a problem with how it was done. They just did this kind of thing last month. Why not develop a title feud off of a grudge, instead of a basic title feud?
Look at that title feud you just had between Kane and Daniel Bryan. That wasn't an instance of someone winning a title shot and getting it. There was an actual story to it. The Authority have a grudge against Daniel Bryan. Most of the top stars in the stable are tied up at the moment, so they unleash Kane on Daniel Bryan. It is just as much about destroying Daniel Bryan as it is about taking the title off him. That adds spice to the title feud.
I have spoken before about the potential Barrett has with this gimmick. I feel the WWE is wasting it. Have him go out and talk trash about a certain wrestler, a certain city, or a certain idea. Having him go out there to mock RVD could lead to a feud against RVD. Having him drop some bad news on Chicago could lead to a certain wrestler from Chicago dropping a pipe bomb on Barrett. Not going to happen, but just an example. Having him slam people that like to party could lead to Adam Rose coming out. I know Adam Rose already has a feud, but it is an idea for a future feud. Point is, Barrett's gimmick has a ton of potential to branch off into great feuds. To just develop simple title feuds is not enough.
The WWE is doing some work to create interest in the midcard. They are creating some hype over the contenders, but now they need to get creative. They have so many gimmicks floating around. They need to take better advantage of those gimmicks in a lot of instances. Especially in midcard title feuds, a little creative development could make things more compelling.
Let me switch gears. There is a rumor that Mickie James is being considered to be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame next year. Let me discuss that on the assumption that it is true they are considering it. She shouldn't be inducted yet. This is a Mickie James fan saying that. She is still young. Lita was 38 at the time of being inducted. Trish Stratus, the youngest inductee, was 37. Mickie is currently 34. If they induct her next year, she would be inducted at the age of 35. Two years younger than Trish when she was inducted.
Something else to consider, Mickie hasn't retired yet. Trish and Lita retired and had to wait a couple years to be inducted. Some people might believe her pregnancy means she will retire, but she doesn't seem to want to retire yet. A fan tweeted about her coming back to the WWE and Mickie still seemed interested. You can see that tweet here.
I believe the WWE is trying to put a punctuation mark on Mickie's career. And I don't mean that in a good way. When Mickie did not stay with TNA and the WWE showed they were on good terms with Mickie James, many started talking about a possible return. Didn't happen. I said that I felt the WWE would likely bring Mickie James back down the road when they would not have to push her at all. The whole reason they got rid of her in the first place, contrary to what wrestling journalists are saying, was because they never wanted her over in the first place and she was getting in the way of what the WWE did want out of their diva division. Not only does that explain Mickie's release, but the WWE continuing to push the same agenda they have always been pushing in their diva division, despite it continuing to fail. Fans still would like to see Mickie return. Face it, the diva division hasn't exactly rebounded with the rise of AJ Lee all the way back to a golden age. If they induct her into the Hall of Fame, that will be the perfect way of getting themselves out of this situation. Mickie James fans would love her being the youngest inductee. The WWE benefits because they never have to push her again. Once you are inducted into that WWE Hall of Fame, you are pretty much retired or semi-retired. You might work the independent scene, but you are no longer a regular in terms of in-ring WWE action. Ric Flair is hyped as the first active member of the roster to be inducted, but his career was coming to an end soon, anyway.
If the WWE wants to continue the status quo of the diva division, bringing back Mickie James would not help. They are not going to continue handing title reigns to a credible jobber. They are not going to be happy with a credible jobber being more over than the women they are trying to develop to be the next centerpiece. If the WWE wants to continue this status quo, it makes absolutely no sense to bring back Mickie James for another run. That would be like putting an obstacle in front of you that you already knew you could not beat the first time you faced it. If they are serious about inducting her, that would be like putting themselves in a position where they would never have to deal with that obstacle again. I may sound cynical, but it does look suspicious to want to induct a woman that young (in comparison to the typical WWE Hall of Fame inductees) and that has not even officially retired yet. And when you look at what the WWE is currently doing in their diva division, not showing signs of truly giving it up, and take into account what Mickie James did in that diva division and the fact she's still over, putting an end to the desire to see Mickie James return for another run would make sense.
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