Cena Injured

Cena suffered an injury at a recent house show against Wade Barrett. Yes, in terms of kayfabe, Barrett is out of the picture for the moment. In reality, he is fodder for Cena at house shows. Seemed like the fodder injured the face of the company.

The same week that the Nexus angle looked to be reborn once more, Cena, the main face of the story, gets injured. Not sure how long he will be out, but the fact that he is injured may mean that plans will have to be changed for at least a while. Even if Cena goes Superman and shows up on Raw to cut promos and stuff like that, he will not be able to compete with a serious leg injury.

The good news out of all this? Maybe Randy Orton will finally be treated as a face main-eventer worthy of having the main event spot on Raw. Maybe John Morrison can win the WWE title so there is another face built on Raw. Cena injured and Orton has tasted injury himself in 2010. You cannot count on those two forever. What am I saying? What does Smackdown have? Undertaker is injured. Edge has made a career out of being injured. What is the WWE going to do? Bring in Awesome Kong to be the new face main-eventer before Morrison? Then there is the good news in regards to the Nexus angle itself. This one is a stretch. What does Punk do now? There are no free face main-eventers to take Cena's spot in this angle. Orton still seems to be on Miz's path. Should Triple H return, wouldn't Sheamus be his first feud? That means, if Cena is out of the picture and WWE still wants to further the Nexus angle properly without messing with the WWE title scene, a midcard face will have to be used. R-Truth? Daniel Bryan? Both have been slightly involved in this Nexus angle. Bryan was a part of the group, but has not feuded with them that much since his return. R-Truth has had a few promos supporting Cena against Nexus. Whatever happens, Nexus needs a steady target. Would be interesting if it was Barrett himself.

Nexus + Punk

This "surprise" was pretty much what a lot of people probably expected after Punk attacked Cena and the remains of Nexus were not properly resolved. Nevertheless, the way it was executed was still well done. Otunga directs traffic during the beating on Cena. Punk comes out and slowly reveals he is with Nexus.

I do have a problem with this though. No, not that Nexus attacked Punk on their first night and all that. But wasn't this done before? Nexus, with at least 7 guys, ran wild on Raw. The entire Raw roster, or at least most of it, stood up to them. Cena vanquished them. Now five of those guys are coming back and with CM Punk? CM Punk is supposed to add so much to the group? I know he is a former World Champion, but the odds are still against Nexus if WWE chooses to go by that route. Then again, how could I forget! Punk has a chair with him! That makes all the difference in the world.

But I am glad the Nexus angle is continuing a bit longer. Easy way to sell more Nexus merchandise? The controversy also makes things more interesting again. Can't wait for Cena to overcome NeoNexus too. Sarcasm.

Kaval's Christmas Gift From The WWE

Kaval has been released. Just like that. Win NXT, job in almost every match, and get released two days before Christmas. Vintage success story for pro wrestlers who make themselves prior to WWE?

I was never really a Kaval fan. I don't care that much if he is released. However, I would be one of the first to say he is a solid worker. He has his fans. He can put on a great match. Then again, the WWE can just whip out the formula for a show-stealer match and Sheamus and Ryder could steal the show. WWE just insults too many real wrestlers.

Then again, it would be interesting to see if this thing makes Kaval a legend in the same way Daniel Bryan's release made him a folk hero. If the fans start chanting and the WWE rehires Kaval in a few months, it was a well-played work. In any case, if the future would only hold Kaval acting like a nerd in front of Kelly Kelly and putting on great matches, wouldn't it be better if Kaval was somewhere else where he could put on great matches and have his character respected?

The Good News? Barrett Was In A Main Event

At TLC, the final match on the card was John Cena facing Wade Barrett. The match ended with the typical "epic" and "controversial" finish the WWE pulls out to add to Cena's image. Cena won. Nexus finished. For now?

Wade Barrett got to once again be in a PPV main event. For someone like me, who likes seeing new stars built up well, this should be good? Problem is, I also like PPVs to end with title matches, unless a non-title match features opponents who can carry a main event at any event without a title having to be in the equation and can come close to stealing the show, if not actually doing so. HBK vs. Taker and HBK vs. Flair are examples of what I mean. But Wade Barrett taking on John Cena? If the WWE wanted to make this the Raw main event, fine. But at a TLC PPV, where there was a TLC match for a World title, how can you feature a Chair match featuring one former World Champion and a guy who is still a rookie? Smackdown's main event had 3 men who have held World titles more than once. It featured a title change. It featured Smackdown's top active face, Edge, winning. Just like a TLC match for the tag titles got the top spot last year, the TLC match, which was even for a greater prize, should have ended the show. Developing a feud over months is not the same as developing it well. I have been complaining a lot recently about how the Nexus angle was going downhill again. Having it end like it is a big deal at TLC did not grab me.

In any case, CM Punk may be able to make things interesting now. Wade Barrett is not done yet either.

Answer A Cage With A Table

The idea going around now is that the diva tables match at TLC is a response to TNA's cage match that featured Mickie James and Tara. Considering that tables were already represented at the event, and last year's TLC proved that not every match has to have a gimmick at this event, there is probably some actual bite to this report. Honestly, I was expecting WWE to try to find some answer to that match of the night from TNA last week on Raw this week. Instead of putting in a diva match with heart and emotion to it on Raw, looks like they are saving it for a PPV. Fine. Two things I want to talk about.

First, it took Mickie James proving what she is about in TNA to push the WWE to try better with their own divas? Wow, you can actually read some kind of respect in that. Almost. Whatever gets the job started gets the job started, but I am not saying the job is done. Wait for TLC. The divas have to get it done.

Second, the WWE should be ashamed of itself. You had Mickie James and Tara (Victoria), have Gail Kim now, and I can list other women. This is your wake up call now? Mickie James was the most over diva you had. Even before she jumped off a cage, which she honestly did not even need to do to be over, she was that over in the slop you call a diva division. Even before she debuted in the WWE, she proved in the indies that she is willing to push herself and try to entertain. The WWE did more to bury this woman over the years than to actually build her and push her for her own sake. Now they think their divas can compete with her and the TNA Knockouts? Has the WWE forgotten how futile their attempts of breaking her overness while she was still there were? As I said before, those four women have to get the job done at TLC. Even then, by my count, Mickie James has been proving herself through her redemption in TNA for weeks now. Divas have some catching up to do.

One last topic. How goes that hunt to replace Mickie James? Almost 8 months later, I do not see any proper replacement set up. AJ Lee? Layla? Beth Phoenix? Natalya? Let me explain something. In terms of position, ANYONE and EVERYONE is replaceable. In terms of quality and getting the job done a certain way, not everyone is as replaceable. Big deal about WWE trying to replace Mickie James since they got rid of her! They had tried several times to push other women, whether those meant to be centerpieces or new tools to put over the centerpieces, to replace Mickie while she was even still there. Never got the job done. There can be a disaster here in New York City. Mayor Bloomberg and other politicians can be killed or kidnapped. A committee can name me new mayor. Boom, Bloomberg is replaced by me. In terms of position, replaced. In terms of quality, poor replacement. I would suck. I would not try to suck, but I just would. I do not have the experience or skills for this job. That is the same thing you have going on with the WWE's idea that they can replace Mickie James. In terms of position, it is the easiest thing in the world. In terms of someone actually accomplishing what Mickie James did, not so easy. Of course, this diva will have the WWE on her side to make the fans forget Mickie. That would be like the committee that made me mayor guiding me every step of the way. Difference is, after all the storylines, booking, hype, and everything else the WWE gives, it is really the diva herself who will need to bring it to take Mickie's spot. Until then, and even possibly after, you have a lame, joke women's division. How hard is it to replace that?

And I Quote...

Honestly, the most entertaining thing for me from WWE Raw is not even the action in the ring or promos and drama backstage. No, it is not CM Punk's supposedly awesome commentary. It is Michael Cole.

For months now, Cole has been showing more bite in his commentary for certain individuals. He's a Miz fanboy. No problems with that. Now business has really picked up. He has already gotten a little physical, but more will surely come. Remember Coach? I think Michael Cole has potential to be even better. He can also help Miz look a bit better. That is what Riley is there for anyway. Miz sure isn't their for Riley's main benefit. Riley is definitely expendable. But Cole can be used with Miz and eventually be given a GM role. It could hardly be worse than the computer.

How Far Will Nexus Fall?

This angle with Nexus has had many ups and downs since it started many months ago. When it started, it had that shock value and mystery to it. When they had Team WWE, Cena, Bret Hart, and Daniel Bryan just push the group to life support, things were not looking good. It regained some potential when Cena was forced to join the group. Since then, it is downhill again.

Cena is a renegade who is just mowing down Nexus with his WWE pals? Just get to the point fast. Cena will be "rehired" sooner or later. They could have built it up better.

And what about the tag titles? Nexus had them. They traded it among each other on one occasion. They could have been a small team, especially when considering there are no strong, long-term teams, whether heel or face, in the whole WWE that has more credibility to them. They should have lost those titles to a pair of top players. That would have at least made the tag division look stronger a bit.

MVP Is Gone

MVP asked to be released and he got it. Just as in the case of Matt Hardy, I do not blame the guy. Instance after instance recently, I am noticing how the WWE does not show proper appreciation to certain wrestlers. Whether they get over by their own merits or a heavy hand from the WWE, a lot of popular talent, or talent with the potential to be very over, is simply misused. Superstars lacking either strong wrestling ability, great charisma, or some other attribute that makes giving them a monster push painful are better used.

What happens in the WWE now? Smackdown can find a new midcard face jobber / someone with credibility to put over the lacking wrestlers I was just talking about. I hope it does give WWE a headache, although I doubt it will. They deserve it.

King Sheamus

WWE really working on keeping Sheamus fresh. Triple H will be back, but seriously? Sheamus? He has been WWE Champion twice already. I am sure the WWE could have found some other way to keep Sheamus strong.

Morrison? Would have been nice if he won, but WWE seems to like heels winning King of the Ring. I would have liked Alberto Del Rio to win it, but WWE insists on still pushing that feud with Rey Mysterio. If that was not there, I would say it was a mistake not to give this man the credibility to be a top heel of Smackdown. Besides, he's entertaining.

I can go through the other names in the tournament, but those I already mentioned are the top ones I feel were worthy. I guess Sheamus was still on the list. In other news, this Morrison/Sheamus thing continues to remind me of Kofi/Orton.

AWESOME WWE Champion

You would think that with 100% of Money in the Bank winners winning a World title when cashing in, some of the excitement would be lost in these things. Not quite yet. After Wade Barrett once again failed to become WWE Champion, and after I wrote my last entry, Miz cashed it in on Randy Orton and won.

I am glad for Miz. As I said before, the excitement and shock was there. The WWE was doing a great job building him. Miz becomes the first brand new WWE Champion of 2010, among other pieces of history.

As for the future, I am sure the WWE will make a joke of this reign like they do most first-time World Champions. Oh well! Better than nothing. Just hope they do not forget Barrett.

Sympathetic Cena

Cena got his grand sympathetic moment on Raw tonight. Randy Orton retained the title at Survivor Series, which means Cena failed Wade Barrett's order to make sure Barrett walked out WWE Champion, and thus Cena is fired. It's kayfabe.

I am disappointed in how the WWE handled the storyline. No, I am not sad that Cena got fired in terms of the soap opera. I wanted to see an actual swerve. I wanted to see something shocking and fresh. Instead, I get honorable John Cena doing the honorable thing. For the last 24 hours, so many fans give him nothing but sympathy. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I did not mind it so much when the fans seemed to feel so bad for Cena when Batista took the WWE Championship from him earlier in this year, even though it was stupid considering it was obvious Cena would still make it to Wrestlemania and get his revenge on Batista eventually. He is the centerpiece. But this current storyline is just too sugary sweet. I am not entertained. I have not been really entertained by this Nexus angle since their random attacks became less and less fresh. Having Cena join the group had so much potential. I feel they dropped the ball.

Then there is Barrett and Orton themselves. All this talk about Cena, it is easy to forget that this was supposed to be their title feud. Randy Orton had been getting the short end of the stick since he won the title. Cena was still trumping him. I do not feel things will be too much better for Orton now. That is another reason it would have been better to have Orton get screwed by Cena. Barrett gets the title, becoming the first, and probably only, brand new WWE Champion of 2010. Jack Swagger was a brand new World's Heavyweight Champion. Sheamus won the WWE Championship last year, although bringing it into 2010. The agenda Nexus has also gets furthered. I do not think putting the title on him now would have been rushing it. He failed twice at PPVs already, before Survivor Series. Besides, he had a better build for the title than Sheamus. Orton and Cena would have then been able to branch into a feud. It might have even culminated at Wrestlemania, if done right. These two have never had a singles match at the big event. It could have been a strong feud.

The Devil's Luckiest Demon

The Undertaker getting injured many months ago had a heavy hand in the WWE's decision to end the big push of Jack Swagger and give the World Heavyweight Championship to Kane. More recently, Taker once again getting injured and requiring some time off has benefited Kane once again. Kane retained his title against his brother in three consecutive PPVs, which included two gimmick matches. If you count that Kane even got the better of Taker at Summerslam, where Taker returned, Kane has owned him four PPVs in a row. How many wrestlers can come up and say that?

Obviously, had Taker not been injured again, the story being told right now would be different. Aside from this being the second time this year the WWE has had to write off Taker due to injury, he also took a semi-hiatus after Wrestlemania. The reason I do not say it is a full hiatus is because they did have to call him up at least once when they needed him. This has not been a good year for him when it comes to amount of time being used on TV. As I have said before, this is working for Kane's benefit.

Now Edge is going for the title. I do not want to see Kane's reign end yet. I do not say this because Kane is one of my favorites, but I think they can still do more to make this title reign rich. Kane and Edge can feud for Survivor Series and TLC. Both Kane and Edge have won TLC matches, so there can be a good build there. After that, have him feud with Big Show. Elimination Chamber will come after that. Just pull together a few names. Easy. The WWE can also substitute a midcarder on the rise instead of Big Show. Kofi Kingston? They can also choose Rey Mysterio again. Fact is, after Elimination Chamber, Wrestlemania comes. If Taker is good to go by then, Undertaker vs. Kane III, and for the title and with Paul Bearer there, could be epic. If Taker's recovery hits a snag, the WWE can take the belt from Kane at Royal Rumble or Elimination Chamber. I cannot picture anyone else who could take the title from Kane in a great build for Wrestlemania. They can just give Kane a midcard match. I do not feel they should keep the title on Kane for what might be 8 months or more. They screwed Swagger once already. Edge has been the face of Smackdown before and should get it back eventually. They just cannot keep the title on Kane in hopes of having him drop it to Taker. I just feel now is not the time to kill Kane's fun.

Ted DiBiase Moves On

Tonight, Ted DiBiase Jr. seemed to move on from his feud with Goldust completely. Goldust gave the Million $ Championship belt back to Ted Sr., who then tried to give it back to his son, but Ted Jr. had other ideas. He attacked Daniel Bryan later on in the show.

Obviously, if you think back to a few weeks ago, the WWE looked to be starting something with Daniel Bryan and CM Punk. Punk is injured for a few months. Daniel Bryan has not had a real solid feud since Miz. His series with Ziggler put on great matches, but the story to the feud itself was weak. This new feud with DiBiase may actually get some good development.

As for DiBiase, I feel more could have done for both his feud with Goldust and with the title aspect of his gimmick. Yes, the United States title is a step up, but his dad's belt had a more personal story to the gimmicks both have. Overall, it is a shame that this is all getting blown over, but I will still remember that it did make Goldust look very credible again. It even refreshed Ted a bit after months of staleness. It made two women who are not great wrestlers actually useful in a storyline. Things will continue. Will they cross paths again in the future?

I See Kofi Kingston

When I look at John Morrison on Raw right now, I see Kofi Kingston back one year ago. I am not making any statement based on looks or anything like that. I am talking about how the WWE is pushing them.

One year ago, Kofi Kingston had this huge break in which he feuded with Randy Orton, who had just come off losing the WWE Championship to John Cena. This feud did more for Kofi Kingston than it did for Randy Orton. Orton was an established main-eventer. Kofi Kingston was a midcarder. He had beaten guys like Chris Jericho, but he had never gotten anything like that feud with Orton. It definitely showed a new, focused side of Kofi. If the WWE had continued pushing him up, I believe Kofi Kingston winning a World title earlier this year would have been a credible event.

Right now, John Morrison is getting this storyline with Sheamus. It is true that the main focus so far seems to be this comedy bit between Sheamus and Santino, but that seems to be just a creative way to transition it to Morrison and Sheamus in the coming weeks. Many may remember when we saw a new, focused Morrison months ago as he warmed up for a match against Sheamus on Raw. He even pushed Sheamus, who was still WWE Champion at the time, to a great limit. However, that was only one match. Since then, the WWE has tried to push Morrison steadily to some degree. He has beaten Chris Jericho, among other men who have been World Champion. And now he has this storyline developing with Sheamus? It seems very much like Kofi/Orton 2009 to me. Sheamus is not as established as a main-eventer as Randy Orton was one year ago, but that is a sign of the state the WWE is in now. Aside from Sheamus, how many other main-event heels on Raw have been WWE Champion before to be able to give a midcarder a rub? If you can name one, you can name more than I can. Miz and Barrett have never held a major title yet and both are in the process of being built up to look like credible threats before they get that title reign. Point is, this push is more for the elevation of Morrison than the elevation of Sheamus. What can beating up Santino really do for Sheamus? Or getting a win over Morrison? The comedy bit will help the only aspect of Sheamus that seems to keep him as over as he is.

I am not complaining about the WWE pushing John Morrison now or Kofi Kingston last year. I think they deserve it. I am only explaining what is going on. Now I am going to complain. After all the WWE did with Kofi Kingston, where is he now? Smackdown? But that is not necessarily a bad thing. He won the midcard title there. That is the bad thing. All that momentum just started to go back down from there. He had held the midcard titles before. His push against Orton ended up having more entertainment and excitement worth than long-term worth for Kofi Kingston. Many can say that his further depush since then is due to other faces dropping due to injury or release. WWE needs a credible midcard face jobber, so they call on Kofi.


The question may not be how far Morrison will go with this push. What will eventually screw him out of the push? That is the question. Do these pushes really do something for these guys' overness? Both Kofi and Morrison were popular guys before their respective rubs from main-eventers. I did say that it showcased new sides of them. In the end, it does not matter how over they do get. It does not even matter how much effort they do put in or how loyal they are. That does not decide how far they will go. That is part of the reason Matt Hardy wanted out.

Just Kill The Team!

For way too long now, the WWE has been teasing the split of The Hart Dynasty. That is fine. Tag teams seem to only exist to be split up one day for singles runs in the WWE these days anyway. You can definitely see talent in Tyson Kidd. With the right gimmick and push, he could go far and do well. DH Smith can be used for something too.

What I find annoying is that they are taking way too long with this. Cryme Tyme split up rather suddenly. I understand well that some turns and splits happen out of nowhere and others are developed over time. Usually, however, the people who get, or should get, the drawn out treatment are major players or people the WWE wishes to develop to be that. I do not get that vibe here, not even for Natalya. Signs are pointing to her getting pushed, but I have already mentioned that her push helps Melina's depush. The men, on the other hand, will probably end up just as midcarders. Their jobs may be saved because of their link to Bret Hart, but I doubt they will get super treatment. In the wait, as I said before, they can still put on some good matches and develop their character a bit.

To put it simply, I am fine with the WWE moving past this little stable. Just speed it up a bit, maybe? More time could then be spent on developing some new face team on Raw to feud with Nexus. Then again, with so many wrestlers injured and creativity what it is these days in the WWE, maybe this is what the WWE must do to fill space, not what they would like to do. In any case, it is starting to annoy me.

Orton Still Just A Detail

I would be happy with either Randy Orton or Wade Barrett winning the title match in a few weeks. It would make more sense for Barrett to win it, and possibly be the best option, but none of that is the issue. Orton continues to just be a side issue in John Cena's larger issues with Nexus.

This week on Raw, Cena was simply the ref in the tag match that featured a taste of what will happen at Survivor Series. It was Barrett and Orton competing, so Cena is out of the action, depushed, not pushed as hard, and all that nice stuff people always wanted, right? I do not think so. All the attention is still on Cena and what will become of him after the PPV. Will he be free of fired? I even find it disgusting how the match is named like that. Cena is still the centerpiece. I may have been able to stomach that and Randy Orton still be WWE Champion at the same time, but this whole storyline is just annoying to me. We really need to feel sympathetic to John Cena? I understand that it helps Barrett look like a stronger heel before he eventually gets the title, but this situation just allows that politician side of Cena I hate so much shine. And I do not even get what the face argument from Orton about Cena disrespecting the WWE Championship and all the other men who have held it by screwing Orton really stands on. Many wrestlers have won the title through shade means before, just ask a few heels. I seem to remember right off my head Undertaker winning a World title many years ago thanks to a biased ref. But I do understand that they are pushing anything they can to make it seem like the ethical odds are against John Cena in this. The guy has already FUed Big Show, made main-eventers tap, and led the WWE to already beating Nexus, among other things, so what other odds are there really for this guy? WHAT WILL CENA DO!? That's the draw. I do not find it interesting. I would rather have a surprise heel turn.

In the mean time, Orton is just being moved along with the storyline. Did the WWE get scared when Raw's rating drop coincided with Orton winning the title? They have built everything on one stale face for so many years, it seems some sheep still want more of him. The WWE could have easily have made this feud more about Orton than Cena. They are not. Just go and depush the guy for real. I do not mean out of the title picture alone, I mean out of the main event. They did it when he feuded with Big Show last year. That feud was not the main Raw feud. But Triple H was there. Do I have to wish for his return? Why wait? You have Orton.

The WWE Career Of Mickie James - Conclusion

I have been writing that the WWE did not like Mickie James as much as some people may have assumed since 2008. The evidence goes back even before I started talking about it. If you just ask why Mickie was even brought in to begin with and look at why and how the WWE pushed her after that, it seems clear as well. Her release did not catch me that off guard. I should have even saw it coming better. I was still upset about it. It is like when an elderly relative dies in your family. You know it is going to happen sooner or later, but it still can hurt.

Once again, I only did this little series to offer a response to those who buy what wrestling news sites offer as to why Mickie was released. I see a number of strong flaws in what they are arguing. I do not even feel like going over all of it now. It has been over 2 years and I am still waiting for a credible and neutral source to verify that Mickie James and John Cena actually dated. The evidence I see dirtsheets like to use is that John Cena said in an interview/live chat on WWE.com that he would have liked to continue the relationship with Mickie. First of all, the fact that it is a chat done on the WWE's own site, and combine that with the fact that Cena is a kayfabe supporter, it seems more likely he was talking in kayfabe and about his storyline with Mickie James. Second of all, he is the one expressing regret that the relationship is over, if you want to even take him seriously. So what did he do to Mickie James? The rumors also said that Mickie was being punished by being sent to Smackdown. Is that why she got used in the same vein as when she debuted? She was being used to eventually put a centerpiece over in some way. She even won the title. They never respected Mickie James as anything more than a tool. If she was really guilty of so many things, why would they not release her out of the blue? They released her at the same time as other people they simply didn't need or want around anymore. That was Mickie James.

I am not saying all this just for the sake of Mickie James. I see the same crap going on still. I see the WWE doing the same thing. I see dirtsheets doing the same thing. I see ignorant fans doing the same thing. Look at what the WWE did to Melina. Dirtsheets recently gave a stupid report that she is in the doghouse. Some fans obviously bought it. Melina commented on it herself. Mickie James commented on a certain rumor that came up shortly after her TNA return that tried to bury her. These women and men should not have to live their lives responding to every little rumor. I said before that Melina would be treated like this. I am not surprised some people fall back on the oldest excuse in the book to explain her depush. Smarten up. Melina is not a priority to the WWE. She is just a tool. They last used her as a credible face to allow McCool to unify the titles a few months ago. They didn't want McCool going over some mediocre face like Nikki Bella, or some heel. Once Melina served her purpose, she got depushed. Things are going to get even more interesting after AJ gets promoted to the main roster. Do I think they will release Melina or Beth Phoenix? Unless the WWE is afraid of feeding TNA all these women or these women have strong enough contacts with those high up (is Morrison important enough in the eyes of the WWE to keep Melina around?), they will be released. They have already used Natalya to phase out Melina a bit. Whatever happens, women like Melina and Beth are just meant to be tools in the end of the day. They are not the centerpiece. Who cares? If you are a fan of women who are tools and are complaining about it, I suggest you either start understanding this or shut your mouth.

But it will not be as hard when Melina gets released or becomes a lame duck, which is what happened to Victoria before she decided to leave. She is not that super over. Mickie James was. That is what made them releasing her so shocking for so many. I said before that I should have seen it coming better. I made the mistake of thinking her popularity would keep her around. Her popularity was one of the reasons they had to let her go. How do you explain that a woman so over is only a sidekick to women less over and less credible than her? How do you explain that a woman who was given 6 title reigns in 5 years is suddenly not getting the title at all year after year? There was no place they could push her outside of the title picture where they could properly bury her. I already noted that Mickie James NEVER got one storyline outside of the title picture that saw a proper finish and ended up doing anything real for her. Even a lot of her title feuds between her first and last were not that intricate or developed well. They never treated her in this respect as well as they did Lita. They did not want to add to Mickie's legacy at all. She was just in the way of the women they wanted to get over. That's right. The WWE decides who they want to get that great treatment to become monster over, not you or me. We are just supposed to follow like sheep. But you stand up for that company, right?

I see some people want Mickie James to return one day to the WWE. Unless the WWE changes their ways, I say she would be stupid to want to go back there for anything more than a one-day appearance. Lita returned to Raw tonight. Glad to see her back. And I was laughing. No, I was not laughing at what she did to those other divas. I was laughing at her. Did Lita not comment last year that the huge battle royal they had for the divas was a joke? Did she not say they were like prostitutes or something along those lines? Did dirtsheets botch reporting what she said or quoted from an impostor? Wouldn't be the first time. Assuming Lita actually thought that way about it, I find it hilarious that she would just pop in for a comedy diva segment to knock down some face divas and Mark Henry. Contributing to guest star crap. If she wanted to be a part of THIS diva division so bad, she should have pushed harder to be a part of the prostitutes last year.

Until the future tells what Mickie James and the WWE do, Mickie James still earned her spot in the WWE more than the WWE ever wanted. Let me end it with something I am told Jim Ross once said. He once said that many did not think Mickie James would make it in the WWE. Let me not spin his words around and misquote him, but is it really hard to imagine that many did not WANT Mickie James to make it. Even after she achieved what all pro wrestlers really want to achieve in this business, the WWE still kept looking for someone to replace her. There was no good reason not to continue to run with her for her own sake. They didn't care. They were always counting on something else. More than 6 months later, no one they have been counting on has gotten the job done. They cannot connect with those WWE fans like Mickie James worked to do.

The WWE Career Of Mickie James - Part 6

I have talked about that infamous storyline on Smackdown a lot in the past year. This ended up being the farewell angle for Mickie James. Funny how that was one of the ideas they were pushing in it. And I don't think it was a coincidence.

As soon as Mickie James arrived, they pushed this angle in which Michelle McCool and her sidekick at the time, Layla, were bullying her. With the diva trade and Maria on leave, Mickie was the only face diva on Smackdown anyway. They ruined her clothes, cost her a match, and then started the weight angle. Dirtsheets had talked about weight being one of the reasons why Mickie James was "punished" by going to Smackdown like she did. The WWE pushing the storyline like they did fed dirtsheets, fueling that Mickie James was being punished. The timing of the whole thing was very insulting. But why should WWE care? Their mission was to get McCool looking great at the expense of any tool.

It was obvious Mickie James would win the title. Diva bully angles had occurred in the past with Chyna/Ivory and Lita/Trish. In those cases, the faces always win the title from the bully. Not so much an honor as it is how the story is meant to progress.

Mickie James had an infection which caused her to drop the title after just a few weeks. She worked the match to give it back to McCool and had surgery the next week. Many people doubted she would make it back in time for Wrestlemania, but she pushed herself to do it. She did it. But look at how the WWE hyped her return. They didn't. They just randomly placed her into the large, lackluster diva tag match at Wrestlemania. They just had her show up on Raw and stand by Kelly Kelly to watch a match. On Smackdown, they had her run out with the rest of the face divas to run off a bunch of the heels, leaving Beth Phoenix the sole face to get attention. This is not how you treat your most over diva. This was the first and only time Mickie James missed time from traveling with the WWE for an extended period of time due to anything health related. Yes, it only amounted to 3 weeks, but remember when Michelle McCool got injured in 2009? She was only gone for 2 weeks before they hyped when she would be returning. She did not even wrestle for over a month after that on Smackdown. Before she did return, they only mentioned her infrequently in backstage segments to say she had a knee injury. Boring reason leads to boring return. But then again, why would you hype a woman you knew you never liked and would be getting rid of soon enough? Mickie James was always just an option, not something to be treated as a priority.

And that is Mickie's 6th and final title reign. They did not even keep her around for more than a month after that. Their worst nightmare would have been realized if they had. Beth Phoenix injured shortly after. Kelly Kelly almost seriously injured at a house show. Tiffany suspended. They would have had to push Mickie James again to a 7th title reign. Remember who was closest to reaching Moolah's record before Trish eventually did and broke it? Ivory. WWE never let her do it. History repeats with Mickie James. They insulted Mickie James a lot worse than they did Ivory. She even got released while promoting the WWE's own Draft in her hometown. I cannot even measure how that slap in the face must feel.

A nice bit I hear is that "storylines happen". People who say that are missing the kicker. Storylines happen FOR A REASON. And that reason is not always entertainment. The current storyline involving Nexus and Cena is a means to inject credibility in the members, especially Barrett. This guy is getting a bigger rub in the main event than some guys who have been around for years have gotten. What reason can be found in what they did to Mickie James on Smackdown? Do whatever it takes to make Michelle McCool look like a great heel. Mickie James was the most over diva and a very strong worker. McCool was getting that heat. Fans were loudly chanting that she sucked. WWE and McCool have to blame themselves for it fading. They pushed the envelope too far and McCool was just too lame in the end to be a serious heel well enough. Once Mickie served her purpose, they got rid of her completely. Remember when Melina returned to Smackdown last year? Outside of feuding with McCool, she really got no true feuds or meaningful storylines with anyone else. They just used her and spat her back to Raw. She still had a few more reigns in her. Look at what they did to her recently. Put the title on her, used her to make McCool make history again, then immediately kicked her aside to give Natalya a push. You see who the centerpiece is. It is McCool. This storyline was done for her benefit, not Mickie's. Arguably, Mickie James even lost the feud against McCool. The whole thing about weight and being bullied continued after Mickie James won the title. They even added Vickie Guerrero, who served to add more to both the weight aspect and added to the bullies against Mickie. McCool got back the title. Mickie James was never treated with proper hype again after that. They never wanted her to be the centerpiece.

The WWE Career Of Mickie James - Part 5

Entering 2009, the WWE continued to push Melina as the only major face diva who mattered. Kelly Kelly was used as her sidekick. Candice Michelle, having lost support from the WWE, was used only in minor backstage segments. Mickie James, too credible and over to be in Melina's way to the WWE, was also given meaningless segments. She also was given a WWE.com angle with Cryme Tyme. Although I enjoyed seeing it, it did nothing for to keep Mickie fresh in front of those fans in the audience. It was an internet angle!

The rumor going around why Mickie James was being depushed this time? Injury. I do not buy it. It is true Mickie James had a minor car accident and sold an injury in a match just before 2009 started, but she was still at WWE events and she was selling the injury in that match, not really seriously injured. Besides, if you look at large diva matches prior to this time or a diva match that just happened this week on Raw, some women in a tag match do not really have to do much of anything at all. Mickie James could have been booked in the place of Kelly Kelly in at least one instance. She was not. Is that how you treat your most over diva or diva you intend to be a centerpiece? No. They did not push Mickie James as a vital part of the diva division.

Mickie James soon got matches and got focus back on her as the year progressed. Why? The WWE was drafting Melina, the face Women's Champion, to Smackdown to feed to Michelle McCool so she could make history by being the first woman to have held both female titles. In Melina's place, they sent Maryse, with the Diva's Championship in hand, to Raw. Watch how they treated Maryse and the Raw division for over a year. They were intent on making her a centerpiece. It was obvious both Maryse and McCool could not exist as centerpieces on the same show, especially with both heels. Maryse, however, was a poor wrestler after her injury. Mickie James was a credible face diva who could work with her and give her a rub. How often did Mickie James get promo time? Out of when she did speak, when was it really for her sake more than putting over Maryse's character? Maryse even had a story going on with Miz during all this, putting more attention on her. There is your centerpiece.

Pushing Mickie James like she stood a chance at making the same piece of history as Michelle McCool by having her feud with Maryse also served another purpose. When McCool did defeat Melina, mowing her over even, she did not just defeat one woman to make history, she also beat Mickie James in the race. Fans were talking about which diva would make history first. It was obvious it would not be Mickie James, the tool. They were just using her once again.

Mickie James did eventually win the title. Maryse taking time off starting the next day for her knee injury, which never fully healed, was no coincidence. They knew it was going to happen. They still had Maryse work and keep the title on her. Not only did this not do any favors for Maryse or the women that had to work with her, it was not good for the division. But since when does the WWE really care about the divas?

What happened after that? The WWE teased a heel turn for Gail Kim, but dropped it. The WWE built up challengers by giving them wins, having them win #1 contendership, and then just had Mickie James retain. They were not developing any good feuds for Mickie James or the divas she worked with. With Maryse gone, the WWE did not even try to keep their Raw diva hype up. With Smackdown running stale, the WWE decided to have a diva trade. They had Mickie James drop the title to a jobber, Jillian. They then sent her with no hype at all to Smackdown. With a whole lot of internet blame already going on Mickie James for things that happened during her reign, and combined with old rumors, Mickie's move to Smackdown was seen as a punishment. It was obvious that they only did it to feed her to McCool.

Let me go back to some of the things people blamed Mickie James for. For not wrestling great matches with Maryse? Maryse was not a great wrestler to begin with, had lost a bit since her injury, and spent more time in her matches pushing her character than wrestling. Considering the WWE was high on this woman, and still are if you notice she is the only Raw diva in the last few months with any constant angle going on (Million Dollar Couple) and only Raw diva with any real storyline going on outside of the title feud, Mickie James cannot just mow over this woman. Not performing well with Rosa Mendes? Rosa is another poor wrestler. She could not take the DDT properly, timed herself poorly when Mickie James did a leaping spot in the corner, and did not fall properly in taking the Lou Thesz Press. Don't believe me with the last one? Look back to a certain spot where Shawn Michaels tried the same move on John Cena in 2009. Cena does not fall exactly in time with when Shawn jumps on him. For a brief moment, Shawn is just latched onto a standing Cena. Cena, no matter how bad a wrestler you want to say he is, was strong enough to stay stiff and still fall backwards properly. Rosa Mendes was not. She just rolled aside. The Gail Kim incident? Speaks for itself. Gail Kim took a bad hit and did not execute her end in Mickie's DDT. Mickie James motioned for Gail to take a kick to the mouth after that, which would still allow Gail to fall how she felt safest after that. Gail was still too out of it to work with Mickie. Mickie had to take her down with a forearm. The DDT spot with Alicia Fox? Mickie James did her end of the move the same way. Alicia had trouble flipping herself over while supporting Mickie. Look at Gail Kim vs. Alicia in early 2010. When Gail attempts a Reverse Frankensteiner, Alicia Fox once again does not take the move properly. Specifically, she does not flip or do anything to protect her head when coming down. Alicia is not as great as some would like to believe. And trying to flip through the monkey flip in her match with Jillian? Did you miss the part where Jillian bounced in her way?

This was Mickie's fifth title reign in the WWE. It was her only run with the Diva's Championship. She went through a period of nothing before finally getting her push against Maryse, and then mainly for the benefit of women meant to be treated as centerpieces. When Raw's centerpiece dropped out for health reasons, WWE just shuffled Mickie James through opponents. Mickie James still remained over. That overness is what made her use on Smackdown even more meaningful.

The WWE Career Of Mickie James - Part 4

Mickie James received her push at the end of 2007 after the injury of Candice Michelle. She was the most credible face option to work against Beth and keep her fresh. Mickie James ended up being more than that. The "story" of this feud soon became that Mickie James could not defeat Beth Phoenix. The televised match before their PPV title match, Beth Phoenix pinned Mickie. Without gaining any momentum before the PPV title match, Mickie lost again. Mickie lost to Beth several times after this. The WWE had Mickie James cry and act upset about her inability to defeat Beth. This was done to help Beth look stronger and fresher for Candice's eventual return. Mickie James could not take the title from Beth, but could Candice? This would not be the last time they used the tears of Mickie James. Had the WWE pushed this idea consistently, I would be arguing that this all really was done just for Mickie's sake. The WWE has underdog stories like this all the time. Problem is, they did not push Mickie James against Beth consistently.

In a tag match, Mickie teamed with Kelly Kelly to face Beth and Victoria on Raw. Mickie James pinned Victoria to get her first victory against Beth in any type of match for the first time in 2008. Mickie looked re-energized, like she would be closing in on Beth's title after that. Next week on Raw? Mickie James is not seen at all. Candice Michelle, however, makes her return to Raw to cost Beth a match. Mickie James was put back on Heat. Mickie James remained off of Raw until after Wrestlemania, while the WWE pushed "Bunnymania" between Maria and Candice (later replaced by Ashley) as the faces and Beth and Melina as the heels.

Fans wanted to know what happened to Mickie James. Enter the dirtsheets. They said Mickie James was being punished for saying in an interview that the WWE should treat their women more like TNA treats their women. Back then, when I was a little more naive, I bought it. In retrospect, do you know what it sounds like to me? It sounds like Beth Phoenix is pregnant. It sounds like the WWE is in love with Alicia Fox just because she is holding the title at the same time they sign her sister. It sounds like Eve will be a part of a triple-threat match at Summerslam with Alicia and Melina. It sounds like something I might as well flush down the toilet. The real reason Mickie James was depushed? The centerpiece came back. This is how you know the WWE wanted Candice to have the spot. They push everything else aside going on with Beth, putting the two in the same picture again, the day Candice returns. Mickie James really was meant to just hold things down. She did her job, they gave her a trivial win, and they tossed her aside.

Candice got injured again before Wrestlemania. Did they bring back Mickie James to compete at the big PPV? No. Although she is the most credible face diva and was just involved in issues with Beth before Candice returned, they wanted to push Playboy. Ashley gets Candice Michelle's spot in the match. Mickie James remains on Heat, acting as fodder for the heels in the match.

In a meaningless aside, I remember a certain topic in a message board I posted in at this time. The topic creator asked who your favorite diva was on each show. He even counted Heat as a show, even though it was primarily a place for Raw jobbers to get matches. He chose Mickie James as his favorite "Heat diva". A few others did the same thing. That is what the WWE would have liked to have done with Mickie's importance.

With Candice once again injured, and the WWE not yet at the stage where they would give the title to someone like Maria or Ashley, they once again push the woman they used when Candice got injured in 2007. With not many fresh options to work with Beth to keep the belt on her until Candice returned again and Beth not getting over with the title on her, not to mention the fans' support of Mickie James not breaking during her disappearance from Raw, Mickie James won her fourth Women's Championship in England.

I will skip over most of what happened during the actual reign itself. I have no huge complaints or see any great evidence that the WWE was madly in love with Mickie during this reign. It was still a good reign. However, Mickie's romance angle with John Cena led to many rumors that the two dated in real life. So many other rumors against Mickie James have been built on this. For now, I will only say that I am still waiting for a credible, impartial, direct source to confirm any of it. But I will bring it up again. It looks like one of the main reasons for the angle was just to give Mickie something to keep her busy while Melina turned face and feuded with Beth. Like every other angle Mickie James has ever gotten outside the title scene, this romance angle failed. WWE stopped pushing it. It never elevated Mickie James up the card. WWE just used it to push the idea that Mickie was trying to sleep around and keep it secret. Was that supposed to be the payoff, WWE? It accomplished nothing lasting for Mickie's WWE character.

History repeats itself. I said before that I would argue that the WWE intended for Candice Michelle to be a centerpiece because she was a model who became a credible wrestler under their watch, had a very strong build to the title, and most blatantly, had things pushed aside for her benefit when she returned from injury in early 2008. In August, having already lost momentum on the Raw before the PPV, Mickie James lost the Women's Championship back to Beth. Losing a PPV match to Beth Phoenix after not having momentum going into it? History really does repeat itself! Before the end of the month, Candice Michelle, not surprisingly, once again made her triumphant return to Raw. It is no coincidence that the title was put back on Beth, Mickie James received her "gold watch" victory, and Mickie was starting to be depushed again. The WWE were finally going to push Candice against Beth again. Mickie James was no longer that important to them. In fact, when Mickie James did finally get her rematch, the WWE had Candice Michelle sitting at ringside. They announced that whoever won between Beth and Mickie would face Candice. Could they have done anything more to make it obvious who would win? While Beth and Candice are busy looking at each other and laughing it up, Mickie James wastes her time trying to act like a focused challenger. Beth retained the title.

Let me go back a step. Candice Michelle made a fool of herself in her return match. Raw was taped, so most fans never saw the part edited out. This is not one of those instances where the opponent messes up his or her part, making the person executing the move look bad. Candice was not as solid as she used to be. This is the start of the WWE giving up on Candice Michelle as the centerpiece. That is the thing about centerpieces, they do not change like the seasons so trivially. A person has to really mess up for the WWE to really stop pushing them as a true centerpiece. In one year, Candice Michelle got injured, returned and got injured in her first televised match back, and returned and performed poorly against a solid performer, Beth Phoenix, in her first televised match back. She did not regain the WWE's confidence in the time before her title match. She lost and never got a second shot at Beth.

Does that mean the WWE pushes Mickie James hard against Beth again? If Mickie James really was the centerpiece they wanted, and there is already enough of an argument that she was not, she would have gotten that push. Her previous push against Beth was blown off easily in favor of Candice. Mickie James got one title shot, without any build to it, and did not win the title. She was once again just being used as fodder during this period. Since TNA's Awesome Kong was strong in 2008, the WWE continued pushing Beth hard as an answer to that. They had already bought out Gail Kim. Who would be the main face they push against Beth? They would stall until Melina returned from injury.

The WWE did not reinvest in Mickie James. They mainly treated her as a face diva on the same level as Candice and Kelly Kelly on Raw. They did place Mickie in the storyline between Jamie Noble and William Regal and Layla, but what did that do for her? She never got mic time, did not get adequate focus on her or her real involvement in the feud, and most surprisingly, their was never a televised mixed tag between these people. The feud just got forgotten as William Regal went on to win the Intercontinental Championship. Another failed angle for Mickie James. The WWE did not care to develop her, elevate her, or even keep her that fresh.

Despite being in the midst of this depush, Mickie James won the 2008 Cyber Sunday costume contest. Fans chose her two years in a row. She won over Women's Champion Beth Phoenix and her monster push, Diva's Champion Michelle McCool, Candice Michelle, Kelly Kelly, Maryse, and other women, some of whom the WWE had invested more into in 2008. Speaking of depushes and fans choosing anything, the WWE had a poll on their website for an event they made up called "All-Diva's Day" in early 2008, prior to Wrestlemania. Fans voted for their favorite divas throughout the day. At the end, the final three left were Maria, who was in the midst of her Playboy push, Kelly Kelly, who had gained attention from dancing on ECW, and Mickie James, who was off Raw and exiled on Heat at the time. Mickie James won that poll too. My point? The WWE has no excuse. They knew how over Mickie James was. Nevertheless, they pushed her only when they had to in early 2008, depushed her when the person they were high on came back, then use Mickie James as just an extra body for tag matches and jobbing for the rest of the year. You want to tell me this is the woman they were in love with?

There you have Mickie's fourth title reign. It is clear that she was not the first choice for the push. She was not the intended centerpiece. If she was, she would not have been depushed as she was the two times the same woman returned to Raw in 2008 to claim a title feud against Beth Phoenix. If she was, she would have regained the feud, not necessarily the title, after Candice was depushed. If she was, and since the WWE knew she was over, they would have invested more in elevating her or keeping her fresh outside the title feuds. All she got were angles that never saw a finish and created rumors that damaged her character. It didn't matter. Mickie James was already very over before her title reign in 2008, meaningless rub from Cena, and in between all these attempts to bury her.

The WWE Career Of Mickie James - Part 3

After Mickie James lost the Women's Championship to Melina, she won it back in a triple threat match at a house show in France. She lost it back in that same show. Why? They say the title was not supposed to change hands in the first place. With the buzz already spreading, the WWE decided to acknowledge the change anyway. What else are they going to do? Admit wrestling is fake the next Raw and they didn't book the change? Not going to happen. Mickie James held the title for a shorter period that any other person. Nevertheless, this title reign was never supposed to happen. So much symbolism in that. It was never supposed to happen.

This installment of my analysis of Mickie's WWE career is supposed to last until roughly when her feud with Beth in 2007 starts. Aside from the title reign I just mentioned, what really happened for Mickie James that is worth note until then? She feuded with Melina after Melina finished with Ashley's Playboy push, but that seems to have been just an intermediary or filler feud for Melina's sake until the WWE started building Candice Michelle.

Candice Michelle. A sexy model-type who improved her wrestling ability while in the WWE. That is pretty much one of the chief qualities the WWE looks for when trying to figure out who they want as a centerpiece. I do believe the WWE intended to make her a centerpiece. Aside from the strong build she got before winning the title, the real evidence comes the following year.

If the feud with Melina was meant to do something lasting for Mickie James, her push would have continued in some clear way. It looks like they just fed Melina more credibility and momentum before eventually using her as well. While Melina was getting used to put over Candice, Mickie James got nothing worth note at all. She became a sidekick face diva. She would partner now and then with Candice. She would wrestle on Heat against heels even further down the ladder. Imagine Gail Kim for most of her time since she returned to Raw. Imagine how Melina is being treated right now. She is doing nothing meaningful now. The only time you have seen her in televised action recently is when she wrestles on Superstars, which is pretty much on the same level as Heat. See these instances of face tools being used weakly? That is what the WWE would have wished to turn Mickie James into. They did not completely toss her aside at this time. I do not think they realized how over Mickie really was or how difficult it would be for other women to get that overness, including Candice Michelle's fall from grace.

During this time, I recall a blogger writing that Mickie James was not getting pushed better because she was not pushing herself hard enough. Incorrect interpretation. She is a sidekick. In most tag matches in which she teams with Candice, it is Candice who is meant to really shine. The commentators will be talking mostly about her, not Mickie. If Mickie does too much to take the spotlight, that will not make the WWE happy. Moreover, her matches on Heat are minor, not seen by all the fans, and against women who do not have much development or story attached to them at that time at all. The WWE would toss these small bones which they know will not do too much in really building a diva. It is the hype from promos, major wins, and from the commentators, and any other source I am forgetting, which the WWE really uses to build who they want to push. Lack of this could potentially bury a very over talent.

Mickie James could not be buried. Summerslam 2007. WWE booked a huge diva battle royal to start the monster push of Beth Phoenix. Candice Michelle, Women's Champion, sat at ringside and just watched. Aside from the obvious silence Beth got after winning, what really surprised me was the reaction the fans gave when Mickie James was eliminated. Those boos were noticeable. No, they did not boo because they hate Mickie. They would be cheering at her being eliminated if they did. They were on her side. This was not a Richmond crowd or in an arena very near to Mickie's hometown. Mickie James was still over.

After that night, still nothing special arose right away for Mickie James. Candice feuded with Beth. Mickie was given an angle with Trevor Murdoch, who was a Tag-Team Champion at the time. Trevor saved Mickie from getting hurt, Mickie tried to thank him and be nice a few times, Trevor's partner, Lance Cade, got in the way, and nothing else really came of it. Failed angle. Never saw a legitimate finish. Meanwhile, Beth wins the title and Candice gets injured in the rematch. They still did not rush a feud between the two.

Cyber Sunday 2007 featured a costume contest for the divas. The fans decided the winner. Mickie James won, getting more votes than divas which included Torrie Wilson, Kelly Kelly, Maria, Michelle McCool (surprising, isn't it?), and so on. Was Mickie James the sexiest diva there? I am a Mickie James fan, but even I know that a lot of fans would find Kelly Kelly more sexy, especially with the costume she was wearing. Was Mickie's costume revealing enough or very awesome? That is somewhat subjective. Was Mickie still a psycho lesbian for the past few months? Aside from just her kiss + kick finisher she just started using around this time, no. Mickie James won because she was the most popular diva in the WWE. If the WWE did not know that for sure by the reactions Mickie would get, this had to be a wake up call.

The WWE slowly started building up Mickie by putting focus back on her as the main face diva. After about six months of nothing to keep her monster over, Mickie finally gets a push. Do not confuse the real reason the WWE did it. They did it because Candice was injured. Unlike what that blogger I mentioned before might like to believe, I do not see Mickie "pushing herself" more in the weeks prior to her push. She was working just as hard. They did not push Mickie because she won the costume contest either. Aside from being that popular, Mickie James was the most credible face diva on Raw to work with Beth. Sound familiar? Like the same rationale I pointed out as to why Mickie James worked with Lita in 2006?

Mickie's psycho gimmick had been gone for a year. She still maintained overness in 2007, getting consistently good reactions at events, and winning a costume contest which was basically based on overness. Some people make the argument that Mickie was only over because of that psycho lesbian gimmick. I already pointed out the flaw in that no other diva has ever become monster over from just a lesbian, psycho, or fan stalker gimmick, or any combination of that, in the past. Now you have the fact that many women were being pushed in Mickie's place. If sex appeal, what many people argue was the source of what made the psycho gimmick work, really was the key, why could Kelly Kelly not get those monster pops and win the costume contest? She came in second. With the way the WWE treated Mickie James, she was yesterday's news. What kept Mickie being over? Two things. First, the fans will not forget that easily. Thing is, many wrestlers have had great gimmicks that got them over, went through a depush and usually became more generic, and the fans just stopped caring. This is especially the case when the wrestler is treated as a jobber, not given the mic very much, and has other workers pushed ahead of them. Yes, Mickie James pretty much went through this stuff, but what really saved her? The second point, Mickie James was still bringing something the fans liked to see. They took away her gimmick, but they could not take away her charisma. They could not take her energy. They could not take away that she was an actual wrestler. She pushed herself. This is why Mickie James could not be buried.

2007 was not a remarkable year for Mickie James in terms of how the WWE pushed her, but you can learn a lot from looking at it. This was the year Mickie James got her first real depush. Why? The WWE was moving on to find a centerpiece. This was the first year after Mickie's psycho run, and she still remained over. How? Through her own doing more than the WWE's. The WWE certainly was not treating Mickie James as a major priority or centerpiece, and it didn't even matter. When they needed to push her again, she already had the overness to make the fans care, and they started to put the focus back on her. It did not last long.