In recent weeks, it looked like focus on Lana was on the rise again. They had that segment where Lana ended up with cake on her face. The story was then about Rusev fighting for Lana's honor for a while. She was more than just that woman in Rusev's shadow. Since then, however, she's back to being a bit of an afterthought. I remember a recent episode of Raw where Rusev came out to attack Roman Reigns. The camera cut to Lana standing in the aisle for a moment during that attack. The announcers pretty much said, "Oh, and there's Lana!" Not literally, but close enough. Even though the story between Rusev and Roman Reigns involves Lana to some degree, she is no longer actually featured that prominently in the story. Simply having the announcers bring up Lana's involvement is not enough. Even minor instances of interference is not enough. She doesn't do much these days.
Ideally, you should want workers that are well-rounded. They can wrestle well enough to connect with wrestling fans, they have an appealing look to connect with fans interested in that, and they have the charisma to connect with fans beyond that. The WWE lacks great workers right now. Even the highly-praised women coming out of NXT have their shortcomings. That's okay. If you can't have the ideal situation, the next best thing is having various workers with various strengths. The WWE obviously has various women good enough in the ring to connect with fans interested in serious wrestling.
Lana's strengths are her looks and her character. She can play an entertaining character. Lana and Maryse are the two hottest periphery divas in the WWE right now. In terms of who is better and has more potential, it is close, but I would go with Lana. On Raw, it is no competition. Summer Rae can be utilized better, as well, but Lana has more potential. The WWE needs someone like her to add some variety to the women's division. Not everyone is entertained by serious women's wrestling. The WWE needs to ease up and start entertaining again. If they won't do that with the female wrestlers, do it with the divas.
What can the WWE do to improve their treatment of Lana? The little things count. Let her do promos on a consistent basis again. Rusev can still talk for himself, but his ramblings during matches are enough to get wrestling fans to know he has a personality. And it would be nice if she did more than just stand there so much of the time. Let her be more vocal and active during Rusev's matches. Just doing these things helped Lana to become so over a few years ago. Not letting her do these things might be seen as a burial, whether intentional or not.
Beyond that, it is a shame that the WWE acknowledged the marriage of Lana and Rusev. Letting Lana break out on her own might be less likely. Letting her manage someone else might refresh her. Outside of that, Lana looked good when she was the leader of her own group earlier this year. The WWE might want to consider something like that again. The depth might be an issue due to the brand split, but the WWE can just get two women from NXT and let Lana manage them. Lana can even get in the ring again on rare occasions. Give her an angle separate of Rusev. Because this angle with Rusev is no longer consistently doing anything for her.
And what happens when the sun sets on Rusev? I feel like I have brought this up before years ago. He already lost the United States Championship to Roman Reigns. Let's say he does not win it back. Then what? Will he get depushed? Will he be moved to some angle where Lana might actually get featured better? I know many wrestling fans hated the storyline with these two, Dolph Ziggler, and Summer Rae, but the WWE needs some storylines with drama to them. Rusev can be entertaining without being pushed as a beast. Whatever happens to Rusev, Lana will likely be along for the ride. And taking him away from the title scene might actually lead to Lana being featured better, or possibly being featured even less.
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