Lana To Smackdown

A few women were sent to Smackdown, but only one is worth talking about in any depth today. I don't mean Charlotte. I already talked about her moving a couple days ago. And I don't mean Tamina. Not much to say about her. She is not over and not a great worker. The WWE should use her as a supporting player on Smackdown. If she wants better, she needs to step up and do more. Of course, in this new era, and especially on Smackdown, they will probably try to give her some kind of meaningful angle even if she doesn't earn it.

I am talking about Lana. Rusev also moved to Smackdown. It would be easy to say that these two are simply filling the void Miz & Maryse left. Thing is, it looks like Lana will get some special individual attention. At least, that is what it looks like for now.

I have seen some fans question whether what they are doing with Lana is good or bad for the women's division. Some people just don't pay attention. Ever since Smackdown became its own brand again, it soon took up the identity of the diva era's last stand. They tried to do something meaningful with Eva Marie. Alexa Bliss got some runs with the Smackdown Women's Championship. Nikki Bella and Maryse got big pushes in the periphery recently. These are all divas. Smackdown's women's division has not been treated as being as elite as Raw's women's division. They still featured some female wrestlers feuding against each other, like Mickie James vs. Becky Lynch, but you have not gotten the hype that Raw has. I am not surprised at all that they would be willing to put some individual focus on Lana, and not be afraid to let that individual focus be based on her sex appeal. As far as I am concerned, this is just more of the same from the last few months.

Does Lana deserve it? I think so. Unlike some women, she has actually shown potential to connect well with the fans. Back when this new era was getting started and fans were complaining on the Internet for better treatment and respect for women's wrestling, Lana, an eye-candy diva that wasn't even wrestling, was having fans in the audience chanting for her. It just shows how polarizing this era is. Not everyone out there cares about it as much as some fans might think. Regardless, Lana has also been training in the ring. No one should expect her to be able to put on great matches, but Smackdown is the brand for her to be featured like this and not really ruin the identity they have.

Is she the replacement for Alexa Bliss? I talked about the fact that Alexa Bliss cannot really replace Charlotte on Raw. She is not good enough in the ring. Maybe that is why Mickie James also went to Raw. But who replaces Alexa Bliss on Smackdown? Charlotte doesn't have the look Alexa Bliss has, which is one of her best traits. But Lana does have the look and has been trying to improve her in-ring work. This just seems like a clear replacement.

Will Lana have the title success on Smackdown that Alexa Bliss had? Smackdown's standards would obviously make it more likely than if Lana was still on Raw. Problem is, Charlotte is someone I can picture the WWE booking to dominate the division, no matter which show she is on. Will Smackdown's identity trump her tendency to be pushed hard? Or will her tendency to be pushed hard impact Smackdown's identity? If it is the latter, it is less likely Lana has any title success. If all else fails, she can always lean on Rusev again. I think Lana is in a very favorable position.