Congratulations! You have been assigned to run the Diva's division.

[Suneeboy]

MODERATOR COMMENTS (Lord Sidious)

I don't have a problem with the occasional "What would you do" thread ... BUT if you would like to participate in the thread, you need to tell us WHY you would make the changes or decisions you would ... to avoid "spam". Thanks!

You have just been hired by the WWE to work in the creative department. You are given a specific task and you are given the resources you need to make it happen. You are responsible for running the Diva’s division. This includes character development, rosters, storylines, titles, etc. You are responsible for Diva’s rosters on all 3 brands and you are allotted 15 mins on both RAW and Smackdown each week of TV time to do what you want. That 15 minutes can be broken up into three segments of 5 minutes, two segments of 10 & 5 minutes each or whatever you wish. You are also given 8 minutes of TV time twice per month on ECW for Diva promotion if you CHOOSE to use it. You don't necessarily have to put on matches. They can be promos, segments, backstage moments, anything you want. You can use it to build feuds, characters, interact with fans, brawls, matches, etc.

Vince tells you, “Our Diva’s division is a complete mess. We have no direction. I need you to bring it to the top of the industry because ratings are down, bathroom breaks are up, and the Knockouts in TNA are kicking our ass. Make it happen, and you’ll be heavily rewarded. If not, you’ll never work in this business again.”

I am a person that actually enjoys women’s wrestling when its properly executed. I think avid wrestling fans enjoy it also when its done correctly, and with some effort the WWE can garner interest in the women’s division.

My very basic order of business. I’d say, “Vince, I gladly accept, and you will be pleased with the job that I will do with the Diva’s division. I will bring prestige to the division, and boost ratings for diva’s segments. The diva’s will also get a ton of heat at live events and it will not take away from the overall show. It will add to it.”

1) Divas are no longer eye candy, they are wrestlers.
2) Maria, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Layla, Jillian, Rosa Mendes, are all future endeavored.
3) The women’s titles will be unified under the name The Diva’s Championship. The Diva’s champion can float on all 3 brands
4) Every single Diva will be in a feud, and receive some character development.
5) Diva’s will come to the RING and cut promos!

Faces:
Beth Pheonix (Diva’s Champion)
Eve
Gail Kim
Melina

Heels:
Mickie James (Top Heel)
Heel Diva Stable consisting of: Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, Maryse
Katie Lea Burchill
Natalya

They can then build the division around this model. The divas will no longer be escorts for guests, or come in the ring to dance with the likes of Snoop Dogg, or participate in Halloween costume contests, etc. which in my opinion kills their credibility as in ring talent. Anyone care to add? What would you say to Vince, or what would you add or take away from my basic outline?

 

[Jack-Hammer]

I think you've pretty much gotten everything lined out there. Anything would be an improvement really and the easiest thing to do overall would be to simply turn the WWE Divas from pieces of eye candy for the most part and turn them into a legitimate female wrestling division.

The only thing I disagree about are some of the face and heel placings. I'd put Michelle McCool, Melina and Maryse together as a type of Beautiful People heel stable. Now, in order for that to really work, I think those three would have to amp up the sexuality more than what they use now. I'd probably also make Beth Phoenix a heel and Mickie James a face. It's just hard for me to see Mickie James as a heel. When she first came to the WWE as the perky, enthusiastic Trish Stratus stalker, it was kind of interesting. But, she's spent too long as the quasi-cheerleader babyface for me to see her as a credible heel.

 

[wrestling fan 666]

1) Divas are no longer eye candy, they are wrestlers.
2) Maria, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Layla, Jillian, Rosa Mendes, are all future endeavored.
3) The women’s titles will be unified under the name The Diva’s Championship. The Diva’s champion can float on all 3 brands
4) Every single Diva will be in a feud, and receive some character development.
5) Diva’s will come to the RING and cut promos!

Faces:
Beth Pheonix (Diva’s Champion)
Eve
Gail Kim
Melina

Heels:
Mickie James (Top Heel)
Heel Diva Stable consisting of: Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, Maryse
Katie Lea Burchill
Natalya

They can then build the division around this model. The divas will no longer be escorts for guests, or come in the ring to dance with the likes of Snoop Dogg, or participate in Halloween costume contests, etc. which in my opinion kills their credibility as in ring talent. Anyone care to add? What would you say to Vince, or what would you add or take away from my basic outline?

I like this, especially the no eye candy, if you're a woman wrestler-you wrestle. Also, you mentioned some character development in number 4; I really think that this is more important than a blurb. Let the fans actually care for them as people, build stories, cut promos; not just little blurbs backstage, then feud. It turns out really stupid and silly.

I've mentioned in the past about turning Mickey heel a while ago. Especially if she is being treated like an outsider on Smackdown...turn her psycho, so much so that everyone is afraid to face her. I would bring in other wrestlers, not models to help the story lines move easily. There really isn't enough faces that can wrestle.

 

[AJBradley]

Not sure why I'm going to number these, because for the most part they are in no particular order...

1. Beth Phoenix as a face destroys Michelle McCool in about 2 minutes to win the Women's title sometime soon after Survivor Series. Feuds with Natalya while Mickie and Michelle continue their feud. If Mickie polishes up her in-ring work and does something to remedy the frequent botches she's had the last few months she'll get moved back up to the title picture. Michelle will be given the freedom to come up with a way to make herself interesting (such as when DDP started the motivational speaker thing) or she will not be moved back into the title picture. Her work is good enough to get by, but she is not the least bit interesting.

2. Gail Kim receives new, less bland theme music. What was wrong with the "International Woman" theme she used during her first run?

3. Gail Kim also defeats Melina for the Divas title sometime soon after Survivor Series, avenges her recent losses to Alicia Fox and Kelly Kelly, and feuds with Jillian Hall.

4. Beth Phoenix and Gail Kim both hang on to their titles until Wrestlemania where they meet in a unification match. Beth Phoenix wins, the title is referred to as the Women's Championship, and floats all 3 brands much like the Tag Team champions.

5. The term "Diva" is banned unless it is in reference to, for instance, Melina's or Jillian's characters. Diva = Sunny, Miss Elizabeth, Missy Hyatt, Maria. Not Beth Phoenix, Mickie James, Natalya, Gail Kim, etc. Vince probably wouldn't allow them to simply be called women wrestlers, but I don't see why they can't just be called "Superstars" as well (as much as I hate that term as well).

6. Katie Lea is used more prominently as a competitor.

7. Upon Maryse's return, she is given a more vicious side. No silly rubbing of make up all over another diva's face, I'm talking taking a "hot" iron to Kelly Kelly's back while backstage in wardrobe or something.

Top Tier: Beth Phoenix, Natalya, Mickie James, Maryse, Gail Kim, Katie Lea
Sometimes Contenders: Melina, Jillian Hall, Alicia Fox, Michelle McCool, Layla
Mostly putting the others over: Eve Torres, Rosa Mendes, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly

The rest do not wrestle.

Melina and Michelle McCool would definitely lose a bit of their pushes while Katie Lea, Gail Kim, and Natalya would be stepped up dramatically. Maryse gains a mean streak, Mickie is kept at about the same level as long as the botching stops. Alicia Fox, Eve Torres and Kelly Kelly are all getting better, and my eye would be on them.

Oh yeah, Kelly Kelly would no longer be Kelly Kelly. Never can be taken serious with that name, it never was humorous, and the irony if any serves no purpose.

 

[Suneeboy]

I think you've pretty much gotten everything lined out there. Anything would be an improvement really and the easiest thing to do overall would be to simply turn the WWE Divas from pieces of eye candy for the most part and turn them into a legitimate female wrestling division.

The only thing I disagree about are some of the face and heel placings. I'd put Michelle McCool, Melina and Maryse together as a type of Beautiful People heel stable. Now, in order for that to really work, I think those three would have to amp up the sexuality more than what they use now. I'd probably also make Beth Phoenix a heel and Mickie James a face. It's just hard for me to see Mickie James as a heel. When she first came to the WWE as the perky, enthusiastic Trish Stratus stalker, it was kind of interesting. But, she's spent too long as the quasi-cheerleader babyface for me to see her as a credible heel.

I feel where you're coming from. But it really doesn't matter at all who you make face or heel if you were restructuring the division right now. NONE of them have characters so you wouldn't lose anything. The heel divas scowl, and the face divas smile. Same shit day in and day out.

Give them characters and then the peices will fall into place. My thinking is Beth Phoenix will be a Chyna like face. Mickie James will be a female Randy Orton like heel. Not the biggest or the strongest, but the most dangerous when given an opportunity.

It would work like this (briefly). There will be 2 battle royals at the Royal Rumble. One for the men and one for the women to unify the belts (20 diva over the top). All of the roster will be in it to make it full and probably even bring in some special guests to get a nice pop from the crowd. After the Rumble the prissy bitches get cut as they were just filler (Maria, Kelly Kelly et al). Mickie James is the winner of the Rumble and immediately turns heel. She feuds with lets say Melina over the strap for the next PPV, all the while a #1 contenders tournament is going on for who will fight for the title at Mania. Beth Phoenix wins that and turns face in the process when Mickie attacks and beats the shit out of her because she is on commentary for the final's match. She beats the holy hell out of Beth, beats her down with a chair and puts her through a table. She cuts promos for a week or two while Beth sells the injuries. Beth comes back one night on RAW for revenge gets the upper hand, but Mickie takes advantage of her injuries and wins the battle. They continue similar processes with Beth getting mic time to get the crowd behind her going into Mania. Would be a great match and it would revive the division and give us a lot of material to work with as 'Mania basically starts everything fresh.

 

["Cool Guy" Jensen]

Wow, Suneeboy! You would have done a very beautiful job if you were ever hired to fix up the Diva's Division.

If I were ever hired by the WWE and assigned to the Diva's Division, I'd do something like this...

First off, I would like it much better if the WWE would use the better wrestlers as perfomers, and the lesser ones as sort of the "eye candy". Not make the nutty divas wrestle and the better ones as eye candy, when you can clearly tell that some of them don't want to be involved in stuff like that.

My Diva Roster would consist of...

Raw: Jillian (heel), Maryse (heel), Melina (heel), Eve (face), Beth Phoenix (face), Michelle McCool (heel), and Alicia Fox (heel).

Smackdown: Gail Kim (face), Layla (heel), Maria (face), Natalya (heel), Mickie James (face), and Katie Lea (heel).

ECW: The Bella Twins (heels), Kelly Kelly (who cares), and Rosa Mendes (face).

On the Raw side of things, the title could easily go between Maryse, Melina, and Michelle McCool, if you ask me. All former/current champions, better than most of the diva roster. They can get the job done. Plus, it's good that Jillan, Eve, and Alicia Fox could also provide some great competition for whomever the champ is.

On Smackdown, I put most of the top divas (in my opinion). This should give the title scene a lot more dominance, as opposed to the Raw title scene. You have Gail Kim, Natalya, and Mickie James as the top contenders fighting over the title, all 3 of which that I think are very underrated. Then you have Katie Lea, whom I think is the most skilled of the divas. And you have Maria and Layla giving the rest of the divas some really good fights.

Notice on ECW, I put 4 current face divas there. It seems like the heel divas are better in the ring, I think. Kelly Kelly... I never looked at as much of a great title contender, she's easily one of my least favorite divas. The Bella Twins have been used more as "eye candy" anymore, as of late, so that's why I'd put them on ECW. They are not great wresters either. And Rosa Mendes has a martial arts background, but not very good in the ring, however, is pretty good at talking, so that's why I think ECW would be the best place for her, like now.

Besides the no "eye candy" rule, I really don't think the divas division is really that horrible. They (most of them) have the skills and talent, and could do good. However, the WWE is making a mistake by not giving any of the divas any direction. Also, character development should be more prominent! Besides Jillian, Maryse, Beth Phoenix, and maybe Michelle McCool, the WWE is not making it very easy for you to figure out what kind of character the divas pertain too.

That's all from me, yo!

 

[Nicole13Edge/HardyFan]

Ok I'm a girl so this is my point of view with how to handle the divas

Let Go
Alicia Fox
Bella Twins
Gail Kim
Kelly Kelly
Layla
Rosa Mendes

Keep
Beth Phoenix
Eve
Katie Lea {I just think she has potiental}
Maria
Maryse
Melina
Michelle McCool
Mickie James
Natalya

I would first take the divas off of ECW all together. I would also make a WWE Womans tag team championship.

RAW Divas
Eve
Maria
Maryse
Melina
Natalya

Smackdown Divas
Beth Phoenix
Katie Lea
Michelle McCool
Mickie James
Jillian

Gimmicks
Jillian would keep her bad singing gimmick because its gold
Maryse would keep the I'm better than you attitude

Champions
Michelle McCool and Beth Phoenix WWE Womans Tag team champions. [they just go good together.}
Mickie James WWE Womans Champion {She is just an awesome diva she is the total package}
Maryse WWE Divas Champion {Just like Mickie she is the total package}

Mickie would fued with Katie Lea. Simpliy because Katie Lea has a lot of potentional. She is gold on the mic and great in the ring. She just needs to get away from her brother Paul.

Maryse will fued with Melina because it just seems like it would be a good fued.

Beth and Michelle would fued with Maria and Eve. These to girls Maria and Eve have potiental, but it has never been shown so I'm going to show it.

Heel divas
Beth Phoenix
Michelle McCool
Jillian
Katie Lea
Maryse

Face divas
Eve
Maria
Melina
Mickie
Natalya

I would still let girls walk down the ring with their boyfriends because it wouldn't be fair to pull them apart. They would actually have a brain and a personality and they would have more ring and mic time. The divas have a lot to say and they should be able to show it. The divas will still be able to have their Halloween costume contest, but they won't have to model as much or dance around the ring they are wrestlers not models for crying out loud. I mean it would be okay to do it every now again, but if your going to do it all the time just go be a model.

Ok thats what I think

 

[spmccollo]

I would keep it simple. First, Raw, Smackdown and ECW would each have a battle royal to determine a winner would would each wrestle in a thriple-threat match. Second, the Women's and Diva's titles would be unified. Third, the respective winners would face off to be the new champion.

Now the interesting part: Wrestlers who actually have wrestling experience would make up the women's division. Models, posers and others that McMahon has just to look good would be released. Because there would only be one champion and a handful of women, they would work all of the shows. (Not every week, though. But enough to add stability and maybe credibility to the women's division.)

With only a handful of women and the opportunity to be showcased on WWE television, hopefully, creative can make this division worth watching.

 

[kerplin]

Release the Following
The Bella Twins - Pretty much useless to me, except for eye candy, and that's really not necessary on a wrestling show.
Rosa Mendes - Not entertaining, ring work is horrible.

Raw Roster
Melina - Heel
Jillian Hall - Heel
Gail Kim - Face
Kelly Kelly - Face

ECW Roster
Alicia Fox - Heel
Layla - Face
Natalya - Face
Katie Lea Burchill - Heel

Smackdown Roster
Beth Phoenix - Face
Michelle McCool - Face
Mickie James - Heel
Maryse - Heel

On Raw - Title goes to Gail Kim at the Royal Rumble after building up a good feud with Melina.

Gail Kim will move into a feud with the Smackdown Champion heading into WrestleMania to unify the titles.

Jillian Hall feuds with Kelly Kelly until Melina drops the belt. Melina wants revenge for the loss, and a handicap match is set up with Jillian and Melina vs. Kelly. Melina attacks Jillian, and Kelly helps, turning heel, and turning Jillian face. This is a good time to bring someone in from development to team with Jillian. Kelly can cut a promo, and drop the Kelly Kelly moniker, and go with her real name, Barbie Blank. Same feud essentially, different circumstances. Keeps it fresh enough to not get completely dull until after Mania.

On ECW - Layla vs. Burchill, and Natalya vs. Fox. That should push Layla and Fox to another level, which they could use. This up to a couple weeks after the Royal Rumble.

On Smackdown - Mickie James defeats Michelle McCool for the title. Maryse makes her return attacking McCool after the match. Setting up their feud.

Mickie moves into a program with Beth. Beth takes the belt at the Royal Rumble. Starts to feud with Gail Kim from Raw.

Fatal 4 way match for the Title at No Way Out - Beth vs. Mickie vs. Maryse vs. McCool, with Mickie going back over with a cheap pin on Maryse after they form an alliance during the match.

Other Notables leading into WrestleMania - Following the ECW programs, Layla and Fox will work with each other, giving a chance to see if they're ready to be on their own without a more experienced worker to carry them.

Katie Lea Burchill complains that ECW is overlooked in the match at WrestleMania and that the brand should have an equal stake in it. Natalya comes out, and says that she's right, and it should be her to compete for the brand at WM, because of her families record at the show. This sets up a match for No Way Out, with Natalya going over on Burchill to secure the spot.

WrestleMania - Mickie James vs. Gail Kim vs. Natalya
Natalya goes over, giving her the springboard to superstardom so to speak.

After this the doors are open since the title will be defended between all 3 brands, leading to more possibilities.


*All of those that aren't listed on the Roster, will be used as either backstage interviewers, or managers. They'll work house shows to improve their in ring ability with the top tier talents, without having to waste the little TV time that is allotted.

 

[Okay Fabian]

I would keep all of the current WWE Divas on the roster, both the "real wrestlers" and the "eye candy" alike as the division is thin even as it is.
However, I would pit the wrestling Divas against their counterparts and the eye candy Divas against theirs. This way you could have truly competitive matches as well as entertaining fluff without forcing the WWE Universe to suspend their belief and believe someone like Kelly Kelly could really compete with Melina, etc.

With the Diva division being so thin I would immediately unify the Diva and the Women's Championship, calling it simply the Women's Championship. However, I wouldn't do so in a battle royal like it has been suggested. I would do it in the form of a tournament to increase the visibility of the Divas. Some simply don't get enough airtime, and if they were each put in a 1-on-1 match as part of a 16-diva tournament, the audience would at least recognize the "depth" of the division. Though, some of these matches would need to be squashes to cover for some of the Divas lacking talent.

I like what Smackdown is doing with Beth Phoenix by feeding her local jobbers. I would continue this, but use jobbers with all of the Divas, not just Beth. This way Jillian Hall may actually be able to win a few matches on TV without it being a fluke or a transitional championship reign.

Finally, as an interesting addition, I would develop a Mixed Tag Team Championship. This would team a Diva and a Superstar together. I think it would be unique. At least I haven't heard anything of the kind. This would allow for more visibility for the Divas but also allow the arguably more popular male superstars to carry the matches. This would also give Superstars with no direction something to do. Teams could include: Zack Ryder & Rosa Mendes, The Miz or Jack Swagger & Eve, Tyson Kidd or DH Smith & Natalya, Paul & Katie Lea Burchill, William Regal & Layla, etc.

 

[NSL]

I'm not going to go as "in depth" as some people here, because this is not a Book This thread. I'll keep it general.

Basically, I'd trim the fat, and dump unneeded talent. Maria, The Bellas, and Eve would all either grab a mic and get to interviewing, or would receive their severance checks in 7-10 days. They're simply not talented, and will eventual hurt themselves, or someone else.

Beth, Mickie, Gail, Melina, Nattie, and Katie would all get significant ring time. TNA gives their women an average of 3 segments per 2 hour broadcast, so there's no reason that WWE can't give their Divas at least 4 in the 8 hours of TV they have a week. Anyone else on the roster would simply slide into the filler category, and either job, or fill out tag matches. Vince should really take a look at his Divas roster, and figure out what he needs, and what doesn't. There's no reason they can't draw like the KOs.

 

[shooter_mcgavin]

I would keep the eye candy like Maria, The Bellas, Kelly Kelly it does not hurt ratings and allows to have Beth Pheonix and Katie Lea to squash and establish their dominance.

 

[blowjoe5]

I think we all have pretty similar ideas as to what to do here. Although, to the girl a while back who said she'd introduce a tag title as well as keeping both the current titles, are you serious? The division was awful with the one title, and sucks entirely with two, introducing another would finish it off.

What needs to be done to fix the division is, as people are saying, distinguise between the real female wrestlers and the eye candy.

Natalya
Beth Pheonix
Katie Lea
Melina
Mickie James
Gail Kim

and to a lesser extent...

Alicia Fox, Maryse, Michelle Mccool

Keep Maria, the bella twins, layla, jilian etc out of real matches.


I would establish better characters for each.

Natalya can play up the Hart gimmick
Katie Lea form a partnership with Regal with the usual evil brit characters
Melina brings back the old style entrance with the cameras etc and is the superstar
Beth Pheonix is the powerhouse heel who attacks the non-wrestling women like Maria
Gail Kim can be the devious, manipulative one or the popular one who does high spots
Mickie James can be the generic good character, like Cena.
Alicia, Michelle and Maryse can, as someone said, be a stable

I'd have a fued between Katie Lea in a stable with Regal and Burchill and Natalya with the Harts

Have Melina hold the title with Alicia, Michelle and Beth as her stable and Mickie chasing.

Have Gail Kim as Mickie's ally, in a fued with Beth.



Also, allow the women mic time to get over. If they're not good on the mic, as some aren't, give them a manger. It works for men, why not women? Nobody can get over as a character without engaging the audience, it's crucial.

Unite the titles, obviously, have a real, dignified womens title, not that embarassing butterfly thing.

Have the women who are able execute high spots and faced paced wrestling. Women have an ability to pull off some crusierweight moves that their larger, male counterparts can't, and this is definitely a niché.

Give actual time to long, good quality wrestling matches with near falls, finishers, submissions etc, especially with Natalya and Katie fueding.

Have the women involved in gimmick matches. A four way cage match at a PPV with Mickie, Beth, Gail and Melina would be great, or a submission match with Natalya and Katie Lea.

Use Kelly Kelly, Maria etc on occasion to be attacked by heels, or even to job properly.

Use Maria etc for gimmicks like bikini contests etc.

Also, try and higher some good talent. Steal any good female talent from TNA, get some Japanese wrestlers in etc. Ideally another half a dozen good talents.

 

[lakersyr09]

I would say to keep Katie, nattie, Gail, Mickie, McCool, Maryse, Eve, Beth. Keep these 8 as the primary wrestlers in the diva's division, and then also keep the bellas, kelly, maria as just backstage interviewers and use them once in a while for the heels(beth, katie, Nattie, McCool) to bully around and try to pick fights with, or ever go back and Kelly for the expose, and throw the bellas into the expose as well, oh i forgot to list Melina on that list of actual wrestlers

 

[AJBradley]

I'm not trying to turn this into a debate about a specific wrestler, but what's the deal with people putting Jillian Hall into the "eye candy" category or putting her on the chopping block saying she is not on the "actual wrestler" list? Jillian is a very talented wrestler. She has received minimal push and therefore she has never been put into a situation where she can show off. Her character also makes her more cowardly and sneaky thus taking away from her "wrestling" much like Santino Marella when he turned heel initially. Jamie Noble hasn't been in a memorable WWE match since maybe his match with Billy Kidman at the '02 or '03 Survivor Series, yet we don't write him off because of his talent, just how he's been booked.

 

[JBK2008]

The original concept on this thread is great and should stay that way, but one thing. Call the title the Women's Championship. The word "diva" should be saved for the prissy wrestlers and nothing else. A single champion floating amongst 2 brands (that means ECW loses it's women) and as far as the face heel alignment goes, I like that as well. This format would work really well. It would be really cool to see some actual character development done on all the women instead of just a few.

 

[tsull2121]

First off, having the "Divas Title" as the remaining championship is a JOKE! You'd throw away over 40 years of championship history for a friggin BUTTERFLY BELT?!?! Gimme a break!

Second, the ONLY women I would keep on the roster are..

melina, jillian, katie lea, mickie, beth, natalya, gail kim, and arguably maryse and mc cool... not that the last two are that great to begin with but at least it gives someone for the REAL wrestlers to beat up.

I would keep the women's roster split between raw and smackdown and ecw.. there would be NINE women and between three shows thats fine since the womens champ would whittle the number down to only SEVEN because I would have the champ defend against a number one contender on either of the three shows... have a "travelling feud" so to speak and not keep it centered on one specific program.

i would also go outside of the wwe stomping grounds and find other talent to sign. roxxi is, to the best of my knowledge, available.. and theres quite a few more capable women out there that are much better than the remaining "driftwood" that makes up the "divas division"

i'd persue angelina love who is good but perhaps put her in a tag team with maryse til they both get their game polished properly. i'd also go for more japanese women since their workrate is PHENOMENAL and they can wrestle circles around american females. i'd also go to AAA in mexico and grab faby apache and a few of their women. they take CRAZY bumps and arent afraid to bleed in a match either.

thered be no "supermodel/wrestlers" ever allowed near a ring unless they were in the crowd and had a valid ticket to the show. MANDATORY IMPLANTS would be outlawed because they bring NOTHING to the match except the possibility of a "wardrobe malfunction" for all the horndogs in the audience.

there would be longer title reigns.. because if you HAVENT noticed.. vince has a thing for giving only 6 month title reigns.. at most.. these days. having multiple champions during the course of the year DOESNT make the title more prestigious.. it only makes it "weaker".

and another thing.. one of the FIRST things i would do is recognize the fact that Moolah was a FIVE TIME CHAMPION before she ever lost the belt to wendi richter. (just becuase vince doesnt recognize them doesnt mean that they DONT exist!) and give the other women... bette boucher, yukiko tomoe, evelyn stevens and susan green their rightful place in championship history.

there would be no "bra and panties" matches, no referring to the competitors as DIVAS ever, and if anyone DOES.. they get their walking papers no questions asked and no arguments.

the womens champion would wrestle the number one contender ONLY.. no triple threat matches, no fatal fourways, no battle royals to determine a new champion. the remaining competitors would have their own feuds to worry about, and that would be more than enough.

there would be matches that lasted MORE than just five minutes or less, and they would have to PROVE that they can "go the distance" and be WORTHY of a title match by EARNING it.


i would have beth be champion for starters, and have mickie, mc cool, sara del ray and maryse on smackdown.. have natalya, katie lea, faby apache and jillian on ecw and have melina, angelina love and gail kim on raw.

whoever the champ ended up losing the title to, then they would take over the new champ's spot on that shows roster to "fill the gap" the champion would travel between shows defending her championship once a month on each show.. first week of the month she's on raw, second week on ecw, third week on smackdown, and then the final week they "get the day off" and the cycle begins over again the following month.

 

[HHHDiedForOurSins]

It goes without saying that they need to give the divas some distinguishable personalities to help get them over, right now I would say only Maryse and (more when they were heels) Melina, Mickie & Beth have stood out from the crowd in recent years, the rest are essentially the same cookie cutter character, it's no wonder most of them wrestle before dead silence.

Also, stop the 2 minute matches on TV every week, they accomplish nothing, no one gets over, fans don't care, let them actually wrestle decent length matches and give them storylines that aren't as basic as "no. 1 contender wants to beat up the champion and take her title!!!", it's not rocket science, it might take fans a while to come around since they've been accustomed to the womens division being so awful for so long, but eventually with simple, effective booking and the talented girls bringing their A game each week, they will come to appreciate the division again like they did a few years ago.

Anyway, I wouldn't really do anything too groundbreaking, just like I said, stop treating them as an afterthought and actually give them a chance to get over, some basic stuff I'd do in the near future would be:

RAW - Melina I think is the best all around female performer in the WWE, and Maryse is probably the most charismatic/entertaining new diva in the past couple years, so I think a feud between them over the title is the logical thing to do right now, beyond that, they have to do something with Gail Kim, I think a heel turn is needed and then a series of matches with Melina would have great potential.

SMACKDOWN - First off, I respect that Michelle McCool has worked her ass off to improve her in ring skills, but she's been pushed like Jesus Christ for the past 2 years and has the personality of a dead kittten, it's blatantly obvious she's never going to get over, she's a good hand, but she's not someone to build the womens division around, on SD alone Beth & Natalya are more suitable to be in the top heel position, I'd switch the title to Mickie and then to Natalya in the coming months, during this time I would turn Beth Phoenix babyface and build towards the battle of the powerhouses with Natalya v Beth for the Womens title at Wrestlemania, which would probably be the best divas match since Trish v Mickie if given time and a proper build up to make people care.

 

[My$terio_Fan]

First I would totally fire Kelly Kelly, Maria, and The Bellas, for the simple fact that I hate them. I would unify the two belts together, make their only be one, and them I would put the diva's in different divisions.

Unlike the mens division where their obviously mainevent talent, midcards, undercards, jobbers, ect the women just seem to be thrown together, and one minute you can be champion and the next your jobbing to Kelly Kelly.

Then I'd just make sure to give the diva's time to grow, create personalities, and give them time to get the crowd behind them. I think half the reason why nobody cares about the diva's anymore is because the fans don't get the time to like them. Trish & Lita each had matches, promos, mic time, interaction with the male wrestlers, and time to develope a connected with the audience unlike todays crop who get a 2 minute match, and maybe if their lucky a 1 minute backstage promo, that seems useless and dumb.

The mainevent diva's would consist of Melina, Michelle McCool, Beth Pheonix, Mickie James, Gail Kim, and Maryse. They would be the one's getting the most TV time, match time, and focus.

Then I'd have a bunch in the midcard which would include Natayla, Layla, Rosa Mendez, Katie Lea, Jillian, Eve, and Alicia. This girls would feud with each other, participate in tag matches, and once in a while get a shot at the big times.

I might hire a few girls from the indies, including Angelina Love who would be a top diva, maybe pair her maryse and make the Hot Girls are some lame Beautiful People rip off. I'd also pick up a few other indie girls who would work in the midcard, and as jobbers trying to make the other diva's look good.

Also, make good, intense, interesting feuds, where the fans actually care about the outcome. Make the heels, evil snakes, who will do anything to win. Give a few girls some time with the top male stars like Cena/Orton/Punk/ect so that their buzz and reaction can rub off.

I think the WWE has alot of talented girls, that's not what their problem is. The problem is the 2 minute matches, where the girls have no time to shine, and have to try and fit in 100 moves in such a short time. The problem is not giving the girls good characters, promo time, and not making the women's division seem worthwhile.

I mean Mickie James Vs. Natayla last week on Smackdown. Two girls who can work and put on a good match, and yet they got the same reaction in the ring when girrls like Maria and Bella are in it. Something needs to be done.

 

[Awesomekong]

New women would undoubtedly need to be brought in...

Since numerous TNA knockouts are not a current option, I would bring in independent wrestlers MsChif, Portia Perez, Mercdes Martinez and sponsor Angelina Love.

To fill in some dynamics in the division, a returning veteran needs to be in the mix, which would be Ivory.

On the chopping block would be Kelly Kelly, Rosa Mendes, The Bella Twins, and Maria. My enhancement talent would be Layla, Alicia and Maryse.

 

[maar130]

You have just been hired by the WWE to work in the creative department. You are given a specific task and you are given the resources you need to make it happen. You are responsible for running the Diva’s division. This includes character development, rosters, storylines, titles, etc. You are responsible for Diva’s rosters on all 3 brands and you are allotted 15 mins on both RAW and Smackdown each week of TV time to do what you want. That 15 minutes can be broken up into three segments of 5 minutes, two segments of 10 & 5 minutes each or whatever you wish. You are also given 8 minutes of TV time twice per month on ECW for Diva promotion if you CHOOSE to use it. You don't necessarily have to put on matches. They can be promos, segments, backstage moments, anything you want. You can use it to build feuds, characters, interact with fans, brawls, matches, etc.

Vince tells you, “Our Diva’s division is a complete mess. We have no direction. I need you to bring it to the top of the industry because ratings are down, bathroom breaks are up, and the Knockouts in TNA are kicking our ass. Make it happen, and you’ll be heavily rewarded. If not, you’ll never work in this business again.”

I am a person that actually enjoys women’s wrestling when its properly executed. I think avid wrestling fans enjoy it also when its done correctly, and with some effort the WWE can garner interest in the women’s division.

My very basic order of business. I’d say, “Vince, I gladly accept, and you will be pleased with the job that I will do with the Diva’s division. I will bring prestige to the division, and boost ratings for diva’s segments. The diva’s will also get a ton of heat at live events and it will not take away from the overall show. It will add to it.”

1) Divas are no longer eye candy, they are wrestlers.
2) Maria, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Layla, Jillian, Rosa Mendes, are all future endeavored.
3) The women’s titles will be unified under the name The Diva’s Championship. The Diva’s champion can float on all 3 brands
4) Every single Diva will be in a feud, and receive some character development.
5) Diva’s will come to the RING and cut promos!

Faces:
Beth Pheonix (Diva’s Champion)
Eve
Gail Kim
Melina

Heels:
Mickie James (Top Heel)
Heel Diva Stable consisting of: Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, Maryse
Katie Lea Burchill
Natalya

They can then build the division around this model. The divas will no longer be escorts for guests, or come in the ring to dance with the likes of Snoop Dogg, or participate in Halloween costume contests, etc. which in my opinion kills their credibility as in ring talent. Anyone care to add? What would you say to Vince, or what would you add or take away from my basic outline?

Well coming out from your basic layout I would change just a few things.

First of I would let Layla stay and Alicia Fox go since Layla seems more familiar with in ring work, at least know how to work a body part way better than Fox and sells better.

From there well, first thing I would do would be start a feud Between Katie Lea and Beth Phoenix, something that would end up like their feud in OVW with a ladder match for the title (that one was pretty cool, now imagine what they can do in a bigger stage), with some promos (Katie can cut some great promos) and Beth being the silent Powerhouse ready to destroy anything insight.

With that being said, I would allow Katie to win the belt in the last match (Ladder match) after winning a non-title bout ( upsets are great set ups for feuds) and Beth successfully defending her title one time, some Intergender tag matches (with Paul on Kati's side and some other guy with Beth) and a previous confrontation endind in a double Knock out (not being able to stand) or no-contest with Refs trying to separate them.

Melina would help Eve to fight against The stable you mentioned with interaction between all members at some point, with Melina or Eve taking one out at some point (probably Layla) and it going to a final showdown in a two on two elimination tag match with Melina being the last Survivor.

And last but not least, start a feud between Gail Kim and Natalia and Mickie that would see some great matches, ending in a Three way elimination match to become the Number one Contender for the Championship.

Well, that is what I would do with the lay out you put out there. I think that would make some good segments and would help the division, specially things like stipulation matches, that would put them in positions you don't see them anymore and making the last match of the feud mean something.

 

[pattycat22]

While I agree with the concept of sorting the 'real' female wrestlers from the eyecandy, I have to ask- what's wrong with a little eye candy? I'm female, but I miss the days of the lingerie matches and such. (of course PG ratings kill that kind of thing..) I wouldn't make a true wrestler like Beth Phoenix be in them; but what else can you do with the likes of Kelly-Kelly, The Bellas or Maria? A little t&a never hurts

 

[Viola Moonlight]

1) Divas are no longer eye candy, they are wrestlers.

Moderation is key. You can't take away eye candy all together and replace it with wrestling only. One of the main things about a women's division is for the sex appeal. There are women on the roster that should be only assigned to play the eye candy role with other's acting as wrestlers. Girls like Maria are the sort of women you want featured as non-wrestling personalities yet still bring unique characters to the ring. Then, others like Mickie James can be used for wrestling only. Sex appeal is a give or take thing here.

2) Maria, The Bella Twins, Kelly Kelly, Layla, Jillian, Rosa Mendes, are all future endeavored.

Maria is a good asset to WWE. She can play characters and gimmicks very well, as proven by the typical blonde run she had a while back. She is a former Playboy CoverGirl and has great appearances, essential for satisfying the sex appeal look. She also makes her own clothes and could work behind the scenes with the wrestling apparel department (if they have one) for the womens division.

Kelly Kelly? Are you insane? She is the best looking female, as well as the youngest, that the WWE has. No way is a talent like that going to be wasted. She is one of the models hired to be eye candy that actually try to become good wrestlers, to which Kelly is doing a great job and has improved immensely.

Jillian is very iffy. She can play the character/gimmick role well and has been known to wrestle very well. Considering her ring rust, it might be wise if Jillian departed with the E and goes back to the indy/TNA to get her skills back up to par. Or maybe dropped to FCW.

The other choices are justifiable.

3) The women’s titles will be unified under the name The Diva’s Championship. The Diva’s champion can float on all 3 brands

That is a great idea. There is no need to have two womens titles when the entire division has hardly anyone in them at all, struggling to find girls to become number one contenders.

4) Every single Diva will be in a feud, and receive some character development.

Character development is a must and should be embraced. One main reason why the Diva's Division has received bad rep is because of the lack of characters and ability to develop. Every single diva in a feud is not the way to go. Maybe one feud per show, possibly two for RAW/SD... but you need fillers and jobbers to feature other girls. Its much like the males division, expect smaller.

5) Diva’s will come to the RING and cut promos!

Only when needed and should be used sparingly. There are girls who don't know how to use the mic yet or just don't understand how to properly use it. Backstage segments and promos are still very effective.

Faces:
Beth Pheonix (Diva’s Champion)
Eve
Gail Kim
Melina

Heels:
Mickie James (Top Heel)
Heel Diva Stable consisting of: Michelle McCool, Alicia Fox, Maryse
Katie Lea Burchill
Natalya

Seems fair, but the heels are overwhelmingly stacked for the division. If you are going to assort a women's division, you have to get more faces together because of the sex appeal. Personally, the way the entire division is being done as of right now is a great way to roster the alignments. Yes, Phoenix and Mickie need a change of alignment scenary... but having the dominate force as a face and the most popular girl on the roster as a heel is very stupid. It would be like making Cena the top heel and Randy Orton the top face... it just doesn't work without a properly executed storyline. In the hands of WWE creative, I just can't see that happening (even if this is a fantasy booking projection regarding the women's division).


All in all, the things that need to be done are making the Women's Division like the Men's, with the differences being that they are used for the midcard/upper midcard slots only and they have sex appeal attached. What you saw during the Trish/Lita/Holly/Victoria era is what should be done currently, with the PG era floating around.

 

[stygimoloch]

What would I do if I was in charge of the women's division? Well, remove the women's division, and have them compete alongside the men



However, if I have to have the women in their own division:

I would keep the crappy women like Maria and Kelly Kelly, and use them as jobbers to put over those with actual talent. Beth Phoenix will look better crushing Alicia Fox than from beating some random person I've never heard of.

Those with talent includes Jillian Hall, who is far better than most posters in here have given her credit for. She needs to drop the 'bad singer' gimmick and re-acquire her surname, but she's a good wrestler all the same.

I'd have prestige matches held within the division. Melina versus Gail Kim in a ladder match could be outstanding. Beth Phoenix versus Natalya in an I Quit match, Katie Lea versus Mickie James in a Last Woman Standing match. There's plenty of potential.

I'd court former talent like Lita, Jazz, Trish Stratus and Molly Holly, and try to convince them that the women's division wasn't a colossal waste of time and effort. I'd have the men and women reintegrate and just generally act like they were working for the same company.

I'd hire Maryse as a manager. She's an awful wrestler, but probably has the best gimmick and overall character on the women's roster right now. I'd book her like a Raisha Saieed kinda character: someone who doesn't fight week to week, but can mix it up with the fighters when she absolutely has to.

I would absolutely NOT do anything like a Beautiful People gimmick. Way to make WWE look like a cheap rip-off of the competition