Is Lana the next breakout female star?

[Wald]

There's still a Trish shaped void left in the company since she retired that hasn't been filled despite multiple attempts. Some were out and out flops like Kelly Kelly, some did okay like Mickie James and some, like AJ, have done very well but haven't quite hit the same heights as Trish or Sable before her.

Can Lana be the next break out star? She has the look, she has the ability on the mic and she is very over with the audience so the final piece of the puzzle for me will be if she can wrestle. She is in training and she can shield herself as Rusev's valet for the time being but someday soon she'll step in the ring, there's plenty of money in a face diva feuding with her going in to Wrestlemania.

There are other potential stumbling block too, the first being one I think they can easily overcome. Right now she is the anti-American and is generating massive heat so can she successfully turn when the time comes? I think she can. A lot of the audience seem to enjoy booing her more than outright hating her, she's clearly talented so is respected. The 14+ male section of the audience won't need much encouragement to cheer for her either.

The other major stumbling block to getting as over as Sable or Trish is doing so in this era. Trish, especially, was a very talented wrestler in the end but it's no secret she built her following initially on her looks and being things like bra and panty matches. Sable mostly got over from taking her clothes off and being very attractive, she wasn't all that good in the ring or on the mic. Lana won't have those options.

 

[EnoughIsEnough]

Idk if she'll ever come out of those heels, has she even done any in ring training? If she's going to make it, she'll eventually have to break out on her own. Summer Rae was able too, so we'll see. Right now the Rusev gig is still going pretty strong, so it'll probably be awhile.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

It's highly doubtful because, to my knowledge, Lana hasn't had one iota of training as a wrestler. She spent time in NXT being trained in how to cut a wrestling style promo, how to address the audience, etc. but I don't think she ever wrestled a single match. She wasn't brought in to be used as a wrestler, she was brought in strictly because of her appearance, her charisma and her acting ability. She's of Portuguese and Venezuelan descent and was born in Gainsville, Florida, yet she spent several years of her childhood living in Soviet occupied Latvia because her father worked as a Christian missionary. Her family stayed in Latvia after it declared its independence in 1990, where she aspired to be a ballet dancer like her mother before ultimately returning to the United States at age 17. Because of her years there, she knows the Russian language, its customs and has no trouble mimicking the accent.

 

[Wald]

I read on the bleecher report that she has had training in the performance center? Might not be accurate but looking on other forums there are reports that she has been in training (others say she hasn't been though)

 

[Hollywood Naitch]

If WWE have hopes of Lana being the next "Breakout" Diva, then they'll have to ensure that she has had actual wrestling training by the time she steps into the ring (which I'm pretty sure she will do, at some point).

I've heard conflicting reports of whether she has actually had proper training in NXT, some say Yes and others No, so I'm not sure either way. She definitely has the looks and mic skills to be a success, and if she could perform in the ring she'd be a sure fire pick as the next breakout diva.

I wonder if WWE will end up splitting her and Rusev up at some point, whether they see her as a long-term manager rather than actual wrestler, or whether they'll try and capitalise on her popularity/heat and use her as an in-ring competitor.

 

[Ope1995]

It all depends on her in-ring work. Plenty of people have been before who can talk and look good, but wrestle/fight like a 5 year old in a supermarket. If she can go, great, but let's not forget she probably has a 50/50 chance of ending up on Total Divas and her career dying entirely before she even gets in the ring

 

[Mustang Sally]

If WWE have hopes of Lana being the next "Breakout" Diva, then they'll have to ensure that she has had actual wrestling training by the time she steps into the ring (which I'm pretty sure she will do, at some point).

Sure, they will. She'll be trained to execute some wrestling moves by someone like Dustin Rhodes or Fit Finlay, and they'll have her performing in the ring before you know it. After all, someone who has ballet and break-dancing in their background is probably athletic enough to function effectively in the ring.

To me, Trish Stratus was far from the quality wrestler people made her out to be. She was a spot-hitter who was given a few select moves to execute during a match (that back-bend thing she did to avoid punishment was as contrived a move as I've ever seen; can you imagine it being effective in a shoot match?) and I was more impressed with the way she looked...and her genuine "likeability" factor than anything she ever did in the way of wrestling tactics.

Lana might be a huge hit once she starts wrestling. She's got the personality you love to hate....and just when you swear someone like that could never become a face, they surprise you by doing it (ex. Sheamus). I've seen photos of her pre-WWE and her smile was sweet-looking....as opposed to the evil grin she sports today. The equipment is there.

Yes, WWE will eventually split her from Rusev....and when they do, it might be found that he needed her far more than she needed him.

 

[Trance Metaphor]

Lana is good on the mic and can act and because she's doing such a good job with her current managerial duties, I would prefer her to be a manager for a long time. I don't like this notion that female valets have to become female wrestlers. Yes, Lana has the potential to do it if she trains, but there are so few female managers (if at all) in the WWE right now and I feel like that should be revitalized. To me, she extrudes the Vickie Guerrero authority type and yes, that could all change if she had an image overhaul, but it just isn't an idea I'm ready to embrace anytime soon. I would rather see a formerly trained female wrestler make her way into the WWE with just as much charisma and take the spotlight.

 

[Navi]

Yes, WWE will eventually split her from Rusev....and when they do, it might be found that he needed her far more than she needed him.

Quoted for truth there.

She is the one holding that team together and if she ever leaves him, he's got well not a lot going for him.

I didn't think she was a wrestler either. But she does have the personality and if she can eventually get the training might actually outshine him. I would leave her where she is though. If she bombs as a wrestler she might not be able to come back and be believed.

Can any of us picture Mouth of the South Jimmy Hart, or Paul Heyman in the ring against well pretty much anyone?

I think Charlotte could be the next breakout star when they bring her up from NXT. She's good in the ring, cocky like her father, and not too bad on the mic.

 

[Reflection]

I like the idea. If she can wrestle (or learns to wrestle) then she has the potential to be the best heel diva since Beth Phoenix. Paige and AJ Lee are not the best in the business; they are simply the best of the worst. She will blow the current top 4 divas (and their same old act) out of the water and force them to improve.

 

[#tamale]

Sure. Why not? I think we are being short-sighted in looking at one particular diva instead of the group that is coming up. Along with Paige and AJ we have Charlotte, Sasha, Bayley, and Naomi. That's a talented bunch who can ignite the Divas division.

I like the idea. If she can wrestle (or learns to wrestle) then she has the potential to be the best heel diva since Beth Phoenix. Paige and AJ Lee are not the best in the business; they are simply the best of the worst. She will blow the current top 4 divas (and their same old act) out of the water and force them to improve

.

AJ and Paige >>>>>>>>>>>>>>Beth Phoenix

 

[George Steele's Barber]

I don't know. I saw her in a bikini photo once and it looked like she was not packing as much up top as the Universe would require in order to make her a star. It was weird too because she looks pretty well endowed by those business suits.

I know that sounds incredibly sexist (because it is) but I just don't think a female talent can reach Trish or Sable's height without the proper physical proportions.

On top of that, what is she going to do as a character. Is she going to have to carry that thick accent around her whole career? It works in her role but it may not work anywhere else. Who remembers Aksana?

Then there is whole in ring thing. Can she perform? What does she look like after wrestling for five minutes and all the cake-up starts melting off and the tight hair bun comes undone. Is she still going to maintain her sex appeal the way Trish could?

If they are going to put her in the ring, she could play some type of Mata Hair, Black Widow, super spy martial artist character for her. Stick her in cat suits.

Or maybe she lets the hair come down and have her tag with Eva Marie. I think those two would complement each other well and give Lana time to stay on camera and transform in to some other character until she is ready to break out.

Or maybe The Rock will just bang her and she will come out singing America the Beautiful.

But no, I find it very unlikely she will be a big star the same way Trish and Sable were big stars.

 

[sMark]

Maybe. WWE lack in great managers, Lana can be this gen Sherry Martel.

To be a star you don't need to wrestle good, you need to play well on people's emotions, how exactly you do this isn't that important. Hogan, Rock, Austin - these guys usually used around 5 moves in their matches and became faces of the industry, Heyman can't wrestle at all, but he is a top star for sure. Basic training will be good thought.

 

[Mudlup50]

I personally don't think so, maybe it's just me but I see her as this years Vickie Guerrero. And that is not an insult towards either of them, Vickie got the crowd riled up in a way very few have been able to since. Her always helping Edge win or helping Dolph Ziggler's star shine a bit brighter, it kept her over and helped these guys get over. I'm not saying they needed it, but she helped.

When Lana comes out and says "shut up" all I can think about is "excuse me!" I'd be content for her to never wrestle unless she's good at it, imagine her moving to a new wrestler after a while.

To the comment about her having an accent, didn't Kofi have one for a while too? Now he doesn't so most likely they could drop it, or keep it to help generate cheap heat on her. Either way it's possible.

Don't get me wrong, if she can wrestle well then I have no problem with her wrestling at all, but if I was in charge of WWE she'd stay a manager for a while

 

[Violent Violet]

I hope WWE keeps Lana and Rusev together and adds layers to their gimmick. The USA vs. Russia thing can only last for so long. They need to start chasing titles.
But, yeah, I think Lana is great. I even thought she held her own with The Rock the other night. He bested her, of course, but he's The Rock. I loved the look on her face when she said, "Rusev is hungry."

 

[Pedigree1]

I doubt it as well.. Trish as well as being drop dead gorgeous did build herself on bra and panties matches.. Plus Trish probably was the best female wrestler ever. I read somewhere that Lana did live in Russia for part of her life as her pops was Christian Missionary!

She is very stunning and beautiful.. But to my knowledge she has zero knowledge inside of a ring and im not sure of her athletic ability.. She will not be the next breakout star unless she undergoes some serious wrestling training.. She is a valet nothing more

 

[Wald]

I doubt it as well.. Trish as well as being drop dead gorgeous did build herself on bra and panties matches.. Plus Trish probably was the best female wrestler ever. I read somewhere that Lana did live in Russia for part of her life as her pops was Christian Missionary!

She is very stunning and beautiful.. But to my knowledge she has zero knowledge inside of a ring and im not sure of her athletic ability.. She will not be the next breakout star unless she undergoes some serious wrestling training.. She is a valet nothing more

Now she is a valet, but if you'd told the IWC back when Trish was managing T&A that she would go on to become one of the most respected female wrestlers in history they'd have laughed at you. She was utter garbage when she first stepped in the ring, truly terrible.

That brings us back to the bra and panties matches though, which Lana won't have to mask any inability she may have in the ring and is the main roadblock I can see in her way.

 

[BigDaddyKewl]

I would hope that she would've gotten some training coming through developmental like taking bumps and etc. She could be a real asset to the Divas division if she ever wrestles. She's is over and has gotten some great exposure over the past few months. I don't think you would necessarily have to break her up from Rusev to have her wrestle. I think Lana vs AJ could be a money match for the Divas Division. You have the most over face diva in AJ against the most over heel Diva.

 

[RJ Fletcher]

I've actuall recently compared her to Trish Stratus. Who knows if she'll be a good in-ring performer. However, I popped BIG TIME when she slapped Zeb for the first time. That slap was awesome!

I hope her skills carry over to the wrestling side of the show. She seems very athletic and "gets" the business of show.

 

[RedRegan1005]

Will she be? I have no clue......Could she be? I absolutely believe so!

I didn't know anything about her till she came up as Rusev's manager, so I don't know if she's had any in ring training. But if she hasn't yet WWE needs to get her ass into the squared circle and smarten her up. If I had sway in WWE creative and had control over mid card acts, I would be working on getting Rusev the U.S. title, and getting Lana ring ready so she could eventually become the Divas champ. If you ask me, that power couple would be the most hated sense the McMahon Helmsey couple of 2000. Think of it, they can brag that Rusev is better than all American wrestlers, and is now your United States Champion, and how Lana has showed her Russian dominance over all the Divas in America!

Might just be me, cause I am a big fan of the possibilities for the Rusev/Lana act, but I think they both have major potential, and Lana could definitely be the next breakout female star.

 

[stingray11214]

I really doubt it. She was a ballet dancer while she was in Latvia, so she may have the athletic ability and flexibility. But, she would be a project with a capital "P". I doubt also that Lana and Rusev will be broken up. His English is not great, and Lana is his real life girlfriend, and she does a lot of communicating for him. Lana is his valet/Manager. She is good at that. Leave well enough alone.