Black History Month: Jazz

Jazz vs. Trish Stratus (WWE)

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Jazz is another one of those Divas I don't think the WWE quite knew how to use.  She came to the WWE at a time that women's wrestling was on the rebound and starting to boom again.  Ivy, Molly Holly, Victoria, Trish Stratus, and Lita were all on the roster too.

But before she got to the WWF (it was still F back then), she wrestled briefly for ECW.  She event mixed it up with the guys too.  But the company went bankrupt, and that left her without a place to go for a while.

She came to the WWE as a dominant heel Diva.  Jazz rolled through the competition, eventually beat Trish for the Women's title but didn't hold it long as she was injured and had to take several months off to recover from a torn ACL.  When she did return, she was paired with Teddy Long and he led Jazz to another run as Women's champ.  But again, she was hurt with a shoulder injury and needed time off to recover.  When she came back the third time, she was used as a manager for Rodney Mack, who happens to be her husband too.

But the couple got the "creative has nothing for you" line and they were released in 2004.  Since then they've worked in the independent scene and had a couple of children together.  Jazz still wrestles from time to time, but devotes a lot of time to her family and the gym she owns in Louisiana.

Jazz wins the title

Her time in the WWE was brief, now would be a great time to see her back with the company.  I think Beth Phoenix, Natalya Neidhart, Tamina Snuka, and Kharma could use some competition like Jazz.  I think there's a definite place for women's wrestling, and it doesn't have to just be Barbie doll divas in high heels and low cut tops to get fans interested.  Jazz was part of the upswing in women's wrestling once, I think she could be a part of it again and help this generation of Divas take it to the next level.

Released!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

Photos from WWE.com

It's that time of year again and the WWE is doing some house cleaning.  So far I have read that 3 Superstars and a Diva have been released from the company.  Melina, David Hart Smith, Vladamir Koslov, and Chris Masters have all been future endeavoured.  There is talk that Gail Kim has asked for her release, but that information has not been reported by the WWE at this point.

Of the four releases so far, I'm most surprised by that of Melina.  While the company wasn't exactly using her, I felt like Melina was one of the most talented Divas on the roster.  She held the championship on several occasions and had several high profile feuds during her run.  Melina may not have been my favorite Diva, but I did enjoy her work.  And quite honestly it's a division that can not afford to lose someone with her talent.  It's a bit ironic I believe because today WWE's website has her profiled in the Diva Focus section.

I also wonder what this means for the future of John Morrison.  He and Melina are a real life couple.  We've seen couples split before by a termination.  I hope they're able to work on their relationship, but more selfishly, I hope the WWE doesn't release him.  John is in my opinion one of those guys who is on the verge of breaking out big time and heading to the main event.  I would think if she's interested in staying in the business, Impact Wrestling would love to add her to their program.

The release I'm most disappointed about is DH Smith.  I really thought he had a lot of potential and a future in the WWE.  Of course he's still very young and will likely come back to the company at some point.  I think something that may have played against him is the fact that he's a 3rd generation superstar.  I would imagine that adds a lot of pressure to a wrestler.  While he was still a far cry from his famous uncle and father, DH showed that he could work.  I still maintain the WWE splitting up the Hart Dynasty was a huge mistake by the company.  They were the best tag team (and one of the only ones) at the time.

Vladamir Koslov had gone from a monster heel who went over the Undertaker and World title contender to entering a feud based on dancing with JTG on NXT ( a show that only airs online)  The former WWE tag team champion floundered in the midcard and went downhill fast.  I thought the writing was on the wall for him when he was jumped by the Corre at Wrestlemania Axxess and removed from the 8 man tag match 24 hours before the show.  Koslov is another one I thought had potential, but when they turned him face and teamed him with Santino they killed any chances of him being that monster the WWE so desperately needed.

Chris Masters has been released before.  Maybe he'll be back.  It's ironic as he just appeared in the last episode of Z Long Island Story, challenging Zack Ryder for the Internet Championship.  He's been used on Superstars (another online only show) and it's not a big surprise he got cut.

Gail Kim is without a doubt the most wasted Diva on the roster, maybe even in the company's history.  It's a shame too, because there was so much anticipation when she left TNA to go back to the WWE.  Things fizzled fast and at one point she was reduced to a non wrestling feud with the Bellas over the affections of Daniel Bryan.

All in all, disappointed by these moves.  I'm sure it's a case of "creative has nothing for you", which is a cop out.  I'm sure most of these Superstars and Divas will end up in other companies, some may even end up back in the WWE in the future.  Not that they're likely reading, but good luck to all.

Sisters of Destruction

Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger on Twitter

When it was announced in 2010 that Awesome Kong had left TNA and had signed with WWE, I think a lot of fans were excited about the possibilities.  I know I was.  It seemed like it took FOREVER to get Kong on television.

Finally we saw some promos featuring different dolls getting their heads, legs, and arms snapped off.  Then an almost crazy cackle filled the air.  We were being warned that Kharma was coming.  This was indeed going to be the new character Kia Stevens would be playing.

Finally, in early 2011 Kharma made her presence known.  She took out Diva after Diva, in what one could only assume was going to lead up to what I'd consider the Divas money match: Kharma vs. Beth Phoenix.

But that was not to be.  In May, Kharma had an emotional breakdown in the ring in front of the other Divas.  A week later she announced she was pregnant and would be taking the next year off.  As she left the ring that night, she was being taunted by the Bella twins (who are clearly the bully-Divas in this sceneario)

Me & Beth at Wrestlemania 24 Axxess

Now without Kharma, I assumed the WWE would bring Beth and Natalya Neidhart back to television.  After all, I believe (and many others too) that these two former Divas' champions are the best two workers in that division.  Instead, we've seen very little of either woman.  If memory serves me, the last time I saw the Glamazon, she was doing high kicks in the ring with the other Divas as a tribute to Broadway.

Things haven't been any better for Natalya.  She's been involved in a few multi-Diva tag team matches and done very little in the ring.  In my opinion (and Old School Warrior's Mama's opinion) this is wrong.  Really the only Divas we're seeing a lot of are Kelly Kelly, the Bellas, and Eve.  I think SmackDown! has featured more of Kaitlyn and A.J.  All these ladies are lovely don't get me wrong, but I'd rather see a bit more variety.  Why no Gail Kim? Melina? Tamina?

I agree with OSW Mama that turning Beth heel now would be a great idea.  Turn her into the monster they planned to make Kharma.  Heck, do it with Natalya too and let them roll over the others in the division.  They could build Gail and Tamina as the top faces to feud with the "Sisters of Destruction."  I'd then have Beth win the Divas title.  Or Nattie, but I think a Kharma-Glamazon match at Wrestlemania would have more potential.

I know the timing may not be exactly right here, but I'm guessing Kharma would be able to return to the ring by January. (I know she said a year, but if they used her on TV and PPV only this COULD work)  That would mean a return to the ring at the Royal Rumble. In the weeks leading up to that event, I'd have Natalya and Beth align with the Bella twins.  Of course they'd all be trash talking Kharma, adding fuel to the fire and getting even more heat.  Then at the Rumble, Kharma destroys the twins in a handicap match and shows everyone she's not messing around.

Natalya at Wrestlemania 27 Axxess

This leads to a match with Nattie the next month at the Elimination Chamber pay per view.  Kharma again goes over, but gets attacked by the Beth at the end.  This sets up a match between the two at Wrestlemania.  I know the WWE wouldn't do just a singles Divas match, so I'm sure there would be Lumber Jills involved or some kind of silly 8 Diva tag match.  But I digress.

I'd have Kharma win the gold and prove all her critics wrong.  She becomes a bad ass babyface and continues the program with Beth Phoenix and Natalya.  I'm envisioning Beth and Natalya as a tougher version of LayCool.  Less talk, more ass kicking.

As we are waiting for Kharma's return, Beth would be defending the title against Gail, Tamina, Melina, etc.  Could this work?  I think so.  What are your thoughts?  Post them here or on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.