It's never been better for WWE to start moving towards Bianca Bel Air Heel turns.
EST has been exactly that since she started with NXT in 2016. There were some wrinkles here and there, but the characters were basically the same.
It took her to great heights, including her victory over Sasha Banks at the time in the historic main event at WrestleMania 37 and a tremendous year of feud with Becky Lynch from 2021-22. At WrestleMania 38.
However, a new star appeared and Bel Air has not held a single championship since 2023 when it cashed her money at her bank at Summer Slam.
Since that loss, she has been stuck on the midcard as a two-time WWE women's tag team champion with Jade Cargill, and now Naomi and her former partner have returned from injuries in both real life and storyline. Ta.
The change to the Belair character should not be out of the issue as it still needs to reveal who attacked Cargill when WWE was on her return.
Bel Air should be able to get enough of both Cargill and Naomi's fever if it reveals that her jealous led to the ex-Aee star.
Babyface WWE Women's Champion Tiffany Stratton will need a heeled opponent once they've finished Charlotte Flair.
Also, the long and long-awaited famous match with women's world champion Rhea Ripley is from different brands, so given Mami's Bayface popularity, you might need Belair as a heel.
Plus, husbands Montes Ford and Angelo Dawkins are first to go for their first true heel turn. And finally, it feels like the perfect time to put the three together on screen and mimic the success of Judgment Day.
But there is one scenario where you can convince me not to let me do that. If WWE starts a story of Bella Charlotte's talent that is centered around EST, which has never beat the Queen before, check off the final four horse women.
Otherwise, it's time to start pulling out the other side of Bella. And given the continued admiration of her, it should get her immediate heel fever.
All Raves
Ricochet is doing the best job of his career with his new Aew Heel Gimmick, as he and Swerve Strickland are hitting all the right notes big and small. The former WWE star, stealing Prince Nana's robe was a more despicable move than a pair of scissors he could hold on someone's neck.
The robe belonged to the Jimmy Rave. He was one of the founding members of the Embassy faction in the early 2000s where Nana had Ring of Honor. The raves were known as the group's “crown jewels.”
It is also a callback to fans of Hammerstein Ballroom's slow toilet paper (toilet paper to which Nana was handed out). Rave, throwing toilet paper instead of a streamer from Ring of Honor, started with Rave. He died of MSRA infection in 2021, leading to double leg amputation.
It's not only about the robes having very special meaning for Nana, but it's a story that should be told more specifically on television.
Ricochet wore a robe at a wrestling show over the weekend. There, he was attacked in a collision with Strickland.
It should further trigger a stickland of vengeance and take us to the regulations of a more physical and bloody match than riding dynamite in the revolution.
10 counts
Ricky Starks is sure he won't waste his time making his WWE debut with NXT the day after the AEW release was announced. Starks has been off AEW TV as far as he has, and the drama around it makes his debut feel so big. It would be difficult for people to not be happy for him. Starks' first promotion is still a must-see.
Harley Cameron nailed her babyface promotion, built up sympathy for herself, and performed online chattering that her dolls were more interesting than Mercedes Morn after the collision guitar concert.
The crowd was chanting “Harley!” before Mone agreed to a TBS Championship match in the Grand Slam. AEW needs to understand how to make that connection undeniable and demonstrate the heart and resilience of loss in their home country.
Maybe instead of MJF vs Jeff Jarrett, Dustin Rhodes was the feud we needed in AEW. Rhodes' promotions usually have the same Grizzle veteran foundation, but nature shows that Jarrett can lead his fastball to a fastball by going to the MJF with a dynamite microphone.
This week's Raw was one of the best wire-to-wire pure wrestling shows I can remember, especially a female tag team match. Raquel Rodriguez and Liv Morgan have unlimited possibilities as a team.
Toni Storm's portrayal of Mariah May was hilariously spot-on. Playing the role of her opponent in a major feud should definitely continue doing what she looks forward to to her fans.
Why did Creed Brothers use their title to get DQ'D in a Championship match? I think it's going to get some heat on my beliefs, but logically it makes no sense. At least the attempt to cheate is wrong and begins a beatdown.
As someone who has played all the WWE 2K games, I have to love this year's version of ambition.
TNA may just have placed their first bricks for a feud between Nemes' brothers. It may not be something fans are particularly screaming about, but I'm sure it means ton for Nick and is a great opportunity for Ryan.
It took Bandido 603 days to return to the AEW ring for the match aired thanks to his broken wrist first and then a concussion. His clash with Brian Keith in the clash didn't disappoint at reminding everyone how special the talented bandid is.
There were Shakespeareans about Miz warning Cody Rhodes that Jay Uso is facing him at WrestleMania means he has to lose another friend. After that, Rhodes checks with USO for his WrestleMania decision before the tags match, so he knows how to play things.
Added: Did anyone else notice that Lily is twice the size of the original doll? WWE had to sell that new product, right?
This week's wrestler
Hiraoki Goto will ultimately be the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in New Japan in 21 years. The 45-year-old veteran defeated Zack Saber JR in the new beginning main event in Osaka over the weekend, celebrating with the kids in the ring. After becoming multiple tag team champions at Yosh-Hasi, the big belt is finally him.
This week's social media post
Match to see
Mariahmay vs. AEW Women's Championship Toni Storm (Grand Slam, February 15th, after TNT, All-Star Saturday Night)
The nuances of this story never really miss the beat of the beat, including the one Storm's Butler Luthor uses to storm in a collision with bloody white shoes. AEW needs to post things in Australia, the Storm's home country. Is it the golden age of the bow of cinema quality?
