WWE’S Women’s division has transformed into a wrestling-centered product recently, and while the likes of Sasha Banks, Alexa Bliss, Charlotte and Bayley have enjoyed sustained runs on the main roster, one name that is conspicuous by her absence is Emma.
Emma has had numerous gimmick changes - starting out as a face in NXT and then going up to the main roster as the clumsy dancer sidekick of Santino Marella to the discarded Emmalina character. The most successful of those was when she became a cocky heel armed with a change in ring attire.
Today's edition of 'This day..' takes a look at the start of Emma's heel run which began two years ago this day on NXT during a segment with Bayley.
Also on this day, WWE had its first ever Draft, and an AWA Champion vs. WWE Champion Winner takes all match was held.
1. WWE Draft – 25 March 2002
WWE held its first Draft in 2002 which split its roster into separate shows. The on-screen co-owners of the company, Ric Flair and Vince McMahon, would have ten draft picks each and the rest of the roster would be separated via lottery.
The WWE Champion Triple H, Women’s Champion Jazz and Stone Cold Steve Austin were ineligible for the draft.
The Rock and the Undertaker were the first draft picks for SmackDown and RAW respectively. The Draft would also see multiple title matches with the Triple H defending his Undisputed WWE Championship against Chris Jericho and Stephanie McMahon as well as Rob Van Dam defending his Intercontinental title against Kurt Angle.
2. Emma turns heel – 25 March 2015
Emma had been super popular during her initial stint as a baby face in NXT. She reached the tournament final to crown the very first NXT Women’s Champion, even though she lost to Paige.She then had feuds with the likes of Summer Rae, Sasha Banks and Natalya before taking her clumsy dancer gimmick to the main roster.
It wasn't a success. Emma then returned to NXT after her failed stint as Santino Marella’s girlfriend. She would go on to turn heel and get over very soon.
The heel turn came during a backstage segment with former friend Bayley on the March 25, 2015, episode of NXT when Emma slapped the taste out of Bayley’s mouth. Emma traded wins with Bayley before forming an alliance with Dana Brooke to take on the babyface duo of Charlotte and Bayley.
She then returned to the main roster with her new cocky heel persona before a back injury sidelined her.
3. WWF Champion vs. AWA Champion – 25 March 1979
The American Wrestling Association was very popular during the 70s and the 80s, having split from the National Wrestling Alliance in 1960. Verne Gagne built the company around technical wrestlers such as himself and was the face of the company during its initial days.
The AWA would unearth talents like Jesse Ventura, Scott Hall, Shawn Michaels, Marty Jannetty, Vader, Madusa, Curt Hennig and most famously, Hulk Hogan. Despite Hogan’s popularity and drawing power, Gagne refused to make him AWA Champion unless Hogan gave him the bulk of his merchandising revenue. Hogan refused and decided to join Vince McMahon’s WWF, dealing a major blow to the AWA.
Nick Bockwinkel was Gagne’s chosen successor, and the technical wrestler would have a Champion vs. Champion match with the WWF (then WWWF) Champion Bob Backlund on 25 March 1979 with both titles on the line, Unsurprisingly, the match ended in a double count-out, meaning both wrestlers kept their titles.
AWA’s fortunes declined in the late 80s which saw wrestlers jump ship to rival promotions, mainly the WWE. Curt Hennig – whom Gagne wanted to build the AWA around – jumped to Vince McMahon’s company along with Marty Jannetty and Shawn Michaels. AWA would then fold in 1991.
Send us news tips at [email protected]
Bayley gives us a HUGE update on a top Superstar's upcoming return RIGHT HERE.
