|
Post by Cassa Nova Kid on Nov 4, 2018 11:51:58 GMT -5
As a former diva, Nikki believes she doesn’t get enough credit for her role in starting the Women’s Revolution and she discussed that on the In This Corner podcast with Brian Campbell.
“Definitely not,” Nikki responded when asked if the Bellas get enough credit for starting the Women’s Revolution. “I guess it’s the point where I don’t feel like I need the credit, but it’s more or less been the disrespect where I have been the punching bag and I think that is hard because, as we know, especially WWE they are pros to “perception is reality.” So, however they perceive someone people tend to believe that where that person is that person, and for some reason my sister and I have been turned into the punching bags, like, oh, put them with this person and let that person talk about The Bellas and it will elevate them, and that is who we have become. We have been that for a very long time, and it gets exhausting and I’m not going to lie it gets very frustrating because for some reason we have been the women that don’t care about wrestling. But I have been here for 12 years; I have broken my neck and have come back. I absolutely love professional wrestling; I have a passion for that.”
Nikki reminds everyone that she and Brie debuted as wrestlers and not as valets or non-wrestling personalities. The Bellas also came up with the idea of being assistants to the Celebrity Hosts that Raw used to have, but Nikki thinks their crossover ability with people outside of wrestling has hurt them at times with WWE.
“My sister and I, no one will ever give us any credit because we have become the ‘no, use them for this because they have this outside success,’ or they have that, but that’s fine,” said Nikki. “But it’s just like the word “diva.” I was in so many meetings where I talked about how that word is going to be made beautiful, strong and powerful, and it also gave the SmackDown women something to compete for because we weren’t competing for anything. So, we were like, yes, let’s make this so strong and powerful, which is what we made the Divas Championship become – something beautiful like that. A lot of little girls were wearing the Divas Championship, they loved it, and I think that is what is hard about the current era now: because Triple H and that group decided to use it as a bad word, it’s like, wait, what do you mean?
“You taught us to make that word an amazing word and that is what we did. We put our blood, sweat and tears into it, and I was part of that. I saw the work that was put into that and it was beautiful. I saw the work that was put into that bridge when people wanted to see more of us, and that was beautiful, and then when it gets taken away from the diva’s era that hurts me. If you think diva is a bad word then I am going to kick your a** to show you that it is not a bad word.”
Nikki and Brie embraced the word “diva” and made it represent something meaningful in a male-dominated industry. But when WWE changed “divas” to “women’s Superstars,” the word almost seemed to become an insult. Nikki believes the women from the diva’s era, including herself, should still be held in high regard.
“When you look at those champions: Michelle McCool, Beth Phoenix, Melina, AJ Lee, Paige, Brie Bella, Eve Torres, they are strong and fierce women that cared and worked really hard, so I am here to remind people of that history. You want to praise the Attitude Era, and praise bra and bikini matches, but you want to discredit women that worked hard because there is a butterfly on a championship design? That is not okay with me, that is not empowering, so I think Evolution means a lot of things, and hopefully after Evolution we can stop talking about diva being a bad word. We get blamed for something but they tell us to be at certain places, I am here to stick up for those women, to remind people of how hard they have worked,” stated Nikki.
(Pro Wrestling & MMA World)
I personally feel she didn’t start it at all , Charlotte, Bayley, Sasha , & Becky did.
|
|
|
Post by kennyw86v2 on Nov 4, 2018 12:11:55 GMT -5
Agreed. Nikki is garbage and so is her opinion.
I think Paige, Aj, and Emma deserve a footnote. But it was definately the horsewomen of nxt that changed things.
Nikki just got a boob job and got railed by Cena.
|
|
|
Post by rkmo: 10 Month Notice on Nov 4, 2018 12:27:32 GMT -5
So she's making herself a martyr because she fought hard for almost every 3-minute Diva's match from her era to be treated as a piss break, and because she and her sister were too successful?
Sounds like her ex honestly. She doesn't try to use her position to change things or change her perception amongst WWE viewers because she feels that is her obligation to play a certain role. It just so happens management keeps her at the top of the roster, treats her as a star, and rakes in the dough while doing so.
And WWE stopped the Bra & Panties Era because they felt it was no longer kid-friendly programming, not Da Bellas.
|
|
|
Post by marino13 on Nov 4, 2018 12:28:57 GMT -5
Being a bystander when the world changes around you, does not make you a revolutionist.
|
|
crookedterror
Mid-Carder
Joined on: Dec 26, 2014 23:23:48 GMT -5
Posts: 121
|
Post by crookedterror on Nov 4, 2018 12:54:18 GMT -5
It doesn't have to be all or nothing - Nikki started the women's revolution or had no part in it. Nikki rose to the top of her division during the time that she mainly competed. That is to be commended as she was the next phase in women's wrestling after the attitude era. The current revolution is something different but was able to happen because Nikki held the torch for women's wrestling prior to this time. It would have happened without her specifically but not without her generation as a whole.
It's hard getting older. Times change and it becomes more and more difficult to fit in with the younger generation. And it's not fun to feel like the world is passing you by. Nikki is feeling that struggle now so it makes sense that she is looking for vindication.
|
|
|
Post by theicwguy on Nov 4, 2018 12:55:46 GMT -5
Half the stuff's deleted lol.
|
|
|
Post by k5 on Nov 4, 2018 12:56:02 GMT -5
it’s all just cringe.
|
|
|
Post by Nivro™ on Nov 4, 2018 13:24:49 GMT -5
I cant even with this. Someone on Twitter said it best, When Roman Reigns gets back I hope he fights the Bella Twins so he can defeat cancer again.
|
|
Deleted
Joined on: Mar 29, 2024 10:02:11 GMT -5
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Nov 4, 2018 14:25:12 GMT -5
The Bellas didnt start the womens revolution, Triple H did, with the blessing of Vince. The women superstars were/are the vehicle they used Paige's push was what really made people sit up and watch anyway
|
|
|
Post by madness86 on Nov 4, 2018 15:06:00 GMT -5
Bella’s are garbage.
|
|
|
Post by punksnotdead on Nov 4, 2018 15:21:37 GMT -5
Being a bystander when the world changes around you, does not make you a revolutionist.
|
|
|
Post by drifter on Nov 4, 2018 15:36:19 GMT -5
Wait, does she actually think that the Divas title and division didn't get crap, until the recent 'revolution?' That ugly hunk of metal was crapped on pretty much since it debuted, and it absolutely increased, once they unified it with the Women's Title, and decided to keep the Barbie accessory over the belt that actually looked like a championship. And just because women like McCool, Phoenix, Melina, Lee and Paige held that ugly belt, doesn't mean that it was a good championship. A prime example, the WCW Hardcore Title. Bam Bam Bigelow, Terry Funk, Lance Storm, and Haku all held that title. All guys that are respected by other wrestlers and fans alike. But the fact that they held that title, doesn't make it any less of a piece of garbage and a blight on that company. The only reason those women held the Divas title, was because it was the only title. But hey, it must be interesting living in the reality Nikki lives in, where she sees herself as this important figure in the respectability the Women's division headed to. Can't remember who, but someone here put it best, the only way the Bellas could take credit for the change in women's wrestling in WWE, was they were what the fans desperately wanted the company to get away from when it came to women's wrestling.
|
|
|
Post by ahunter8056 on Nov 4, 2018 15:51:22 GMT -5
While I do agree with Nikki's opening statements that a lot of fans do not give her the respect that I feel she has earned, it's her comments on the term "diva" that had me mentally facepalming. I understand that she and her contemporaries in the Diva Era tried to do as much as they could. But what she is failing to realise, is that no matter how hard they worked, there was too much going against them to ever reach the potential that women's wrestling has. The main reason why "diva" is regarded as a negative term now (and rightly so), is because the women were purposefully improperly trained. Management and trainers didn't want them to be successful wrestlers. They just wanted them to look good, slap, and pull hair. Women were hired based solely on looks rather than wrestling ability. That is not the way it should ever have been. I would never discredit any of the divas who worked hard, because they were not given the tools to be successful. They were deliberately discouraged from wrestling to a competent level, so they would never be able to wrestle on the same level as the male portion of the roster. But at the same time, "diva" is absolutely a negative term, because it refers to a period of time in which the female performers were not trained competently, were not given enough screen time to develop anything meaningful, and were actively discouraged from showing competent wrestling ability. It should not be regarded as a positive era, despite the efforts of the performers involved. I think Nikki is absolutely wrong in this regard. And given that her stepfather allegedly told AJ Lee that she would never succeed because she "wasn't able", I don't think she should be glorifying the Divas Era at all. And I don't know why she implied that she and Brie deserve credit for starting the women's revolution. AJ Lee didn't. Paige and Emma didn't. The Four Horsewomen didn't. Nobody did it single-handedly, and I don't believe that anyone should be given sole credit. It was a gradual team effort. Trish and Lita were good enough to main event RAW. AJ Lee was popular enough to warrant getting the first women's t-shirt design in years. Triple H saw the mistreatment and saw enough potential in women's wrestling to start making the transition to giving them the same opportunities as the male roster. Sara Amato was brought in to start training the female wrestlers to wrestle to a high standard. Paige and Emma had the first overwhelmingly well received women's match in many years. The Four Horsewomen had multiple overwhelmingly well received matches. Those are the key figures in the past couple of decades. All of them deserve credit for playing their part. Unfortunately for Nikki and Brie, they are not key figures.
|
|
|
Post by hbkbigdaddycool on Nov 4, 2018 16:42:23 GMT -5
Nikki Bella could have a 5 star match and fans would still find reasons to hate her.
Sasha Banks can constantly botch moves in matches, injure her opponents and somehow gets a pass because she was in NXT.
As far as I am concerned, none of the women have done anything to make themselves stand out as special. Becky Lynch does, and she changes her nick name to "the man" pretty much saying that women can't succeed on the same level as men can.
|
|
|
Post by Nivro™ on Nov 4, 2018 16:52:07 GMT -5
Nikki Bella could have a 5 star match and fans would still find reasons to hate her. Sasha Banks can constantly botch moves in matches, injure her opponents and somehow gets a pass because she was in NXT. As far as I am concerned, none of the women have done anything to make themselves stand out as special. Becky Lynch does, and she changes her nick name to "the man" pretty much saying that women can't succeed on the same level as men can. Sasha gets a lot of heat but Sasha & Bayley are "sitting in catering" because they have no character development. Wrestling is 90% character and 10% ring work. Can anyone even tell me what the definition of a "Legit Boss" is?
|
|
|
Post by LA Times on Nov 4, 2018 17:04:29 GMT -5
Nikki Bella could have a 5 star match and fans would still find reasons to hate her. Sasha Banks can constantly botch moves in matches, injure her opponents and somehow gets a pass because she was in NXT. As far as I am concerned, none of the women have done anything to make themselves stand out as special. Becky Lynch does, and she changes her nick name to "the man" pretty much saying that women can't succeed on the same level as men can. Sasha gets a lot of heat but Sasha & Bayley are "sitting in catering" because they have no character development. Wrestling is 90% character and 10% ring work. Can anyone even tell me what the definition of a "Legit Boss" is? Ember Moon's character development is rising in front of a full moon and wearing colored contacts Asuka's character development was that she was undefeated. Great way to create a star, but if being undefeated becomes your gimmick, then you should retire the day you lose.
|
|
|
Post by Rude Awakening on Nov 4, 2018 17:16:17 GMT -5
Nikki Bella could have a 5 star match and fans would still find reasons to hate her. Sasha Banks can constantly botch moves in matches, injure her opponents and somehow gets a pass because she was in NXT. As far as I am concerned, none of the women have done anything to make themselves stand out as special. Becky Lynch does, and she changes her nick name to "the man" pretty much saying that women can't succeed on the same level as men can. Sasha gets a lot of heat but Sasha & Bayley are "sitting in catering" because they have no character development. Wrestling is 90% character and 10% ring work. Can anyone even tell me what the definition of a "Legit Boss" is? Yeah I was thinking about that, all the women in wwe act and dress like the nicknames they have, none of them can just be themselves
|
|
johnnyaustin21
Main Eventer
Joined on: Nov 21, 2011 14:16:20 GMT -5
Posts: 1,609
|
Post by johnnyaustin21 on Nov 4, 2018 17:19:18 GMT -5
The Bellas didnt start the womens revolution, Triple H did, with the blessing of Vince. The women superstars were/are the vehicle they used Paige's push was what really made people sit up and watch anyway End of thread and debate.The Revolution was started by Triple H down in NXT and the women who first got it rolling where Paige,Emma & Natalya who set the ton and then came in the Four Horsewomen who took it to the level that its at now.Their doesn't need to be any credit handed out to the Bella Twins,Lita,Trish,Jazz,McCool,Holly...ect anyone from the past. On a side note as sexist as this will sound I still strongly believe why the Revolution was really started and this big push in the last four or five years for women's wrestling is mostly due if not soul reason is the fact that Triple H has three daughters and he started the change for them.
|
|
|
Post by Edge618 on Nov 4, 2018 17:27:18 GMT -5
Every time some one says thanks to the divas era because without them we wouldn’t of been able to do what we do today, it’s a little like thanking all the men who wouldn’t allow women to vote because without them we’d of never had the oppurtunity to change it.
So yes , thanks to all the models, and amateur “wrestlers”, who showed no passion or drive to be better and had no problem taking WWE’s money to do whatever WWE told them.
It’s so dumb.
“Oh that house is on fire”.
Firefighters: “We’d like to thank the fire because without it we wouldn’t be able to be firefighters so let’s get fire the respect it deserves”.
Piss off.
|
|
|
Post by Rude Awakening on Nov 4, 2018 18:04:11 GMT -5
Was she specifically asked about this because why is she so damn persistent to get credit for the revolution? Was she a part of it? Yes. Did she cause the revolution to happen? No not really.
|
|