5 Ups & 4 Downs From WWE Raw (Results & Review - 19 Oct)
DOWNS…
4. Is This Any Good?
Sorry, that’s a legitimate question after watching Lola Vice versus Lyra Valkyria (loser has to change her initials so reviewers can keep track of the action easier).
Vice picked up the win after Bayley provided a distraction, popping out from under the ring like Hornswoggle and grabbing Lyra’s foot, and then reappearing on the other side to grab her hair.
The match highlighted some of Lola’s kicks, strikes, and submission attempts, and she picked up the win with her MIA spinning backfist. The action was fine for what it was, and it allowed the Raw newcomer to notch another win.
But does any of that matter? Lola is a prospect with promise, but she’s not setting the world on fire between the ropes.
Since arriving on Raw, she’s had zero character development besides having a bit of a temper (maybe a little stereotypical fiery Latina personality). The vignettes announcing her juxtaposed her vibing in a party scene (hence Vice City) with Lola demolishing a heavy bag and a sparring partner. None of that has really been explored during her short run; it’s just been a couple of short segments that have led to a two-and-a-half-star match.
WWE bills itself as the company that tells stories. Well, maybe they’d do well to put in a bit more effort with Vice rather than just tossing her out there in the ring until she feels like part of the furniture. Winning middling matches where the focus isn’t on her but rather is on Bayley under the ring isn’t going to get her to the next level.