10 Candidates For WWE's Upcoming Women's Tournament
Who can compete in the next "Classic"?
WWE's Cruiserweight Classic is in the books, and as for the tournament itself, it was a success. The widely-praised 32-man tournament didn't just see T.J. Perkins crowned the winner (and the inaugural Cruiserweight Champion), but it also brought the entire cruiserweight division to Raw. There are now a dozen new stars on the red brand, such as Cedric Alexander and Gran Metalik, looking to make a mark in WWE.
Another Cruiserweight Classic seems likely in the future, but for now, there are rumors of another upcoming tournament - one involving some of the most talented women in wrestling. Over the past couple of years (and despite some false starts), the level of women's competition in WWE has reached never-before seen heights. The time is ripe for renewed focus on the division and an influx of new talent.
Of course, the key to creating a successful tournament is two-fold. First, there's the presentation. The Cruiserweight Classic worked, in part, because of the fact that it felt different from WWE's other programming. It was treated like a sport, giving everything a sense of importance.
Next - and even more crucial - is the talent. The Women's Classic will only be as good as the women involved, and for that reason, the field of 32 (or however many are chosen) has to be top-notch. Here are 10 suggestions for competitors for the upcoming tournament:
10. Blue Pants
It woudn't hurt to have a familiar face in the tournament - someone who's been in NXT and is recognizable to fans, but hasn't really gotten the chance to show exactly what she can do. Leva 'Blue Pants' Bates falls into that category nicely.
Bates - who has worked extensively for Shimmer Women Athletes - came to prominence during an NXT appearance in October 2014. She was introduced by Enzo and Big Cass, who forgot her name and referred to her as 'Blue Pants' based on her attire. The name stuck, she was given the theme from The Price is Right as her entrance music, and she soon became a cult favorite.
Blue Pants made many more appearances, even cornering The Vaudevillains when they defeated Blake and Murphy for the NXT Tag Team Titles at TakeOver: Brooklyn. She hasn't worked for the brand since losing to Nia Jax late last year, though, and now that she's recovered from a broken leg, she's poised for a comeback.