10 Most Improved WWE Superstars Of 2016
4. Alexa Bliss
It looked like SmackDown’s women’s division was given the short end of the stick in the 2016 draft. Becky Lynch stood-out immediately, but she was initially propped-up by a supporting cast consisting of two momentum-less lower-carders (Naomi & Natalya), a couple of NXT call-ups (Carmella & Alexa Bliss), and the reviled Eva Marie.
Bliss was an interesting prospect right off the bat. Aged just 24 at the time of her call-up, she started finding her feet alongside NXT Tag Team Champions Blake & Murphy in mid-2015. She gradually improved throughout the rest of the year, but while Alexa was given ample opportunities to impress on the title scene’s fringes, she was still struggling in the ring.
Things really started taking-off for her in 2016, however. Her acting skills went through the roof, and she grew into her role as a fiery, detestable heel. There was never any doubting her charisma, but Bliss’ wrestling skills started catching up with her character work too: Alexa looked fantastic in an NXT TV match with Bayley back in June, and she’s continued to stand-out as one of SD’s better female wrestlers since being called-up.
Alexa hasn’t reached her full potential yet, and there’s still some improvements to be made before she’s as fluid as someone like Becky in the ring. Still, she’s tremendous in every other aspect of her performance, and has fast become her division’s best heel.