If WWE Were Being Honest About Nia Jax

The fix had been in for Nia to scoop the Raw Women's Title since she first gained a spot on the red brand in 2016. Her push resembled Braun Strowman's that ran in parallel - domineering over jobbers with the view to expedite her elevation, not least as somebody with something different to all the technically proficient performers gracing the flagship at the time. It's precisely where the comparisons concluded. Strowman became a 'Monster Among Men' not just in name but also in personality and physicality, but Jax simply couldn't remain a violent femme on squashes alone. It's vital not to be base or sizist when analysing the importance of Nia's stature, but WWE blatantly have done since the day her cousin The Rock helped usher her into their arms - it's was the only thing she had going for her.

She'd debuted on NXT in 2015, and had yet to fully master any finishing move she'd been given. Samoan Drops had an Ultimate Warrior-esque recklessness, press slams the same, and she didn't have anywhere near the height or leap to mimic Hulk Hogan's legendary leg-drop. She once even ran the wrong ropes before landing one on the back of Sasha Banks' head. 'The Boss' went unharmed, but the match - like most of Jax' - was beyond saving long before the botch.

But she was bigger than the rest and it was different, so talent and tenure be damned. WWE isn't the meritocracy it occasionally laughably claims to be, otherwise Jax would have had another few years at Full Sail to become the behemoth she was destined to be. Instead, with only one passable match against Asuka and a minor miracle worked by Bayley at TakeOver: London, she was a slow learner strapped on a fast-track. A Women's Title was in her destiny, but so too was an almighty crash.

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