Lana walked into Survivor Series the weakest link on Team Raw, but as her comrades fell she ended up the sole survivor of the Raw Women’s Team. Her “glow up” continued on Monday’s installment of Raw.
Basking in the glow of her unexpected triumph, when asked if a bid for the Raw Women’s Championship was in her future, a glowing Lana demurred. However, that’s not how things were translated to reigning champ Asuka. Though she lost to frequent opponent Sasha Banks at Survivor Series, Asuka is still an indomitable force on the women’s division. She caught up with Lana later on in the program and gamely accepted the alleged challenge, seeming eager to get Lana in the ring.
The former ballerina is nothing if not a good sport and walked the ramp with a smile on her face to meet the formidable Empress of Tomorrow. However, not long after the match the reigning Raw Women’s Tag Team Champions, and Lana’s tormentors, Shayna Baszler and Nia Jax stormed through, hijacking commentary and taunting Asuka for her inability to put away Lana, whom they consider a lightweight. The dynamics of the match changed shockingly, as Asuka and Lana defended each other against Baszler’s and Jax’s taunting. The Raw Women’s Championship bid between Asuka and Lana was formally shelved when Baszler and Jax issued a tag team challenge, the reigning champions against the unlikely duo of Asuka and Lana.
The writing seemed to be on the wall for Lana as both Jax and Baszler took their turns pushing her flexible physique to its limits. Baszler, in particular, took sadistic delight in shoving Lana’s face to the mat, foot on her neck, and punishingly bending her legs back; despite being down, it was an impressive display of Lana’s athletic fortitude. Some athletes elevate taking pain to an art form, and throughout her feud with Baszler and Jax Lana has proved to be such an athlete. Miraculously, Lana managed to tag Asuka in, and the Empress entered the ring with fervor and fury, delivering hard knocks to Baszler with her characteristic glee.
While Shayna and Asuka traded blows, Nia Jax came for Lana outside the ring. As Jax began furiously tearing the commentary table apart, preparing to finish Lana off for the tenth time, it seemed set to be more of the same of the gimmick that’s gotten social media buzzing about these two.
But, that was before Survivor Series. That was before Lana’s unlikely part in the Raw Women’s Team’s victory over Team Smackdown, which boasted such Blue Brand contenders as Bianca Belair and Bayley, before Lana landed a bid for the Raw Women’s Championship. This Lana has a new attitude and was not in the mood to be Samoan Dropped through the commentary table one more time. When Jax charged for Lana, she craftily ducked and Jax’s own momentum propelled her over the table. It was a personal triumph for Lana, breaking the streak.
Meanwhile, in the ring, Asuka got a cover on a kicking, struggling Shayna Baszler, winning victory for her and Lana’s team. An incensed, shocked, seething Nia Jax pointed her murderous glare at Lana, who promptly and smartly, ran!
With Jax and Baszler still furious at the mere fact that she exists, their fury increased by losing a match to someone they deem such a nonfactor, this feud is far from over. But, post Survivor Series Lana proved she is able to capitalize on opportunities, attract unlikely allies to her cause, and make up for her lack of muscle and prowess with craftiness and fortitude. The next time Baszler and Jax challenge her, they might just be talking to a contender.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. WWE fan? You can check out an almost unlimited array of WWE content on the WWE Network.
Looking to talk wrestling, pro football, or any number of sports? Head on over to the LWOS Boards to engage in conversation with fellow fans!
