When Lash Legend first got here onto the “WWE SmackDown” scene, I wrote a whole piece on how she was just one other “WWE NXT” star destined for a mediocre most important roster run, based entirely on her coalition with Nia Jax. After being traumatized (dramatic, but whatever) by the precipitous drop of Carmelo Hayes, I used to be quick to assume that Legend was doomed to endlessly be the second fiddle to Jax — never destined to grow to be a primary chair of her own throughout the large, sometimes-cacaphonous orchestra of WWE.
After seeing Legend’s performance in Saturday’s Women’s WarGames match, nonetheless, I actually have to issue a proper apology. She’s going to be alright.
Saturday’s Women’s WarGames was stacked with talent. After all, you’ve gotten an enormous spectacle in AJ Lee, who entered that devilish double-ring structure for the primary time. You will have Becky Lynch and Charlotte Flair, two of the unique 4 Horsewomen. You will have multi-time world champions in Alexa Bliss, Asuka, Nia Jax, and Rhea Ripley. It could have been really easy for Legend to simply bleed into the background — in reality, I expected her to. Her coming out last almost felt like an afterthought, like WWE only just remembered that she was on this match, they usually needed to send her out quickly to officially start WarGames.
In a sea of competent and high-performing competitors, Legend killed it. She brought a certain brute edge that no person had — not even Ripley. Like, she was swinging Bliss with such reckless abandon that I assumed Bliss’ spine would tweak and twirl into itself, like a cord. She had the gumption and gall to chokeslam the Charlotte Flair (14-time world champion and 5’10” Charlotte Flair), and while it wasn’t the most effective chokeslam, by any means, it did the job. Legend shone alongside Jax — the mentor I used to be so sure would bury her by association alone — as they each military-pressed SKY. Legend sold Asuka’s mist so well, together with her howls of pain being a highlight of what was otherwise a slow, nothingburger night. While everyone else felt like they were playing the wrestling game safely, with muted sells and microexpressions, Legend got here out guns ablazing. From the moment she stepped in that ring, it was a full send for Legend.
Was it an ideal performance? Not necessarily. There are several women in that ring who could out-wrestle her, technique-wise. What made Legend stand out was her passion. You may feel it oozing from her every move — every big, daring, flamboyant move that mirrored the spirit of skilled wrestling. For somebody with a not-wrestling background, that’s impressive. You possibly can feel the fervour Legend has for this medium. For that, she has a vivid future on the most important roster.
Written by Angeline Phu