TWM columnist James Klonowski analyses the new compelling character of Alexa Bliss and why she is the most underrated performer in the business today…
WWE continues to be a drag to watch and is the most disorganized it has ever been. With more rumors swirling around of wrestler unrest backstage, Vince McMahon is doing his best to put on a brave front and pretend all is well in wrestling’s biggest kingdom of them all. But it’s not all bad news for the New York promotion as they have two of the finest characters in the business today – Roman Reigns and Alexa Bliss. So much has already been said about the great work Reigns is doing – Hall of Fame worthy for sure – so I’m going to focus on the latter and the tremendous acting chops Little Miss Bliss is delivering every week.
Alexa Bliss has managed to do the seemingly impossible – make RAW watchable. Just look at the YouTube hits on her clips for proof of just how popular she is. I’ve always been a big admirer of her, even in her days on NXT as a deer-in-the-headlights valet, all the potential was there. Her jump to the main roster was called premature by many, but she exceeded expectations by becoming the face of the women’s division, helping elevate everyone around her. Her promo skills were always unmatched, and her in-ring ability constantly overrated.
Injuries have plagued her career in recent years, but she seems back to her best now and is a favorite to win the Royal Rumble Match, and after closing out Raw this past week who would bet against her? The difference between her and the majority of the roster is that she embraces her character to the fullest and the end product is an intriguing watch that makes us keep coming back for more. She can captivate an audience with just a simple look, and as the greats say, the best promos are often the ones unspoken.
With ratings continuing to dwindle, every backstage decision is being made to turn things around. Yet, the one constant is the brilliant performances of Alexa Bliss. When was the last time she went out there and stunk up the joint? Her material isn’t always golden, far from it, but she nails it every time. There is no other female performer on the roster who comes close to her skills on the microphone, Charlotte Flair included. Should she be rewarded with the Raw Women’s Championship at WrestleMania? In my opinion, she doesn’t need a title at this point, but it would be a well-deserved reward for all her hard work.
When she first aligned with Bray Wyatt I was worried it was a big mistake, but once again Bliss blew expectations out of the water and not only delivered but bettered Wyatt at the creepy Fiend persona. She can host talk shows, wrestle with the best of them, play multiple characters at the same time, and look good while doing it. The level that she is performing at should not go unnoticed by anyone. Just because the rest of the show is garbage doesn’t mean her talent should be thrown in the same bin too.
The dominant win over Asuka this past week on Raw was an eye-opener and instantly makes Bliss the perfect choice to win the Rumble. If there are still doubts about her injuries, she can enter at number 30, use some mystical powers and win it without doing anything too risky. Her character is too good to be ignored. Vince McMahon is a big admirer of Bliss and for good reason. She’s very marketable, never causes any problems, and does an amazing job whenever required. A modern-day Trish Stratus would be a lovely compliment, but I honestly think she surpassed Trish a while back, and this latest character incarnation is just further proof.
It’s always great to see a performer come into their own and look like they’re having a blast doing so. Just as Roman is on Smackdown, Bliss is doing likewise on Raw. She is Monday Night Raw at this point. Before anyone starts throwing names like Sasha Banks, Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Bianca Belair at me, I have to say something. While I’m big fans of all those and believe they each have unique qualities, especially Banks, I just don’t think any of those have the total package.
Yes, Lynch headlined a WrestleMania, but would she have without Ronda Rousey? Banks is a mainstream star thanks to Disney, is amazing between the ropes, but she still lacks in promos. Everything she says comes across as very stilted. Bayley has come on leaps and bounds in recent years, but she’s still not at the level required to carry an entire division, let alone a show. As for Belair, the sky’s the limit for her and I believe 2021 will be an incredible year for her, it’s just too soon to judge her yet as she hasn’t had the opportunities.
Alexa Bliss continuously grabs the headlines and is often given the main roles in major angles because she can be trusted to deliver. She is occasionally knocked for not being a wrestling fan growing up, but who cares if she wasn’t? Neither was Brock Lesnar, and he’s the best and most believable to do it in the last 20 years. It’s the key reason why I believe they both bring realism and uniqueness to the industry. It’s because they’re not trying to mimic names from a bygone era.
In a dark and gloomy WWE, Alexa Bliss is a glowing light, helping bring to life the most captivating character in the business today, delivering compelling dialogue coupled with tremendous facial expressions. She’s the most underrated performer they have, and she’s currently the only reason to watch Raw. Bliss is not afraid of taking risks, pushing the envelope, and doing what’s necessary to captivate a worldwide audience. She’s come a long way from her NXT days and continues to improve and showcase her talents on a weekly basis. She’s the real deal and a glimmer of hope in a dreary WWE landscape.